Dissertation Research:Global Alpine Biogeography: Insights from Phylogenetics, Phylogeography and Population Genetics of the Trans-Pacific Alpine Plant Genus Oreomyrrhis (Apiaceae)

高山生物群是全球唯一分布的陆地生态系统。了解这些广泛但孤立的生态系统中植物物种的遗传变异和进化将有助于洞察全球生物多样性的起源。该属植物分布于南太平洋沿岸的高山和亚南极环境，这一独特的分布非常适合研究高山植物的进化。这笔赠款将支持前往中美洲完成世界范围内的Oreomrris物种采样。通过应用分子遗传学方法，将重建种间关系，以阐明Oremyris分布的历史和机制。Barbara Schaal博士和Kuo-fang Chung博士还将比较厄瓜多尔、台湾、澳大利亚、新西兰和亚南极火地岛和福克兰群岛的Oreomris物种的种群遗传结构，阐明形成高山生命遗传变异的进化力量。为了在恶劣的高山环境中生存，生物进化出独特的适应能力，这是高山生态系统的特征。然而，这种独特的生态系统现在正在迅速减少，因为全球变暖引发了山脉植被带的向上迁移，使高山地带缩小到更高、更干旱的环境。这项研究的结果将为评估和预测全球变暖对高山植物群落的影响提供数据，为制定有效的政策来保护耐人寻味的脆弱高山生物多样性提供必要的信息。

The alpine biome is the only terrestrial ecosystem that is distributed globally. Understanding genetic variation and evolution of plant species in these widespread yet isolated ecosystems will provide insight into the origins of global biodiversity. The plant genus Oreomyrrhis is found in alpine and sub-Antarctic environments around the South Pacific Rim, a unique distribution well suited for studying the evolution of alpine plants. This grant will support travel to Central America to complete worldwide sampling of Oreomyrrhis species. By applying molecular genetic approaches, interspecific relationships will be reconstructed to elucidate histories and mechanisms underlying Oreomyrrhis's distribution. Dr. Barbara Schaal and Kuo-fang Chung will also compare population genetic structures of Oreomyrrhis species in Ecuador, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, and the sub-Antarctic islands of Tierra del Fuego and Falkland Islands, illuminating evolutionary forces that have shaped genetic variation of alpine life.To survive harsh alpine environments, organisms evolve distinctive adaptations that characterize the alpine ecosystems. However, this unique ecosystem is now diminishing rapidly as global warming triggers an upward migration of mountain vegetation belts, narrowing alpine zones to higher and more arid environments. Results of this study will provide data to evaluate and predict the impacts of global warming on alpine plant communities, information necessary for designing effective polices to conserve the intriguing and fragile alpine biodiversity.