Insect relationships and evolution in deep time

昆虫是最多样化的动物群体：有超过100万种被描述的物种，它们是陆地生态系统的关键贡献者。这使得这种昆虫非常重要，但它们的起源和进化仍然不确定。例如，它们的翅膀是如何进化而来的？他们的多样化是在什么时间尺度上发生的？是什么让他们如此成功？对这些和其他关键问题的了解有限，是由于昆虫内部不确定的进化关系，特别是在化石群之间，这些化石群提供了对该群体进化的直接见解。利用现存物种的DNA进行分析，已经开始解决生物目之间的关系，但昆虫历史上重要的早期分支事件仍然存在问题。这是因为没有可测试的、昆虫范围内的分析将灭绝目——或可能属于现存目的灭绝物种——放在昆虫生命之树上。我们提出一项研究就是这样做的，使用成熟的、基于计算机的方法。它将包括所有灭绝目的化石，以及一系列其他化石物种，这些化石物种将被现代物种及其DNA数据所补充。该项目将由曼彻斯特大学的一个跨学科团队进行，这将使我们能够创建所有昆虫目的进化树，包括活的和死的。这将使我们更好地了解昆虫翅膀的起源；昆虫进化早期的分支事件（即昆虫如何在最深层次上相互关联）；昆虫迅速变得更加多样化的时期是否与进化的新颖性或生态发展有关；以及主要进化变化的动力。提高昆虫关系的清晰度将导致，并将成为围绕进化过程的长期研究的关键，以及该小组成功背后的因素。这是一项及时的、跨学科的工作，将产生国际影响。该项目还将提供机会，让公众参与进来，提高对昆虫和进化本身的认识。

Insects are the most diverse animal group: there are more than one million described species, which are key contributors to ecosystems on land. This makes the insects very important, but uncertainty remains regarding their origins and evolution. For example, how did their wings evolve, and from what? Over what timescale did their diversification take place? What makes them so successful? Limited knowledge on these, and other key questions, results from uncertain evolutionary relationships within the insects, especially amongst fossil groups which provide direct insights into the group's evolution. Analyses using the DNA of extant species are starting to resolve relationships between living orders, but the important early branching events in insect history remain problematic. This is because there are no testable, insect-wide analyses that place extinct orders - or extinct species likely to belong to living orders - on the insect tree of life. We propose a study that does just this, using established, computer-based approaches. It will include fossils from all extinct orders, and a range of other fossil species, which will be complemented by modern species and their DNA data. The project will be carried out at the University of Manchester by an interdisciplinary team and will allow us to create the first evolutionary tree of all insect orders, both living and dead. This will allow us to better understand the origin of insect wings; branching events early in insect evolution (i.e. how insects are related to each other at the deepest level); whether periods when the insects became more diverse very quickly are linked to evolutionary novelties or ecological developments; and the dynamics of major evolutionary changes. Improved clarity in insect relationships will result, and will be key to long-term research surrounding evolutionary processes, and the factors behind the group's success. This is a timely and multidisciplinary piece of work which will have international impact. The project will also provide the opportunity to engage the public, improving knowledge of both the insects, and of evolution itself.