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Andrew Smith Morphological and molecular phylogenetics of the
tribe Anoplognathini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) and
investigations of southern hemispheric distributional patterns. PROJECT SUMMARY Main objectives:
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The
Anoplognathini is a tribe of scarab beetles that is distributed in
the Neotropics and Australia. In the Neotropics, lack of taxonomic
resources has led to confused identifications by foresters (some
species defoliate trees), cultural anthropologists (some species
are used as human food), and by conservationists concerned with
montane regions (where some species are endemic). Without a modern
taxonomic foundation, there is no means of addressing
Anoplognathini evolution, biology, or ecology. I am conducting
taxonomic, phylogenetic, and biogeographic analyses of the genera
of Neotropical Anoplognathini and addressing the biogeography of
southern South America. Preliminary phylogenetic analyses
demonstrate that all genera (Neotropical and Australian) of
Anoplognathini are needed to address the biogeography due to
paraphyly. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses of
all Anoplognathini will provide a foundation for addressing
southern hemispheric biogeography and for advancing future
research on the evolution, biology, and ecology of Anoplognathini.
To accomplish this goal, it is necessary for me to conduct
morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses on the group.