Joe Miller
molecular evolutionary biologist, systematist, biogeographer
BIODIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE
Scientific outreach
PhyloJIVE & Phylolink
I developed a web-based tool, Phylolink, the successor to PhyloJIVE, that uses webservices to integrate biodiversity data with phylogenies A user can upload a phylogenetic tree, or use one from our database, and can also upload spatial distribution and trait data. With the tree, users can link out to species information, such as taxonomy, images, maps, and by clicking on tips, users can upload or utilize webservices to map characters on the tree and map spatial distributions of species or clades.
Phylolink is hosted and funded by the Atlas of Living Australia and works best with Australian data. PhyloJIVE has been adopted in the US at the iDigBio website which allows mapping of clades worldwide by accessing collection data from iDigBio and GBIF.
This is a work in progress and I would appreciate feedback.
Acacia Tree of Trees
In 2009 and 2010 I designed and displayed a living phylogenetic tree, the Acacia Tree of Trees at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. This project displayed over 100 species of Acacia trees (and shrubs) in the shape of a phylogenetic tree with live potted plants representing the species and mulched paths marking the branches between species. The closer one species is to another on the tree, the more closely related the two species are. The public would literally walk through the evolutionary history of the Australian floral emblem
ANBG coverage of the Tree of Trees
Interactive Plant ID keys
In collaboration with Dave Seigler adn Bruce Maslin, I have created interactive identification keys for the American species for three segregate genera of Acacia: Vachellia, Acaciella, and Mariosousa.
Species Fact Sheets are available for all three genera and for Senegalia. A key to Senegalia is coming soon!
Go to acaciaID now