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 ECO-EVOLUTIONARY DYNAMICS AND BIOMONITORING OF ENDEMIC VERNAL POOL ANNUAL PLANTS

Abstract
   Wetlands are among the world's most imperiled ecosystems, facing high rates of habitat destruction and biodiversity loss, especially in California's Great Central Valley vernal pools. These isolated wetlands are biodiversity hotspots, home to numerous endemic and endangered plant species. Despite conservation efforts, significant knowledge gaps remain about the ecological and evolutionary processes essential for maintaining these communities. This doctoral research investigates the ecological dynamics and adaptive potential of the vernal pool annual plant Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea (meadowfoam) and assesses the utility of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding for monitoring rare and endemic species. Through a detailed multivariate ecological field study and a common garden experiment, significant environmental and soil type effects on plant morphology and performance were found, highlighting the importance of preserving diverse soil habitats for genetic diversity and species resilience. Comparing floristic surveys with plant DNA from soil samples showed that eDNA effectively identifies and tracks a wide range of species, including rare and endemic indicators, with detection probabilities linked to plant abundance and ecological niche. These findings provide valuable insights for the conservation and restoration of vernal pool ecosystems, informing management practices to preserve these unique and threatened habitats.

Biography
   Daniel holds a B.S. in Earth Systems Science from UC Merced and is currently a PhD candidate in the Environmental Systems Graduate Group, concentrating in Ecology and Ecosystem Science at UC Merced. Daniel is interested in the processes that drive ecological specialization in extreme and heterogeneous environments with a focus on conservation, particularly in vernal pools. Daniel is a Merced local and will continue to focus his research and conservation efforts in the Central Valley as a restoration project manager for The Nature Conservancy. He enjoys spending time with his family and exploring.
 

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