Dissertation Research: Phylogeny of Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera): Evolution of Katydid Defenses and Ears

论文研究：Tettigoniidae（直翅目）的系统发育：螽斯防御和耳朵的进化

• 批准号: 1210899
• 负责人: Michael Whiting
• 金额: $ 1.5万
• 依托单位: Brigham Young University
• 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: 2012-06-01 至 2014-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1210899&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Phylogeny; Tettigoniidae; Orthoptera

Katydids are a well-recognized family of insects, yet surprisingly little is known about the historical relationships between the 6500 known species. Also, little is known about the evolution of their unique morphological features such as the sound reception organs on their front legs (commonly referred to as ears) and the origins of their defenses against predation: leaf-like wings, bright warning coloration, and camouflage. This project will result in the first phylogenetic analysis of katydids and provide the groundwork for understanding the development of their unique ears and methods of camouflage.DNA data generated during this project will be used to develop two formal lab exercises for undergraduate students. During the duration of funding, these exercises will provide over 1,000 undergraduate students with hands-on training in how to align DNA sequences, reconstruct phylogenetic trees, map characters on topologies, and how to use phylogenetics to answer fundamental questions in science. This research will also provide minority undergraduate students with direct mentorship on specific projects. These students will generate data for a subset of the project, analyze results, present their findings at national meetings, and be senior author on a publication coming from this work.

Katydids是一个公认的昆虫家族，但令人惊讶的是，人们对6500个已知物种之间的历史关系知之甚少。 此外，人们对它们独特的形态特征的进化知之甚少，例如它们前腿上的声音接收器官（通常称为耳朵）以及它们抵御捕食的起源：叶状翅膀，明亮的警告色和伪装。 该项目将导致第一个系统发育分析的katydids和提供基础，了解他们独特的耳朵和伪装方法的发展。在这个项目中产生的DNA数据将用于开发两个正式的实验室练习，为本科生。 在资助期间，这些练习将为1，000多名本科生提供如何对齐DNA序列，重建系统发育树，绘制拓扑特征以及如何使用遗传学来回答科学中的基本问题的实践培训。这项研究还将为少数民族本科生提供具体项目的直接指导。这些学生将为项目的一个子集生成数据，分析结果，在国家会议上展示他们的发现，并成为这项工作的出版物的高级作者。