Evolution and biogeography of Baccharis (Asteraceae): a genus megadiverse in the Neotropical Region

• Grant number: 12/17911-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: February 04, 2013
• End date: August 03, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Taxonomy
• Principal Investigator: José Rubens Pirani
• Grantee: Gustavo Heiden
• Supervisor: Alexandre Antonelli
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Gothenburg, Sweden
• Associated to the scholarship: 10/00519-8 - Systematics of Baccharis (Asteraceae: Astereae), BP.DR

Abstract

Neotropical region is the Earth area with the highest biodiversity. To understand the processes that resulted in this richness, well dated and sampled phylogenies are necessary. Phylogenetic hypothesis has been employed mainly in taxonomic studies. However, the applicability of such works in evolutionary and biogeographic analysis is increasing in other fields of Biology. Due to the complex taxonomy and wide distribution in the Neotropical region, megadiverse genera as Baccharis L. (Asteraceae) are being neglected, lacking phylogenies corroborating or refusing hypothesis on its evolution and biogeography. This proposal aims to implement the application of up-to-date phylogenetic and biogeographical methods in a high-quality centre in the area, to analyse the data obtained during the course of the Ph. D., proposing and testing hypothesis about the evolution of morphological, biological and ecological characters, contextualizing the results with the biogeography and the history of the biomes in the Neotropical region. An additional aim is to make possible the study of the specimens deposited in the European herbaria. The data of the morphological matrixes and of the DNA sequences of the regions ETS, ITS, trnH-psbA, and trnL-F are being collected and edited for analysis. Molecular data will be analysed under maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood criteria and under Bayesian approaches. The molecular dating of the phylogenies will be implemented by the mean of relaxed molecular clocks. Biogeographical methods for the reconstruction of ancestral areas and to test hypothesis of dispersal and vicariance will be carried out as well. The results of the analyses will be interpreted and discussed during the time spent abroad and will be part of the capitula of the Dissertation currently under preparation. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

HEIDEN, GUSTAVO; LEONI, LUCIO DE SOUZA; NAKAJIMA, JIMI NAOKI. Baccharis magnifica (Asteraceae, Astereae): a striking new species endemic to the summits of Serra do Caparao, southeastern Brazil. PHYTOTAXA, v. 162, n. 4, p. 211-216, MAR 17 2014. (11/18385-0, 12/17911-3, 10/00519-8)

HEIDEN, GUSTAVO; ANTONELLI, ALEXANDRE; PIRANI, JOSE RUBENS. A novel phylogenetic infrageneric classification of Baccharis (Asteraceae: Astereae), a highly diversified American genus. Taxon, v. 68, n. 5, NOV 2019. (11/18385-0, 12/17911-3, 10/00519-8)

HEIDEN, GUSTAVO; PIRANI, JOSE RUBENS. Novelties towards a phylogenetic infrageneric classification of Baccharis (Asteraceae, Astereae). PHYTOTAXA, v. 289, n. 3, p. 285-290, DEC 29 2016. (11/18385-0, 12/17911-3, 10/00519-8)

HEIDEN, GUSTAVO; PIRANI, JOSE RUBENS. Baccharis nebularis Asteraceae, Astereae): a new species of B. subgen. Tarchonanthoides sect. Curitybenses from the mountains of Southern Brazil. PHYTOTAXA, v. 177, n. 2, p. 125-130, AUG 27 2014. (11/18385-0, 12/17911-3, 10/00519-8)

HEIDEN, GUSTAVO; PIRANI, JOSE RUBENS. Two new species of Baccharis subgen. Baccharis (Asteraceae, Astereae) with single-flowered female capitula from the Serra do Cipo, Minas Gerais, Brazil. PHYTOTAXA, v. 164, n. 2, p. 141-148, APR 4 2014. (11/18385-0, 12/17911-3, 10/00519-8)

HEIDEN, GUSTAVO; PIRANI, JOSE RUBENS. Taxonomy of Baccharis subgen. Tarchonanthoides (Asteraceae: Astereae: Baccharidinae), a group from the southeastern South American grasslands and savann. PHYTOTAXA, v. 241, n. 1, p. 1-70, JAN 6 2016. (11/18385-0, 12/17911-3, 10/00519-8)