The key underlying motivation behind my research is to bring good scientific research to issues in conservation biology. Often the results of our studies lead us to new questions and into unpredictable directions. For more details on recent and on-going projects see the research link.
As we work at the interface of ecology and evolution, many of our projects focus on the Breeding System Dynamics of Plants, which controls who can make with who. Thus the breeding system has direct impact in genetic aspects of a population such as the extent of inbreeding and expression of inbreeding depression. From the ecological perspective the diversity, composition and behavior of the pollinator community are in an interactive dynamic with the plant breeding system. Other ecological aspects of the environment also have direct impacts on the breeding systems through sex-specific environmental selection.
Note: for more details on any project click on the species name.
Habitat Fragmentation of Prairies
Lobelia spicata has female and hermaphroditic plants, where the relative frequency of females varies from <5% to >80%, which impacts the reproductive success of the plants. Using field and greenhouse studies and theoretical approaches we have been assessing both the causes of the variation in females as well as the conquences.
Chamaecrista fasciculata is an annual prairie plant commonly found in tallgrass and sand prairies of different sizes. Through greenhouse and field studies we have been exploring the extent of genetic load in relation to fragment size, local adaptation to prairie types and extent of genetic variation.
Note the topics below are currently less active areas of research but if you are very interested in this contact me.
Evolution In Heterogeneous Environments
Using wild populations of Arabidopsis thaliana, we are examining the effect of selection history (soil nutrient availability) on the genetic architecture of the populations.We are also using the model system Brassica rapa (rapid-cycling lines) to understand the potential genetic constraints to evolution in heterogeneous and novel environments using experimental and molecular approaches.
Genetics of Maternal Effects
Maternal effects, if genetically based, may influence species’ response to environmental variation. For this area of research we have been working with Nemophila menziesii. Note this is currently a less active area of research but if you are very interested in this contact me.