UC Spark

Dr Pieter Pelser

Biological Sciences

Fields of Research

  • Plant systematics
  • Studying and documenting plant diversity

Researcher Summary

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. 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 genus Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) is one of the few parasitic plants that are entirely contained within the tissue of their host plants. Rafflesia only emerges to produce its spectacular flowers, which are the largest of all flowering plants. 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.

Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines:
On November 15, 2010, esteemed Philippine botanist Leonardo L. Co was shot and killed during fieldwork on the island of Leyte. Co left behind a checklist of all Philippine flowering plants and thousands of plant photographs. These will be presented on a freely accessible website that will form the most comprehensive overview of the Philippine flora thus far.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Research Projects

Research Groups

Affiliations

Prizes and Awards

  • Certificate of Recognition awarded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines - Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (2012)
  • Awarded a Marsden Foundation Fast-start research grant (NZ$ 345,000) for research project "The importance of cospeciation, host-switching, and geographic isolation in the evolutionary history of a vine and its parasite", 4 Oct 2011. (2011)

Research Service

  • Co-organizer and lecturer of Philippine Botany, Herbarium Establishment, Maintenance & Curation one-day seminar series (San Pedro College, Davao, Philippines). (2012)
  • Co-organizer and lecturer of Plant Cybertaxonomy & Field Photography workshop (Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan, Philippines). (2012)
  • Member of the Joint Scientific Coordinating Committee (JSCC) of the School of Biological Sciences (University of Canterbury) and the Christchurch Botanic Gardens (Christchurch City Council) (2012-present) (2012-present)
  • Co-founder and main contributor of "Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines". This website (www.philippineplants.org) presents the only modern overview of Philippine plant diversity, compiled by the late Leonardo L. Co (2011-present). (2011-present)
  • Curator of PhytoImages, a digital herbarium website (www.phytoimages.siu.edu) with >36,000 curated and high quality plant photographs (476 families, 3451 genera, 9399 species) for research and teaching purposes (2008-present). (2008-present)

