CAREER: Plant Evolution at Low CO2

The overall goal of this research is to determine how glacial trees responded to low atmospheric [CO2], with emphasis on physiological and evolutionary processes.

Our  research using the La Brea Juniperus collection is defined by four main objectives:

1.     To quantify interannual climate variation during glacial and modern times for southern California

2.     To compare the physiologies of glacial and modern trees and determine the role of [CO2] in influencing physiological characteristics

3.     To assess differences in leaf stomatal density (number of stomata / leaf area) between glacial and modern times in order to determine if this character varied at different [CO2]

4.     To measure seed size between glacial and modern trees to determine if large seed size is associated with periods of low [CO2]

Program Personnel

Ward, Ph. D, Joy
Title: Principal Investigator
785-864-5218
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