Research Overview
As a conservation biologist, I am interested in biological rarity because it represents a unique field in population ecology with important social impacts. I chose plants as study organisms because their sessile natures and diverse reproductive systems represent both special challenges and potential solutions for coping in human-modified landscapes. Currently my research aims to address the reproductive causes that influence plant rarity, including the effect of population size on plant-pollinator interactions, loss of reproductive output and fitness due to declining habitat quality, and population viability under different management strategies. In studying reproductive ecology and plant conservation, I use multidisciplinary techniques such as field experiments, greenhouse studies, microscopy, and population modeling.
ProjectsFloral Display and Spatial/Demographic Patterns in Reproduction: Demographic traits receive considerable attention in plant reproductive ecology because population size and density can determine probabilities of finding suitable mates and attracting pollinators. However, at the individual level, floral display size also plays an important role in determining pollinator visitation. Study populations of a rare plant species exhibit a tradeoff between floral and inflorescence traits, which may be a response to habitat conditions and resource availability. Reductions of population size also have detrimental impacts on reproduction and can further impede recruitment.
Effects of Habitat Quality on Plant-Pollinator Interactions: Studies in plant reproductive ecology have long recognized that characteristics of the local environment can act as a mediating force on pollinator foraging. I explored this topic by conducting a field experiment in which I manipulated pollinator access to plants using mesh cages that I designed in three different habitat types. Stigmas from control and excluded plants were excised and pollinator visitation was quantified by examining pollen loads using microscopy and image recognition software (AxioVision4.7). To assess the habitat quality of my study sites, I used a variety of techniques, including soil nutrient analysis and hemispherical photography to measure canopy closure at each site. My research shows that pollinator visitation and reproductive output were negatively impacted in habitats where woody species dominate, showing that environmental factors have a strong influence on plant-pollinator dynamics. Seed Predation in Response to Habitat Quality: Seed predators may compromise the ability of rare plants to successfully recruit by attacking and consuming seeds prior to dispersal. Fruit was collected and dissected to determine the frequency and intensity of seed predation. Results show that seed predators have a patchy distribution and only attack certain populations. This distribution may be reflective that some study sites are unable to meet the habitat requirements of seed predators, and that their presence may serve as an indicator of habitat health. Reproductive Response to Management Strategies: Entities differ in terms of their land management philosophies and ability to allocate resources toward management of endangered species. For our 36 study populations, I used land owner identity and their respective management strategies to determine the demographic and reproductive health of populations. Preliminary analyses show that populations that suffer from decreased reproductive output often occur on public land as a result of reduced government investment in natural resource management. Population Viability Analysis: Using a 10-year dataset, population viability analysis (PVA) is used to model extinction probabilities given different management scenarios (no management vs. management). In addition, this data is used to compare PVA results from a 10-year-dataset (collected in 1980-1990) to the present-day population (20 years later) to determine if the earlier model accurately captures the current state of the population. |
Publications
Curtis, M., K. Chi, & B. Molano-Flores. 2013. Seed ecology of Synthyris bullii (Plantaginaceae), a rare endemic of the Midwestern USA. Botany 91: 884-889. [Abstract]
Funding
John R. Laughnan Fund Grant, Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, 2012
Student Research Grant, Illinois State Academy of Sciences, 2011
Special Wildlife Funds Grant, Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund, Department of Natural Resources, 2010
Research Grant, Illinois Native Plant Society, 2009
Francis M. & Harlie M. Clark Grant, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, 2009
Research Small Grant, Prairie Biotic Research, Inc., 2009
Organization for Tropical Studies Travel Grant, American Genetics Association, 2008
Special Wildlife Funds Grant, Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund, Department of Natural Resources, 2008
Francis M. & Harlie M. Clark Grant, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, 2008
Burney Dunn Memorial Fellowship, Department of Biology, Knox College, 2005
Student Research Grant, Illinois State Academy of Sciences, 2011
Special Wildlife Funds Grant, Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund, Department of Natural Resources, 2010
Research Grant, Illinois Native Plant Society, 2009
Francis M. & Harlie M. Clark Grant, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, 2009
Research Small Grant, Prairie Biotic Research, Inc., 2009
Organization for Tropical Studies Travel Grant, American Genetics Association, 2008
Special Wildlife Funds Grant, Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund, Department of Natural Resources, 2008
Francis M. & Harlie M. Clark Grant, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, 2008
Burney Dunn Memorial Fellowship, Department of Biology, Knox College, 2005