Speciation and reproductive system evolution in the antillean plant genus gesneria

自达尔文以来，开花植物惊人的花卉多样性的起源和维持一直是进化生物学家着迷的话题。开花植物花卉多样性的一个重要驱动因素是植物和动物传粉者之间的相互作用。这项研究建议解决苦参属植物生殖系统的平行进化问题，该属属于非洲紫罗兰科(苦参科)。在Gesneria，已经有了从蜂鸟授粉的植物(典型的特征是红色管状花和昼夜产蜜)到蝙蝠授粉的植物(开白色或绿色的花，夜间产蜜)的多次进化过渡。利用数量遗传工具，通过对与这些转变相关的生态(生境、气候、地理范围和种群大小)的调查，我们将研究这些花转变背后的遗传基础和生态环境。我们还将研究这些转变对物种形成和灭绝速度的影响。这项研究将有助于增加对传粉者转变的遗传基础和它们进化的生态环境的理解。它还将提高我们对这种过渡对全球生物多样性问题的影响的理解。

The origin and maintenance of the phenomenal floral diversity of flowering plants is a topic that has fascinated evolutionary biologists since Darwin. An important driver of floral diversity in flowering plants is the interaction between plants and animal pollinators. The research proposed addresses parallel evolution of the reproductive system in the plant genus Gesneria, a genus in the African violet family (Gesneriaceae). In Gesneria, there have been multiple evolutionary transitions from hummingbird-pollinated plants (typically characterised by red tubular flowers and diurnal nectar production) to bat-pollinated plants (with white or green flowers and nocturnal nectar production). Using quantitative genetic tools and through investigation of the ecology (habitat, climate, geographical ranges, and population sizes) that are typically associated with these transitions, we will study the genetic bases and ecological circumstances underlying these flower transitions. We will also study the impact of these transitions on speciation and extinction rates. This research will help increase understanding of the genetic bases of pollinator transitions and the ecological circumstances under which they evolve. It will also improve our understanding of the impact of such transitions on global biodiversity issues.