People
Baker, William J. [Bill]
| Job Title | Head of Palm Research |
|---|---|
| Department | Herbarium |
| Section | Monocot Systematics |
| Science Teams |
Wet Tropics: SE Asia Monocots I: General Alismatids & Lilioids Monocots II: Commelinids Large-Scale Syntheses Madagascar |
| Joined Kew | 1998 |
| Foreign Language(s) | French, Indonesian |
Qualifications & Appointments
BA (Hons), Univ. Oxford, 1993
MSc, Univ. Reading, 1994
PhD, Univ. Reading, 1997
Chair, Programme Subcommittee, Systematics Association
IUCN-SSC Palm Specialist Group
Life Science Panel, Royal Geographical Society
Rock Garden Plant Comm., Royal Horticultural Society
Role
Evolution, systematics and biogeography of palms
Research focusing on evolution and diversity in the Palm family, addressing phylogenetic relationships of palms at all taxonomic levels using a range of data sources. Building a new classification of palms for a forthcoming benchmark family monograph, ‘Genera Palmarum’ (Ed. 2). Interpreting evolutionary process within a phylogenetic context, for example, the evolution of floral morphology and reproductive biology. Investigating the origins of diversity at the species level through interdisciplinary studies, for example, testing hypotheses of sympatric speciation on oceanic islands. Exploring the nature and origins of global patterns of palm diversity. Floristic interests in the Old World, especially SE Asia. Working towards a monograph of palms in New Guinea, a collaborative project integrating taxonomic research and capacity building. Developing new approaches to the delivery of taxonomic data via the web.
Projects
European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy (EDIT)
Molecular Phylogenetics of Palms
Sympatric Speciation in Palms: Howea on Lord Howe Island
Systematics and Evolution of Pandanales
UK Darwin Initiative Papuan Plant Diversity
Selected Publications 2001-2005
Norup, M.V., Dransfield, J., Chase, M.W., Barfod, A.S., Fernando, E.S. & Baker, W.J. (2006). Homoplasious character combinations and generic delimitation: a case study from the Indo-Pacific arecoid palms (Arecaceae). American Journal of Botany 93: 1065-1080.
Loo, A.H.B., Dransfield, J., Chase, M.W. & Baker, W.J. (2006). Low copy nuclear DNA, phylogeny and the evolution of dichogamy in the betel nut palms and their relatives (Arecinae; Arecaceae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39: 598–618
Asmussen, C.B., Dransfield, J., Deickmann, V., Barfod, A.S., Pintaud, J.-C. & Baker, W.J. (2006). A New Subfamily Classification of the Palm Family (Arecaceae): Evidence from Plastid DNA. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 151: 15–38.
Baker, W.J., Zona, S., Heatubun, C.D., Lewis, C.E., Maturbongs, R.A., & Norup, M.V. (2006). Dransfieldia (Arecaceae) - A New Palm Genus from Western New Guinea. Systematic Botany 31: 61–69.
Savolainen, V., Anstett, M.-C., Lexer, C., Hutton, I., Clarkson, J.J., Norup, M.V., Powell, M.P., Springate, D., Salamin, N. & Baker, W.J. (2006). Sympatric Speciation in Palms on an Oceanic Island. Nature 441: 210–213.
Dransfield, J., Uhl, N.W., Asmussen, C.B., Baker, W.J., Harley M.M., & Lewis C.E. (2005). A New Phylogenetic Classification of the Palm Family, Arecaceae. Kew Bulletin 60: 559–569.
Bachman, S., Baker, W.J., Brummitt, N., Dransfield, J. & Moat, J. (2004). Elevational gradients, area and tropical island diversity: an example from the palms of New Guinea. Ecography 27: 299–310.
Stauffer, F.W., Baker, W.J., Dransfield, J. & Endress, P.K. (2004). Comparative floral structure and systematics of Pelagodoxa and Sommieria (Arecaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 146: 27–39.
Baker, W.J., Bayton, R.P., Dransfield, J. & Maturbongs, R.A. (2003). A revision of the Calamus aruensis (Arecaceae) complex in New Guinea and the Pacific. Kew Bulletin 58: 351–370.
Selected Publications pre-2001
Baker, W.J., Asmussen, C.B., Barrow, S.C., Dransfield, J. & Hedderson, T.A. (1999). A phylogenetic study of the palm family (Palmae) based on chloroplast DNA sequences from the trnL-trnF region. Pl. Syst. Evol. 219: 111-126.
Baker, W.J., Dransfield, J. & Hedderson, T.A. (2000). Phylogeny, character evolution, and a new classification of the calamoid palms. Syst. Bot. 25: 297-322.
Baker, W.J. & Dransfield, J. (2000). Towards a biogeographic explanation of the calamoid palms. In Wilson, K.L. & Morrison, D.A. (eds) Monocots: Systematics and Evolution. Melbourne: CSIRO. 545-553.
Baker, W.J., Hedderson, T.A. & Dransfield, J. (2000). Molecular phylogenetics of subfamily Calamoideae (Palmae) based on nrDNA ITS and cpDNA rps16 intron sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 14: 195-217.
Baker, W.J., Hedderson, T.A. & Dransfield, J. (2000). Molecular phylogenetics of Calamus (Palmae) and related rattan genera based on 5S nrDNA spacer sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 14: 218-231.