EEB Prelim Seminar Series - Understanding the flourish of the species-rich, but overwhelmingly homogeneous Neotropical myrtles

Title: Understanding the flourish of the species-rich, but overwhelmingly homogeneous Neotropical myrtles

Abstract:
Neotropical ecosystems harbour immense biodiversity as a result of a series of historical, climatic and geological factors. Neotropical plant lineages have traced diverse evolutionary histories, ranging from species and ecologically poor lineages to adaptive radiations. While morphologically and ecologically diverse clades have been extensively used to understand Neotropical plant diversification in space over time, lineages expressing little morphological disparity have been generally understudied. My research will focus on Neotropical myrtles (Myrtaceae), which have been a source of challenge to many field biologists, herbarium botanists and horticulturists for centuries for being both species-rich and morphologically homogeneous. I will employ phylogenetic comparative methods and experiments to investigate the adaptive value of structures in the seemingly ‘monotonous’ myrtle flower, testing the hypothesis of predator-induced fusion of the calyx. Using a newly produced molecular phylogeny, I will investigate trait divergence and biogeography in early stages of species diversification using a sister-species approach, as well as mechanisms of co-existence where species show high levels of sympatry.

This is a hybrid event.
Join remotely:
https://umich.zoom.us/j/99622972222
Meeting ID: 996 2297 2222
Passcode: 490332