David Haig

Post - Professor

Harvard University Address

Professor of Biology
Botanical Museum 42B
Harvard University

Main research topics

David Haig is interested in the evolution of plant life cycles.

Selected publications

Brandvain, Y. and D. Haig (2005). Divergent mating systems and parental conflict as a barrier to hybridization in flowering plants. American Naturalist 166: 330-338

Lukhtanov, V.A., Kandul, N. P., Plotkin, J.B., Dantchenko, A.V., Haig, D. and N.E. Pierce (2005). Reinforcement of pre-zygotic isolation and karyotype evolution in Agrodiaetus butterflies. Nature


Noel Michele Holbrook

Post - Professor

Harvard University Address

Holbrook Lab, Biological Laboratories,
16 Divinity Ave,
Cambridge, MA 02138
USA

Main research topics

Noel Michele Holbrook is interested in whole-plant physiology, especially with regards to xylem and phloem transport and the coordination of hydraulic and stomatal control over water flux through plants.

Rattan hydraulics: In most climbing plants, xylem structure provides a low-resistance pathway for water compared to cloesely related non-climbers. As a consequence many climbers have large-diameter vessels. The ratten hydraulics project, seeks to establish a plausible scenario for the evolution of an unusual vasculature in certain rattan taxa.

Xylem Cavitation and Repair: Our aim is to establish a mechanism for embolism removal from the water-transport system of vascular plants. It is thought that vessel embolism is a reversible phenomenon made possible by the interaction of xylem parenchyma.

Nolana Mollis in the Atacama Desert, Chile: Work focuses on the physiological and morphological features of desert plants, and how this enables them to survive in extreme desert conditions.

Selected publications

Thompson, M.V. and N.M. Holbrook.  2003.  Scaling phloem transport: water potential equilibrium and osmoregulatory flow.  Plant, Cell and Environment26, 1561-1577

Melcher, P.J., M.A. Zwieniecki, and N.M. Holbrook.  2003.  Vulnerability of xylem vessels to cavitation in Acer saccharum (Marsh.): Scaling from individual vessels to whole branches.  Plant Physiology131, 1775-1780


Elana Kramer

Post - Associate Professor

Harvard University Address

Elana Kramer
Biolabs Room 1112
16 Divinity Ave.
Cambridge MA 02138

Main research topics

Elana Kramer is interested in the evolution of floral morphology.

Floral developmental genetics of Aquilegia and the Ranunculaceae: Many members of the family Ranunculaceae have two distinctly different types of petaloid organs.By examining the evolution of the AP3 and PI gene lineages across the family Ranunculaceaec we have demonstrated that two ancient duplications in the AP3 lineage gave rise to three paralogous lineages.

Developing Aquilegia as a new model species: The genus Aquilegia has been the subject of ecological, evolutionary and genetic studies for over 50 years and five major features of Aquilegia make it an exciting species to make a model system.

Selected publications

Di Stilio, V. S., E. M. Kramer and D. A. Baum. (2005) Floral MADS box genes and homeotic gender dimorphism in Thalictrumdioicum (Ranunculaceae) - a new model for the study of dioecy. Plant Journal, 41:755-766.

Kramer, E. M. and V. F. Irish. (1999) Evolution of genetic mechanisms controlling petal development. Nature 399: 144-148


Naomi Pierce

Post - Professor

Harvard University Address

Naomi Pierce
Museum of Comparative Zoology
26 Oxford St.
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138
USA

Main research topics

Naomi is interested in the symbiosis between ants and larvae of the Lycaenidae, her work includes evolutionary research on the topic of coevolution of Lycaenidae with host plant species.

Selected publications

Lukhtanov, V.A., Kandul, N.P., Plotkin, J.B., Dantchenko, A.V., Haig, D. and N.E. Pierce. In press. Reinforcement of pre-zygotic isolation and karyotype evolution in Agrodiaetus butterflies.

Nature Quek, S-P., Davies, S.J., Itino, T. and N.E. Pierce. 2004. Codiversification in an ant-plant mutualism: stem texture and the evolution of host use in Crematogaster (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) inhabitants of Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae). Evolution 58: 554-570

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