Systematics Section/ASPT looked. Results from phylogenetic work show that the order Apiales is represented on New Caledonia by 8 lineages (ca. 135 species, only 2 not endemic), all derived from Australasian ancestors, each of which has diversified (sometimes extensively) on the island. In 5 of these 8 groups, at least 17 dispersal events from New Caledonia have led to the establishment of lineages on nearby, mostly volcanic islands, including at least 5 colonizations to Vanuatu (followed by dispersal on to the N and to Fiji), 2 to the Solomons (and then to Vanuatu/Fiji and to New Guinea), and 1 each to Fiji, Lord Howe, New Zealand and Norfolk, plus 1 colonization to Polynesia (Fiji/Tonga/Hawaii) and at least 1 from New Caledonia to Australia. Broad regional sampling in other SW Pacific groups will likely show a similar pattern, adding an important new element to the biogeographic significance of New Caledonia. 1
Missouri Botanical Garden, Africa & Madagascar, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO, 63166-0299, USA2New York Botanical Garden, Cullman Program For Molecular Systematics, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY, 10458-5126, USA3University of Waikato, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
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ZHIGILA, DANIEL ANDRAWUS* , AKAWU, JEDIDA JACOB and AJIYA, CLEOPHAS BILA
Palynological study and its relevance to systematics and pollen allergy in ornamental plants
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ollen grain morphology of 20 species belonging to 18 genera in 11 families of some ornamental plants was employed for palynology. Polleniferous materials were properly collected, identified and utilized with the view of ascertaining their relevance to systematic. Seven types of pollen apertures namely - triporate, inaperaturate, monoporate, dicolpate, monocolporate, monocolpate and tricolpate were recorded. Inaperaturate pollen was the most common among the species, especially in Bougainveilia glabra, Jatropha caucas, Cynodon dactylon and Plumeria alba. The analysis of mean polar and equatorial measurement i.e. the pollen sizes showed that the largest pollen was recorded in Thevetia peruviana (782.69 μm2) and the smallest pollen was recorded in Terminalia catappa (27.62 μm2). The mean density of pollens was found to be highest in Moringa oleifera (20.60ñ1.21 mm2) and the lowest mean density was recorded in Ixora casei (1.20ñ0.20 mm2). Exine thickness ranged from 2.86 μm as seen in Jatropha caucas to 0.30 μm as seen in Breynia viscosa. These palynological features were considered important to be used as an aid in taxonomy and pollinosis and it has given new dimensions in palynology. Gombe State University, Biological Sciences, Tudun Wada, PMB 127 , Gombe, Gombe, +234, Nigeria
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MORRIS, ASHLEY* 1, SHAW, JOEY , GERMAIN-AUBREY, CHARLOTTE 3 and BECK, JAMES BENJAMIN 1 2
Documenting a need for community data standards and a call for a new collaborative network in plant systematics and phylogeography
M
any taxonomic questions are dependent on genetically and geographically high-resolution data collected consistently through space and time. The costs associated with such projects often result in decisions to limit sampling, either in the field or in the lab, which ultimately impacts the inferences that can be made from these data. To better understand the current state of the field of plant phylogeography, we reviewed the literature using a structured search strategy. Using Web of Science, we searched “phylogeography or phylogeographic” limited to the years 2007-2015. We further limited our search using “*aceae” to target plant studies, and then we focused only on studies in the top ten source titles. Additional papers were excluded on the basis of previously identified criteria, resulting in just over 300 papers for review. Our results identify gaps in phylogenetic coverage, an inverse relationship between marker choice and potential marker utility, and infrequent use of quantitative approaches to divergence time estimation and species distribution models. We propose a need for community standards in data collection and reporting. We also propose a framework for a collaborative network of researchers and educators to tackle taxonomic questions in the Southeastern US using standardized approaches to phylogeographic data collection. Institutions and herbaria will work together to generate large-scale, high-resolution genetic data to address outstanding questions in plant taxonomy, biogeography, and evolution. This network will develop community standards for data collection and sharing, insuring that participants collect data consistently and are appropriately acknowledged for their contributions. Data collection for a given project could be completed in the context of a class laboratory or through undergraduate or graduate researchers. Such a network would be particularly valuable to researchers with high teaching loads, those who mentor M.S. research exclusively, or to curators of small collections, all of whom have the potential to contribute valuable information but may be limited by time and resource investment. The network concept builds on the successes of previously funded NSF Research Coordination Networks (RCNs) such as EREN (Ecological Research in Education Network) and SERNEC (SouthEast Regional Network of Expertise and Collections), while integrating the expertise provided by iDigBio (integrated Digitization of Biological Collections).
1
Middle Tennessee State University, Department of Biology, 1301 E. Main Street, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 37132, United States2University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science, 615 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN, 37403, USA3University Of Florida, Florida Museum Of Natural History, Dickinson HAll, Museum Road, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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