Award Abstract # 1655635
ARTS: Revisionary taxonomy and systematics of the Appalachian millipede genera Apheloria and Nannaria

NSF Org: DEB
Division Of Environmental Biology
Recipient: VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE & STATE UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date: February 10, 2017
Latest Amendment Date: February 10, 2017
Award Number: 1655635
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Christopher Schneider
DEB
 Division Of Environmental Biology
BIO
 Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date: May 15, 2017
End Date: April 30, 2022 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $383,130.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $383,130.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2017 = $383,130.00
History of Investigator:
  • Paul Marek (Principal Investigator)
    pmarek@vt.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
300 TURNER ST NW
BLACKSBURG
VA  US  24060-3359
(540)231-5281
Sponsor Congressional District: 09
Primary Place of Performance: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Entomology, Price Hall, Rm 216A
Blacksburg
VA  US  24061-0001
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
09
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): QDE5UHE5XD16
Parent UEI: X6KEFGLHSJX7
NSF Program(s): Advanc Revisionary Taxon & Sys
Primary Program Source: 01001718DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): SMET, 9178, 9251, 7375
Program Element Code(s): 737500
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.074

ABSTRACT

Our basic knowledge of the animals with which we share our planet is limited, with only an estimated 12% of Earth's species currently known to scientists. Biodiversity provides us with important goods and services like water filtration, medicines, decomposition, food, and fiber. Without a basic knowledge of biodiversity through taxonomy, which is the science of naming and describing species, realizing the benefits of biodiversity to humanity is impossible. Even in the United States, many species remain undiscovered. For example, millipedes fulfill an important role as decomposers in forests by breaking down decaying organic matter and recycling its nutrients for other organisms to use. However, they are among the least known of any animal group in the U.S. This project focuses on the millipede groups Apheloria and Nannaria, which are widespread in Appalachian hardwood forests. Twenty-six species are known from the U.S., however, over 70 species of Apheloria and Nannaria await scientific naming and there is even a new species of Nannaria within the remnant forests of the D.C. metro area. This highlights the deficiencies in our understanding of millipede diversity, and this project, through the use of multiple data types, will identify new species and obtain better understanding of the diversity and evolutionary history of these groups in the Appalachian Mountains.

Eastern deciduous forests are tremendous repositories of irreplaceable biodiversity, but habitat loss threatens it. Many Appalachian invertebrates, which compose the most diverse component of this fauna, are unknown to science. It is imperative to understand and describe the diversity of this ecosystem before it is lost. This research project will discover and describe millipede species diversity in the U.S. by accomplishing the following objectives: (1) overcome basic taxonomic deficiencies in U.S. millipede studies using a rapid, technology-driven, and accurate approach to taxonomic treatments of the genera Apheloria and Nannaria; (2) establish a phylogenetic systematic foundation for describing species and as an evolutionary context to investigate camouflage and color evolution in xystodesmid millipedes; and (3) foster an appreciation for organismal biology and natural history by engaging the regional public through in-person outreach programs and the global community through the internet. These thumb-sized millipedes are remaining vestiges of a natural detritivore guild that historically encompassed native earthworms throughout the eastern United States.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Wong, Victoria and Hennen, Derek and Macias, Angie and Brewer, Michael and Kasson, Matt and Marek, Paul "Natural history of the social millipede Brachycybe lecontii Wood, 1864" Biodiversity Data Journal , v.8 , 2020 10.3897/BDJ.8.e50770 Citation Details
Sierwald, Petra and Hennen, Derek A and Zahnle, Xavier J and Ware, Stephanie and Marek, Paul E "Taxonomic synthesis of the eastern North American millipede genus Pseudopolydesmus (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Polydesmidae), utilizing high-detail ultraviolet fluorescence imaging" Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2019 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz020 Citation Details
Shorter, Patricia L. and Hennen, Derek A. and Marek, Paul E. "Cryptic diversity in Andrognathus corticarius Cope, 1869 and description of a new Andrognathus species from New Mexico (Diplopoda, Platydesmida, Andrognathidae)" ZooKeys , v.786 , 2018 10.3897/zookeys.786.27631 Citation Details
Nguyen, Anh D and Sierwald, Petra and Marek, Paul E. "The pill millipedes of Vietnam: a key to genera and descriptions of five new species (Diplopoda: Glomerida: Glomeridae)" The Raffles bulletin of zoology , v.67 , 2019 10.26107/RBZ-2019-0020 Citation Details
Means, Jackson C. and Marek, Paul E. "Is geography an accurate predictor of evolutionary history in the millipede family Xystodesmidae?" PeerJ , v.5 , 2017 10.7717/peerj.3854 Citation Details
Means, Jackson C and Hennen, Derek A and Tanabe, Tsutomu and Marek, Paul E "Phylogenetic Systematics of the Millipede Family Xystodesmidae" Insect Systematics and Diversity , v.5 , 2021 https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixab003 Citation Details
Means, Jackson C. and Hennen, Derek A. and Marek, Paul E. "A revision of the minor species group in the millipede genus Nannaria Chamberlin, 1918 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Xystodesmidae)" ZooKeys , v.1030 , 2021 https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1030.62544 Citation Details
MAREK, PAUL E. and MEANS, JACKSON C. and HENNEN, DEREK A. "Apheloria polychroma, a new species of millipede from the Cumberland Mountains (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae)" Zootaxa , v.4375 , 2018 10.11646/zootaxa.4375.3.7 Citation Details
Marek, Paul "Ultraviolet-induced fluorescent imaging for millipede taxonomy" Research Ideas and Outcomes , v.3 , 2017 10.3897/rio.3.e14850 Citation Details
Hennen, Derek A. and Means, Jackson C. and Marek, Paul E. "A revision of the wilsoni species group in the millipede genus Nannaria Chamberlin, 1918 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Xystodesmidae)" ZooKeys , v.1096 , 2022 https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1096.73485 Citation Details

PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT

Disclaimer

This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.

Colorful millipedes in the genera Apheloria and Nannaria are widespread in Appalachian deciduous forests, but are among the least known alpha-taxonomically of all U.S. fauna. Over 50 species of Apheloria and Nannaria awaited description. We fulfilled a plan to accurately and expediently describe millipede biodiversity in the U.S.

These thumb-sized millipedes are remaining vestiges of a natural detritivore guild, which historically encompassed native earthworms that were extirpated throughout the eastern United States. Deciduous forests are tremendous carbon sinks and repositories of irreplaceable biodiversity, but deforestation imminently threaten their ecological integrity. It is imperative to understand and describe the biodiversity of this ecosystem before it is too late.

We described two genera and 62 species of millipedes in the U.S. through revisionary taxonomic treatments. We published 10 peer reviewed research articles (all free on the Internet and open access), including two large monographs, each with over 100 pages.

Our research established a stable classification system, provided revisionary syntheses of monophyletic groups, and described ecologically significant forest biodiversity.

Our taxonomic treatments are invaluable for conservation and management of regional ecosystems. Through education and outreach, we fostered an appreciation for organismal biology and natural history by engaging the regional public through in-person outreach programs and the global community through the Internet.

The project supported stipends for students and trained three graduate and five undergraduate students as independent scientists. The team of students and the PI traveled to Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and Mozambique for field work with colleagues, and hosted a scientist from Colombia.



Last Modified: 09/12/2022
Modified by: Paul E Marek

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