Abstract Detail

Ericaceae: Systematics, Ecology and Evolution

Puente-Lelievre, Caroline [1], Potter, Benjamin [2], Soza , Valerie Lynn [3].

Ericaceae: Systematics, Ecology and Evolution.

The family Ericaceae comprises c. 125 genera in 24 tribes and more than 4400 species. It is a highly diverse group of ecologically and economically important woody plants, such as Erica, Rhododendron, and Vaccinium. The family has a global distribution, and occurs from sea level to 5000m+ in elevation. Members of the family often grow in acidic, nutrient-poor and nitrogen-limiting soils, and are dominant elements in cloud forests, heathlands and boreal regions. Their ability to succeed and diversify in such conditions is partly due to their distinctive association with several types of mycorrhizae. Such association may facilitate the evolution of mycoheterotrophism, which has evolved at least twice in the family. Major evolutionary radiations within Ericaceae have occurred in montane areas of the Andes, Australasia, Malesian archipelago, South Africa, and Himalayas; these are represented by increased speciation rates in Erica, Gaultheria, Rhododendron, Richeeae, Rhodoreae, and Vaccinieae. In these species-rich groups, a variety of morphological features have evolved, such as bird pollination and/or tubular flowers, fleshy fruits, xeromorphic leaves and epiphytic habit. This colloquium will provide an overview of current research in systematics, ecology and evolution of Ericaceae. It will review the current state of systematics in the family, and the major advances that have been made in resolving the phylogenetic relationships within and between some of the major groups. Systematics research will include historical biogeographical analyses of species-rich groups to understand colonization patterns and radiations in the family. Several talks will examine the use of different next-generation sequencing approaches for use in phylogenetics at fine and broad scales in Ericaceae. The colloquium will also showcase discoveries in evolutionary patterns using genome-scale data, such as the reduction of plastomes in nonphotosynthetic lineages. Talks will integrate morphology, anatomy and ecology within a phylogenetic framework to examine adaptation and pollination in the family. Moreover, we aim to assemble and discuss ongoing research across different aspects and taxonomic levels in Ericaceae, and explore future research directions.

1 - US Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Drive, College Park, MD, 20740, USA
2 - University of Auckland, School of Biological Sciences, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland, 1010, NZ
3 - University Of Washington, Department Of Biology, Box 351800, Seattle, WA, 98195-1800, USA

Keywords:
Ericaceae
Systematics
Evolution
Phylogenetics
Ecology.

Presentation Type: Colloquium Presentations
Session: C07b, Ericaceae: Systematics, Ecology, and Evolution Part 2
Location: 114/Mayo Civic Center
Date: Tuesday, July 24th, 2018
Time: 1:30 PM
Number: C07b
Abstract ID:1232
Candidate for Awards:None