BIOSYMPOSIUM ABSTRACTS
Bickel, J.T., K.G. Holmes, H.M. Kiser, and C.K. McMullen.
2012. Survey of the ferns of the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum (Poster)
The Edith J. Carrier Arboretum is the only arboretum in Virginia located on
a public university campus. Previous studies of the Arboretum flora did not
catalogue ferns, instead focusing on flowering plants. The purpose of this study
is to generate a complete list of the fern species found in the Edith J. Carrier
Arboretum. This study will serve as a baseline reference specifically to ferns
found in the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at James Madison University. Specimens
collected during a survey of the Arboretum are being identified, pressed, dried,
mounted, catalogued, and stored in the JMU Herbarium (JMUH). GPS coordinates
and location descriptions for each population of ferns are also being catalogued.
The Flora of West Virginia (2nd edition) and the Flora of North America are
utilized to confirm identifications of specimens in JMUH. Updated nomenclature
will be inferred from the Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora. To date various
populations of nine different species have been recorded and eight have been
collected. During the weeks of unsuitable growing conditions the identifications
of all pteridophyte specimens in JMUH were checked for accuracy.
Gahagen, B., E. Purdy, and C.K. McMullen. 2010. Floristic
survey of Mole Hill, Rockingham County, Virginia (Poster)
Mole Hill, a 47 million year old extinct volcano, is located approximately four
miles southwest of Harrisonburg, VA and is known throughout the county to be
a unique geological formation. The intention of this study is to carry out a
floristic survey in which native and invasive vascular plant species of Mole
Hill are recorded. Once collected the specimens are pressed, mounted, and cataloged.
The pressed specimens are being mounted on herbarium sheets and stored in the
James Madison University Herbarium (JMUH). A species list, including location
data, is being compiled to determine the variety of plants on Mole Hill. This
study started in the fall of 2009 and will continue until completion. Due to
the rare geologic conditions, especially within Rockingham county, this floristic
survey may give a better idea of the types of vascular plants growing in this
specific location and may provide information for future studies.
McPherson, D., B. Gahagen, and
C.K. McMullen. 2009. A floristic survey of the E.J. Carrier Arboretum and Botanical
Gardens (Poster)
The E.J. Carrier Arboretum and Botanical
Gardens encompass 125 acres, 87 of which are forested primarily with hickory
and oak trees. The intention of this research project is to create a checklist
of the flowering vascular plants of this area. A survey will be completed by
collecting, pressing, mounting, and cataloging the plants comprising the arboretum,
both native and cultivated. The pressed specimens will be mounted on herbarium
sheets and stored in the JMU Herbarium (JMUH). A species list, including location
data, will be compiled to determine the variety of plants in the arboretum.
This survey, started in the fall of 2007, will continue through the spring of
2010. The data in this project can be used by class instructors, researchers,
and amateurs to assist in the identification of plants in the arboretum, as
well as the entire Harrisonburg/Rockingham area.
Domangue, B.D., K.V. Gorzelnik, and
C.K. McMullen. 2009. Floristic survey of the Smith Creek restoration area (Presentation)
As part of an ongoing project to monitor various aspects of the Smith
Creek Restoration Project’s progress, we are conducting a continuous floristic
survey. The intent of this project is to survey and catalogue herbaceous plants
as the former pasture is being reclaimed, with the hope of seeing an increase
in diversity in each successive year. The results from this and successive surveys
of the area will serve as a reference for comparison during later stages of
the restoration, when the floral composition has changed. Plants were identified,
collected, and voucher specimens were mounted, which are stored in the James
Madison University Herbarium (JMUH). From April 2008 to the present time 80
species have been collected, belonging to 64 genera, in 28 families. An additional
6 collections have not been identified past the genus level. Of the 80 identified
to the species level, 37 are species native to the area, while 43 are introduced
from other areas.
Gahagen, B., K. Gorzelnik, D. McPherson,
and C.K. McMullen. 2008. A floristic survey of the E.J. Carrier Arboretum and
Botanical Gardens (Poster)
The E.J. Carrier Arboretum and Botanical Gardens encompass 125 acres,
87 of which are forested primarily with hickory and oak trees. The intention
of this research project is to create a checklist of the vascular plants of
this area. A survey will be completed by collecting, pressing, mounting, and
cataloging the plants comprising the arboretum, both native and cultivated.
The pressed specimens will be mounted on herbarium sheets and stored in the
JMU Herbarium (JMUH). A species list, including location data, will be compiled
to determine the variety of plants in the arboretum. This survey, started in
the fall of 2007, will continue through the summer and fall of 2008. The data
in this project can be used by both researchers and amateurs to assist in the
identification of plants in the arboretum, as well as the entire Harrisonburg/Rockingham
area.
