Terry Hedderson

Research Interests

My research focuses on understanding evolution as a process, the influence of biotic and abiotic forces on the outcomes of this process, and how together these create and structure biological diversity across a range of phylogenetic, spatial, and temporal scales. Since selection on life histories may be a key driver of differentiation, testing evolutionary predictions from life history theory is an area of particular interest. Phylogeny reconstruction is central to my research programme, and I employ the full spectrum of molecular markers and associated analytical techniques in my research.

Although I have worked on most of the major groups of green plants, the bryophytes, especially mosses, are my favourite organisms. In many parts of the world this ecologically and evolutionarily important group is still very poorly known. Here in the western Cape of South Africa, for example, I estimate that 30-50% of the bryophyte flora is still undescribed. The basic taxonomic endeavour of species discovery and description, based on personal and herbarium collections, thus constitutes a significant part of my research. Discoveries made in the course of this fundamental undertaking often form the basis for more detailed research in evolution and ecology – for example understanding the many, apparently quite recent, disjunctions between the Cape and Australia.

Education

• PhD The University of Reading (1989 — 1992)
• B.Sc. (Hons) Memorial University of Newfoundland (1978 — 1984)

Companies

• Professor University of Cape Town (2000)
• Advanced Research Fellow University of Reading and NERC (1994 — 1999)
• Post-Doctoral Fellow Louisiana State University (1993 — 1994)