Collaborative Research: Biotic Inventory of the Amphibians, Reptiles and Associated Parasites of the Central African Lowland Forests

该项目的目标是了解世界上最鲜为人知的地区之一的两栖动物、爬行动物及其内寄生虫的分类和进化史：中非低地。刚果盆地的森林以其巨大的生物多样性而闻名，但越来越多地受到森林砍伐、气候变化和多种青蛙的壶菌感染的威胁。壶菌感染与全球两栖动物数量的减少有关。在调查期间收集的样本的DNA分析将用于识别和描述新物种，并重建它们的进化史。研究人员估计，该项目可能会使该地区目前已知的约380种两栖和爬行动物物种增加一倍。本科生将通过专用网站分析标本照片和相关的地理参考数据，并在进行探险时实时参与网络分类学和快速鉴定项目。项目负责人将使用太阳能充电器和计算机在实地撰写博客，因为探险正在进行中，作为一种吸引学生、同事和普通公众参与研究的方式。预计该项目将显著提高全球对刚果盆地S生物多样性重要性的认识，并支持该国正在进行的扩大国家公园的努力。

The goal of this project is to understand the taxonomy and evolutionary history of amphibians, reptiles and their endoparasites in one of the most poorly known regions in the world: the lowlands of Central Africa. Forests in the Congo Basin are renowned for their immense biodiversity, but are increasingly threatened by deforestation, climate change and chytrid fungus infections in multiple genera of frogs. Chytrid infections are linked to global amphibian declines. DNA analyses of samples collected during surveys will be used to identify and describe new species, and to reconstruct their evolutionary history. The investigators estimate the project may double the approximately 380 species of amphibians and reptiles currently known from the region.Undergraduate students will work in teams to participate in cybertaxonomy and rapid-identification projects by analyzing photographs of specimens with associated georeference data via dedicated websites, and in real time as expeditions are occurring. Project leaders will use solar-powered chargers and computers to blog from the field as expeditions are in progress as a way to engage students, colleagues and the general public in the research. It is anticipated that this project will significantly elevate the global understanding of the importance of the Congo Basin?s biodiversity, and support ongoing, in-country efforts to expand national parks.