Publications


  • Calvo, J., Álvarez, I., Aedo, C. and Pelser, P.B. (2013) A phylogenetic analysis and new delimitation of Senecio sect. Crociseris (Compositae: Senecioneae), with evidence of intergeneric hybridization. Taxon 62(1): 127-140. (Journal Article)
  • Mennes, C.B., Smissen, R.D. and Pelser, P.B. (2012) AFLP analyses do not provide support for recognizing Brachyglottis saxifragoides as a species distinct from B. lagopus (Asteraceae; Senecioneae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 50(4): 489-495. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2012.727441. (Journal Article)
  • Kirk, H., Vrieling, K., Pelser, P.B. and Schaffner, U. (2012) Can plant resistance to specialist herbivores be explained by plant chemistry or resource use strategy? Oecologia 168(4): 1043-1055. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2179-6. (Journal Article)
  • Nordenstam, B. and Pelser, P.B. (2012) Caputia, a new genus to accommodate four succulent South African Senecioneae (Compositae) species. Compositae Newsletter 50: 56-69. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B., Barcelona, J.F. and Nickrent, D.L. (2012) Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines. Dasmariñas, Philippines: 21st Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium, 17-20 Apr 2012. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Pelser, P.B., Abbott, R.J., Comes, H.P., Milton, J.J., Möller, M., Looseley, M.E., Cron, G.V., Barcelona, J.F., Kennedy, A.H., Watson, L.E., Barone, R., Hernández, F. and Kadereit, J.W. (2012) The genetic ghost of an invasion past: colonization and extinction revealed by historical hybridization in Senecio. Molecular Ecology 21(2): 369-387. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05399.x. (Journal Article)
  • Barcelona, J.F., Pelser, P.B., Balete, D.S. and Co, L.L. (2011) Conservation status of Philippine Rafflesia and their habitat. In M. David, A.C. de Jesus, J.F. Barcelona (Ed.), Rafflesia of the Philippines: A story of adventure, appetite, and affinity: 132-133. Manila: Energy Development Corporation. (Chapter in Book)
  • Jones, C., Montelle, C., Pratt, A., Pickles, K., Rack, U., Holdaway, R.N., Pelser, P.B. and Sykes, W.R. (2011) Exploration & Discovery. In C. Jones, B. Matthews and J. Clement (Ed.), Treasures of the University of Canterbury Library: 187-217, 247-248. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press. (Chapter in Book)
  • Barcelona, J.F., Pelser, P.B., Balete, D.S. and Co, L.L. (2011) Introduction to Philippine Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae). In M. David, A.C. de Jesus and J.F. Barcelona (Ed.), Rafflesia of the Philippines: A story of adventure, appetite, and affinity: 44-45. Manila: Energy Development Corporation. (Chapter in Book)
  • Barcelona, J.F., Pelser, P.B., Balete, D.S. and Co, L.L. (2011) Key to Philippine Rafflesia and Taxonomy. In M. David, A.C. de Jesus, J.F. Barcelona (Ed.), Rafflesia of the Philippines: A story of adventure, appetite, and affinity: 60-119. Manila: Energy Development Corporation. (Chapter in Book)
  • Barcelona, J.F., Pelser, P.B., Balete, D.S. and Co, L.L. (2011) Remarks on the conservation status of Philippine lowland forests. In M. David, A.C. de Jesus, J.F. Barcelona (Ed.), Rafflesia of the Philippines: A story of adventure, appetite, and affinity: 146-147. Manila: Energy Development Corporation. (Chapter in Book)
  • Langel, D., Ober, D. and Pelser, P.B. (2011) The evolution of pyrrolizidine alkaloid biosynthesis and diversity in the Senecioneae. Phytochemistry Reviews 10(1): 3-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11101-010-9184-y. (Journal Article)
  • Abbott, R.J., Pelser, P.B., Comes, H.P. and Kadereit, J.W. (2011) The genetic ghost of an invasion past: Ancient long-distance dispersal, colonization and extinction revealed by historical hybridization in Senecio. London: 2011 meeting of the Ecological Genetics Group, 19-21 Apr 2011. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Pelser, P.B., Abbott, R.J., Comes, H.P., Milton, J.J., Möller, M., Looseley, M.E., Cron, G.V., Barcelona, J.F., Kennedy, A.H., Watson, L.E., Barone, R., Hernández, F. and Kadereit, J.W. (2011) The genetic ghost of an invasion past: colonization and extinction revealed by historical hybridization in Senecio. Molecular Ecology 21(2): 369-387. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05399.x. (Journal Article)
  • Steeves, T., Pelser, P.B., McKown, M., Gangloff, B., Bretagnolle, V. and Rayner, M. (2010) Assessing the taxonomic validity of an enigmatic subgenus, the 'cookilaria' petrels. Victoria, Canada: 1st World Seabird Conference, 10 Sep 2010. (Oral Presentation)
