1964-1967 BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Botany, University of Bangor
1967-1971 DPhil, University of Oxford
1971-1993 Lecturer, University of St Andrews
1993-1999 Senior Lecturer, University of St Andrews
1999-2004 Reader,University of St Andrews
2004-2014 Professor, University of St Andrews
2014- >>> Emeritus Professor, University of St Andrews
2000-2008 Mentor, Gatsby Plant Science Trust
2006-2009 President of the Botanical Society of Scotland
2019- >>> Elected Corresponding Member of the Botanical Society of America
Research
My research focuses on the biodiversity and evolution of plants, particularly speciation, a primary generator of biodiversity. I work at the interface of population genetics and molecular systematics, studying adaptation, population divergence, hybridization, mating system evolution, reproductive isolation, speciation and the evolutionary history of Arctic, Alpine, Mediterranean and Temperate species.
One particular research interest concerns the genetic and evolutionary consequences of interspecific hybridization in the genus Senecio, especially the origins and evolution of three recently originated hybrid species and one stabilised introgressant. These are: (i) the homoploid hybrid species, Senecio squalidus (Oxford ragwort), (ii) the allohexaploid, Senecio cambrensis (Welsh groundsel), (iii) the allotetrapolid, Senecio eboracensis (York radiate groundsel), and (iv) the stabilised introgressant, Senecio vulgaris var. hibernicus (Radiate groundsel). All four originated in the UK during the last 300 years and are excellent models for the study of hybrid evolution.
I collaborate internationally with many researchers. An ongoing long-term collaboration with Professor Jianquan Liu (Lanzhou and Sichuan Universities) on plant speciation in China has produced 28 research papers (since 2004).
Discovered a newly originated plant species in the British Isles. Front page news in ‘The Times’, and reported in most other national newspapers and on radio. Senecio eboracensis (York radiate groundsel) is one of only 6 plant species known to have originated worldwide within the last 250 years. It is now extinct in the wild but is maintained in cultivation for future research and reintroduction.
Published >200 research papers in a wide range of refereed journals and books, including Science, Nature Communications, Proceedings National Academy of Science USA, Molecular Plant, Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society London B, Evolution, Heredity, J. Evolutionary Biology, J. Heredity, J. Systematics & Evolution, Molecular Ecology and New Phytologist.
Abbott RJ. 2008. History, evolution and future of arctic and alpine flora. Plant Ecology & Diversity (Special issue, 220 pages).
Abbott RJ, Ritchie MG, Hollingsworth PM. 2008. Speciation in plants and animals: pattern and process. Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. Lond. B. (Theme issue, 142 pages).
Abbott RJ, Barton NH, Good JM. 2016. Genomics of hybridization. Molecular Ecology (Special issue, 364 pages).
Daetwyler HD, Abbott RJ. 2020. Polyploid population genetics and evolution - from theory to practice. Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution, Frontiers in Genetics, Frontiers in Plant Science (e-Book, 171 pages).
Rieseberg L, Abbott RJ, Kane N, Karrenberg S, Ortiz-Barrientos D, Shi S. 2020. Plant evolutionary adaptation. Plant Communications (Special issue, 123 pages).
Pico FX, Abbott RJ, Llambi LD, Rajakaruna N, Papadopulos AST, Nagy L. 2022. The ecology and evolution of plants in extreme environments. Plant Ecology & Diversity (Special issue, 174 pages).
194. Xiao H-W, Huang Y-B, Chang Y-H, Chen Y, Abbott RJ, Wei Y-K, Ma Y-P (2021) Occurrence and prevention of delayed autonomous selfing in Salvia umbratica (Lamiaceae). Frontiers in Plant Science 12: 635310. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.635310.
102. Milne RI, Terzioglu S & Abbott RJ (2003) Origin and maintenance of Rhododendron x sochadzeae, a fertile F1 hybrid that occupies an ecotone between R. ponticum and R. caucasicum in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Botany 28: 93-100.
