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Biography: Jeffery M. Saarela

Jeffery Saarela

Darin A. Saarela © Darin A. Saarela

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Jeffery Saarela

Research Scientist, Life Sciences
Research Services
Tel.: 613.364.4080
Fax: 613.364.4027
Email: jsaarela@mus-nature.ca

Education

  • Ph.D., Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 2007.
  • B.Sc. (Hons.), Botany, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, 2000.

Specialties

  • Plant systematics: taxonomy, phylogenetics and evolution.
  • Grasses (Poaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and other monocots.
  • Botanical nomenclature.
Oaxaca, Mexico

Jeffrey M. Saarela © Canadian Museum of Nature

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Field work in Oaxaca, Mexico, September 2008

The goals of my research program are to characterize the biodiversity (taxonomy and systematics) of grasses (Poaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and their monocot relatives. I combine work in the field, herbarium and DNA laboratory to characterize morphological and molecular diversity in these plant groups, and to reconstruct their evolutionary history at deep and recent evolutionary levels. I regularly conduct field work across North America, from southern Mexico to the Canadian Arctic, and have made some 8,000 plant collections.

Projects

  • Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of pooid grass genera and tribes (e.g., Bromus; Calamagrostis, Trisetum and relatives).
  • DNA barcoding studies of grasses, sedges and the Canadian Arctic flora.
  • Arctic Flora of Canada and Alaska. This project aims to produce a new flora for all vascular plants in the Arctic ecozone in Canada and northern Alaska. Website: http://arcticplants.myspecies.info/
  • Higher-order phylogenetic relationships in the commelinid monocots (i.e., Arecales, Commelinales, Poales, Zingiberales, and Dasypogonaceae) based on plastid DNA sequence data.

Professional Services

Calamagrostis sesquiflora

Jeffrey M. Saarela © Canadian Museum of Nature

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Calamagrostis sesquiflora at the summit of Slatechuck Mountain, Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, July 2007.

  • Vice President, Canadian Botanical Association, 2009 – 2010
  • Northern Science Training Program Management Committee (NSTP), Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (2010 onwards)
  • Ad hoc reviewer of manuscripts for some 17 botanical journals

