Systematics and Biogeography of the Desert Crane Flies of Western North America

年自然科学院的乔恩·盖尔豪斯博士 费城正在研究生物多样性和分类 栖息在沙漠地区的起重机蝇类的关系 北美西南部 虽然起重机蝇通常 在潮湿的生境中最多样化和丰富，几个亚群 显示出重复的、独立的进化和多样化， 干旱的栖息地，一种明显是美国独有的现象 在这个世界性的昆虫群中西南部。 目前正在努力实现三个主要目标：（1）确定 本文报道了中国华南地区的起重机蝇属Lunatipula亚属的种亚组 属Tipula在北方，其中几乎所有的 荒漠起重机蝇类类群的出现;（2）调查 详细介绍了三个沙漠起重机飞群的Lunatipula，描述 并展示了所有新的和以前已知的物种， 确定每个物种的地理分布， 推断每个组的系统发育史;和（3）使用 对地理范围和进化历史的了解 这三个起重机飞行组，以及以前 为其他北美沙漠昆虫发表的， 关于发展和多样化的一般假设 北美沙漠昆虫区系 研究将利用 已经在博物馆的标本，以及那些在三个 收集去墨西哥西南部和北方的旅行。

Dr. Jon Gelhaus of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia is studying the biological diversity and taxonomic relationships of crane flies inhabiting desert regions of the North American Southwest. Although crane flies are typically most diverse and abundant in moist habitats, several subgroups show repeated, independent evolution and diversification into arid habitats, a phenomenon apparently unique to the American Southwest in this otherwise worldwide group of insects. Three main objectives are being pursued: (1) Define the species subgroups within the crane fly subgenus Lunatipula of genus Tipula in the northern hemisphere, from which nearly all of the desert crane fly species groups have arisen; (2) Examine in detail three desert crane fly groups of Lunatipula, describing and illustrating all new and previously known species, determining the geographical distribution of each species and inferring each group's phylogenetic history; and (3) Use knowledge of the geographic ranges and evolutionary history of these three crane fly groups, as well as those previously published for other North American desert insects, to synthesize a general hypothesis regarding development and diversification of the North American desert insect fauna. The studies will utilize specimens already in museums as well as those secured on three collecting trips to the Southwest and northern Mexico.