Dissertation Research: Systematics of Dombeya and the Dombeyoideae (Malvaceae s.l.)

巧克力属植物董贝亚是马达加斯加巨大多样性的一个显著例子，它的210个物种中有180个只在这个独特的岛屿上发现。尽管该属在整个马达加斯加无处不在，但对董贝亚的大多数物种了解很少，在分类上也被忽视了。该项目旨在通过实现两个目标来改善这种忽视：1)完成整个属的分子系统学，这是一个基于DNA研究的进化关系假说；2)对Astrapaea组进行分类修订，Astrapaea组是Dombea族中定义明确的群体。在像马达加斯加这样的发展中国家，普遍的贫困迫使不可持续的土地利用，因此立即采取保护行动势在必行。然而，成功的保护和生物多样性管理工作需要良好的分类学基础，而热带类群往往缺乏这一基础。对Astrapaea组的研究开始了对Dombeya的分类工作，全属的系统发育为这个令人望而生畏的大属的其余部分的未来分类修订创建了一个框架，考虑到Dombeya占马达加斯加植物区系的2%，这是一个重要的目标。该项目同时创建了马达加斯加东贝亚的在线数据库，确保将结果传播给最需要的人：在马达加斯加实地工作的研究人员。

The plant genus Dombeya, of the Chocolate Family, is a striking example of the megadiversity of Madagascar, with 180 of its 210 species found only on this unique island. Although the genus is ubiquitous throughout Madagascar, most species of Dombeya are poorly understood and have been taxonomically neglected. This project aims to ameliorate this neglect by accomplishing two objectives: 1) complete a molecular phylogeny, a hypothesis of evolutionary relationships based on the study of DNA, for the entire genus, and 2) produce a taxonomic revision of section Astrapaea, a well-defined group within Dombeya.In developing countries, like Madagascar, widespread poverty compels unsustainable land use making immediate conservation action imperative. Yet, successful conservation and biodiversity management efforts require a sound taxonomic foundation, which is often lacking for tropical taxa. This study of section Astrapaea begins taxonomic work on Dombeya and the genus-wide phylogeny creates a framework for future taxonomic revision of the remainder of this dauntingly large genus, a significant goal considering Dombeya makes up 2% of the Malagasy flora. The project's concurrent creation of an online database of the Dombeya of Madagascar ensures dissemination of results to those most in need of them: researchers working on the ground in Madagascar.