Objective
Figs (genus Ficus, Moraceae) constitute one of the largest flowering plant genera comprising ca. 750 species of trees occurring in most rainforests of the World. Figs are an important part of the biodiversity in the rainforest ecosystem by providing a critically important source of food for fruit eating animals throughout the year. Figs show an extreme species-specific mutualism with their pollinating wasps (family Agonidae). This plant-pollinator interaction is one of the best models for studying the comparative biology of mutualisms. An accurate evaluation of the patterns and processes of species diversification in a co-evolution system can only be performed if the phylogenies of both partners are known and can therefore be compared.
Previous molecular phylogenetic studies of the figs have shown that the traditional groups are not natural, but these studies have only limited sampling and have lacked the genetic variation to allow a detailed estimation of relationships in figs, especially at species level. T his knowledge is what is crucially needed to understand fig-wasp co-evolution and this project will fill this gap.
The project has three key aims:
(1) to produce a comprehensive phylogeny for the figs using molecular techniques (300 species),
(2) to study character evolution by mapping traits related to pollination system, dispersal system and life habit onto the phylogeny,
(3) to test for co-speciation by comparing the phylogeny of the figs with phylogenetic trees for the wasps.
The training during the out going phase will involve the morphological study and identification of figs in the herbarium and in the field, sequencing of new DNA regions and co-speciation analyses. The extensive molecular phylogenetic resources at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, combined with the expertise on fig co-evolution in Dr. Weiblens laboratory, University of Minnesota, form an ideal partnership for expanding the scope of the applicants research program.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biological morphology comparative morphology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture horticulture fruit growing
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-6
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
OIF - Marie Curie actions-Outgoing International Fellowships
Coordinator
RICHMOND
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.