Dissertation Research: Phylogeny and Character Evolution in the Blakeeae (Melastomataceae): Neotropical Epiphytes with Mite and Ant Domatia.

Blakeeeae（木贼科）是大花的，主要是附生的，新热带森林的组成部分，具有不同的授粉综合征（包括啮齿动物）和与蚂蚁和螨的互利关系。本研究的目标是利用形态学和五个分子区域来推断植物发生学;利用植物发生学来追踪螨和蚂蚁植物联合体的进化;检查性状变化的模式，特别是花药形态和其他花的修饰;并探索物种形成和植物地理学。本科生将接受扫描电子显微镜，分子和解剖技术的培训。这个项目正在促进南北美洲植物学家之间的合作。研究结果将通过科学期刊、会议和课堂讲座进行传播。Blakeeae主要局限于高度多样化和濒危的山地，新热带森林-了解他们将有助于保护。WSJ在植物系统学和形态学方面拥有广泛的专业知识。DSP接受过形态学、解剖学和分子技术方面的培训。两人都参与了对黑色素瘤遗传学的国际合作研究，活跃于科学界，并获得了竞争性教学奖。这将是第一个形态分析，以提供所有元数据的访问，将大大有助于了解melastome昆虫遗传学，螨和蚂蚁植物的关系，并形成一个专着的基础。

The Blakeeae (Melastomataceae) are large-flowered, mainly epiphytic,components of neotropical forests with diverse pollination syndromes (including rodents)and mutualistic associations with ants and mites. The goals of this study are to inferphylogeny using morphology and five molecular regions; to use the phylogeny to trackthe evolution of mite and ant plant associations; examine patterns of character change,particularly anther morphology and other floral modifications; and explore speciation andbiogeography.Broader impacts. Undergraduates will be trained in scanning electron microscopy,molecular, and anatomical techniques. This project is fostering collaborations betweenNorth and South American botanists. Results will be disseminated through scientificjournals, meetings, and classroom lectures. Blakeeae are mostly limited to highly diverseand endangered montane, neotropical forests--understanding them will aid conservation.Intellectual merit. WSJ has broad expertise in plant systematics and morphology. DSPhas training in morphological, anatomical, and molecular techniques. Both are involvedin international collaborative investigations into melastome phylogenetics, are active inthe scientific community, and are winners of competitive teaching awards. This will beamong the first morphological analyses to provide access to all metadata, will contributeconsiderably to understanding melastome phylogenetics, mite- and ant-plantrelationships, and form the foundation for a monograph.