Integrative taxonomy – Parthenogenetic radiations and ‘species’ delimitation using multimodal data

大多数现存的动物物种都是根据它们的形态（形态种）来描述的。然而，这些形态种通常由几个遗传上分离的种群组成（神秘种复合体，CSC）。综合分类学旨在通过使用和组合一种以上的数据（多模态数据;例如，形态学的、化学的、分子的）。CSC被认为在具有非常简单形态的系统发育组中特别常见（例如，许多微型节肢动物）或群体的形态是下强选择。生殖模式（有性生殖与孤雌生殖）也会影响性格进化/多样性和物种形成的速度。该项目有两个主要目标：（1）多模态数据（分子、形态、化学）如何帮助检测和描述微型节肢动物CSC中的不同物种？(2)生殖方式（有性生殖与孤雌生殖）如何影响甲螨的性状多样性和CSC数量？随着大量的共存的有性和（许多古老的）孤雌生殖物种，多个事件的孤雌生殖辐射，并证明了大量的CSC，甲螨（特别是巴豆科）代表了一个理想的模型系统，以解决这些一般性的问题。我们将从18个不同的假定CSC的有性和单性生殖甲螨形态种的巴豆科（>1000个个体）生成数据集。将纳入每份标本的分子条形码数据（线粒体cox 1、核核糖体D3区）、复杂外分泌油腺分泌物的化学特征（碳氢化合物、芳烃和萜烯）和形态特征（主要是定性和定量毛序）。

Most of the existing animal species are described based on their morphology (morphospecies). Such morphospecies, however, often consist of several genetically separated populations (cryptic species complexes, CSCs). Integrative taxonomy aims at the delineation and naming of distinct species from such CSCs by using and combining more than one kind of data (multimodal data; e.g., morphological, chemical, molecular). CSCs are assumed to be especially common in phylogenetic groups with a comparably simple morphology (e.g., many micro-arthropods) or groups where the morphology is under strong selection. The reproductive mode (sexual vs. parthenogenetic) also influences rates of character evolution/diversity and speciation. This project has two main objectives – (1) How can multimodal data (molecular, morphological, chemical) help to detect and describe distinct species in CSCs of micro-arthropods? (2) How does the reproductive mode (sexual vs. parthenogenetic) influence character diversification and the amount of CSCs in oribatid mites?With a high number of co-existing sexual and (many ancient) parthenogenetic species, multiple events of parthenogenetic radiations, and a demonstrated high amount of CSCs, oribatid mites (especially the Crotoniidae) represent an ideal model system to approach these general questions. We will generate datasets from 18 different presumable CSCs of sexual and parthenogenetic oribatid mite morphospecies from the Crotoniidae (>1000 individuals). Molecular barcoding data (mitochondrial cox1, nuclear ribosomal D3 region), chemical profiles of complex exocrine oil gland secretions (hydrocarbons, aromatics and terpenes), and morphological characters (mostly qualitative and quantitative chaetotaxy) will be included for each specimen.