DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Weed Profiling: A Molecular Phylogenetic Test of Darwin's Naturalization Hypothesis in Asteraceae

一些植物物种超越其原生范围，在新的地区成为生态主导，影响生物多样性，生态系统功能和人类健康。因此，理解和预测入侵行为的能力非常重要。利用世界性的菊科杂草丰富的部落作为模型，该项目将调查本地和入侵类群之间的进化关系，以促进筛选潜在的入侵类群的预测框架的发展的目标。系统发育将基于DNA序列数据重建，并用于测试本地和外来物种之间的相关性如何决定美国和欧洲地中海气候中的入侵/杂草行为。一旦外来植物在新的地区建立，它们就很难控制。因此，识别和防止潜在的入侵物种到达归零地是最经济和环境可取的管理方法。这项研究将为开发筛选潜在问题物种的框架提供基础，并深入了解影响外来入侵者成功的特征。地中海气候生态系统既高度多样化又高度濒危，使其成为理想的研究系统。该项目将为高中生和本科生提供科学培训，并开展外联工作，旨在提高亚裔美国青年对环境科学的兴趣。

Expanding beyond their native ranges, some plant species become ecologically dominant in new areas, affecting biodiversity, ecosystem function, and human health. Thus, the ability to understand and predict invasive behavior is of great importance. Using weed-rich tribes of the cosmopolitan family Asteraceae as models, this project will investigate evolutionary relationships among native and invasive taxa, with the goal of facilitating development of predictive frameworks for screening potentially invasive taxa. Phylogenies will be reconstructed based on DNA sequence data and used to test how relatedness between natives and exotics determines invasive/weedy behavior in Mediterranean climates in the US and Europe.Once exotic plants establish in new regions, they are difficult to control. Hence, identifying and preventing potentially invasive species from reaching ground zero is the most economically and environmentally desirable management method. This study will provide the basis for developing frameworks for screening potentially problematic species, as well as insights into traits that influence the success of exotic invaders. Mediterranean climate ecosystems are both highly diverse and highly endangered, rendering them ideal as study systems. The project will provide scientific training for high school and undergraduate students and outreach efforts aimed at raising interest in environmental sciences among Asian American youth.