Dr Markus Ruhsam
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Dr Markus Ruhsam, Molecular Ecologist
I am a botanist with over 30 years of experience in plant identification who also uses genetic tools to study and understand plant diversity. The combination of morphological and molecular techniques is a powerful approach to investigate evolutionary processes which, for instance, has led to the discovery of a new species of monkey puzzle trees (Araucaria) in New Caledonia by RBGE and collaborators. A particular interest of mine are the processes which shape and change plant populations over time (phylogeography).
My current research interests include
- Resolving taxonomic relationships in Cupressaceae
- Hybridisation between wild apple ("crab apple", Malus sylvestris) and cultivated apple (M. domestica) in Scotland
- Phylogeography and phylogenetics of New Caledonian Araucaria species
- The possible consequences of hybridisation for plant species e.g. is the native British bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) threatened by the introduced 'Spanish' bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica)
- Medicinal plants
- Effects of fragmentation on populations
- Plant speciation
I also identify plant material sent in to The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh by the general public.
Contact: MRuhsam@rbge.org.uk
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2024
Phang, A., Niissalo, M.A., Ruhsam, M., Pezzini, F.F., Neo, W.L., Burslem, D.F.R.P., Middleton, D.J., Wilkie, P. and Khew, G.S., 2024. Genetic erosion in a tropical tree species demonstrates the need to conserve wide-ranging germplasm amid extreme habitat fragmentation. Biodiversity and Conservation, pp.1-22. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10531-024-02870-5
Ruhsam, M., Hollingsworth, P.M., Mc Cartney, A.M., Herron, K.E., Hughes, G.M., Christenhusz, M.J., Fay, M.F., Leitch, I.J., Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Genome Acquisition Lab, Plant Genome Sizing collective and Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective, 2024. The genome sequence of lesser trefoil or Irish shamrock, Trifolium dubium Sibth.(Fabaceae). Wellcome Open Research, 9, p.229. https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/9-229
Ruhsam, M., Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Genome Acquisition Lab, Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Genome Acquisition Lab, Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective et al., 2024. The genome sequence of Hoary Whitlowgrass, Draba incana L. Wellcome Open Research, 9, p.630. https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/9-630
Ruhsam, M., Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Genome Acquisition Lab, Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective et al., 2024. The genome sequence of cowslip, Primula veris L. Wellcome Open Research, 9, p.635. https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/9-635
Ruhsam, M., Hollingsworth, P.M., Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Genome Acquisition Lab, Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective et al., 2024. The genome sequence of the Japanese rose, Rosa rugosa Thunb., 1784 (Rosaceae). Wellcome Open Research, 9, p.513. https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/9-513
2023
Wang*, J., Zhang*, H., Ruhsam, M., Fan, X., Li, X., Chung, J.M., Chung, M.Y., Chung, M.G., Wang, S., Wang, J. and Mao, K., 2023. Phylogeography of Populus koreana reveals an unexpected glacial refugium in Northeast Asia. Forestry Research, 3(1). https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/FR-2023-0023
*These authors contributed equally to this work
Phang, A., Pezzini, F.F., Burslem, D.F., Khew, G.S., Middleton, D.J., Ruhsam, M. and Wilkie, P., 2023. Target capture sequencing for phylogenomic and population studies in the Southeast Asian genus Palaquium (Sapotaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 203(2), pp.134-147. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boad022
Ruhsam, M., Kohn, D., Marquardt, J., Leitch, A.R., Schneider, H., Vogel, J., Barrett, S.C., Hulme, P.E., Squirrell, J. and Hollingsworth, P.M., 2023. Is hybridisation with non‐native congeneric species a threat to the UK native bluebell Hyacinthoides non‐scripta?. Plants, People, Planet. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10387
