DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Evolution of Resource Specilization in the Bark Beetle Genus Dendroctonus

9623763米顿该奖学金将为研究生斯科特·t·凯利（Scott T. Kelley）和科罗拉多大学博尔德分校的杰弗里·b·米顿（Jeffry B. MITTON）博士的论文研究提供资金，用于材料和用品以及在美国西南部、墨西哥和危地马拉进行实地研究的延长旅行。Brian Farrell博士最近离开了科罗拉多大学，接受了哈佛大学的教职，他是一名coPI，将参与培训该学生的分子数据系统发育分析方法。该学生的研究项目有两个组成部分：1)利用分子（mtDNA）序列数据和形态学数据，对树突属树皮甲虫（昆虫目：鞘翅目：棘虫科）的物种关系进行综合数据系统发育分析；2)在广泛的地理范围内对两种树皮甲虫种群之间的遗传多样性程度进行种群水平的研究。这两项研究的资料将用于检验关于这些破坏木材的昆虫的饮食变化和专业化的假设。该奖项将为一名研究生提供支持，该研究生将研究甲虫属（包括一些主要森林/木材害虫）的饮食广度/专业化随时间的变化。研究结果对具有重大经济意义的应用研究具有潜在价值。支持对研究生进行现代系统生物学和种群生物学方法方面的培训，对于维持有能力解决日益引起全球关注的生物多样性问题的科学家队伍是重要的。

9623763 MITTON This award will provide funds for materials and supplies as well as extended travel for field studies in the southwestern US, Mexico and Guatemala related to the dissertation research of a graduate student, Scott T. Kelley, working with Dr. Jeffry B. Mitton at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Brian Farrell, who recently left the University of Colorado to accept a faculty position at Harvard University, is a coPI and will be involved in training the student in methods of phylogenetic analysis of molecular data. The research project of this student has two components: 1) a combined data phylogenetic analysis of species relationships among bark beetles in the genus Dendroctonous (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scolytidae), utilizing molecular (mtDNA) sequence data and morphological data and 2) population level studies of the degree of genetic diversity among populations of two of the species across a broad geographic range. Information from both studies will be utilized to test hypotheses concerning dietary shifts and specializations for these wood destroying insects. This award will provide support for a graduate student pursuing studies of the change in dietary breadth/specialization through time for a genus of beetles which includes some species that are major forest/timber pests. The results have potential value for applied research with major economic implications. Support for the training of graduate students in modern systematic and population biology methodologies is important for maintaining the workforce of scientists capable of addressing the questions and issues of biodiversity which are of increasing global concern.