Systematics of sedges (Cyperaceae)

系统学是一门命名、分类和确定生物进化关系的科学。无论我们是在制定环境政策，做出保护决定，还是研究物种的生态学或分子生物学，系统学都是必不可少的，因为它定义了单位（物种、科等），并为生物学中有意义的比较提供了背景（进化关系）。我的研究重点是莎草科（苏柏科）的系统学，这是一个真正非凡的植物群，其特点是其异常的多样性（约5000种），不同的栖息地（沙漠到雨林），不同的细胞学（染色体数从12到112）和不同的生物地理模式。在北美地区（加拿大和美国）的植物区系中，莎草占本地植物区系的近4%（加拿大占10%）；它们在每个花区都很常见，在多样性和生物量方面，它们在大陆的大片地区占主导地位。此外，大约10%的莎草对人类具有直接（药物、作物）或间接（杂草）的经济重要性。然而，莎草仍然是一个研究较少的群体，其分类和关系是高度未解决的。我在莎草科的长期研究目标是发现多样性，澄清关系，并产生可用于保护生物多样性和推进我们对莎草生物学知识的预测性分类。为了实现这些长期目标，我的研究将集中在三个短期研究目标上：(1)定义、界定和确定苏科和Cariceae部落的主要类群的进化关系；(3)产生一个修订的Carex section Lupulinae分类。这项研究的广泛影响包括保护生物多样性，提高对世界生物地理，C3/C4光合作用和莎草染色体变异进化的理解。

Systematics is the science that names, classifies and determines the evolutionary relationships of living things. Whether we are developing environmental policy, making conservation decisions, or studying the ecology or molecular biology of a species, systematics is essential because it defines the units (species, families, etc.) and provides the context (evolutionary relationships) for meaningful comparisons in biology. My research focuses on the systematics of the sedge family (Cyperaceae), a truly remarkable group of plants characterized by their exceptional diversity (ca. 5000 species), varied habitats (deserts to rain forests), unusual cytology (chromosome numbers from 12 to 112) and diverse biogeographical patterns. In the Flora of North America region (Canada & USA), sedges represent nearly 4% of our native flora (10% in Canada); they are common to every floral region, and they dominate vast areas of the continent in terms of diversity and biomass. Moreover, approximately 10% of sedges are of either direct (medicines, crops) or indirect (weeds) economic importance to humanity. Nevertheless, sedges remain a poorly studied group whose classification and relationships are highly unresolved. My long-term research objectives in the sedge family are to discover diversity, to clarify relationships, and to produce predictive classifications that can be used to preserve biodiversity and to advance our knowledge of sedge biology. In order to forward these long-term goals, my research will focus on three short-term research objectives: (1) to define, circumscribe and determine the evolutionary relationships of the major groups within Cyperaceae and (2) tribe Cariceae, and (3) to produce a revised classification of Carex section Lupulinae. The wider impact of this research ranges from preserving biodiversity, to an improved understanding of world biogeography, C3/C4 photosynthesis and the evolution of chromosomal variation in sedges.