ANNOUNCEMENT
Florida International University
Division of Graduate Studies
Thesis
Proposal Seminar
Abstract
The effectiveness of anemophily: Pollination
biology of sawgrass, Cladium jamaicense
Crantz (Cyperaceae)
by
Jenise M. Snyder
Wind pollination, or anemophily, is
characteristic of many economically important grain and timber crops. Basic mating system parameters and genetic
consequences of this pollination system, however, have been studied in only a
few cases. Anemophilous species
dominate Poaceae, Cyperaceae, and Juncaceae, which often are community
dominants with high incidences of cloning.
How anemophily influences clonal population structure is unknown. In clonal species sexual reproduction may be
the only opportunity to maintain genetic diversity. Therefore, mechanisms to prevent self-pollination and/or
self-fertilization must exist. I plan
to determine the
compatibility reactions of sawgrass (Cladium
jamaicense Crantz) and to investigate the tempo-spatial
efficiency of in situ pollen dispersal. I
hypothesize that sawgrass is
self-compatible and that stigma pollen loads will linearly increase over time
regardless of location on the inflorescence.
The results will help us understand the mating system, and thus the population structure and genetic
diversity, of this clonal, andromonoeious herb that is the dominant macrophyte in the Florida
Everglades. The data will assist
management decisions in the recently legislated $8 billion, 30 year Everglades
restoration. Examining wind
pollination in sawgrass will additionally provide insight for modeling
pollination efficiency of other ecological and/or economically important
clonal, herbaceous, anemophilous species in natural settings.
Date:
May 3, 2002 Department: Biological Sciences
Time:
9:30 a.m. Major Professor: Dr. Jennifer Richards
Place:
University Park, WC 130