| Abstract Detail
Systematics Section Lee, Chris [1], Whitton, Jeannette [2]. Townsendia: Phylogeny, diversification and ecological niche modeling of an asexually frustrating genus. Ranging from the far reaches of Alaska and the Yukon, to the southwestern United States and Mexico, members of Townsendia are diminutive, but charismatic, Rocky Mountain composites. Consisting of roughly 28 taxa, the genus is replete with narrowly endemic edaphic specialists, broad ranging species and morphologically intermediate hybrids. Furthermore, many of the taxa include both sexual diploids and geographically distinct polyploids and apomicts. With such diversity, Townsendia is a useful system to ask questions regarding the effects of apomixis, polyploidy, hybridization, and ecological specialization on the genetic diversity across the geospatial landscape. As a backbone to this research, I plan to resolve the phylogeny of Townsendia using 3 chloroplast regions and one nuclear region from field and herbarium collections. Based on a clear, and well-supported phylogeny, I intend to further study closely related sister species. Environmental data (latitude, longitude, precipitation, temperature, altitude) from collection localities will be gathered and collated into a geographic information system (GIS). This GIS will be instrumental in forming ecological niche models that can be utilized for species delimitation of closely associated endemics, for studying range distributions of diploids and their related apomicts, and for historical range movement following glaciation events.
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1 - University of British Columbia, Botany, 6270 University Blvd Rm3529, Vancouver, V6T1Z4, Canada
2 - University of British Columbia, Botany Department, 3529-6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
Keywords:
polyploidy
apomixis
GIS
phylogeny
Asteraceae
Niche modeling.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for BSA Sections
Session: 46
Location: Cottonwood D/Snowbird Center
Date: Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
Time: 4:45 PM
Number: 46015
Abstract ID:726 |
