Laboratory of Plant Systematics and Biodiversity
Conservatory & Botanical Garden of the City of Geneva

Dr. Mathieu Perret

Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques (CJB)
Chemin de l’Impératrice 1

1292 Chambésy 
Genève
Tel. 022 418 51 95

Shifts in pollinator types have occurred repeatedly during the diversification of the Neotropical Gesneriaceae species, producing highly convergent floral morphologies. How floral changes associated to pollinator shifts operate during lineage diversification has been poorly investigated. This question will be addressed in the Neotropical clade Gesnerioideae, which exhibits an outstanding diversity in flower morphology and pollinators (e.g., hummingbirds, bees, bats). Flowers shape will be measured by means of landmark-based methodology. Using phylogenetic information, evolution of floral traits will be modeled to identify the suites of traits associated with pollinator types and the sequence of morphological changes leading to pollinator shifts.