Task Force Molecular Systematics, Phylogeny and Biogeography – Work Plan 2004-2008


The central research interests of the task force are the evolution of angiosperms, mosses, ferns, algae and fungi, that are currently under revision at the Nationaal Herbarium Nederland for systematic treatments such as Flora Malesiana, Flora Neotropica, Flora of the Guianas, Flora of the Netherlands, European benthic freshwater Algae and Flora Agaricina Neerlandica. Choice of taxa for projects under this thematic umbrella is principally guided by the work carried out under "Taxonomy of Selected Clades" as outlined in the 2004-2008 draft research plan, thereby guaranteeing routine inclusion of morphological research flanking molecular analyses, integrating existing floristic and taxonomic studies and making full use of collections. Target groups are drawn chiefly from Annonaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Orchidaceae, Leguminosae, Solanaceae, selected fungi and algae and other taxa urgently needing revision in existing NHN flora projects. These groups are those in which we have existing expertise within the NHN.

The objectives of the work-plan are arranged according to those projects that should be regarded as priorities and those that should be regarded as ambitions for future research that will require acquisition of external funds. The overall thematic umbrella of this task force is incorporated into the approaches used for priority projects outlined below. In some instances projects that should be regarded as ambitions for future research have already received funding and in others funding has been or will be applied for.

Priority should be given to the phylogenetic reconstruction of target taxa that will lead to:

  • re-interpretation of morphological variation in a phylogenetic context
  • molecular clock studies incorporating geological and palaeobotanical data in phylogenetic hypotheses
  • studies in reticulate evolution and historical biogeography addressed in both practical and theoretical frameworks
  • studies of gene evolution and its implications for molecular phylogenetics
  • investigation into the effects of key innovations on angiosperm evolutionary radiations

Ambitions for future research include:

  • development of an ancient DNA facility
  • development of botanical molecular diagnostic tools
  • developmental genetic studies that will be linked with morphological and phylogenetic studies of core funded taxa
  • testing of African refuge hypotheses
  • exploration of dating of taxa with trans-Atlantic disjunct distributions
  • investigations into the effects on diversification of interactions with animals

The following projects that will be undertaken are arranged by priority and by taxon.

Benchmarks for Priority Projects

Precise benchmarks for individual taxa still need to be finalized. By 2008, molecular phylogenies will have been reconstructed for the following core taxa and taxa incorporated in NHN Flora projects:

  • Acalyphae (Euphorbiaceae) - Kulju
  • Amorphophallus (90 spp.) - Grob, Hetterscheid
  • Annonaceae (genus-level phylogeny) – Chatrou, Pirie, Erkens, Mols, Gravendeel, Kessler, Couvreur and Richardson
  • Cremastosperma (Annonaceae, 40 spp. species level phylogeny) - Chatrou and Pirie
  • Guatteria (Annonaceae, c. 250 spp. species level phylogeny?) – Chatrou and Erkens
  • Miliusa and allies (Annonaceae, species level phylogeny) - Mols, Gravendeel and Kessler
  • Monodora and Isolona (Annonaceae, c. 50 spp. species level phylogeny) - Couvreur and Richardson
  • Bangiophyceae (Zuccarello, new PhD student)
  • Begonia (40 species in two sections) - Sosef
  • Brassicaceae (genus level phylogeny) - Bakker
  • Bulbophyllinae and Coelogyninae (species level phylogeny?) - Gravendeel
  • Enteroloma (Basidiomycetes) - Co
  • Eperua (14 spp.) - Rosendaal, Ter Steege
  • Leccinum - den Bakker
  • Mallotus (Euphorbiaceae, 140 spp.) - Sierra
  • Melothriae - Cross
  • Nephrolepis (30 spp.)/Dipteris (8 spp.) - vacancy
  • Rinorea and allies (Violaceae) (species level phylogeny) - Bakker
  • Senecio sect. Jacobaea - Pelser
  • Solanum sect. petota - van den Berg
  • Viola persicifolia (species level phylogeny? of Viola subsection Rostratae) - vacancy
  • By 2008, reticulate evolution methods will have been evaluated using simulations and real data - Vriesendorp

Ambitions for Future Research:

  • The Ancient DNA facility in Leiden is fully operational in cooperation with the National Natural History Museum Naturalis, the Institute of Biology and the Faculty of Archaeology in Leiden (Cross)
  • Gene expression studies have been initiated (Gravendeel)
  • Development of molecular identification of Gaharu (Eurlings)
  • An EU-ATOL application project to reconstruct the species-level phylogeny of Annonaceae had been submitted (Bakker, Chatrou, Richardson). Given the recent developments with ATOL it will now be necessary to incorporate this project into the new EU call for a Network of Excellence on Taxonomy. One possible venture could involve the development of an Annonaceae DNA barcoding program that would allow rapid identification of specimens initially to genus and ultimately to species.
  • A Marie Curie application on trans-Atlantic splits has been submitted (Richardson, Bakker, Chatrou). This multi-disciplinary project will have a duration of four years and will include a team of two post doctoral researchers and two PhD students. The work will result in dated molecular phylogenies for fungal, bryophyte, pteridophyte, gymnosperm and multiple angiosperm lineages to test temporal patterns of diversification of tropical lineages on either side of the Atlantic. The multi-national composition of the team and the partners will strengthen links with institutes within the EU and with Africa and the Neotropics.
  • A grant application to test African refuge hypotheses has been re-submitted to ALW (Bakker). This project will be for four years and will involve one PhD student and it will also be a multi-national and multi-disciplinary venture.

For each of the above projects transfer of knowledge will be achieved through publication in international, high impact journals and through the continued development and updating of the Task Force website. Through the Task Force Journal Club and attendance by Task Force members at international meetings and workshops we will keep up to date with developments in relevant fields. We will also pursue strategies for obtaining external sources of funding including compiling a list of possible sources, discussion of specific applications for funding at task force meetings, increased dialogue within the NHN and the development of international and inter-disciplinary (e.g. palaeobotany, palaeoclimatology, ecology, geology) links.
 

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