ID: 613 / 16

Category: Symposia

Track: Pending

Proposed Symposium Title: DISSECTING THE EVOLUTION OF SEDGES (CYPERACEAE): PERSPECTIVES FROM MULTIPLE LINEAGES

Abstract: Cyperaceae (sedges) are among the ten most diverse angiosperm families and the third largest within monocots. In many countries around the World, Cyperaceae are among the top plant families, and they play a critical role in wetlands and high latitude-high altitude ecosystems. Despite this, sedges often receive little attention, illustrating that even some of the most diverse plant families which represent recurrent floristic elements and dominate some ecosystems remain understudied. Previous studies have shown a wide array of evolutionary scenarios and strategies in the family involving many different biological mechanisms. In the last years, the solid establishment of high-throughput sequencing techniques, the achievement of robust comprehensive phylogenetic frameworks, and the increasingly available functional, bioclimatic and geomorphologic data have opened new research horizons. This has allowed a systematic reassessment of Cyperaceae lineages, producing a new classification at the tribal, subtribal and generic levels, and investigating trait evolution, biogeography, ecology and niche evolution at global and regional scales. In this symposium proposal we want to show the use of family Cyperaceae as a model system to develop studies in plant diversity, diversification and evolution. We will present some of the latest advances, achieved as a result of focussed research and international collaborations.

Speaker 1: Daniel Spalink Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University, USA dspalink@exchange.tamu.edu Niche partitioning or divergence? Sister-lineage comparisons reveal complex patterns of niche evolution in Carex.

Speaker 2: Cassandra Bradshaw PhD student, University of Ottawa, Canada cbrad084@uottawa.ca New discoveries on the phylogeny, evolution, and biogeography of Fuireneae s.l. (Cyperaceae)

Speaker 3: Jérémie Morel PhD Student, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew j.morel@kew.org The evolution and diversity of the genus Bulbostylis (Abildgaardieae, Cyperaceae)

Topics (Up to three): Systematics

Topic 2: Phylogenetics and Phylogenomics

Topic 3: Macroevolution

Justification: The proposal addresses studies in one of the most diverse families. The talks bridge the topics Phylogenetics and Phylogenomics, Macroevolution (at Cyperaceae scale), and Systematics. We considered presenters in diverse stages of their career, with different geographic backgrounds, and considered gender balance. We expect the diversity ratios and diversity of topics to improve with the selection of the other three talks, potentially including presenters from Africa. This symposium, together with the symposium “Carex: the evolution of a megadiverse genus tackled from multiple approaches” is organised by the International Sedge Society as part of the meeting we will have within IBC.