I am broadly interested in processes of plant diversification. My research investigates evolutionary questions that span varying scales; from diversity at population- and species-levels to entire floras. I integrate various approaches from phylogenomics, species delimitation, pollination ecology, and population genetics. I'm also particularly interested in the role of plant systematics for applied conservation and restoration. My research themes are outlined below.
Species delimitation, geographic patterns of gene flow and implications for conservation I'm interested in how geographic patterns of gene flow, including clinal species complexes, influences species delimitation and ultimately conservation efforts. Using the Malagasy baobabs (Adansonia, Malvaceae) as one system of study, I am investigating how gene flow between ancestral populations has influenced taxonomic decisions and the impacts on genetic diversity and conservation efforts.
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Spatial patterns of biodiversity
What drivers shape spatial variation in species richness, both within a regional species pool and within lineages? A holistic characterization of the evolutionary and ecological factors that generate organismal diversity across varying temporal and spatial scales is necessary to understand patterns of biodiversity. To better characterize and quantify such patterns, I employ various techniques across taxonomic groups and spatial scales.
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Pollination ecology & the evolution of pollination systemsWhat is the role of intraspecific variation in species’ traits and/or pollinator interactions in driving species divergence? Pollination systems are often treated as discrete yet many species are visited and pollinated by secondary floral visitors. These observations challenge traditional notions of floral syndromes and serve as great systems to study how selection at the population level can drive macroevolutionary patterns in pollination shifts.
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Flora of Africa and MadagascarUnderstanding of the rich biodiversity of continental Africa and Madagascar requires increasing in-country capacity to conduct botanical inventories, as well as conduct phylogenetically-informed taxonomic studies. I'm interested in several plant lineages of Africa and Madagascar in need of systematic revisions.
Learn more about the Missouri Botanical Garden's Research and Conservation Program in Madagascar here. |