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Topic 01Introduction to Plant
Systematics
I. What is Systematics?A. Definition & Objectives1. Study of biodiversity and its many facets
• diversity & distribution of its species and other taxa• evolutionary history• taxonomic classification• uses (ethnobotany / economic botany)
I. What is Systematics?B. Important products1. Taxa (species, genera, families, etc.)2. Taxonomic Keys3. Taxonomic monographs & floras (manuals, field guides)
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I. What is Systematics?B. Important products1. Taxa (species, genera, families, etc.)2. Taxonomic Keys3. Taxonomic monographs & floras (manuals, field guides)4. Phylogenies & phylogenetic methods
Primary use of phylogenies in systematics: doing taxonomy
How to classify these 24 genera ?
A bad taxonomy because it misrepresents the phylogeny
Cashew Family
Citrus Family
Frankincense & Myrrh Family
Sapindales (order)
Phylogenies eliminate some possibilities and help identify plausible
alternatives.
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Phylogenies eliminate some possibilities and help identify plausible
alternatives.
Good taxonomy
From understanding the basis for unusual
allergies…
Broader impacts of phylogenies:
To understanding our place in the
evolutionary tree of life.
Broader impacts of phylogenies:
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To understanding our place in the
evolutionary tree of life.
Broader impacts of phylogenies:
To understanding our place in the
evolutionary tree of life.
Broader impacts of phylogenies:
To understanding our place in the
evolutionary tree of life.
Broader impacts of phylogenies:
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To understanding our place in the
evolutionary tree of life.
Broader impacts of phylogenies:
I. What is Systematics?C. Terms1. Plant Systematics = Systematic Botany
I. What is Systematics?C. Terms1. Plant Systematics = Systematic Botany2. Plant Systematist = Systematic Botanist
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II. HerbariaA. Herbarium specimens & important herbaria1. What
II. Herbaria
11 ½ in.
16 ½ in.
Plants of Pennsylvania
A. Herbarium specimens & important herbaria1. What
II. Herbaria
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II. Herbaria
2. Important herbaria (after Index Herbariorum)MVSC (ca. 15 thousand)P (8 million)NY (7.3 million)K (7 million)MO (5.9 million)US (4.3 million)
II. Herbaria
3. Zoological analogs of herbaria
II. Herbaria
1. document patterns of morphological and geographical variation in plant diversity: past, present, and future
B. Use of specimens
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Inter- & intraspecific morphological variation
Floristic (biotic) diversity, past & present
•accurate range estimates
e.g., maps from USDA PLANTS Database are based on herbarium specimens.
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•accurate range estimates
e.g., the composition of floras and manuals are based on specimen occurrence records.
II. Herbaria2. the basis for new species descriptions
and other taxonomic studies,
B. Use of specimens
This is what the new species look like….
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This is how to tell the new species apart (a dichotomous key )….
This is where they grow and where you’ll find them….
II. HerbariaB. Use of specimens
3. teaching aids,
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II. HerbariaB. Use of specimens
4. reference specimens for applications requiring accurate species identification (e.g., forensics or taxonomic and floristic surveys)
II. HerbariaB. Use of specimens
4. reference specimens for applications requiring accurate species identification (e.g., forensics or taxonomic and floristic surveys)
January 15, 2009
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5. archived voucher specimens to document the species identity of plants used for various other biological investigations.
III. Lecture vs. LabA. Lecture
• Theory and practice of systematics• Principles of Taxonomy & Classification• The Pennsylvania Flora• Familiarization with important families & higher taxa
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III. Lecture vs. LabA. Lecture
• Theory and practice of systematics• Principles of Taxonomy & Classification• The Pennsylvania Flora• Familiarization with important families & higher taxa
B. Lab
• Use of keys to ID species• Principles & practice of key construction• Genus & Family recognition
