Sujets de recherche proposés:
Masters

Liste des cours
Corps enseignant
Sujets de recherche proposés: Bachelors et Masters
Projets disponibles - UNIGE

• Systématique et évolution florale dans la famille des Gesneriaceae.
• Peristome strucutre in the moss Cynodontium polycarpum and a comparison of peristome architecture in the genus Cynodontium Bruch & Schimp.: taxonomic and phylogenetic insights.
• The morphological and ecological distinctions between Tortella bambergeri and Tortella tortuosa (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta).
• Food plants of Senegal: an integrated approach bridging botany and archaeobotany.

Responsable : Dr Mathieu Perret

En collaboration avec : Dr Alain Chautems (taxonomie des Gesneriaceae néotropicales)
Tél : +41 22 418 5195
Fax : +41 22 418 5101
Email

Sujet proposé :

Systématique et évolution florale dans la famille des Gesneriaceae

Évolution des plantes à fleurs, en particulier dans la famille des Gesneriacées. Reconstruction d’arbres phylogénétiques sur la base de l’analyse de séquences d’ADN et utilisation de ces phylogénies pour proposer de nouvelles classifications, comprendre l’évolution des caractères floraux, les modes de spéciation et la distribution géographique des espèces. Études des bases moléculaires déterminant certains caractères floraux, en particulier ceux qui jouent un rôle important dans les relations entre les plantes et leurs pollinisateurs (p.ex. couleur de la fleur, parfum).

Références représentatives :

Perret, M., A. Chautems, R. Spichiger, T. G. Barraclough and V. Savolainen.2007. Geographic pattern of speciation and floral diversification in the Neotropics: the tribe Sinningieae (Gesneriaceae) as a case study. Evolution 61 : 1641-1660.
Perret, M., A. Chautems, R. Spichiger. 2006. Dispersal-vicariance analyses in the tribe Sinningieae (Gesneriaceae) : a clue to understanding biogeographical history of the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 93 : 340-358.
Perret, M., A. Chautems, R. Spichiger, G. Kite, and V. Savolainen. 2003. Systematics and evolution of tribe Sinningieae (Gesneriaceae): evidence from phylogenetic analyses of six plastid DNA regions and nuclear ncpGS. American Journal of Botany 90: 445-460.
Perret, M., A. Chautems, R. Spichiger, M. Peixoto, and V. Savolainen . 2001. Nectar sugar composition in relation to pollination syndromes in Sinningieae (Gesneriaceae). Annals of Botany 87: 267-273.

Responsable : Dr Michelle Price

Conservatrice
Tél : +41 22 418 5148
Fax : +41 22 418 5101
Email
Webpage

Sujets proposés :

1) Peristome strucutre in the moss Cynodontium polycarpum and a comparison of peristome architecture in the genus Cynodontium Bruch & Schimp.: taxonomic and phylogenetic insights.

Context: The peristomes of mosses, considered to be relatively conserved structures, represent one of the most complex morphological features to be found within this group of plants. Peristomes are widely used in the higher level classification of mosses (classes, orders, families) and also, in certain taxa, for distinguishing entities at the generic and specific levels. Structural differences in peristome morphology / anatomy at the specific levels are much less well-understood. In certain groups, such as Grimmia Hedw., longitudinal sections of the peristome teeth have revealed species specific traits that could also be potentially useful in future phylogenetic inferences, in combination with other morphological and molecular characters.

This research project involves the study of variability in peristome morphology / anatomy in populations of the widespread Holoarctic moss Cynodontium polycarpum (Hedw.) Schimp. (Rhabdoweisiaceae) and the comparison of a typical Cynodontium polycarpum peristome type to the peristomes of other species of the same genus. The aims of the project are to: 1) establish the degree of variability in peristome structure in C. polycarpum; 2) compare peristome structure of different species from within the same genus to establish whether certain peristome traits are species-specific, and 3), assess the potential for the use of differences-similarities in peristome structure in phylogenetic inferences in Cynodontium. This Masters research project will contribute to on-going research on peristomes of the Dicranidae at the CJBG

2) The morphological and ecological distinctions between Tortella bambergeri and Tortella tortuosa ( (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta).

Tortella bambergeri (Schimp.) Broth. and Tortella tortuosa Hedw.) Limpr. are morphologically close species. This research involves the study of herbarium and freshly collected samples of these two species,and the elaboration of any structural (morphological and anatomical), ecological or biological differences between them. The aim of this project is to provide morphological / ecological evidence that facilitates the correct distinction of these two species in the field and laboratory. This research also forms a contribution towards the Moss Flora of Switzerland by clarifying the identities of these two taxa within Switzerland through the study of material collected from Switzerland.

Responsable : Dr Fred Stauffer
Conservateur CJB

Tél : +41 22 418 5178
Fax: +41 22 418 5101

Sujet proposé :

Food plants of Senegal: an integrated approach bridging botany and archaeobotany

This master project aims to undertake modern botanical and ethnobotanical surveys on two localities of the West African country of Senegal. The project relies on fieldwork in two selected regions representing highly contrasted ecological and vegetation areas. One area corresponds to the semidry and moderately hilly lowlands (Bedik country) and the second the lowland formations of the highly diverse area of the Upper Guinean forest (Casamance).

The approach includes the inventory of all native and introduced plants associated to traditional food uses, and the taxonomic identification, common names and uses of all food plants present in these areas. Working methodologies also include the collection of herbarium samples that will be stored in the herbarium of the Faculty of Science at the University Anta-Diop (Dakar, Senegal), with several duplicates deposited in the Herbarium of Geneva.

This project is framed in a larger initiative including an international team of archeologists, zoologists and botanists and therefore benefits of interdisciplinary expertise. Funding for field work and presentation of conferences in international congresses is already guaranteed.

Time frame 1.5 years
Starting early 2020

---

© 2020 Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques