Welcome to the web page of

Kristina A. Schierenbeck

Professor of Botany Herbarium Director California State University, Chico Department of Biological Sciences Chico, CA 95929 -0515 email: kschierenbeck@csuchico.edu phone: 530.898.6410

Education:

Ph.D., 1992, Washington State University
M.A., 1988, San Francisco State University
B.S., 1985, San Francisco State University

Professional Experience:

Current position: see above

Research Professor. Evolution des Populations et des Espèces, Université de Rennes-1, Rennes, France. Jan-July 2004

(sabbatical leave appointment).

Associate Professor. California State University, Chico. 2001-2006

Assistant Professor, California State University, Chico. 1998-2001

Assisant Professor, California State University, Fresno. 1994-1998
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Dakota. 1993-1994
Consulting biologist. 1986-1988

Research Interests:

 I feel strongly that the answer to questions regarding the evolution of species will be gained through combining ecological and molecular techniques. Documenting species differences through molecular technique is interesting, but it only allows us to see the results of steps in the evolutionary process. I am interested in determining why these differences exist and how they are different adaptively.

Hybridization between previously allopatric species provides the ideal circumstance in which to identify adaptive characters important in a particular environment. Specifically, I am directing my research interests to the examination of invasive species and their genetic and ecological interaction with native plants and communities. We have used isozyme and chloroplast DNA variation to establish the extent and direction of hybridization between the introduced species, Carpobrotus edulis and the putative native, C. chilensis.

Current projects include the assessment of gene flow between native populations of the California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa), P. X acerifolia (London Plane tree), and the parents of P. X acerifolia (P. orientalis and P. occidentalis). Data from the ITS region supports strong gene flow between the hybrids and all three native species. We are continuing to explore this system with the single (or low) copy gene, waxy for extant and historical specimens.

Collaborative work with Dr. Lily Ainouche at the University of Rennes is ongoing to determine molecular changes in an invasive species of recent allopolyploid origin, Spartina anglica.

I have also undertaken another research project regarding the evolutionary origins of Clarkia lingulata from C. biloba ssp. australis. Clarkia lingulata is often cited as a "classic" example of quantum speciation from C. biloba ssp. australis. This nearly completed work conducted in collaboration with my graduate students, will provide a definitive analysis of the relationship between C. lingulata and C. biloba ssp. australis using gene linkage mapping techniques (AFLPs). The genetic linkage data will provide the basis for a quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis to identify those traits that have resulted in the genetic and ecology isolation of these species.

My long-term research will continue to focus on the interface between ecology and genetics as a means of understanding the evolution of species.

Recent funding:

U.S. Department of the Interior, Central Valley Project Conservation Program. 2006-2008 Investigations of the Restoration and

Management of Cordylanthus palmatus at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. PIs: K. Schierenbeck, S. Wingo,

J. Silveira, D. Ayres. $268,000

National Science Foundation. 2003-2004. The Fate of Duplicated Genes in an Invasive Polyploid Species. $52,043.

CSUPERB. July 2002-2003. AFLP analysis of hybridization between native and non -native species (Platanus racemosa X P. acerifolia and

Juglans hindsii X various J. spp.) $14,600.

National Science Foundation. 2000-2003. Computerization of the herbarium at California State University, Chico. $137,000.

CSU Chico, Research and Faculty Development Award. 2000. $5,000

National Science Foundation. 1999-2000. Genetic linkage maps and quantitative trait loci analysis of Clarkia lingulata and C. biloba

ssp. australis. $78,370.

Current Graduate Students:

Kylene Lang – Hybridization between native and introduced species of Platanus

Sheli Wingo-Tussing – Grazing impacts on restoration and management of Cordylanthus palmatus

Former Graduate Students:

Gavin Blosser - Mycorrhizal relationships in vernal pools

Paul Kirk - Hybridization between native and introduced species of Juglans

Darhl Bradford - Hybridization between native and introduced species of Platanus

Ann Willyard - Quantitative trait loci of white pine blister rust in western white pine.

Frances Phipps - Population genetics and phylogeny of the rare Howellia aquatilis

Sherry Ellberg - Quantitative trait loci analysis in Clarkia lingulata and C. biloba ssp. australis

Kelly Gallagher - Hybridization between Carpobrotus chilensis and C. edulis (allozymes)

Vaughan Symonds - Hybridization between Carpobrotus chilensis and C. edulis (cpDNA)

Selected Publications:

Fortunè, P., K. A. Schierenbeck, A.K. Ainouche, J. Jacquemin, J. F. Wendel, M.L. Ainouche (submitted). Evolutionary dynamics of Waxy and the origin

of hexaploid Spartina species (Poaceae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.

Schierenbeck, K. A., N. C. Ellstrand and G. Blosser (submitted). Spatiotemporal patterns in California plant invasions. American Journal of Botany..

Schierenbeck, K. A. and M. L. Aïnouche. 2005. Evolutionary consequences of plant invasions. In: Conceptual ecology and invasions biology: reciprocal

approaches to nature. Kluwer Press.

Schierenbeck, K. A., V. V. Symonds, K. G. Gallagher, and J. Bell. 2004. Genetic variation and phylogeographic analyses of two species of Carpobrotus and

their hybrids in California. Molecular Ecology 14:539-547.

Schierenbeck, K. A. 2004. Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica); history, ecology and context. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 23(5):391-400.

Schierenbeck, K. A., L. Janeway, A. Kapoor, F. Phipps. 2004. A genetic and morphological study of Clarkia stellata and related species in northeastern

California (Onagraceae). Madroño (In Press).

Gray, G. T. and K. A. Schierenbeck (accepted). The impact of dominant species and herbivory on early postfire succession patterns in the mid-elevation Sierra

Nevada, California. Madroño

Phipps, F. D., K. A. Schierenbeck, and J. Bell (in review) Population genetics and phylogeny of the rare Howellia aquatilis (Campanulaceae). American

Journal of Botany.

Schierenbeck, K. A. 2003. Case evidence through forensic botany. J. of Forensic Sciences 48:696.

Ellstrand, N. C. and K. A. Schierenbeck. 2000. Hybridization as stimulus for the evolution of invasiveness in plants? Proceedings of the National Academy

of Sciences 97:7043-7050.

Albert, M. C. M. D'Antonio and K. A. Schierenbeck. 1997. Hybridization and introgression in Carpobrotus spp. (Aizoaceae) in California. I. Morphological

Evidence. American Journal of Botany 84:896-904.

Gallagher, K. G., K. A. Schierenbeck, and C. M. D'Antonio. 1997. Hybridization and introgression in Carpobrotus spp. (Aizoaceae) in California. II. Allozyme

evidence. American Journal of Botany 84:905-911.

Schierenbeck, K. A., M. Skupski, D. Lieberman and M. Lieberman. 1997. Population structure and genetic diversity in four tropical tree species in Costa Rica.

Molecular Ecology 6:137-144.

Schierenbeck, K. A., J. L. Hamrick and R. N. Mack. 1995. Allozyme variability between a native and an introduced species of Lonicera. Heredity 75:1-9.

Schierenbeck, K. A., R. N. Mack and R. R. Sharitz. 1994. Effects of herbivory on growth and biomass allocation in native and introduced species of Lonicera.

Ecology 75:1661-1672.

Schierenbeck, K. A. and J. D. Marshall. 1993. Photosynthesis in a closed canopy and an open field for introduced and native species of Lonicera. American

Journal of Botany 80:1292-1299.

Schierenbeck, K. A., G. L. Stebbins, and R. W. Patterson. 1992. Morphological and cytological evidence for polyphyletic allopolyploidy in Arctostaphylos

mewukka. Plant Systematics and Evolution 179:187-206.

Course Links:

Principles of Evolution (Biology 251)

Graduate Seminar (Biology 305)

Research in the Biological Sciences (Biology 300)

Plant Systematics (Biology 240)

Advanced Systematics (Biology 341)

Evolution for non-majors (Biology 102)