All Diptera Biodiversity Inventory of a Tropical Mid-Elevation Site

令人惊讶的是，我们对地球上有多少物种知之甚少。大多数已知的物种都出现在热带地区，其中大多数是昆虫。该项目将在哥斯达黎加的一个地点清点所有不同种类的真蝇（双翅目）。因为这是第一次尝试这样的研究，物种的数量是未知的，但预计会非常高，其中许多是新的科学。来自世界各地的46名专家将合作研究89个蝇科中的每一个。预计至少有3000个物种出现在研究地点。我们星球上的生物多样性正面临严重的麻烦。人们对哺乳动物和鸟类面临的威胁进行了深入研究，但对种类繁多的昆虫却几乎一无所知。作为分解者、传粉者、捕食者等等，昆虫是生态系统的重要组成部分。栖息地的大范围破坏几乎肯定意味着每年都有成千上万的物种灭绝，从而消除了它们重要的生态服务，以及它们为科学提供信息的潜力。这项调查将首次提供关于热带生态系统中有多少种主要昆虫的重要信息。此外，调查人员还计划进行大规模的公众宣传。例如，许多人都熟悉这样一个观点，即我们的星球上有大量的物种，其中许多物种正受到全球变暖、臭氧消耗、污染和森林砍伐等现象的威胁。然而，很少有人理解科学家是如何研究和解释生物多样性的。网站的一部分将描述在热带地区研究双翅目生物多样性的考察，并将包括丰富的照片和一些视频。调查人员计划使用的方言和使用的视觉媒体将直接面向公众，展示科学家们是如何从对热带土地上苍蝇的巨大多样性感到困惑开始的。网站会介绍这些科学家吗？无知的程度，然后一步一步，描绘他们如何取样，分类和发现生活在那里的物种。一些演讲还会讲述一些发现的物种的有趣故事。

Surprisingly little is known about how many species are on our planet. Most of the known species occur in the tropics, and most of these are insects. This project will inventory all of the different species of true flies (Diptera) at a single site in Costa Rica. Because this is the first time such a study has been attempted, the number of species is unknown, but is expected to be extremely high, with many new to science. Intensive collections will be made, and 46 experts from around the world will collaborate to study each of the 89 families of flies. At least 3,000 species are expected to be present at the study site. The biodiversity on our planet is in serious trouble. Threats to mammals and birds are well studied but virtually nothing is known about the hugely diverse insects. As decomposers, pollinators, predators and much more, insects are vital components of ecosystems. The widespread destruction of habitats almost certainly means that thousands are going extinct every year, eliminating their important ecological services, and their potential to inform science. This survey will, for the first time, provide vital information of how many species of a major group of insects live in a tropical ecosystem. In addition, the investigators plan significant public outreach. As an example, many people are familiar with the idea that there are large numbers of species on our planet and that many are under threat by such phenomena as global warming, ozone depletion, pollution and deforestation. Few, however, understand how scientists actually go about studying and interpreting biodiversity. A portion of the web site will describe the expedition to study the diversity of Diptera at a tropical site and will include copious photographs and a number of videos. The vernacular the investigators plan to use and the visual media to be employed will be directed to the general public, showing how scientists begin by being puzzled by, in this case, the tremendous diversity of flies in a tropical land. The site will describe the scientists? levels of ignorance and then, step by step, portray how they sample, sort and discover the species that are living there. Some presentations will additionally relate interesting stories of some of the species discovered.