PEET: The Diplopoda: Research, Taxonomic Training, and Computerization

小行星9712438 千足虫具有突出的生态重要性，在土壤养分循环中发挥着至关重要的作用。 千足虫纲（倍足目）估计共有80，000多个物种，是陆地节肢动物中第三大多样性，仅次于昆虫和蜘蛛（蜘蛛，蜱，螨）。 它们是研究最少的动物群体之一，几乎没有最新的分类学处理方法，也很少有活跃的专家。 在这个项目中，Petra Sierwald，Richard霍夫曼，William Shear和R. M.雪莱将联合收割机他们的专业知识，培训新的千足虫专家，并产生新的分类治疗，特别是北美和中美洲的类群，使用现代方法。 将编制物种核对表、检索表和分类，供专家和非专家使用，并以电子方式提供。 此外，还将准备标本收藏，并将现有标本加以更新。

9712438 SIERWALD Millipedes are of outstanding ecological importance and play a crucial role in nutrient cycling within the soil. With an estimated total of more than 80,000 living species, the millipede class (Diplopoda) is the third most diverse among terrestrial arthropods, after insects and arachnids (spiders, ticks, mites). They are one of the most understudied groups of animals, with few up-to-date taxonomic treatments and few remaining active experts. In this project, Petra Sierwald, Richard Hoffman, William Shear and R. M. Shelley will combine their expertise to train new millipede experts and produce new taxonomic treatments, especially of North and Central American taxa, using modern methods. Species checklists, keys and classifications, for use by experts and nonexperts, will be produced and made available electronically. In addition, specimen collections will be prepared, and those now available upgraded.