Education

Research

One of my current projects is to develop the conservation genetics of Sarracenia pitcher plants native to the southeastern United States. This project is a collaboration with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, which has maintained an ex situ collection of these endangered carnivorous plants for some ten years. The project consists of three studies, (1) a reproductive biology experiment, (2) characterization of molecular variation within and between species, and (3) characterization of quantitative genetic variation. For project (1), hand pollination treatments ranging from self-pollination to between-subspecies pollination were conducted this spring, and their reproductive success will be measured this autumn and into next spring*. For project (2), genomic DNA libraries will be constructed this month and approximately five loci will be sequenced across the Sarracenia spp*. Also as part of project (2), I am conducting simulation analyses of evolutionary models* in collaboration with Mary Jo Godt at University of Georgia, to determine whether AFLPs or microsatellites will be more informative markers in population sample genotyping*. For project (3), seeds collected this autumn will grown in a common garden under different stress treatments, and their germination and early growth rates* as well as aspects of morphology involved in pollinator attraction* and prey attraction*. Asterisks in this paragraph indicate expected publications, seven in total and two during this academic year (this summer). I am submitting an NSF grant (July 10th, as co-PI with John Freudenstein of Ohio State University) to fund projects (2) and (3).

In addition, I conduct independent functional genetics research in Arabidopsis. I have a $1.1 million NSF grant (Collaborative Research PI) pending to QTL and association map drought adaptation traits, which we should hear about this month. If this grant is funded, I will have a technician and four undergraduates working under me on this project. I am also trying to attract Emory and AUC students to work on other aspects of Arabidopsis population genetics and genomics.

Teaching

I teach courses in Evolutionary Biology, including Biology majors' courses Biology of Populations, Evolutionary Biology. I also teach Evolutionary Biology for non-majors, including BIO103, Evolutionary Biology in Medicine.

Recent Publications

Mauricio, R., Stahl, E.A., Korves, T., Tian, D., Kreitman, M., and Bergelson, J. (2003) Natural Selection for Polymorphism in the Disease Resistance Gene Rps2 of Arabidopsis thaliana. Genetics. 163(2):735-46.

Department of Biology
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Group II Building
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
http://www.molpopgen.org/elistahl/