BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN FLORA
1995 / 96
Jeremy BURDON (06) 246 5084
To determine the biological diversity, distribution, relationships and genetic systems of native genera and species of the Australian flora.
The Australian National Herbarium is a centre for biosystematic and phylogenetic studies of the Australian flora providing the core knowledge needed for the effective conservation of Australia's natural communities and the utilisation of its plants as genetic resources. Our studies are multidisciplinary, featuring a central core emphasis on morphological features that is enhanced through the extensive use of other approaches including anatomy, cytology, phytochemistry, molecular analysis and breeding system studies. Efforts are being made to understand the interaction between the Australian flora and selected groups of the microbial flora. Currently these studies are centred on assessing the development of parasitic and symbiotic relationships and the importance of these in generating and maintaining diversity within the Australian flora. Through the compilation and analysis of the data obtained we attempt to provide answers to the following fundamental questions: what are the taxa represented: what are their geographic and ecological distributions: what are their evolutionary and biogeographic relationships? The Australian National Herbarium also functions as a resource centre for the Flora of Australia project maintained by the Australian Biological Resources Study.
To complete taxonomic revisions in Melaleuca and related genera, Eucalyptus and Syzygium.
Ian BROOKER (06) 246 5115
Ian Brooker (45%) Andrew Slee Lyn Craven (70%) John Connors Tom Hartley (10%) Brendan Lepschi Bernie Hyland (nominal)
Pauline Ladiges, University of Melbourne Steve Hopper, Kings Park, Perth Peter Grayling, UWA Botany Dept Roger Spencer, RBG, Melbourne John Doran, Craig Gardiner, Jock Morse, Australian Tree Seed Centre John Dawson, Victoria University, Wellington, NZ Trevor Whiffin, La Trobe University Jim Jarvie, Bogor
ABRS (Melaleuca) $51,338 Melbourne Botanical Gardens (Eucalyptus) $2,000 Australian Tree Seed Centre (Eucalyptus) $15,000
Melaleuca: complete data collection for genus; conduct fieldwork in SW Western Australia to investigate M. scabra complex; commence text of core Melaleuca for Flora of Australia; commence evaluation of related genera, especially Callistemon. Eucalyptus: complete study of SE Australian red gums; commence field studies of tropical E. camaldulensis; complete text for Flora of Victoria. Syzygium: morphological data to be collected in DELTA format for S. longipes species group; prepare leaf oil data for numerical analysis.
Poaceae: To prepare Flora of Australia treatment for subfamily Chloridoideae; to determine biological and phylogenetic relationships of taxa within Australopyrum. Lauraceae: To produce world-wide classification of family to generic level. Rutaceae: To complete taxonomic revisions of genera Euodia, Melicope, Halfordia, Geijera & Zieridium. Centrospermae: To prepare taxonomic revisions of Australian Calandrinia, Portulaca, Scleranthus & Stellaria; to prepare Flora of Australia treatments for Amaranthaceae, Portulacaceae & Caryophyllaceae. Loranthaceae: To update revision of family in Australia, to complete survey & flora treatment of family in Malesia & China. Malvaceae: To conduct systematic studies in Gossypium & Hibiscus sect. Furcaria. Rhamnaceae: To resolve genus and species-level taxa in Australia; to prepare Flora of Australia treatment for family. Araliaceae: Astrotricha - to establish natural groupings and a phylogeny; to prepare Flora of Australia treatment. Proteaceae: Grevillea - to produce subgeneric phylogenetic classification; relate phylogeny to biogeography; complete Flora of Australia treatment. Cucurbitaceae: to prepare taxonomic treatment of Sicyos in Australia and SW Pacific. Zamiaceae: to study biodiversity and prepare revision of Macrozamia. Bryophytes: revision of poorly known mosses, including Hookeriaceae for Australia. Epiphytes: to study flora and ecology of Australian vascular epiphytes.
