Diversity and evolution of Salvia: morphological and functional flower characters drive speciation within the genus

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Regine Claßen-Bockhoff
• Subject Area: Evolution and Systematics of Plants and Fungi
• Term: from 2002 to 2004
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5363653

Diversification and speciation are driven by complex biotic and abiotic constraints. The genus Salvia is chosen as a model of our interdisciplinary approach because it is a large, world-wide distributed genus with highly specialised flower structures including the well-known staminal levers. The adaptive radiation in Salvia is mirrored by a diversity of pollinators of various insect groups and birds. The intention of the project is to elucidate mechanisms of speciation in this genus. We hypothesise that structure and functioning of the staminal levers play a major role as key structures in speciation. To cope with the complex evolutionary processes involved, a number of different methodological approaches is needed. The methods range from functional morphology and biomechanics to ecological field investigations at natural habitats and molecular systematics. The project includes both, detail case studies allowing the quantification of the correlation between form and function and the set-up of a comprehensive database for further comparative studies. The ultimate aim is to understand phenotypic diversity as a dynamic process at least partly driven by the co-evolution between flowers and pollinators.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1127: Radiations - Origins of Biological Diversity