J. Ryan Stewart, Plant and Wildlife Sciences

• Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met
• Evaluation of the mentoring environment
• List of students who participated and what academic deliverables they have produced or it is anticipated they will produce
• Description of the results/findings of the project
• Description of how the budget was spent

Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met

In my MEG proposal, I outlined three main projects that my undergraduate students would be involved with. Below is a list of the projects with their associated research objectives. Following each objective is a summary of how successful we were in achieving the objectives.

Study 1: Population genetics and taxonomy of Agave utahensis

1. Confirm the taxonomy of Agave utahensis
   Through a genomic reduction experiment, an undergraduate student in my lab, Charlee Byers, identified several polymorphic microsatellite markers from two plants each of two putative subspecies of Agave utahensis, A. utahensis ssp. kaibabensis and A. utahensis ssp. utahensis. The microsatellite markers were validated on 104 accessions that included plants of both subspecies. Through principal coordinates analysis, we found that the taxonomy proposed by Gentry (1982) was accurate. Most of the variation was explained in both axes by separation into two clusters, representing both subspecies. We were not able to make morphological measurements to characterize differences between the subspecies.
2. Characterize the population genetics of Agave utahensis
   We made considerable headway in characterizing the population genetics of Agave utahensis through work performed by an undergraduate in my lab, Charlee Byers. As mentioned above, she identified several polymorphic microsatellite markers, which could be used to characterize the genetic structure of Agave utahensis. However, the tetraploid nature of Agave utahensis makes it difficult to accurately score markers. To that end, we are in the process of identifying polymorphic single-nucleotide polymorphism markers. We will soon be screening for markers utilizing Fluidigm chip technology. Accessions from 16 populations of Utah agave across its native range have been sampled. Accessions from additional populations will be collected in the coming month. Once the accessions have all been completed., students will begin working on DNA extractions. Data from the Fluidigm chip will give us information on how many polymorphic SNP markers are available to use in our study.

Study 2: Reproduction and pollination biology of Agave utahensis

1. Characterize the variation in inflorescence type in Utah agave populations
   Over the course of studying Utah agave plants in the species’ native range, my students and I found that there was little variation in infloresence structure. I originally anticipated that there was considerable variation , but most plants have either spicate or racemose inflorescences, nothing like the large paniculate inflorescences found in species in the Agave subgenus.
2. Determine the extent of vegetative reproduction in Utah agave subspecies
   We found that most, if not all, the plants we observed exhibited clonal reproduction.
3. Observe and document which pollinator species visit flowers of Utah agave and its subspecies
   One of my undergraduate students, Westen Archibald, attempted to observe pollinators at a native population in southwestern Utah, but found it to be an arduous exercise. It was difficult for him to find the time to go down to the remote location to make observations. We found that it would be best if this aspect of the study was a graduate thesis project. Undergraduates do not have the time or resources to be in the field for several weeks at a time, making observations throughout the day and night.

Study 3: Predicting locations of Agave utahensis populations using GIS techniques

1. Develop a layered GIS map that predicts where native populations of Utah agave occur

One of my undergraduate students, Austin Pearce, used a software program, MaxEnt 3.3.3k, in conjunction with ESRI ArcMap 10.2 to create, process, and manage prediction data related to where Utah agave populations might be located. Austin processed 289 presence-only records and 20 bioclimatic predictors in MaxEnt to put together a GIS-based predictive map. Through the analysis, he was able to identify regions within the native range of Utah agave that are more suitable than others for population occurrence.

Evaluation of the mentoring environment

The MEG award I received in 2012 helped me become a more effective mentor for undergraduate researchers in my lab. I have learned how to put together an environment where undergraduates can thrive and have meaningful opportunities to grow and develop within a scientific framework. I meet with my current students on an individual basis at least once a week, and with the entire group in weekly lab meetings. In our weekly lab meetings, we discuss a peer-reviewed scientific paper relevant to projects students are working on. I have an open-door policy with them, both in person and through electronic means. We frequently communicate through face-to-face meetings, e-mail, phone, and text messages. Cloud-based tools, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and Wunderlist), enable me to be able to provide frequent and useful feedback for them as they work on their experimental plans, data collection and analysis, and manuscript preparation. Moreover, my students are exposed to a full range of scientific experiences through conducting research in field-, greenhouse-, and lab-based settings.

All in all, I believe that I have made great strides in creating a mentoring environment where students thrive and succeed.

List of students who participated and what academic deliverables they have produced or it is anticipated they will produce

• Justin Boyer
  Stoker, J., J. Boyer, A. Grimes, and J.R. Stewart. A hydrothermal time model of seed germination of five Agave species native to the southwestern U.S. New Phytologist. In preparation.
• Charlee Byers
  Byers, C. and J.R. Stewart. 2014. Microsatellite primers in Utah agave, Agave utahensis (Agavaceae). Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research, Provo, Utah, February 2014.
  Byers, C., P.J. Maughan, J. Clouse, and J.R. Stewart. 2014. Microsatellite primers in Agave utahensis (Asparagaceae), a keystone species in the Mojave Desert and Colorado Plateau. Applications in Plant Sciences 2:1400047.
• Shazia Chiu
  Grimes, A., N. Reed, S. Chiu, and J.R. Stewart. Impacts of mycorrhizal inoculation on water relations and productivity of bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatus), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristaum), Munro’s globemallow (Sphaeralcea munroana), and rabbitbrush (Ericameria spp.), keystone species in the Great Basin. Journal of Experimental Botany. In preparation.
• Angela Grimes
  Grimes, A., N. Reed, S. Chiu, and J.R. Stewart. Impacts of mycorrhizal inoculation on water relations and productivity of bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatus), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristaum), Munro’s globemallow (Sphaeralcea munroana), and rabbitbrush (Ericameria spp.), keystone species in the Great Basin. Journal of Experimental Botany. In preparation.
• Spencer Larson
  Larson, S. and J.R. Stewart. Variation in chilling tolerance for photosynthesis and cladode expansion among Opuntia ficus-indica cultivars. New Phytologist. In preparation.
• Austin Pearce
  Pearce, A. and J.R. Stewart. 2014. Predicting species distribution of Agave utahensis using MaxEnt. Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research, Provo, Utah, February 2014.
• Neil Reed Grimes, A., N. Reed, S. Chiu, and J.R. Stewart. Impacts of mycorrhizal inoculation on water relations and productivity of bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatus), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristaum), Munro’s globemallow (Sphaeralcea munroana), and rabbitbrush (Ericameria spp.), keystone species in the Great Basin. Journal of Experimental Botany. In preparation.
• Jacob Stoker
  Stoker, J., J. Boyer, A. Grimes, and J.R. Stewart. A hydrothermal time model of seed germination of five Agave species native to the southwestern U.S. New Phytologist. In preparation.

Description of the results/findings of the project

The results of the study are described above in the section on the evaluation of the academic objectives.

Description of how the budget was spent

The budget was primarily spent on student wages ($12000), travel to field sites ($4000), and research supplies ($4000).