Examples of Some Ongoing Research Projects in The Bond Lab
Mygalomorphae Phylogeny and Evolution: In collaboration with Marshal Hedin of San Diego State University we have undertaken a comprehensive, combined evidence (molecules & morphology), systematic analysis of the spider Infraorder Mygalomorphae. The spider infraorder Mygalomorphae includes tarantula, baboon, trapdoor, purse web, and funnel web spiders. While not as diverse as its sister lineage the Aranemorphae ("true" spiders, for example the orb weavers), mygalomorphs are rich in species (over 2,500 species in 280 genera placed in 15 families) and use silks to build an amazing diversity of nests. These silk constructs, generally regarded as primitive, include trapdoors, collars, turrets, tubes, funnels, sheets, and space filling webs. Although these spiders show many interesting and unstudied patterns of morphology and show classic biogeographical patterns (e.g., members of the same family occurring in New Zealand, Madagascar, South Africa, and southern South America), much of the phylogeny of this group remains unresolved. Furthermore, all mygalomorph phylogenetic studies to date have relied solely on morphological characters, thus lacking independent corroboration. This study examines mygalomorph phylogeny using an integrated set of both morphological and molecular characters. Specimens collected in North, South, and Central America, Southern Africa, Asia, and Western Australia will be used in conjunction with specimens from major museum collections, for molecular, morphological, and natural history studies. Digitized images of all morphological characters scored and detailed natural history notes will be made available on the World Wide Web as part of a myglomorph internet database. The resulting phylogeny will support studies of the origin and diversification of silk use and spinning structures, the relationship between silk use, habits and convergent evolution, and the influence of miniaturization on morphological change. This is the first analysis of molecular sequence data for this important taxon. And two graduate students will be trained in spider systematics, an area with inadequate existing expertise. Mygalomorphae Project Webpage.
This project is supported by the National Science Foundation, award #DEB0108575 (https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/servlet/showaward?award=0108575).
Assembling the Tree of Life: Phylogeny of Spiders: A grant has been awarded to Dr. Ward Wheeler of the American Museum of Natural History and his colleagues to examine the evolutionary history and biodiversity of spiders. Spiders are among the oldest and most diverse groups of terrestrial organisms on our planet, with fossils dating back to the Devonian (c. 380 million years ago) and a current diversity of over 37,500 described species placed in 3,471 genera and 109 families. Spiders stand out because of their ecological importance as the dominant predators of insects. It is no exaggeration to say that without spiders, insect pest populations would soar and humans would be greatly affected. Furthermore, spiders are already model organisms in biochemical (silk proteins and venom), behavioral (especially sexual and web-building behaviors) and ecological (foraging, predator-prey systems, integrated pest management) research. Accordingly, understanding their evolutionary history is a critical component in the NSF's Assembling the Tree of Life program. The aim of this Tree of Life proposal to produce a robust phylogeny of all the deepest branches within the spiders, by combining a massive amount of newly generated comparative genomic data with a substantial set of new and re-assessed data on morphology and behavior. The PIs will use high-throughput DNA sequencing to examine at least 50 "loci" for representatives of at least 500 genera of spiders and their closest relatives (the whipscorpions and allies). The computational challenges posed by the resulting large data matrices will be analyzed using new computer software, designed in large part by members of the group and using massively parallel processing to achieve supercomputing capability. These organisms included in the study will purposefully include all the previously most-favored study organisms of ethologists, ecologists, physiologists, and developmental and molecular biologists, thus integrating and contextualizing their research.
This project is currently supported by a National Science Foundation grant award DEB # 0228699 (https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/servlet/showaward?award=0228699).
REVSYS: Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the Trapdoor Spider Subfamily Euctenizinae (Araneae: Cyrtaucheniidae): A grant has been awarded to Dr. Jason E. Bond of East Carolina University to taxonomically revise and study the evolutionary relationships of the trapdoor spider subfamily Euctenizinae (Cyrtaucheniidae). Alpha-taxonomy is a field of biology that provides the underlying foundation, and thus lies at the very core, of almost every biological question; revisionary-systematic studies are one of the more powerful tools we can apply to the study and conservation of our planet's biodiversity. Although North America has a rich tarantula and trapdoor spider fauna it is shocking that 50% of these species remain undescribed and that much of this diversity, attributable to members of the Euctenizinae, is distributed throughout the California Floristic Province, an evolutionary center that is a biodiversity "hotspot". This project proposes to formally document euctenizine diversity by completing exhaustive taxonomic revisions of all of its genera and species (70 - 80) and by then reconstructing its species evolutionary relationships using morphological, behavioral, and molecular data. Because this project "utilizes modern information technology at all stages" (e.g., GIS, digital imaging, sequence data generation and alignment, and phylogeny reconstruction) it is ideal for training students in the methods and concepts surrounding modern revisionary work. Students as full partners in research will be trained to gather and analyze taxonomic and phylogenetic data, and will be encouraged to present their results at meetings and as scientific journal publications. Fieldwork conducted during the course of this project will result in the acquisition of many rare specimens that will be deposited in major museum collections for future study. Data generated from these specimens will be made available on the World Wide Web as part of a project website. Additionally, this project will make available interactive, fully illustrated taxonomic keys to all of the known Euctenizinae species that can be then used by non-spider specialists.
This project is currently supported by a National Science Foundation grant award DEB # 0315160
(http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0315160)
PEET: The Diplopoda: Systematics Research, Training and Tools: The class Diplopoda, the millipedes, is a very species-rich group (over 7,000 described species) that is among the most ancient of surviving terrestrial arthropods. Despite this tremendous amount of known diversity, recognized ecological importance, and interesting evolutionary history, the group remains largely unstudied. Current estimates based on known degrees of endemism suggest that there may be as many as 80,000 extant species on the planet today. The project summarized here is a continuation of a previous Partnership for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET) training program to develop new millipede taxonomy and systematics expertise. The investigators Petra Sierwald (The Field Museum of Natural History), Jason Bond (East Carolina University) and William Shear (Hampden-Sydney College) propose to maintain an established program of millipede research and student training by capitalizing on the insights achieved from the previous PEET award. Major project products anticipated are evolutionary and taxonomic studies published in the primary literature, web disseminated tools (e.g. taxonomic identification keys) to aid other non-specialist researchers, acquisition of specimens to be deposited in natural history collections, and a worldwide species catalog, the first of its kind encapsulating the millipede taxonomic literature spanning over two centuries. Foremost, the goal of this project is to develop a sustainable community of knowledgeable, trained researchers working on this important group of organisms. This goal will be achieved by training at least three postdoctoral researchers, two graduate students, and at least six undergraduate interns. Trainee projects include a broad phylogenetic assessment of the Diplopoda and taxonomic and systematics studies of millipede groups chosen from across at least three separate orders. In short this project aims to make significant contributions to science and education by training the next generation of millipede systematists. In both a Museum (natural history collections) and University environment, trainees will acquire methods and skills that will prepare them for future positions as researchers, teachers, and resource managers in biology and entomology. In terms of millipedes, the improved phylogenetic structure, taxonomic revisions, and methodological advances attained over the course of this 5-year project will provide a sound foundation for future systematic workers.
This project is currently supported by a National Science Foundation grant award DEB #0529715
(http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0529715)
