Dissertation Research: Phylogeny of Tribe Trichocereeae and Resolution of a Thorny History of Reticulate Evolution and Polyploidy in Haageocereus (Cactaceae)

仙人掌科（仙人掌科）是一个大的科，大约有2000种，仅限于美洲大陆，但现在在世界各地都有种植。虽然大多数仙人掌生长在沙漠中，但它们也可以作为附生植物在潮湿的地方茁壮成长。由秘鲁和玻利维亚组成的地区是世界上仙人掌科物种多样性第二高的地区，也可能是该科的一个可能的起源地。尽管仙人掌科的大小和生态重要性，很少有研究调查家庭的关系。大多数南美洲仙人掌属于毛癣科，其中约80%为各自国家特有。毛蜂科成员之间的关系和物种界限尚不清楚。毛蜂具有很大的形态多样性和复杂的繁殖模式，传统上认为这是由于杂交、多倍体（或基因组加倍）和无性繁殖等现象。由于大多数南美国家最大和人口最多的城市都位于这些仙人掌的自然栖息地，因此毛藓科，特别是Haageocereus，越来越容易受到人类干扰。系统发育是更好地了解这些生物的生物学和促进随后的生态和/或保护研究的关键的第一步。tribe trichocereae的系统发育将作为一个框架：1)解决trichocereae属间的关系；2)确定Haageocereus的种间关系；3)确定Haageocereus和其他毛霉科中杂交和多倍体的存在和重要性；4)类群生物地理格局的研究；5) Haageocereus濒危物种遗传多样性研究。Haageocereus可能是毛蝇科中形态最多样化的属，将作为一个模式系统，并将利用DNA测序和微卫星技术在物种和种群水平上进行详细的研究。通过出版物、毛虫科网站、会议、研讨会和位于仙人掌丰富地区的大学和植物研究所提供的课程，对毛虫科的研究将继续产生教育影响。重要的是，政府机构INRENA（国家自然资源研究所）将利用这项关于地方性仙人掌科的保护状况和相关数据库的工作（Arakaki和Ostolaza 2005年出版）来制定秘鲁仙人掌的管理政策。该项目还将涉及与玻利维亚和智利的植物学家合作。

The cactus family (Cactaceae) is a large family of approximately 2000 species restricted to the American continent, but now cultivated all over the world. Although most cacti are found in deserts, they can also prosper as epiphytes in humid places. The region comprising Peru and Bolivia has the second highest species diversity for Cactaceae in the world and also may represent a possible site of origin for the family. In spite of the large size and ecological importance of Cactaceae, few studies have examined relationships in the family. Most South American species of cacti belong to tribe Trichocereeae, with about 80% of them endemic to their respective countries. Relationships and species boundaries among members of Trichocereeae are poorly understood. Trichocereeae show great morphological variability and complex reproductive patterns, traditionally attributed to phenomena such as hybridization, polyploidy (or genome doubling), and vegetative propagation. The Trichocereeae, and Haageocereus in particular, are becoming more and more vulnerable to human disturbance given that the largest and most populated cities in most South American countries are located in the natural habitats of these cacti. A phylogeny is a crucial first step to obtain a better understanding of the biology of these organisms and to facilitate subsequent ecological and/or conservation studies. The phylogeny of tribe Trichocereeae will be used as a framework for: 1) resolving relationships among genera in Trichocereeae; 2) resolving relationships among species of Haageocereus; 3) determining the presence and importance of hybridization and polyploidy in Haageocereus and other Trichocereeae; 4) examination of biogeographic patterns in the group; 5) examination of genetic diversity in endangered species of Haageocereus. Haageocereus, perhaps the most morphologically diverse genus in Trichocereeae, will serve as a model system and will be investigated in detail at the species and population level employing DNA sequencing and microsatellite techniques. Studies on Trichocereeae will continue to have educational impact through dissemination of the results through publications, the Trichocereeae website, conferences, seminars and courses offered at universities and botanical institutions located in cacti-rich areas. Importantly, the governmental institution INRENA (National Institute of Natural Resources) will use this work on the conservation status of endemic Cactaceae and accompanying database (Arakaki and Ostolaza 2005 in press) to establish management policies for Peruvian cacti. The project will also involve collaboration with botanists in Bolivia and Chile.