DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Pollinator-mediated Evolution and Diversification of Andean Solanaceae

威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校（University of Wisconsin-Madison）的大卫·鲍姆博士（David Baum）和斯泰西·史密斯（Stacey Smith）女士获得了一笔拨款，用于研究生境转变和授粉系统在马铃薯科（Iochrominae）花形和颜色多样化中的作用。Iochrominae是安第斯地区马铃薯科的27个物种。具体来说，这项研究将检验一种假设，即向高海拔环境的过渡与蜂鸟授粉的转变和彩色管状花的进化有关。其分布范围广，花形态和传粉系统具有很大的多样性，是研究这一假说的理想类群。本研究将分为三个部分，分别为：紫堇科植物的进化史重建、传粉的野外研究和花色素的生化分析。总之，这些组成部分将有可能评估海拔变化与授粉系统和植物进化变化的相关程度。考虑到地形变化与动植物共同进化的结合被认为是新热带地区巨大的植物区系多样性的原因，Iochrominae可以作为研究适应辐射和多样化过程的一个案例，这个过程已经发生在许多新热带开花植物谱系中。此外，该项目将促进北美和拉丁美洲植物机构之间的合作，努力记录和了解安第斯山脉的植物多样性及其产生过程。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. David Baum and Ms. Stacey Smith at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to investigate the role of habitat transitions and pollination systems in the diversification of flower form and color in Iochrominae, a group of 27 Andean species in the potato family, Solanaceae. Specifically, the research will examine the hypothesis that transitions to high-elevation environments are correlated with shifts to hummingbird pollination and the evolution of colorful, tubular flowers. Iochrominae occur at wide range of elevations, and they display a great diversity of floral morphologies and pollination systems, making them an ideal group in which to investigate this hypothesis. The study will be divided into three parts: reconstruction of the evolutionary history of Iochrominae, field studies of pollination, and biochemical analysis of floral pigmentation. Together, these components will make it possible to assess the extent to which elevational transitions are correlated with shifts in pollination systems and floral evolution. Considering that topographical variation combined with plant-animal coevolution are thought to be responsible for the immense floristic diversity of the Neotropics, Iochrominae may serve as a case study of the process of adaptive radiation and diversification that has taken place in multitudes of neotropical lineages of flowering plants. Furthermore, this project will foster collaboration between North American and Latin American botanical institutions in trying to document and understand the floristic diversity of the Andes and the processes that have given rise to it.