Project Details
Projekt
Evolution and phylogenetic systematics of the sexually dimorphic orchid genus Cycnoches
Subject Area
Evolution and Systematics of Plants and Fungi
Term
from 2014 to 2019
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 258432194
As one of the few orchid genera with functionally sexual dimorphic flowers, Cycnoches (Catasetinae) species have special importance in understanding the evolution of reproductive mechanisms in Orchidaceae. The genus Cycnoches encompasses c. 34 species distributed from S Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia, which inhabit mostly lowland wet forests. Although this group has attracted the attention of several scientists during the last centuries, its diversity and evolution is poorly understood. A plastid and nuclear phylogeny will be generated in this project including up to 90% of the described species with special emphasis on those occurring in poorly studied and sampled regions of the Neotropics. A dated phylogeny will be generated and a reconstruction of the biogeography of major clades will be carried out. Our main goals are: 1) Determining the precise systematic placement of Cycnoches at the subtribal level and phylogenetic relationships of its species; 2) species delimitation by means of next generation sequencing and chemotaxonomical approaches (with emphasis on taxonomically challenging taxa such as the Cycnoches egertonianum species complex); 3) understanding the evolution of sexual dimorphism; and 4) elucidating the impact of the raising Andes in the evolution of the major clades of Cycnoches. The results will contribute to a complete monograph of the genus. The outcomes of this interdisciplinary research project will shed light on the influence of important geographic/biological events and the evolution of related hence poorly understood Neotropical orchid groups. Moreover, it will serve as a model to tackle other taxonomically problematic and understudied orchid genera such as Catasetum and Mormodes.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
Participating Person
Oscar Alejandro Pérez Escobar
