DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Evolution of a novel floral organ in Dipsacaceae: consequences for dispersal and diversification

本研究以显花植物川续断科（Dipsacaceae）为研究系统，探讨形态学上新奇的起源与结果。川续断科的特征是具有一个“副萼”，一个新的器官，包着花，在果实传播中起作用。川续断科植物的多样性与副萼直接相关，不同的形态与不同的传播机制有关。这些观察结果表明，副萼作为一个“关键的创新”，刺激了地中海盆地周围的川续断科的适应性辐射。 一个详细的分子系统发育研究的川续断科将进行严格测试这一“关键创新”的假设，同时也考虑到可能的影响，形态特征的进化和多样化的速度。这项研究将提供关键的系统发育信息形态不寻常的和未充分研究组内的川续断。这将产生一个很好的采样作为一个整体，并提供了一个有价值的模式，探索广泛的宏观进化问题。 该项目将扩大与意大利同事的合作关系，并为Co-PI提供各种快速开发分析技术的培训，使她能够跨传统学科开展工作

Evolution of a novel floral organ in Dipsacaceae: Consequences for dispersal and diversificationThis project is designed to elucidate the origin and consequences of morphological novelty using the flowering plant group Dipsacaceae (Dipsacales) as a study system. Dipsacaceae are characterized by an "epicalyx," a novel organ that subtends the flower and functions in fruit dispersal. Much of the diversity in Dipsacaceae relates directly to the epicalyx and different morphologies are associated with different dispersal mechanisms. These observations suggest that the epicalyx functioned as a "key innovation" that spurred the adaptive radiation of the Dipsacaceae around the Mediterranean basin. A detailed molecular phylogenetic study of the Dipsacaceae will be conducted to critically test this "key innovation" hypothesis, while also taking into account the possible influence of biogeography on the evolution of morphological characters and the rate of diversification. This study will provide key phylogenetic information for a morphologically unusual and understudied group within the Dipsacales. This will yield an excellent sampling of Dipsacales as a whole and provide a valuable model for exploring a wide range of macroevolutionary issues. This project will expand collaborative ties with Italian colleagues and provide the Co-PI with training in a wide variety of rapdily developing analytical techniques that will allow her to work across traditional disciplines