Welcome! I'm a Lecturer in Plant Systematics at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Although I'm fascinated by all aspects of biology, I'm particularly interested in studying the evolutionary history of plants to learn more about the origin of biodiversity. Most of my research projects are centered around Tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae) and Philippine Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae).
Although I'm fascinated by all aspects of biology, I'm particularly interested in studying the evolutionary history of plants to learn more about the origin of biodiversity. Most of my research projects are centered around Tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae) and Philippine Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae).
The evolutionary history of Tribe Senecioneae
Senecioneae is one of the largest tribes in the Asteraceae (ca. 3,100 species and 155 genera), has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, and shows remarkable morphological and ecological diversity. Senecio is the largest genus with approximately 1,000 species, and its size and taxonomic complexity has been a significant obstacle to studies into the evolutionary history of the tribe itself. To better understand the evolutionary success of Senecioneae and similarly large plant groups, we are taking a molecular phylogenetics approach to study the evolutionary relationships and mode and tempo of diversification of the Senecioneae.
The biodiversity and conservation of Philippine Rafflesia
The tropical Southeast Asian genus Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) is one of the few parasitic plants that are entirely contained within the tissue of their host plants, which are exclusively lianas of the genus Tetrastigma (Vitaceae). Rafflesia only emerges to produce its spectacular flowers, which are the largest of all flowering plants and may reach a diameter of 1.5 m. in R. arnoldii. Rafflesia has become an icon of Southeast Asian biodiversity, exemplifying the wonders and beauty of tropical rainforests. Our studies of Philippine Rafflesia aim to make this charismatic genus an icon of conservation by demonstrating how knowledge of the taxonomic diversity, ecology, and evolutionary history of Rafflesia contributes to its conservation.
Professional activities, awards, and scholarships
- 2010: Linnean Society and Systematics Association Systematics Research Funding (£ 1400)
- 2010: Percy Sladen Memorial Fund grant (£ 650)
- 2010-present: Associate editor of Taxon
- 2010-present: Associate editor of New Zealand Journal of Botany
- 2010-present: Encyclopedia Of Life curator for Asteraceae
- 2010-present: Scientific Core Contributor to Tree Of Life Web project for Asteraceae
- 2010: Early Career Research Grant. University of Canterbury, College of Science (NZ$ 15,000)
- 2009-present: Committee member of the New Zealand Plant Radiation Network
- 2009-present: Editor of Phytotaxa
- 2008-present: Curator of PhytoImages
- 2006: Co-PI on NSF grant for research project “Late Tertiary Climatic Changes and the Evolutionary Success of Tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae), A Phylogenetic Approach.” (US$ 301,886).
- 2005: Recommended for a European Union SYNTHESIS grant to visit the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm. This grant was declined by the PI due to logistical requirements.
- 2004: European Union SYNTHESIS grant to visit the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Germany.
- 2004: Award for best poster at the Botaniker Tagung of the Botanische Gesellschaft, Braunschweig, Germany.
- 2004-present: Coordinator of the international (Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, New Zealand, USA) research project ‘Phylogeny of tribe Senecioneae’.
- 2003: Scholarship of the Systematics Association to give a presentation at the 4th biennial meeting of the Systematics Association in Dublin, Ireland.
- 2002-2003: Member of the institute council of the National Herbarium of the Netherlands, Leiden University branch, Netherlands.
- 2001-2002: Member of the organization committee of the international symposium “Plant species-level systematics: patterns, processes, and new applications”, Leiden, Netherlands, 13-15 November 2002.
- 2000-2003: Webmaster website of the Taskforce Molecular Systematics of the National Herbarium of the Netherlands, Leiden University branch, Netherlands.
- 1999-2003: Editorial board of Gorteria.
- 1998: International Timber Trade Organization fellowship award (US$ 7,200).
Oral presentations
- Pelser, P.B. 2010. The biodiversity and conservation of Philippine Rafflesia. Canterbury Botanical Society, Christchurch, New Zealand.
- Pelser, P.B. 2010. Why do we need evolutionary trees? Biological applications of phylogenetic systematics. University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.
- Pelser, P.B. 2009. Incongruent plastid and ITS/ETS generic-level phylogenies in the Senecioneae (Asteraceae) suggest ancient hybridization. Landcare Research & New Zealand Plant Radiation Network Conference, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, New Zealand.
