DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Aligning ant diversity with conservation priorities in a biodiversity hotspot: Systematics and biogeography of the arboreal ant Crematogaster in Madagascar

这个项目的目标是调查马达加斯加岛上一群蚂蚁——Crematogaster的物种多样性和相互关系。它们是多种多样的优势树栖蚂蚁，分布在世界各地，对它们的物种数量进行准确估计是非常必要的，但众所周知，这是一个问题。本研究使用形态学和遗传学方法来鉴定物种，并描述马达加斯加这些蚂蚁的任何新物种，并调查它们与在不同地理区域发现的该群体其他成员的关系。马达加斯加是世界上最大的岛屿之一。马达加斯加的生物多样性热点地区，拥有独特的动植物，包括有魅力的狐猴和马达加斯加长春花等植物，它们既是一种观赏植物，也是抗癌药物的来源。这项研究为了解马达加斯加动植物独特的进化史做出了重大贡献，并提供了完整的分布记录和物种估计，为所有进一步的生态和保护措施提供了必要的基础。通过开发基于网络的物种鉴定工具以及通过对马达加斯加当地学生和资源管理当局的教育，实现了数据的广泛传播。因此，这项研究支持了为扩大马达加斯加的保护区网络而确定区域的持续努力，并通过教育活动进一步提高了当地的研究能力。

The goal of this project is to investigate species diversity and relationships in a group of ants, Crematogaster, on the island of Madagascar. These are diverse and dominant arboreal ants with a worldwide distribution for which accurate estimates of the number of species are much-needed but notoriously problematic. This study uses morphological and genetic methods to identify species and to describe any new species of these ants in Madagascar and to investigate their relatedness to other members of the group that are found in different geographical regions. Madagascar is one of the world?s biodiversity hotspots, harboring a unique flora and fauna, including the charismatic lemurs and plants such as the Madagascar periwinkle, valued both as an ornamental and a source of anti-cancer drugs. This research contributes significantly to understanding the unique evolutionary history of Malagasy plants and animals and delivers complete distribution records and species estimates that are needed as a basis for all further ecological and conservation measures. Broad dissemination of data is achieved through the development of web-based species identification tools, and through the education of local students and resource management authorities in Madagascar. This study thereby supports ongoing efforts to define areas for the expansion of the protected area network in Madagascar, and further enhances the local research capacity through educational activities.