Genomics of Plants, Pests, and Populations
Research
Plants
Plants are incredible organisms that must deal with all types of stressors while rooted to the ground. Our lab is interested in using population genomic approaches to understand what genes and pathways may be involved in their responses, and how this might be altered with climate change. Currently our primary focus is on species within the genus Pinus, but we can always be convinced to investigate other species (ideally ones with smaller genomes!).
Pests
With increasing habitat fragmentation, climate change, and global transport, there are new and increasing threats from pests and pathogens. Our lab is using methods from population genetics, physiology and landscape ecology to investigate several systems: a forest-pest system (mountain pine beetle and hosts), a mosquito arbovirus system (focus on California serogroup viruses), and a mammalian prion disease (chronic wasting disease). This work is to better understand genetic and landscape factors that may contribute to success and movement of pests/pathogens, and determine whether we can identify signals of selection.
Populations
Identifying genetic populations is a critical first step in many aspects of wildlife management, it forms the basis of conservation decisions, helps us understand spread-risk of disease vectors, and is the unit on which selection acts. One of the areas of interest in the lab is digging into the different methods of identifying population structure and identifying their weaknesses using meta-analysis, simulations, and empirical data. Our overall goal is to develop and contribute to refining best practices for the field.
Land Aknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge the location of our campus on the traditional, unceded territories of the Algonquin nation. To learn more about the indiginous land where you live, work, or explore, I urge you to visit native-land.ca.