People
Powell, Martyn P.
| Job Title | DNA Sequencing Specialist |
|---|---|
| Department | Jodrell |
| Section | Molecular Systematics |
| Science Teams |
Large-Scale Syntheses Monocots III: Orchids |
| Joined Kew | 1997 |
| Foreign Language(s) |
Qualifications & Appointments
BSc (Hons), Univ. Surrey, 1997.
Role
Floral mimicry; speciation in Neotropical orchids; molecular phylogenetics; South African biodiversity.
The research on floral mimicry will help understand evolution of floral colour and address whether mimicry operates (and drives speciation) in plant communities that include deceptive orchids. This work utilises high-tech image analysis equipment to measure colour spectral reflectance of flowers and a model of insect vision to calculate convergence/divergence indices between species as seen through insect's eyes. Molecular phylogenetic studies of South African Iridaceae (at both generic and species-levels) aim to enhance understanding of the evolutionary processes that took place within this family. Research on Meso-american orchids includes a project to monitor biodiversity within this region and produce DNA barcodes for Costa Rican orchids.
Projects
Co-Evolution at the Plant-Animal Interface
Conservation and Monitoring of Meso-American Orchids
DNA Banking, Phylogeny and Conservation of the South African Flora
European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy (EDIT)
Evolutionary Origin of Biodiversity Hotspots with a Mediterranean Climate (HOTMED)
Sympatric Speciation in Palms: Howea on Lord Howe Island
Systematics and Conservation Genetics of Asparagales
Understanding and Conserving the Earth’s Biodiversity Hotspots (HOTSPOTS)
Selected Publications 2001-2005
Powell, M. P., Pupulin, F., Warner, J., Chase, M. W., & Savolainen, V. (2003). Floral mimicry in oncidioid orchids. Lankesteriana 7: 109-110.
Smith, J. F., Hileman, L. C., Powell, M. P. & Baum, D. A. (2004). Evolution of GCYC, a Gesneriaceae homolog of CYCLOIDEA, within Gesnerioideae (Gesneriaceae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 31: 765-779.
Savolainen, V., Heard, S.B., Powell, M.P., Davies, T.J. & Mooers, A.Ø. (2002). Is cladogenesis heritable? Systematic Biology 51: 835-843.
Goldblatt, P., Savolainen, V., Porteous, O., Sostaric, I., Powell, M., Reeves, G., Manning, J.C., Barraclough, T.G. & Chase, M.W. (2002). Radiation in the Cape flora and the phylogeny of peacock irises Moraea (Iridaceae) based on four plastid DNA regions. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 25: 341-360.
Selected Publications pre-2001
Powell, M. P., Savolainen, V., Cuenoud, P., Manen, J.F. & Andrews, S. (2000). The mountain holly (Nemopanthus mucronatus) revisited with molecular data. Kew Bulletin 55: 341-347.