Student Theses

The following is a list of senior theses that have been completed by students in my lab. Titles that are followed by an underlined 'Abstract'' are linked to the Biology Department's web page about senior theses. Clicking on the link will take you to an abstract of that student's thesis. An asterisk (*) following the student's name indicates that the student's thesis research was supported by a grant from the Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Program, Reed College or the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation.

Xie, Ziqi (2023) A Tale of Two Quercus: storytelling of oak evolutionary genetics and local botanical history through artistic approach.

Kingborg, Sophie (2022) Genetics of R2R3 MYB Transcription Factors in Erythronium.

Montgomery, Lucy (2022) Identifying oak hybridization in Portland: a genetic approach.

Ashraf, Ali (2022) An investigation of genetic architecture and polymorphic microsatellite loci in Columbian monkshood (Aconitum columbianum).

Valsquier, Ruth (2021) Optimizing HPLC-MS conditions for flavonoid identification: the path to understanding Delphinium flavonoid expression in novel tissue types.

Blair, Lenny (2021) Questioning quirky Quercus: examining possible oak hybridization in Portland, OR.

Pullan, Connie (2021) Challenges for aquaculture of Asparagopsis red algae for bromoform production.

Dennis, Ry (2020) Phylogeny and selection on the dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene of Ranunculaceae.

Garcia, Steven (2020) In consideration of ethical grounds.

Loukides, Alex (2018) Adaptive management in a changing world: traditional ecological knowledge and environmental restoration.

Tovar, Roselyn  (2018)  Developing an eco-geographical model in Pacific Northwest Delphinium populations through the integration of UV-Vis spectrophotometry and HPLC-MS.

Leatherman, Haley  (2017) A comparison of enhanced cadmium uptake in hyperaccumulator Brassica juncea with synthetic EDTA versus organic metal chelators.

Mouallem, Nadav (2016)  Traits that favor the successful establishment of nonnative species in an urban environment: a study of Portland, OR.

Binford, Emily  (2016)  The Effects of Reduced Impact Logging on Biodiversity in Tropical Forests: A Meta-Analysis and Qualitative Review

Barry, Conrad  (2015)  The discovery of a new flavonoid regulating MYB in Delphinium nuttallii and Delphinium leucophaeum

Koenig, Max  (2015)  Patterns of genome dominance, gene loss, and silencing in the allotetraploid soybean Glycine dolichocarpa

Levkoy, Ellen  (2014)  A search for nuclear phylogeographic markers in Delphinium nuttallii

Stanton, Kimmy (2014)  The genetic basis of the floral color transition in the divergence of Delphinium leucophaeum and Delphinium nuttallii

Streur, Ryan (2014)  R2R3-MYB discovery in Delphinium nuttallii

Kohrn, Brendan (2013) An examination of anthocyanin gene copy number in two northwest Delphinium species

Schimel, Kate (2013) Connectivity metrics and the role of roadsides in conversation

Padgett, Andrea (2012) qPCR as a tool for measuring ribosomal gene copy number

Gray, Ella (2012) Species distribution modeling : a tool for the conservation of Delphinium leucophaeum

Short, Christy,  (2012) The generation and analysis of neutral genetic markers in Delphinium nuttallii using the ISSR technique

Blaney, Hanna (2011) Flower color in Delphinium: reference genes and gene expression in the anthocyanin pathway

Parikshak, Anand (2011) Copy number variation among world wide accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana

Grahn, Charlene (2011) The role of non-floral pigments and environmental plant stress in the divergence of two Delphinium species

Cho, Holly (2011) CYCLOIDEA expression and the development of floral symmetry in the Ranunculaceae

Peart, Noah (2010) Differential gene expression in two recently diverged Delphinium species

Eng, Jenny (2009) Flower color in Delphinium: sequencing and expression of flavonol synthase

Leonard, Jenny (2009) Introduction of several populations of a species of the endangered wildflower Delphinium leucophaeum into two different parks in the northern Willamette Valley, Oregon

Wolski, Angie (2009) Predicting the potential distribution of the invasive grass Brachypodium sylvaticum according to the niche conservatism theory

Kaye, Melati (2009) Effects of abiotic niche on the regional population distribution of Delphinium leucophaeum and Delphinium nuttallii

Cook, Tiffany (2009) Pollen viability and effects of flavonols in two native larkspurs of the Pacific Northwest, Delphinium leucopaheum and Delphinium nuttallii

