Permanent staff

Interests

My main research focus is tropical rain forest evolution (TRF), diversification and biodiversity. How did the huge diversity of species in TRF evolve? What are the evolutionary processes that have affected this diversity through time? I concentrate on several time frames ranging from ancient processes (tens of millions of years ago) to more recent ones (millions of years ago or thousands of years ago). This wide time frame enables me to use alternative methods for understanding evolutionary processes from molecular phylogenetics (between genera and species) to phylogeography (within species or closely related species).

Besides constructing molecular phylogenies I use integrative methods to addresses hypotheses about TRF evolution. These methods include ancestral area reconstructions (biogeography), diversification rate anaylses, ancestral character reconstruction (morphology or biomes) and ecological niche modeling (using GIS).

I am also active in taxonomical research in two wonderful plant families characteristic of TRF: Palms and Annonaceae. I undertake monographs and revisions of several little known genera in both families. I also plan to write floras for both families for different countries. I also work in herbaria and undertake field work for collecting plants in South America and Africa.

I use the internet and special tools available to disseminate and make this information available to everyone (open access journals, scratchpad websites (see below).

Publications

Please follow this link to my home page with all my uptodate publications and PDFs

Web pages

Scratchpad on Annonaceae

I provide information about all the genera of Annonaceae occuring in Africa and Madagascar. I also use it as a platform for sharing and dissimating information about this wonderful family.

My home page

Editorial work

Associate editor at Systematic Botany

Associate Editor of Magnoliales and Arecales at PhytoKeys

Acted as reviewer for:

Molecular Biology and Evolution

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

Plants Systematics and Evolution

African Journal of Ecology

Taxon and Systematic Botany

grants for the Czech Science Foundation (GA CR)

International Palm Society Endowment Fund grants