Ecological drivers of population genetic differentiation in seed plants For my PhD dissertation I investigated factors that affect plant population genetic structure at global, regional, and local scales. At the global scale, I performed a literature review of population genetic differentiation (FST) in seed plants based on a 337-species dataset with data on FST and species traits. Using phylogenetic multiple regressions, I found that FST is higher for tropical, mixed-mating, non-woody species pollinated by small insects, and lower for temperate, outcrossing trees pollinated by wind. Check out this publication in Molecular Ecology! |
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Nectar extraction efficiency in nectar feeding bats with different tongue morphology Nectarivory has independently evolved two times in the bat family Phyllostomidae, resulting in elongated tongues with two contrasting morphologies. Glossophagines have lapping ‘mop-like’ tongues with hemodynamic terminal papillae, while lonchophyllines have non-lapping ‘pump-like’ tongues with peristaltic lateral grooves. Do these morphologies differ in nectar extraction efficiency? We found that extraction efficiency declined at similar rates with increasing levels of nectar depth for studied species. Furthermore, tongue length significantly predicted nectar extraction efficiency across our studied species in a wide variety of flowers tested. Our results suggest that tongue length, more so than morphology, affects nectar extraction efficiency in specialized nectar-feeding bats. |
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Octopleura, a Neotropical clade in the megadiverse genus Miconia (Melastomataceae) For my Masters I tackled this clade composed by over 33 species, 6 of which I newly described. Species are readily recognized by their isomorphic anthers which connective is prolonged dorsobasally into a deflexed gland-edged appendage. Colombia and Ecuador are the center of diversity, where unexplored areas probably harbor even more species awaiting description. By estimating a molecular phylogeny, I identified 3 subclades which can be distinguished by their petal and seed morphology. This research was accomplished almost entirely using herbarium specimens! The PBI Miconieae and several expeditions to Colombia provided the basis for the molecular phylogeny. Scientific illustrations were drawn by the talented Sean Vidal Edgerton. |
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