Science Strategy
Comparative Plant Biology - in depth
Comparative plant biology is the study of the variation and relationships among plants, the underlying processes such as evolution and development that generated plant diversity, and the application of the results and data to a variety of scientific questions and user groups. The three principal aims of the Comparative Biology Programme are outlined below.
Documenting Variation (describing and analysing macromorphological, micromorphological, chemical, physiological, molecular and genetic diversity) – Activities include analysing patterns of character variation to contribute data for identification and comparative studies. There is also a focus on improving and evaluating datasets for critical characters in various plant groups, often in collaboration with other researchers. The aim is to produce comparative data for internal and external needs both in higher level studies above the rank of family and in more detailed studies of targeted taxa. The expertise of Kew's staff is crucial in generating and facilitating access to these comparative data, and also undertaking the necessary analyses.
Reconstructing Evolutionary Relationships (phylogenetics, including theory and methods) – The two main components of reconstructing evolutionary relationships are the evaluation of comparative data using cladistic techniques and the production of phylogenetic classifications based on these results. Such analyses often synthesise datasets from multiple sources (e.g. by combining molecular and micro- and macro-morphological data).
Understanding Evolutionary Patterns and Processes (micro and macroevolution, evolutionary ecology, biogeography) – Phylogenies are essential to gain a better understanding of evolutionary processes such as adaptation and speciation. They are also crucial to make sense of biogeographical patterns and how they can most productively be explored and analysed. Continual reassessment of the homologies of key characters is a crucial component of research in comparative plant biology. Often this occurs by reciprocal illumination using the results of phylogenetic work. The use of phylogenetic methods – developed first in systematics – is now widespread in many areas of contemporary plant biology, including genomics.
Connections to Other Kew Programmes – The collections are a critical source of materials and data for comparative work (e.g. morphology, chemical, DNA). Monographs and other synthetic and phylogenetic studies form the basis for arrangement of the collections and ultimately all the accumulated information about these plants. Similarly, baseline plant diversity research projects acquire materials and provide determinations and there is a clear synergistic relationship between Floras and monographs. Monographs form an important basis for regional work and vice versa. Additional information (e.g. anatomy, cytology) acquired as a result of comparative work is also supplied to surveys and inventories, and there are also key links with the comparative biology programme on distributional and ecological data. There are also productive interactions between programmes in comparative plant biology and sustainable utilisation. Phylogenies can direct the search for useful attributes and characters. Results from surveys of utility can be useful in helping generate or test phylogenies.
In recent years a variety of techniques have been developed that use phylogenetic results from comparative studies to help establish conservation priorities. In addition, assessments of evolutionary patterns and processes support conservation objectives in various ways (e.g. monographs, identification of hot spots, karyotype evolution) and predictivity resulting from phylogenetic work is a useful tool in sustainable management and in seed conservation.
Comparative Biology Strengths – The primary strength of the Comparative Biology programme lies above all in the staff expertise and experience at Kew. Data production is also strong and aided by the combination of a broad spectrum of multidisciplinary research facilities, including collections, in one institution. Other current strengths are in phylogenetic analysis, the ability to analyse the functional importance of compounds, databases (e.g. Plant Micromorphology Bibliographic Database, HPLC profiles and DNA C-values) and well-equipped laboratory facilities. Kew also has good contacts and collaborators, for example in the organisation of international conferences and good links with other UK and international institutes. There is also a strong PhD programme already in place and providing good training in comparative plant biology.
Key Objective
Demonstrate the excellence of Kew's scientific research, and maximise its impact, by more effective dissemination of the results to the broadest possible professional audience
Measure of success:
· Total publications in the highest quality scientific journals.
Strategy For Comparative Plant Biology – The overriding objective for the Comparative Plant Biology Programme is to increase the quality and impact of Kew’s research in the scientific community.
Actions 2006-2011
To help meet our objectives the following general actions have been agreed for the period 2006-2011. More specific actions are set out in the science team documents.
· Continue to develop projects in priority groups such as monocots, legumes, Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae/Malpighiales, Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae and fungi that emphasise synthesis, electronic access to data, and sustainable utilisation and conservation. Focus resources in these areas while covering other groups with regional specialists, or opportunistically with collaborators.
· Continue to make significant contributions at international scientific conferences.
· Continue to improve Kew’s science profile by increasing the number of publications in the highest impact journals.
· Continue to develop a proactive approach to securing grant support.
· Continue to encourage synthetic approaches and thinking that advance fundamental knowledge of plant diversity and open new intellectual horizons.
· Strengthen links with key universities and other plant science institutions, in the UK and overseas, in order to explore opportunities for synergism and to attract high quality students to Kew.
· Continue to develop projects on priority groups that provide phylogenetic frameworks to test evolutionary and ecological hypotheses.