Alfred Newton's research focuses on the systematics and evolution of the beetle superfamily Staphylinoidea. Recent contributions include a review of the classification and phylogeny of the beetle families Leiodidae and Agyrtidae, the discovery of a "missing link" that resulted in the merging of two staphylinoid beetle families to form one of the largest insect families (Staphylinidae) with over 49,300 known species (with Margaret Thayer), and the publication (with several collaborators) of generic identification guides to the Staphylinidae of North America and Mexico and a checklist of Colombian Staphylinidae. Newton and Thayer also collaborate on a long-term study of the systematics and biogeography of the poorly-known fauna of these beetles in the southern hemisphere; their field work in Australia, New Zealand, Chile and South Africa has produced more than a million adults and larvae, many of which represent unnamed species. He is also one of several collaborators in the Staphyliniformia taxonomic working group (TWiG) of the Beetle Tree of Life Project (BToL), and is developing an online taxonomic database of all 67,500+ species of Staphyliniformia known worldwide, part of which is already available, along with all names for family-group (nearly 500) and genus-group (5600) taxa of Staphyliniformia and all associated bibliographic references. The southern temperate work is part of Margaret Thayer's interest in systematics, life histories, evolution and biogeography of world rove beetles, especially the more basal lineages. Her current PEET grant from the National Science Foundation is supporting phylogenetic and biogeographic research on several austral groups of Staphylinidae, the training of a post-doc and a Ph.D. student, and four collecting expeditions to austral regions. Her ongoing studies of the worldwide tribe Omaliini aim to provide a phylogenetic background for evolutionary studies of that group’s biogeography and feeding habits; the latter are unusually diverse among rove beetles. She has recently coauthored generic identification guides for both North America and Mexico, the first such comprehensive works for both areas. As part of a major collaboration with numerous colleagues around the world (including Newton), she is leading the Staphyliniformia taxonomic working group (TWiG) of the Beetle Tree of Life Project (BToL) aimed at understanding the large-scale pattern of beetle evolution. This project included a successful expedition to the western USA in May-June 2006 to collect representatives of many groups related to Staphylinidae and preserve them so their DNA can be extracted and sequenced for use in phylogenetic analyses along with morphological characters. Petra Sierwald's research focuses mainly on spiders and millipedes, investigating a wide range of evolutionary, systematic (higher classification), alpha-taxonomic, biogeographic, and faunistic questions. The evolution of complex male and female genitalia, and the evolution of sexual size dimorphism in both spiders (wolf spiders and relatives) and millipedes (Rhinocricidae, Paradoxosomatidae) are ongoing research activities. Systematic and biogeographic research focuses on the spider family Pisauridae (nursery web spiders) and includes alpha-taxonomic work. As Co-PI of the current AToL Spider Phylogeny grant, morphological work covers several spider families related to Pisauridae, such as the wolf and lynx spiders, the Trechaleidae and Senoculidae. Recent alpha-taxonomic work as part of her past and current PEET grants centers on the millipede families Pyrgodesmidae, Paradoxosomatidae, Sphaeriodesmidae, Sphaerotheriidae and Rhinocricidae. Ongoing research also focuses on higher classification of millipedes, with recently published and forthcoming new phylogenetic analyses at the order and suborder level (orders Siphoniulida, Spirobolida and the Pentazonia). Most of the current work is conducted in collaboration with grant Co-PIs, grant-funded students and post-doctoral fellows. Recent contributions to faunistic research include development of a database and analysis of the spider fauna of 5 Great Lake States (Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio). This activity is ongoing; to date species-lists for 10 US states have been databased, with more forthcoming. A significant amount of effort is currently expended on the development of scientific infrastructure: a global millipede species catalog (in a relational database) will be completed by 2010 and served on-line; type catalogs of Field Museum’s arachnid and myriapod collections are either published or forthcoming; and the PEET grant supported the work on the first global millipede collection catalog (published and available on-line in December 2006). Other staff researchers in the Division of Insects include post-doctoral scientists, Carl Dick (Streblidae & Nycteribiidae - bat flies), and Kevin Pitz (Spirobolida – spirobolid millipedes). Other Zoology Research: Amphibians and Reptiles | Birds | Fishes | Insects | Invertebrates | Mammals