Dr Peter Wilkie, Tropical Botanist

Peter Wilkie is a senior researcher in the Tropical Diversity Section and Editor-in-Chief of the Edinburgh Journal of Botany: An international journal of plant systematics and biodiversity. His main research focus is on the tropical trees of South East Asia, in particular, the family Sapotaceae.

Research aims:

  • Produce base-line taxonomic data of the poorly known tree diversity in Malesia
  • Produce and utilize large scale distributional data sets to better understand species distributions and biogeographic patterns
  • Analyse distributional data for IUCN threat assessments of SE Asian tree species
  • Build inter-disciplinary partnerships to develop and deliver in situ and ex situ conservation actions
  • Elucidate evolutionary/phylogenetic relationships of tropical trees to establish a robust molecular phylogenetic framework for Sapotaceae research

Current Projects and Activities:

  • Production of an account of Sapotaceae for the Flora of Peninsular Malaysia (11+ genera, 80+ species)
  • Publication of a molecular phylogeny of the tribe Isonandreae
  • Publication of a molecular phylogeny of Payena
  • Production of a Monograph of Palaquium (100+ species)
  • Maintain and develop the online Sapotaceae Resource Centre
  • Production of IUCN Red List Assessments for Sapotaceae
  • Supervision of MSc and PhD Students

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