OUTREACH

Population Structure and Phylogeography of Rhododendron macrophyllum

The distribution of four haplotypes in RPB2-i is shown. For details, see Xi et al in Recent Papers.

This project, which uses polymorphic sites in three nuclear genes to characterize different populations of the Pacific Rhododendron, involves direct participation by two groups of students.

  1. The MESA and Genetics classes of Laura Sugden, science teacher at West Seattle High School.  Equipment and supplies provided by the Science Education Program (SEP) at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center make possible DNA experiments in the high school classroom.
  2. University of Washington and Sichuan University students in the UW-Sichuan exchange program.

Both groups of students have taken field trips to native R. macrophyllum populations in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia to collect foliage samples for DNA analysis.  The initial findings of this research were published in the Winter 2006 issue of Journal, American Rhododendron Society.  This article will soon be available as a pdf.

  1. Faculty Collaborator:  Dr. Amy Denton, California State University, Channel Islands
  2. These studies rely heavily on the comprehensive mapping of R. macrophyllum populations done by members of the Western North America Rhododendron Species Project.  Their distribution maps of this and other western Rhododendron species may be seen at: http://www.wnarsp.org 

Other Research Collaborations

Phylogeny of Rhododendron Section Vireya based upon Molecular Data with:

A Phylogeny of Asian members of Fagaceae based upon nuclear gene sequences with: