DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Towards a New Gondwana: Investigating Alternative Biogeographic Hypotheses of the Southern Hemisphere Utilizing a Novel Taxon.

这项研究试图利用DNA序列数据建立重要的甲虫科成员之间的系统发育关系，并利用这些信息来检验围绕南半球生物地理的长期假说。我们将对来自世界各地的僵尸进行DNA测序，进行系统发育分析，并测试生物地理假说。Zopheridae生物地理学的知识将补充正在进行的利用哺乳动物和高等植物等其他分类群进行的研究，并有可能为系统学和系统发育学以外的几个科学学科提供信息，包括地质学和古气候学。恢复的生物地理推断将提供重要的生物多样性数据，用于管理南半球的敏感环境。在教育方面，作为这个项目的一部分，PI将指导至少一名本科生。学生将直接参与该项目，并将获得昆虫系统学方面的经验，从而培养学生进入科学研究生课程的愿望。该项目将通过加强与该领域顶尖专家的多机构、多国籍合作来促进联合PIS的专业发展，并使他更好地获得昆虫系统学终身教职。

This research seeks to establish phylogenetic relationships among members of the important beetle family Zopheridae using DNA sequence data, and utilize this information to test long-standing hypotheses surrounding the biogeography of the southern hemisphere. We will sequence DNA from zopherids from around the world, perform phylogenetic analyses, and test biogeographic hypotheses. Knowledge of Zopheridae biogeography will complement ongoing research using other taxa such as mammals and higher plants, and has potential to inform several scientific disciplines outside systematics and phylogenetics, including geology and paleoclimatology. Recovered biogeographic inferences will provide important biodiversity data for use in the management of sensitive environments in the southern hemisphere. In an educational capacity, the PIs will mentor at least one undergrad student as part of this project. The student will be directly involved in the project and will gain experience in insect systematics, thus fostering the student's desire to enter a graduate program in science. This project will enhance the Co-PIs professional development through strengthened multi-institution, multi-nationality collaborations with top experts in the field and better position him to obtain a tenure-track faculty position in insect systematics.