Links

Publications

Refereed journal papers

  • Saarela J.M., Gillespie L.J., Consaul L.L., Bull R.D. (in press) Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera; Salicaceae) beyond the treeline in the western Canadian mainland Arctic (Northwest Territories). Arctic.
  • Saarela, J.M., P.M. Peterson, M.S. Gonzalez Elizondo, and D.J. Rosen. 2010. Eleocharis cryptica (Cyperaceae), a dwarf new species from Durango, Mexico. Brittonia 62: 233-238. doi: 10.1007/s12228-009-9111-y
  • Saarela, J.M., Q. Liu, P.M. Peterson, R.J. Soreng, and B. Paszko. 2010. Phylogenetics of the grass 'Aveneae-type plastid DNA clade' (Poaceae: Pooideae, Poeae) based on plastid and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data. Pp. 557-587 in Diversity, phylogeny, and evolution in the monocotyledons, eds. O. Seberg, G. Petersen, A. Barfod, and J.I. Davis. Denmark: Aarhus University Press.
  • Edwards, E.J., C.P. Osborne, C.A.E. Stromberg, S.A. Smith & C4 Grasses Consortium [W.J. Bond, C. Pascal-Antoine, A.B. Cousins, M.R. Duvall, D.L. Fox, R.P. Freckleton, O. Ghannoum, J. Hartwell, Y. Huang, C.M. Janis, J.E. Keelye, E.A. Kellogg, A.K. Knapp, A.D.B. Leaky, D.M. Nelson, J.M. Saarela, R.F. Sage, O.E. Sala, N. Salamin, C.J. Still, and B.J. Tipple]. 2010. The origins of C4 grasslands: Integrating evolutionary and ecosystem science. Science 328: 587–591.  doi: 10.1126/science.1177216 http://bit.ly/dhYxjV
  • Saarela, JM and SW Graham. 2010. Inference of phylogenetic relationships among the subfamilies of grasses (Poaceae: Poales) using meso-scale exemplar-based sampling of the plastid genome.  Botany 88: 65-84. doi:10.1139/B09-093
  • Le Clerc-Blain, J., Starr, J.R., Bull, R.D. and Saarela, J.M. (2010). A regional approach to plant DNA barcoding provides high species resolution of sedges (Carex and Kobresia, Cyperaceae) in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Molecular Ecology Resources 10: 69-71. doi:10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02725.x http://bit.ly/a3S1gs
  • Howard, T.G., Saarela, J.M., Paszko, B., Peterson, P.M. and Werier, D.  2009.  New records and a taxonomic review of Calamagrostis perplexa (Poaceae: Poeae: Agrostidinae), a New York State endemic. Rhodora 111(946): 155-170. doi:10.3119/08-5.1. http://bit.ly/9Ci9VZ
  • Saarela, J.M. (2008). Taxonomy of Bromus (Poaceae: Pooideae: Bromeae) Sections Bromopsis, Bromus, and Genea in British Columbia, Canada. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 2(1): 323-372. http://bit.ly/ddQsvT
  • Saarela, J.M., Prentis, P.J., Rai, H.S. and Graham, S.W. (2008). Phylogenetic Relationships in the Monocot Order Commelinales, with a Focus on Philydraceae. Botany 86(7):719-731. doi:10.1139/B08-063
  • Saarela, J.M. (2007). The North American Flowering of the Cultivated Fountain Bamboo, Fargesia nitida (Poaceae:Bambusoideae), in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Davidsonia 18(2): 43-55. http://bit.ly/c8yLrC
  • Saarela, J.M., Lipsen, L., Sayre, C.M. and Whitton, J. (2007). Catalogue of the Vascular Plant Type Specimens in the University of British Columbia Herbarium (UBC). Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 1(1): 437-448. http://bit.ly/dA4q2z
  • Saarela, J.M., Rai, H.S., Doyle, J.A., Endress, P.K., Mathews, S., Marchant, A.D. Briggs, B.G. and Graham, S.W. (2007). Hydatellaceae Identified as a New Branch Near the Base of the Angiosperm Phylogenetic Tree. Nature 446: 312–315, + online supplementary information. doi:10.1038/ nature05612
  • Saarela, J.M., Peterson, P.M. and Refulio-Rodriguez, N. (2006). Bromus ayacuchensis (Poaceae: Pooideae: Bromeae), a New Species from Peru. Sida 22: 915-926. http://bit.ly/ca912H
  • Saarela, J.M., Peterson, P.M. and Cayouette, J. (2005). Bromus hallii (Bromeae: Poaceae), a New Combination for California, U.S.A., and Taxonomic Notes on B. grandis and B. orcuttianus. Sida 21(4): 1997-2013. http://bit.ly/9mI6JF
  • Saarela, J.M., Peterson, P.M., Soreng, R.J. and Chapman, R.E. (2003). A Taxonomic Revision of the Eastern Asian and Eastern North American Disjunct Genus Brachyelytrum (Poaceae): Evidence from Morphology, phytogeography and AFLPs. Systematic Botany 28: 674-692. doi: 10.1043/02-74.1  http://bit.ly/9wSWGR
  • Saarela, J.M. and Ford, B.A. (2001). The Taxonomy of the Carex backii Complex (sect. Phyllostachyae, Cyperaceae). Systematic Botany 26: 704-721. doi: 10.1043/0363-6445-26.4.704 http://bit.ly/arym5O
field camp, Nunavut

Roger Bull © Canadian Museum of Nature

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Field camp on Victoria Island, Nunavut, July 2008

