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Kenneth J. Sytsma
Professor of Botany
Ph.D. (1983) Washington University
Office: 250 Birge Hall
Phone: 608-262-4490
Email: kjsytsma@wisc.edu
Molecular systematics of plants; evolution and biogeography of tropical families;
angiosperm classification; plant population variation and gene flow; pollination
biology;
see Lab Homepage
for details
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My research
program within plant biosystematics encompasses a diversity of approaches
and problems. This diversity reflects not only my broad interests but
also my view that biosystematic data accumulation and analysis must be
done in a multi-disciplinary environment in order to most fully understand
evolutionary processes and patterns. Research interests at present include:
(1) molecular systematics, evolution, and biogeography of tropical families;
(2) new classification of angiosperms; (3) AFLP and other DNA fingerprinting
methods to examine genetic variation and phylogeography of endangered
species and invasives
My research and that of my graduate students entails considerable amount
of time in the field (temperate and tropical regions of the world) and
in the lab. Our research is shifting to two main areas: the utilization
of molecular characters to address evolution in plant groups that exhibit
tremendous divergence due to adaptive radiation, and the comparisons of
different phylogenetic data sets derived from both traditional and molecular
approaches. The first area involving adaptive radiation has become the
central focus of the research in my lab because of collaboration with
Thomas J. Givnish. Determining patterns of adaptive radiation in a group
using neutral molecular characters (with respect to the adaptive radiation)
circumvents the possible circular reasoning when the very characters involved
in this radiation are used to infer phylogeny. Examples of funded research
in my lab involving adaptive radiations include the Hawaiian Lobeliaceae,
bromeliads on the tepuis of Venezuela, and the large and tropical sister
families of Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae. I am continuing my collaboration
with Peter Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and his associates
on producing a family-wide phylogenetic hypothesis of the Onagraceae and
the order Myrtales to be used for inferring morphological, chemical, ecological,
and cytological evolution. On-going research also includes assessment
of major group relationships within the angiosperms, using both DNA and
traditional data. At present, graduate students are examining Brassicales
and Salvia and relatives. Past students have tackled Bignoniaceae,
Brodiaea, Commelinaceae, Gesneriaceae, Populus, Palmae,
Psychotria, Iridaceae, Ulmus, and Urticaceae.
I teach Plant Systematics
every fall term and Plant
Geography or Vascular
Flora of Wisconsin every spring term. Both courses utilize extensive
visual material that I have helped develop for the WWW. In addition, I
have developed a graduate level course in Molecular Approaches to Plant
Systematics and Evolution.
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Last updated: 19 November 2000