RESEARCH
Current Research:
PhD Research at Northern Arizona University:
I’m interested in the evolutionary ecology of plant traits focusing on plant-herbivore interactions, plant defenses, and life history of Monkeyflowers. The Mimulus genus (as described by Beardsley and Olmstead 2002), commonly known as Monkeyflowers, contains roughly 150 species that exhibit great phenotypic variation. This genus has served as a classic model system to study ecological adaptation, speciation, and plant-pollinator interactions since the mid-20th century. Species within the genus are typically annuals or herbaceous perennials with flowers that are often red, pink, or yellow and are pollinated largely by bees and hummingbirds. Both perennials and annuals can be found at elevations from ocean sides to high mountains though most inhabit riparian or seasonally wet areas within these locations.
Anthocyanins:
Anthocyanins are the blue, red, or purple pigments that give fruits and vegetables their coloration. These anthocyanins are found in flowers, fruits, leaves, and tubers of plants. The color and stability of the pigments made by the anthocyanins are influenced by pH, light, temperature, and structure and these pigments can contribute to plant-animal interactions, including to attract pollinators and frugivores, and to repel herbivores and parasites. In Mimulus, anthocyanin pigmentations and patterns have been explored rigorously in the flowers, yet, very few studies have explored the function and genetic framework of anthocyanins in the leaves of Mimulus.
Past Research:
Masters Research at Michigan State University:
My masters thesis investigated the genetic underpinnings of the expression of morphological traits that attract beneficial mites, on cultivars of domesticated grape, Vitis vinifera. I used a Genome Wide Association study approach that combines phenotypic data from 399 distinct cultivars of grape, from around the world, collected from USDA-ARS maintained plots and genotypic data from a pre-existing 9kSNP dataset from these same plants, generated by Dr. Sean Myles. By studying the underlying genetics involved in the formation of these traits, I linked genotype to ecologically- and agriculturally-relevant plant phenotypes.
Undergraduate Research at the University of Arizona:
I conducted controlled herbivore interaction experiments using Arabidopsis thaliana and Scaptomyza flava. I compared development time of S. flava fly larvae feeding on A. thaliana mutants that differed only in the presence or absence of genes for the synthesis of glucosinolates, a major defense chemical in mustards. I also conducted choice test experiments of S. flava on these A. thaliana mutants to determine S. flava feeding and oviposition preference of glucosinolates and camalexins, present in these different plant mutants. These experiments were conducted to identify the plant genes involved in resistance to the herbivorous insect, S. flava. I worked on this research for three years with Dr. Andrew Gloss in the Whiteman Lab and produced the following publication, found here.
Coinciding with this research I maintained a large population of Cardamine cordifolia, from select regions around the United States, for glucosinolate profiling. This research aimed identify the specific glucosinolates present in the different regions of the U.S. where each original plant was collected. We were looking at the coevolution of specialized Scaptomyza flava flies on these plants from the different regions. I also worked on this research for three years with Dr. Andrew Gloss in the Whiteman Lab.
Additionally, I conducted research with Dr. Simon Groen in the Whiteman Lab, using CAFE assays and stress sensitivity assays to asses the effects of cardenolides on Drosophila melanogaster knockout mutants performance and survival. This work produced the following publication, found here.
Undergraduate Research at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratories:
I worked with Dr. Lara Souza from the University of Oklahoma, to investigate how subordinate species diversity and composition varied along a plant dominance gradient. To do this, we directly tested the effects of two co-occurring dominant montane meadow plant species: Festuca thurberi and Potentilla graciilis on community diversity and composition of subordinate species. This research produced a first author publication, found here.
