DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Systematics, ecology, and evolution of the Clavariaceae (Agaricales)

乳菇菌科是一个研究较少的蘑菇形成真菌科，也是蘑菇目最早的进化分支，蘑菇目是蘑菇菌纲中最多样化的一类蘑菇形成真菌。该家族具有高度多样性的形态和生态特征，包括作为分解者和植物根共生体的作用。强大的系统发展史与进化分析相结合，应该能够洞察导致其高度多样性的模式。这项研究的产品将包括基于分子的系统发育，将进行生态和特征进化分析。此外，还计划对新物种进行鉴定和描述，并对该科进行分类修订。这项研究还将有助于美国第一次对家庭进行现代花卉治疗。这项研究的结果将在专业和业余科学会议上公布。将产生一个已知树科物种的分子参考数据集，这将有助于识别从土壤和其他环境样本中获得的DNA序列。拟议的合作努力涉及欧洲和澳大利亚的研究人员，以及国内和国际草本植物和业余博物学家的贡献。几名本科生将接受分子生物学方面的培训，并接受进化生物学方面的指导。

The Clavariaceae is a poorly studied family of mushroom-forming fungi and the earliest evolutionary branch in the order Agaricales, the most diverse group of mushroom-forming fungi in the Agaricomycotina. The family is characterized by a high diversity of morphological and ecological features, including roles as decomposers and plant root symbionts. A robust phylogeny coupled with evolutionary analyses should yield insights into patterns that have led to its high diversity. The products of this research will include a molecular-based phylogeny, with which ecological and trait evolution analyses will be performed. Additionally, identification and description of novel species and a taxonomic revision of the family are planned. The research will also contribute to the first modern floristic treatment of the family in the United States.Results of this research will be presented at professional and amateur scientific meetings. A molecular reference dataset of known species of Clavariaceae will be produced that will aid identification of DNA sequences obtained from soil and other environmental samples. The proposed collaborative effort involves researchers in Europe and Australia and contributions from domestic and international herbaria and amateur naturalists. Several undergraduates will be trained in aspects of molecular biology and mentored in evolutionary biology.