Research interests
Research interests
Plant phylogeny
Reticulate evolution, species radiations, paleopolyploidy
DNA fingerprinting in species level taxonomy
Current projects
Phylogenetics of everlasting daisies (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) focussing on the hybrid origins of the major “out of Africa” clades
Population genetics and taxonomy of New Zealand species of Fuscospora (southern beech)
DNA fingerprinting of harakeke and wharariki (New Zealand flax) to support curation of the National New Zealand Flax Collection and taxonomic revision of Phormium.
Reproductive isolation and speciation in Craspedia
Species delimitation in rosette Brachyglottis
Molecular systematics of NZ endemic grass Simplicia
Evolution of the divaricate plant habit in New Zealand
Phylogeny of Olearia and Celmisia (Asteraceae, Astereae)
Recent publications
Grosse-Veldman B, Nurk NM, Smissen R, Breitwieser I, Quandt D, Weigend M 2016. Pulling the sting out of nettle systematics - a comprehensive phylogeny of the genus Urtica L. (Urticaceae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 102: 9-19. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2016.05.019
Kramer-Walter KR, Bellingham PJ, Millar TR, Smissen RD, Richardson SJ, Laughlin DC 2016. Root traits are multidimensional: specific root length is independent from root tissue density and the plant economic spectrum. Journal of Ecology 104: 1299-1310. http://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12562
Novis P, Schallenberg M, Smissen RD 2016. Aquatic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria associated with blooms of Didymosphenia germinata: insights from a field study. Hydrobiologia 770: 37-52. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2567-8
Smissen RD, Thorsen MJ, Breitwieser I, Ward JM 2015. DNA sequence analysis confirms the identify of the intergeneric hybrid Argyrotegium mackayi x Leucogenes leontopodium (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 53: 210-215. http://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2015.1093000
Smissen RD, Mitchell C,Roth M, Heenan PB 2015. Absence of hybridisation between Fuscospora species at a site in Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 53: 168-174. http://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2015.1040422
Tanentzap AJ, Brandt AJ, Smissen RD, Heenan PB, Fukami T, Lee WG 2015. When do plant radiations influence community assembly? The importance of historical contingency in the race for niche space. New Phytologist 207: 468-479. http://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13362
Breitwieser I, Ford KA, Smissen RD 2015. Characterisation of SSR markers for New Zealand Craspedia and their application in Kahurangi National park. New Zealand Journal of Botany 53: 60-73. http://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2014.1001410.
Smissen RD, Richardson SJ, Morse CW, Heenan PB 2014. Relationships, gene flow and species boundaries among New Zealand Fuscospora (Nothofagaceae: southern beech). New Zealand Journal of Botany 52: 389-406. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2014.960946
Galbany-Casals M, Unwin M, Garcia-Jacas N, Smissen RD, Susanna A, Bayer R 2014. Phylogenetic relationships in Helichrysum (Compositae, Gnaphalieae) and related genera: incongruence between nuclear and plastid phylogenies, biogeographic and morphological patterns, and implications for generic delimitation. Taxon 63: 608-624.
Heenan PB, Smissen RD 2013. Revised circumscription of Nothofagus and recognition of the segregate genera Fuscospora, Lophozonia, and Trisyngyne (Nothofagaceae). Phytotaxa 146: 1-31.
Qualifications
Victoria
PhD Botany
1999
Victoria
BSc (Hons) Botany
1993
Publications
Kilian N, Galbany-Casals M, Sommerer R, Oberprieler C, Smissen R, Miller A, Rabe K 2017. Systematics of Libinhania, a new endemic genus of Gnaphalieae (Asteraceae) from the Socotra archipelago (Yemen), inferred from plastid, low-copy nuclear and nuclear ribosomal DNA loci. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 183(3): 373–412. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/bow013
Merckx VSFT, Gomes SIF, Wapstra M, Hunt C, Steenbeeke G, Mennes CB, Walsh N, Smissen R, Hsieh T-H, Smets EF, Bidartondo MI 2017. The biogeographical history of the interaction between mycoheterotrophic Thismia (Thismiaceae) plants and mycorrhizal Rhizophagus (Glomeraceae) fungi. Journal of Biogeography 44(8): 1869–1879. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12994
de Lange P, Smissen RD, Rolfe JR, Ogle CC 2016. Systematics of Simplicia Kirk (Poaceae, Agrostidinae) – an endemic, threatened New Zealand grass genus. PhytoKeys 75: 119–144. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.75.10328
Heenan PB, Smissen RD 2013. Revised circumscription of Nothofagus and recognition of the segregate genera Fuscospora, Lophozonia, and Trisyngyne (Nothofagaceae). Phytotaxa 146(1): 1–31. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.146.1.1
Richardson SJ, Allen RB, Buxton RP, Easdale TA, Hurst JM, Morse CW, Smissen RD, Peltzer DA 2013. Intraspecific relationships among wood density, leaf structural traits and environment in four co-occurring species of Nothofagus in New Zealand. PLOS One 8(3): e58878. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058878
Smissen R, Heenan PB, Richardson SJ 2013. [Abstract] A new view of hybridisation and speciation in the New Zealand Fuscospora beech species. Proceedings: VII Southern Connection Congress, Dunedin, N.Z., 21-25 January 2013. http://www.otago.ac.nz/V11-southern-connection/abstracts/
Galbany-Casals M, Carnicero-Campmany P, Blanco-Moreno JM, Smissen RD 2012. Morphological and genetic evidence of contemporary intersectional hybridisation in Mediterranean Helichrysum (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae). Plant biology 14(5): 789-900. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.2012.00568.x
Smissen RD, Morse CW, Prada D, Ramón-Laca A, Richardson SJ 2012. Characterisation of seven polymorphic microsatellites for Nothofagus subgenus Fuscospora from New Zealand. New Zealand journal of botany 50(2): 227-231. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825x.2012.662903
Heenan PD, Smissen RD 2012. [Abstract] Classification of Nothofagus (Nothofagaceae): the past, the present, and the future. Proceedings: Australasian Systematic Botany Society Conference 2012, Perth, W.A., 23-28 September 2012. Pp. 31. http://www.asbs2012perth.com/index.php/download_file/view/157/
Mennes CB, Smissen RD, Pelser PB 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. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825x.2012.727441
Scheele S 2011. What’s in a name? Identical harakeke varieties in the Orchiston Collections. Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa 49: 6–7.
