REVSYS: Systematics of Paleotropical grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae): using phylogenies to resolve generic circumscriptions and explore the evolution of morphological characters

位于马诺阿的夏威夷大学被授予研究革兰属蕨类植物的进化和多样性，重点是热带亚洲和太平洋岛屿。Grammid蕨类植物是古热带森林生态系统中维管附生植物区系的重要组成部分，特别是在高海拔地区；然而，由于缺乏明确的属界，进一步的研究受到阻碍。这项拟议的研究将对古热带革兰科蕨类植物进行新的分子和形态分析，以阐明它们的进化史。由此产生的关系假说将被用来阐明属的边界，通过离散的形态特征来定义属。这项工作还将进行适当的分类修订。关系假说将被用来探索形态特征的进化，检验生长习惯的变化与物种间形态变化之间的相关性，以及检验与物种形成的可能机制有关的生物地理假说。拟议的研究将广泛有益于社会，因为它将解决阻碍其他研究努力和保护管理的分类问题。拟议的研究将促进对蕨类植物多样性的发现和了解，从而增加我们对维管植物进化的了解。该项目将涉及科学家之间的国际合作，为新近毕业的博士提供关键的博士后培训，以及为研究生提供博士培训，为本科生提供研究经验。

An award is made to the University of Hawai'i at Manoa to study the evolution and diversity of grammitid ferns, with a focus on tropical Asia and islands of the Pacific. Grammitid ferns comprise a significant component of the vascular epiphyte flora in forested ecosystems in the Paleotropics, especially at higher elevations; however, further research is hindered by the lack of clearly defined generic boundaries. The proposed research will conduct new molecular and morphological analyses of the Paleotropical grammitid ferns to elucidate their evolutionary history. Resulting hypotheses of relationships will be used to elucidate generic boundaries, defining genera by discrete morphological characters. This work will also undertake appropriate taxonomic revisions. Hypotheses of relationships will be used to explore the evolution of morphological characters and to test for correlations between changes in growth habit and changes in morphology across species, as well as to test biogeographical hypotheses that relate to possible mechanisms of speciation. The proposed research will be broadly beneficial to society because it will resolve classification problems that are an impediment to other research efforts and conservation management. The proposed research will advance the discovery and understanding of diversity of grammitid ferns and, thus, add to our knowledge of the evolution of vascular plants. The project will involve international collaboration among scientists, provide critical postdoctoral training to a recent PhD graduate, as well as doctoral training to a graduate student and research experience for undergraduate students.