Faculty/Staff Directory

Timothy

Evans

evanstim@gvsu.edu

Professor

http://www.gvsu.edu/biology/gvsu-herbarium-37.htm

3321 Kindschi Hall of Science

616-331-8704

Plant Systematics, Evolution, Molecular Phylogenetics

BIO 120   General Biology I
BIO 376   Genetics Lab
BIO 313   Plants & Islands
BIO 333   Systematic Botany

My research involves the use of both molecular (DNA sequence data and other molecular markers) and morphological data to determine phylogenetic relationships among plants. Most of my work involves members of the monocot families Commelinaceae (Wandering Jew, Asiatic dayflower, etc.) and Bromeliaceae (pineapple family).

Within the Commelinaceae, my students and I, in collaboration with Dr. Robert Faden (Smithsonian Institution), are examining relationships within Aneilema, Commelina, and the tribe Tradescantieae.

I am also collaborating with Dr. Greg Brown (University of Wyoming) and Dr. Tania Wendt (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a comprehensive study of phylogenetic relationships among members of subfamily Bromelioideae (Bromeliaceae).  As part of this project, I am exploring the relationship between adaptive radiation and molecular evolution within the subfamily.  Additionally, this work is shedding new light on the impacts that extinction rates may have on phylogenetic reconstruction.

I am also the Director of the Grand Valley State University Herbarium.
Check out my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzjifHHAwF8Cd5DmHGRgr8g/videos.

1989 - B.S. in Botany, University of Wyoming
1991 - M.S. in Botany, University of Wyoming
1995 - Ph.D. in Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Click here for a current CV.

Aguirre-Santoro, J., J. Betancur, G. K. Brown, T. M. Evans, F. Salgueiro, M. Alves-Ferreira, and T. Wendt. 2015. Is Ronnbergia (Bromeliaceae, Bromelioideae) a geographically disjunct genus?  Evidence from morphology and chloroplast DNA sequence data. Phytotaxa 219:  261-275.

Evans, T. M., R. S. Jabaily, A. P. G. de Faria, L. O. F. de Sousa, T. Wendt, and G. K. Brown. 2015.  Phylogenetic Relationships in Bromeliaceae subfamily Bromelioideae based on chloroplast DNA sequence data. Systematic Botany 40: 116-128.

Givnish, T. J., M. H. J. Barfuss, B. Van Ee, R. Riina, K. Schulte, R. Horres, P. A. Gonsiska, R. S. Jabaily, D. M. Crayn, J. A. C. Smith, K. Winter, G. K. Brown, T. M. Evans, B. K. Holst, H. Luther, W. Till, G. Zizka, P. E. Berry, K. J. Sytsma.  2014. Adaptive radiation, correlated and contingent evolution, and net species diversification in Bromeliaceae. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 71: 55-78.

McFadden, J. M., Salywon, A., Evans, T., Wojciechowski, M. F., Wilson, P. G., Snow, N. 2011. Morphological and molecular evidence of polyphyly in Rhodomyrtus (Myrtaceae: Myrteae). Systematic Botany 36: 390-404.

Givnish, T. J., Barfuss, M. H. J., Van Ee, B., Riina, R., Schulte, K., Horres, R., Gonsiska, P. A., Jabaily, R. S., Crayn, D. M., Smith, A. C., Winter, K., Brown, G. K., Evans, T., Holst, B. K., Luther, H., Till, W., Zizka, G., Berry, P. E., Sytsma, K. J. 2011. Phylogeny, adaptive radiation and historical biogeography in Bromeliaceae: insights from an 8-locus plastid phylogeny. American Journal of Botany 98: 872-895

Evans, T. (2009). In Dennis Woodland (Ed.), Plant Systematics in the 21st Century (ed.). Berrien Springs, Michigan: Contemporary Plant Systematics: 4th Ed., de Sousa, L. O. F., T. Wendt, G. K. Brown, D. E. Tuthill, and T. M. Evans. 2007. Monophyly and phylogenetic relationships in Lymania (Bromeliaceae: Bromelioideae) based on morphology and chloroplast DNA sequences. Systematic Botany 32: 264-270

 

Brown, T. E., Martin, L. M., Evans, T., MacDonald, N., West Michigan Regional Undergraduate Science Research Conference, Van Andel Institute, Aquinas, Calvin, GVSU, and Hope, Grand Rapids, Michigan, "Using DNA Barcoding for Plant Identification in a Long-Term Prairie Restoration Study". (November 17, 2012).

Brown, T. E., Martin, L. M., Evans, T., MacDonald, N., 2012 Student Summer Scholars Showcase, Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, "Using DNA Barcoding for Plant Identification in a Long-Term Prairie Restoration Study". (August 1, 2012).

Zuiderveen, G., Evans, T., Luttenton, M., Botanical Society of America Annual Meeting, Botanical Society of America/American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Columbus, OH, "Geographic Distribution of Native and Invasive Haplotypes of Phragmites australis along  Michigan’s West Coast". (July 11, 2012).

Givnish, T., Barfuss, M., VanEe, B., Riina, R., Schulte, K., Horres, R., Gonsiska, P., Jabaily, R., Crayn, D., Smith, A., Winter, K., Brown, G. K., Evans, T., Holst, B., Luther, H., Till, W., Zizka, G., Berry, P., Sytsma, K., Botanical Society of America Annual Meeting, Botanical Society of America/American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Columbus, OH, "Adaptive radiation, correlated evolution, and determinants of net diversification rates in Bromeliaceae: test of an a priori model". (July 10, 2012).

Evans, T., Zuiderveen, G., Faden, R. B., Botanical Society of America Annual Meeting, Botanical Society of America/American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Columbus, OH, "Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Palisota (Commelinaceae) based on chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences". (July 10, 2012).

Greer, G., Winther, J. L., Evans, T., Toogood, J., Annual Meeting of Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Station, Luquillo, LTER and University of Puerto Rico, Rio Peidras, San Juan, Puerto Rico, "Community Assembly of Lower-Trunk Epiphytes At Mid-Elevation in El Yunque National Forest.". (June 6, 2012).

Evans, T., Michigan Consortium of Botanists Annual Meeting, Michigan Consortium of Botanists, Hillsdale College, "Digitizing Michigan's Small Herbaria". (May 14, 2012).

Zuiderveen, G. and T. M. Evans.  2011. A Phylogenetic Analysis of the African Plant Genus Palisota (family Commelinaceae) Based on Chloroplast DNA Sequences. GVSU Student Scholars Day, GVSU.

James, C. and T. M. Evans. 2011. Phylogenetic Relationships within the Neotropical Plant Genus Lymania (Family Bromeliaceae) based on Several DNA Regions. GVSU Student Scholars Day, GVSU.

Evans, T. 2010. From Ancient Tropics to Modern West Michigan: What Molecular Phylogenetics Can Tell Us About Plant Evolution. West Michigan Regional Undergraduate Science Research Conference, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

James, C., Evans, T., Brown, G. K. 2010. Phylogenetic Relationships within the Neotropical Plant Genus Lymania based on several Chloroplast DNA Regions. West Michigan Regional Undergraduate Science Research Conference, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Zuiderveen, G., Evans, T., Faden, R. B. 2010. A Phylogenetic Analysis of the African Plant Genus Palisota (family Commelinaceae) based on Chloroplast DNA Sequences. West Michigan Regional Undergraduate Science Research Conference, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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