David Haig
Post - Professor
Harvard University Address
Professor of Biology
Botanical Museum 42B
Harvard University
Main research topics
David Haig is interested in the evolution of plant life cycles.
Selected publications
Brandvain, Y. and D. Haig (2005). Divergent mating systems and parental conflict as a barrier to hybridization in flowering plants. American Naturalist 166: 330-338
Lukhtanov, V.A., Kandul, N. P., Plotkin, J.B., Dantchenko, A.V., Haig, D. and N.E. Pierce (2005). Reinforcement of pre-zygotic isolation and karyotype evolution in Agrodiaetus butterflies. Nature
Noel Michele Holbrook
Post - Professor
Harvard University Address
Holbrook Lab, Biological Laboratories,
16 Divinity Ave,
Cambridge, MA 02138
USA
Main research topics
Noel Michele Holbrook is interested in whole-plant physiology, especially with regards to xylem and phloem transport and the coordination of hydraulic and stomatal control over water flux through plants.
Rattan hydraulics: In most climbing plants, xylem structure provides a low-resistance pathway for water compared to cloesely related non-climbers. As a consequence many climbers have large-diameter vessels. The ratten hydraulics project, seeks to establish a plausible scenario for the evolution of an unusual vasculature in certain rattan taxa.
Xylem Cavitation and Repair: Our aim is to establish a mechanism for embolism removal from the water-transport system of vascular plants. It is thought that vessel embolism is a reversible phenomenon made possible by the interaction of xylem parenchyma.
Nolana Mollis in the Atacama Desert, Chile: Work focuses on the physiological and morphological features of desert plants, and how this enables them to survive in extreme desert conditions.
Selected publications
Thompson, M.V. and N.M. Holbrook. 2003. Scaling phloem transport: water potential equilibrium and osmoregulatory flow. Plant, Cell and Environment26, 1561-1577
Melcher, P.J., M.A. Zwieniecki, and N.M. Holbrook. 2003. Vulnerability of xylem vessels to cavitation in Acer saccharum (Marsh.): Scaling from individual vessels to whole branches. Plant Physiology131, 1775-1780
Elana Kramer
Post - Associate Professor
Harvard University Address
Elana Kramer
Biolabs Room 1112
16 Divinity Ave.
Cambridge MA 02138
Main research topics
Elana Kramer is interested in the evolution of floral morphology.
Floral developmental genetics of Aquilegia and the Ranunculaceae: Many members of the family Ranunculaceae have two distinctly different types of petaloid organs.By examining the evolution of the AP3 and PI gene lineages across the family Ranunculaceaec we have demonstrated that two ancient duplications in the AP3 lineage gave rise to three paralogous lineages.
Developing Aquilegia as a new model species: The genus Aquilegia has been the subject of ecological, evolutionary and genetic studies for over 50 years and five major features of Aquilegia make it an exciting species to make a model system.
Selected publications
Di Stilio, V. S., E. M. Kramer and D. A. Baum. (2005) Floral MADS box genes and homeotic gender dimorphism in Thalictrumdioicum (Ranunculaceae) - a new model for the study of dioecy. Plant Journal, 41:755-766.
Kramer, E. M. and V. F. Irish. (1999) Evolution of genetic mechanisms controlling petal development. Nature 399: 144-148
Naomi Pierce
Post - Professor
Harvard University Address
Naomi Pierce
Museum of Comparative Zoology
26 Oxford St.
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138
USA
Main research topics
Naomi is interested in the symbiosis between ants and larvae of the Lycaenidae, her work includes evolutionary research on the topic of coevolution of Lycaenidae with host plant species.
Selected publications
Lukhtanov, V.A., Kandul, N.P., Plotkin, J.B., Dantchenko, A.V., Haig, D. and N.E. Pierce. In press. Reinforcement of pre-zygotic isolation and karyotype evolution in Agrodiaetus butterflies.
Nature Quek, S-P., Davies, S.J., Itino, T. and N.E. Pierce. 2004. Codiversification in an ant-plant mutualism: stem texture and the evolution of host use in Crematogaster (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) inhabitants of Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae). Evolution 58: 554-570