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Revision and Molecular Systematics of the Neotropical Fern Genus Adiantopsis (Pteridaceae)

Link-Pérez, Melanie A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1271788914

Abstract Details

2010, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Botany.
Of the five major clades in the ecologically diverse Pteridaceae, the cheilanthoid ferns, comprised of approximately 20 genera and 400 species, are most obviously characterized by adaptations to xeric habitats. The cheilanthoids are known to be replete with paraphyletic genera due to the difficulties of recognizing monophyletic groups due to homoplasious adaptive morphology. The objectives of this dissertation were to complete a revision and explore the systematics of the Central and South American species of Adiantopsis Fée, a small neotropical genus in the hemionitid subclade within the cheilanthoids. Classically, Adiantopsis has been characterized by the combination of echinate spores, golden or golden-red paired carinae on the upper side of leaf axes and sometimes on stipe axes, and well-differentiated pseudoindusia. Laminar morphology is one of the more notable aspects of Adiantopsis because its species display palmate, pedate, and pinnate architectures. Using both traditional morphological analyses and molecular phylogenetics, this dissertation investigates i) the monophyly of Adiantopsis and its generic boundaries, ii) the enumeration of its species, iii) the history of character evolution in Adiantopsis, particularly the origin and evolution of the diverse laminar morphologies, and iv) uses a molecular phylogeny as a framework to investigate its biogeographic history. Phylogenetic analysis of combined plastid rbcL and atpA DNA sequences revealed that Adiantopsis is not monophyletic as traditionally circumscribed; with an expansion of generic boundaries and the transfer to Adiantopsis of three Cheilanthes species, Adiantopsis becomes monophyletic with strong support. Morphological characters to circumscribe the expanded Adiantopsis include: large, reddish, pluricellular hairs or carinae on axes; distinct, scarious pseudoindusia that cover one to occasionally two sori; and compound leaves with small, asymmetrical ultimate segments, at least some of which are stalked. Previously unrecognized diversity was revealed, particularly among palmate taxa: three new species are described. Pinnate architecture appears to be pleisiomorphic in Adiantopsis and the palmate architecture arose just once. Biogeographic analyses suggest an origin for the genus in South America, possibly the Cerrado and associated dry areas of Brazil, with a minimum of three migrations into the Caribbean.
R. James Hickey, PhD (Advisor)
Linda E. Watson, PhD (Advisor)
Michael A. Vincent, PhD (Committee Member)
Elisabeth E. Schussler, PhD (Committee Member)
Mark R. Boardman, PhD (Committee Member)
105 p.
Biology; Botany
Adiantopsis; cheilanthoids; diversity; ferns; neotropical; taxonomy; atpA; molecular phylogenetics; rbcL; fern biogeography

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Link-Pérez, M. A. (2010). Revision and Molecular Systematics of the Neotropical Fern Genus Adiantopsis (Pteridaceae) [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1271788914

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Link-Pérez, Melanie. Revision and Molecular Systematics of the Neotropical Fern Genus Adiantopsis (Pteridaceae). 2010. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1271788914.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Link-Pérez, Melanie. "Revision and Molecular Systematics of the Neotropical Fern Genus Adiantopsis (Pteridaceae)." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1271788914

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.