Gar W. Rothwell

Distinguished Professor

Department ChairPh.D., University of Alberta, 1973
Organismal Botany, Paleontology,
Evolution and Phylogeny

Porter Hall 401

740 593 1129/1118

Departmental Service

Department Chair
Curator, Ohio University Paleobotanical Herbarium (OUPH)

Professional Service

President, International Organisation of Palaeobotany
Associate Editor, American Journal of Botany
Editorial Board, Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology

Research Program Summary

Studies of fossil and living land plants are directed toward a fuller understanding of phylogeny and evolution. These are explored using data from morphological, anatomical, ultrastructural, developmental, and molecular characters. Evaluations of ontogeny, reproductive biology, and organismal interactions are emphasized in interpreting development of the modern flora within the context of evolutionary ecology.

Research projects on a wide range of organismal biology topics are available for both undergraduate and graduate students who wish to become practicing scientists. These studies often focus on fossil plants, but structure, growth and development and physiology studies of living plants also are conducted. Anyone interested in doing original research and/or conducting his or her PBIO 404 undergraduate research in organismal botany, may contact Dr. Rothwell for a list and explanation of available topics.

Selected References

Tomescu, A.M.F., L. Pratt, G.W. Rothwell, P.K. Strother, G.C. Nadon. 2009. Carbon isotopes support the presence of extensive land floras pre-dating the origin of vascular plants. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, in press.

Hernandez-Castillo, G.R., R.A. Stockey, G.W. Rothwell and G. Mapes. 2009. A new voltzialean conifer, Emporia royalii sp nov. (Emporiaceae), from the Hamilton Quarry, Kansas. International Journal of Plant Sciences, in press.

Sanders, H., G.W. Rothwell and S.E. Wyatt. 2009. Key morphological alterations in the evolution of leaves. International Journal of Plant Sciences 170: 860-868.

Hernandez-Castillo, G.R., R.A. Stockey, G.W. Rothwell and G. Mapes. 2009. Reconstruction of the Pennsylvanian-age walchian conifer Emporia cryptica sp. nov. (Emporiaceae, Voltziales). Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, in press.

Hernandez-Castillo, G.R., R.A. Stockey, G.W. Rothwell and G. Mapes. 2009. Whole plant reconstruction of Emporia lockardii (Emporiaceae) Voltziales and initial thoughts on Paleozoic conifer ecology. International Journal of Plant Sciences 170: 1056-1074.

Tomescu, A. M. F., G.W. Rothwell and R. Honegger. 2009. A new genus and species of filamentous microfossil of cyanobacterial affinity from Early Silurian fluvial environments (lower Massanutten Sandstone, Virginia, USA). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 160: 284-289.

Stanich, N.A., G.W. Rothwell and R.A. Stockey. 2009. Phylogenetic radiation of Equisetum (Equisetales) as inferred by Lower Cretaceous species of from British Columbia, Canada. American Journal of Botany 96: 1289-1299.

Stockey, R.A. and G.W. Rothwell. 2009. Distinguishing angiophytes from the earliest angiosperms: A Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian-Hauterivian) fruit-like reproductive structure. American Journal of Botany 96: 323-335.

Rothwell, G.W., W.L. Crepet and R.A. Stockey. 2009. Is the anthophyte hypothesis alive and well? New evidence from the reproductive structures of Bennettitales. American Journal of Botany 96: 296-322.

Rothwell, G.W. and R.A. Stockey. 2009. Independent evolution of seed enclosure in Bennettitales: Evidence from the anatomically preserved cone Foxeoidea connatum gen. et sp. nov. In C.T. Gee [ed.], Plants in Mesozoic Time: Innovations, Phylogeny, Ecosystems (Ted Delevoryas festschrift). Indiana University Press, Bloomington and Indianapolis, in press.

Textbooks

Stewart, W.N. and G.W. Rothwell. 1993. Paleobotany and the evolution of plants. Cambridge University Press, 521 pp.

Funding

National Science Foundation Grant EF-0629819

Current and Recent Research Projects

Resolving the gymnosperm tree of life
The origins of modern conifer families

Current and Recent Student Research Projects

Alternative pathways of gene regulation in the evolution of leaves in ferns and seed plants.
Evolutionary radiation of modern Equisetum in the Lower Cretaceous.
Structural finger prints for developmental regulatory pathways in fossil plants.
Polar auxin regulation in the architectural diversity of isoetalean lycophytes.
Reconstructing Pennsylvanian age fossil conifers.
Permian cardiocarpalean ovules from the Angara Province of Russia.
Conifer phylogeny.
The most ancient complex land organisms.
Euphyllophyte phylogeny.
Lower Cretaceous conifer pollen cones from British Columbia, Canada.
The first fossil evidence for the fern Todea.
Plant/animal interactions in a new bennettitalean stem.

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