A Race Against Time: Deciphering Evolution and Describing New Species of Threatened Tropical Stick Insects (Phasmatodea)

Authors

Michael F. Whiting, Brigham Young University

Keywords

evolution, new species, threatened species, tropical stick insects, phasmatdea

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

Abstract

Funding was received in 2016 to support mentored research into the phylogeny and evolution of stick insects. Specific goals include providing students with scientific design experience, field-based research experience, collections-based experience, molecular lab experience, bioinformatics experience, and experience in presentation at national meetings and publication in peer reviewed journals. One particular focus was to describe new stick insect species, but it became clear very quickly that the phylogeny portion of this work was essential before any new species could be described, so we concentrated our efforts on stick insect phylogeny. The following is a brief summary of accomplishments.

Recommended Citation

Whiting, Michael F. (2019) "A Race Against Time: Deciphering Evolution and Describing New Species of Threatened Tropical Stick Insects (Phasmatodea)," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2019: Iss. 2019, Article 185.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2019/iss2019/185