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Research Project Title
Taxonomy, Systematics, Biogeography and Pollination Biology of Impatiens L. (Balsaminaceae) in Eastern Africa
Research Purpose:
PhD
Principle Investigator:
evaline.munisi@tawiri.or.tz
Introduction
The Balsaminaceae, commonly known as the Balsam family, primarily comprises annual and perennial herbs known for their remarkable floral diversity. This family includes economically and ecologically significant species that inhabit tropical and subtropical regions in tropical Africa, Madagascar, southern India, the eastern Himalayas, and Southeast Asia, particularly in high-humidity environments such as forests and near streams. The family contains two genera: the monotypic Hydrocera Blume and the large genus Impatiens Linnaeus, which contains over 1,000 species. The Impatiens species produce flowers that exhibit a remarkable diversity in colour, shape, spur size, and the two fused lateral petals. This diversity is thought to be influenced by pollinators; however, a more comprehensive analysis of the pollinator groups associated with this genus is still needed. In addition, the extraordinary morphological variability, higher species diversity, and broad geographic distribution of Impatiens species have often complicated taxonomy and evolutionary studies within this genus. Although several studies have addressed the taxonomy and phylogenetic position of the genus Impatiens in the Balsaminaceae family using morphological, morphometric, cytogenetic, and molecular techniques, their evolutionary relationships have remained unclear, resulting in inconsistencies at the classification level. The genus Impatiens is among the most species-rich genera in tropical Africa. The Impatiens flora of tropical Africa comprises more than 131 species, primarily concentrated in Afromontane forests and highland areas in west, central and East Africa. This exceptional species diversity and the wide distribution of the genus provide an opportunity to explore the role that tropical rainforests have played in generating high Impatiens species diversity and endemism
Problem Statment
Despite the higher diversity in east Africa there is very limited knowledge regarding the various drivers of species diversification within this large genus on the continent, and the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of Impatiens species in tropical Africa remain poorly understood. This is largely because the African Impatiens lacks modern complete taxonomic revision and many investigations of species delimitation relied heavily on morphological features, with molecular data often not sought or disregarded. This limited information hinders potential evolutionary pattern recognition as well as the exploration of inter- and intra-species plastid genome diversity
General Research Objective
This study aims to review the taxonomy of the genus Impatiens in East Africa, investigate their reproductive ecology and pollination syndromes and assemble complete plastomes and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) sequences to obtain greater resolution and investigate the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Impatiens of East Africa species
Other Details
Clearance# Clearance Date Permit# Permit Date Commencement Date Completion Date
None CST00001104-2025-2025-00356 Dec. 3, 2025, midnight Feb. 25, 2025 Dec. 25, 2027
Priority Research Theme & Areas
Priority Research Theme Research Area
HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION Biodiversity inventories - Priority ( H )
HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION Climate Change; and Pollinators and pollination services - Priority ( H )
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND CONSERVATION Molecular technology in wildlife conservation - Priority ( H )
CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY Climate change; and pollinators and pollination services-move to habitat and conservation service - Priority ( H )
HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION Climate Change and Vegetation Dynamics - Priority ( H )
Project Location
Region Wildlife Area District Species

Kilimanjaro

Kagera

Tanga

Kigoma

Ruvuma

Morogoro

Rukwa

Katavi

Arusha

Iringa

Mbeya

Njombe

Manyara

Songwe

Arusha

Ruaha

Gombe

Kilimanjaro

Mahale

Udzungwa

Kitulo

Ngorongoro

Amani

Chome

Mlima Hanang

Kalambo River

Kilombero

Magombera

Pindiro

Nilo

Rondo

Magamba

Minziro

Uluguru

Mkingu

U z u n g w a Scarp

Rungwe

Itulu hills

Mwambesi

Uzigua

Essimongor

Mahenge Scarp

Rungwa River

Ugalla River

Uzungwa

Kawetire

Kiwira

Korogwe

Longuza

Meru/Usa

Ukaguru

North Kilimanjaro

Rondo

Sao Hill

Shume

West Kilimanjaro

Wino – Ifinga

Project Researchers
Researcher Role
Evaline Munisi Principal Investigator
EMMANUEL MASENGA Co-researcher
Linus Munishi referee
Richard Mbunda referee
Reseach Objectives
Sn Objective Methods Description
1 1) To revise the genus Impatiens of Tropical Africa using both morphological and molecular approaches and address uncertainties in tropical Africa, with a specific focus on the Eastern Africa region
Public Archives/Records Conduct field work to collect leaf samples and send them for sequencing in China and taxonomic revisions of existing literature related to the genus Impatiens and investigate Herbarium collections from various institutions
2 2) To review and expand the family-wide phylogenetic study by utilizing morphological data together with single-copy gene SNPs, complete chloroplast (cp) genome data, nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) data and extensive sampling
Other Fresh leaves will be collected from the field for sequencing from multiple individuals of each species and also morphological traits will be documented to provide essential taxonomic information
3 3) To test the monophyly of Impatiens sections Uniflorae and Tuberosae, and reconstruct the character evolution of key traits for these sections, identifying suitable diagnostic characters, and refining the taxonomic delimitation of these sections
Other Fresh leaves will be collected from the field for sequencing from multiple individuals of each species and also morphological traits will be documented to provide essential taxonomic information
4 4) To identify effective pollinators of Impatiens by analyzing the morphological characteristics of flowers and their respective flower visitors.
Other Before flowering, selected flower buds will be covered in the evening with 2 mm netting to exclude visitors while allowing natural environmental conditions. Once flowers open, the netting will be removed, and visitor interactions will be documented,
5 5) To explore and compare the spatial genetic structure and reconstruct the biogeographic history of Impatiens species by describing the distribution of genetic variation across populations within the Afromontane forests of Africa
Other Fresh leaves will be collected from multiple individuals of each species to ensure genetic diversity. The leaves will be immediately placed in silica gel within sealable plastic bags to facilitate rapid drying and finally sent to China for sequencing
Other Fresh leaves will be collected from multiple individuals of each species to ensure genetic diversity. The leaves will be immediately placed in silica gel within sealable plastic bags to facilitate rapid drying and finally sent to China for sequencing
6 To investigate possible hybridization and introgression and test hypotheses of interspecific gene flow events within the genus Impatiens
7 7) To investigate the long-term evolutionary impact of hybridization within the genus Impatiens by identifying hybrid specimens, comparing relative rates of species formation with parent species, and reconstructing historical and geographical ranges.
Other Conduct field work investigation and collect leaf samples and send them for sequencing in China and taxonomic revisions of existing literature related to the genus Impatiens and investigate Herbarium collections from various institutions
8 8) To analyze the quantitative and qualitative macro- and micromorphological traits of seeds and capsules from East African Impatiens species, assessing the utility of seed and carpological characteristics for taxonomic identification
Other Field work will be conducted and During this period the matured fruits, and seeds, will be collected for morphological traits analysis at the Laboratorty
Reseach Attachments
Attachment Name Attachment
Full Proposal FINAL_DRAFT_OPENING_REPORT_AND_PROPOSAL-EVALINE_MUNISI_second2.pdf