Dissertation Research: Phylogeny and Character Evolution in the Blakeeae (Melastomataceae): Neotropical Epiphytes with Mite and Ant Domatia.

野牡丹科(野牡丹科)是新热带森林的主要附生植物，开花较大，具有不同的传粉综合征(包括啮齿动物)，并与蚂蚁和螨类互惠共生。这项研究的目标是利用形态和五个分子区域来推断系统发育；利用系统发育来追踪螨类和蚂蚁植物协会的进化；检查特征变化的模式，特别是花药形态和其他花的修饰；以及探索物种形成和生物地理学。本科生将接受扫描电子显微镜、分子和解剖学技术方面的培训。该项目正在促进北美和南美植物学家之间的合作。结果将通过科学期刊、会议和课堂讲座传播。它们大多生活在高度多样化和濒临灭绝的山地和新热带森林中--了解它们将有助于保护。《华尔街日报》在植物系统学和形态学方面拥有广泛的专业知识。DSP接受过形态、解剖学和分子技术方面的培训。这两个人都参与了对蜜腺基因组系统发育的国际合作研究，都活跃在科学界，都是竞争性教学奖项的获得者。这将是提供所有元数据访问的首批形态分析之一，将对理解蜜腺系统发育、螨类和蚂蚁-植物关系做出相当大的贡献，并为专著奠定基础。

The Blakeeae (Melastomataceae) are large-flowered, mainly epiphytic,components of neotropical forests with diverse pollination syndromes (including rodents)and mutualistic associations with ants and mites. The goals of this study are to inferphylogeny using morphology and five molecular regions; to use the phylogeny to trackthe evolution of mite and ant plant associations; examine patterns of character change,particularly anther morphology and other floral modifications; and explore speciation andbiogeography.Broader impacts. Undergraduates will be trained in scanning electron microscopy,molecular, and anatomical techniques. This project is fostering collaborations betweenNorth and South American botanists. Results will be disseminated through scientificjournals, meetings, and classroom lectures. Blakeeae are mostly limited to highly diverseand endangered montane, neotropical forests--understanding them will aid conservation.Intellectual merit. WSJ has broad expertise in plant systematics and morphology. DSPhas training in morphological, anatomical, and molecular techniques. Both are involvedin international collaborative investigations into melastome phylogenetics, are active inthe scientific community, and are winners of competitive teaching awards. This will beamong the first morphological analyses to provide access to all metadata, will contributeconsiderably to understanding melastome phylogenetics, mite- and ant-plantrelationships, and form the foundation for a monograph.