Anuradha Gunathilake Ph.D.
I am a botanist who recently completed her Ph.D. at the Biology Department of University of Miami, FL under the supervision of Dr. Barbara Whitlock. My research interests are in biodiversity and elucidating the evolutionary processes that underlie biodiversity. As a botanist, I am intrigued by how the delicate balance of various factors of the environment such as temperature, rainfall, soil type and nutrient content dictate what grows where. However, proper identification of species is the key to understanding biodiversity, its distribution and the underlying reasons behind their distribution; hence my interests in systematics and taxonomy. I am interested in using various methods such as molecular systematics, micro and macro morphology to reveal the phylogenies and species limits of plants in order to study their diversity. I am also passionate about conservation of biodiversity and in working in areas that are poorly studied. I believe that as a scientist working on biodiversity, it is my duty to make others be informed about the impacts of the current environmental issues which have arisen mainly due to anthropological factors.
The research work that I conducted towards my Ph.D. gave me the perfect opportunity to combine all of my main research interests into one project. In My Dissertation I worked on ascertaining the evolutionary relationships of the genus Gordonia s.l. (Theaceae). A large part of my research was focused on the four endemic species of Gordonia that exist in my home country, Sri Lanka. I also explored the possibility of using Gordonia as a model system to infer larger patterns of bio diversity and biogeography of Sri Lanka. Further to that, I examined the impact of the projected changes in the climate on the distribution of these rare and endangered plant populations in order to facilitate developing and implementing effective conservation strategies.
The research work that I conducted towards my Ph.D. gave me the perfect opportunity to combine all of my main research interests into one project. In My Dissertation I worked on ascertaining the evolutionary relationships of the genus Gordonia s.l. (Theaceae). A large part of my research was focused on the four endemic species of Gordonia that exist in my home country, Sri Lanka. I also explored the possibility of using Gordonia as a model system to infer larger patterns of bio diversity and biogeography of Sri Lanka. Further to that, I examined the impact of the projected changes in the climate on the distribution of these rare and endangered plant populations in order to facilitate developing and implementing effective conservation strategies.