|
1C
Monographic Treatments
 Establishing the higher groupings. The PEET
proposal stated that a higher level phylogeny for the family Therevidae
was needed so that small, monophyletic groupings of taxa could
be monographed. The strategy for establishing a higher level classification
of the Therevidae entailed two aspects. The first was a strong,
cladistic analysis based on morphological evidence, which would
develop hypotheses of monophyletic units. This was to be followed
by a molecular cladistic study to test those hypotheses. We felt
that this would provide the most rigorous test of monophyletic
units in the Therevidae.
 Morphological progress. PI Irwin spent 14 weeks
in the laboratory of Co-PI Yeates. They collaborated in searching
for characters on more than 50 species in different genera of
therevids scattered across the presumed spectrum of the family.
Five outgroups (Asilidae, Bombyliidae, Scenopinidae [Scenopininae
and Proratinae], and Apsilocephalidae) were also studied. During
the examination, 30 promising characters were found on the female
terminalia and another 40 on the head. The search is continuing
for characters on the thorax, abdomen, and male terminalia.
All characters thus far discovered have been polarized and scored
for each taxon in the study. Based on this partial list of characters,
preliminary trees were generated using Hennig 86 and PAUP. The
trees, examined using MacClade, will be refined as more body
parts are examined and new characters are added.
Molecular progress. Genomic DNA has been
extracted from 10 taxa for the preliminary test of phylogenetic
utility for 4 genes, 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, dopa decarboxylase,
and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). The test taxa
include Stenomphrale (Scenopinidae) and Heterotropus
(Bombyliidae) as outgroups, and Parapsilocephala, Pherocera,
Phycus, Henicomyia, Brachylinga, Litolinga,
Thereva, and Acrosathe from the Therevidae. Primers
were synthesized to amplify DDC and PEPCK based on known Drosophila
sequences for these genes. Tests of primer pairs for each of
the four genes have yielded successful amplification of appropriate
sized fragments from therevid and outgroup DNA. Preliminary
sequencing of the 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, DDC, and PEPCK is currently
underway for comparison of sequence variation for each gene
within the family.
Genus
level revisions.
One goal of this PEET grant is to provide a monographic treatment
of the North American representatives of the entire family by
the fifth year. This will entail separate monographs of the
largest genera in this region: Ozodiceromyia, Brachylinga,
Thereva, Pherocera, and Cyclotelus. The
first three are being assigned to the graduate students, and
the last two will be completed by PI Irwin.
 Status of Ozodiceromyia. This large
genus has been assigned to Mr. Gaimari. Original and subsequent
descriptions of the 36 currently valid species in Ozodiceromyia
and a listing of known repositories for their type specimens
have been compiled. Most of the major museums and many of
the smaller collections in the U.S. and Central America have
been contacted with requests for specimens. Many of these
institutions have now sent collections of the genus to us.
About 50% of the nearly 25,000 specimens currently in our
possession have been labelled with loan information and unique
specimen numbers, and more are being labelled daily. Data
input into the specimen databases has begun. Gaimari has sorted
and partly characterized 40 different species (in about 12
species-groups), and he and PI Irwin have worked towards developing
easily identifiable species groups for the initial sorting
of this large genus. Nearly one-half of the specimens so far
have been sorted to species-group or morphospecies, making
the next stage of the revision close at hand (see below).
Status of Dichoglena, Pandivirilia, and Viriliricta.
Webb & Irwin have examined Nearctic material related to
these three genera, in addition to all available type specimens.
The current evaluation of these three genera, in conjunction
with representatives of the Palaearctic species, indicates
that Dichoglena and Viriliricta should be synonymized
under Pandivirilia. Descripions, keys, illustrations
and distributional maps have been completed. A phylogenetic
analysis of Pandivirilia, including the Palaearctic
material, has yet to be completed.
Status of Tabuda and Tabudamima.
Webb and Irwin have examined extensive material of these two
genera in addition to the type specimens. Descripions, keys,
illustrations, distribution maps and a phylogenetic analysis
have been completed. This revision is in the final stage of
preparation.
