NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) for FY 2013 in China

这一行动资助圣路易斯大学的史蒂文·托马斯·卡伦于2013年夏天在云南昆明昆明植物研究所开展了一个生物科学研究项目，中国。该项目的题目是“野生葛根和引进葛根的花卉生殖特性的比较分析”。主持会议的科学家是洪旺博士。入侵植物物种在新环境中繁殖的能力可能会受到可利用的相容配偶和传粉者的限制。在这种情况下，植物交配系统的转变(例如，从异交到自交)可能会通过提供更多的果实和种子来促进入侵。目前对入侵过程中交配系统变化的了解有限，特别是对多年生(长寿)的有性繁殖和克隆繁殖的入侵者。在这项研究中，该研究人员以北美最强大的植物入侵植物之一葛藤(Pugaria Montana)为模型，研究入侵对多年生克隆植物交配系统的影响。比较了中国原产地和引进地(北美)的生殖生物学(传粉者和花粉的可获得性及其结实/结实和自交的能力)。EAPSI奖学金的广泛影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验；介绍各自地点的科学、科学政策和科学基础设施；以及对社会、文化和语言的定位。这些活动符合NSF的目标，即在其科学家、工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期为国际合作进行教育，从而确保拥有一支具有全球意识的美国科学队伍。此外，本研究补充了中国和北美植物入侵的其他比较研究，以确定推动两国植物入侵成功的共同因素。照片和视频将与该奖学金产生的知识和成果相结合，用于在国家和国际科学会议上发表演讲，为保护组织提交报告，以及开展教学活动。建立国际合作使这位研究员能够通过视频会议将本科生和高中生与中国研究人员联系起来，有助于将学生的科学研究概念扩展到全球视野。

This action funds Steven Thomas Callen of Saint Louis University to conduct a research project in Biological Sciences during the summer of 2013 at the Kunming Institute of Botany in Kunming, Yunnan, China. The project title is "A comparative analysis of floral reproductive traits between native and introduced kudzu (Pueraria montana)." The host scientist is Dr. Hong Wang.The ability of invasive plant species to reproduce in new environments may be limited by the availability of compatible mates and pollinators. In such situations, shifts in plant mating systems (for example, from outcrossing to self-fertilization) may promote invasion by providing enhanced fruit and seed production. Current understanding of mating system shifts during invasion is limited, particularly for perennial (long-lived) invaders that reproduce both sexually and clonally. In this study, the Fellow uses the vine kudzu (Pueraria montana), one of the most potent plant invaders in North America, as a model to investigate the consequences of invasion for the mating systems of perennial, clonal plants. The reproductive biology (pollinator and pollen availability and its capacity for fruit/seed set and self-fertilization) from its native range (China) to that from its introduced range (North America) are compared.Broader impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce. Furthermore, this study supplements other comparative studies of plant invasions among China and North America to identify common factors driving invasion success between the two countries. Photos and videos will be integrated with the knowledge and results generated from this fellowship for presentations at national and international scientific meetings, reports for conservation organizations, and teaching activities. Establishing international collaborations allows the Fellow to connect undergraduate and high school students with Chinese researchers through video conferencing, helping to expand student concepts of scientific research to a global view.