US-URUGUAY-BRAZIL Collaborative IRES: Ampullariidae Model using Phylogeography, Laboratory Integration with Field Investigations into Ecology and Diversity (AMPLIFIED)

这个合作的国际学生研究经验（IRES）奖将支持15名美国本科生和一名研究生，在西南大学的Romi Burks博士和夏威夷大学的Kenneth Hayes博士的指导下，在巴西和乌拉圭开展为期三年的合作研究。 该项目由巴西奥斯瓦尔多·克鲁兹研究所的Silvano Thiengo博士和乌拉圭Republicica大学的Mariana Meerhoff博士共同组织。 该项目的目标是创建一个瓶螺科模型的一组水生蜗牛通常被称为苹果蜗牛使用地理学，实验室集成，和现场调查。 巴西拥有最多的瓶螺物种和属，并提供南美洲任何国家最大的纬度跨度（约37º）。 此外，瓜拉尼语原文中的“乌拉圭”译成西班牙语就是“蜗牛河”。“研究这些蜗牛的繁殖过程，可用来研究重要的进化过程，特别是与主要生境转变有关的过程（例如从海洋到淡水再到陆地）。 学生们的研究将集中在量化这一未充分研究的水生蜗牛群体的遗传变异，识别物种形成模式，调查促进入侵的特征，并确定繁殖潜力。这个IRES奖汇集了来自美国，巴西和乌拉圭的研究人员和学生的多元化社区。 除了直接与东道国科学家合作外，美国学生还将在博客上介绍他们的国际研究经验，并与东道国的其他本科生和研究生密切合作。 参与的学生还将编写可在东道国当地使用的教育材料。 回到自己的家乡机构后，学生将通过专业会议，科学出版物和社交媒体网络传播他们的结果。 该研究还具有重要的社会效益，因为苹果蜗牛是高度入侵的物种和寄生线虫的载体，可导致包括人类在内的哺乳动物患病。 深入了解这些蜗牛在原生栖息地中的营养作用可能有助于深入了解如何处理它们在入侵的湿地生态系统（如佛罗里达大沼泽地）中的存在。

This collaborative International Research Experience for Students (IRES) award will support 15 U.S. undergraduate students and one graduate student, under the direction of Drs. Romi Burks from Southwestern University and Kenneth Hayes from University of Hawaii, to carry out collaborative research in Brazil and Uruguay for three years. The program is co-organized by Dr. Silvano Thiengo from the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz in Brazil and Dr. Mariana Meerhoff from the Universidad de la Republica in Uruguay. The goal of the project is to create an Ampullariidae model for a group of aquatic snails commonly called apple snails using phylogeography, laboratory integration, and field inquiry. Brazil harbors the greatest number of ampullariid species and genera and provides the largest latitudinal span (~37º) of any country in South America. Additionally, the original Guaraní, word "Uruguay" translated into Spanish as "river of the snails." Study of the phylogeny of these snails can be used to investigate important evolutionary processes, particularly those associated with major habitat transitions (e.g. marine to freshwater to terrestrial). Students' research will focus on quantifying genetic variation in this understudied group of aquatic snails, identifying patterns of speciation, investigating traits that promote invasiveness, and determining reproductive potential.This IRES award brings together a diverse community of researchers and students from the United States, Brazil, and Uruguay. In addition to working directly with the host scientists, U.S. students will blog about their international research experience and work closely with other undergraduate and graduate students from the host country. Participating students will also develop educational materials that can be used locally in their host countries. Upon return to their home institution, students will disseminate their results through professional meetings, scientific publications, and social media networks. The research also has important societal benefits as apple snails are highly invasive species and vectors of parasitic nematodes that can cause illness in mammals, including humans. Insights into how the trophic roles that these snails inhabit in native habitats may lend insight into how to deal with their presence in invaded wetland ecosystems such as the Florida Everglades.