Santa Cruz Island Reserve

11 Apr, 05 AM - 13 Apr, 07 AM

Oceanic islands have long been used as natural laboratories to study evolution. The endemic species found on islands often represent early stages of evolution, because oceanic islands tend to be short-lived on geological time-scales. However, most studies have been conducted on isolated archipelagos with well-separated islands to allow investigators to focus on patterns and mechanisms of speciation in isolation of persistent gene flow from a source of colonists. This focus on isolation and separation, hinders researchers from addressing critical questions regarding patterns of plant dispersal and speciation when dispersal rates are higher. We propose to study patterns of plant dispersal and evolution on the California Channel Islands, which are close to the mainland and also close to each other. We will test several hypotheses of dispersal and differentiation using the endemic island taxa Lotus dendroideus (Fabaceae) and Lotus argophyllus (Fabaceae), as well as a closely related taxon, Louts hamatus, which is found on the islands and the mainland. The focal taxa are found on multiple islands, have multiple recognized varieties, and several are considered threatened or endangered by the federal government or the state of California. Genetic data will be obtained from chloroplast and nuclear DNA for each species, and nuclear microsatellite data. This research project is focused on understanding the evolutionary processes that have led to the unique plant species endemic to the Channel Islands. Additionally, this research will lead to a better understanding of divergence within and among populations of our study taxa, which will inform conservation activities.

Visit #20754 @Santa Cruz Island Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 21338 | Research

The role of isolation in species diversification; insights into dispersal and evolution of endemic Lotus from the California Channel Islands

faculty - University of Northern Colorado

Reservation Members(s)

Mitchell McGlaughlin Apr 11 - 13, 2010 (3 days)
Mitchell McGlaughlin Apr 11 - 13, 2010 (3 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Dorm 2 Apr 11 - 13, 2010
Jeep 2 Apr 11 - 13, 2010
Private Room 2 Apr 11 - 13, 2010