Submitted by Patrick O'Grady on
Within the western United States, there are several cranefly lineages (e.g., Hesperotipula) that would make excellent focal groups for student taxonomic and phylogenetic work. These are relatively easy to collect, are manageable in diversity (20-50 species), and require additional taxonomic and phylogenetic work. The goals are to involve undergraduates in (1) coordinating taxonomic revisions, (2) creating morphological data sets, and (3) generating genomic datasets using next generation DNA sequencing methods in various cranefly lineages. This work will involve both field collections throughout California and the western US and laboratory research in Berkeley. These data will be used to generate phylogenetic trees for each lineage and test evolutionary hypotheses about biogeography, trait evolution and diversification.
The student will be responsible for helping collect, identify, and perform DNA sequencing on a number of cranefly species.
Students will be trained in basic taxonomic and molecular methods, no previous experience is needed.