Rachel Spigler
PhD Candidate
Contact Information:
2502 Miller Plant Sciences
Department of Plant Biology
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
USA
Phone: +1 (706) 583 0442
Fax: +1 (706) 542 1805
Email: rspigler@uga.edu
Homepage:
Research Interests:
My research interests span many aspects of plant population and community ecology, mating systems evolution and evolution of pollination syndromes, but primarily I am fascinated with the interface between plant population dynamics and plant-pollinator interactions. My long term research goal is to understand whether the outcomes of pollination events scale up to affect plant population dynamics and even plant community dynamics.
Dissertation Research:
For my dissertation research I am investigating the relationship between plant density and reproductive success in the native herbaceous annual Sabatia angularis (L.) Pursh (Gentianaceae). In particular I am looking at how fecundity and the mating system changes among populations of varying densities. Increases in self-fertilization in low density populations due to changes in pollinator visitation rates and behavior can also lead to the production of less fit offspring if inbreeding depression exists. One question I wish to address further is whether differences in offspring quality among populations correlate with population density and mating system and whether decreases in fitness due to inbreeding can scale up to impact population growth rates.