www: mimulus

Mimulus

Phylogenetics & Evolution

Mimulus is now a model genus for studies of adaptation and speciation. An amazing amount of knowledge has accumulated about the ecology and evolution of a few select lineages within this large and diverse genus. My phylogenetic and comparative research in Mimulus strives to draw from these studies and examine macroevolutionary trends in mating system evolution, floral diversification and the geography of speciation across the entire genus.

1. The Mimulus moschatus alliance (Whittall et al. 2006)

Consists of about 12 closely related species centered in western North America
Nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequence data resolve 3 distinct biogeographic clades
The phylogenetic results have direct implications for taxonomic status and conservation prioritization for several of the rare species.
There are at least three independent shifts to self-pollination in the Mimulus moschatus alliance

2. Comparative studies across the genus

I am working with Dena Grossenbacher, Steve Shoenig and Amy Angert to examine character evolution across the genus. This involves a phylogenetic reanalysis of the dataset of Beardsley et al. 2004, some novel Bayesian approaches to extracting sister species from the Bayesian posterior distribution of trees followed by several specific comparative analyses. More to come here as the analyses are completed.
I am also keen on adding to the Beardsley et al. 2004 dataset. This is an open call for enigmatic Mimuli collections - you send 'em, I'll grind 'em...email me for more info.