DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Phylogeny and Pollination Biology of Castilleae (Moraceae): Investigating the Evolutionary History of the Figs' Closest Relatives

研究生温迪·克莱门特在明尼苏达大学乔治·韦布伦博士的指导下，对桑科桑科无花果(无花果属)和印度橡胶(桑科部落植物)进行了比较。这两个关系非常密切的植物群在物种多样性、授粉生物学、花的构型和地理分布上有很大的不同。比较研究能更好地阐明进化过程，而不是孤立地研究一个植物群。许多研究都集中在无花果及其互惠传粉昆虫--无花果黄蜂--的生态和进化上，因为这种关系是植物和昆虫共同进化的著名例子。然而，卡斯蒂利亚属不太为人所知，在进行比较工作之前，需要对这一组进行进一步的研究。这项研究的目的有两个：(1)确定卡斯蒂亚科(约60种)之间的亲缘关系；(2)调查两个可能古老的卡斯蒂亚科物种的授粉生物学。DNA序列数据和形态被用来构建卡斯蒂利亚属的系统发育，即进化关系假说。系统发育学被用来追踪花卉建筑的进化和估计该群体的年龄。年龄估计和生物地理数据可以揭示这些植物可能从起源中心到今天的地点的可能扩散路线。巴布亚新几内亚岛屿上的授粉研究旨在确定卡斯蒂利亚属早期分叉物种--毒树(Antiaris Toxicaria)的可能传粉者。实验和观察将检验气味在将授粉昆虫吸引到毒树和另一古老岛屿特有的落叶松的花朵中的作用。这项研究旨在阐明导致我们今天看到的植物多样性模式的进化过程。调查的重点是一组重要的、但研究不足的植物，它们的进化史可能有助于揭示热带植物多样性的起源。在巴布亚新几内亚的实地考察有助于在接触有限的欠发达农村社区开展科学教育，并建立了热带雨林生态和进化方面的国际合作网络。这些活动有助于巴布亚新几内亚的地方保护工作，同时建设科学能力。最后，对决明子属进化关系的研究为明尼苏达大学本科生培养对进化论和系统学感兴趣的学生提供了极好的机会。

The research of graduate student Wendy Clement, with the supervision of Dr George Weiblen at the University of Minnesota, compares figs (the genus Ficus) and Indian rubber (plants of the tribe Castilleae) of the mulberry family, Moraceae. These two very closely related plant groups differ greatly in species diversity, pollination biology, flower architecture, and geographical distribution. Comparative studies can better illuminate the course of evolution than studying one plant group in isolation. Much research has focused on the ecology and evolution of figs and their mutualistic pollinators, the fig wasps, because this relationship is a well-known example of coevolution among plants and insects. However, Castilleae are less well known, and further research on this group is needed before comparative work can be conducted. The goal of this study is twofold: (1) to determine how the species of Castilleae (ca 60 total) are related to one another and (2) to investigate the pollination biology of two putatively ancient Castilleae species. DNA sequence data and morphology are used to construct a phylogeny, a hypothesis of evolutionary relationships, for Castilleae. Phylogeny is used to trace the evolution of flower architecture and to estimate the age of the group. Age estimates and biogeographical data can reveal possible dispersal routes these plants may have followed from their center of origin to their present day locations. Pollination studies on the island of Papua New Guinea aim to identify the likely pollinator of an early diverging species of Castilleae, the poison tree (Antiaris toxicaria). Experiments and observations will examine the role of scent in attracting pollinating insects to the flowers of the poison tree and another ancient island endemic, Antiaropsis decipiens. This research aims to elucidate evolutionary processes that have resulted in the patterns of plant diversity we see today. The investigation focuses on an important, yet understudied group of plants whose evolutionary history may shed light on the origin of tropical plant diversity. Fieldwork in Papua New Guinea contributes to science education in underdeveloped rural communities with limited contact and builds a network of international collaboration on rainforest ecology and evolution. Activities contribute to local conservation efforts in Papua New Guinea, while simultaneously building scientific capacity. Lastly, research on the evolutionary relationships of Castilleae provides an excellent opportunity to train University of Minnesota undergraduate students interested in evolution and phylogenetic systematics.