Submitted by Miranda Devi Redmond on
Dryland woodland ecosystems worldwide have experienced the effects of a rapidly changing climate, resulting in reproductive changes and range shifts. This has resulted in the loss of ecosystem and sociocultural services across a continental scale. This challenge is especially acute in pinyon–juniper woodlands, a dominant vegetation type across western North America that has experienced extensive tree die‐off and range shifts over the past several decades. Novel management approaches are required to enhance woodland resilience to drought and wildfires while incorporating indigenous knowledge and maintaining core ecosystem services like pine nut production. To accomplish this we integrate ecological and genomic data to guide adaptive management. Students would have the opportunity to focus on using genetic material from pinyon needles to identify gene regions associated with seed production traits including the amount, frequency, and synchronicity of reproduction. Our work is one part of an interrelated community-based research initiative to improve the social-ecological resilience of pinyon-juniper woodlands to climate change.
For this project, the undergraduate researchers will assist with molecular lab work from sample preparation (i.e., pulverizing and weighing needle samples) to DNA extractions to data entry. There may be opportunities to be involved with other aspects of the larger project such as meeting and interacting with the interdisciplinary team if desired.
Students with strong interests in interdisciplinary resource management, forestry, genomics and laboratory work will find the experience most rewarding. The student should be comfortable and enthusiastic about completing repetitive, detailed computer and laboratory work while maintaining focus and producing good quality data. Attention to detail and good record keeping skills are essential. Availability for a large chunk of the day (at least 5 hours) once every week or two weeks will be preferred. Students with particular interest or experience in genomic pipetting, tribal stewardship, or socio-ecological climate resilience work should note that in their applications.