Elliott Chaparral Reserve

29 Apr, 02 AM - 29 Apr, 04 AM

This project will be part of ongoing research seeking to understand the ecological and evolutionary processes that led to phenotypic differentiation in a species of Mimulus. We will perform an extensive sampling of Mimulus aurantiacus plants in different habitats throughout San Diego county to examine habitat and genetic differences between geographically distinct red- and yellow-flowered ecotypes. While previous work in this system has focused on the role of pollinators on flower color differences, our recent work suggests that selection operates on habitat-mediated, physiological differences prior to flowering. Even though this calls into question the potential role of pollinators in driving this divergence, that flower color remains so tightly associated with these putative physiological differences suggests the possibility that the same mutations affect both flower color and plant physiology. Our previous work has identified the genetic basis for the flower color differences between these ecotypes. We are now interested in determining the life history stage at which selection operates. The purpose of this project is to genotype adults and seedlings (collected as seeds and grown in the greenhouse) at genetic markers to determine: 1) the extent of gene flow between habitats, 2) the extent of differentiation at flower color genes as a function of geography, and 3) to determine whether selection acts to eliminate hybrid migrants from pure red- and yellow-flowered populations. This work is one component associated with the longer-term goal of being able to connect the genotype-phenotype map with differences in fitness in this species.

Visit #24851 @Elliott Chaparral Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 23574 | Research

Population genetics and habitat choice among flower color ecotypes of Mimulus aurantiacus

faculty - University of Oregon

Reservation Members(s)

Matt Streisfeld Apr 29, 2011 (1 days)

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