Dissertation Research: Systematic and Evolutionary Studies of Asarum and Aristolochiaceae

9411644幸运的是，这笔奖金将用于支付在中国进行实地考察的旅费和分子(叶绿体和核DNA测序)研究的实验室用品，以加强博士研究生劳伦斯·M·凯利的论文工作。这个学生的研究项目涉及利用形态和分子数据进行系统发育分析或研究细辛属物种组之间的关系，以及细辛属与组成马兜铃科的其他五个属之间的关系。据了解，这个科是与单子叶植物、草、竹子、百合等关系最密切的植物群。这项研究将澄清主要谱系之间的关系，开始对包括大约80个物种的细辛属进行全面的种级处理或专著研究。这些研究得出的系统发育或关系模式将被用来检验关于燕尾蝴蝶与这些植物之间的联系的假说，这些假说涉及它们产生某些植物酸，以及使这些植物适应真菌蚊子授粉的修饰。这项研究将澄清一组非常有趣的植物成员之间的关系，并测试对某些成员及其与燕尾蝴蝶的生物联系的预测。支持对研究生进行现代系统方法论培训，对于保持一支能够解决日益引起全球关注的生物多样性问题的科学家队伍十分重要。***

9411644 LUCKOW This award will pay for travel to conduct field work in China and laboratory supplies for molecular (chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequencing) studies to enhance the dissertation work of a PhD graduate student, Lawrence M. Kelly. The research project of this student involves utilizing morphological and molecular data in a phylogenetic analysis or study of relationships among species groups in the genus Asarum and among Asarum and the five other genera that constitute the plant family Aristolochiaceae. This family is understood to be the plant group most closely related to the monocots, the grasses, bamboos, lilies, etc.. This study will clarify relationships among major lineages, begin work on a full species-level treatment or monograph of the genus Asarum which includes approximately 80 species. The phylogeny or pattern of relationships derived from these studies will be used to test hypotheses concerning the associations of swallowtail butterflies with these plants relative to their production of certain plant acids and modifications adapting these plants to pollination by fungus gnats. %%% This study will clarify relationships among members of a very interesting group of plants and test predictions about certain members and their biological associations with swallowtail butterflies. Support for the training of graduate students in modern systematic methodologies is important for maintaining the workforce of scientists capable of addressing the questions and issues of biodiversity which are of increasing global concern. ***