Systems Biology Commons^™

Devonian Origin And Cenozoic Radiation In The Clubmosses (Lycopodiaceae), Weston Testo

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Together with the heterosporous lycophytes, the clubmoss family (Lycopodiaceae) is the sister lineage to all other vascular land plants. Given the family’s important position in the land-plant phylogeny, studying the evolutionary history of this group is an important step towards a better understanding of plant evolution. Despite this, little is known about the Lycopodiaceae, and a well-sampled, robust phylogeny of the group is lacking. The goal of this dissertation is to resolve the relationships among evolutionary lineages in the Lycopodiaceae and provide insight into the timing and drivers of diversification in the family.

First, to place the evolution of the …

Apomixis, Hybridization, And Biodiversity In Ferns: Insights From Genera Phegopteris And Polystichum, Nikisha Patel

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Apomixis is an evolutionarily important phenomenon across plant lineages. The interaction of apomixis with hybridization and polyploidy can lead to complex patterns of reticulation, complicating efforts to reconstruct evolutionary history in groups where apomixis is common. Ferns, in particular, are rich in apomictic species, notably in centers of species diversity like East Asia. Eastern North America too is home to a number of apomictic species. We investigated the East Asian ferns in Polystichum sections Xiphopolystichum and Duropolystichum (Dryopteridaceae) in order to elucidate the evolutionary and biogeraphic history of seven apomictic species in the group: Polystichum tsus-simense, P. xiphophyllum, P. sinotsus-simense, …