The
Beringian Coevolution Project (BCP) is a systematic inventory of the
mammals and associated parasites and pathogens of the Beringian region.
Primary objectives of the project are to: 1) collect data on mammal
and parasite occurrence, distribution, and relative abundance, 2) obtain
new collections of mammals and associated parasites which will serve
as a basis for comparative morphological, phylogeographic, and phylogenetic
studies, 3) archive and loan mammal and parasite frozen tissues for
use in molecular analyses of Beringian faunas, 4) continue development
of a computerized database that permits assessments of regional diversity
and
biogeography, and 5) foster international collaborations. The BCP, conducted
at the crossroads of the northern continents, will contribute significant
insights into historical biogeography, faunal structure, and patterns
and processes in speciation of hosts and parasites. It will also serve
as a critical model for understanding biodiversity across the Holarctic.
This international collaborative effort includes researchers from the Institute
of Biological Problems of the North (Magadan, Russia), Vantaa
Research Centre (Finland), University of Saskatchewan, Biosystematics
and National Parasite Collection (USNPC) Unit of the USDA (Maryland),
and Museum of Southwestern Biology
(MSB). Collected parasites will be useful
for both morphological studies and molecular analyses (frozen or ethanol
preserved). Hosts and parasites will be archived at the MSB
and USNPC, respectively.
This material provides a foundation for comparative phylogeographic
studies across Beringia. Studies and collaborations between morphologists
and molecular phylogeneticists are encouraged.
This project is partially supported by the
National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0196095 and 0415668.
"Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations
expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation."
The
Beringian Coevolution Project (BCP) is a systematic inventory of the
mammals and associated parasites and pathogens of the Beringian region.
Primary objectives of the project are to: 1) collect data on mammal
and parasite occurrence, distribution, and relative abundance, 2) obtain
new collections of mammals and associated parasites which will serve
as a basis for comparative morphological, phylogeographic, and phylogenetic
studies, 3) archive and loan mammal and parasite frozen tissues for
use in molecular analyses of Beringian faunas, 4) continue development
of a computerized database that permits assessments of regional diversity
and
biogeography, and 5) foster international collaborations. The BCP, conducted
at the crossroads of the northern continents, will contribute significant
insights into historical biogeography, faunal structure, and patterns
and processes in speciation of hosts and parasites. It will also serve
as a critical model for understanding biodiversity across the Holarctic.
This international collaborative effort includes researchers from the 
for both morphological studies and molecular analyses (frozen or ethanol
preserved). Hosts and parasites will be archived at the