94. Lowe AJ & Abbott RJ (2003) Evolution in action. Planet Earth Summer: 24-25.
93. Coleman M & Abbott RJ (2003). Possible causes of morphological variation in an endemic Moroccan groundsel Senecio leucanthemifolius var. casablancae: evidence from cpDNA and RAPDs. Molecular Ecology 12: 423-434.
91. Milne RI & Abbott RJ (2002) The origin and evolution of Tertiary relict floras. Advances in Botanical Research 38: 281-314.
90. Holderegger R, Stehlik I & Abbott RJ (2002). Molecular analysis of the Pleistocene history of Saxifraga oppositifolia in the Alps. Molecular Ecology 11: 1409-1418.
88. Gillies ACM, Cubas P, Coen ES & Abbott RJ (2002) Making rays in the Asteraceae: genetics and evolution of variation for radiate versus discoid flower heads. In Cronk, Q.C.B., Bateman, R.M. and Hawkins, J.A. (eds.) Developmental Genetics and Plant Evolution. Taylor & Francis, London. pp. 233-246.
86. Comes HP & Abbott RJ (2001) Molecular phylogeography, reticulation and lineage sorting in the Mediterranean species complex of Senecio sect. Senecio (Asteraceae). Evolution 55: 1943-1962.
84. Coleman M, Forbes DG & Abbott RJ (2001) A new subspecies of Senecio mohavensis (Compositae) reveals an Old-New World species disjunction. Edinburgh. J. Botany 58: 384-403.
2000
83. Abbott RJ, Smith LC, Milne RI, Crawford RMM, Wolff K & Balfour J (2000) Molecular analysis of plant migration and evolution in the Arctic. Science 289: 1343-1346.
81. Milne RI & Abbott RJ (2000) Origin and evolution of invasive naturalised material of Rhododendron ponticum L. in the British Isles. Molecular Ecology 9: 541-556.
80. Comes HP & Abbott RJ (2000) RAPD and phenotypic analyses across a major phylogeographic break in the Mediterranean ragwort Senecio gallicus (Asteraceae). Molecular Ecology 9: 61-76.
78. Stehlik I, Holderegger R, Schneller JJ, Abbott RJ & Bachmann K (2000) Molecular biogeography and population genetics of alpine plant species. Bull. Geobot. Inst. ETH 66: 47-59.
1999
77. Comes HP & Abbott RJ (1999) Population genetic structure and gene flow across arid versus mesic environments: A comparative study of two Senecio species from the Near East. Evolution 53: 36-54.
76. Gillies AM & Abbott RJ (1999) Development and use of isozyme analysis for examining genetic diversity in Stylosanthes, a tropical forage legume. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter 117: 12-19.
74. Comes HP & Abbott RJ (1999) Reticulate evolution in the Mediterranean species complex of Senecio sect Senecio: Uniting phylogenetic and population-level approaches. In: Hollingsworth P, Bateman R & Gornall R (eds.) Molecular Systematics and Plant Evolution, pp. 171-198, Taylor & Francis, London U.K.
1998
73. Abbott RJ, Bretagnolle FC & Thébaud C (1998) Evolution of a polymorphism for outcrossing rate in Senecio vulgaris: Influence of germination behaviour. Evolution 52: 1593-1601.
72. Comes HP & Abbott RJ (1998) The relative importance of historical events and gene flow on the population structure of a Mediterranean ragwort, Senecio gallicus. Evolution 52: 390-402.
71. Estrella J, Phillips S, Gillies ACM, Abbott RJ & Sorensen M (1998) Genetic variation and relationships in agronomically important species of Yam Bean (Pachyrhizus DC) based on RAPD markers. In Sorensen, M, Estrella, JE, Hamann, OJ & Rios Ruiz, SA (eds) Proc. 2nd Int. Symp. on Tuberous Legumes , pp. 43-59, RVAU, Copenhagen, Denmark.
