Evolutionary Ecology of Structured Populations

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This award provides funds that will aid in the purchase of equipment to be used for research and training by a group of outstanding faculty at the University of Vermont. The faculty's research centers on studies of the evolutionary ecology of structured populations. The general classes of questions addressed by the group include: 1) the ecological causes of population structure; 2) the effect of the structure on microevolutionary dynamics; 3) the (population) patterns to be expected in nature as a result of these dynamics. The interrelation of environment and evolution has been of interest since the earliest theories of evolution were proposed. The role of population structure, as opposed to the simple size of populations, has a relatively poorly understood role in the dynamics of evolution. Studies of such structure require the analysis of characteristics of the DNA and protein of individual members of animal and plant populations at the molecular level. The equipment purchased with the aid of this award will be of benefit to faculty and student research in defining such characteristics.