Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney, Australia

Michael Whitehead

Supervisors
Prof. Rod Peakall (ANU), Dr Maurizio Rossetto

Degree
PhD

University
Australian National University

Project title
Gene flow patterns in speciating ground orchids

Project details
Species of the Australian orchid genus Chiloglottis employ the intriguing pollination strategy of sexual deception. In this pollination strategy the orchid lures male thynnine wasps to the flower by mimicking the female wasp sex pheromone and pollination occurs when the male insect attempts copulation with the flower. Recent research on the genus Chiloglottis has identified the chemicals involved in pheromone mimicry. Furthermore, related but slightly different chemical variation has been shown to illicit attraction of different pollinator species.

Through integrating both modern molecular methods and traditional ecological fieldwork I intend to make direct measurements of pollen mediated gene flow in a system of cryptic, sympatric Chiloglottis orchid taxa. My research is intended to explore questions such as: How far can a pollen-laden wasp take pollen from the paternal plant? How many mates can a single father orchid potentially fertilise? How exclusive is the orchid’s relationship with its associated pollinator? Does hybridisation occur between sympatric orchid taxa? 

Keywords
Chiloglottis, speciation, pollination biology, hybridisation, gene flow, population genetics.

Contact details
michael.whitehead@anu.edu.au 

   Michael
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