70. Gillies ACM & Abbott RJ (1998) Evaluation of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA for species identification and phylogenetic analysis in Stylosanthes (Fabaceae). Plant Syst. & Evol. 211: 201-216.
1997
69. Abbott RJ, Harris SA & Lowe AJ (1997) Interspecific hybridization and the origin of new plant taxa in Scotland. Botanical J. Scotland 49: 247-256.
68. Wolff K, El-Akkad S & Abbott RJ (1997) Population substructure in Alkanna orientalis L. Boiss. (Boraginaceae) in the Sinai desert, in relation to pollinator behaviour. Molecular Ecology 6: 365-372.
67. Comes HP, Kadereit JW, Pohl A & Abbott RJ (1997). Chloroplast DNA and isozyme evidence on the evolution of Senecio vulgaris L. (Compositae). Plant Systematics & Evolution 206: 375-392.
66. Todd CD, Walker AM, Wolff K, Northcott SJ, Walker AF, Ritchie MG, Hoskins R, Abbott RJ & Hazon N (1997) Genetic differentiation of populations of the copepod sea louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Kroyer) ectoparasitic on wild and farmed salmonids around the coasts of Scotland:evidence from RAPD markers. J. Mar. Biol. Assn. UK 210: 251-274.
64. Gillies ACM & Abbott RJ (1996). Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Stylosanthes based on chloroplast DNA restriction analysis. Plant Systematics & Evolution 200: 193-211.
63. Abbott RJ & Lowe AJ (1996) A review of hybridization and evolution in British Senecio In: Hind, D.J.N. & Beentje, H.J. (eds.). Compositae: Systematics. Proceedings of the International Compositae Conference, Kew, 1994. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. pp. 679-689.
62. Lowe AJ & Abbott RJ (1996) Origin of the new allopolyploid species Senecio cambrensis and its relationship to the Canary Islands endemic Senecio teneriffae. American J. Botany 83: 1365-1372.
60. Abbott RJ & Milne RI (1995) Origins and evolutionary effects of invasive weeds. Agriculture & Equipment International 47: 105-106.
59. Abbott RJ & Milne RI (1995) Origins and evolutionary effects of invasive weeds. In: Stirton, C. (ed.) Weeds in a Changing World. British Crop Protection Council. pp. 53-64.
58. Kadereit JW, Comes HP, Curnow DJ, Irwin JA & Abbott RJ (1995) Chloroplast DNA and isozyme analysis of the progenitor-derivative species relationship between Senecio nebrodensis L. and S. viscosus L. American J. Botany 82: 1179-1185.
57. Abbott RJ, Chapman HM, Crawford RMM & Forbes DG (1995) Molecular diversity and derivations of populations of Silene acaulis and Saxifraga oppositifolia from the high Arctic and more southerly latitudes. Molecular Ecology 4: 199-207.
56. Thébaud C & Abbott RJ (1995) Characterization of invasive Conyza species (Asteraceae) in Europe: Quantitative trait and isozyme analysis. American J. Botany 82: 360-368.
55. Damgaard C & Abbott RJ (1995) Positive correlations between selfing rate and pollen-ovule ratio within plant populations. Evolution 49: 214-217.
54. Abbott RJ, Curnow DJ & Irwin JA (1995) Molecular systematics of Senecio squalidus and its close diploid relatives. In: Hind DJN, Jeffrey C & Pope GV (eds.). Advances in Compositae Systematics. Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens pp. 223-237.
52. Abbott RJ (1994) Reply to Thacker. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 9: 486.
51. Crawford RMM & Abbott RJ (1994) Pre-adaptation of arctic plants to climate change. Botanica Acta 5: 271-278.
50. Gillies ACM & Abbott RJ (1994) Molecular analysis of genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships in Stylosanthes In: de Leeuw, P.N., Mohammed-Saleem, M.A. & Nyamu, A.M. (eds.) Stylosanthes as a Forage and Fallow Crops. Int. Livestock Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. pp. 37-53.
