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

约翰·w·温泽尔和理查德·l·布朗，《合作研究：类球蛾系统发育的全球框架》，一种巨大多样性的食草动物辐射。18.3万美元飞蛾和蝴蝶（鳞翅目）代表了昆虫多样性的一次大爆发。在鳞翅目的主要分支中，gelechio总科在数量和生态学上都是最成功的分支之一。幼虫在大多数陆地生境中都很重要，并且具有多种摄食习惯，但由于幼虫科分支之间的进化关系存在很大的不确定性，因此不可能拼凑出生态特征进化和寄主-植物选择的支持情景。迄今为止，大多数专家都只关注全球范围内的少数分类群或当地的许多分类群，产生的知识只是拼凑而不是全面的综合。一些作者强调某些特征而不是其他特征，一些作者强调成虫的特征，另一些作者强调未成熟昆虫的特征。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，并定义它们彼此之间的关系。首先，我们将在现有的形态矩阵的基础上，增加新的形态特征，为鳞翅目提供一个大矩阵，约150至175个物种代表所有主要的鳞翅目谱系。选择这些例子是为了代表长期公认的血统的变异。其次，我们将提供来自几个基因的DNA序列数据，以增加系统发育分析的形态矩阵。我们还将启动一个档案低温收集，包括大约150个物种，或尽可能多的物种，包括那些特别有趣的寄主植物。第三，将制作基于网络的识别密钥和照片档案，以提供有关分类群和特征以及宿主信息的基本知识，并将DNA数据与生物信息进行交叉参考。最后，适应性辐射和进化的宿主选择和摄食综合征将在系统发育框架下解释，扩展我们之前在这方面的成功。整个项目的大部分费用分别用于学生工资、pi以外人员的差旅费和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.