Luis Valente
Research Interests
I am interested in applying evolutionary theory to the study of geographical patterns of species diversity. In particular, my work focuses on how speciation and extinction processes are influenced by spatially variable ecological and climatic factors. I am also interested on how the flora and fauna of biodiversity hotspots has been shaped by the geographical movement of species.
Project Background
The 5 Mediterranean-climate regions of the Earth harbour 20% of the known species of flowering plants and have been identified as Biodiversity Hotspots by Conservation International. However, the high diversity of the Mediterranean floristic regions is unusual for temperate biomes and constitutes an exception to the latitudinal gradient in species diversity.
My research focuses on two Mediterranean-climate regions: the Cape of South Africa and the Mediterranean Basin. Both Hotspots share similar climatic conditions but strikingly different patterns of diversity. I am studying the evolutionary histories of two flagship genera that occur in both Hotspots but which have contrasting diversity patterns: Gladiolus, which is highly species-rich in the Cape (150 spp) but species-poor in the Mediterranean-basin (7spp), and Dianthus, which has the opposite distribution (10 vs 100).
The project has involved extensive sampling of Gladiolus and Dianthus in the field in both Africa and Europe. I am currently applying molecular and biogeographical models in order to uncover the processes that shaped diversity in the two groups. We are working in close collaboration with South African National Biodiversity Institute (South Africa), Missouri Botanical Garden (US) and the University of Seville (Spain).
Curriculum Vitae
PhD (2010). Contrasting evolutionary patterns between Mediterranean floristic regions. Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
MSc (2006) Ecology, Evolution and Conservation. Imperial College London, UK. MSc Thesis: ‘Evolution of diversity in the African genus Protea L.’, Silwood Park Campus, UK; Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, UK; South African Biodiversity Institute, South Africa
B.Sc. Biology (2005) University College London, UK. Dissertation: Effects of extreme sex ratio on the evolution and behaviour of Drosophila
Nuffield Foundation Scholarship (2004) Behavioural ecology of the sweat bee, Halictus rubicundus. UCL Social Hymenoptera Research Group, London, UK
Publications
Valente LM, Savolainen V, Manning J, Goldblatt P & Vargas P (2010) Explaining disparities in species richness between Mediterranean floristic regions: a case study in Gladiolus (Iridaceae). Submitted.
F Balao*, Valente LM*, Vargas P, Herrera J & Talavera S. (2010) Radiative evolution of polyploid races of the Iberian carnation Dianthus broteri (Caryophyllaceae). New Phytologist, 187, 542-551 *Joint first authors.
Valente LM, Savolainen V & Vargas P (2010). Unparalleled rates of species diversification in Europe. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 277, 1489-1496.
Valente LM, Reeves G, Schnitzler J, Pizer Mason I, Fay MF, Rebelo TG, Chase MW & Barraclough TG (2010). Diversification of the African genus Protea (Proteaceae) in the Cape biodiversity hotspot and beyond: equal rates in different biomes. Evolution, 64, 745-760.
Press (selected)
“Flower power” Nature 463, 590 (2010) doi:10.1038/463590a
“How carnations conquered Europe” Science, online edition, January 2010
“Carnations had evolutionary bloom boom in Europe” Science News 177, p. 8 (2010)
“O Mediterrâneo é a floresta tropical dos cravos selvagens” Publico, 5-08-10
Awards
Southwood Prize (2006) Awarded to students with exceptional achievements in postgraduate studies. Imperial College London
Contact details
Luis Valente
Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC (Spain) & Imperial College London (UK)
http://www.rjb.csic.es/jardinbotanico/jardin/
lvalente@rjb.csic.es