Systematics Of The New World Grasshopper Subfamily Melanoplinae

摘要本研究对美洲巴拿马以北的黑腹蝗亚科蝗虫进行了分类学修订，黑腹蝗亚科蝗虫占美洲巴拿马以北已知蝗虫的37%。 该项目包括美国科学家之间的合作活动，阿根廷和墨西哥，并将产生新的收集材料从北方墨西哥，马托格罗索州，巴西和高原的厄瓜多尔。 现有的新世界蝗虫分类几乎都是完全或基本上人工的。 本研究中的系统发育分析将构成自然预测分类的基础。 特别强调将放在大型和重要的属Melanoplus。 该属的已描述物种占亚科的一半以上，大约20%的美国物种仍未被描述。 该项目将澄清亚科的物种群和属之间的关系;制作全面的电子分类学“出版物”，包括目录和互动式，网络访问的诊断关键字;收集新的标本和物种;分析这个多样化的群体内的进化模式。准确识别和预测分类的melanopline蝗虫将是许多生物学家的宝贵资源。 这些动物引起广泛研究人员的兴趣有几个原因。 其中有记录的物种形成速度比任何其他陆地环境都要快。 该亚科的物种每年消耗6-12%的可用饲料，是农作物和花园的严重害虫。 目前，很难确定物种或区分那些对农业有害，有益或中性的物种。 这些昆虫也越来越引起保护生物学家的兴趣。 制作的参考资料将有研究和教学用途。

ABSTRACT This research involves a taxonomic revision of grasshoppers of the subfamily Melanoplinae, accounting for 37% of the known species north of Panama in the Americas. This project includes collaborative activities among scientists in the U.S., Argentina, and Mexico, and will generate new collections of material from northern Mexico, Mato Grosso, Brazil, and highlands of Ecuador. Existing classifications of New World grasshoppers are almost all wholly or substantially artificial. Phylogenetic analyses in this study will form the basis for a natural, predictive classification. Special emphasis will be placed on the large and important genus Melanoplus. Described species of this genus account for more than half those of the subfamily and perhaps 20% of American species remain undescribed. The project will result in a clarification of relationships among species groups and genera of the subfamily; production of comprehensive electronic taxonomic "publications" including catalogs and interactive, web accessible diagnostic keys; collection of new specimens and species; an analysis of evolutionary patterns within this diverse group. Accurate identification and predictive classifications for melanopline grasshoppers will be a valuable resource for many biologists. These animals are of interest to a wide range of researchers for several reasons. Among them are documented rates of speciation more rapid than known for any other terrestrial environment. Species of the subfamily annually consume 6-12% of available forage and are serious pests in crops and gardens. Currently, it is difficult to identify species or to distinguish among those that are harmful, beneficial, or neutral with regard to agriculture. Increasingly, these insects are of interest to conservation biologists as well. The reference materials produced will have both research and teaching applications.