49. Glover BJ, Gillies ACM & Abbott RJ (1994) Use of the polymerase chain reaction to investigate the delimitation of two agronomically important species of Stylosanthes. Bot. J. Scotland 47: 83-96.
48. Harris SA, Hughes CE, Abbott RJ & Ingram R (1994) Genetic variation in Leucaena leucocephala Lamb. de Wit. (Leguminosae; Mimosoidae). Silvae Genetica 43: 151-163.
47. Harris SA, Hughes CE, Ingram R & Abbott RJ (1994) A phylogenetic analysis of Leucaena (Leguminosae: Mimosoidae). Plant Systematics & Evolution 191: 1-26.
45. Abbott RJ (1993). Book review. Mogie, M. (1992). The Evolution of Asexual Reproduction in Plants by M. Mogie.Chapman-Hall. New Phytologist 125: 223.
42. Harris SA, Maberly SC & Abbott RJ (1992) Genetic variation within and between populationsof Myriophyllum alterniflorum D.C. Aquatic Botany 44: 1-21.
41. Abbott RJ (1992) Plant invasions, interspecific hybridization and the evolution of new plant taxa. Trends Ecology & Evolution 7: 401-405.
40. Irwin JA & Abbott RJ (1992) Morphometric and isozyme evidence for the hybrid origin of a new radiate groundsel in York, England. Heredity 69: 431-439.
39. Chalmers KJ, Waugh R, Walters J, Forster BP, Nevo E, Abbott RJ & Powell W (1992) Grain isozyme and ribosomal DNA variability in Hordeum spontaneum populations from Israel. Theoretical & Applied Genetics 84: 313-322.
38. Ashton PA & Abbott RJ (1992) Isozyme evidence and the origin of Senecio vulgaris L. (Compositae). Plant Systematics & Evolution 179: 167-174.
33. Abbott RJ (1991) A morph ratio cline for keel petal colour in Lotus corniculatus L. along the north coast of Scotland. Botanical J. Scotland 46: 131-135.
32. Ren Z & Abbott RJ (1991) Seed dormancy in Mediterranean Senecio vulgaris. New Phytologist 117: 673-678.
31. Abbott RJ & Horrill JC (1991) Survivorship and fecundity of the radiate and non-radiate morphs of Groundsel, Senecio vulgaris L., raised in pure stand and mixture. J. Evolutionary Biology 4: 241-257.
1990
30. Abbott RJ, Irwin JA & Forbes DG (1990) Absence of a radiate morph bearing self- incompatible ray florets from Edinburgh populations of Senecio vulgaris L. Heredity 64: 391-393.
1989
29. Abbott RJ & Gomes MF (1989) Population genetic structure and outcrossing rate of Arabidopsis thaliana. Heredity 62: 411-418.
28. Abbott RJ (1989) Population genetics and plant breeding: Homage to R.W. Allard. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 4: 5-6.
1988
27. Abbott RJ & Irwin J (1988) Pollinator movements and the polymorphism for outcrossing rate at the ray floret locus in Groundsel, Senecio vulgaris L. Heredity 60: 295-298.
26. Abbott RJ, Horrill JC & Noble GDG (1988) Germination behaviour of the radiate and non-radiate morphs of groundsel, Senecio vulgaris L. Heredity 60: 15-20.
1987
25. Ross MD & Abbott RJ (1987) Fitness, sexual asymmetry, functional sex and selfing in Senecio vulgaris L. Evolutionary Trends in Plants 1: 21-28.
24. Marshall DF & Abbott RJ (1987) Morph differences in seed output and the maintenance of the polymorphism for capitulum type and outcrossing rate in Senecio vulgaris L. Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinb. 45: 107-119.
23. Abbott RJ & Gomes MF (1987) Outcrossing rates in natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana. Arabidopsis Inf. Serv. 25: 85-88.
22. Gomes MF & Abbott RJ (1987) Genotypic diversity in British populations of Arabidopsis thaliana based on a survey of isozyme variation. Arabidopsis Inf. Serv. 23: 25-30.
