Abstract: Global change has brought higher-than-average temperatures and increased frequency of drought events over the last century. While some species can persist through adaptation in the face of anthropogenic stress, the mechanisms underlying species persistence remain unclear. Leveraging Ipomoea purpurea lineages spanning 20 years, I will compare how different temporal populations have responded to heat and drought stress. My dissertation will examine the impacts of environmental change on plant tolerance by addressing the following 3 major questions. First, how is heat and drought tolerance changing across time and space? Second, is heat and drought tolerance evolving through avoidance or escape strategies? Last, what is the genetic basis of heat and drought tolerance in I. purpurea populations?

Poster Photo Credit: Susan Lusardi