Hastings Natural History Reservation

27 Nov, 04 PM - 28 Nov, 04 PM

ABSTRACT Fluctuating Asymmetry (FA) is a random, non directional deviation from perfect bilateral or radial symmetry. It is a widely used measure of developmental instability. Many studies have shown that FA increases under different kinds of stress. Stress effects have been successfully demonstrated in the "Evolution Canyon" model system in lower Nahal Oren, Mount Carmel, Israel. The opposite slopes of the canyon display remarkable physical and biotic contrasts at the microscale. The microclimatic conditions on the slopes vary dramatically; affecting the biology of organisms at all levels. The "African" south-facing slope (SFS) has a more xeric environment, that is, warmer, drier and a more variable microclimate, than the mesic "European" north-facing slope (NFS). Salvia Fruticosa, leaves, sampled on both slopes, have been found to demonstrate smaller Surface area as well as higher asymmetry of secondary veins and edge on the SFS comparing to the NFS, employed a novel algorithm, based on the Vein Patterning Hypothesis for evaluating secondary vein asymmetry in leaves. In addition using a Support Vector Machine classifier (SVM),We show that samples are consistently classified to their own sub-population implying strong correlation between objects from the same slope .Our findings corroborate the assumption that microclimatic differences between the "European" NFS and the "African" SFS have effect on leaf developmental instability. Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: razhmu@yahoo.com

Visit #6302 @Hastings Natural History Reservation

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Under Project # 4781 | Research

Evolution Canyon

undergraduate_student - Institute of Evolution

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Raz Samuel Nov 27 - 28, 2004 (2 days)

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Day Use Only 1 Nov 27 - 28, 2004