DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Systematics of Amorpha L. (Papilionoideae: Fabaceae) - Molecular Phylogenetics, Evolution, and Conservation

紫穗槐属的系统学研究。（蝶亚科：确定密切相关的物种并了解它们的进化关系对生物学家来说是一个重大挑战。豆科植物紫穗槐属AmorphaL.，它的15个形态上可变，但遗传相似的物种说明了这些困难的问题。紫穗槐包括几个濒危物种，以及广泛的，杂草物种复合体。本研究旨在阐明紫穗槐属植物种间的进化关系，探讨紫穗槐属植物的起源和种间关系。紫穗槐属珍稀植物的分类和遗传多样性。为了实现这些目标，将使用不同的方法来揭示分子序列变异模式，并收集基本的生物信息，如基因组大小和染色体数目。紫穗槐属物种的进化关系的知识将提供更好地了解一个研究不足的属，并可能深入了解基因组复制与入侵的关系。结合种群遗传学研究，这项工作将扩大目前的知识，在物种和种群之间的边界工作。这项研究中开发的遗传标记将对其他研究人员有用，收集的有关稀有物种的信息将有助于政府机构评估保护计划和防止生物多样性丧失。

Systematics of Amorpha L. (Papilionoideae: Fabaceae) - Molecular Phylogenetics, Evolution, and Conservation Delimiting closely related species and understanding their evolutionary relationships presents a significant challenge for biologists. The legume genus Amorpha L., with its 15 morphologically variable, yet genetically similar, species illustrates these difficult problems. Amorpha includes several endangered species, as well as a widespread, weedy species complex. The goals of this proposed research are to elucidate the evolutionary relationships among Amorpha species, explore the origin of and relationships within the A. fruticosa species complex, and assess the taxonomy and genetic diversity of rare Amorpha species. In order to accomplish these objectives, diverse methodologies will be used to uncover molecular sequence variation patterns and collect basic biological information, such as genome size and chromosome number. Knowledge of the evolutionary relationships of Amorpha species will provide better understanding of a poorly studied genus and possible insight into the relationship of genome duplication to invasiveness. In combination with population genetic studies, this work will expand current knowledge for working at the boundary between species and populations. Genetic markers developed in this study will have utility for other researchers and information gathered about rare species will be useful to government agencies for assessing conservation plans and preventing loss of biodiversity.