Ruhsam, M., Renny, J. and Worrell, R., 2023. Verification of wild apple (Malus sylvestris) nursery stock sold in the United Kingdom. Plants, People, Planet, 5(2), pp.203-208. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10345
Marquardt, J., Blanckaert, A., Nichols, R.A., Ansell, S.W., Ruhsam, M., Hollingsworth, P.M., Metzler, D., Schneider, H. and Leitch, A.R., 2022. Cyto-nuclear incompatibilities across a bluebell hybrid zone in northern Spain do not prevent genome-wide introgression of neutral markers. Evolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society, 1(1) pp.1-18. https://doi.org/10.1093/evolinnean/kzac003
2022
Ruhsam, M., Bell, D., Hart, M., Hollingsworth, P., of Life, W.S.I.T. and Darwin Tree of Life Consortium, 2022. The genome sequence of the European crab apple, Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill., 1768. Wellcome Open Research, 7. (https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18646.1
Könyves, K., Mian, S., Johns, J., Ruhsam, M., Leitch, I.J. and Darwin Tree of Life Consortium, 2022. The genome sequence of the apple, Malus domestica (Suckow) Borkh., 1803. Wellcome Open Research, 7(297), p.297. https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18646.1
Li, X., Ruhsam, M., Wang, Y., Zhang, H.Y., Fan, X.Y., Zhang, L., Wang, J. and Mao, K.S., 2023. Wind-dispersed seeds blur phylogeographic breaks: The complex evolutionary history of Populus lasiocarpa around the Sichuan Basin. Plant Diversity, 45(2), pp.156-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pld.2022.10.003
Lansdown, R. and Ruhsam, M., 2022. YELLOW WATER LILIES (NUPHAR, NYMPHAEACEAE) IN GREAT BRITAIN: A NEW HYBRID, A REAPPRAISAL OF RECORDS, AND A REVISED STATUS OF N. ADVENA. Edinburgh Journal of Botany, 79, pp.1-15. https://doi.org/10.24823/ejb.2022.1925
Zhang, T., Xu, F., Ruhsam, M., Feng, L., Zhang, M., Wang, Z. and Wang, X., 2022. A nucleotide signature for the identification of Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia) and its products. Molecular Biology Reports, pp.1-11. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11033-022-07600-0
Zhou, T., Sun, J., Zhai, Y., Gao, C., Ruhsam, M. and Wang, X., 2022. Transcriptome profiles of yellowish-white and fuchsia colored flowers in the Rheum palmatum complex reveal genes related to color polymorphism. Plant Molecular Biology, 110(1), pp.187-197. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11103-022-01299-0
Li, J*., Zhang, Y*., Ruhsam, M., Milne, R.I., Wang, Y., Wu, D., Jia, S., Tao, T. and Mao, K., 2022. Seeing through the hedge: Phylogenomics of Thuja (Cupressaceae) reveals prominent incomplete lineage sorting and ancient introgression for Tertiary relict flora. Cladistics, 38(2), pp.187-203. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cla.12491
*These authors contributed equally to this work
Wang, Y., Ruhsam, M., Milne, R., Graham, S.W., Li, J., Tao, T., Zhang, Y. and Mao, K., 2022. Incomplete lineage sorting and local extinction shaped the complex evolutionary history of the Paleogene relict conifer genus, Chamaecyparis (Cupressaceae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 172, p.107485. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1055790322000987
Clugston, J.A.*, Ruhsam, M.*, Kenicer, G.J., Henwood, M., Milne, R. and Nagalingum, N.S., 2022. Conservation genomics of an Australian cycad Cycas calcicola, and the Absence of Key Genotypes in Botanic Gardens. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10592-022-01428-8
*These authors contributed equally to this work
2021
Li, J*., Zhang, Y*., Ruhsam, M., Milne, R.I., Wang, Y., Wu, D., Jia, S., Tao, T. and Mao, K., 2021. Seeing through the hedge: Phylogenomics of Thuja (Cupressaceae) reveals prominent incomplete lineage sorting and ancient introgression for Tertiary relict flora. Cladistics. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cla.12491
*These authors contributed equally to this work
Ju, T*., Han, Z.T*., Ruhsam, M., Li, J.L., Tao, W.J., Tso, S., Miehe, G. and Mao, K.S., 2021. Reproduction and genetic diversity of Juniperus squamata along an elevational gradient in the Hengduan Mountains.
