Preston R. Aldrich
- Evolutionary ecology
- Invasive plants
- Old-growth
- Forest disturbance
- Laboratory
- Microsatellites
- Functional genomics
Research
Evolutionary & molecular ecology of plants
My research focus is the evolution and ecology of trees. I frequently apply molecular genetic markers to study population-level phenomena, such as gene pool dynamics in response to forest disturbance. I have inferred population pedigrees to reconstruct pollination and seed dispersal networks, estimate relatedness, and quantify dispersal dynamics. I also have used molecular markers in conjunction with morphology to resolve phylogenetic relationships. Presently, I am using functional genomic profiling to explore the molecular genetic basis of biochemical variation in an invasive tree. link
Invasive plants
I have a grant to study the invasive tree Ailanthus altissima which is a member of the tropical family Simaroubaceae. Its common name is Tree-of-Heaven or Stinkin' Ash. It's stink comes from numerous secondary chemical compounds that it produces rendering it unpalatable to herbivores. link
Old-growth
I have studied old-growth forests in temperate and tropical regions. For the past several years I have focused on an old-growth stand at the Davis-Purdue Research Forest in Indiana. link
Forest disturbance and fragmentation
Much of my research on forest ecology and evolution has involved problems of forest disturbance. In the tropics I have studied forest fragmentation effects on tree population genetics and community composition. In the temperate zone my emphasis has been on old-growth oak forests that present a contrasting problem, that of disturbance suppression. What happens to old-growth stands that have developed in part in response to repeated disturbances that are later suppressed? I and my colleagues at Purdue University have been studying the long-term consequences. link
Laboratory facilities
My research lab is equipped for molecular genetic and genomic research, primarily for DNA fragment analysis and sequencing. The department also maintains larger teaching/research labs equipped for molecular and cell biology, and has received funding for expansion of its genomics instrumentation. link
Microsatellites
Much of my research on tree evolution and ecology has utilized microsatellite or short tandem repeat (SSR) markers. I have developed several marker systems for microsatellites in oaks species. Follow the link to download a file with primers sequences and recommended Ta's. link
Functional genomic profiling
I am working on projects that characterize variation at loci known to be of selective value in trees. These include studies of multigene families, genes involved in the formation of wood, and genes important to the evolutionary arms race between plants and their herbivores and predators. link
