A5075456988- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Plant and animal studies
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Plant responses to elevated CO2
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Plant Ecology and Taxonomy Studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
Missouri Botanical Garden
2016-2025
Washington University in St. Louis
1995-2023
Saint Louis University
2020
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
2011-2017
United States Army
2012-2017
University of Wyoming
2009-2017
United States Army Corps of Engineers
2011-2012
University of Florida
2004-2009
Florida Museum of Natural History
2006-2009
Johnson Matthey (United States)
2002
Biological diversity is a key concept in the life sciences and plays fundamental role many ecological evolutionary processes. Although biodiversity inherently hierarchical covering different levels of organization (genes, population, species, communities ecosystems), index that behaves consistently across these has so far been lacking, hindering development truly integrative studies. To fill this important knowledge gap, we present unifying framework for measurement organization. Our...
Invasive Asian bighead and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis H. molitrix) pose a substantial threat to North American aquatic ecosystems. Recently, environmental DNA (eDNA), genetic material shed by organisms into their environment that can be detected non-invasive sampling strategies assays, has gained recognition as tool for tracking the invasion front of these species toward Great Lakes. The goal this study was develop new species-specific conventional PCR (cPCR) quantitative (qPCR)...
Developmental mechanisms that enable perception of and response to the environment may enhance fitness. Ecophysiological traits typically vary depending on local conditions contribute resource acquisition allocation, yet correlations limit adaptive trait expression. Notably, photosynthesis stomatal conductance diurnally, circadian clock, which is an internal estimate time anticipates diurnal light/dark cycles, synchronize physiological behaviors with environmental conditions. Using...
Summary Improved predictions of fitness and yield may be obtained by characterizing the genetic controls environmental dependencies organismal ontogeny. Elucidating shape growth curves reveal novel that single‐time‐point ( STP ) analyses do not because, in theory, infinite numbers can result same final measurement. We measured leaf lengths widths Brassica rapa recombinant inbred lines RIL s) throughout modeled allometry as function valued traits FVT ), examined correlations between these...
• The ability of tree stems to recover from damage is critical for survival and may explain species distributions across disturbance regimes. Two primary responses stem damage, decay compartmentalization wound closure, act in concert limit pathogen spread. A previous study demonstrated a tradeoff between that varied with anatomical traits, but its wide taxonomic range made it hard analyze an evolutionary context. Here, we tested the 13 Quercus inhabiting three habitats gradient fire...
Summary Crop selection often leads to dramatic morphological diversification, in which allocation the harvestable component increases. Shifts are predicted impact (as well as rely on) physiological traits; yet, little is known about evolution of gas exchange and related anatomical features during crop diversification. In Brassica rapa , we tested for differentiation among three morphotypes (leaf, turnip, oilseed) correlated circadian, exchange, phenological traits. We also examined internal...
Plant performance in agricultural and natural settings varies with moisture availability, understanding the range of potential drought responses underlying genetic architecture is important for how plants will respond to both artificial selection various water regimes. Here, we raised genotypes Brassica rapa under well-watered treatments field. Our primary goal was understand yield effects different drought-escape dehydration-avoidance strategies. Drought reduced soil by 62 % field capacity....
As multiple species of bats are currently experiencing dramatic declines in populations due to white-nose syndrome (WNS) and other factors, conservation managers have an urgent need for data on the ecology overall status once-common bat species. Standard approaches obtain often involve capture handling, requiring extensive expertise unavoidably resulting stress bats. New methods rapidly critical needed that minimize both spread WNS. Guano provides a noninvasive source DNA includes...
A bstract Island studies have been integral in the development of process-oriented biodiversity models such as general dynamic model (GDM) oceanic island biogeography. While empirical tests GDM primarily come from phylogeographic studies, incorporating comprehensive population-level sampling radiations are rare. In this study, we elucidate evolutionary processes driving diversification Hibiscus section Lilibiscus Mascarene archipelago using and 2bRAD sequencing. Our goals were to: 1) assess...
Abstract Subtribe Scorzonerinae of tribe Lactuceae (Asteraceae: Cichorioideae) appears to be well supported as monophyletic; however, generic circumscription and relationships within the group have been problematic. To investigate monophyly recognized genera their intergeneric relationships, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis subtribe using ITS sequence data. Our results reveal that most genera, including Tragopogon , Epilasia Podospermum Koelpinia Lasiospora are monophyletic. The...
Abstract Hybridization and/or incomplete sorting of ancestral polymorphism are commonly implicated to explain discordant phylogenetic analyses closely related species complexes. One genus in which these phenomena have been suggested played major roles based on data is Conradina , a mints (Lamiaceae) endemic the southeastern USA containing several endangered species. The goals this study were use microsatellite better understand patterns genetic structure Conradina, test hypotheses recent or...
Large-scale DNA sequence data may enable development of genetic resources in endangered species, thereby facilitating conservation efforts. Ziziphus celata, a federally endangered, self-incompatible plant species occurring Florida, USA, is one for which are necessary to facilitate new introductions and augmentations essential recovery the species. We used 454 pyrosequencing Z. celata normalized floral cDNA library create genomic resource gene marker discovery. A half-plate GS-FLX Titanium...
Conradina (Lamiaceae) consists of six allopatric species endemic to the southeastern United States, four which are federally endangered or threatened. The limits and status several taxa have been contested based on morphological grounds, clarification these is necessary for design implementation effective fiscally responsible protection management plans. objectives this study were investigate monophyly its relationship other mints understand patterns diversification in Conradina, clarify...
Abstract Premise The effective ex situ conservation of exceptional plants, whether in living collections or cryo‐collections, requires more resources than the other species. Because their expertise with rare botanical gardens are well positioned to lead this effort, but a well‐developed strategy clear understanding needed. Methods Grant funding was obtained from Institute Museum and Library Services support three‐year project on cryobanking, provide smaller grants 10 for one‐year projects...
Abstract Using analyses that exhaustively sampled Mascarene Diospyros and included representative taxa from Madagascar other regions, we explored: (1) evolutionary relationships among spp. across the WIO (2) biogeographic connections of Malagasy with those in surrounding particularly focusing on Islands. We obtained plastid sequence data for 146 taxa, including 40 species not previously molecular analyses, conducted Bayesian maximum-likelihood phylogenetic divergence-time estimation...
A common pattern observed in temperate tree clades is that species are often morphologically distinct and partially interfertile but maintain cohesion despite ongoing hybridization where ranges overlap. Although closely related commonly occur sympatry tropical ecosystems, little known about patterns of within a clade over time, the implications this for maintenance boundaries. In study, we focused on sympatric trees genus Diospyros Mascarene islands investigated whether genetically distinct,...
Life history theory predicts the evolution of trait combinations that enhance fitness, and occurrence trade-offs depends in part on magnitude variation growth rate or acquisition. Using recombinant inbred lines, we examined genetic architecture age size at reproduction across abiotic conditions encountered by cultivars naturalized populations Brassica rapa. We found genotypes are plastic to seasonal setting, such was accelerated under summer annual variances for varied simulated settings. an...
Understanding genetic diversity and structure in a rare species is critical for prioritizing both situ ex conservation efforts. One such Physaria filiformis (Brassicaceae), threatened, winter annual plant species. The has naturally fragmented distribution, occupying three different soil types spread across four disjunct geographical locations Missouri Arkansas. goals of this study were to understand: (1) whether factors associated with fragmentation small population size (i.e., inbreeding,...