Kuehl, Lillian (2009) Glucosinolates and selenium might interact in the face of adversity to form an anti-herbivore superpower coalition, but I can't figure it out, so let's go play basketball

Susko, Rabecca (2008) Ecophysiology and pleiotropy of foliar and floral anthocyanins in Delphinium nuttallii and Delphiniumleucophaeum

Sweeney, Jon (2008) The evolution of phenotypic plasticity under alternative population dynamics

Hendrick, Margaret (2008) Characterizing serpentine soil tolerance in Mimulus guttatus (Phrymaceae)

Moyers, Brook * (2007) Clinal variation in ribosomal RNA in the northwest larkspur Delphinium nuttallii : selection or drift? [Abstract]

Jui, Ginger *(2007) Comparative phylogenetic analysis of 5.8S rRNA hairpin variation [Abstract]

Albert, Loren (2007) Divergence and local adaptation in Brachypodium sylvaticum

Youngberg, Jessica (2006) One plant, one pollinator: morphology makes a marriage [Abstract]

Reilly, Rebecca (2006) Using genetic data as a guideline in examining potential local adaptation by Quercus garryana in the Pacific Northwest

Anderson, Jillian* (2006) Anthocyanins and drought response in Delphinium nuttallii , D. leucophaeum, and their hybrids [Abstract]

Reider, Leila *(2006) Molecular concerted evolution of the 5.8 S rDNA multigene family in Delphinium [Abstract]

Howell, Brian* (2006) Gene expression of structural genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway of Delphinium nuttallii [Abstract]

Eversole, Tristan (2005) Does Hsp90 Play a Role in Canalizing Slowly Evolving Floral Traits?

Mullins, Mike (2005) REMAP, IRAP and the genetic structure of Spartina anglica in the Puget Sound, WA

Lau, On-Lee (2004) Ecophysiology of blue and white: response to water availability in Delphinium nutalli and D. leucophaeum

Markwardt, Sheila (2004) Determination of the evolutionary forces affecting the geographic distribution of Delphinium nuttallii and Delphinium leucophaeum ribosomal DNA variation

Roach, Allison (2004) Constraining the cruciferae: stasis, canalization, and the tetradynamous condition in Raphanus raphanistrum (Brassicaceae)

Roe-Zurz, Zygy (2004) What's up G?: Tetradynamy in Raphanus raphanistrum and Stanleya pinnata

Rahder, Micha (2004) Investigating polyploidy and genetic variation in garlic mustard ( Alliaria petiolata , Brassicaceae), an invasive species

Martin, Ed (2003) Density studies of Brachypodium sylvaticum : understanding the spread of a potential super weed

Trandum, Tracy (2003) Evidence for Maladaptive Low Seed Set in Northern Populations of Oxalis oregana

Poyourow, Michele (2003) The Population Genetics of an Invasive Species in Oregon.

Byerley, Lauren (2002) Phylogeography of Quercus garryana: location of Pleistocene refugia

Levy-Boyd, Dylan (2002) Blue vs. white, a molecular approach to understanding floral differences in two species of Delphinium

Murphy, Madrona (2002) A land ethic and the ecology of recreation (Interdisciplinary Political Science-Biology Major)

Baker, Rob (2002) Evidence contradicting the sib competition model for maintenance of sexual reproduction in the clonal grass Dactylis glomerata (Poaceae)

Jolles, Diana (2002) A potential genetic trade-off between elaiosome and seed investment in Euphorbia peplus (Euphorbiaceae) and Claytonia perfoliata (Portulacaceae) and Achlys triphylla (Berberidaceae)

Mathewson, Lauren (2001) A phylogeographic analysis of Quercus garryana

Barnes, Melanie (2001) Development and evolution of the tetradynamous stamen condition in the Brassicaceae

Kraft, Kraig (2000) Vacuum infiltration transformation of the barrel medic, Medicago truncatula with an antisense construct: or how my thesis turned me into a pariah.

Gillick, Karl (2000) Height gradients in photochemical efficiency of Lobaria oregana and L. pulmonaria.

