OVERVIEW The study of species divergence and species barriers has been central to evolutionary biology since Darwin, and understanding the origins of reproductive isolating mechanisms remains a fundamental focus of the field. The evolution of reproductive barriers is a key step in the accumulation of genetic differences among sexually reproducing populations, facilitating adaptive diversification among groups of populations and ultimately leading to speciation. By understanding mechanisms of reproductive isolation, we can gain broad insights into the origins and maintenance of biological diversity. My interests in reproductive isolating barriers have been long standing, and continue to guide the course of my research. In previous research, I've focused on measures and consequences of reproductive isolation in plant species, including - population structure and gene flow in rare and threatened plant species - phylogeography and ecological genetics of forest tree species
Because floral morphology plays such a large role in plant reproductive isolation, in the past I've also addressed questions of how the genes that regulate floral development contribute to the evolution of floral morphology, including - identification of gene duplication events - understanding the selective forces maintaining gene duplicates
More recently, I have become interested in utilizing technological advances in genomics and proteomics to directly identify the genes responsible for reproductive isolation. These tools offer the possibility of understanding the underlying molecular basis of crossing barriers, as well as the evolutionary forces driving diversification. I've been developing these tools and applying them to two distinct groups of organisms which have served prominent roles in the study of reproductive barriers, including - sperm/egg recognition in abalone (Haliotis spp.), a marine gastropod mollusk - pollen competition in yellow monkeyflowers (Mimulus spp.) |
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