PLANT SYSTEMATICS
Introduction:
Plant systematics is the science that includes and encompasses traditional taxonomy (description, identification, nomenclature, and classification of plants) and the modern concepts of phylogeny reconstruction using molecular and morphological data. A major goal of plant systematics is to record and describe the vast diversity of plant life. Southwest Western Australia is one of the major biodiversity hotspots in the world with many new species still being described! Species recognition and description is particularly urgent in WA as global climate change and natural resource mining continue to threaten habitats of rare and endangered species. While plant systematics has focused on higher level phylogeny over the past decade I believe the next substantial goal for molecular systematics will be to better understand relationships among species and the process of speciation. This will incorporate a range of data including molecular markers e.g. (sequence, SSRs, AFLPs) in combination with whole organism and ecological information. My research emphasizes the use of molecular and morphological data to examine plant diversity (population-family level), phylogeography, hybridization and invasiveness. Research Interests
I have continuing interests in a wide range of topics that generally utilize molecular markers to better understand natural systems. Some of the research topics for which I have a particularly keen interest include:
- Plant Systematics
- Molecular Phylogenetics
- Species Diversity
- Conservation Biology
- Invasive Taxa
- Hybridization (processes and results)
- Wetland Plants
- Subspecific Population Structure Ongoing Research
1) Plant diversity: Western Australia is still in a phase of taxonomic discovery. Both higher level and species level phylogenetic studies are needed. Many groups of plants (esp. genera and ‘species complexes’) have remained difficult to interpret after year of study using morphological data alone. I use molecular data in combination with morphology under a phylogenetic framework to interpret species limits and relationships. This methodology greatly facilitates our ability to determine the status of potentially rare and endangered species. One of the long-term goals of species level systematic studies is rapid assessment of species using a DNA “barcode”. Subspecific, population level, structure can be discovered while investigation species level diversity or specifically targeted due to conservation concerns. Some molecular markers (e.g. SSRs and AFLPs) are used to identify structure among populations and may exact evidence of gene flow levels among populations. This data can be used to evaluate the status of rare or endangered species population and their relative importance in contributing rare alleles. 2) Hybridization is a widespread phenomenon among plants. While hybridisation is nearly impossible to assess using morphological data alone, molecular data has provided a viable tool for testing the identification of hypothesized hybrids. Plants have evolved many barriers to prevent hybridisation but, those hybrid taxa that persist often carry a unique combination of genes that allow them to flourish. A growing body of literature shows that recognition of hybrid species and hybrid populations is important to our understanding of both systematics and ecology.
3) Invasive Plants are a widespread conservation concern, but many are relatively poorly understood. Proper taxonomic identity is often difficult and geographic origin of many invasive taxa is not known. This can be detrimental to developing an invasive plant management plan. Taxonomic treatments of groups containing known invasive taxa is important as well as the application of molecular methods to recognize origins and levels of genetic diversity among populations. Many recent studies utilizing molecular methods have shown that hybridisation between exotic and native species (or even among exotic species) in a particular region can lead to new invasive taxa. My recent research has uncovered such hybrids in North America and I will be developing projects to investigate this phenomenon among the rapidly growing list of taxa invasive to Western Australia. The identification of a hybrid taxon as unique from its parental taxa is the necessary first step in understanding how to manage and/or eradicate the newly invasive plant. There are many research projects involving invasive taxa that need to be explored.
Recent Publications:Moody, M. L., D. H. Les and J. DiTomaso. (2008) The role of Plant Systematics in invasive aquatic plant management. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 46 Moody, M. L., and D. H. Les. (2007) Phylogenetic systematics
and character evolution in the angiosperm family Haloragaceae R.Br.
American Journal of Botany 94:2005-2025 Moody, M. L. and D. H. Les. (2007) Distribution and composition of invasive hybrid watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum × M. sibiricum) populations in North America. Biological Invasions 9: 559-570
Wilson, P. G. and M. L. Moody. 2006. Haloragodendron gibsonii (Haloragaceae), a new species from the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Telopea 11:141-146 Moody, M. L. and D. H. Les. 2002. Evidence of hybridity in invasive milfoil populations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 99:14867-14871 | 
