DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Exploring the mode of speciation in the South African genus Protea (Proteaceae).

Proteaceae植物科的物种是过去2000万年来南非植物角地区(CFR)发生的进化辐射的例证。330个物种中的许多都是世界上其他地方找不到的。这个项目探索了适应和中性过程在白色蛋白质进化中的相对重要性，白色蛋白质是蛋白质属中的一个小的地方性种群。由于水分和营养物质可能限制CFR中的生存和繁殖，与水分和养分利用相关的性状的分化模式将与中性遗传标记的变异模式进行比较，以确定自然选择是否对多样性负责。这些模式将与野生种群土壤养分和水分状况的变化有关。除了澄清这一群体的进化模式外，这些数据还将有助于保护这些特别容易受到气候变化影响的物种。这些数据将帮助保护和修复生物学家确定更适应炎热和干旱的种群。该项目还促进了与南非研究机构SANBI的合作，并将帮助培训本科生现场和实验室工作技能。

Species of the plant family Proteaceae exemplify the evolutionary radiations that have occurred in South Africa's Cape Floristic Region (CFR) over the past 20 million years. Many of the 330 species are found nowhere else in the world. This project explores the relative importance of adaptive and neutral processes in the evolution of the White Proteas, a small endemic group within the genus Protea. Because water and nutrients are likely to limit survival and reproduction in the CFR, patterns of differentiation in traits associated with water and nutrient use will be compared with patterns of variation in neutral genetic markers to determine whether natural selection is responsible for diversification. These patterns will then be related to variations in nutrient and water status of soils in wild populations.In addition to clarifying the mode of evolution in this group, the data will also be useful to the conservation of these species, which are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. These data will help conservation and restoration biologists identify populations that are better adapted to heat and drought. The project also fosters co-operation with SANBI, a South African research institute and will help to train undergraduate students in field and lab work techniques.