Caddisfly (Trichoptera) phylogeny: networking and cross-training

毛翅目（热蝇）是一种昆虫，其成虫长得像飞蛾，是它们的近亲。由于毛翅目幼虫生活在水中，而且不同物种对污染的耐受性不同，因此通常采用对这些幼虫进行定量采样来监测水质。然而，生物监测需要精确的分类，目前尚无热带Trichoptera的分类。通过本研究，将从分子DNA序列数据和形态数据两方面构建一个代表世界80%毛翅目属的系统发育，并获得该类群的准确分类。这种新的系统发育框架和分类将允许放置新发现的物种，并集中分析物种对水污染的差异敏感性。目前有一个大型的、独立资助的项目，旨在收集DNA短片段，通过它们独特的DNA序列（称为“条形码”）来快速识别物种。其他数据将与毛翅目条形码计划协调收集，以便将这些序列的效用扩展到系统发育。本研究将为本科生和研究生提供现代分类学和系统发育方法各方面的培训。这项工作还将对人类健康产生影响，因为毛翅目昆虫被广泛用于水质评估的生物监测。

Trichoptera (Caddisflies) are insects whose adults look like moths, which are their closest relatives. Because Trichoptera larvae live in water, and because different species are differentially tolerant to pollution, quantitative sampling of these larvae is commonly used to monitor water quality. However, biomonitoring requires accurate taxonomy, which is currently unavailable for Trichoptera in the Tropics. With this research, a phylogeny representing 80% of the world's Trichoptera genera will be constructed from both molecular DNA sequence data and morphological data, and an accurate taxonomy for the group will be obtained. This new phylogenetic framework and classification will allow placement of newly discovered species and focused analysis on differential sensitivity of species to water pollution.There is currently a large, independently funded effort to collect short pieces of DNA that can be used to quickly identify species by their unique DNA sequences (called 'barcodes'). Additional data will be collected in coordination with the Trichoptera barcode initiative in order to extend the utility of these sequences to phylogenetics. Training in all aspects of modern taxonomic and phylogenetic methods will be provided to undergraduate and graduate students during this research. This work will also have an impact on human health because Trichoptera are extensively used in biomonitoring for water-quality assessment.