Anders Larsson, PhD-Student

My PhD-project:

Dispersal and phylogeny of Woodsia ferns

The assumption that ferns are easily dispersed by wind has been put forward in many studies, based for example on the fact that the frequency of endemics on islands are lower for ferns than for angiosperms. Lately with a better understanding of the fern reproduction, and then especially that ferns are mainly outcrossing and not inbreeding as often assumed, the idea of almost freely dispersed ferns have been questioned. Yet, although biogeography is discussed in phylogenetic studies of ferns, studies explicitly testing hypothesis on distribution patterns in ferns are few. In a landscape that gets more fragmented, the understanding of the impact of long-distance dispersal will have implications in a conservation perspective. The research focuses on two complementary groups of ferns: tree ferns, with a mainly southern hemisphere, subtropical-tropical distribution and a Late Triassic origin, and Woodsia, a northern hemisphere, temperate group of ferns with a probable Tertiary origin.

Part I. Resolving the phylogenetic position of Woodsia. (This is where I am currently working)

In recent phylogenetic analysis of ferns, Woodsia is placed in the group Eupolypods II. The relationships between genera and families in this group are still poorly resolved, and the closest relatives of Woodsia are unknown. An extended taxon sampling in this group in conjunction with adding more DNA sequence data will provide possibilities to resolve this group, evaluate the monophyly of Woodsia, and create a stable phylogenetic framework for further phylogenetic and biogeographical studies within Woodsia.

The project is part of Dr Petra Koralls project "The impact of long-distance dispersal in shaping the biogeography of ferns". Dr Petra Korall is also my main supervisor.

Teaching:

Floristik och faunistik 10 hp. I have been teaching the floristics part of this course the last 3 years.
OEM (Organismernas evolution och mångfald). I work as a teaching assistant on the Evolution of plant-part of this course.
Diversity and Evolution of Plants. I work as a teaching assistant on the Embryophyte part of this course.
Ecological Methods. I give a lecture and excersise in GIS.

Other activities:

Before I got my PhD position I was part time employed as field assistant in a phenology project lead by Kjell Bolmgren. The Swedish phenology network is responsible for the homepage blommar.nu
I also conduct an ecological experiment to see if the Uppsala genotype of bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) will sporulate if grown in a warm greenhouse (as opposed to normal Swedish climate).

Feel free to contact me with questions, both popular and scientific.