Investigation of Noctuoid Moth Phylogeny Using Molecules and Morphology

wpc2bvpz快递10cpi ？x x x, k x 6 x @ 8；X @ HP Laserjet （25-in- in, Network）PRS x @, t 0 OpX @ 2 2 @ zcpi 3| x Sj x 6 x @ 8；HP DeskJet 500 HPDES500。提出的研究将使用分子和形态特征来解决最大的蛾超科之一（已描述的物种有5万种）夜蛾科成员之间的更高层次的关系。夜蛾科包括几个著名的类群，如舞毒蛾、虎蛾、毛熊和刀蛾。尽管虎蛾具有有趣的生物学特征（如模仿、发声），而且它们作为害虫具有明显的经济重要性，但有关虎蛾之间关系的几个问题仍未解决。问题的核心在于刀虫蛾；目前，尚不清楚是否有一个，两个，或几个不相关的群体目前归为夜蛾科。该项目将结合分子测序，即对一个核（28B rRNA）和两个蛋白质编码线粒体（ND1， COI）基因进行测序，所有基因最初都作为独立的数据集与形态学数据一起进行总证据分析。生成的进化树将用于说明特定蛋白质是如何进化的，以及当前的蛋白质进化模型是否得到了这一实证研究的支持。解剖特征（形态学）和分子（基因序列）将用于解决蛾超科夜蛾总科的高级关系（系统发育）。在这个庞大的（50,000种）飞蛾群体中，将是本研究的主题，其中包括几个众所周知的群体，其中许多毛虫是臭名昭着的主要害虫（例如舞毒蛾，虎蛾和毛熊，以及刀蛾）。从这一更高层次的类群关系的研究中，应该得出一个更稳定的分类，从而促进未来对这些飞蛾的基础和应用研究。此外，该项目将研究蛋白质序列在主要蛾类之间的差异，以了解蛋白质本身如何随着时间的推移而变化。这些信息将为那些对构建蛋白质变化模型感兴趣的人提供基线数据。

WPC 2 B V P Z Courier 10cpi ? x x x , k x 6 X @ 8 ; X @ HP Laserjet (25-in-one, Network) HPLASEII.PRS x @ , t 0 OpX @ 2 2 @ Z cpi 3| x Sj x 6 X @ 8 ; X @ HP DeskJet 500 HPDES500.PRS x @ x X , , 0 FX @ 2 , F P #| x 9306755 Weller The proposed research will use both molecular and morphological characters to address higher level relationships among members of one of the largest moth superfamilies (50,000 described species), the Noctuoidea. The Noctuoidea includes several well known groups such as the gypsy moths, tiger moths and woolly bears, and cutworm moths. Despite possession of interesting biological features (e.g. mimicry, sound production in tiger moths) and their obvious economic importance as pests, several points concerning relationships of these moths remain unresolved. The heart of the problem lies with the cutworm moths; at this time, it is not clear whether there is one, two, or several unrelated groups currently lumped into the family Noctuidae. This project will combine molecular i.e. sequencing one nuclear (28B rRNA) and two protein coding mitochondrial (ND1, COI) genes, all initially analyzed as independent data sets with morphological data in a total evidence analysis. The evolutionary trees produced will be used to address how the particular proteins evolved and if current models of protein evolution are supported by this empirical study. %%% Both anatomical features (morphology) and molecules (gene sequences) will be used to address the higher relationships (phylogeny) of the moth superfamily Noctuoidea. Included in this large (50,000 species) group of moths that will be the subject of this study ar e several well known groups, many with caterpillars notorious as major insect pests (e.g. gypsy moths, tiger moths and woolly bears, and cutworm moths). From this study of higher level group relationships, a more stable classification should result that, in turn, will promote future basic and applied research with these moths. In addition, the project will examine how protein sequences differ among the major moth groups to learn how the proteins themselves have changed over time. This information will provide baseline data for those interested in constructing models of protein change.