Paul S Manos, Associate Professor  

Paul S Manos

Education:
PhD, Cornell University, 1993

Office Location: 330 Bio Sci
Office Phone: 919-660-7358
Email Address: pmanos@duke.edu

Specialties:
Systematics

Research Categories: Systematics and phylogeography of flowering plants

Research Description: My research emphasizes woody plants, especially the systematics of Fagaceae (the oak family). Juglandaceae (the walnut family), and related wind-pollinated families of flowering plants. I use DNA sequences from both the chloroplast and nuclear genomes to generate hypotheses of phylogenetic relationship for inferring morphological character evolution, analyzing patterns of biogeography, and revising classification. Our lab has studied the systematics of Acanthaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Zingiberaceae, Solanaceae, Convolvulaceae, Piperaceae and Dilleniaceae. My current research interests involve a range of evolutionary and ecological questions within the predominantly tropical chestnut group of Fagaceae. In collaboration with Chuck Cannon and Sang-Hun Oh, we have been interested in the basic biology and systematics of the tropical genus Lithocarpus (stone oaks; ca. 300 spp.), and its ecological role in the dynamics of wet forests throughout the Tertiary and Holocene. Using molecular data to provide an independent estimate of species relationships, morphological variation in the cupule of Lithocarpus is being analyzed using fine-scale morphometric approaches to assess homology and convergent transformations. A phylogeny and revised treatment of this under-studied genus are being developed. We also are tracking the history of SE Asian rainforests using a regional survey of chloroplast DNA diversity in the stone oaks. To explore the reproductive biology (e.g. species cohesion vs hybridization) of these tropical tree species, molecular markers from the nuclear genome have been sampled from mixed communities of species to test for reproductively isolated groups within the genus. These patterns will be compared with cpDNA patterns to provide a landscape level perspective on genetic variation to better understand species boundaries and phylogeography. Secondary research interests include genetic structure of tree species and phylogeography, especially as it pertains to eastern North American tree species and their post-glacial migration patterns. In collaboration with Jim Clark and Jason McLachlan, we have used chloroplast DNA genetic signatures to make inferences on the location of tree species during the Last Glacial Maximum, thus providing a basis for re-calibrating migration rates using models of population expansion.

Recent Publications   (More Publications)   (search)

  1. N.A. Douglas, P.S. Manos, Nyctaginaceae phylogeny, classification, and characters associated with a radiation of xerophytic genera in North America, American Journal of Botany, vol. 94 (2007), pp. 856-872 .
  2. P.S. Manos, Soltis, D.E. Soltis, S.R. Manchester, S-H. Oh, C.D Bell, D.L. Dilcher, and D.E. Stone, Phylogeny of extant and extinct Juglandaceae inferred from the integration of molecular and morphological data sets, Systematic Biology, vol. 56 (2007), pp. 412-430 .
  3. Soltis, D.E., A. Morris, J. McLachlan, P.S. Manos, and P.S. Soltis, Comparative phylogeography of unglaciated eastern North America, Molecular Ecology, vol. 15 (2006), pp. 4261-4293 .
  4. Feng, Y., S.-H. Oh, and P.S. Manos, Phylogeny and historical biogeography of the genus Platanus as inferred from nuclear and chloroplast DNA, Systematic Botany, vol. 30 (2005), pp. 786-799 .
  5. Devos, N., S.-H Oh, O. Raspé, A-L Jacquemart, and P.S. Manos, Nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence variation and evolution of spotted marsh-orchids (Dactylorhiza maculata group), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, vol. 36 (2005), pp. 568-580 .

Duke Biology Box 90338 Durham, NC 27708 Phone: 919-660-7372 Fax: 919-660-7293