DNA: the key to understanding evolutionary relationships between Australian ecotypes of Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass)

This is a study of the genetic diversity of Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass), a species that is distributes throughout the Australian continent. The range of climates in which it has evolved includes cool temperate zones (southern Tasmania) through to the hot tropics (Darwin). These climate regimes have sculpted the genetic makeup of this species, with genes that are required for adaptation to temperature likely to be especially concentrated according to location. Geentic markers and specific information on variations in genes of interest will also come out of this study.