Hastings Natural History Reservation

24 Apr, 03 AM - 24 Apr, 09 AM

This project is evaluating the geographic pattern of genetic and ecological differentiation in coevolving plants and insects. The study focuses on interactions between prodoxid moths and the plants they feed upon as larvae and also pollinate as adults, but the project also includes work with other floral visitors. Part of the purpose of this work is to assess the appropriate geographic scale for conservation efforts targeted at maintaining ecosystem services, such as pollination, amid large-scale environmental change. This NSF-funded project involves sampling at sites throughout California and the far western U.S. The work is a continuation of past work we have done at Hastings, involving a graduate student (Kate Horjus Rich) and a postdoctoral associate (Mariana Cuautle). They have completed their work and have submitted papers for publication. During this next phase of the work, several of us in my lab will be evaluating in more detail geographic variation the traits of the plants and the moths. At Hastings, this work will involve morphological analyses of plants and moths, nectar production measurements, and pollination efficacy experiments.

Visit #17986 @Hastings Natural History Reservation

Approved

Under Project # 19935 | Research

Geographic mosaic of interactions among coevolving plants and insects

faculty - University of California, Santa Cruz

Reservation Members(s)

John Thompson Apr 24, 2009 (1 days)

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Day Use Only 1 Apr 24 (6 hours)