Evolution of Endosymbiosis in (xylotrophic) Wood-Eating Bivalves

（木质营养型）食木双壳类内共生的进化

• 批准号: 0629255
• 负责人: Daniel Distel
• 金额: $ 6.26万
• 依托单位: Ocean Genome Legacy
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-03-21 至 2007-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0629255&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Evolution; Endosymbiosis; xylotrophic; Wood; Eating

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Daniel L. Distel of the University of Maine to investigate the evolution of wood-boring clams. Though not well known to the general public, wood-boring clams are destructive species that may be considered the marine equivalent of termites. They include many diverse species that cause more than a billion dollars in damage to wooden structures, boats, and fishing gear annually in marine environments worldwide. The most destructive of these are the "shipworms"; worm-like clams that burrow into and eat wood. These voracious wood eaters can destroy a twelve-inch diameter pier piling in less than one year's time. Though they look like worms, molecular evidence suggests that they are closely related to the common "steamer clam", a staple of New England cuisine. The purpose of this investigation is to use molecular data from several genes to reveal the evolutionary relationships of wood boring clams to other more common bivalves and to use these data to better understand how their destructive habits have evolved, including the role of associated bacteria. Although wood can be treated with broad-spectrum chemical biocides to control wood-borer damage, use of the most effective treatments has recently been restricted or banned in many states and nations due to environmental concerns. New environmentally sound control methods are critically needed, particularly in low-income coastal communities where wood is the only affordable marine construction material. Such control measures must be targeted specifically to wood-boring species to minimize ecological impact. Evolutionary studies will tell us how these nuisance species developed the ability to destroy wood and what makes them different from other more desirable and economically important marine species. This knowledge will be essential for developing control methods that are safe and highly specific to these destructive organisms.

已向缅因州大学的Daniel L. Distel博士授予了一笔赠款，以调查木材钻孔的演变。尽管公众不知道木材钻孔是破坏性的物种，可能被认为是白蚁的海洋。 它们包括许多多种物种，每年在全球海洋环境中每年对木结构，船只和渔具造成超过十亿美元的损害。这些最具破坏性的是“船虫”；像蠕虫一样的蛤s，钻进和吃木头。这些贪婪的木器食者可以在不到一年的时间内摧毁十二英寸的直径码头。尽管它们看起来像蠕虫，但分子证据表明它们与新英格兰美食的主要“蒸锅蛤”密切相关。 这项研究的目的是使用来自几个基因的分子数据来揭示木材无聊的蛤lam与其他更常见的双壳类的进化关系，并使用这些数据更好地了解它们的破坏性习惯是如何发展的，包括相关细菌的作用。尽管木材可以用宽光谱化学杀菌剂治疗以控制木器损伤，但由于环境问题，最近在许多州和国家中限制或禁止使用最有效的治疗方法。需要至关重要的环境控制方法，尤其是在低收入的沿海社区中，木材是唯一负担得起的海洋建筑材料。这种控制措施必须针对木材钻石物种，以最大程度地减少生态影响。 进化研究将告诉我们这些滋扰物种如何发展能够破坏木材的能力，以及使它们与其他更可取和经济上重要的海洋物种不同的能力。 这些知识对于开发安全且高度特定的破坏性生物的控制方法至关重要。