Unleashing the power of undergraduates to unravel the impacts of water relations and CO2 levels on the photosynthetic plasticity of Agave sensu lato species: a group of desert succulents important to natural and human systems

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PI: J. Ryan Stewart

  • 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: Survey of diurnal gas-exchange patterns of several Agave sensu lato species under controlled greenhouse conditions

We ended up modifying the experiment in that my students measured diurnal gas-exchange patterns of 14 Agave sensu lato species under lab-based conditions. They also measured gas-exchange patterns of five Agave sensu lato species under greenhouse conditions. My students were able to successfully complete both experiments in that data were collected, analyzed, and prepared in a manuscript, which will be submitted soon for peer review to hopefully be published in a scientific journal.

Study 2: Survey of diurnal gas-exchange patterns of several Agave sensu lato species under field conditions

Due to difficulty in creating a measurement apparatus to effectively measure diurnal gas-exchange patterns in Agave plants under field conditions, we were not able to fulfill this proposed research objective. Work is under way to be able to minimize the build-up of heat in acrylic measurement chambers so that a study can be carried out in the near future.

Study 3: Monitoring of diurnal gas-exchange patterns of Agave utahensis plants in native populations

Due to similar reasons for Study 2, we were not able to carry out the research objective for this proposed aspect of the project. Moreover, the thick nature of the leaves, particularly in mature Agave plants, make it particularly difficult to measure gas exchange. Work is ongoing in my lab to overcome these challenges.

Evaluation of the mentoring environment

The MEG award I received in 2014 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 met with my current students on an individual basis as often as we could, 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 and Google Drive), 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

Stephen Florence
Huber, J.A., A. Villanueva Morales, S. Florence, N. Mena, B.D. Rencher, and J.R. Stewart. Agave sensu stricto does not engage in facultative crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Journal of Experimental Botany. In preparation.

John Huber
Huber, J.A., A. Villanueva Morales, S. Florence, N. Mena, B.D. Rencher, and J.R. Stewart. Agave sensu stricto does not engage in facultative crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Journal of Experimental Botany. In preparation.

Nicolas Mena
Huber, J.A., A. Villanueva Morales, S. Florence, N. Mena, B.D. Rencher, and J.R. Stewart. Agave sensu stricto does not engage in facultative crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Journal of Experimental Botany. In preparation.

Ben Rencher
Huber, J.A., A. Villanueva Morales, S. Florence, N. Mena, B.D. Rencher, and J.R. Stewart. Agave sensu stricto does not engage in facultative crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Journal of Experimental Botany. In preparation.

Description of the results/findings of the project

My students found that there were no differences in CO2 uptake between species. They also found that soil moisture did not have an effect on CO2 fixation of Agave plants. However, they did find that some Agave sensu lato species were not CAM species.

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).