DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Phylogeny and Pollination Biology of Castilleae (Moraceae): Investigating the Evolutionary History of the Figs' Closest Relatives

在明尼苏达大学乔治魏布伦博士的指导下，研究生温迪·克莱门特的研究比较了无花果（无花果属）和印度橡胶（桑科的卡斯蒂利亚族植物）。这两个非常密切相关的植物类群在物种多样性、传粉生物学、花结构和地理分布方面存在很大差异。比较研究比孤立地研究一个植物群更能阐明进化的过程。许多研究都集中在无花果和它们的互利传粉者无花果黄蜂的生态学和进化上，因为这种关系是植物和昆虫共同进化的一个众所周知的例子。然而，Castilleae不太为人所知，在进行比较工作之前需要对这一群体进行进一步研究。本研究的目的是双重的：（1）确定Castilleae（约60个）的物种是如何相互关联的，（2）调查两个pupestrium古老Castilleae物种的授粉生物学。DNA序列数据和形态学用于构建Castilleae的进化关系假说。系统发育被用来追踪花结构的进化，并估计该组的年龄。年龄估计和地理数据可以揭示这些植物可能从其起源中心到现在的位置的传播路线。在巴布亚新几内亚岛上进行的花粉研究旨在确定一种早期分化的Castilleae物种的可能授粉者，即毒树（Antitoxicaris）。实验和观察将研究气味在吸引授粉昆虫到毒树和另一个古老的岛屿特有植物Antiaropsis decipiens的花朵中的作用。这项研究旨在阐明导致我们今天看到的植物多样性模式的进化过程。调查的重点是一个重要的，但研究不足的植物群，其进化历史可能揭示了热带植物多样性的起源。在巴布亚新几内亚的实地工作有助于在接触有限的欠发达农村社区开展科学教育，并建立了一个关于雨林生态和进化的国际合作网络。这些活动促进了巴布亚新几内亚的地方保护工作，同时建设了科学能力。最后，Castilleae的进化关系的研究提供了一个很好的机会，培养明尼苏达大学的本科生感兴趣的进化和系统发育系统学。

The research of graduate student Wendy Clement, with the supervision of Dr George Weiblen at the University of Minnesota, compares figs (the genus Ficus) and Indian rubber (plants of the tribe Castilleae) of the mulberry family, Moraceae. These two very closely related plant groups differ greatly in species diversity, pollination biology, flower architecture, and geographical distribution. Comparative studies can better illuminate the course of evolution than studying one plant group in isolation. Much research has focused on the ecology and evolution of figs and their mutualistic pollinators, the fig wasps, because this relationship is a well-known example of coevolution among plants and insects. However, Castilleae are less well known, and further research on this group is needed before comparative work can be conducted. The goal of this study is twofold: (1) to determine how the species of Castilleae (ca 60 total) are related to one another and (2) to investigate the pollination biology of two putatively ancient Castilleae species. DNA sequence data and morphology are used to construct a phylogeny, a hypothesis of evolutionary relationships, for Castilleae. Phylogeny is used to trace the evolution of flower architecture and to estimate the age of the group. Age estimates and biogeographical data can reveal possible dispersal routes these plants may have followed from their center of origin to their present day locations. Pollination studies on the island of Papua New Guinea aim to identify the likely pollinator of an early diverging species of Castilleae, the poison tree (Antiaris toxicaria). Experiments and observations will examine the role of scent in attracting pollinating insects to the flowers of the poison tree and another ancient island endemic, Antiaropsis decipiens. This research aims to elucidate evolutionary processes that have resulted in the patterns of plant diversity we see today. The investigation focuses on an important, yet understudied group of plants whose evolutionary history may shed light on the origin of tropical plant diversity. Fieldwork in Papua New Guinea contributes to science education in underdeveloped rural communities with limited contact and builds a network of international collaboration on rainforest ecology and evolution. Activities contribute to local conservation efforts in Papua New Guinea, while simultaneously building scientific capacity. Lastly, research on the evolutionary relationships of Castilleae provides an excellent opportunity to train University of Minnesota undergraduate students interested in evolution and phylogenetic systematics.