Systematics of sedges (Cyperaceae)

莎草科植物系统学

• 批准号: 342278-2013
• 负责人: Starr, Julian
• 金额: $ 1.6万
• 依托单位: University of Ottawa
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=549615
• 关键词: Systematics; sedges; Cyperaceae

Systematics is the science that names, classifies and determines the evolutionary relationships of living things. Whether we are developing environmental policy, making conservation decisions, or studying the ecology or molecular biology of a species, systematics is essential because it defines the units (species, families, etc.) and provides the context (evolutionary relationships) for meaningful comparisons in biology. My research focuses on the systematics of the sedge family (Cyperaceae), a truly remarkable group of plants characterized by their exceptional diversity (ca. 5000 species), varied habitats (deserts to rain forests), unusual cytology (chromosome numbers from 12 to 112) and diverse biogeographical patterns. In the Flora of North America region (Canada & USA), sedges represent nearly 4% of our native flora (10% in Canada); they are common to every floral region, and they dominate vast areas of the continent in terms of diversity and biomass. Moreover, approximately 10% of sedges are of either direct (medicines, crops) or indirect (weeds) economic importance to humanity. Nevertheless, sedges remain a poorly studied group whose classification and relationships are highly unresolved. My long-term research objectives in the sedge family are to discover diversity, to clarify relationships, and to produce predictive classifications that can be used to preserve biodiversity and to advance our knowledge of sedge biology. In order to forward these long-term goals, my research will focus on three short-term research objectives: (1) to define, circumscribe and determine the evolutionary relationships of the major groups within Cyperaceae and (2) tribe Cariceae, and (3) to produce a revised classification of Carex section Lupulinae. The wider impact of this research ranges from preserving biodiversity, to an improved understanding of world biogeography, C3/C4 photosynthesis and the evolution of chromosomal variation in sedges.

系统学是对生物进行命名、分类和确定进化关系的科学。无论我们是制定环境政策，做出保护决策，还是研究物种的生态学或分子生物学，系统学都是必不可少的，因为它定义了单位（物种，科等）。并为生物学中有意义的比较提供了背景（进化关系）。我的研究重点是莎草科（莎草科）的系统学，这是一个真正了不起的植物群，其特点是异常的多样性（约200年）。5000种），不同的栖息地（沙漠到雨林），不寻常的细胞学（染色体数目从12到112）和不同的地理模式。在北美地区（加拿大和美国）的植物群中，莎草占我们本土植物群的近4%（加拿大为10%）;它们在每个植物区都很常见，并且在多样性和生物量方面主导着大陆的广大地区。此外，大约10%的莎草对人类具有直接（药物，作物）或间接（杂草）的经济重要性。然而，莎草仍然是一个研究不足的群体，其分类和关系是高度未解决的。我在莎草科的长期研究目标是发现多样性，澄清关系，并产生可用于保护生物多样性和推进我们的莎草生物学知识的预测分类。为了实现这些长期目标，本研究将集中于三个短期研究目标：（1）定义、界定和确定莎草科和番木瓜族内主要类群的进化关系;（2）修订苔草属羽扇豆亚科组的分类。这项研究的更广泛的影响范围从保护生物多样性，以提高对世界植物地理学，C3/C4光合作用和莎草染色体变异进化的理解。