Associate Professor, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI
Website
Plant nutrient levels play a major role in aquatic ecosystem productivity. Furthermore, too much nutrient can be a water pollutant. Despite the importance of the subject, little is known regarding molecular mechanisms on how aquatic plants respond to changes in nutrient levels. My laboratory is using the floating plant greater duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) as a model system to understand how aquatic plants respond when transitioning from oligotrophic (low nutrient) to eutrophic (high nutrient) conditions. We conducted an RNA-seq experiment that identify genes that are differentially expressed in response to altered phosphorous levels. Undergraduate researchers will be conducting both laboratory and field experiments to determine if the identified genes can be used as molecular markers to evaluate the health of aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, students enrolled in my field ecology course will be using our RNA-seq data base to develop testable hypotheses as part of their inquiry-based curriculum.
Materials are under development.
Materials are under development.
