Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Neotropical Tribe Helieae (Gentianaceae)

罗格斯大学的Lena Struwe博士与巴西几个机构的同事一起，正在研究龙胆科热带植物的系统学和系统发育关系，特别是Helieae部落，目前估计有22属220种。它们广泛分布在南美洲，但集中在古老的瓜亚纳和巴西盾，并在年轻的安第斯山脉和巴西低地地区有亲戚。其主要目标是构建一个系统发育框架的部落的所有属，并反过来使用该系谱的“路线图”，探索可能的路线的植物地理多样化和时间的分歧的起源和传播的植物属在南美洲的景观。来自核和叶绿体基因的分子DNA序列是新数据的主要目标，这些数据将与这些植物的传统分类信息相结合，以构建系统发育框架。罗格斯大学和圣保罗大学之间的机构合作将促进与巴西科学家的合作。一名美国研究生将获得旅行支持，与巴西同事一起在植物标本馆和实验室研究这些植物。将继续努力开发一个由Struwe博士发起的网站，为研究龙胆科的研究人员提供服务，即龙胆研究网络。

With colleagues in several Brazilian institutions, Dr. Lena Struwe of Rutgers University is studying the systematics and phylogenetic relationships of tropical plants of the gentian family, specifically of the tribe Helieae, with an estimated 220 species currently placed in 22 genera. These are distributed widely in South America but with concentrations on the ancient Guayana and Brazilian Shields and with relatives in regions of the younger Andean mountains and Brazilian lowlands areas. The major goal is to construct a phylogenetic framework for all the genera of the tribe, and in turn to use that genealogical "road map" to explore likely routes of biogeographic diversification and timing of divergences in the origins and spread of the plant genera across the South American landscape. Molecular DNA sequences from nuclear and chloroplast genes are primary targets for new data, and these will be integrated with traditional taxonomic information on these plants to construct the phylogenetic framework. Collaboration with scientists in Brazil will be fostered by the research in conjunction with institutional cooperation between Rutgers University and the University of Sao Paulo. A U.S. graduate student will receive travel support to work with Brazilian colleagues in herbarium and laboratory research on the plants. Efforts will continue to develop a website initiated by Dr. Struwe that serves researchers studying the family Gentianaceae, the Gentian Research Network.