J. Mark Porter joined the California Botanic Garden (formerly Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden) in 1993 after completing his doctorate at the University of Arizona. He is currently an associate professor of botany at Claremont Graduate University and research scientist at California Botanic Garden.
As a vascular plant systematist, Porter is interested in the theory and applications of phylogenetic systematics pertaining to evolutionary biology and reproductive ecology, with a special emphasis on quantitative phylogenetics. More broadly, Porter’s past research has focused on systematics, classification, evolution of pollination mechanisms, and quantitative change in corolla morphology, conservation, and floristics.
He is best known for his molecular systematic studies in the families Polemoniaceae and Cactaceae. Porter is especially interested in the contributions of phylogenetic information for the conservation of biotic diversity. His work seeks to integrate traditional systematic approaches (e.g. comparative anatomy, morphology, cytology) and more modern methods (comparative DNA sequence, microsatellite and/or other genetic data) and bring these to bear on issues of adaptation, under the umbrella of common ancestry and phylogeny.
In 2011, Porter received a grant from the National Science Foundation to study the plant genus Loeselia, research that took him to Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama. The grant also supported research internships for CGU students.
Co-authored with L.A. Johnson, and D. Wilken. 2010. “Phylogenetics and Evolution of Ipomopsis (Polemoniaceae): Inferences From Chloroplast trnL-F and Nuclear Ribosomal ITS DNA sequences.” Systematic Botany 35 (2010): 181–200.
Co-authored with V.W. Steinmann. 2009. “Two new Loeselia (Polemoniaceae) species from Michoacán, Mexico.” Systematic Botany 34: 730–36
Co-authored with M.P. Griffith.“Phylogeny of Opuntioideae (Cactaceae).” International Journal of Plant Sciences 170 (2009): 107–16.
Co-authored with L.A. Prather. “Cantua dendritica (Polemoniaceae) a New Species from Peru, and Two New Cantua Names.” Aliso 24 (2008): 31–5.
Co-authored with J.T. Columbus, E.A. Friar, L.M. Prince, and M.G. Simpson (eds.). “Monocots: Comparative Biology and Evolution—Poales.” Aliso 23 (2007): 1–682. 2006.
Co-authored with J.T. Columbus, E.A. Friar, L.M. Prince, and M.G. Simpson (eds.). “Monocots: Comparative Biology and Evolution—Excluding Poales.” Aliso 22 (2006): 1–735.
Co-authored with E.A. Friar, L.M. Prince, E.H. Roalson, M.E. McGlaughlin, J.M. Cruse-Sanders, and S.J. De Groot. 2006. “Ecological Speciation in the East Maui-endemic Dubautia (Asteraceae) Species.” Evolution, 60 (2006): 1777–92.
Co-authored with L.A. Johnson, and K.H. Huish. 2004. “Seed surface sculpturing and its systematic significance in Gilia (Polemoniaceae) and segregate genera.” International Journal of Plant Sciences 165 (2004): 153–72.
Quantitative Phylogenetics
Molecular Evolution
Morphometrics
Plant Families
Advanced Botanical & Evolutionary Research
Special Topics in Plant Systematics: Biogeography