Dissertation Research: Molecular systematics, evolution, and historical biogeography in Corybas (Orchidaceae)

盔兰属（Corybas）约有140种，花精巧复杂，分布于亚洲至澳大利亚和西南太平洋盆地的其他地区。由于热带山地森林中竹节虫的体型小，种类多，对竹节虫的研究很少。该项目的目标是利用来自广泛物种样本的DNA变异来检查Corybas内部的关系；重建分布变化和物种多样化的历史时间和地理格局；并研究花结构变化的频率和生态背景。将对澳大利亚的一组密切相关的物种进行详细研究，以便在更精细的范围内调查这些问题。这项研究将导致新物种的发现和描述，修订分类的发展，并通过量化遗传独特性和多样性的模式来帮助确定保护的优先事项。研究结果将为今后的物种生态学研究提供一个重要的背景，并将进一步加深我们对历史生物地理学和物种形成的认识。该项目涉及与外国研究人员（包括发展中国家的一些研究人员）的大量合作，并将促进这些地区科学家的专业发展。

The helmet orchid genus Corybas contains about 140 species with exquisitely complex flowers, distributed from Asia to Australia and other parts of the southwest Pacific basin. Corybas has been poorly studied due to their small size and the large number of species in tropical montane forests. The goals of this project are to use DNA variation from a broad sample of species to examine relationships within Corybas; to reconstruct the historical timing and geographic patterns of distributional changes and species diversification; and to examine the frequency and ecological context for changes in flower structure. One group of closely related species in Australia will be studied in detail to investigate these questions on a finer scale.This research will result in the discovery and description of new species, in development of a revised classification, and in helping set conservation priorities by quantifying patterns of genetic uniqueness and diversity. The results will provide an important context for future studies on the ecology of individual species, and will further our understanding of historical biogeography and speciation. This project involves substantial collaboration with foreign researchers, including several in developing countries, and will contribute to the professional development of scientists in these regions.