Dr John Conran
| Position | Senior Lecturer |
|---|---|
| Org Unit | Ecology and Evolutionary Biology |
| john.conran@adelaide.edu.au | |
| Telephone | +61 8 8313 5684 |
| Location |
Floor/Room
104
,
Benham
,
North Terrace
|
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Research Interests
Molecular and morphological evolution and palaeobotany, reproductive biology and community ecology of Australasian seed plants, especially petaloid monocots, southern conifers, carnivorous plants and weeds.
My research involves studies of character evolution, palaeobotany and biogeography in Australasian plants, especially the Lilianae (petaloid monocotyledons), Commelinaceae (Spiderworts), carnivorous plants (especially Byblidaceae, Cephalotaceae, Droseraceae and Lentibulariaceae), Malvaceae (Mallows) and Podocarpaceae (southern conifers), in response to changes in climate throughout their evolution.
This work involves the use of both classical and molecular approaches and involves families that, although of worldwide distribution, have both major centres of diversity in Australia, and endemic, primitive members mainly confined to the rainforests of E Australia. The research explores the relationships of these often highly isolated ancient groups, and the ecological processes which led to their diversification with the spread of arid and nutrient-poor regions.
I am currently involved in a major collaborative study with the University of Otago (NZ) on the fossil floras of southern Otago (Sth Is. NZ) ranging from the Late Cretaceous through to the Miocene, and in particular, the extremely rich fossil flora of the Foulden Hills Diatomite (a 23 Ma fossilised lake), which appears to be one of the richest fossil monocot sites yet discovered. I am also involved in studies with the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Gardens (Yunnan, China) on the evolution of various Old World tropical plant families, particularly the cinnamon family (Lauraceae) as well as Chinese Liliaceae sens. lat. and Commelinaceae.
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Media Expertise
Categories Environment Expertise Evolution (origins of the Australian flora); environment (impact assessment, nature conservation, endangered plant species, lichens as air pollution monitors); botany; nature conservation; botany (endangered plants); endangered species; lichens as air pollution monitors; impact assessment; environmental damage; evolution of plants Notes Alt phone: (08) 8313 3999 Mobile 0403 131 834 After hours (08) 8264 3695
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Entry last updated: Thursday, 25 Jul 2024
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