Collaborative Research: A Global Framework for the Phylogeny of Gelechioid Moths, a Megadiverse Radiation of Herbivores.

John W.作者声明：Richard L.布朗，合作研究：一个全球框架的gelechioid蛾，草食动物的megadiversary辐射。183，000美元蛾和蝴蝶（鳞翅目）代表了昆虫多样性的巨大爆炸之一。 在鳞翅目的主要谱系中，麦蛾总科是数量和生态上最成功的辐射之一。幼虫是重要的，在大多数陆地栖息地，并有很大的多样性的饮食习惯，但深刻的不确定性之间的分支Gelechioidea的进化关系，使得它不可能拼凑支持的生态特征进化和寄主植物选择的场景。到目前为止，大多数专家都必须集中在少数类群全球或许多类群当地，产生知识的拼凑，而不是一个全面的综合。 有些作者强调某些特征，而不是替代品，有些是成年昆虫的特征，另一些是未成熟的。我们将使用几种方法来对组成群体的37个主要血统进行排序，并定义它们之间的关系。 首先，我们将建立在现有的形态矩阵，增加新的形态特征，以前没有使用的鳞翅目提供一个大矩阵约150至175种代表所有主要gelechioid谱系。选择这些样本是为了代表长期公认的谱系中的变异。 其次，我们将提供来自几个基因的DNA序列数据，以增加形态矩阵进行系统发育分析。我们还将启动档案低温收集，包括约150个物种，或尽可能多的物种，包括那些特别有趣的宿主植物。第三，将制作基于网络的识别码和照片档案，以提供关于分类群和特征以及宿主信息的基本知识，并将DNA数据与生物信息相互参照。最后，适应性辐射和进化的主机选择和喂养综合征将解释在光的系统发育框架，扩大我们在这方面的早期成功。整个项目的大部分费用分别是学生的工资、PI以外人员的差旅费以及DNA实验室工作的材料和用品。

John W. Wenzel and Richard L. Brown, Collaborative Research: A global framework for the phylogeny of the gelechioid moths, a megadiverse radiation of herbivores. $183,000 Moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) represent one of the great explosions of insect diversity. Among major lineages of Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea is one of the most successful radiations, both numerically and ecologically. Larvae are important in most terrestrial habitats and have a great diversity of feeding habits, but deep uncertainty regarding the evolutionary relationships among branches of the Gelechioidea makes it impossible to piece together supportable scenarios of ecological character evolution and host-plant selection. To date, most specialists have necessarily focused on a few taxa globally or many taxa locally, producing a patchwork of knowledge rather than a comprehensive synthesis. Some authors place emphasis on certain characters rather than alternatives, some on features of the adults insects, others on immatures. We will use several approaches in order to sort the 37 major lineages that compose the group and define their relationships to each other. First, we will build upon existing morphological matrices, adding new morphological characters not previously used in Lepidoptera to provide a grand matrix for about 150 to 175 species representing all major gelechioid lineages. The exemplars are chosen to represent variation in long-recognized lineages. Second, we will provide DNA sequence data from several genes to augment the morphological matrix for phylogenetic analysis. We will also initiate an archival cryogenic collection including about 150 species, or as many species as possible, including those with particularly interesting host plants. Third, web-based identification keys and photo archives will be produced to make available the primary knowledge regarding taxa and characters as well as host information, and to cross reference DNA data with biological information. Finally, adaptive radiation and evolution of host choice and feeding syndromes will be interpreted in light of the phylogenetic framework, expanding on our earlier success in this regard. The bulk of the expenses of the total project are in student salaries, travel for personnel other than the PIs, and materials and supplies for the DNA laboratory work, respectively.