U.S.-Ethiopia Cooperative Research: Systematic Studies of Bidens and Coreopsis (Asteraceae)

该项目支持埃塞俄比亚亚的斯亚贝巴大学的Tadesse Mesfin博士继续参与一项正在进行的植物分子系统发育研究，该研究由俄亥俄州立大学的Daniel Crawford博士领导，（NSF Grant ind -9025030），研究Coreopsis属（Asteraceae）的系统学和进化。南美洲和东非都代表了Coreopsis的多样性中心，与北美相同或超过北美。与埃塞俄比亚合作伙伴的合作组成部分正在调查北美Coreopsis与非洲植物的关系，这些植物被不同地分配给Bidens或Coreopsis。在俄亥俄州立大学的研究合作扩展期间，埃塞俄比亚科学家将追求以下目标：(1)对南美的Coreopsis物种和选定的北美和南美的Bidens物种进行进一步的形态学和解剖学研究；(2)继续从特定的生殖特征中寻找Bidens和Coreopsis的诊断特征；(3)完成北美Coreopsis物种的剩余物种描述（44个物种中已有27个物种被描述和绘制草图）；(4)提出了一个揭示新旧分类群中Bidens和Coreopsis之间关系的方案。访问科学家正在熟悉更多的技术和方法，如酶电泳，如何为系统目的研究DNA，使用分支学来产生系统发育，等等。当他回到埃塞俄比亚，他将能够指导学生在这些方面的系统学。提高对这一分布广泛的大型属的了解与非洲项目对生物多样性研究合作的强调是一致的，并承诺对合作伙伴及其母机构都有好处。此外，该项目将有助于建立一个将非洲、北美和南美三大洲的科学家联系起来的长期研究网络。* * * * * *

INT-9412801 Crawford This project supports the continued participation of Dr. Tadesse Mesfin of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, in an ongoing study in plant molecular phylogenetics, led by Dr. Daniel Crawford of Ohio State University, (NSF Grant INT-9025030), of the systematics and evolution of the genus Coreopsis (Asteraceae). Both South America and Eastern Africa represent centers of diversity for Coreopsis that equal or surpass that found in North America. The collaborative component with the Ethiopian partner is investigating the relationship of North American Coreopsis to African plants that have been variously assigned to Bidens or Coreopsis. During this extension of his research cooperation at Ohio State, the Ethiopian scientist will pursue the following goals: (1) make further morphological and anatomical studies on particularly South American species of Coreopsis and selected North and South American species of Bidens; (2) continue the search for diagnostic features in Bidens and Coreopsis from particularly reproductive features; (3) complete the description of the remaining species of North American species of Coreopsis (27 of the 44 species have been described and sketched so far); (4) produce a scheme that reveals the relationships between Bidens and Coreopsis in the Old versus the New World taxa. The visiting scientist is gaining familiarity with additional techniques and methods, such as enzyme electrophoresis, how to study DNA for systematic purposes, using cladistics for generating phylogenies, etc. When he returns to Ethiopia, he will be able to instruct students in these aspects of systematics. Improved understanding of this large, widespread genus is consistent with the Africa program's emphasis on biodiversity research cooperation, and promises benefits to both partners and to their parent institutions. Moreover, this project will contribute to the establishment of a longterm research network linking scientists on three continents, Af rica, North America, and South America. *** ***