Integrative taxonomy – Parthenogenetic radiations and ‘species’ delimitation using multimodal data

大多数现存的动物物种都是根据它们的形态（形态种）来描述的。然而，这些形态种通常由几个遗传分离的种群组成（隐种复合体，CSCs）。综合分类学的目的是通过使用和结合多种数据（多模态数据，如形态学、化学、分子），从这些干细胞中描绘和命名不同的物种。CSCs被认为在具有相对简单形态的系统发育群体（例如，许多微型节肢动物）或形态处于强选择下的群体中特别常见。生殖模式（有性繁殖还是孤雌繁殖）也影响着特征进化/多样性和物种形成的速度。该项目有两个主要目标：(1)多模态数据（分子、形态、化学）如何帮助检测和描述微型节肢动物CSCs中的不同物种？(2)生殖方式（有性生殖与孤雌生殖）如何影响甲脚螨的性状多样化和CSCs的数量？由于大量的有性和（许多古老的）单性生殖物种共存，多次单性生殖辐射事件，以及大量的CSCs，甲螨（特别是Crotoniidae）代表了解决这些一般性问题的理想模型系统。我们将从18种不同的可能的CSCs中生成数据集，这些CSCs来自Crotoniidae的有性和孤雌生殖的甲螨形态种（约1000个个体）。每个标本的分子条形码数据（线粒体cox1，核糖体D3区域），复杂外分泌油腺分泌物（碳氢化合物，芳烃和萜烯）的化学特征，以及形态特征（主要是定性和定量的毛发分类）将包括在内。

Most of the existing animal species are described based on their morphology (morphospecies). Such morphospecies, however, often consist of several genetically separated populations (cryptic species complexes, CSCs). Integrative taxonomy aims at the delineation and naming of distinct species from such CSCs by using and combining more than one kind of data (multimodal data; e.g., morphological, chemical, molecular). CSCs are assumed to be especially common in phylogenetic groups with a comparably simple morphology (e.g., many micro-arthropods) or groups where the morphology is under strong selection. The reproductive mode (sexual vs. parthenogenetic) also influences rates of character evolution/diversity and speciation. This project has two main objectives – (1) How can multimodal data (molecular, morphological, chemical) help to detect and describe distinct species in CSCs of micro-arthropods? (2) How does the reproductive mode (sexual vs. parthenogenetic) influence character diversification and the amount of CSCs in oribatid mites?With a high number of co-existing sexual and (many ancient) parthenogenetic species, multiple events of parthenogenetic radiations, and a demonstrated high amount of CSCs, oribatid mites (especially the Crotoniidae) represent an ideal model system to approach these general questions. We will generate datasets from 18 different presumable CSCs of sexual and parthenogenetic oribatid mite morphospecies from the Crotoniidae (>1000 individuals). Molecular barcoding data (mitochondrial cox1, nuclear ribosomal D3 region), chemical profiles of complex exocrine oil gland secretions (hydrocarbons, aromatics and terpenes), and morphological characters (mostly qualitative and quantitative chaetotaxy) will be included for each specimen.