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

通过性欺骗来授粉在兰花科是众所周知的。这种不寻常的系统已经被详细研究了许多温带陆生兰花谱系，但很少在新大陆。在新热带兰花属Mormolyca中，性欺骗随着食物奖励和食物欺骗而进化，从而为探索花的形态和气味之间的相关性提供了机会。本研究结合了多个学科（分子进化、微观形态学和化学生态学）的技术，试图获得具有多种传粉系统的兰花群谱系多样化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。这项研究有助于培养一名研究分子系统学和化学生态学现代方法的博士生。这将使他能够继续担任本科生的导师，并大大提高他的论文对该学科的影响。兰花学会的出版物和专门为兰花爱好者提供的网站上不仅有科学论文，还有面向更广泛受众的产品。以兰花授粉为重点的教育活动也将根据K？12项外展活动。

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.