
MATING SYSTEMS AND COLONIZATION
For my dissertation, I am studying the role of plant mating systems in colonization. With global change impacting species suitable habitats, many plant species will need to shift their ranges to escape extinction. Plant colonization theory suggests that species that can self-reproduce have an advantage over outcrossing species. The process of colonization leads to mate-limitation; therefore, if a plant requires outcross reproduction, it may be not be able to reproduce but a plant that can self-fertilize can use its own pollen in self-reproduction. I aim to test this hypothesis using reproductive variation in the Tall Bellflower (Campanula americana). I also plan to explore the negative aspect of self-reproduction, inbreeding depression, and ultimately I will determine if the benefit of selfing outweighs the cost of inbreeding depression in colonization.
FLORAL SCENT
Floral scent plays a large role in pollinator attraction and has been shown to vary based on the sex of a flower. However, most of the sex-specific scent work has explored plants that flowers of a single sex (dioecy). My undergraduate research explored the sex-specific scent of a hermaphroditic flower (Canella winterana) that starts off as female and then switches to male. I found that there were differences in the floral scent profile between the sexual phases; however, these differences were not consistent across plants. The manuscript for this work is published in Biochemical Systematics and Ecology.
For my dissertation, I am studying the role of plant mating systems in colonization. With global change impacting species suitable habitats, many plant species will need to shift their ranges to escape extinction. Plant colonization theory suggests that species that can self-reproduce have an advantage over outcrossing species. The process of colonization leads to mate-limitation; therefore, if a plant requires outcross reproduction, it may be not be able to reproduce but a plant that can self-fertilize can use its own pollen in self-reproduction. I aim to test this hypothesis using reproductive variation in the Tall Bellflower (Campanula americana). I also plan to explore the negative aspect of self-reproduction, inbreeding depression, and ultimately I will determine if the benefit of selfing outweighs the cost of inbreeding depression in colonization.
FLORAL SCENT
Floral scent plays a large role in pollinator attraction and has been shown to vary based on the sex of a flower. However, most of the sex-specific scent work has explored plants that flowers of a single sex (dioecy). My undergraduate research explored the sex-specific scent of a hermaphroditic flower (Canella winterana) that starts off as female and then switches to male. I found that there were differences in the floral scent profile between the sexual phases; however, these differences were not consistent across plants. The manuscript for this work is published in Biochemical Systematics and Ecology.