  • Pelser, P.B., Kennedy, A.H., Tepe, E.J., Shidler, J.B., Nordenstam, B., Kadereit, J.W. and Watson, L.E. (2010) Patterns and causes of incongruence between plastid and nuclear Senecioneae (Asteraceae) phylogenies. American Journal of Botany 97(5): 856-873. http://dx.doi.org/10.3732/ajb.0900287. (Journal Article)
  • Balete, D.S., Pelser, P.B., Nickrent, D.L. and Barcelona, J.F. (2010) Rafflesia verrucosa (Rafflesiaceae), a new species of small-flowered Rafflesia from eastern Mindanao, Philippines. Phytotaxa 10: 49-57. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B., Tepe, E.J., Kennedy, A.H. and Watson, L.E. (2010) The fate of Robinsonia (Asteraceae): sunk in Senecio, but still monophyletic? Phytotaxa 5: 31-46. (Journal Article)
  • Funk, V.A., Anderberg, A.A., Baldwin, B.G., Bayer, R.J., Bonifacino, J.M., Breitwieser, I., Brouillet, L., Carbajal, R., Chan, R., Coutinho, A.X.P., Crawford, D.J., Crisci, J.V., Dillon, M.O., Freire, S.E., Galbany-Casals, M., Garcia-Jacas, N., Gemeinholzer, B., Gruenstaeudl, M., Hansen, H.V., Himmelreich, S., Kadereit, J.W., Källersjö, M., Karaman-Castro, V., Karis, P.O., Katinas, L., Keeley, S.C., Kilian, N., Kimball, R.T., Lowrey, T.K., Lundberg, J., McKenzie, R.J., Tadesse, M., Mort, M.E., Nordenstam, B., Oberprieler, C., Ortiz, S., Pelser, P.B., Randle, C.P., Robinson, H., Roque, N., Sancho, G., Semple, J.C., Serrano, M., Stuessy, T.F., Susanna, A., Unwin, M., Urbatsch, L., Urtubey, E., Vallès, J., Vogt, R., Wagstaff, S., Ward, J. and Watson, L.E. (2009) Compositae Meta-trees: The Next Generation. In V.A. Funk, A. Susanna, T. Stuessy and R. Bayer (Ed.), Systematics, Evolution & Biogeography of the Compositae: 747-777. Vienna: IAPT. (Chapter in Book)
  • Pelser, P.B. (2009) Het belang van moleculaire kenmerken voor de plantensystematiek. Gorteria 33(4/6): 133-139. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B. and Watson, L.E. (2009) Introduction to Asteroideae. In V.A. Funk, A. Susanna, T. Stuessy and R. Bayer (Ed.), Systematics, Evolution & Biogeography of the Compositae: 495-502. Vienna: IAPT. (Chapter in Book)
  • Nordenstam, B., Pelser, P.B. and Watson, L.E. (2009) Lomanthus, a new genus of the Compositae-Senecioneae from Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. Compositae Newsletter 47: 33-40. (Journal Article)
  • Nordenstam, B., Pelser, P.B., Kadereit, J.W. and Watson, L.E. (2009) Senecioneae. In V.A. Funk, A. Susanna, T. Stuessy and R. Bayer (Ed.), Systematics, Evolution & Biogeography of the Compositae: 503-525. Vienna: IAPT. (Chapter in Book)
  • Wang, L-Y., Pelser, P.B., Nordenstam, B. and Liu, J-Q. (2009) Strong incongruence between the ITS phylogeny and generic delimitation in the Nemosenecio-Sinosenecio-Tephroseris assemblage (Asteraceae: Senecioneae). Botanical Studies 50(4): 435-442. (Journal Article)
  • Barcelona, J.F., Pelser, P.B., Balete, D.S. and Co, L.L. (2009) Taxonomy, ecology, and conservation status of Philippine Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae). Blumea 54(1-3): 77-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.3767/000651909X474122. (Journal Article)
  • Barcelona, J.F., Pelser, P.B., Balete, D.S. and Co, L.L. (2009) Taxonomy, ecology, and conservation status of Philippine Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae). Blumea 54(1-3): 77-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.3767/000651909X474122. (Journal Article)
  • Nordenstam, B., Pelser, P.B. and Watson, L.E. (2009) The South African aquatic genus Cadiscus (Compositae-Senecioneae) sunk in Senecio. Compositae Newsletter 47: 28-32. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B., Kennedy, A.H., Tepe, E.J., Nordenstam, B., Kadereit, J.W. and Watson, L.E. (2008) Ancient reticulation characterizes the evolutionary history of tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae). Vancouver, Canada: Botany 2008, 26-30 Jul 2008. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Barcelona, J.F., Pelser, P.B., Cabutaje, E.M. and Bartolome, N.A. (2008) Another new species of Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) from Luzon, Philippines: R. leonardi. Blumea 53(1): 223-228. (Journal Article)
  • Barcelona, J.F., Pelser, P.B., Canutaje, E.M. and Bartolome, N.A. (2008) Another new species of Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) from Luzon, Philippines: R. leonardi. Blumea 53(1): 223-228. (Journal Article)
