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Evolution - Molecular Evolution | Evolution - Systematics

John V. Freudenstein

Associate Professor;   Director of the Herbarium and Museum of Zoology

1350 Museum of Biological Diversity

1315 Kinnear Road Columbus, OH 43212

Phone: 614-688-0363

E-mail: freudenstein.1@osu.edu

Lab Web Page: http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~jfreuden/freuden.htm

Education: PhD, Cornell University, 1992; B.S., University of Michigan, 1985.

Brief Description of Research Interests

Plant Systematics and Evolution

Detailed Research Interests

      My research area is angiosperm systematics, and in particular I focus on the following topics: (1) Evolution of morphological characters and the use of developmental data in developing homology hypotheses. (2) Species definition and the interpretation of molecular and morphological patterns at the base of the systematic hierarchy and their biogeographic implications. (3) Development and understanding of new characters, both morphological and molecular, for systematic use. (4) Systematic theory. The taxonomic group in which I work most is Orchidaceae, but I have interests in and active research in Ericaceae and Sarraceniaceae, as well as in higher level relationships among the monocots, especially the Hypoxidaceae and related families. My work in the orchids ranges from studies within individual genera (e.g., Corallorhiza) to investigation of relationships across the family. I focus on relationships in the largest subfamily, Epidendroideae, because this is where much of the diversity in characters and ecological specialization is found. I use molecular, morphological, and developmental data to reconstruct and study systematic patterns and morphological character evolution. One question that my group is addressing is which characters are correlated with the radiations that we see in the orchids. I am also currently investigating the fungal association of orchids from a systematic perspective. Research in Ericaceae and Sarracenia focuses on phylogenetic reconstruction to study biogeographic patterns and to understand morphological evolution. Work on systematic theory includes studies of different types of character coding and phylogenetic methods, as well as consideration of the nature of systematics evidence and patterns.

Key Citations

Barrett, C. F., and J. V. Freudenstein.  2009.  Patterns of morphological and plastid DNA variation in the Corallorhiza striata species complex (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae).  Systematic Botany 34:  496-504.

Freudenstein, J. V. and D. M. Senyo.  2008.  Relationships and evolution of matK in a group of leafless orchids (Corallorhiza and Corallorhizinae; Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae).  American Journal of Botany 95:  498-505.

Barrett, C. F. and J. V. Freudenstein.  2008.   Molecular evolution of rbcL in the mycoheterotrophic coralroot orchids (Corallorhiza Gagnebin, Orchidaceae).  Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 47: 665–679.

Krosnick, S. E., E. M. Harris and J. V. Freudenstein.   2006.  Patterns of anomalous floral development in the Asian Passiflora (subgenus Decaloba: supersection Disemma).  American Journal of Botany 93:  620-636.

Freudenstein, J. V.  2005.   Characters, states and homology.  Systematic Biology 54:  965-973.

Courses

EEOB 672 -- Taxonomy of Vascular Plants

EEOB 861 -- Principles of Systematics

Lab Group

Graduate Students:

• Barrett, Craig.  Ph.D. Program.  M.S., Biology, Binghamton University. -- Systematics, fungal associations and phylogeography of the Corallorhiza striata complex (Orchidaceae).

• Broe, Michael.  Ph.D. Program.  Ph.D., Linguistics, Univ. of Edinburgh. -- Systematics and phylogeography of Monotropa (Ericaceae).

• Rose, Jeff.  M.S. Program.  B.S., Biology, The Ohio State University.

• Sinn, Brandon.  Ph.D. Program.  B.S., Biology, Youngstown State University.

Undergraduate Students:

• Feldenkris, Emily. Relationships and molecular evolution in Ericaceae.
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