Profile

• Time Zone

  Eastern

  
  
• Organization

  University of Georgia - Athens

  
  
• Role

  Scientist Mentor: I will mentor teams of students online

  
  
• Research Interests (300 words)

  Overall, I am interested in how plant populations are responding to climate change. I am currently looking at climate responses through the lens of the maintenance of gynodioecy in the alpine and arctic tundra species, Silene acaulis. Gynodioecy is a mating system with individual plants that are either hermaphrodite or female. The ratio of females and hermaphrodites (sex ratio) can vary depending on female advantage in a population. Abiotic and biotic variables can drive shifts in sex ratio and sometimes the shifts in sex ratio track climate change better than range shifts. My PhD work is on the patterns of sex ratios across the North America S. acaulis range, the mechanisms driving female advantage, and the demographic consequences of gynodioecy.

  
  
• Profile Question 1

  What is your favorite plant? Why?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 1 here (300 words):

  Currently, my favorite plants are in the Castilleja genus and are commonly known as Indian paintbrushes. These plants are gorgeous with very unique flower heads that come in many different colors depending on the species. A super cool fact about these plants is that they are partially parasitic, meaning that they leach nutrients and sugars off of other plants through the roots.

  
  
• Profile Question 2

  What was the first science experiment you ever designed? How did it turn out?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 2 here (300 words):

  The first experiment I ever designed was measuring the temperature inside anthills during the winter. I am originally from Montana and it gets pretty cold there during the winter. So, I hypothesized that if ants are capable of surviving over the winter in ground that freezes, then they must have a way to heat and keep their anthill above the freezing temperatures of the surrounding soil. After placing temperature sensors in the anthills, I found that that was not the case. The anthills ended up being colder than the surrounding ground- most likely because they stick up in the air, which is often much cooler than the ground. I learned a lot of lessons doing this first experiment. One lesson was that things don't always go how you expect them to, but that in and of itself is a result. Another lesson was that things don't always go how you want them to go. I had one temperature sensor that died in the middle of the experiment, so I lost a lot of data. Of course I was upset, but that sometimes happens in science and you just have to roll with the punches, try to solve problems when they arise, and do what you can with what you have. Lastly, I learned how fun it is to solve a problem on your own, especially when the answer isn't out there yet, and then to share it with other people and make them excited about your work too. Science is cool!!

  
  
• Profile Question 3

  What is the coolest thing you have discovered or learned about plants?

  
  
• Answer the question you selected for profile question 3 here (300 words):

  There are so many cool things about plants, but I will only share one thing that I think is pretty cool. Bee orchids, or Ophrys apifera, have flowers with a pattern and shape that resemble a female bee. Instead of producing nectar as a pollinator reward, this sneaky flower fools a male bee into thinking that it is a female bee and a potential mate. The male, attracted to the "female bee" attempts to mate with the modified petals of the flower, all the while getting covered in pollen. Once the bee realizes that something is wrong, it leaves looking for another mate and possibly another bee orchid to deliver the pollen load. Tricky flower! I highly suggest looking up a picture or video of this plant, because it is pretty cool!

  
  
• Help represent the outreach efforts of your societies. Please click all those organizations you are a member of:

  (not set)

  
  
• Capacity: How many teams at a time are you comfortable working with?

  2

  
  

Recent Posts

hhsbembryfogbspring2024 project 1 Emma Chandler 11 hrs

Hi Team!

Yay seed pods!! I agree with Devani - I love the names and "soft girl, healing era." Please share next steps or if you have data on how abiotic stress is affecting the plants (which seems to be the case).

hhsbembryfogbspring2024 project 1 Emma Chandler Mar 10 at 09:12pm

Hi Team!

That sounds like a good hypothesis! Bummer that your plants aren't doing so well. Plants can be a little finicky to revive. Make sure not to overwater the plants after they dry out. Also, it might help to keep them out of direct…

more

Hi Team!

That sounds like a good hypothesis! Bummer that your plants aren't doing so well. Plants can be a little finicky to revive. Make sure not to overwater the plants after they dry out. Also, it might help to keep them out of direct sunlight, as that can dry the plant out faster. Watering them from the bottom can also help, which you are already doing. Keep me updated about how your plants are doing and if you make any other observations. 

Best, Emma

hhsbembryfogbspring2024 project 1 Emma Chandler Feb 29 at 02:09pm

Hi Team,

It looks like you have a great start on your experiment. Nice job making observations and describing your methods! Do you have a hypothesis for how nutrient levels affect plant growth?

Best, Emma