Mulga Project Overview Participants and Funding | Phenotypic Variation | Factors Affecting Variation | Taxa List and Key | Mulga Mainpage

Acacia aneura and its close relatives form a highly variable species complex commonly known as Mulga. They are small trees that dominate the vegetation of arid regions, in all occupying around 20% of Australia. This project investigates the taxonomic boundaries using both comparative morphological studies with a detailed genetic study within and among Mulga taxa and populations.

Distribution of Acacia anuera and its allies in the Mulga complex Project Goals:
Aim 1: Improved understanding of morphological variability within and among Mulga populations.
Aim 2: Improved understanding of genetic and developmental variability within and among Mulga populations.
Aim 3: Create a taxonomic and evolutionary framework of the Mulga complex based on the morphological and molecular data.
Aim 4: Produce scientific papers, interactive identification keys and a Mulga Manual field guide.

Methods:
The data will primarily be generated from newly collected specimens from all over Western Australia as well as from previously collected material from Western and Central Australia. Morphological variability will be measured with morphometric measures. A microsatellite library has been generated and loci are being analyzed. DNA will be extracted from specimens and microsatellite and chloroplast DNA variation data will be generated from both within and among populations. Root tip chromosome counts and flow cytometry methods are being generated in order to determine ploidy levels.