Plant Diversity. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468265921001554
*These authors contributed equally to this work
2020
Ruhsam, M., Kohn, D., Squirrell, J., Schneider, H., Vogel, J., Rumsey, F.J. and Hollingsworth, P.M., 2020. Morphology and pollen fertility of native and non-native bluebells in Great Britain. Plant Ecology & Diversity, 13(3-4), pp.351-361. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17550874.2020.1765037
Feng, L., Ruhsam, M., Wang, Y.H., Li, Z.H. and Wang, X.M. (2020). Using demographic model selection to untangle allopatric divergence and diversification mechanisms in the Rheum palmatum complex in the Eastern Asiatic Region. Molecular Ecology, 29(10), pp.1791-1805. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mec.15448
2019
Wu X*, Ruhsam M*, Wen Y*, Thomas PI*, Worth JR, Lin X, Wang M, Li X, Chen L, Lamxay V, Le Canh N, Coffman G (2019). The last primary forests of the Tertiary relict Glyptostrobus pensilis contain the highest genetic diversity. Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research. online early
*These authors contributed equally
One Thousand Plant Transcriptomes Initiative (2019). One thousand plant transcriptomes and the phylogenomics of green plants. Nature, 574(7780), p.679.
Xu J*, Song X*, Ruhsam M, Liu T, Li J, Neaves L E, Miao J, Xie S, Meng Q, Mao K (2019). Distinctiveness, speciation and demographic history of the rare endemic conifer Juniperus erectopatens in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Conservation Genetics, 20(6), 1289-1301. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10592-019-01211-2
*These authors contributed equally
Li XY, Lin XY, Ruhsam M, Chen L, Wu XT, Wang MQ, Thomas PI, Wen YF, 2019. Development of microsatellite markers for the critically endangered conifer Glyptostrobus pensilis (Cupressaceae) using transcriptome data. Silvae Genetica, 68(1), 41-44. https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/sg/68/1/article-p41.xml
Zhou T, Ruhsam M, Wang J, Li W, Zhang X, Xu Y, Xu F, Zhu H, Wang X, 2019. The complete chloroplast genome of Euphrasia regelii, pseudogenization of ndh genes and the phylogenetic relationships within Orobanchaceae. Frontiers in Genetics, 10, 444. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2019.00444/full
Kohn DD, Ruhsam M, Hulme PE, Barrett SCH, Hollingsworth PM (2019). Paternity analysis reveals constraints on hybridization potential between native and introduced bluebells (Hyacinthoides). Conservation Genetics 20(3), 571-584. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-019-01158-4
Mao K*, Ruhsam M*, Ma Y, Graham SW, Liu J, Thomas P, Milne RI, Hollingsworth PM (2019). A transcriptome-based resolution for a key taxonomic controversy in Cupressaceae. Annals of Botany, 123(1), 153–167. https://academic.oup.com/aob/advance-article/doi/10.1093/aob/mcy152/5075047
*These authors contributed equally
Ruhsam M, Jessop W, Cornille A, Renny J, Worrell R. (2018). Crop-to-wild introgression in the European wild apple Malus sylvestris in Northern Britain. Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research. 92(1), 85-96. https://academic.oup.com/forestry/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/forestry/cpy033/5108524
2018
Wang X*, Feng L*, Zhou T*, Ruhsam M, Huang L, Hou X, Song J (2018). Genetic and chemical differentiation characterizes top-geoherb and non-top-geoherb areas in the TCM herb rhubarb. Scientific reports, 8(1), 9424. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-27510-1
*These authors contributed equally
Wang X, Gussarova G, Ruhsam M, de Vere N, Metherell C, Hollingsworth PM, Twyford AD (2018). DNA barcoding a taxonomically complex hemiparasitic genus reveals deep divergence between ploidy levels but lack of species-level resolution. AoB Plants 10(3): ply026 https://academic.oup.com/aobpla/article/10/3/ply026/4983864
Ruhsam M, PM Hollingsworth (2018). Authentication of Eleutherococcus and Rhodiola herbal supplement products in the United Kingdom. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis 149: 403-409. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0731708517312499
2017
