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

为什么物种多样性在地球上分布不均匀？一些热带地区之所以被称为“热点”，是因为它们当地的生物多样性大大超过了其他气候相似地区的生物多样性。马达加斯加是这样一个特殊的地方，有大量的物种只出现在这个岛上，分布在非常小的地理区域。马达加斯加丰富的生物多样性的部分原因是地理隔离：长期与其他大陆隔离，在一个具有高度地形和生态多样性的岛屿上产生了独特的物种。但是为什么马达加斯加有这么多独特的物种似乎占据着同样的生态角色，却又并排出现呢？这项研究将利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。研究结果将为物种多样性模式的演变提供深入见解，使我们能够破译过去，并使我们能够适应未来，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个广泛的教育计划，将本科生纳入实地研究和推广计划，以提高马达加斯加和美国对森林保护问题的认识，并教授监测和保护森林所需的技能。调查社区结构和多样性模式，以及社区聚集和物种特有性的潜在驱动因素，这项研究将利用新的昆虫基因组工具和无与伦比的马达加斯加蚂蚁生态数据集，这些数据集是基于研究人员在过去20年中在该地区进行的实地调查和收集。目的是：（1）从近1，300种马达加斯加蚂蚁中收集一组超保守元件的基因组数据集。(2)结合联合收割机超过100，000个精选的标本记录和气候生态位数据，为260个研究地点的所有马达加斯加蚂蚁建立物种分布模型。(3)根据这些遗传谱系和社区数据集，分析和描述马达加斯加蚂蚁社区结构和多样性的模式。特别是，在树冠层和落叶层的蚂蚁群落的垂直分层，以及多样性沿着海拔梯度，将被检查。这种大规模的社区分析的目的是了解在产生和维持物种分布模式和特有性的重要因素，并将使我们能够得出广泛适用的结论，这些模式在社区组装的作用。除了扩大科学发现的边界，这项研究将（4）通过实习，研讨会，视频展览和讲座教育公众和科学观众，并为本科生和研究生创造广泛的培训机会，交流节肢动物，雨林和冠层生物多样性。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.