Evolutionary biology and systematics of arthropods

目的：我探索和分析的物种和节肢动物群落的多样性和演变，特别是拾荒甲虫在森林落叶，地理岛屿和栖息地岛屿，如洞穴和动物群组合。 岛屿和洞穴被选为复制“简单”社区的经常重复的自然实验。方法：我使用广泛的实地工作，以收集数据的节肢动物物种的存在，和他们的生命周期，栖息地的喜好，行为，生态等的方法提供了一个分类数据库，旨在测试和补充一般的生态和进化理论，以及生成和测试新的物种和社区起源和组织的假设。 实验室和博物馆的研究准备了系统的审查和修订，以记录生物多样性的模式（包括生化方法）。 意义：这项工作有助于在森林凋落物，洞穴和岛屿的节肢动物多样性的基线文件。 节肢动物是生命中最多样化的门，我认为我们对节肢动物的了解最少。 在生态学和进化的模式和过程的一般性将进一步加强与节肢动物的数据和测试。 我的工作保存了正在消失的热带节肢动物生物多样性的样本，并为测量干扰影响提供了标准，就像在加拉帕戈斯群岛一样。 自1989年以来，我在那里的工作通过创新的采样方法为群岛的已知动物群增加了约900种昆虫物种（占总数的50%）。 最后，研究涉及并支持各级学生，并有助于他们的培训，以满足进一步的科学人力需求。 学生项目通常具有应用或保护方向。

Objectives: I explore and analyze diversity and evolution of species and communities of arthropods, especially scavenging beetles in forest leaf-litter, and faunal  assemblages on geographic islands and in habitat islands such as caves.  Islands and caves are chosen as frequently repeated natural experiments in replicating "simple" communities. Approach:  I use extensive field work to gather data on the presence of arthropod species, and their life cycles, habitat preferences, behaviour, ecology, etc. The approach provides a taxonomic data-base, and is aimed at testing and supplementing general ecological and evolutionary theory as well as generating and testing new hypotheses of species and community origin and organization.  Laboratory and museum study prepares systematic reviews and revisions to document patterns of biodiversity (including biochemical methods).   Significance: The work contributes to baseline documentation of arthropod diversity in forest-litter, caves, and islands.  Arthropods are life's most diverse phylum, and I contend that we know the least about arthropods on a per-species basis.  Generalities on patterns and processes in ecology and evolution will be further strengthened with data and tests from arthropods.  My work preserves samples of vanishing tropical arthropod biodiversity, and gives a standard for measuring disturbance impact, as in the Galapagos Islands.  Since 1989, my work there has added some 900 insect species (50% of the total) to the known fauna of the islands through innovative sampling methodologies.  Lastly, the research involves and supports students at all levels, and contributes to their training to meet further scientific manpower needs.  Student projects often have an applied or conservation orientation.