Welcome to the Fisher Lab!
Our research focuses on the ecology and evolution of plants in extreme environments. We address questions such as: How does adaptation to extreme environments influence trade-offs in allocation of energy to growth, reproduction, and physiological tolerance? And, how do these trade-offs influence genetic diversity? To address these questions, my lab studies population genetics and reproductive ecology in the desert moss, Syntrichia caninervis, which is highly tolerant of stress and desiccation, and also has the most skewed sex ratios known of any plant species. Because it lacks roots and internal tissues for water transport, this desert moss spends the majority of its life in a desiccated state of suspended animation, awaiting brief interludes of moisture from infrequent rains.
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