Integrative Taxonomy and Biogeography of Criconematidae

环线虫科的综合分类学和生物地理学

• 批准号: 1145440
• 负责人: Thomas Powers
• 金额: $ 52.86万
• 依托单位: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-06-15 至 2016-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1145440&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Integrative; Taxonomy; Biogeography; Criconematidae

Nematodes are frequently considered the most diverse, abundant, and ubiquitous animals on earth. This assertion however, is not strongly supported by the number of formally described species. The gap between formally recognized species and species yet to be discovered has been referred to as the "biodiversity identification gap." This gap is thought to exist due to difficulties in identifying diagnostic characters in nematodes, overlapping intra- and inter-specific variation, and the lack of taxonomists engaged in the activity of species discovery and description. An important factor that has not been generally addressed is the actual process of species delimitation in the field of nematology. This proposal focuses on the role of species delimitation through an integrated taxonomic examination of a select group of soil-dwelling, plant parasitic nematodes in the family Criconematidae. The species delimitation process will improve our ability to diagnose nematode species and contribute to the development of a plant-parasitic nematode biogeography. The project will incorporate young aspiring scientists and citizen scientists using nematodes as a bridge to the microbial world. Together with the nonprofit organization Discover Life in America, surveys and workshops will be conducted at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, serving as a model for other parks and preserves.

线虫通常被认为是地球上最多样化、最丰富和最普遍的动物。然而，这种说法并没有得到正式描述的物种数量的有力支持。正式承认的物种和尚未发现的物种之间的差距被称为“生物多样性识别差距”。“这种差距被认为是由于难以识别线虫的诊断特征，种内和种间变异重叠，以及缺乏从事物种发现和描述活动的分类学家。一个重要的因素，还没有得到普遍解决的是在线虫学领域的物种界定的实际过程。该建议的重点是物种界定的作用，通过综合分类学检查的一组选择的土壤，植物寄生线虫在家庭Criconematidae。物种界定过程将提高我们的能力，诊断线虫物种，并有助于发展植物寄生线虫地理学。该项目将吸收年轻的有抱负的科学家和公民科学家使用线虫作为通往微生物世界的桥梁。与非营利组织“发现美国生活”一起，将在大烟山国家公园进行调查和研讨会，作为其他公园和保护区的典范。