Evolutionary Ecology of Plant Reproduction
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Check out our new community science project website: Clemson Flower Color Project
Research and educational outreach at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens
Clemson Undergraduates in the Creative Inquiry Program have developed a research project at the SC Botanical Gardens that relates to the current NSF grant in the lab on floral thermal ecology. Students also engage with the Middle School students who are part of the Junior 4-H Naturalists group to share our research and discuss plant reproduction and pollination. We're investigating pollination mode in elusive early-spring flowering Hexastylis (heartleaf, little brown jug) that presents reddish flowers underneath the leaf litter. Some species have fetid odors. The students are tracking internal floral temperatures to address whether Hexastylis flowers may generate heat as a mechanism to attract pollinators and enhance scent signals. Junior Naturalists have been excited about helping us dig in the leaf litter for these flowers and helping us look for pollinators. Stay tuned for results at the Creative Inquiry Symposium and future presentations at the Botanical Gardens.
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Photo: Sue Watts
Photo: Sue Watts
Photo: Sue Watts
Podcasts and Popular Press
Jen talks about her Masters research and her scientific journey with folks at the Functional Ecologists blog.
Cierra discusses her work on the evolutionary ecology of leaf variation on the In Defense of Plants podcast,
Cierra discusses her work on the impacts of global change on flower color on the In Defense of Plants podcast
Cierra talks about floral anthocyanin pigmentation responses to climate change on Science Friday!
Matt talks about flower color and global change on the Climate Cast podcast