- Watson, L.E & P.B. Pelser. 2008. Origin, migration, and diversification of 'mediterranean-climate' species of Senecio (Asteraceae) in central Chile: A molecular phylogenetic approach. Oklahoma Academy of Sciences, Fall meeting, Bethany, USA.
- Pelser, P.B., A.H. Kennedy, E.J. Tepe, B. Nordenstam, J.W. Kadereit & L.E. Watson. 2008. Ancient reticulation characterizes the evolutionary history of tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae). Botany 2008, Vancouver, Canada.
- Pelser, P.B. 2008. Why are there so many Ragworts? The taxonomy and diversification of tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae). Southern Illinois University, USA (invited seminar).
- Pelser, P.B. 2007. Why are there so many Ragworts?: the origin, biogeography, and diversification of tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae). Miami University, Oxford, USA.
- Pelser, P.B., J.W. Kadereit, B. Nordenstam & L.E. Watson. 2007. Mediterranean diversifications in Tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae). XII OPTIMA meeting, Pisa, Italy.
- Schaffner, U., P.B. Pelser & K. Vrieling. 2007. Host-use by the biological control agent Longitarsus jacobaeae among closely related plant species. XIIth International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds, La Grande Motte (Montpellier), France.
- Pelser, P.B. 2006. Phylogenetic systematics as a tool to study biological patterns and processes. University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.
- Pelser, P.B. 2006. DNA and the evolution of Senecioneae (Compositae). National Museum of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines.
- Pelser, P.B., J.W. Kadereit, B. Nordenstam & L.E. Watson. 2006. An ITS phylogeny of Tribe Senecioneae and a new delimitation of Senecio. Meeting of The International Compositae Alliance, Barcelona, Spain and Botany 2006, Chico, USA.
- Pelser, P.B. 2005. Why is Senecio (Asteraceae) so successful?: a systematic approach. Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Germany.
- Pelser, P.B., J.W. Kadereit, B. Nordenstam, I. Breitwieser, S.J. Wagstaff & L.E. Watson. 2005. Reconstructing the evolutionary history of a giant: a preliminary ITS phylogeny of Senecio and tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae). International Botanical Congress, Vienna, Austria.
- Schaffner, U., H. Kirk, P.B. Pelser & K. Vrieling. 2004. What determines resistance to specialist herbivores? A case study with the plant genus Senecio and Longitarsus flea beetles. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Salt Lake City, USA.
- Pelser, P.B., B. Gravendeel & R. van der Meijden. 2003. Identifying the species of Senecio sect. Jacobaea (Asteraceae) using morphology and molecules: an iterative approach. Fourth Biennial Symposium of the Systematics Association, Dublin, Ireland.
- Pelser, P.B., B. Gravendeel & R. van der Meijden. 2002. Elucidating species-level phylogenetic relationships in Senecio sect. Jacobaea (Asteraceae) with AFLP and DNA sequence data. Plant species-level systematics: patterns, processes, and new applications, Leiden, Netherlands.
- Pelser, P.B., B. Gravendeel & R. van der Meijden. 2001. Tackling speciose genera: a search for the species composition and phylogenetic position of Senecio sect. Jacobaea (Asteraceae). Third Biennial Symposium of the Systematics Association, London, UK.
Poster presentations
- Pelser, P.B., E.J. Tepe, A.H. Kennedy, A. Marticorena, M.T.K. Arroyo & L.E. Watson. 2007. Mediterranean diversifications in Tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae). Botany 2007, Chicago, USA and Origin and Evolution of Biota in Mediterranean Climate Zones, Zürich, Switzerland
- Tepe, E.J., P.B. Pelser & L.E. Watson. 2006. Molecular clock dating of the major divergences in Tribe Anthemideae (Asteraceae). Meeting of The International Compositae Alliance, Barcelona, Spain and Botany 2006, Chico, USA.
- Pelser, P.B., J.W. Kadereit, B. Nordenstam, I. Breitwieser, S.J. Wagstaff & L.E. Watson. 2004. Reconstructing the evolutionary history of a giant: a preliminary ITS phylogeny of Senecio and Tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae). Botany 2004, Snowbird, USA and Botanikertagung 2004, Braunschweig, Germany.
- Pelser, P.B., B. Gravendeel, & R. van der Meijden. 2000. Molecular phylogeny of Senecio section Jacobaea (Asteraceae). Developmental Genetics and Plant Evolution, London, UK.