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| Louise Comas | ||||||
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Research Interests I am interested in evolution of belowground plant structures and developmental steps leading to these structures. My current research focuses on understanding patterns of variation in root morphology among terrestrial plant species and the portion of this variation that is driven by large-scale evolutionary pressures. A lot can be learned about the evolution of plant structures through examinations of comparative biology with phylogenetically informed analyses. Because plant roots interact with microorganisms to forage for soil resources, there is an added level of complexity to understanding the diversity of root morphology. There may be trade-offs in traits that allow roots to form associations with soil fauna and those that allow roots to forage for resources independent of microorganisms. Since roots do not always form associations with soil microorganisms, there may be positive selection for adaptive plasticity in root morphology.
Hosted by University of Colorado, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology |
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