Research Interests
My current research focuses on how the evolution of germination phenology interacts with the evolution of physiological tolerances. Strong seed dormancy acts as a form of habitat selection such that seeds tend to germinate in response to particular seasonal conditions. In contrast, weak seed dormancy may allow seeds to germinate at different points in the year, exposing individuals to varying environments. In my study system Arabidopsis thaliana, the typical life history follows a winter annual cycle where seeds disperse in the spring, remain dormant through the summer, and germinate in the autumn. However, non-dormant seeds can germinate outside of autumn conditions such as in the summer. Non-dormant populations that germinate and develop in the summer may evolve greater tolerance to heat and drought than their dormant relatives. My study involves genetically variable inbred lines that differ in seed dormancy alleles that have evolved under various field conditions. Using the founder and evolved populations, I am conducting assays to determine whether there are differences in the evolution of physiological tolerance among dormant, non-dormant, and mixed populations.