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Phylogenety and synopsis of a clade of Eugenia section Umbellatae (Myrtaceae: Myrteae)

Project summary:

The clade “aurata” (Eugenia section Umbellatae) has poorly resolved phylogenetic relationships and includes several endangered species. Therefore, this study aims to perform phylogeny and taxonomy of the group, to define its composition and distribution, increasing knowledge of the group and providing a basis for future conservation studies.

First Name:

Highest degree:

Master

Year obtained:

2024

Applicant Status:

Current student

Brasil

Flowering plants

Relevant publications (minimum 1, maximum 4):

Moreira, Víctor de Paiva; Cunha, Hercília Freitas da; Lima, Igor Gonçalves; Proença, Carolyn Elinore Barnes. A new species of Eugenia sect. Racemosae (Myrtaceae) from Northeastern Brazil. Phytotaxa (on-line), v. 702, p. 205-212, 2025.

Moreira, F.G.L.; Moreira, V.P.; Nascimento, M.B.; Paula, L.F.A.; Dias, R.L.; Carvalho, F.A.. Climbing plants from Seridó Ecological Station: diversity, interactive key and five new records from Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. Rodriguesia, v. 72, p. 1-14, 2021.

Ranking

Your name:

Proposes to study a subclade of Eugenua sect. Umbellatae, informally known as the "aurata" clade. Eugenua sect. Umbellatae includes ca. 600 species. It is unclear how many species belong to the aurata subclade, and the proposal would seek to expand sampling using nuclear 353 data to clarify the circumscription of the clade and generate a dated phylogeny, which would serve as the basis for a taxonomic monograph of the "aurata" clade.

However, it is not clearly stated how many species would be sampled, or in general what the sampling approach would be. This seems problematic given that the genus, and sect. Umbellatae, are massively diverse and so one would need to be thoughtful and strategic about how to address this problem.

Really, given the ambiguity within sect. Umbellatae, it seems to make more sense to conduct a study focused on clarifying the major clades/groupings within this broader section, rather than to focus on a subgroup which, at this point, has an unclear composition.

It is noted, however, that an additional ca. 50 taxa might belong to the aurata clade based on morphology (currently around 15 species are the known constituents of the clade), so it seems there is some inkling of what should be sampled--but again, with such huge diversity, I think a better framework for sect. Umbellatae is needed first before tackling focused studies on subclades.

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Notes and justification

Applicant Details

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Target organism/s:

Previous publications

Applicant's CV

Proposal

Budget

Budget: $

2000

Universidade de Brasília

Affiliation:

Grant Assessment

victormoreira2811@hotmail.com

email:

Last Name:

Víctor

Moreira