Collaborative Research: Unraveling community patterns in the hyperdiverse ants of Madagascar

为什么物种多样性并不均匀地分布在地球上？一些热带地区因其当地的生物多样性大大超过其他气候相似地区的生物多样性而被称为“热点”。马达加斯加是一个如此特殊的地方，只有在这个岛上才有大量的物种，分布在非常小的地理区域内。马达加斯加丰富的生物多样性的部分原因是地理上的隔绝：长期与世隔绝，在一个地形和生态多样性都很高的岛屿上产生了独特的物种。但是，为什么马达加斯加的许多独特物种似乎扮演着相同的生态角色，却又并存呢？这项研究将使用马达加斯加的蚂蚁多样性信息来了解驱动分布模式和组织昆虫群落的过程。这些结果将为物种多样性格局的演变提供洞察力，使我们既能够破译过去，也使我们能够适应未来，并应对森林砍伐和栖息地丧失等威胁。这项科学研究伴随着一项广泛的教育计划，该计划将本科生纳入实地研究和推广计划，以提高对马达加斯加和美国森林保护问题的认识，并传授监测和保护森林所需的技能。为了调查群落结构和多样性格局，以及群落聚集和物种特有的潜在驱动因素，这项研究将利用新的系统学工具和无与伦比的生态数据集，基于研究人员过去20年在该地区进行的实地调查和收集，为马达加斯加的蚂蚁提供一个无与伦比的生态数据集。目标是：(1)收集来自近1300种马达加斯加蚂蚁的超常服务元素的系统基因组数据集。(2)将100,000多份精选标本记录与气候生态位数据相结合，对260个研究地点的所有马达加斯加蚂蚁的物种分布进行建模。(3)基于这些遗传谱系和群落数据集，分析和刻画马达加斯加蚂蚁群落结构和多样性的格局。特别是，将研究蚂蚁群落在树冠和落叶中的垂直分层，以及沿海拔梯度的多样性。这种大规模的群落分析旨在了解产生和维持物种分布格局和地方性的重要因素，并将使我们能够就这些格局在群落聚集中的作用得出广泛适用的结论。除了扩大科学发现的范围，这项研究还将(4)通过实习、研讨会、视频展览和讲座教育公众和科学受众，传播节肢动物、雨林和树冠的生物多样性，并为本科生和研究生创造广泛的培训机会。该奖项由国际科学与工程办公室共同资助。

Why is species diversity not evenly distributed over the planet? Some tropical places are called "hotspots" because their local biodiversity greatly exceeds the biodiversity of other regions with similar climates. Madagascar is such a special place, with a tremendous number of species occurring only on this island, distributed within very small geographic areas. Part of the explanation of Madagascar's rich biodiversity is geographic isolation: long isolation from other landmasses has produced unique species across an island with high topographical and ecological diversity. But why do so many of Madagascar's unique species seem to occupy the same ecological role and yet occur side by side? This research will use ant diversity information from Madagascar to understand the processes that drive distribution patterns and organize insect communities. The results will provide insights into how species diversity patterns evolve, enabling us to both decipher the past and allow us to adapt to the future and respond to threats such as deforestation and habitat loss. This scientific study is accompanied by an extensive education plan integrating undergraduate students into a field research and outreach program to raise awareness on forest conservation issues both in Madagascar and the United States, and teach the skills necessary to monitor and conserve forests.To investigate community structure and diversity patterns, as well as potential drivers of community assembly and species endemism, this study will utilize new phylogenomic tools and an unparalleled ecological data set for ants in Madagascar based on field inventories and collections conducted across the region by the researchers over the last 20 years. The objectives are to: (1) Assemble a phylogenomic data set of ultraconserved elements from nearly 1,300 species of Malagasy ants. (2) Combine over 100,000 curated specimen records with climatic niche data to model species distributions for all Malagasy ants at 260 study sites. (3) Analyze and characterize patterns of ant community structure and diversity in Madagascar based on these genetic lineage and community data sets. In particular, the vertical stratification of ant communities in the canopy and leaf litter, as well as diversity along elevational gradients, will be examined. This large-scale community analysis aims to understand factors important in generating and maintaining species distribution patterns and endemism, and will allow us to draw widely applicable conclusions about the role of these patterns in community assembly. Beyond expanding the boundaries of scientific discovery, this research will (4) communicate arthropod, rainforest, and canopy biodiversity by educating public and scientific audiences through internships, workshops, video exhibits, and talks, and create extensive training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. This award is cofunded by the Office of International Science and Engineering.