Michele Dudash
Professor Emerita
Contact
Email: Michele.Dudash@sdstate.edu
Research Interests
My research interests are motivated by my curiosity of what factors contribute to population's persistence or demise over time. The research in my lab encompasses the evolution and maintenance of mating and breeding systems, plant-pollinator interactions, the dynamic interplay between invasive and native species, the context in which a plant-animal interaction can be mutualistic vs. parasitic, the importance of long distance gene flow and investigating how connectivity between overwintering grounds and breeding grounds influences individual reproductive success for migratory song bird species. In this framework, the basic research conducted in my lab has direct implications for conservation and restoration strategies of threatened and endangered species. I am interested in sponsoring graduate students in all aspects of evolutionary ecology. The questions addressed in my research program often require field experiments, complimented by greenhouse and laboratory studies.
Recent Publications
Education
Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, 1987. Plant population biology; inbreeding depression; mating system evolution.
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto, 1987-1989
Full Professor, Department of Botany, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Contact
Email: Michele.Dudash@sdstate.edu
Research Interests
My research interests are motivated by my curiosity of what factors contribute to population's persistence or demise over time. The research in my lab encompasses the evolution and maintenance of mating and breeding systems, plant-pollinator interactions, the dynamic interplay between invasive and native species, the context in which a plant-animal interaction can be mutualistic vs. parasitic, the importance of long distance gene flow and investigating how connectivity between overwintering grounds and breeding grounds influences individual reproductive success for migratory song bird species. In this framework, the basic research conducted in my lab has direct implications for conservation and restoration strategies of threatened and endangered species. I am interested in sponsoring graduate students in all aspects of evolutionary ecology. The questions addressed in my research program often require field experiments, complimented by greenhouse and laboratory studies.
Recent Publications
- Kula, A.A. R, D.M. Castillo, M.R. Dudash and C.B. Fenster. 2013. Choices and consequences of oviposition by a pollinating seed predator, Hadena ectypa (Noctuidae), on its specialized host plant, Silene stellata(Caryohoyllaceae). American Journal of Botany 100: 1-8.
- Castillo, D.M, A.A.R. Kula, K.A.D. Fenster, C.B. Fenster and M.R. Dudash 2013. Specialist pollinating seed predator exhibits oviposition strategy consistent with optimal oviposition theory. Journal of Ecological Entomology 38: 164-172.
- Frankham, R., J.D. Ballou, M.R. Dudash, M.D.B. Eldridge, C.B. Fenster, R.C. Lacy, J.R. Mendelson III, J. Porton, K. Rally, O.A. Ryder. 2012. Perspective- Implications of different species concepts for conserving biodiversity. Biological Conservation 153: 25-31.
- Murren, C.J. and M.R. Dudash. 2012. Variaiton in inbreeding depression and plasticity across native and non-native field environments. Annals of Botany 109: 621-632.
- Reynolds, R.J., A.R.K. Kula, C.B. Fenster and M.R. Dudash. 2012. Variable nursery pollinator importance and its effect on plant reproductive success. Oecologia, 168: 439-448.
- Frankham, R, J.D. Ballou, M.D.B. Eldridge, R.C. Lacy, K. Ralls, M. Dudash, and C.B. Fenster. 2011. Predicting the probability of outbreeding depression. Conservation Biology 25: 465-475.
- Dudash, M.R. C. Hassler, P. Stevens, and C.B. Fenster. 2011. Experimental floral and inflorescence trait manipulations affect pollinator preference and function in a hummingbird pollinated plant. American Journal of Botany 98:275-282.
- Reynolds, R. J., M. R. Dudash and C. B. Fenster. 2010. Multi-year study of multivariate linear and nonlinear phenotypic selection on floral traits of hummingbird-pollinated Silene virginica. Evolution 64:358-369.
- Burd, M., T-L Ashman, T.L., D.R. Campbell, M. R. Dudash, M. O. Johnston, T.M. Knight, S. J. Mazer, R. J. Mitchell, J. A. Steets, and J. Cc Vamosi, 2009. Ovule number per flower in a world of unpredictable pollination. American Journal of Botany 96:1159-1167
- R. J. Reynolds, M. J. Westbrook, A. S. Rohde, J. M. Cridland, C. B. Fenster, and M. R. Dudash. 2009. Pollinator specialization and Pollination Syndromes of three related North American Silene. Ecology 90: 2077-2087.
- Fenster, C. B. W. S. Armbruster and M.R. Dudash. 2009. Specialization of flowers: Is floral orientation an overlooked first step? New Phytologist 183: 502-506
- Murren, C. J., C. Chang, and M. R. Dudash. 2009. Patterns of selection of two North American native and non-native populations of Monkeyflower (Phyrmaceae). New Phytologist 183:691-701.
- Dudash, M. R. and C. J. Murren. 2008. The influence of breeding systems and mating systems on conservation genetics and conservation decisions. In Evolution in Action edited by S. C. Carroll and C. W. Fox., pp. 68-80, Oxford University Press, UK.
- Fenster, C. B., G. Cheely, M. R. Dudash and R. J. Reynolds. 2006. Nectar Reward and Advertisement in Hummingbird-Pollinated Silene virginica, (Caryophyllaceae). American Journal of Botany 93: 1800-1807.
- Murren, C. J., L. Douglass, A. Gibson, and M. R. Dudash. 2006. Individual and combined effects of serpentine and drought on trait expression in Mimulus guttatus. Ecology 87: 2591-2602.
- Kephart, S. R. J. Reynolds, M. Rutter, C. B. Fenster, and M. R. Dudash. 2006. Pollination and seed predation by moths on Silene and allied Caryophyllaceae: Evaluating a model system to study the evolution of mutualisms. New Phytologist 169: 667-680.
- Dudash. M. R., C. J. Murren, and D. E. Carr. 2005. Using Mimulus as a model system tounderstand the role of inbreeding in conservation and ecological approaches. Annals of the Missouri Botanic Garden. 92(1): 36-51.
- Knight, T. Tiffany M. Knight, J. A. Steets, J. C. Vamosi, S. J. Mazer, M. Burd, D. R. Campbell, M. R. Dudash, M. O. Johnston, R. J. Mitchell, and T-L. Ashman. 2005. Pollen Limitation of Plant Reproduction: Pattern and Process. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 36: 467-497.
Education
Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, 1987. Plant population biology; inbreeding depression; mating system evolution.
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto, 1987-1989
Full Professor, Department of Botany, Norwegian University of Science and Technology