Systematics of sedges (Cyperaceae)

莎草科植物系统学

• 批准号: 342278-2013
• 负责人: Starr, Julian
• 金额: $ 1.6万
• 依托单位: University of Ottawa
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=549615
• 关键词: Systematics; sedges; Cyperaceae

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.

系统学是命名、分类和确定生物进化关系的科学。无论我们是制定环境政策、制定保护决策，还是研究物种的生态学或分子生物学，系统学都是至关重要的，因为它定义了单位（物种、科等）并为有意义的比较提供了背景（进化关系）。生物学。我的研究重点是莎草科（莎草科）的系统学，这是一个真正非凡的植物类群，其特点是异常的多样性（约 5000 种）、多样化的栖息地（沙漠到雨林）、不寻常的细胞学（染色体数从 12 到 112） ）和多样化的生物地理模式。在北美植物区系（加拿大和美国），莎草占本土植物区系的近 4%（加拿大为 10%）；它们在每个花卉区域都很常见，并且在多样性和生物量方面主导着非洲大陆的广大地区。此外，大约 10% 的莎草对人类具有直接（药物、农作物）或间接（杂草）经济重要性。然而，莎草仍然是一个研究很少的群体，其分类和关系尚未得到解决。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增进我们对莎草生物学知识的预测分类。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：（1）定义、限制和确定莎草科（Cyperaceae）内主要类群和（2）Cariceae部落的进化关系，以及（3） ）以产生修订后的苔草科羽扇豆亚科分类。这项研究的影响范围更广泛，从保护生物多样性到加深对世界生物地理学、C3/C4 光合作用和莎草染色体变异进化的了解。