We are particularly interested in the effects of anthropogenic inputs on the quality of aquatic systems. These devices continually gather on-site environmental information. Information is transferred back to the laboratory either by transfer computer or by cellular telephone-linked transmission. The focus of our current work is the effect of acidic precipitation on aquatic biota, and includes monitoring water systems and aquatic organisms. These experiments are a continuation of our ten-year acid rain study.
Students focus on the relationship between acid rain, transient pH changes and pond biota.
Our studies combine components of field work, greenhouse experiments and molecular biology to examine the genetic bases of biodiversity. At the genomic level, we are investigating the evolution of suites of selectively critical interacting genes or genetic systems that affect the genetic structure and the fitness of species. In plants, genes responsible for shifts in breeding systems from wholly outbreeding to inbreeding or from hermaphroditic to dioecious systems are one focus. The array of genes that bestow resistance to a vast variety of pathogens and the genetic bases of host-pathogen interactions are another. At the population level, we examine the genetic structure and dynamics of rare or endangered species.