Sturgill, B., E. Treadaway, S. Woolf,
and C.K. McMullen. 2007. Morphological characters and systematics of Galápagos
Cordia (Presentation)
Within the Galápagos Islands, the botanical family Boraginaceae is
represented by as many as seven species from the genus Cordia. Current
scientific thought suggests that four of those species are endemics: C.
andersonii, C. leucophlyctis, C. revoluta, and C.
scouleri. Three of these members are closely related to Andean species
that are found in Columbia and Peru, while C. revoluta has no clear
relationship with mainland relatives. The ancestors of all four endemic species,
however, are thought to have arrived via long-distance dispersal by birds. Diagnostic
keys that are currently available suggest that calyx and leaf pubescence should
provide sufficient means of identification for three of the endemics, C.
andersonii, C. leucophlyctis, and C. scouleri. However,
previously conducted field studies and recent examination of specimens in the
JMU herbarium have shown that these characters do not provide an adequate means
of separation and subsequent identification of these species. Current studies
are being focused on a broader spectrum of calyx, leaf, and stem morphological
characters to determine if it is possible to produce a revised key that is both
consistent and accurate in the identification of these species.
Mausert-Mooney, C., M. Robinson, and
C.K. McMullen. 2007. A floristic survey of the Smith Creek restoration project
area (Poster)
The purpose of this project is to catalogue the flora of the Smith Creek
Restoration Project area. In an effort to reintroduce native brook trout into
Smith Creek, 12,000 trees of several different species were planted along the
banks in order to cool the spawning waters. This survey is one method used to
monitor and document the progress of the restoration effiort. The survey will
include a list of species and their distribution in the restoration area. This
survey will begin at the start of this spring and will continue through the
end of the growing season of 2007. Plant specimens will be identified and collected
in the field, then mounted on herbarium sheets for reference in the JMU Herbarium
(JMUH). This survey will be useful as a reference in later stages of the restoration
effort when the floral composition of the area and its distribution has changed.
Woolf, S., L. Avjean, and C.K. McMullen.
2006. Meiotic chromosome counts of endemic members of Cordia from the
Galápagos Islands (Poster)
Four species of Cordia are thought to be endemic to the Galápagos
Islands: C. andersonii, C. leucophlyctis, C. revoluta,
and C. scouleri. Three of these members are closely related to Andean
species that are found in Columbia and Peru, while C. revoluta has no
clear relationship with mainland relatives. The ancestors of all four endemic
species, however, are thought to have arrived via long-distance dispersal by
birds. Current efforts on this project are aimed at observing and documenting
actively dividing, meiotic pollen mother cells in the hopes of making haploid
chromosome counts. Anthers for these studies are being obtained from dissections
of preserved floral buds that were collected during a 2005 trip to the Galápagos
Islands. Acetocarmine staining and squashing techniques employed in this project
follow established and proven protocols. It is anticipated that current and
future efforts on this project will result in clarification and possible revision
of the existing classification of these species.
Culpepper, E.E., E.R. Treadaway, and
Conley K. McMullen. 2005. Pollen studies of pin versus thrum flowers in Cordia
lutea (Boraginaceae) (Poster)
Cordia lutea Lam. (Boraginaceae) is a Galápagos Islands native that
is also known from mainland Ecuador and northwestern Peru. This small tree or
shrub (to 8 m tall) occupies arid lowlands throughout the archipelago, and provides
an attractive floral display with its bright yellow flowers. Early research
on the pollination biology of this species indicated that its flowers are a
major source of nectar and pollen for resident insects. It was assumed that
all of the flowers of this species were perfect and monomorphic. However, our
studies indicate that this is not the case. Instead, the species is heterostylous
and produces two types of flowers known as pins and thrums. Pin flowers have
styles that are longer than the stamens, while thrum flowers have stamens that
are longer than the styles. Since two types of flowers are produced, this type
of heterostyly is referred to specifically as distyly. Each individual plant
possesses either pin flowers or thrum flowers, and as a rule, pollen from a
pin can function only on the stigma of a thrum, while pollen from a thrum functions
only on the stigma of a pin, thus promoting outcrossing. It has been hypothesized
that a "supergene" controls this type of heterostyly, and that pin flowers and
thrum flowers differ not only in stamen and stylar length, but also in pollen
number, pollen size, corolla size, corolla shape, stigma size, and stigma surface.
Results of our studies on pollen number and pollen size are discussed.
Russell, R.B., C.R. White, C.K. McMullen.
2004. Meiotic chromosome counts of Alternanthera (Amaranthaceae) species
from the Galápagos Islands (Poster)
Fourteen species of Alternanthera Forssk. (Amaranthaceae) inhabit
the Galápagos Islands. Six species are endemic, with one of these, A. filifolia
comprising seven subspecies. Of the remaining eight species, five are native
and three are introduced. The majority of these species are thought to have
originated in the Andean region of South America and arrived in Galápagos via
long-distance dispersal by birds. Members range in habit from low-growing subshrubs
to small trees, and occupy both the arid lowlands and the moist uplands. The
endemic members of this genus are significant because they demonstrate one of
the better examples of adaptive radiation among Galápagos plants. This study
is attempting to document haploid chromosome numbers for these plants by observing
pollen mother cells during meiosis. Such information may prove useful in defining
and identifying members of Alternanthera. It may also be helpful in determining
the mainland origin of the genus and determining its evolutionary history (phylogeny).
