PEET: Taxonomic and Monographic Studies in Neotropical Trichoptera (Insecta)

Noetropical TrichopteraNSF-0117772R.W。Holzenthal, p.i.，明尼苏达大学。伯拉尼克,Co-P.I。他是明尼苏达大学（University of minnesota）教授。哈里斯,Co-P.I。毛翅目，俗称球蝇，是水生昆虫中最大的一目。由于幼虫有趣的织网和造壳行为，它们被人们所熟知和研究。大多数物种生活在河流和小溪中，它们是生态系统的重要组成部分。它们消耗并循环利用树叶和其他有机物，反过来又以包括鱼类在内的其他水生物种为食。本PEET项目的主要目标是研究中南美洲新热带地区几个重要的球蝇属的分类和生物多样性。该地区的许多物种未被描述（在某些地方高达75%）或鲜为人知。增加技术分类修订和专著，将建立幼虫和成虫的属识别密钥，并在万维网上提供。这些修订的大部分材料已经存在于明尼苏达州和史密森尼博物馆的收藏中，其他材料将在委内瑞拉的实地工作中收集。总共将修订多达44个属和400个已描述种，并可能描述多达300个新种。此外，所有在项目期间处理过的球虱的博物馆和收藏记录都将被条形码化，建立数据库，并通过WWW提供信息。球虱是水质的重要生物监测员，因为大多数种类不能忍受大多数形式的污染。生物监测被广泛应用于北美和欧洲的水质评价，因为那里的球虱很容易识别。在新热带地区，人们对球虱知之甚少，很难将它们用作生物监测仪。该PEET项目的一个重要方面将是使拉丁美洲工人更好地了解新热带地虱动物群和获取信息。这将为球虱在新热带地区生物监测项目中的应用奠定基础。两名在明尼苏达大学接受培训的博士生，两名在克莱里昂大学接受培训的硕士生，以及一名全职研究助理将从该项目中获得资助。至少有一名博士生将从很少有毛翅目专家的拉丁美洲招募。预计该项目将刺激和促进对拉丁美洲毛翅目昆虫的研究，并有助于保护和保存该区域的水生生态系统。

PEET: Taxonomic and Monographic Studies in Noetropical TrichopteraNSF-0117772R.W. Holzenthal, P.I., University of MinnesotaR.J. Blahnik, Co-P.I., University of MinnesotaS.C. Harris, Co-P.I., University of MinnesotaNon-technical Abstract Trichoptera, commonly known as caddisflies, constitute the largest order of exclusively aquatic insects. They are well known and studied because of the interesting net-spinning and case-making behavior of the larvae. Most species live in rivers and streams, where they are important elements of the ecosystem. They consume and recycle leaves and other organic matter and in turn are fed on by other aquatic species, including fish. A primary goal of this PEET project is to study the taxonomy and biodiversity of several important genera of caddisflies from the Neotropics of Central and South America. Many species in this region are undescribed (up to 75% in some places) or poorly known. Augmenting the technical taxonomic revisions and monographs will be the construction of identification keys to genera of both larval and adult caddisflies to be made available over the World Wide Web (WWW). Much of the material for these revisions already exists in collections in Minnesota and at the Smithsonian, and other material will be collected by field work in Venezuela. Collectively, as many as 44 genera and 400 described species will be revised, and up to 300 new species may be described. In addition, all museum and collection records of the caddisflies treated during the project will be bar-coded, databased, and the information made accessible over the WWW. Caddisflies are important biological monitors of water quality because most species are intolerant of most forms of pollution. Biomonitoring is widely used in water quality assessment in North America and Europe because the caddisflies there can be easily identified. In the Neotropics, caddisflies are very poorly known, making it difficult to use them as biological monitors. An important aspect of this PEET project will be to make the Neotropical caddisfly fauna better known and information accessible to Latin American workers. This will lay a foundation for the use of caddisflies in biomonitoring programs in the Neotropics. Two doctoral students trained at the University of Minnesota, two masters students trained at Clarion University, and a full-time research associate will be funded off the project. At least one of the doctoral students will be recruited from Latin America where there are very few Trichoptera experts. It is expected that this project will stimulate and facilitate the study of Trichoptera in Latin America and contribute to the protection and preservation of the aquatic ecosystems of the region.