Lucas, Eve J.

Job Title

Team leader; Myrtaceae 

Department

Herbarium

Section

Dicot Systematics

Science Teams:

Joined Kew: 1996

Foreign Language(s): French (fluent), Portuguese (conversational).

Qualifications & Appointments

BSc (Hons), Univ. London, 1995

MSc, Univ. Reading, 2000.

PhD, Open University, 2007

Editorial Committee, Flora of the Guianas.

Role

Taxonomy, systematics, biogeography and conservation of Myrtaceae, with a focus on the predominantly Neotropical tribe Myrteae and Myrcia s.l. and a developing interest in tribe Syzygieae.  Ecology of the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest.

Research is focused on the taxonomy, systematics, biogeography and conservation of Myrtaceae, particularly the fleshy fruited tribes Myrteae and Syzygieae with a focus on genus Myrcia s.l., in collaboration with a network of international Myrtaceae researchers in Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. This research is based on molecular and morphological systematics, biogeographical analysis, the preparation of monographs, regional revisions and a global checklist. Conservation studies in Myrtaceae involve the production of baseline resources such as specimen databases and their application to geographical information systems and to statistical analysis of vegetation type. Routine naming of incoming Myrtaceae and Myrtales specimens provides support for these projects as well as providing identifications for similar external projects on other groups. The research forms part of a multi-disciplinary approach to Myrtaceae systematics at Kew, which also includes the disciplines of anatomy, phytochemistry and reproductive biology.

Projects

Selected Recent Publications

  • Lucas, E.J., Matsumoto, K., Harris, S.J., Nic Lughadha, E.M., Bernardini, B., & Chase, M.W. (2011) Phylogenetics, Morphology, and evolution of the large genus Myrcia s.l. (Myrtaceae). Int. J. Plant Sci. 172(7): 915.

  • Lucas, E.J. & Sobral, M., (2011) Proposal to conserve Myrcia DC. ex Guillaumin over Calyptranthes Swartz. Taxon 60(2) 605.

  • Proença, C.E.B., Jennings, L.V.S. & Lucas, E.J. (2011) Two new species of Myrtaceae (Myrteae) from northern South America Brittonia 63: 1 46-50.

  • Sobral, M., Costa Souza, M., Mazine-Capelo, F. & Lucas, E. (2010) Nomenclatural notes on Brazilian Myrtaceae. Phytotaxa 8: 51–58

  • Biffin, E., Lucas, E.J., Craven, L.A. Ribeiro da Costa, I., Harrington, & Crisp, M.D. (2010) Evolution of exceptional species richness among lineages of fleshy-fruited Myrtaceae. Ann. Bot. 106(1): 79-93.

  • Sobral, M., Proença, C., Costa Souza, M., Mazine-Capelo, F. & Lucas, E. (2009). Myrtaceae in Catálogo de Plantas e Fungos do Brasil, v. 2 Ed. Forzza, R.C. et al. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro.

  • Nic Lughadha, E.M., Vint, K & Lucas, E.J. (2010). Three new species of Gomidesia (Myrtaceae) – from Espírito Santo, Brazil, including notes on their conservation status. Kew Bull. 65 (1): 21.

  • Sobral, M., Lucas, E.J, Landrum, L.A. & Soares-Silva, L. (2009). Myrtaceae in Stehmann, J.; R. Forzza, R.C.; Salino, A.; Sobral, M.; Costa, D.P. & Kamino, L.H.Y. (eds.) Plantas da Floreta Atlântica. Rio de Janeiro.

  • Murray-Smith, C., Brummitt, N.A., Oliveira-Filho A.T., Bachman, S., Nic Lughadha, E.M., Moat, J. & Lucas, E.J. (2008), Plant Diversity Hotspots in the Atlantic Coastal Forests of Brazil Cons. Bio. 23 (1) 151–163

Selected Earlier Publications

  • Govaerts, R., Sobral, M., Ashton, P., Barrie, F., Holst, B.K., Landrum, L.L., Matsumoto, K., Mazine, F.F., Nic Lughadha, E., Proença, C., Soares-Silva, L.H., Wilson, P.G. & Lucas, E. (2008) World Checklist of Myrtaceae. (Kew Publishing: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew).

  • Lucas, E.J., Harris, S.A., Mazine, F.F., Belsham, S.R., Nic Lughadha, E.M., Telford, A., Gasson, P.E. & Chase, M.W. (2007). Suprageneric phylogenetics of Myrteae, the generically richest tribe in Myrtaceae (Myrtales). Taxon 56: 1105–1128.

  • Proença, C.E.B., Nic Lughadha, E.M., Lucas, E.J., & Woodgyer, E.M., (2006). Algrizea (Myrteae, Myrtaceae): A New Genus from the Highlands of Brazil. Syst. Bot. 31: 320–326.

  • Zappi, D.C., E.J. Lucas, B. L. Stannard, E. Nic Lughadha, J. R. Pirani, L. P. Queiroz, S. Atkins, A. M. Giulietti, D.J.N. Hind, R. M. Harley & A. M. Carvalho (2003). Checklist of the vascular plants of Catolés, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. Bol. Bot. Univ. Sao Paulo 21(2): 345-398

Scientific Research & Data

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