Mill RR, Ruhsam M, Thomas P, MF Gardner, PM Hollingsworth (2017) Araucaria goroensis (Araucariaceae), a new Monkey Puzzle from New Caledonia, and nomenclatural notes on Araucaria muelleri. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 74(2): 123-139 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/edinburgh-journal-of-botany/article
2016
Ruhsam M, Clark A, Finger A, Wulff AS, Mill RR, Thomas P, Gardner M, Gaudeul M, Ennos RA, PM Hollingsworth (2016). Hidden in plain view: cryptic diversity in the emblematic Araucaria of New Caledonia. American Journal of Botany 103(5): 888-898 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.3732/ajb.1500487
2015
Rothfels CJ, Li F-W, Sigel EM, Huiet L, Larsson A, Burge DO, Ruhsam M, Deyholos M, Soltis DE, Stewart CN, Shaw SW, Pokorny L, Chen T, dePamphilis C, DeGironimo L, Chen L, Wei X, Sun X, Korall P, Stevenson DW, Graham SW, Wong GK-S, KM Pryer (2015). The evolutionary history of ferns inferred from 25 low-copy nuclear genes. American Journal of Botany 102: 1089-1107 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.3732/ajb.1500089
Ruhsam M, Rai HS, Mathews S, Ross TG, Graham SW, Raubeson LA, Mei W, Thomas P, Gardner MF, Ennos RA, PM Hollingsworth (2015) Does complete plastid genome sequencing improve species discrimination and phylogenetic resolution in Araucaria? Molecular Ecology Resources 15: 1067-1078 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1755-0998.12375
2014
Kranitz ML, Biffin E, Clark A, Hollingsworth ML, Ruhsam M, Gardner MF, Thomas P, Mill RR, Ennos RA, Gaudeul M, Lowe AJ, Hollingsworth PM (2014). Evolutionary Diversification of New Caledonian Araucaria. PloS ONE 9: e110308 http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0110308
Li FW, Villarreal JC, Kelly S, Rothfels CJ, Melkonian M, Frangedakis E, Ruhsam M, Sigel EM, Der JP, Pittermann J, Burge DO, Pokorny L, Larsson A, Chen T, Weststrand S, Thomas P, Carpenter E, Zhang Y, Tian Z, Chen L, Yan Z, Zhu Y, Sun X, Wang J, Stevenson DW, Crandall-Stotler BJ, Shaw AJ, Deyholos MK, Soltis DE, Graham SW, Windham MD, Langdale JA, Wong GKS, Mathews S, KM Pryer (2014) Horizontal transfer of an adaptive chimeric photoreceptor from bryophytes to ferns PNAS 111: 6672-6677 http://www.pnas.org/content/111/18/6672.short
Ruhsam M, Jacobs T, Watson K, Hollingsworth PM (2014). Is hybridisation a threat to Rumex aquaticus in Britain? Plant Ecology & Diversity 8(4): 465-474 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2014.941956
2013
Rothfels CJ, Larsson A, Li F-W, Sigel EM, Huiet L, Burge DO, Ruhsam M, Graham SW, Stevenson DW, Wong GK-S, Korall P, Pryer KM. (2013) Transcriptome-Mining for Single-Copy Nuclear Markers in Ferns. Plos One 8: e76957 http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0076957
Ruhsam M, Hollingsworth PM, Ennos RA. (2013) Patterns of mating, generation of diversity, and fitness of offspring in a Geum hybrid swarm. Evolution 67: 2728-2740 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/evo.12147
2011
Ruhsam M, Hollingsworth PM, Ennos RA (2011) Early evolution in a hybrid swarm between outrossing and selfing lineages in Geum. Heredity 107: 246-255 https://www.nature.com/articles/hdy20119
2010
Ruhsam M, Hollingsworth PM, Squirrell J, Ennos RA (2010) Significant differences in outcrossing rate, self-incompatibility and inbreeding depression between two widely hybridising species of Geum. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 101: 977-990 https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/101/4/977/2450684
2009
Davis AP, Govaerts R, Bridson D, Ruhsam M, Moat J, Brummitt N (2009) A global assessment of distribution, diversity, endemism, and taxonomic effort in the Rubiaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 96: 68-78.
2008
Ruhsam M, Govaerts R, Davis AP (2008) Nomenclatural changes in preparation for a World Rubiaceae Checklist. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 157: 115-124.
2007
Ruhsam M, Davis AP (2007) A taxonomic revision of the genus Flagenium Baill. (Rubiaceae-Octotropideae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 155: 557-570.
2005
Davis AP, Ruhsam M (2005). Five new combinations and one new name in Rubiaceae from south-east Asia. Blumea 50: 575-578.
Govaerts R, Ruhsam M, Andersson L, Robbrecht E, Bridson D, Davis A, Schanzer I, Sonké B World Checklist of Rubiaceae. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.kew.org/wcsp/rubiaceae/
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