Status of Anabarhynchus. This speciose Australian
genus is currently being monographed by Dr. Lyneborg in collaboration
with PI Irwin and Co-PI Yeates. Species descriptions are nearly
complete; critical illustrations have begun. We will meet
in Copenhagen in September to finish the manuscript.
1D
Expeditions to Increase the Knowledge Base of Therevidae
Three expeditions, supported by Schlinger Foundation funds, have
been undertaken since the PEET grant began in September 1995, one
to New Caledonia and two in east central Australia.
New Caledonia. PI Irwin, Collaborator Webb,
and Dr. Evert I. Schlinger spent three weeks in January 1996 on
an expedition to New Caledonia. Specimens of Therevidae proved
to be extremely scarce during this expedition; those specimens
that were caught were, however, very valuable because they increased
the knowedge base and expanded the taxa of therevids on this ancient
continental (Gondwanan) island. Collecting permits were obtained
for both provinces of mainland New Caledonia.
Australia. During PI Irwin's sabbatical leave
in Queensland, two expeditions were undertaken, a two-week expedition
to the Mount Moffatt Section of Carnarvan Gorge National Park,
Queensland. [Graduate student Gaimari joined PI Irwin and Co-PI
Yeates on this expedition.] A one-week trip to the Warrumbungle
Mountains National Park was also undertaken by PI Irwin. Collecting
permits were obtained for both. Both of these trips produced large
quantities of therevids that are scarce in collections. The material
is currently being curated under the supervision of Collaborator
Webb.
Summary
of work to be performed during the next year of support, if changed
from the original proposal; an indication of any current problems
or favorable or unusual developments; and any other significan information
pertinent to the type of project supported by NSF or as specified
by the terms and conditions of the grant.
2A
Use of Electronic Media. This aspect is proceding
more or less as anticipated in the original proposal. Collaborator
Kampmeier is moving this aspect along at a rapid pace. Our major
constraint is how to get the data from the tens of thousands of
therevid specimens onto the database in a timely manner. We have
hired several student workers, but lack of computer entry points
and the need to coordinate data entry to reduce the possibility
of duplicate entries have created a significant bottleneck in our
operations. We are now looking at options to increase our efficiency
at inputting and verifying label data information.
Networking. Our Web page is expected to be
on line by mid April. Our networking with collection managers
is proceeding at a rapid pace. Our progress is on track.
Databases. When this grant was proposed,
we had every intention of using Biota to construct our
databases. We received our first beta version of the program in
mid-February as we were writing this grant proposal. It was our
understanding that it was being used at INBio in Costa Rica and
elsewhere for the kinds of data that we needed to catalog. However
upon further examination, the version that we had still had quite
a crude user interface, making it very difficult to think of training
students to enter data, and many functions were not yet implemented.
In addition, there was no clear way for us to tailor the database
to our needs by creating new fields or redesigning the layouts.
We contacted the author with bug reports and questions, and a
newer version was promised, but time was getting short. PI Irwin
was leaving for Australia in the fall of 1995 and hoped to have
the Australian holdings keyed into the database before he left.
After looking at Biota, Kampmeier became increasingly convinced
that FileMaker Pro would be a friendlier environment in which
to construct and maintain these databases with the caveat that,
if necessary, the data could be exported in the future to another
environment. In addition, FileMaker Pro does not require a trained
computer programmer to construct or maintain the databases created
in this environment. Thus, we developed our own databases for
entering, maintaining, and manipulating specimen and associated
data. This additonal burden was not originally anticipated.
Interactive Keys. The University of Queensland
will continue to develop this system, and, over the next two years,
we will adopt it for keys of therevid taxa on the WWW.
Communications. The newly available Adobe
PageMill has increased our efficiency and ease of creating WWW
pages. The introduction to the Therevidae begins with "what
they are" and "what they do" followed by buttons
taking the browser to bioecology, classification, geography, bibliography,
participants in research, and news items, including the PEET grant.
All of these sites are still under development. After mid April
1996, the therevid home page can be found here
(updated 2003).
A presentation on this PEET is planned for the December
1996 national meeting of the Entomological Society of America
in Louisville, KY.
|