Greiner, Tabitha (2000) An exploration into the mysterious unknown: a phylogeographic study of Oxalis oregana Nutt

Koelling, Vanessa (2000) An examination of population differentiation and quantitative trait variation with respect to nectar spurs in Delphinium nuttallii

Mazer, Laurie (2000) Chloroplast and nuclear DNA variation as measures of gene flow in a suspected hybrid population of Delphinium pavonaceum

Dodd, Athena (2000) Separating the effects of gene flow and population history: a phylogeographic study of Delphinium nuttallii using nested clade analysis

Buckle, Kelly (2000) How different is different enough?: using genetic markers to define the species Delphinium leucophaeum

Matlaga, David (2000) The genetic consequences of cattle grazing on Festuca idahoensis

Beattie, Kate (1999) Interspecific and intraspecific gender diversity in the chloroplast genome of Delphinium leucophaeum and D. nuttallii

Miller, Brent (1999) Clonal plant foraging: a review and simulation study

Lively, Kristi (1999) Optimal herbivore defense strategies in mustards.

Lerner, Michael (1999) Diverging from your ancestors: chloroplast DNA differences in Delphinium leucophaeum and Delphinium nuttallii populations in Oregon and Washington

McGlaughlin, Mitchell (1999) The conservation genetics of the pink sand verbena, Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora (Nytcaginaceae)

Aoki, Maki (1998) Light availability effects on conifer seedling morphology and leaf surface wax production

Sweigart, Andrea (1998). Microsatellite-Based Estimates of Individual Inbreeding and Relatedness for a Population of the Wildflower, Mimulus guttatus

Mayfield, Margie (1998). Shortcomings of Current Crop Pollination Strategies: Lessons From Natural pollination Systems.

Cauble, Elizabeth (1997). The Effects of mating System and Environment on Maternal Effects in Lupinus nanus subsp. apricus and Lupinus bicolor (Fabaceae)

Murray, Jessica (1997). Seedling Emergence In Clearcut Old Growth Forests

Hoegler, Nancy (1997). Influences of abiotic environmental features on the distribution and abundance of Delphinium leucophaeum (white rock larkspur) and their implications for restoration ecology

Barnes, Leigh. (1997). Effects of floral age in Mimulus guttatus (Scrophulariacea): Do things really get better with age?

Loosen, Maria (1997) Cryptic Self-Incompatibility in two Populations of Lupinus nanus (Leguminosae)

Moreira, Bruce (1996). Edge Effects and the Reproductive Biology of the Clonal, Herbaceous, Perennial, Oxalis oregana: Pollen limitation, clonal reproduction, low seed set and implications for conservation - or- The Conceptualization of Self in a Monastic Population of Redwood Sorrel

Kell, Adeline (1996). The Grass is Always Greener... The American Lawn: Implications of the Manifestation of a Cultural Symbol. (Interdisciplinary Anthropology-Biology Major)

Campbell, Rose (1996). An investigation of pollen events over time in Lupinus nanus subspecies apricus and Lupinus nanus subspecies latifolius, with reference to their mating systems

Polacco, Ben (1996). Unidirectional Gene Flow: A Computer Model and a Population Genetic Survey of the Water-Dispersed Annual, Impatiens capensis.

Burkhart, Sahni (1996). The Distribution of Morphologic and Allozyme Variation in the Endemic plant, Penstemon barrettiae (Scrophulariaceae)

Kramer, Ariana (1995) The Effect of pollination on Flower Production in Brassica rapa

Burleigh, J. Gordon (1995) Sexual Dimorphism and genetic Correlations in Thalictrum pubescens, a Cryptic Dioecious Angiosperm

Benson, Molly (1995) Sex Allocation Tradeoffs in Field Mustard, Brassica rapa

Thomas, Kinari (1995) Regeneration of two Primate-Dispersed Rain Forest Trees, Alangium javanicum and Baccaurea bracteata.

Russell, Robin (1994) The basis of Pollinator Discrimination between Male and female Phase Flowers in Impatiens capensis and the Implications for Plant Mating Systems

Kim, Tae S. (1994) Potential for Pollen Competition in Cytisus scoparius.

Lorenz, Shanna (1994) Factors limiting the female reproductive success of the perennial herb, Erythronium grandiflorum (Liliaceae)

Lindh, Briana (1994) The response of Understory Plants to Canopy Closure in a Second-growth Forest in the Oregon Cascades

Zanzot, Jim (1994; co-advised with Bert Brehm) Molecular mutants meet micorrhizae: glucosinolate mutant Arabidopis (Brassicaceae) effects on spore germination of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Gitzendanner, Matt (1994; co-advised with Bert Brehm) DNA polymorphisms in Cronartium ribicola: implications for white pine blister rust management

Durfee, Sarah (1994; co-advised with Bert Brehm) Welcome to Oregon, now go home: a study of Lythrum salicaria, an exotic, invasive species, and its implications for the conservation of Oregon's wetlands