Research Grants Committee |
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Objective:
Your contribution to the Colorado Native Plant Society John W. Marr and Myrna P. Steinkamp funds supports research projects in plant biology. These separate funds honor the late Dr. John Marr, Professor at the University of Colorado and first President of the Colorado Native Plant Society, and Myrna Steinkamp, a founding member of the Colorado Native Plant Society who worked on behalf of the Society for many years in a variety of capacities. Both funds were established to support field and laboratory research on the biology and natural history of Colorado native plants. The Marr Fund supports research on the biology of Colorado native plants and plant communities. The Steinkamp Fund supports research on the biology of Colorado rare native plants. Thanks to the generous contributions of many members and supporters, a total of approximately $3,000 each year is available for grants. Your donation to these funds is encouraged and welcomed. Please make your check to the Colorado Native Plant Society, designate the fund(s) to which you are donating and mail to:
Applying For A Grant For further information about applying for the John W. Marr Grant click here. For further information about applying for the Myrna P. Steinkamp Grant click here. For additional information, please contact Jan Turner.
mailing address:
Recipients of the awards summarize their studies for publication in the Society's newsletter, Aquilegia, and on this web site. 2011 COLORADO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY GRANT RECIPIENTS The CONPS Research Grants Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Marr and Steinkamp grants. Ross McCauley, PhD. (Assistant Professor of Biology, Herbarium Curator. Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO). Genetic differentiation between alpine and montane populations of Viola adunca (Violaceae) in the San Juan Mountains. $982 Given the evidence suggesting that the taxon previously known as Viola bellidifolia is distinct from the more widespread Viola adunca, I am investigating the extent of its segregation from the more typical form of V. adunca initially focusing on the region of the San Juan Mountains from where it was first described and is very distinct. I am working to determine if V. bellidifolia and V. adunca maintain a continuous gene pool between the two taxa or if they are isolated either through habitat differences, phenological differences, and/or chromosome compatibility. This work is being undertaken with students from Fort Lewis College in Durango and serving as a means to teach methods of systematic evaluation of species differentiation. It is hoped that this work will serve to increase our knowledge of these plants in the high alpine zone of Colorado, provide a clear explanation for their evolutionary origin, and allow for the application of a name at the appropriate level of the taxonomic hierarchy. Scott Smith (in cooperation with Tim Hogan, Collection Manager, University of Colorado, Boulder). Survey of the ferns and orchids of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (Part 2). $1,000 This project is being undertaken to try and determine what ferns, fern allies and orchids exist in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. This will be the second year of this survey. The first year’s survey went exceedingly well. Six new Botrychium ferns as well as an additional populations of the rare fern Asplenium trichomanes ssp ramosum were found in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Cacti will be an additional focus during the second year of the survey. MYRNA P. STEINKAMP GRANT AWARDS Anna Schwabe, (M.S. Student in Plant Population Genetics, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO). Analysis of choloroplast DNA from Sclerocactus glaucus and Sclerocactus parviflorus to determine the level of directionality and hybridization between these two species. $1,000 Sclerocactus glaucus is an endangered plant species endemic to Colorado (UFWS 1979). Current genetic research is working to clarify some of the questions surrounding this species. The major current threat to the continued existence of S. glaucus is the possible hybridization with the closely related and more common S. parviflorus. If there is hybridization and it continues to occur S.glaucus will effectively become extinct. I propose to use chloroplast DNA analysis with S. glaucus and S. parviflorus samples we have from over 30 populations. This analysis will give a sense of the directionality of hybridization. Chloroplast DNA is maternally inherited and is therefore passed to offspring via seeds. Using this information we will be able to tell if populations of S. glaucus are being infiltrated by S. parviflorus. This data will allow us to determine historical evolutionary patterns of S. glaucus. Additionally if it were found that P. glaucus was being infiltrated by S. glaucus pollen it would create more interesting