From July 26th to 30th, 2024, I attended the Evolution 2024 conference in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. At this conference, I gave my very last presentation as a graduate student. This presentation focused on Galax urceolata, a flowering plant that occurs only in the Southern Appalachians and includes diploid, triploid, and autotetraploid cytotypes. Extensive background information on the morphology, chemistry, and ecology revealed cytotypes of G. urceolata have little to no character displacement, which was corroborated by our own investigations of stomata guard cell length (led by current undergraduate Ethan Cockey) and the composition of soil microbial and fungal communities (led by past undergraduate Nico Andrade). Despite the lack of niche divergence among cytotypes, we found coexistence to be likely, based on a matrix population model approach. Lastly, we used population genetics to understand the processes facilitating coexistence and the downstream ramifications of autopolyploid origin and gene flow on genetic diversity and population structure.
In addition to presenting my research, I was able to connect with numerous researchers. During my Ph.D., I attended the annual Botany meeting every year. However, as an undergraduate, my lab mates did not work on plants. It was great to see both faculty and graduate students from my undergraduate lab group. Overall, attending the Evolution 2024 conference was a great opportunity to learn and network.
One week after returning to Gainesville, I officially became Dr. Gaynor. Big thank you to The Gapenski Endowment for funding travel that was fundamental to my degree. These travels included sample collection (Spring 2021; Southern Appalachians), training in data analysis (Fall 2022; Norway), and the Evolution 2024 conference (Summer 2024; Canada).
Michelle Gaynor, Ph.D, is a graduate of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology. Dr. Gaynor was advised by Dr. Douglas Soltis, Distinguished Professor of Biology, and Dr. Pamela Soltis, Curator of Molecular Systematics and Evolutionary Genetics here at the Florida Museum.
The 2024 Summer Student Travel Awards are supported by the FLMNH Department of Natural History, including funds from the Louis C. and Jane Gapenski Endowed Fellowship and the B.J. and Eve Wilder Endowment. If you would like to help support this fund for future student awards, please go to:
Louis C. and Jane Gapenski Endowed Fellowship
B.J. and Eve Wilder Endowment