A Phylogenetic Analysis of Species Relationships in Hemlocks, the Genus <em>Tsuga</em> (Pinaceae).

<p>The genus <em>Tsuga</em> is comprised of eight extant species found in North America and East Asia and four species represented by fossils from Europe and Japan. This study presents the first phylogenetic analysis based on structural, biochemical, and molecular sequence data. Characters obtained from published and unpublished literature were combined with new morphological characters from seeds, seedlings, and leaf cuticle material. Results from parsimony analyses of these characters differed from the published molecular based phylogeny. The non-molecular based phylogeny resolves two separate clades, a North American and an Asian, but did not group the western North American species, as in the molecular based analysis. Character states were traced on the trees to interpret character evolution. The combined analysis resulted in a phylogeny that differed from the previously published molecular tree by resolving a clade between <em>T. caroliniana</em> and <em>T. diversifolia</em> and placing <em>T. dumosa</em> outside of the Asian clade.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS (Master of Science)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - unrestricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Baker, Jordan David

• Morphological Characters
• Phylogenetic Analysis
• Leaf Cuticle
• Tsuga
• Phylogeny
• Morphology
• Seedlings
• Seed
• Earth Sciences
• Paleobiology
• Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright by the authors.

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1791

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-3143