Refereed Book Chapters

  • Saarela, J. M., and Graham, S. W. (in press) Poineae. In: de Queiroz K, Cantino PD, Gauthier JA (Eds) Phylonyms: a companion to the PhyloCode. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.
  • Graham, S.W., Judd, W.S., and Saarela J.M. (in press) Commelinidae. In: de Queiroz K, Cantino PD, Gauthier JA (Eds) Phylonyms: a companion to the PhyloCode. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  • Saarela, J. M. and Peterson, P. M. 2012.  Bromus. In BG Baldwin, S Boyd, BJ Ertter, RW Patterson, TJ Rosatti, and DH Wilken (eds.). The Second Edition of the Jepson Manual, University of California Press, Berkeley. Pp. 1426-1431, 1435. http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html
  • Peterson, P. M. and Saarela, J. M.  2012.  Calamagrostis. In BG Baldwin, S Boyd, BJ Ertter, RW Patterson, TJ Rosatti, and DH Wilken (eds.). The Second Edition of the Jepson Manual. University of California Press, Berkeley. Pp. 1431-1433, 1435. http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html
  • Saarela, J.M. (2008). Hydatellaceae. pp. 167-169 In McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science & Technology, McGraw-Hill, New York. [Invited] http://bit.ly/a65ege
  • Saarela, J.M., Peterson, P.M., Keane, R.M., Cayouette, J. and Graham, S.W. (2007). Molecular Phylogenetics of the Genus Bromus (Poaceae: Pooideae) Based on Nuclear and Chloroplast DNA Sequence Data. pp. 450-467 In Columbus, J.T., Friar, E.A., Porter, J.M., Prince, L.M. and Simpson, M.G. (eds.), Monocots: Comparative Biology and Evolution (Poales). Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California, USA. Aliso 23: 450-467.
  • Stephenson, S.N. and Saarela, J.M. (2007). Brachyelytrum. pp. 18 In Barkworth, M.E., Anderton, L.K., Capels, K.M., Long, S. and Piep, M.B. (eds.), Manual of Grasses for North America. Intermountain Herbarium and Utah State University Press, Logan.
  • Stephenson, S.N., and Saarela,J.M. (2007). Brachyelytrum. pp. 59-61. In Barkworth, M.E., Capels, K.M., Long, S., Anderton, L.K. and Piep, M.B. (eds.). Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae: (in part): Poaceae, Part 1. Flora of North America North of Mexico, Volume 24. Oxford University Press, New York.
  • Graham, S.W., Zgurski, J.M., McPherson, M.A., Cherniawsky, D.M, Saarela, J.M., Horne, ESC, Smith, S.Y., Wong, W.A., O’Brien, H.E., Biron, V.L., Pires, J.C., Olmstead, R.G., Chase, M.W. and Rai, H.S. (2006). Robust Inference of Monocot Deep Phylogeny using an Expanded Multigene Plastid Data Set. pp. 3-21 In Columbus, J.T., Friar, E.A., Porter, J.M., Prince, L.M. and  Simpson, M.G. (eds.). Monocots: Comparative Biology and Evolution (Excluding Poales). Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, California, USA. http://bit.ly/drC56M

Other Contributions

  • Saarela JM, Gillespie LJ, Consaul LL, Bull RD (2010) The vascular plant flora of Tuktut Nogait National Park of Canada and vicinity, Northwest Territories. Report submitted to Parks Canada.  149 pages + five appendices
  • Saarela, J.M. (2009). Taxonomy of Bromus sections Bromus, Bromopsis and Genea (Poaceae) in British Columbia: a summary, a key, new records, specimen citations, and miscellaneous notes. Botanical Electronic News 415, published online 6 Oct 2009. (Web site consulted December 1, 2009)
  • Saarela, J.M. (2008). Collecting Reed-Grasses (Calamagrostis) in Appalachia: Stories from the Field. Trail & Landscape 42(2): 61-73.
  • Saarela, J.M. (2008). Collecting Reed-Grasses (Calamagrostis) in Appalachia. The Plant Press 11(1): 6-8. http://bit.ly/duJOmJ
  • Gillet, J. Revised by Saarela J.M . (2008). Buttercup; Locoweed; Lupine; Nightshade; Poison Ivy; Poisonous plants; Sumac. Canadian Encyclopedia (Web site consulted December 22, 2008).
  • Saarela, J.M. and Sears, C.J. (2006). A New Record of Zizania (Wild Rice) in British Columbia. Botanical Electronic News 363 (Web site consulted November 19, 2008).
  • Saarela, J.M. (2005).Trisetum (Poaceae) in British Columbia. Botanical Electronic News 351. (Web site consulted November 19, 2008).
  • Saarela, J.M. (2005). Book Review of “Dawson, J. and Lucas, R. (2005). The Nature of Plants: Habitats, Challenges, and Adaptations.” The Canadian Botanical Association Bulletin 38(3): 42-43.
  • Saarela, J.M. (2004). North to Alaska: Grass Collecting in Northwestern North America. Menziesia 9(4): 9-13. http://bit.ly/9GoYZB (Modified version reprinted in The Plant Press 8(2): 1, 9-11. 2005. http://bit.ly/ciTIEb Newsletter of the Department of Botany & U.S. National Herbarium, Smithsonian Institution). 
  • Saarela, J.M. (2003). Documenting Biodiversity: The Importance of Natural History Collections. University of Alberta Environmental Research and Studies Centre Environmental News 3(3): 5-6.
  • Saarela, J.M. (2003). Our Unknown Planet: Biological Discovery in the 21st Century. University of Alberta Environmental Research and Studies Centre Environmental News 3(1): 5-6.

