Andrew R. Dyer
Ph.D. (Plant Ecology)
Room: SBDG 101E (
Phone: (803) 641-3443
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.
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Comments to billj@usca.edu 7.12.05
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