IntBio Project
Integrative Demography: Combining Ecology, Remote Sensing, and Genomics to Understand Population Dynamics
The collaborative, interdisciplinary IntBio Project will combine the technical expertise of the Maloof, Magney, and Gremer research teams, with training approaches developed by the Biotech Program, in order to create a research and training community that can tackle complex biological questions and clearly convey research findings to a variety of general audiences.
IntBio researchers will integrate quantitative genetics, genomics, ecology, and remote sensing to understand and predict plant population persistence in the face of climate change (Figure 1). The model plant species at the heart of this integrated research approach is mountain jewelflower, Streptanthus tortuosus. This native Californian wildflower is ideal for our work for a few reasons - it is sensitive to climate shifts, has genetic variation within and among distinct populations in measurable traits and life history timing, and is found in across broad range of latitudes and elevations within the California Floristic Province, a biodiversity hotspot affected by climate change.
Using data from S. tortuosus populations, we will build demographic models and aim to address these questions:
- How does genetic and environmental variation influence physiology, and how do physiological traits drive variation in vital rates among individuals?
- How does individual variation scale to affect persistence or extinction of populations?
- Can models incorporating genetic and physiological trait variation among individuals predict population responses to environmental change?
IntBio trainees work closely with our faculty mentors to answer fundamental questions about population responses to climate shifts and consider the potential societal and policy impacts. We are developing a workshop series and undergraduate course (see Dr. Brandie Quarles Chidyagwai's profile below for details) related to IntBio research.
More details about the project can be found on the NSF Award #2129589 abstract page.
IntBio Team Members
The IntBio leadership team includes PI Julin Maloof (Plant Biology), and Co-PI's Jenny Gremer (Evolution and Ecology), Denneal Jamison-McClung (Biotechnology Program), and Troy Magney (Plant Sciences). Postdoctoral trainees, graduate students, undergraduate students, and early career researchers will also play key roles in carrying out the research aims of the project while developing transferrable technical and professional skills. Current key personnel include graduate student, Maya Arakaki, and postdoctoral scholar, Brandie Quarles.
Research Team Bios
Maya Arakaki - I am a PhD student in the Graduate Group in Ecology. My research ideas are still developing, but I am interested in life history evolution, phenotypic plasticity, spatial ecology, and quantitative methods for modeling population dynamics and genomic predictions in plant species. Outside of research, I enjoy baking, gardening, swimming, and camping with friends.
Jess Lyons (B.A, Computational Physics) – I am a field technician in the Plant Optics Laboratory (PI Troy Magney) and working with the IntBio research team to optimize remote sensing equipment and technical strategies for capturing field data.
Dr. Brandie Quarles Chidyagwai - I am a plant evolutionary ecologist broadly interested in how plants respond to stressful and variable environments. I integrate field, greenhouse, population genomics, and demographic modeling methods to assess how key traits influence population demography and the opportunity for adaptation of other traits. As a postdoc at Davis, I'm working with the Maloof, Gremer, and Magney labs to identify the factors (such as variation in genotypes, physiology, and the environment) that contribute to population persistence/extinction. Results from field experiments addressing that question will then be used to parameterize an integrated demographic model to project future population dynamics, especially in the face of climate change. I'm also excited to work with CoPI Jamison-McClung on science outreach and education related to the project.
In 2024, I designed and led the first undergraduate research course for IntBio with input from Prof. Maloof and Prof. Gremer - California Wildflower Climate Adaptation: Intro to Evolutionary Ecology Research. Students spent class time learning about evolutionary ecology topics and the scientific method, and working with peers to conduct research. With their groups, students developed research questions, generated hypotheses, collected data, analyzed and interpreted data, and communicated findings. One of the class periods was used for a field trip to the UC Davis Vegetable Crops site for data collection. Outside of class, students individually completed short reading and writing assignments. Students gained a better understanding of population biology and how it relates to climate change research, as well as learning fundamental research skills and practicing team science.
Dr. Rishav Ray - I am an evolutionary ecologist mostly interested in natural history-driven evolutionary questions, with a focus on using large-scale omics data to answer them. I take a curiosity-driven approach, guided by observations of nature, and enjoy quantitatively testing my hypotheses using diverse data sources. Currently, I am a postdoc in the IntBio project at UC Davis, where I integrate multi-omic data, remote sensing, and various phenotypic field data to study Streptanthus tortuosus, a wildflower native to California. My research aims to infer past and future demographic patterns and their evolutionary history and explore how this species may respond and adapt to changing climates.
Past Research Team Members
Sarah Ashlock (B.S., Plant Science) - I am a budding field ecologist enthused by natural history and botany. As the Integrative Biology project technician, I help train undergraduate students, generate hybrid generations of Streptanthus tortuosus populations, and install and monitor experimental common gardens. I’m also involved in projects exploring demography and germination niche in the Streptanthus clade. My research interests include ecology, evolution, and plant taxonomy.
Undergraduate Researchers
Undergraduate researchers are vital contributors to the IntBio project. They have been diligent in maintaining plants in the controlled environment facility, making crosses, helping plant on field days, collecting and analyzing data, and taking part in project discussions, particularly via the Data Analysis Workshop series led by Prof. Maloof . We are grateful for the participation of past IntBio research undergraduates, including: Mia Ashby, Sophie Benefiel, Eda Ceviker, Christina Chen, Kate Cox, Kate Ditrani, Bryce Johnson, Katie Michaels, Samantha Swan, and Samantha Yee.
Current Students:
- Ben Davis - I am a third-year undergraduate student studying Environment Science and Management, focusing on conservation and ecology. My favorite work in the lab has definitely been surveying and monitoring plants near Wrights Lake!
- Panka Kernacs - I am a fourth-year Biological Sciences student with a fondness for plant ecology. I have enjoyed collecting field and laboratory data for the IntBio project, and hope to conduct my own research on symbioses between plants and fungi in the future.
- Hugo Mahatdejkul - Hello! I am a third-year undergraduate student studying Genetics and Genomics. Since starting work with the lab group my freshman year, I can’t undersell how much I’ve learned and experienced! My favorite thing I’ve worked on was DNA collection of our experiments!
- Victoria Mattsson - I am a fourth-year undergraduate studying Environmental Science and Management, with a focus in plant ecology. Through the IntBio project, I’ve gained experience with experimental design and even some data analysis, contributing to my goals as a hopeful future ecologist.
- Megan Wong - I’m a fourth-year undergrad studying Genetics and Genomics with a personal interest in plants! I’ve really enjoyed the garden planting days, and seeing the plants grow on data collection days.
- Yong Xie - I’m a fourth-year environmental science and management student interested in plant interactions with the environment. I’ve really enjoyed being in the field and collecting data near Wrights Lake and at the Davis garden!