Bryan BARLOW (06) 246 5039
Mike Lazarides (HRF; 100%) Maggie Sutton Judy West (60%) Jo Palmer Bernie Hyland (40%) Rebel Elick Lindy Spindler (50%) Cathy Miller Tom Hartley (80%) Kirsten Cowley Laurie Adams (HRF; 30%) Marion Garratt (ANBG) Bryan Barlow (10%) Ian Telford (ANBG) Lyn Craven (10%) Kevin Thiele (90%) Bob Makinson (ANBG; 20%) David Jones (ANBG; 10%) Ish Sharma (ANBG; 10%) Ben Wallace (ANBG; 10%) Heinar Streimann (ANBG; 10%)
Leslie Watson, RSBS, ANU Murray Henwood, University of Sydney Toby Kellogg, Harvard University Brian Simon, Herbarium, Qld Hank van der Werff, Missouri Botanical Gardens Trevor Whiffin, LaTrobe University Peter Waterman, University of Strathclyde Phil Garnock-Jones, Victoria University, Wellington, NZ Mike Gilbert, Royal Bot. Gardens, Kew Greg Leach, Conservation Commission, NT Paul Fryxell, University of Texas, Austin Mac Stewart, University of Arkansas Doug Wilson, USDA Tony Bean, Queensland Herbarium Neville Walsh, Melbourne Herbarium Carolyn Weiller, RSBS, ANU (VS)
ARC (University of Adelaide) (Lauraceae) $ 1,000 ABRS (Rhamnaceae) $61,007 CCNT/QLD SGAP (Malvaceae) $1,000 WTMA (Lauraceae) $5,000
Poaceae: DELTA database and INTKEY package for Chloridoideae in Australia will be completed to species level, (36 genera, 255 species). Lauraceae: material to be collected in New Caledonia; run a workshop July 1994 to plan further work; molecular analyses of Australian Litsea-Lindera-Neolitsea species to be completed; preliminary leaf oil analyses to be done for all Australian genera; analysis of biogeographic distribution in N Qld. Rutaceae: Euodia & Melicope revisions completed. Centrospermae: review of Gomphrena completed, Flora of Australia treatments prepared for Alternanthera (21 spp.) and Amaranthus (29 spp.); Scleranthus revision completed, Flora of Australia treatments prepared for Spergularia, Stellaria and Colobanthus. Loranthaceae: complete Flora Malesiana treatment for family, (210 spp. in 23 genera); complete precursor paper describing new species. Rhamnaceae: complete Flora of Australia and DELTA treatments for northern Australian taxa; prepare papers describing new taxa; begin preparation of DELTA treatments for southern taxa. Malvaceae: prepare taxonomic account of new Hibiscus sect. Furcaria species from northern Australia; continue assessment of Gossypium sect. Grandicalyx material collected in 1993. Araliaceae: Astrotricha - to compile DELTA and cladistic data sets; to complete precursor manuscripts. Proteaceae: Grevillea - initial cladistic analyses. Cucurbitaceae: finalise data set and run initial morphometric analyses. Zamiaceae: complete studies in Macrozamia riedelei and M. miquelii complex. Bryophytes: to complete moss flora of Norfolk Island. Epiphytes: complete revision of ecology of vascular epiphytes.
To elucidate the spatial and genetic dynamics of gene-for-gene interactions in wild host-pathogen interactions with special emphasis on extinction and recolonisation phenomena and metapopulation structure. To assess the role of wild hosts in the epidemiology of agricultural pathogens. To identify and characterise molecular variation within and between different Australian Rhizobium biovars. To identify high performing rhizobia for reforestation, plantation and agroforestry purposes. To investigate the diversity and ecology of Frankia nodulation in Australian Casuarina species.
