Objectif 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. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological morphologycomparative morphologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesethologybiological interactions Mots‑clés Co-evolution Co-speciation DNA-sequencing Programme(s) FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006 Thème(s) MOBILITY-2.2 - Marie Curie Outgoing International Fellowships (OIF) Appel à propositions FP6-2002-MOBILITY-6 Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement OIF - Marie Curie actions-Outgoing International Fellowships Coordinateur ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse None RICHMOND Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée Participants (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA États-Unis Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 250 Biological Sciences, 1445 Gortner Avenue SAINT PAUL Voir sur la carte Liens Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée