Projects & Grants
| Evolution of angel insects (Zoraptera): from fossils and comparative morphology to cytogenetics and transcriptomes | |
|---|---|
| Project Id | 22-05024S |
| Main solver | doc. RNDr. Petr Kočárek, Ph.D. |
| Period | 1/2022 - 12/2024 |
| Provider | Standardní projekt GA ČR |
| State | solved |
| Anotation | Zoraptera is one of the smallest and least known insect orders. An extreme uniformity in general body morphology is the main reason why the first phylogeny and infraordinal classification of Zoraptera were published more than a century after the discovery of the order. In this project, we aim to significantly improve our knowledge on the Zoraptera evolution, phylogeny and classification using multiple approaches. We will compare the cytogenetic characteristics of main zorapteran lineages to understand the role of chromosome rearrangements in their evolution and speciation. Further, we will examine all available fossil specimens of Zoraptera and classify them based on the recently proposed infraordinal classification. The origin and early evolution of the order will be examined using the divergence time estimation with fossil constraints based on both multigene and transcriptomic phylogenetic analyses. Additionally, we will compare antennal micromorphology across the Zoraptera tree of life to evaluate its suitability for systematics of the order, and will describe several new taxa. |
