Abstract Detail

Taxonomy

Jeninga, Anya [1], Pawinski, Karl [1], Tippery, Nicholas [2].

Morphometric evaluation of species boundaries in eastern Asian Nymphoides (Menyanthaceae).

Species are distinguished primarily using morphological characters, and an exclusive combination of features typically enables each species to be identified correctly. Herbarium specimens are a primary resource for taxonomists seeking to circumscribe species, and yet morphological characters often are difficult to observe in herbarium specimens. Nevertheless, intensive investigation of quantitative morphological characters may be effective for differentiating morphologically similar specimens. Species of the floating-leaved aquatic genus Nymphoides often are identified using floral characters that preserve poorly and cannot be observed on herbarium specimens. Whereas the genus has received careful study in many parts of the world, in eastern Asia several species are poorly understood and a comprehensive taxonomic study is lacking. We endeavored to study eastern Asian Nymphoides species using morphological characters that could be measured quantitatively from herbarium specimens, in order to more confidently understand the morphological boundaries among species. We obtained morphological measurements from vegetative and reproductive organs on over 400 specimens and analyzed them statistically. Our data support the existence of nine Nymphoides species in eastern Asia, and we hypothesize that certain rare species actually are synonymous with more widespread species. In future studies we aim to corroborate our results using molecular data or morphological analysis of fresh material.

1 - University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, Department of Biological Sciences, 800 W Main St, Whitewater, WI, 53190, United States
2 - University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Department Of Biological Sciences, 800 W Main St, Whitewater, WI, 53190, United States

Keywords:
aquatic plants
East Asia
Asterales
Menyanthaceae
Morphometrics.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Taxonomy
Location: Grand Ballroom - Exhibit Hall/Mayo Civic Center
Date: Monday, July 23rd, 2018
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 6:15 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PTO002
Abstract ID:438
Candidate for Awards:None