Susan Mopper s Biology Department page email Link to Oak Leafminer page Link to selected publications Our research group investigates the community, evolutionary and physiological ecology of Iris hexagona , a native Louisiana iris, and its interactions with a suite of pathogens, invertebrates, vertebrates and invasive plants.
Irises are long-lived perennials that reproduce clonally and sexually.
We are examining the population genetic structure and adaptive evolution of Iris hexagona and Cerodontha iridiphora, an iris leafminer , in the highly heterogeneous salt-marsh environment. In addition to evolutionary ecology, we are investigating the physiological and biochemical mechanisms by which this typically freshwater plant species tolerates salinity stress and copes with plant competition above and below-ground. However, salinity significantly elevated sexual reproduction through increased pollination efficiency and seed production. An ongoing experiment by Pete Van Zandt indicates that maternal salinity has surprising effects on germination rates. Although moderate salinity stress can increase iris fitness under controlled conditions, sexual reproduction in the natural Marsh Island population may be a rare event.