Andrew R. Dyer
Ph.D. (Plant Ecology)
University of California, Davis, 1996

Room: SBDG 101E (Science Building)

Phone: (803) 641-3443

 

 

 

 

Research Interests

My research focus is on invasive species, especially annual grasses and sedges.  Of greatest interest currently is trait plasticity and how traits are modified by the growing conditions of the maternal plant.  I am collaborating with several colleagues on trans-generational plasticity in three species (below) in what I call the ABC of TGP.

 

            1. Seed ecology in Aegilops triuncialis (barbed goatgrass) and how traits vary from year to year, how growing conditions affect trait expression, interactions with climatic conditions.

 

            2. Seed ecology of Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass), population variation related to the   range of plastic expression vs ecotype formation, the relationship between seed size and     competitive ability.

 

            3. Response plasticity within Cyperus esculentus (yellow nutsedge) clones, differential tuber placement in response to soil nutrients, effects of competition on tuber production and dispersal.

 

            4. We will be exploring the role of polyploidy and epigenetic changes in invasions.  For conservation and ecology, this will be an area of major interest in the near future.

 

We’re studying these species in an effort to help us understand the population dynamics of invasion and how plastic responses help plants overcome genetic bottlenecks in the new habitat.  In all cases of non-native introductions, only a fraction of the species’ genetic variation is introduced and invading populations may begin from a very small number of genotypes.  In the case of Ae. triuncialis, one per population. 

 

University of South Carolina Aiken

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Comments to billj@usca.edu 7.12.05

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