questions about environmental and geographical dispersal of this species. With this data we will be able to examine historical genetic relationships between populations of S. glaucus and S. parviflorus. The chloroplast DNA analysis will be in addition to my work examining nuclear genetic diversity. The data generated from this project can then be used by conservationists to determine how these species may be interacting and make plans toward their preservation. This genetic data will help define conservation management units, expand our understanding of species interactions with Sclerocactus, and add an evolution dimension for conservation activities. Mare Nazaire. (PhD Candidate and Assistant Curator of the Ownbey Herbarium, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA). The geographic and ecological basis of species richness: Diversification in Western North American Mertensia (Boraginaceae). $1,000 A fundamental challenge in evolutionary biology and ecology lies in explaining why biotic-diversity differs among geographic regions. Patterns of species richness ultimately reflecte volutionary and ecological opportunities and current patterns reflect constraints and contingencies expressed historically. We can now apply phylogenetic trees to infer whether historical shifts in clade diversification may have been influenced by dispersal or other geographic changes. My goal is to uncover factors that spur clade diversification and bias geographical patterns of species diversity. The proposed research centers on the bluebells (Mertensia), a genus of perennial herbs with greatest species richness in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Ten species and 11 varieties occur in Colorado. My goal is to uncover factors that spur clade diversification and bias geographical patterns of species diversity. I will also examine whether niche evolution or conservatism has played a greater role as the genus has dispersed into mountains. My research objectives are to:
(1) produce the first molecular phylogeny for Mertensia;
I will sequence 13 chloroplast markers for the 10 species in Colorado. Likelihood and Bayesian methods will be used to construct a phylogenetic hypothesis of relationships. Divergence times using fossil calibrations will be estimated under relaxed clock methods. The resulting chronogram will be used to test hypotheses regarding geographic and ecological change and diversification. Recently developed quantitative methods will be used to test for associations between geographic and/or ecological change and diversification. My results will help explain the dynamics that drive plant diversification and for understanding the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Anthropogenic climate change may threaten high elevation species of Mertensia. Studies have already pointed to shifts in flowering phenology for some The Society is grateful to those of you who choose to make donations to the John W. Marr and Myrna P. Steinkamp funds. Your donations make possible many research projects dealing with the plants of Colorado. This research contributes to a better understanding of our native plants and is integral for conservation. Numerous projects funded by CONPS grants have resulted in publications in scholarly journals. If you are interested in contributing to the Marr or Steinkamp fund, please contact CONPS Treasurer Mo Ewing (moewing@q.com). And, as always, thanks for your support! Jan Loechell Turner, Catherine Kleier, Dina Clark, and Jennifer Ramp Neale Request for Proposals - The John W. Marr and Myrna P. Steinkamp Funds The Colorado Native Plant Society supports research projects in plant biology from the John W. Marr and Myrna P. Steinkamp funds. These separate funds honor the late Dr. John Marr, Professor at the University of Colorado and the first President of the CONPS, and Myrna Steinkamp, a founding member of CONPS who worked on behalf of the Society for many years in a variety of capacities. Both funds were established to support research on the biology and natural history of Colorado native plants by means of small grants. The Steinkamp Fund targets rare species and those of conservation concern. Both field and laboratory studies are eligible for funding. Thanks to the generous contributions of many members and supporters, a total of nearly $3,000 is available, although individual awards will not exceed $1,000. Recipients of the awards must agree to summarize their studies for publication in Aquilegia. The Board of Directors is now soliciting proposals for a February 15, 2011 deadline. If your questions are not answered by our web site, you may contact Board member Jan Turner. Recipients of the awards summarize their studies for publication in the Society's newsletter, Aquilegia. Past Research Grant Reports Monarda fistulosa: Making Good Scents in Colorado - by Ken Keefover - by Cristina Rumbaitis del Rio, University of Colorado, Boulder - by Lynn M. Moore, Botanist
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