Soreng RJ, Gillespie LJ, Boudko K, Bull R, Koba H, Smissen R, de Lange PJ 2011. [Poster abstract] The New Zealand genus Simplicia, and a new genus endemic to Japan, two new members of subtribe Poinae (Poaceae). Proceedings: IBC 2011: XVIII International Botanical Congress, Melbourne, Australia, 23–30 July 2011. Pp. 675–676.
Smissen RD, de Lange PJ, Thorsen MJ, Ogle CC 2011. Species delimitation and genetic variation in the rare New Zealand endemic grass genus Simplicia. New Zealand journal of botany 49(2): 187-199. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825x.2010.525244
Smissen RD, Galbany-Casals M, Breitwieser I 2011. Ancient allopolyploidy in the everlasting daisies (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae): Complex relationships among extant clades. Taxon 60: 649-662.
Galbany-Casals M, Blanco-Moreno JM, Garcia-Jaxas N, Breitwieser I, Smissen RD 2011. Genetic variation in Mediterranean Helichrysum italicum (Asteraceae; Gnaphalieae): do disjunct populations of subsp. microphyllum have a common origin? Plant Biology 13(4): 678–687. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.2010.00411.x
Smissen R 2011. [Abstract] Reconstructing evolutionary history of species radiations - the impact of hybridisation. Proceedings: IBC 2011: XVIII International Botanical Congress, Melbourne, Australia, 23-30 July 2011. Pp. 227.
Smissen RD, Heenan PB 2011. Interspecific hybridization among indigenous New Zealand Convolvulus (Convolvulaceae) and the affinities of the Awahokomo limestone population. New Zealand journal of botany 49(3): 329-338. CABI:20113347482 https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825x.2011.561863
Smissen RD, Lange PJd, Thorsen MJ, Ogle CC, de Lange PJ 2011. Species delimitation and genetic variation in the rare New Zealand endemic grass genus Simplicia. New Zealand Journal of Botany 49(2): 187-199. CABI:20113237678 https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825x.2010.525244
Ward JM, Breitwieser I, Smissen RD 2010. [Poster] An example of species radiation and convergence on a piece of Pacific Gondwana : New Zealand gnaphalioid Asteraceae. Proceedings: 2010 Australian Systematic Botany Society Conference : Systematic botany across the ditch : links between Australia and New Zealand, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand, 29 November - 3 December 2010. Pp. 84.
Smissen R 2010. [Abstract] Interspecific hybridisation and reproductive isolation among New Zealand plants. Proceedings: 2010 Australian Systematic Botany Society Conference : Systematic botany across the ditch : links between Australia and New Zealand, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand, 29 November - 3 December 2010. Pp. 63.
Smissen RD, Heenan PB 2010. A taxonomic appraisal of the Chatham Islands flax (Phormium tenax) using morphological and DNA fingerprint data. Australian systematic botany 23(5): 371-380. CCC:000283746200004
de Lange PJ, Smissen RD, Wagstaff SJ, Keeling DJ, Murray BG, Toelken HR 2010. A molecular phylogeny and infrageneric classification for Kunzea (Myrtaceae) inferred from rDNA ITS and ETS sequences. Australian systematic botany 23(5): 309-319. CCC:000283746200001
Scheele S, Smissen R 2010. Insights into the origin and identity of National New Zealand Flax Collection plants from simple sequence repeat (SSR) genotyping. New Zealand journal of botany 48(1): 41 - 54.
Morgan-Richards M, Smissen RD, Shepherd LD, Wallis GP, Hayward JJ, Chan CH, Chambers GK, Chapman HM 2009. A review of genetic analyses of hybridisation in New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 39(1): 15-34. ISI:000265655200002
Heenan PB, Dawson MI, Smissen RD, Bicknell RA 2008. An artificial intergeneric hybrid derived from sexual hybridization between the distantly related Arabidopsis thaliana and Pachycladon cheesemanii (Brassicaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 157(3): 533-544. WOS:000257717600010
Houliston GJ, Heenan P, Smissen R 2008. Experimental crosses in Phormium confirm the lack of intrinsic barriers to interspecific hybridisation and the fertility of putative wild hybrids. New Zealand Journal of Botany 46(4): 393-399.
Smissen RD, Heenan PB, Houliston GJ 2008. Genetic and morphological evidence for localised interspecific gene flow in Phormium (Hemerocallidaceae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 46(3): 287-297. CABI:20083299745