Currently, we are developing capacity on integrative taxonomy on solitary bees in China. If we want to speed up species discovery, we face following same challenges as those on other insect groups -
1. Types or named materials have been deposited in major institutions or private collections, which are mostly in Europe and North America.
2. Most qualified taxonomists base themselves in above regions. However, even in Europe, North America, young taxonomists have been decreasing while there are a bit more rise in developing countries including China.
3. DNA barcoding or taxonomy have been funded more than morphology only projects. Same situation is happening in China. However, DNA could not replace type or named materials in collection at the moment.
4. Whatever species concepts are in mind, we do not think we can understand species relationships without enough biological observations or natural history informations.
5. Even morphology based taxonomy of a genus could not be done separately in a country or a region. Named or not, fresh materials are definitely required from different countries or regions.
So, we propose to select 8-10 genera of solitary bees to revise species in an integrative taxonomy approach - morphology, DNA (multiple loci), natural history, species interactions, species level phylogeny together.
If you are interested in the idea, please kindly let me know.
Best,
cd at Beijing
Dear Chao-Dong,
Sounds like a great plan. I am visiting China every year, mostly in Kunming or Chengdu and we have collected material already. We also have material from EU that could be used, and a great deal of natural history background (see e.g. my photo gallery here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nico_bees_wasps/).
Feel free to get in touch if you see any opportunity for collaboration.
Best wishes,
Nico
Dear Chao-Dong,
This sounds extremely valuable - both because there are many reasons why we need a better knowledge of the bees of China, but also because they are a substantial and crucial part of understanding bees world-wide. I agree completely that in order to revise the species of any group, it is vital to consider that group world-wide (more evidence is discussed in the attached paper on arctic bumblebees).
I am very keen to see the bumblebees of China revised and this is also being done by collaboration through revising the various groups globally. Any synergies between these projects would be good news for everyone!
All the very best, Paul
For me not any more a project, so means, I see what will happend, but I'm not a help anymore in this way. So but good luck, its definitly verry interesting at all!
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