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

这个项目的目标是了解世界上最不为人知的地区之一：中非低地的两栖动物、爬行动物及其内寄生虫的分类和进化历史。刚果盆地的森林以其巨大的生物多样性而闻名，但受到森林砍伐、气候变化和多种蛙类的壶菌感染的威胁越来越大。壶菌感染与全球两栖动物数量下降有关。在调查中收集的样本的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大约380种两栖动物和爬行动物增加一倍。本科生将以小组形式参与网络分类学和快速识别项目，通过专门的网站分析标本的照片和相关的地理参考数据，并在探险发生时实时进行。项目负责人将使用太阳能充电器和电脑在探险进行过程中从现场发布博客，作为吸引学生、同事和公众参与研究的一种方式。预计该项目将显著提升全球对刚果盆地重要性的认识。美国的生物多样性，并支持正在进行的扩大国家公园的国内努力。

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.