Digitization PEN: Functional Quantitative Characters for Ecology and Evolution (FuncQEE)

芝加哥州立大学被授予作为现有网络(PEN)的合作伙伴加入公开主题收藏网络(TCN)的奖项。约1,700个啮齿动物样本将采用电脑断层扫描技术，提供与结构多样性有关的三维数据。啮齿动物是地球上最常见但也是最多样化的哺乳动物之一。它们几乎存在于每个陆地生态系统中，物种范围从豚鼠到草原狗、袋鼠、飞松鼠、水豚、旅鼠、家鼠和下水道鼠。在这种多样性中，它们的身体在大小和形状上都有很大的差异，因为它们适应不同的栖息地(例如北极苔原、草原、温带和热带森林)、运动(例如陆地、树栖、游泳、洞穴习性)、摄食偏好(例如食虫、食草动物或多面手)，等等。考虑到这些巨大的差异，该项目将提供3D数字化数据，从而有可能检查和量化在整个啮齿动物生命树中发现的这种多样性辐射中的字符。芝加哥州立大学(MSI)的本科生将接受CT扫描图像处理方面的培训。该项目将生成计算机断层扫描(CT)扫描，作为对1700只啮齿动物标本进行结构多样性三维建模的基础。抽样将集中在不太常见的物种上。研究人员和教育工作者将通过MorPhoSource获得3D数据。这些数据将使对生态和进化的功能数量特征(FuncQEE)的研究以及从生理学到生物医学应用的研究和课程成为可能。该项目将汇集来自芝加哥州立大学、密歇根大学、新墨西哥大学、佛罗里达大学和桑迪亚国家实验室的科学家和教育工作者。硕士研究生和本科生将接受培训，包括努力为在科学职业生涯中未被充分代表的第一代和/或低收入学生提供前沿可视化和分析方法的机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

An award is made to Chicago State University to join the oVert Thematic Collection Network (TCN) as a Partner to an Existing Network (PEN). Computed tomography (CT) scanning will be used to provide 3D data relating to structural diversity for ca. 1,700 specimens of rodents. Rodents are among the most common but also among the most diverse mammals on the planet. They are found in virtually every terrestrial ecosystem, with species ranging from guinea pigs, to prairie dogs, kangaroo rats, flying squirrels, capybaras, lemmings, house mice, and sewer rats. Across this diversity, their bodies vary considerably in size and shape as they adapted to distinct habitats (e.g., Arctic tundra, grasslands, temperate and tropical forests), locomotion (e.g. terrestrial, arboreal, swimming, burrowing habits), feeding preferences (e.g., insectivores, granivores, herbivores, or generalists), and more. Given these vast differences, this project will provide 3D digitized data making it possible to examine and quantify the characters found in this radiation of diversity throughout the rodent tree of life. Undergraduate students at an MSI (Chicago State University) will be trained in CT-scan image processingThe project will generate computed tomography (CT) scans as a basis for 3D modeling of structural diversity for 1,700 specimens of rodents. Sampling will focus on less common species. The 3D data will be available to researchers and educators via MorphoSource. These data will enable studies on functional quantitative characters for ecology and evolution (FuncQEE) as well as studies and lessons ranging from physiology to biomedical applications. The project will bring together scientists and educators from Chicago State University, University of Michigan, University of New Mexico, University of Florida, and Sandia National Laboratory. Master's degree candidates and undergraduate students will receive training, including an effort to provide opportunities for underrepresented, first generation, and/or low-income students in science careers in cutting edge visualization and analytical approaches.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.