When: 7:00 PM, Tuesday, 10 November 2015
Where: Orca Books (509 East 4th Avenue, Olympia, Phone 360.352.0123)
Our May Topic Is: Is Scotch broom evolving? Pollinators and seed predators exert influence on an invasive plant
Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) is an invasive perennial plant in the Pacific Northwest. It reproduces sexually, is not self-compatible, and is limited by pollinator availability. To mediate the spread of this invasive plant, two species of beetle were released in Washington and Oregon. These beetles feed on seeds and thus limit fecundity. Our study aimed to determine if pollinators are exerting natural selection on floral traits, as well as measuring the efficacy of introduced biocontrols. We found that pollinators do not simply pollinate all plants and flowers equally. Rather, they exert selective pressure on Scotch broom, and that the direction of this selective pressure varies between urban and rural sites. We have also found that beetles have a high impact on seed survival rates, but that such control is not equal through the area. An additional finding from our study is that Scotch broom may be responding to these pressures by evolving specific floral sizes to specific environments.
About the Speaker:
Robert Bode got his B.S. in Biology from Hope College in western Michigan and his PhD from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. His past work has focused on plant-herbivore interactions and the evolution of plant defenses. However, more recently he has focused on the interactions between weedy plants and seed-eating insects. Robert has been an assistant professor at Saint Martin’s University since 2014, and currently lives in Olympia with his wife and kids.
Next Month:
Science Café of Olympia meets each month on the second Tuesday. It provides an informal atmosphere where people with and without scientific background can meet to deepen their understanding of interesting topics in science and technology. After a presentation by an expert in the field, the meetings are opened for discussion. Science Cafés are found nationwide and are loosely affiliated with the U.K.-based Cafe Scientifique, an international organization promoting public engagement with science.
Some of the organizers of Science Café of Olympia are affiliated with the Puget Sound Chapter of The American Chemical Society.
Send us your comments and suggestions on topics, speakers and how we can improve our meetings. Feel free to pass this notice on to like-minded friends.
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— John W. Weiss