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SIMPSON, BERYL B
No

Beryl B Simpson

Professor Emeritus
Department of Integrative Biology

C. L. Lundell Chair of Systematic Botany (Emeritus)

beryl@austin.utexas.edu


Postal Address
205 W 24TH ST
AUSTIN, TX 78712

A.B. (Magna cum laude), Radcliffe College (1964)
M.A., Harvard University (1967)
Ph.D., Harvard University (1968)

Research Summary:

Dr. Simpson's laboratory is engaged in an array of studies that deal with the phylogeny and biogeography of various angiosperm groups. Taxonomic groups range from monocots to the Asteraceae. Most biogeographic work is directed toward explaining patterns seen in the American Southwest, Mexico, and Central and South America. Methodologies for uncovering evolutionary histories include the use of cpDNA restriction fragment pattern analysis and gene sequencing as well as traditional techniques. The relationships between native solitary bees and their New World hosts are also of interest. Many of these studies have involved the interactions between anthophorid bees and plants with oil-secreting flowers. Other studies concentrate on reward production, foraging behavior, and nest provisioning by native bees.

Representative Recent Publications:

2009 Simpson, Beryl B., Mary T. K. Arroyo, Sandra Sipe, Marta Dias de Moraes, and Joshua McDill. Phylogeny and Evolution of Perezia (Asteraceae: Mutisieae: Nassauviinae). Journal of Systematics and Evolution 47: 431-443.

2009 Simpson, Beryl B. Economic Botany of the Compositae. Pp 45--58 in Funk, V., A. Susanna, & T. Stuessy. The Systematics and Evolution of the Compositae. Vienna: International Association of Plant Taxonomy.

2009 Choo, J., E. L. Zent, and B. B. Simpson. The importance of traditional ecological knowledge for palm-weevil cultivation in the Venezuelan Amazon. Journal of Ethnobiology 29: 113-128.

2009 McDill, J., M. Repplinger, B. B. Simpson, and W. Kadereit. Phylogeny of Linum and Linaceae subfamily Linioideae, with implications for their systematics, biogeography, and evolution of heterostyly. Systematic Botany 34: 386-405.

2009 Tate, J. A., M. C. Acosta, J. McDill, E. A. Moscone, B. B. Simpson, and A. A. Cocucci. Phylogeny and character evolution in Nierembergia (Solanaceae): Molecular, morphological, and cytogenetic evidence. Systematic Botany 34: 198-206.

2008 Simpson, B. B. Krameriaceae. p. 2361 in F. O. Zuloaga, O. Morrone, and M. J. Belgrano, eds. Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares del Cono Sur. Saint Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden.

2008 Larkin, L. L., J. L. Neff, and B. B. Simpson. The evolution of pollen diet: Host choice and diet breadth of Andrena bees (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae). Apidologie 39: 133-145.

2007 Timme, Ruth E., Beryl B. Simpson, C. Randal Linder. High-resolution phylogeny for Helianthus (Asteraceae) using the 18S-26S ribosomal DNA external transcribed spacer. American Journal of Botany 94: 1837-1852.

2007 Meudt, Heidi, M. and Beryl B. Simpson. Phylogenetic analysis of morphological characters in Ourisia (Plantaginaceae): taxonomic and evolutionary implications. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 94: 554-570.

2007 Weeks, A., and B.B. Simpson. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Commiphora (Burseraceae) yields insight on the evolution and historical biogeography of an "impossible" genus. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 42: 62-79.

2006 Simpson, B. B., L. Larkin, A. Weeks, and J. McDill. Phylogeny and biogeography of Pomaria (Caesalpinioideae: Leguminosae). Syst. Bot. 31: 792-804.

2006 Simpson, B. B. Krameriaceae Pp. 208-212 in K. Kubitzki, ed. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Heidelberg: Springer.

2006 Simpson, B. B. and E. A. Ulibarri. Synopsis of the genus Hoffmannseggia (Leguminosae). Lundellia 9: 7-33.

2006 Simpson, B. B. Gochnatia. Pp. 76-77 in Flora North America, North of Mexico. Vol. 19. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 6: Asteraceae, part 1. eds. Flora North America Editorial Committee. New York: Oxford University Press.

2006 Simpson, B. B. Acourtia. P.. 71-74 in Flora North America, North of Mexico. Vol. 19. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 6: Asteraceae, part 1. eds. Flora North America Editorial Committee. New York: Oxford University Press.

2006 Simpson, B. B. Hecastocleis. P. 71-72 in Flora North America, North of Mexico. Vol. 19. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 6: Asteraceae, part 1. eds. Flora North America Editorial Committee. New York: Oxford University Press.

2006 Meudt, H. M. and B. B. Simpson. The biogeography of the austral, subalpine genus Ourisia (Plantaginaceae) based on molecular phylogenetic evidence: South American origin and dispersal to New Zealand and Tasmania. Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society. 87: 479-513.

2006 Hansen, A. K., L. E. Gilbert, B. B. Simpson, S. R. Downie, A. C. Cervi, and R. K. Jansen. Phylogenetic relationships and chromosome number evolution in Passiflora. Systematic Botany
31: 138-150.

2006 Larkin, L. L., J. L. Neff, and B. B. Simpson. Phylogeny of the Callandrena subgenus of Andrena (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae): Discrediting monophyly with mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 38: 330-343.

Honors, major offices, and professional service:

  • 1970, Greenman Award
  • 1971, Cooley Award
  • 1975-1980, Council, Society for the Study of Evolution
  • 1975, Vice-President, Botanical Society of Washington
  • 1975-1980, Board of Directors, I International Congress of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology
  • 1980-1985, Co-President, III International Congress of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology
  • 1981, Elected Fellow, Society of Naturalists
  • 1981-1984, Council, American Society of Plant Taxonomists
  • 1984, Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • 1984-1986, President-elect, President, Past President, Society for the Study of Evolution
  • 1986-1988, Chairman, U.S. Committee to the International Union of Biological Sciences
  • 1990-1992, President-elect, President, Past President, Botanical Society of America
  • 1992-2003, Board of Governors, US-Mexico Foundation for Science
  • 1993-1995, Board of Directors, American Institute of Biological Sciences
  • 1993-1994, President-elect, President, American Society of Plant Taxonomists
  • 1994, Elected Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 2001, President, Society for Economic Botany
  • 2003, Asa Gray Award, Botanical Society of America


Editorial Boards: Evolution, Paleobiology, Darwiniana, Evolutionary Ecology Research
Editor-in-chief (1976-1978), Systematic Botany
Editor-in-chief (2000-present), Lundellia
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science

Biodiversity

Ecology

Evolution

Billie L. Turner Plant Resources Center


Biodiversity Center