Dissertation Research: Phylogeny of Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera): Evolution of Katydid Defenses and Ears

Katydids是一个众所周知的昆虫家族，但令人惊讶的是，人们对这6500个已知物种之间的历史关系知之甚少。此外，人们对它们独特的形态特征的进化知之甚少，如它们前腿(通常称为耳朵)上的声音接收器官，以及它们抵御捕食的防御来源：树叶状的翅膀、明亮的警告颜色和伪装。该项目将导致首次系统发育分析，并为了解它们独特的耳朵的发育和伪装的方法奠定基础。在该项目中产生的DNA数据将被用于为本科生开发两个正式的实验练习。在资助期间，这些练习将为1000多名本科生提供实践培训，内容包括如何比对DNA序列、重建系统发育树、绘制拓扑图上的特征，以及如何使用系统发育学来回答科学中的基本问题。这项研究还将为少数族裔本科生在特定项目上提供直接指导。这些学生将为项目的一个子集生成数据，分析结果，在全国会议上展示他们的发现，并成为这项工作产生的出版物的资深作者。

Katydids are a well-recognized family of insects, yet surprisingly little is known about the historical relationships between the 6500 known species. Also, little is known about the evolution of their unique morphological features such as the sound reception organs on their front legs (commonly referred to as ears) and the origins of their defenses against predation: leaf-like wings, bright warning coloration, and camouflage. This project will result in the first phylogenetic analysis of katydids and provide the groundwork for understanding the development of their unique ears and methods of camouflage.DNA data generated during this project will be used to develop two formal lab exercises for undergraduate students. During the duration of funding, these exercises will provide over 1,000 undergraduate students with hands-on training in how to align DNA sequences, reconstruct phylogenetic trees, map characters on topologies, and how to use phylogenetics to answer fundamental questions in science. This research will also provide minority undergraduate students with direct mentorship on specific projects. These students will generate data for a subset of the project, analyze results, present their findings at national meetings, and be senior author on a publication coming from this work.