1986
21. Caligari PDS, Brown J & Abbott RJ (1986) Selection for yield and yield components in the early generations of a potato breeding programme. Theoretical Appl. Genet. 73: 218-222.
20. Abbott RJ (1986) Life history variation associated with the polymorphism for capitulum type and outcrossing rate in Senecio vulgaris L. Heredity 56: 381-391.
1985
19. Abbott RJ (1985) Maintenance of a polymorphism for outcrossing in a predominantly selfing plant. In: J Haeck & JW Woldendorp (eds.) Structure and Functioning of Plant Populations, 2 pp.277-286. N. Holland, Amsterdam.
18. Abbott RJ & Schmitt J. (1985) Effect of environment on percentage female ray florets per capitulum and outcrossing potential in a self-compatible composite (Senecio vulgaris L. var. hibernicus Syme). New Phytologist 101: 219-229.
1984
17. Marshall DF & Abbott RJ (1984) Polymorphism for outcrossing frequency at the ray floret locus in Senecio vulgaris L. III. Causes. Heredity 53: 145-149.
16. Marshall DF & Abbott RJ (1984) Polymorphism for outcrossing frequency at the ray floret locus in Senecio vulgaris L. II. Confirmation. Heredity 52: 331-336.
14. Abbott RJ, Noltie HJ & Ingram R (1983) The origin and distribution of Senecio cambrensis Rosser in Edinburgh. Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinb. 44: 103-106.
1982
13. Marshall DF & Abbott RJ (1982). Polymorphism for outcrossing frequency at the ray floret locus in Senecio vulgaris L. I. Evidence. Heredity 48: 227-235.
1981
12. Pool PA, Ingram R, Abbott RJ, Jennings DL & Topham PD (1981) Karyotype variation in Rubus with particular reference to R. idaeus L. and R. coreanus Miquel. Cytologia 46: 125-132.
11. Abbott RJ (1981) The keel petal colour polymorphism of Lotus corniculatus L. in Scotland. New Phytologist 88: 549-553.
10. Abbott RJ (1981) Polymorphism for cyanogenesis in Lotus corniculatus on links and machair in Outer Hebrides. Transactions Botanical Society Edinburgh 43: 337-342.
1980
9. Gibbs PE, Leitao-Filho HF & Abbott RJ (1980) Application of the point-centred quarter method in a floristic survey of an area of gallery forest at Mogi-Guacu, S.P., Brazil. Revta. brasil. Bot. 3: 17-22.
8. Ingram R, Weir J & Abbott RJ (1980) New evidence concerning the origin of inland radiate Groundsel S. vulgaris L. var. hibernicus Syme. New Phytologist 84: 543-546.
7. Marshall DF & Abbott RJ (1980) On the frequency of introgression of the radiate (Tr) allele from Senecio squalidus L. into Senecio vulgaris L. Heredity 45: 133-135.
1979
6. Abbott RJ (1979) Janzen's Dandelions: A criticism. American Naturalist 113: 152-155.
1977
5. Abbott RJ (1977) A quantitative association between soil moisture content and the frequency of the cyanogenic form of Lotus corniculatus L. at Birsay, Orkney. Heredity 38: 397-400.
1976
4. Campbell JM & Abbott RJ (1976) Variability of outcrossing frequency in Senecio vulgaris L. Heredity 36: 267-274.
3. Abbott RJ (1976) Variation within Common Groundsel, Senecio vulgaris L. II. Local differences within cliff populations on Puffin Island. New Phytolologist 76: 165-172.
2. Abbott RJ (1976) Variation within Common Groundsel, Senecio vulgaris L. I. Genetic response to spatial variations of the environment. New Phytologist 76: 153-164.
1974
1. Abbott RJ (1974) Patterns of morphological and physiological variation between and within populations from disparate habitats of Senecio vulgaris L. an inbreeding species. D.Phil Thesis, University of Oxford.