Selected Recent Presentations

  • Saarela, JM, PM Peterson, RJ Soreng, B Paszko.  2011. Plastid-based phylogenetics of Agrostidinae, Koeleriinae and allied subtribes in the 'Aveneae-type plastid DNA clade' of the grass tribe Poeae (Poaceae: Pooideae).  International Botanical Congress 2011, Melbourne, Australia, 17-29 July 2011.
  • Saarela, JM, LJ Gillespie, LL Consaul, RD Bull. 2011. New floristic discoveries and biodiversity of the western Canadian Arctic vascular plant flora. International Botanical Congress 2011, Melbourne, Australia, 17-29 July 2011. [e-poster] http://www.slideshare.net/jmsaarela/2011-saarela-et-al-ibc-2011-eposter-arctic-floristicsfinal
  • Saarela, JM, LJ Gillespie, LL Consaul, JR Starr, RD Bull, PC Sokoloff.  2011.  DNA barcoding the vascular plant flora of the Canadian Arctic. International Botanical Congress 2011, Melbourne, Australia, 17-29 July 2011. [e-poster] http://www.slideshare.net/jmsaarela/2011-saarela-et-al-ibc-2011-eposter-dna-barcoding
  • Saarela, JM, LJ Gillespie, LL Consaul, RD Bull, BN Chouinard, P Abraham, JR Starr.  DNA barcoding the vascular plant flora of the Canadian Arctic. Botany 2010, Providence, Rhode Island, 1-5 August 2010. http://www.slideshare.net/jmsaarela/dna-barcoding-the-vascular-plant-flora-of-the-canadian-arctic
  • Consaul, LL, JM Saarela, LJ Gillespie, RD Bull. 2010.  Vascular plant diversity in Canada’s southern Arctic: new baseline data and significant floristic discoveries in Tuktut Nogait National Park and vicinity, Northwest Territories.  Botany 2010, Providence, Rhode Island, 1-5 August 2010 & 2010 SPNHC-CBA Joint Conference, Ottawa, ON, 31 May – 5 June 2010. [poster] http://goo.gl/RRDFT
  • Abraham, P, BN Chouinard, JM Saarela, JR Starr. 2010. Plant DNA barcodes correctly identify all field collections of Carex and Kobresia (Cyperaceae) from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. 2010 SPNHC-CBA Joint Conference, Ottawa, ON, 31 May – 5 June 2010. [poster]
  • Gillespie, LJ, JM Saarela, LL Consaul, RD Bull. 2010. Plant collecting by canoe: botanical explorations of Tuktut Nogait National Park and vicinity, Northwest Territories. 2010 SPNHC-CBA Joint Conference, Ottawa, ON, 31 May – 5 June 2010. http://www.slideshare.net/jmsaarela/gillespie-cba-2010-plant-collecting-by-canoe
  • Percy, DM, JM Saarela, KS Burgess, AJ Fazekas, PR Kesanakurt, M Hajibabaei, BC Husband, SG Newmaster, SCH Barrett, SW Graham. 2009. Plant barcoding in taxonomically complex groups (grasses and willows).Third International Barcode of Life meeting, Mexico City, November 2009.
  • Saarela, JM, LJ Gillespie, LL Consaul, RD Bull. 2009.  Botany under the midnight sun: floristic discoveries on Victoria Island (Nunavut) in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Botany 2009, Snowbird, Utah. http://www.slideshare.net/jmsaarela/botany-under-the-midnight-sun-floristic-discoveries-on-victoria-island-nunavut-canada
  • Consaul, LL, JM Saarela, RD Bull, LJ Gillespie. 2009.  Baseline botanical data and new discoveries on Victoria Island Nunavut, Canada.  Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution (CSEE) Conference 2009. Halifax, Nova Scotia.  http://arcticplants.myspecies.info/sites/arcticplants.myspecies.info/files/2009%20Consaul%20CSEE%20poster.pdf