Research
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Most recently I've been collaborating with researchers at Northern Arizona University (NAU) on a project involving the piñon pine tree. The piñon/juniper 
woodlands of the southwest are under considerable pressure from human-induced climate change, with current projections predicting massive die-offs (further reading).
The piñon of Nevada are typically the 'one-needle' piñon (Pinus monophylla), while the piñons of Colorado and northern Arizona (Pinus edulis) have two needles per fasicle, among other morphological traits.
Many piñon trees of the southwest display a mixture between one and two needles, often on the same branch (Photo), and it isn't entirely clear whether these trees are hybrids of the two above taxa or represent plasticity in needle development as an evolutionary response to environmental conditions (i.e. one needle would conserve water, two would enhance photosynthesis).
Using chloroplast DNA we are examining the genotypes of many different collections of piñons throughout the southwest to help answer this question, and more importantly, to begin to provide information about how the changing climate will impact this ecologically vital species.
Some of the data and further information is on the Southwest Piñon Project page.
The piñon of Nevada are typically the 'one-needle' piñon (Pinus monophylla), while the piñons of Colorado and northern Arizona (Pinus edulis) have two needles per fasicle, among other morphological traits.
Many piñon trees of the southwest display a mixture between one and two needles, often on the same branch (Photo), and it isn't entirely clear whether these trees are hybrids of the two above taxa or represent plasticity in needle development as an evolutionary response to environmental conditions (i.e. one needle would conserve water, two would enhance photosynthesis).
Using chloroplast DNA we are examining the genotypes of many different collections of piñons throughout the southwest to help answer this question, and more importantly, to begin to provide information about how the changing climate will impact this ecologically vital species.
Some of the data and further information is on the Southwest Piñon Project page.
