Evolution of bioluminescence in millipedes

动物使用各种各样的策略来避免捕食--伪装、脊椎和毒素是其中的几种。有毒、不可食用或其他有害的动物通常通过警告信号来宣传这一点，例如黄夹克的黄色和黑色条纹或蛇的吱吱声。生物发光的千足虫只有在加利福尼亚州才知道，它们用氰化物进行防御，它们发出的绿蓝光被认为是夜间的警告信号。在这个项目中，将利用分子系统学方法分析千足类的进化关系，以确定生物发光的起源，并将调查生物发光进化的生态环境。系统发育还将为千足类生物多样性建立一个稳定的分类系统框架。该项目的收藏部分将提供在生命之树网络项目上公开张贴的物种信息。还将制作教育网站，包括关于分解者作为全球生态系统重要成员的详细信息，因为它们提供对健康生态系统至关重要的功能。

Animals use myriad strategies to avoid predation -- camouflage, spines, and toxins are among a few. Animals that are toxic, inedible, or otherwise noxious often advertise this by a warning signal, for example the yellow and black stripes of a yellowjacket or the rattle of a snake. Bioluminescent millipedes, known only from California, are defended with cyanide and their green-blue glow is hypothesized to be a nocturnal warning signal. In this project, the evolutionary relationships of millipedes will be analyzed, using molecular phylogenetic methods, to pinpoint the origin of bioluminescence, and the ecological circumstances under which bioluminescence evolved will be investigated. The phylogeny will also establish a framework for a stable classification system for millipede biodiversity. The collections component of this project will provide species information posted publicly on the Tree of Life Web Project. Educational websites will also be produced, including detailed information on decomposers as important members of the global ecosystem, as they provide functions that are essential to healthy ecosystems.