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

魔芋属植物的系统学——分子系统发育、进化和保护。划分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的挑战。豆科植物紫穗槐属，与它的15形态可变，但遗传相似，物种说明了这些困难的问题。紫穗槐包括几个濒临灭绝的物种，以及一个广泛的，杂草物种复杂。本研究的目的是阐明紫穗槐种间的进化关系，探索紫穗槐种群的起源和相互关系，评估紫穗槐稀有种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和收集基本的生物学信息，如基因组大小和染色体数目。了解魔芋属的进化关系将有助于更好地理解这一研究不足的属，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，这项工作将扩大现有的物种和种群边界研究知识。本研究开发的遗传标记将对其他研究人员有用，收集到的有关稀有物种的信息将对政府机构评估保护计划和防止生物多样性丧失有用。

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.