A5072745345- Plant and animal studies
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilience
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Slime Mold and Myxomycetes Research
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Plant Pathogens and Resistance
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Micro and Nano Robotics
Clark University
2024-2025
Washington State University
2018-2021
Michigan State University
2015-2019
Rice University
2006-2012
Evolutionary biologists typically envision a trait’s genetic basis and fitness effects occurring within single species. However, traits can be determined by have consequences for interacting species, thus evolving in multiple genomes. This is especially likely mutualisms, where species exchange benefits associate over long periods of time. Partners may experience evolutionary conflict the value multi-genomic trait, but such conflicts ameliorated mutualism’s positive feedbacks. Here, we...
One condition for the evolution of altruism is genetic relatedness between altruist and beneficiary, often achieved through active kin recognition. Here, we investigate power a passive process resulting from drift during population growth in social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum . We put labelled unlabelled cells same clone centre plate, allowed them to proliferate outward. Zones formed by owing small actively growing at colony edge. also found that single could form zones high relatedness....
A major challenge for evolutionary biology is explaining altruism, particularly when it involves death of one party and occurs across species. Chimeric fruiting bodies Dictyostelium discoideum purpureum develop from formerly independent amoebae, some die to help others. Here we examine co-aggregation between D. purpureum, determine its frequency which benefits, the extent fair play in contribution altruistic caste. We mixed cells both species equal proportions, then analyzed 198 individual...
Premise of research. Plants in natural and agricultural systems are influenced myriad ways by their microbial communities, particularly providing goods services that change plant functional traits. Microbes considered an influential part the environmental context trait expression, but often, microbe-mediated effects contingent on local resources, such as nitrogen. Here, we ask how microbes nitrogen affect belowground traits patterns phenotypic selection.Methodology. We performed a fully...
Interaction conditions can change the balance of cooperation and conflict in multicellular groups. After aggregating together, cells social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum may migrate as a group (known slug) to new location. We consider this migration stage an arena for competition because slug not be from genetically homogeneous population. In study, we examined interplay two seemingly diametric actions, solitary action kin recognition collective D. discoideum, more fully understand effects...
Less than 1% of native prairie lands remain in the United States. Located eastern Washington, rare habitat called Palouse was largely converted to wheat monocropping. With this conversion came numerous physical, chemical, and biological changes soil that may ultimately contribute reduced yields. Here, we explored how (
Abstract The Enemy Release Hypothesis posits that invasion of novel habitats can be facilitated by the absence coevolved herbivores. However, a new environment and interactions with unfamiliar herbivores may impose selection on invading plants for traits reduce their attractiveness to or enhanced defenses compared native host plants, leading pattern similar enemy release but driven evolutionary change rather than ecological differences. Shifting Defense in will shift from specialized defense...
Abstract One of the challenges microbial life is that best location for feeding and growth may not be dispersal. This likely to case social amoebae Dictyostelium discoideum purpureum feed on soil bacteria in amoeba stage, but then group into a multicellular slug moves towards light before forming fruiting body. Here we examine this short-range dispersal amoebae, D. purpureum. We predicted would have higher migration costs travel less far because it forms dead stalk from living cells as...
Plants engage in complex multipartite interactions with mutualists and antagonists, but these are rarely included studies that explore plant invasiveness. When considered isolation, we know beneficial microbes can enhance an exotic plant's invasive ability herbivorous insects often decrease likeliness of success. However, the effect partners on fitness has not been well characterized when all three species coevolve. We use computational evolutionary modeling a trait-based system to test how...
Premise of the Study Current methods for quantifying herbivore‐induced alterations in plant biochemistry are often unusable by researchers due to practical constraints. We present a cost‐effective, high‐throughput protocol quantify multiple biochemical responses from small tissue samples using spectrophotometric techniques. Methods and Results Using Solanum lycopersicum Medicago polymorpha leaves pre‐ post‐herbivory, we demonstrate that our quantifies common defense responses: peroxidase...
Abstract Aims Saint John’s wort, Hypericum perforatum , is a medicinally and ecologically important perennial plant species that has broad global distribution. Despite the species’ importance, little known about factors structure its microbial communities identity of microbes enhance growth fitness. Here we aim to describe associated with elucidate these communities. Methods We collected H. root samples in three adjacent habitat types: wet dry alvars (two types limestone barren) fallow...