Jeremy BURDON (06) 246 5084
Jeremy Burdon (60%) Caritta Eliasson Tony Brown (10%) Elizabeth Gregory Lindy Spindler (10%) Libby Viccars Benedicte Lafay (100%) Matthew Woods Alan Gibson (20%) Students Graciela Garcia-Guzman (Botany and Zoology, ANU; 100%) Margaret Yonga (Forestry, ANU; 100%) Sarita Narayim (Honours)
Lars Ericson, University of Umea, Sweden Greg Kirby, Flinders University Peter Thrall, Duke University, USA Colin Wellings, Plant Breeding Institute, University of Sydney Bob McIntosh, Plant Breeding Institute, University of Sydney Office of Supervising Scientist Forest Science Institute, Vietnam Res Institute of Tropical Forestry, Vietnam CSIRO Division of Forestry
CSIRO MDP Biodiversity (Rhizobium) $74,000 ACIAR (Rhizobium-Acacia) $69,530 Office of the Supervising Scientist $12,750
Completion of review of role of major gene resistance in natural populations; completion of continental-scale investigation of metapopulation structure; initiation of comparative study of asexual and sexual host-pathogen interactions; determination of within and between population variation in rhizobia occurring on Daviesia spp.; isolation and initial testing of rhizobia on up to 24 temperate Acacias.
To produce an interactive computer identification system for rainforest species of northern Australia. To produce an interactive identification system for eucalypts - EUCLID. To develop a leaf image analysis system for Syzygium. To coordinate collaborative projects on analysis of continent-wide eucalypt dataset.
Judy WEST (06) 246 5113
Ian Brooker (25%) Joan Graham Bernie Hyland (40%) Pennie Hohnen Judy West (10%) Andrew Slee Malcolm Gill (10%) John Connors Rebel Elick Bruce Gray Jo Palmer David Parsons
Trevor Whiffin, La Trobe University David Christophel, University of Adelaide Pauline Ladiges, University of Melbourne Ian Noble, Research School of Biological Sciences, ANU Other Australian herbaria
ERIN $11,032 Wet Tropics Management Agency (WTMA) $24,534 CRC-TREM $72,000
Produce interim version of key to rainforest shrub species; produce interim version of shrub leaf atlas, resume data coding and entry for vine species and incorporate small vine species; coordinate eucalypt workshop for collaborators, develop projects and follow up on analyses. EUCLID: continue scoring characters for more species (concentrating on Western Australian species) and testing the key.
Through study of the reproductive biology, anatomy, mycorrhizal associations, and in vitro propagation, elucidate the phylogeny of the Orchidaceae in the Australasian region. Clarify the status and taxonomy of Australasian orchids. To study the biodiversity of Australian Orchidaceae and prepare revisionary treatments of selected genera.
Mark CLEMENTS (06) 250 9472
Mark Clements (ANBG; 90%) Susan Walker (ANBG) David Jones (ANBG; 80%) Paul Ziesing (ANBG) Ish Sharma (ANBG; 90%) Marion Garratt (ANBG) Pam Flood (ANBG)
Plant Cell Biology, RSBS, ANU Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Dr Brian Molloy, Manaaki Whenua, Landcare Research, New Zealand, Ltd Colin Bower, NSW David Ziegeler, Tasmania
Australian Orchid Foundation ~$10,000
Mark Clements to write up PhD thesis; prepare draft papers reporting results of studies on reproductive biology of the Diurideae; continue work on systematics and in vitro propagation for data base; develop new techniques for deflasking to improve the success rate of this step in orchid propagation; develop a system for transferring small species from sterile culture onto slabs for growth in the glasshouse; continue to investigate growth media for difficult groups; complete studies defining Pterostylis sensu stricto and related segregate groups; complete draft manuscript on Catalogue of New Zealand Orchidaceae and prepare for publication; publish report on New Caledonia orchid fieldwork (bilingual); complete paper on Caladenia lyallii complex; complete paper on Prasophyllum gracile - reinstatement; complete paper on Prasophyllum alpinum complex; complete drafts on Orchid Atlas of Tasmania.
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