拟申请的项目,瞄准当前进化生物学理论研究的热点问题-形态退化中的物种分化与物种形成，采用显微CT和3D结构重建技术、活体显微操作技术和分子系统发育技术，从营养取食的口器及肌肉的退化以及生殖交配的阳茎退化两个方面开展研究。以雌雄生殖器结构变化产生的隔离分析入手，数量化测定交配器的配合机制和功能效果，结合其它形态分化分析，研究黄隐翅虫属Xantholinus、异形隐翅虫Oxytelus、菲隐翅虫Philonthus等若干特大属中的物种分化规律。通过研究口器与阳茎结构退化及变化规律，以分子系统发育树为基础和对比模板，探讨形态结构退化与功能延续的进化趋势,以及这种进化趋势在物种形成中的作用机理，对形态退化与物种分化之间的关联进行直接验证。

This project is a study on morphological degeneration and species diversification and speciation of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), mainly concentrated on mandible and controlling muscles, and aedeagus median lobe as well as other related structures. This is an important topic attracting more and more attention in current evolutionary biology. X-ray micro CT tomography and 3D morphological reconstruction, in vivo micro-preparation and operation and molecular phylogenetic analysis are three important methods employed. Genital structure and other morphological modifications will be measured and evaluated; copulation mechanism and effectiveness will studied. Large genera Xantholinus, Oxytelus and Philonthus are selected and their species diversification will be compared. Morphological degeneration in mouth and aedeagus will be analyzed based on phylogenetic tree established, so that the evolutionary trends can be determined and function maintaining can be evidenced. The aim of this project is to give clues and evidences to the relationship between morphological degeneration and species diversification.