异翅亚目昆虫食性及其关键形态特征的进化

Heteroptera (true bugs) are the important groups of the non-holometabolous insects, including many important agricultural and forestry pests, medical vectors and natural enemies, and play an important role in agriculture and our daily life. With large species numbers, diverse feeding habits and specialized morphological adaptations, true bugs are of great importance in the study of the formation of insect species diversity and macroevolution. Overall, the higher-level phylogeny of true bugs has been debated for over two centuries and hypotheses on infraordinal relationships conflict on crucial points. Lacking a comprehensive evolutionary framework drastically impedes our understanding of the formation mechanisms and process of their species diversity, as well as their macroevolution. In this project, we propose to further resolve the higher phylogeny of Heteroptera based on the sequences of nuclear genes and mitochondrial genomes, and then reconstruct the most comprehensive true bug tree of life (seven infraorders, 23 superfamilies and more than 1000 species) by using supertree method based on available molecular data in the database and robust phylogenetic trees from the published literatures. Based on a robust phylogenetic framework of Heteroptera, we will focus on analyzing the relationship between feeding habits and related key morphological traits (e.g., mouthparts, predatory leg and so on) and their influence on the diversification of species diversity, and exploring the key influencing factors and the driving force of the diversification of species diversity in the macroevolution of true bugs. The results will provide theoretical significance for understanding the evolution of true bugs and Hemiptera, as well as for managing its diversity.

异翅亚目（蝽类昆虫）是昆虫纲不全变态类的重要类群，包括许多重要的农林害虫、病媒昆虫及天敌，在农业生产和人类日常生活中起着重要作用；在物种数量、形态和食性等方面具有丰富的多样性，是研究昆虫物种多样性形成和宏观进化的理想类群。关于该类群高级阶元的分类已经争议两个多世纪，至今仍存在不同的观点，缺乏对其物种多样性形成过程与机制及宏观进化的共识。本项目拟在利用核基因与线粒体基因组数据进一步解决高级阶元系统发育关系的基础上，系统整合异翅亚目分子数据与已发表的高支持率的进化树，通过超级树方法重建包括其完善分类阶元（7次目和23总科）和最多物种数（>1000种）的蝽类昆虫生命树；在该进化框架下，重点研究食性与关键形态特征（口器、捕捉足等）的关系及其对物种多样性分化的影响，揭示其宏观进化过程中的关键影响因素及物种多样性形成的驱动力。研究结果对理解蝽类昆虫乃至半翅目的进化及多样性管理将具有重要的理论意义。

异翅亚目（蝽类昆虫）是昆虫纲不全变态类的重要类群，包括许多重要的农林害虫、病媒昆虫及天敌，在物种数量、形态和食性等方面具有丰富的多样性。针对其食性及其关键形态特征以及物种多样性形成的宏观演化机制，本项目利用核基因与线粒体基因组数据进一步解决了该类群高级阶元系统发育关系，并基于超级树的方法完成了7次目24总科73科1008种蝽类昆虫进化树的重建。在该进化框架下，重点开展了蝽类食性及取食相关特征的多样性与进化研究，阐明了主要食性类型以及口器、前足、唾液腺、唾液蛋白、肠道微生物等食性相关特征的起源和演化规律，揭示了部分唾液蛋白的生物学功能；利用宏观进化研究方法，明确唾液腺形态、唾液蛋白组成、肠道微生物多样性与食性的进化相关，阐明了食性及其相关关键特征的多样性分化对于异翅亚目昆虫物种多样性的形成和发展具有重要的驱动作用。研究结果对理解蝽类昆虫食性的演化规律具有重要意义，对探究该类昆虫物种多样性的形成和关键形态特征的适应性演化提供了重要参考。本项目圆满完成各项考核指标，发表SCI论文26篇；35人次参加国内外重要学术会议，10人次做学术报告。课题成员宋凡入选中国科协青年人才托举工程。培养博士后3名，毕业博士和硕士研究生8名。