Plant Systematics Research

ATH staff undertake a range of projects on the systematics and evolution of plants. Some of our current projects are:

Phylogenetics and evolutionary dynamics of Elaeocarpaceae

- with Dr M. Rossetto and H. McPherson (National Herbarium of NSW), Dr M. Coode (Kew Gardens, UK), and students.

Phylogeny and population dynamics of Cunoniaceae

- with Ms M. Heslewood (National Herbarium of NSW), Dr M. Rossetto (National Herbarium of NSW), Dr J. Munzinger and J. Pillon (Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement, New Caledonia).

Quantifying the role of long distance dispersal in the evolution of SW Pacific floras

- with Prof A. Lowe (Univ. Adelaide and South Australian Herbarium), Dr M. Rossetto (National Herbarium of NSW), Prof D. Lambert (Massey University, New Zealand) and Prof P. Hollingsworth (RBG Edinburgh). Additional work on Podocarpaceae and Araucariaceae is being undertaken by Prof Lowe and postdoc Mr Edward Biffin.

Sympatric speciation on Lord Howe Island

- with Mr A. Papadapulos (Imperial College London, UK), Dr V. Savolainen (Imperial College) and Dr W. Baker (Kew Gardens, UK).

Phylogenetics and the evolution of ecophysiological traits in Bromeliaceae and relatives

- with Prof A. Smith (University of Oxford, UK), Dr K. Winter (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Republic of Panama), Prof T. Givnish (University of Wisconsin, USA), Prof G. Zizka and Dr K. Schulte (Senckenberg Institute, Germany), Dr W. Till and Dr. M. Barfuss (Botanical Institute, Vienna, Austria).

Systematics and evolution of Ericaceae

- with Dr E. Brown and Dr C. Quinn (National Herbarium of NSW), Prof K. Kron (Wake Forest University, NC, USA) and M. Hislop (Western Australian Herbarium).

The origin and diversification of the austral genus Dracophyllum (Ericaceae)

- with Dr S. Wagstaff and Dr M. Dawson (Landcare Research, New Zealand), Mr F. Venter (Victoria University of Wellington, NZ), Dr K. Lemson (Edith Cowan University, Western Australia), Dr D. Steane (University of Tasmania, Tasmania), and Dr J. Munzinger (Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement, New Caledonia).

Integrating molecular and morphological data for generic delimitation and species identification in Lauraceae

- with Dr M. van der Merwe, Dr M. Rossetto and Dr P. Weston (National Herbarium of NSW), Dr H. van der Werff (Missouri Botanical Garden), Dr S. Madriñan (Universidad de los Andes, Colombia).

DNA Barcoding tropical Australian trees

- with Mr C. Costion and Prof. A. Lowe (University of Adelaide and South Australian Herbarium)