Bud material for chromosome counts were obtained from plants growing in the
JMU greenhouse. Standard techniques for staining and studying plant chromosomes
are being employed.
Peters, M.D., E.E. Culpepper, and C.K.
McMullen. 2003. Floristic studies in Rockingham County, Viriginia (Presentation)
The most recent thorough survey of the vascular plants of Rockingham County,
Virginia, was conducted in 1979. Since then, the county has experienced unprecedented
human population growth and the loss of undisturbed habitat that often accompanies
such growth. It is important that the flora be accurately documented at this
time, to serve as a baseline for future studies, as well as to provide needed
information to local plant taxonomists, foresters, county agents, and amateur
botanists. Such a survey will also provide new plant distribution information
that will prove useful to The Flora of Virginia Project. Rockingham County,
located in the northwestern part of Virginia, comprises 864 square miles and
is botanically rich and diverse. Five basic habitats are represented, including
mountain crests and slopes, valley woodlands, old meadows, floodplains, and
shale barrens. The study reported here, initiated in June 2002 and slated to
continue through May 2003, is updating county records via field studies and
review of herbarium records. Thus far, 392 new numbers have been collected,
including 22 county records. At this time, the Rockingham County flora comprises
131 families, 490 genera, and 1221 species.
Culpepper, E.E., M.D. Peters, and C.K.
McMullen. 2003. Chromosome counts of Alternanthera (Amaranthaceae) species
from the Galápagos Islands (Poster)
Fourteen species of Alternanthera Forssk. (Amaranthaceae) are known
to inhabit the Galápagos Islands. Six species are endemic, with one of these,
A. filifolia, comprising seven subspecies. Of the remaining eight species,
five are natives and three are introduced weeds. The majority of these species
are thought to have originated in the western (Andean) region of South America,
and arrived in Galápagos via long-distance dispersal by birds. Members range
in habit from low-growing subshrubs to small trees, and inhabit both the arid
lowlands and the moist uplands. The endemic members of this genus are notable
in that they demonstrate one of the better examples of adaptive radiation in
Galápagos plants. This study, part of a larger project looking at the phylogeny
of Alternanthera, is attempting to document diploid chromosome numbers
for the Galápagos members of this genus. Root material for chromosome counts
will be obtained from plants growing in the JMU greenhouse. Standard techniques
for staining and studying plant chromosomes are being employed.
Fairservice, J.H., M.D. Peters, C.L.
Turner, J.A. Clevinger, and C.K. McMullen. 2002. A phylogenetic study of Alternanthera
(Amaranthaceae) in the Galápagos Islands using DNA sequences and ISSR banding
patterns (Presentation)
Fourteen species of chaff flower, Alternanthera, inhabit the Galápagos
Islands; six are endemic, four are native and four are introduced weeds. This
study will use molecular techniques to create a phylogeny of this group, thus
allowing us to clarify the relationships among these species and their mainland
sister taxa. Currently, two regions of nuclear DNA and chloroplast DNA have
been sequenced. Preliminary analysis, however, indicates that these sequences
do not contain sufficient variation to resolve all relationships. Therefore
our lab is using an inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) assay, which is a new
PCR based technique that can assess variation between natural populations. ISSR
primers are designed from 1-6 nucleotide tandem repeats, called microsatellites,
scattered throughout the genome of most organisms. Numerous ISSR primers designed
by Dr. Andrea Wolfe (Ohio State University) are being screened for their usefulness
to the project. ISSR based PCR products are visualized using standard ethidium-stained
agarose gels. The resulting banding patterns are being scored and this data
will then be used to construct a neighbor joining tree to access relationships.
Bernacki, S., J.A. Clevinger, C.K. McMullen,
and C.C. Clevinger. 2001. A preliminary phylogenetic study of Alternanthera
(Amaranthaceae) in the Galápagos Islands (Poster)
A study was done to look for genetic variance in different species of Alternanthera
that grow in the Galápagos islands off of mainland Ecuador. The objectives were
to estimate the number of colonization events of Alternanthera in the
islands as well as identify any mainland sister groups to Alternanthera.
In this preliminary study eight species of Alternanthera were collected.
The leaf material was then ground and DNA was extracted. Two different regions
of DNA were amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction. One region (ITS) consisted
of nuclear DNA while the other was a region (trnL-trnF) of chloroplast DNA.
The samples were purified and sequenced using an automated sequencer. The sequences
were aligned manually with a computer program, Sequencher, and then the data
set was analyzed using another program PAUP*. The outgroup used was A. reinickii,
a cultivated cosmopolitan species. The phylogenies for both DNA regions were
essentially identical. The results revealed a strongly supported clade containing
three endemic and one native species. A second strongly supported clade contained
two introduced and one purported endemic, A. echinoceophala. If A.
echinoceophala is considered to be an endemic then our preliminary data
supports the hypothesis of at least two colonization events of Alternanthera
to the Galápagos Islands.