The importance of evolutionary history for ecological restoration: evidence from the Great Basin

Co-sponsored by the Center for Root and Rhizosphere Biology

Abstract:
Land management and evolutionary ecology may seem like disparate fields, but in fact, they can be highly complementary. Quantifying natural selection in the field can be an opportunity to improve the efficiency and success of restoration projects, and management-scale operations present opportunities for measuring the consistency and strength of natural selection at scales that would be difficult for individual researchers to achieve. Focusing on native plant restoration in the Great Basin, US, I will present results of experiments designed to identify the most promising strategies for restoring natural systems affected by fire, invasive species, and changing grazing strategies. By studying local adaptation, my lab has identified a suite of strategies that increase plant survival in invaded and disturbed systems, notable in that these strategies are diametrically opposed to the long-standing views of traits that should be prioritized during restoration of these cold desert systems.

About the Speaker:
Dr. Elizabeth Leger is a Professor in the Biology Department at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), where she has been faculty since 2006. Her research focuses on plant ecology, evolution, and native plant restoration in invaded areas of the Great Basin, and she works closely with state and federal agencies and non-profit partners to translate research findings into changes in management practices. She has advised multiple post-docs, graduate students, and undergraduate students as they launch their careers working with native plants. Beth received her PhD in plant ecology from UC Davis, and did post-doctoral research focused on invasive plants at SUNY Stony Brook. In addition to her work in plant ecology and restoration, Dr. Leger is the co-creator and director of the University of Nevada, Reno Museum of Natural History, which supports organismal research, teaching and outreach at UNR.

Contact

Katherine Brocklove
kmb6260@psu.edu