We showed that basswood populations on the back barrier islands along the Georgia coast have been able to maintain populations despite the isolating effects of past sea-level fluctuations, due to their ability to sprout and persist clonally. Clonal persistence and the lack of recruitment of new sexually produced individuals also slowed genetic differentiation among populations. This work was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Ashley Morris (C'97 and lab alum) at Middle Tennessee State University. Our jointly authored paper was just accepted for publication in the American Journal of Botany and is currently in press.
See the Basswood page for more information on this project.