DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Molecular systematics, flower micro-morphology, & floral fragrances in Mormolyca (Orchidaceae)

性欺骗授粉在兰科植物中广为人知。这一不寻常的系统已经在许多温带的陆地兰花谱系中得到了详细的研究，但在新大陆却很少。在新热带兰属中，性欺骗随着食物奖励和食物欺骗而进化，从而为探索花形态和气味之间的相关性提供了机会。这项研究综合了多学科(分子进化、微形态和化学生态学)的技术，试图获得一个具有多个授粉系统的兰科种群的进化过程的整体图景。鉴于新热带地区拥有数量可观的兰花物种，这种综合方法应该特别有助于理解这一生物多样性热点。这项研究正在帮助一名博士生学习分子系统学和化学生态学的现代方法。这将使他继续担任本科生的导师，并显著增强他的论文对该学科的影响。兰花协会的出版物和致力于兰花爱好者的网站将不仅提供科学论文，还将提供面向更广泛受众的产品。还将根据K？12外展活动的结果，开展以兰花授粉为重点的教育活动。

Pollination by sexual deceit is well known in the orchid family. This unusual system has been studied in detail for many temperate, terrestrial orchid lineages, but rarely in the New World. In the Neotropical orchid genus Mormolyca, sexual deception has evolved along with food reward and food deception, thereby providing an opportunity to explore correlations between flower morphology and scent. This research incorporates techniques from multiple disciplines (molecular evolution, micro-morphology and chemical ecology) in an attempt to gain a holistic picture of evolutionary processes underlying lineage diversification of an orchid group with multiple pollination systems.Given that the Neotropics harbor an impressive number of orchid species, this integrated approach should be especially helpful in understanding this biodiversity hotspot. The research is helping to train a Ph.D. student in modern approaches to molecular systematics and chemical ecology. It will allow him to continue serving as a mentor to undergraduate students, and significantly enhance the impact his dissertation will have on the discipline. Not only scientific papers, but also products for a broader audience will be made available in orchid society publications and websites devoted to orchid enthusiasts. Educational activities focused on orchid pollination also will be developed based on the results for K?12 outreach events.