Ricerc@Sapienza

INV-EVO will frame in an evolutionary perspective life history traits of three key megadiverse players, caenogastropods, weevils and calyptrate flies, defining a solid DNA-based phylogeny integrating molecular and morpho-anatomical data. Previous results have provided data for a proposal to NSF (USA) submitted by a collaborative team including the PI. Samples collected during past EVONEO projects allow to remarkably enlarge the coverage without the cost of fieldtrip.
Why caenogastropods, weevils and calyptrates? Caenogastropoda represent the largest clade of extant molluscs, extremely diversified in marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitat, dominant members in all marine habitats, playing almost all ecological roles. Weevils, with >60000 known species, are the most diverse and abundant phytophagous insect group on Earth, including agricultural and forestry pests. Calyptrates includes 20000 known species in 13 families, are a relatively young clade, and this major radiation of flies includes the most ecologically, economically, and medically important insects on Earth. All are excellent experimental models from baseline to applied Biology research. Adequate knowledge of their evolutionary biology is highly demanded, yet missing, particularly the phylogenetic and ecological dimensions.
Background- PI co-authored the first DNA-based phylogenetic hypothesis for neogastropods, showing that wider taxo-genomic sampling improves resolution. EVONEO has assembled transcriptomic NGS last generation markers for invertebrate phylogenetics.
INV-EVO Aims- A solid phylogenetic framework for caenogastropods, weevils and calyptrates, integrating anatomical and DNA data, based on the largest possible sampling.
Project- Identify new markers by NGS exon capture to test monophyly & define reliable molecular phylogeny of caenogastropods, weevils and calyptrates, and of their major lineages; analyse evolution of biological features, focusing on diversification of feeding strategies.