DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Evolution and Phylogeography of the Alternifolium group of the Flowering Plant Genus Chrysosplenium

本项目将利用遗传和地理信息确定开花植物金腰属（虎耳草科）互叶组北极物种的进化历史。DNA序列数据的使用将提供一个强大的估计金腰属内的进化关系，这将被用来研究生物多样性内的Alternifolium组。 DNA指纹和地理数据将提供对历史种群动态（例如分裂，扩张）的见解，并确定过去气候变化对这些和其他北极物种进化的影响。 现代北极植物群是北极环境多种演化过程相互作用的产物。考虑到这些过程的新近性和规模，该地区是研究这些相互作用性质的天然实验室。然而，很少有进化研究集中在阐明北极植物群内的多样化模式，特别是在北美特有的物种。 旨在确定北极植物类群进化历史的研究是必要的，因为它们提供了深入了解一般进化过程的性质以及未来气候变化对广泛生态系统的影响的潜力。

This project will employ genetic and geographic information to determine the evolutionary history of the arctic species composing the Alternifolium group of the flowering plant genus Chrysosplenium (Saxifragaceae). The use of DNA sequence data will provide a robust estimate of evolutionary relationships within Chrysosplenium, which will be used to study biological diversification within the Alternifolium group. DNA fingerprinting and geographic data will provide insights into historical population dynamics (e.g. fragmentation, expansion) and determine the impact of past climate change on the evolution of these and other arctic species. The modern arctic flora is the product of interactions among the myriad evolutionary processes of arctic environments. Given the recency and magnitude of these processes, this region serves as a natural laboratory to study the nature of these interactions. Yet, few evolutionary studies have focused on elucidating the patterns of diversification within the arctic flora, particularly among those species endemic to North America. Studies aimed at the determination of evolutionary histories for arctic plant taxa are imperative given the potential they offer for insight into the nature of general evolutionary processes as well as the effects of future climate change on a broad range of ecosystems.