Phylogenetics of Pezizales Fungi, Emphasizing the Pyronemataceae

哈佛大学的Don Pfister教授和他的同事Karen Hansen博士将研究一组所谓的杯状真菌的分类和系统发育关系，这些真菌主要分布在北半球，其中许多被怀疑与周围的植被形成根连接，特别是在火灾后受到干扰的栖息地。有盖杯真菌（子囊菌门的Pezizales目）是一个相对较小的类群，所描述的种类略多于1000种。一些科级的分类学研究已经发表，除了最大的一组，包括Pyronemataceae（78属，大约500种）外，该目已经相当为人所知。本研究将重点研究火龙花科植物。这是一个多元化的家庭；物种表现出广泛的形态和生态特征。利用来自三个核基因区域的DNA序列数据和对形态特征的全面分析，将建立该家族系统发育关系的坚实支柱，这反过来将为改进该群体的自然分类提供依据。对科内两个属复合体的研究将集中在种水平上。这个项目是重要的，因为它将提供一个完整的文件样本，包括在一个主要的Pezizales家族中所有公认的属。因此，该目可以作为进化、生态和生物地理学研究的模型群。虽然在许多情况下，这些真菌的生物活性尚不清楚，但这些真菌中有些是腐殖菌，有些是菌根菌，还有一些是寄生在植物上的。在广泛的生态系统背景下，这些真菌在受干扰的栖息地和极端环境中建立植物方面发挥着作用。在这个项目中，将对研究生和本科生进行培训和指导。这项研究特别有力地结合了传统方法和分子方法的培训机会。该项目还鼓励来自美国、挪威、丹麦和其他国家的科学家参与合作活动。此外，公众观众将通过哈佛自然历史博物馆和当地自然历史组织的活动参与进来。

Prof. Don Pfister at Harvard University with his associate Dr. Karen Hansen will be studying taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships among a group of so-called cup fungi mostly of the northern hemisphere, many suspected to form root-connections with surrounding vegetation, particularly in disturbed habitats following fires. The operculate cup-fungi (order Pezizales of the Ascomycota) are a relatively small group with slightly more than 1000 described species. Several family-level taxonomic studies have been published, and the order is reasonably well known except for the largest group, that which includes the family Pyronemataceae (78 genera and approximately 500 species). The Pyronemataceae will be the focus of this study. It is diverse family; species show a wide range of morphological and ecological traits. Using DNA sequence data from three nuclear gene regions and a full analysis of morphological characters, a solid backbone of phylogenetic relationships in the family will be established, which in turn will provide grounds for an improved natural classification of the group. Study of two generic complexes within the family will focus at the species level. This project is significant because it will provide a thoroughly documented sample of all the recognized genera within a major family of the Pezizales. The order then can be used as a model group for evolutionary, ecological and biogeographical studies. Although in many cases the biological activities of these fungi are not known, some of these fungi are saprobes, others are mycorrhizal and a few are parasitic on plants. In the broad ecosystem context these fungi play a part in establishing plants in disturbed habitats and extreme environments. In this project graduate and undergraduate students will be trained and mentored. The research offers a particularly potent combination of training opportunities in traditional and molecular methodologies. The project also encourages cooperative activities involving scientists from the US, Norway, Denmark and other countries. As well, public audiences will be engaged through activities in the Harvard Museum of Natural History and local natural history organizations.