  • Barcelona, J.F., Pelser, P.B., Tagtag, A.M. and Lilangan, A.P. (2008) The rediscovery of Rafflesia schadenbergiana (Rafflesiaceae). Flora Malesiana Bulletin 14(3): 162-165. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B., Nordenstam, B., Kadereit, J.W. and Watson, L.E. (2007) An ITS phylogeny of tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae) and a new delimitation of Senecio L. TAXON 56(4): 1077-1104. (Journal Article)
  • Schaffner, U., Pelser, P.B. and Vrieling, K. (2007) Host-use by the biological control agent Longitarsus jacobaeae among closely related plant species. La Grande Motte, France: XIIth International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds, 22-27 April 2007. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Pelser, P.B., Tepe, E.J., Kennedy, A.H., Marticorena, A., Arroyo, M.T.K. and Watson, L.E. (2007) Mediterranean diversifications in Tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae). Zurich, Switzerland: Origin and Evolution of Biota in Mediterranean Climate Zones, 14-15 Jul 2007. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Pelser, P.B., Tepe, E.J., Kennedy, A.H., Marticorena, A., Arroyo, M.T.K. and Watson, L.E. (2007) Mediterranean diversifications in Tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae). Chicago, Illinois, USA: Botany 2007, 7-11 Jul 2007. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Pelser, P.B., Kadereit, J.W., Nordenstam, B. and Watson, L.E. (2007) Mediterranean diversifications in Tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae) (Invited presentation). Pisa, Italy: XII OPTIMA meeting, 10-16 September 2007. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Barcelona, J.F., Pelser, P.B. and Cajano, M.O. (2007) Rafflesia banahaw (Rafflesiaceae), a new species from Luzon, Philippines. Blumea 52(2): 345-350. http://dx.doi.org/10.3767/000651907X609089. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B., Kadereit, J.W., Nordenstam, B. and Watson, L.E. (2006) An ITS phylogeny of Tribe Senecioneae and a new delimitation of Senecio. Chico, California, USA: Botany 2006, 28 Jul - 2 Aug 2006. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Pelser, P.B., Kadereit, J.W., Nordenstam, B. and Watson, L.E. (2006) An ITS phylogeny of Tribe Senecioneae and a new delimitation of Senecio (Invited presentation). Barcelona, Spain: The International Compositae Alliance Symposium, 3-10 July 2006. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Tepe, E.J., Pelser, P.B. and Watson, L.E. (2006) Molecular clock dating of the major divergences in Tribe Anthemideae (Asteraceae). Chico, California, USA: Botany 2006, 28 Jul - 2 Aug 2006. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Nordenstam, B. and Pelser, P.B. (2005) Dauresia and Mesogramma: one new and one resurrected genus of the Asteraceae-Senecioneae from Southern Africa. Compositae Newsletter 42: 74-88. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B., De Vos, H., Theuring, C., Vrieling, K. and Hartmann, T. (2005) Frequent gain and loss of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the evolution of Senecio section Jacobaea (Asteraceae). Phytochemistry 66: 1285-1295. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B. and Houchin, R. (2004) Taxonomic studies on Senecio aquaticus (Asteraceae). A recommendation for the taxonomic status of Aquaticus and Barbareifolius. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 145: 489-498. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B., Van den Hof, K., Gravendeel, B. and Van der Meijden, R. (2004) The systematic value of morphological characters in Senecio sect. Jacobaea (Asteraceae) as compared to DNA sequences. Systematic Botany 29(3): 790-805. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B., Gravendeel, B. and Van der Meijden, R. (2003) Phylogeny reconstruction in the gap between too little and too much divergence: the closest relatives of Senecio jacobaea (Asteraceae) according to DNA sequences and AFLPs. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 29: 613-628. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B., Gravendeel, B. and Van der Meijden, R. (2002) Tackling speciose genera: species composition and phylogenetic position of Senecio sect. Jacobaea (Asteraceae) based on plastid and nrDNA sequences.. American Journal of Botany 89(6): 929-939. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B., Kruijer, H. and Verpoorte, R. (2002) What is the function of oil-containing rudimentary branches in the moss Canalohypopterygium tamariscinum? New Zealand Journal of Botany 40: 149-153. (Journal Article)
  • Pelser, P.B., Gravendeel, B. and De Vogel, E.F. (2000) Revision of Coelogyne section Fuliginosae (Orchidaceae). Blumea 45: 253-273. (Journal Article)