Collaborative Research: Biotic Inventory of the Amphibians, Reptiles and Associated Parasites of the Central African Lowland Forests

合作研究：中非低地森林两栖动物、爬行动物和相关寄生虫的生物清查

• 批准号: 1145459
• 负责人: Eli Greenbaum
• 金额: $ 36.68万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at El Paso
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-15 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1145459&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Biotic; Inventory; Amphibians

The goal of this project is to understand the taxonomy and evolutionary history of amphibians, reptiles and their endoparasites in one of the most poorly known regions in the world: the lowlands of Central Africa. Forests in the Congo Basin are renowned for their immense biodiversity, but are increasingly threatened by deforestation, climate change and chytrid fungus infections in multiple genera of frogs. Chytrid infections are linked to global amphibian declines. DNA analyses of samples collected during surveys will be used to identify and describe new species, and to reconstruct their evolutionary history. The investigators estimate the project may double the approximately 380 species of amphibians and reptiles currently known from the region.Undergraduate students will work in teams to participate in cybertaxonomy and rapid-identification projects by analyzing photographs of specimens with associated georeference data via dedicated websites, and in real time as expeditions are occurring. Project leaders will use solar-powered chargers and computers to blog from the field as expeditions are in progress as a way to engage students, colleagues and the general public in the research. It is anticipated that this project will significantly elevate the global understanding of the importance of the Congo Basin?s biodiversity, and support ongoing, in-country efforts to expand national parks.

该项目的目的是了解两栖动物，爬行动物及其内寄生虫在世界上最知名的地区之一的分类学和进化史：中非中非的低地。 刚果盆地的森林以其巨大的生物多样性而闻名，但越来越受到多种青蛙属的森林砍伐，气候变化和chytrid真菌感染的威胁。 Chytrid感染与全球两栖动物的下降有关。在调查过程中收集的样品的DNA分析将用于识别和描述新物种，并重建其进化史。 调查人员估计，该项目可能会使该地区目前已知的大约380种两栖动物和爬行动物增加一倍。教育生将在团队中工作，通过分析通过专用网站的相关地理网站的标本照片参与Cyber​​taxonomy和快速识别项目，并实时发生探险。 项目负责人将使用太阳能充电器和计算机从该领域进行博客，因为探险正在进行中，以吸引学生，同事和公众参与研究。预计该项目将显着提高对刚果盆地生物多样性重要性的全球理解，并支持持续不断的国内努力来扩大国家公园。