Abstract Detail

At the Intersection of Applied and Academic Botany: Fertile Ground for an Interdisciplinary Botanical Renaissance

Moore, Cheyenne [1], McDonnell, Angela [1], Schuette, Scott [3], Martine, Christopher [4].

Assessing the conservation status of Baptisia australis var. australis in Pennsylvania through natural history and metapopulation lenses.

In Pennsylvania B. australis var. australis (L.) R. Br. (Fabaceae) is comprised of two metapopulations along four waterways: the Allegheny River, Youghiogheny River, Clarion River, and Red Bank Creek. Despite the location of these watersheds within the greater Ohio River drainage, there is still considerable distance between the metapopulations. Because of its limited distribution and small number of extant populations, B. australis var. australis is considered state-threatened in Pennsylvania. In addition, the riparian prairie habitat that Pennsylvania Baptisia australis var. australis is restricted to is also in decline and considered vulnerable in the state. My work carries with it two main objectives: 1) Better understand the ecology and natural history of these state rare metapopulations, including assessment of the status of the species in the state, and 2) What is the genetic structure of known native populations and how does it relate to the spatial structure of subpopulations? This research utilizes tools such as aerial imagery, field surveys, and herbarium collections in to examine the natural history of the species. In addition, ddRAD is used to collect genetic data for use in population genetics analyses. I plan to synthesize these data to gain insight into the metapopulation dynamics of this riparian system. My research will inform the conservation status of Baptisia australis var. australis in Pennsylvania, as well as clarify lingering uncertainties about gene flow in riparian plant populations. The overall project seeks to combine field opportunities surveying rare plants with the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program and genetic work at Bucknell University to answer broader conservation questions.

1 - Bucknell University, Biology, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, United States
2 - Bucknell University, Biology, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, United States
3 - Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, 800 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222.0, United States
4 - Bucknell University, Biological Sciences, 203 Biology Building, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, United States

Keywords:
Baptisia
Fabaceae
riparian
Natural Heritage Program
rare plant
conservation
population genetics
metapopulation
natural history
Pennsylvania.

Presentation Type: Symposium Presentation
Session: SYM5, At the intersection of applied and academic botany: Fertile ground for an interdisciplinary botanical renaissance
Location: San Ignacio/Starr Pass
Date: Wednesday, July 31st, 2019
Time: 9:15 AM
Number: SYM5004
Abstract ID:241
Candidate for Awards:None