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

为什么物种多样性在地球上的分布不均匀？一些热带地区被称为“热点”，因为它们当地的生物多样性大大超过了其他类似气候地区的生物多样性。马达加斯加是一个特别的地方，大量的物种只出现在这个岛上，分布在很小的地理区域内。马达加斯加丰富的生物多样性的部分原因是地理上的隔离：长期与其他大陆隔绝，在地形和生态多样性高的岛屿上产生了独特的物种。但为什么马达加斯加有这么多独特的物种似乎扮演着同样的生态角色，却又同时出现呢？这项研究将利用来自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。研究结果将提供物种多样性模式如何演变的见解，使我们能够破译过去，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。这项科学研究还伴随着一项广泛的教育计划，将本科生纳入一个实地研究和推广项目，以提高对马达加斯加和美国森林保护问题的认识，并教授监测和保护森林所需的技能。为了研究群落结构和多样性模式，以及群落聚集和物种特有的潜在驱动因素，本研究将利用新的系统基因组学工具和无与伦比的马达加斯加蚂蚁生态数据集，这些数据集基于研究人员过去20年来在该地区进行的实地调查和收集。目标是：(1)从近1300种马达加斯加蚂蚁中收集超保守元素的系统基因组数据集。(2)将超过10万个精心整理的标本记录与气候生态位数据结合起来，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，分析和表征马达加斯加蚂蚁群落结构和多样性模式。特别是，蚂蚁群落在冠层和凋落叶的垂直分层，以及沿海拔梯度的多样性，将被检查。这种大规模的群落分析旨在了解产生和维持物种分布模式和特有的重要因素，并将使我们能够得出关于这些模式在群落组装中的作用的广泛适用的结论。除了拓展科学发现的边界之外，本研究将(4)通过实习、研讨会、视频展览和讲座等方式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，从而与节肢动物、雨林和树冠生物多样性进行交流。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.