DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Species of a new generation -- Integration of massively parallel sequencing, morphological, and niche modeling data for species discovery and delimitation.

物种代表了进化和生态学研究的基本单位，但它们的性质以及如何最好地界定它们仍然存在争议。美国东南部野生姜（Asarum subgenus Heterotropa）是一种高度可变的植物群，长期以来在物种边界上存在问题，并且在生殖生物学方面知之甚少。该项目通过整合复杂的形态分析、气候变量、地理、尖端DNA分析和传粉者身份等数据，开发了一种新的定量方法来划分物种和表征生殖生物学，可作为未来工作的模型。不明确的物种边界极大地阻碍了生物多样性的欣赏、管理和保护，该项目为任何生物系统的研究人员提供了一个强大的新工具。为研究收集的资料将向其他研究者公开。一个在线数据库将为生态学家、土地管理者和业余植物学家提供识别资源，他们将遇到东南美国野姜。该项目将支持一名博士生的研究和培训，公众将通过俄亥俄州立大学生物多样性博物馆年度开放日的展览、公开讲座和为生物学入门课程设计的实验室模块而受益。

Species represent the fundamental units of evolutionary and ecological studies, yet their nature and how best to circumscribe them remain controversial. The southeastern US Wild Gingers (Asarum subgenus Heterotropa) are a highly variable group of plants that have long been problematic in their species boundaries, as well as being poorly known with respect to reproductive biology. This project develops a novel quantitative approach to delimiting species and characterizing reproductive biology by integrating data from sophisticated morphological analysis, climatic variables, geography, cutting-edge DNA analysis, and pollinator identity that can serve as a model for future work.The appreciation, management, and conservation of biodiversity are greatly hindered by ill-defined species boundaries, and this project develops a powerful new tool for investigators of any biological system. Collections made for the study will be publicly available to other investigators. An online database will serve as an identification resource for ecologists, land managers, and amateur botanists who encounter SE US Wild Gingers. This project will support the research and training of a doctoral student, and the public at large will benefit through exhibits at the annual Ohio State University Museum of Biological Diversity Open House, public lectures, and a laboratory module to be designed for use in introductory biology courses.