DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Miconia affinis in a tropical forest and coffee landscape mosaic: the population genetics of a buzz-pollinated understory tree

尽管在保护方面作出了努力，但热带森林继续面临土地转换，威胁到许多热带树木，特别是那些依赖专门授粉者繁殖的树木。拟议的研究调查花粉传播模式的“蜂授粉”树种。 蜂音授粉发生在蜜蜂抓住一朵花，振动花粉脱离特殊的气孔。 由于这种机制排除了外来蜜蜂的花粉传播，跟踪花粉运动将产生一个独特的强大的指标，本地蜜蜂运动。 本地动物的生物多样性和植物基因流动模式将在未受干扰的栖息地和高度分散的树荫咖啡种植园栖息地进行检查，并将提供机制的洞察力树荫咖啡农场的能力，作为生物多样性避难所和栖息地走廊。 随着农业面积的不断扩大，了解土地管理对传粉者群落和花粉传播过程的影响至关重要。 通过关注国际合作，这项研究加强了美国和墨西哥科学家，学生和管理人员之间的了解，以建立热带森林和可持续农业生态系统研究的地方和国际领导地位。 到目前为止，这项研究提供了与咖啡农就土地管理、授粉服务和农场内侵蚀控制进行交流的机会。随着森林砍伐的继续，了解如何维持热带植物和传粉者群落所需的关键生态过程至关重要。

Despite efforts at conservation, tropical forests continue to face land conversion, threatening many tropical trees, especially those that are dependent on specialized pollinators for reproduction. The proposed research investigates pollen dispersal patterns for a "buzz-pollinated" tree species. Buzz-pollination occurs when bees grasp a flower and vibrate pollen free of specialized pores. Because this mechanism excludes pollen dispersal by exotic honeybees, tracking pollen movement will yield a uniquely powerful indicator of native bee movement. Native faunal biodiversity and plant gene flow patterns will be examined in undisturbed habitats and in highly fragmented shade coffee plantation habitats and will provide mechanistic insight into the capacity of shade coffee farms to serve as biodiversity refuges and habitat corridors. As agricultural areas continue to expand, it is critical that the impacts of land management on pollinator communities and pollen dispersal processes are understood. By focusing on international collaboration, this research strengthens understanding between scientists, students, and managers in the United States and Mexico in order to build local and international leadership in the study of tropical forests and sustainable agroecosystems. Thus far, this research has provided the opportunity to communicate with coffee farmers about land management, pollination services and erosion control within their farms. As deforestation continues, it is essential to understand how to maintain key ecological processes required by tropical plant and pollinator communities.