Title: Species-Level Phylogenetics in Osteospermum (Asteraceae)

Title: Species-Level Phylogenetics in Osteospermum (Asteraceae)

Title: Species-level phylogenetics in Osteospermum (Asteraceae) Description: The Cape-centred daisy tribe Calenduleae (~ 120 species) comprises mostly species in the genus Osteospermum (60 - 100 species, depending on circumscription). Osteospermum harbours a large range of variation in growth form, vegetative and reproductive morphology, and pollination biology. Many species are important in terms of economic potential, horticultural impact, invasive impact, medicinal use and conservation concern, and the genus is in urgent need of taxonomic revision (SANBI Biosystematics Strategy 2013 - 2018). However, there is controversy surrounding the delimitation of Osteospermum in relation to the genera Tripteris, Norlindhia, Monoculous, Inuloides, Gibbaria, and Chrysanthemoides (currently included in Osteospermum) as well as Calendula and to a lesser extent Dimorphotheca and Castalis. Before a full taxonomic revision can be undertaken, the circumscription of these genera needs to be tested via a well-sampled species-level hypothesis generated from multiple genetic loci. While field collection for this project will underpin future revisionary work, the project aims to use field-collected leaf material to generate a multi-species coalescent tree based on next-generation / massively- parallel sequencing. Laboratory analyses will be carried out at the Jodrell Laboratory in Kew under the co-supervision of Dr. Felix Forest. Analysis of this type of data requires a high level of computational ability and so the incumbent will need to possess undergraduate training in systematics and evolutionary biology; proficiency in basic statistics and in the R environment; and some experience of phylogenetic analysis. Also required for this project are the ability to conduct fieldwork independently, and a valid driver’s licence (for fieldwork and due to supervisors and facilities being in different institutions). University for registration: University of Cape Town Main Supervisor: Prof. Tony Verboom (UCT). Co-supervisors: Prof. Allan Ellis (Stellenbosch University), Dr. Nicola Bergh (SANBI), Prof. John Manning (SANBI), Dr. Felix Forest (Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London) Level: PhD .

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