Analysing the roles of cospeciation and host-shifting in the evolution of behaviour and ecology of thrips associated with Australian Acacia

植食性蓟马与它们的寄主相思物种之间的关系和相互作用为研究澳大利亚干旱带生物群的宏观进化机制提供了一个很好的系统。在这个项目中，我们将确定共种和寄主转移等机制在该模式系统中的相对重要性，并研究这些机制对昆虫和寄主植物进化的影响。预计这项研究的结果将对澳大利亚干旱地区生物多样性的演变以及昆虫/寄主-植物相互作用的性质提供深入的见解。

The relationships and interactions between phytophagous thrips and their host Acacia species provide a system well suited to investigating mechanisms of macroevolution in the Australian arid-zone biota. In this project we will determine the relative importance of mechanisms such as cospeciation and host-shifting within this model system, and examine the influence of these mechanisms on the evolution of both the insects and the host-plants. It is expected that the results of this study will provide insights into the evolution of arid-zone biodiversity in Australia and the nature of insect/host-plant interactions.