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

盔兰属Corybas包含约140种，具有精致复杂的花朵，分布于亚洲到澳大利亚和西南太平洋盆地的其他地区。Corybas一直很少研究，因为它们的体积小，在热带山地森林中的物种数量很多。这个项目的目标是使用DNA变异从一个广泛的物种样本，以检查Corybas内的关系;重建的历史时间和地理分布的变化和物种多样化的模式;并检查频率和生态环境的变化花结构。 本研究将对澳大利亚的一组密切相关的物种进行详细研究，以便在更精细的尺度上调查这些问题。这项研究将导致发现和描述新物种，制定修订的分类，并通过量化遗传独特性和多样性的模式来帮助确定保护优先事项。这些结果将为未来研究单个物种的生态学提供重要的背景，并将进一步加深我们对历史地理学和物种形成的理解。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，并将有助于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.