The Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center supports research in a wide array of disciplines through providing researcher lodging, laboratory space and equipment, logistical support, and protected areas on which to implement research projects. All proposed projects are reviewed by the resident Director to minimize impacts on resources and ensure that project implementation will not affect existing research projects. We currently have over 160 research projects affiliated with the GMDRC, below are some examples.

In an ongoing collaboration Paul De Ley (UC Riverside, Department of Nematology), Nicole Pietrasiak (New Mexico State University, Plant and Environmental Sciences) and Jeffrey Johansen (John Carroll University, Biology Department) investigate the links between primary producers of biological soil crusts and their microscopic consumers. Specifically, the research team is focusing on three particular aspects: 1) diversity surveys of photosynthetic crust members, nematodes, and tardigrades at Granite Mountains and in surrounding areas using direct microscopy and isolation techniques; 2) direct feeding studies comparing attraction of select nematode and tardigrade species from Granite Mountains to different isolates of cultured soil algae; and 3) analyses of community composition and structure of associated primary producers and consumers in different crust community types using next-generation sequencing. The latter component is collaborative with Mark Blaxter of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. These studies are not only relevant to improving knowledge of biodiversity of microorganisms at Granite Mountains, but will also help generate first insights on food web interactions between microorganisms in desert soils. One major hurdle for the team is in trying to collect specimens with all three life forms (photosynthetic crust members, nematodes, and tardigrades) present. This has proven to be the biggest mystery so far, as it has been much harder than expected to find nematodes and tardigrades in their samples.  The photo below shows Alejandra Martinez-Berdeja, Jered Korfhage, Paul De Ley, and Nicole Pietrasiak (left to right) collecting soil and crust samples in the Granite Mountains. Photo by T. La Doux

Dr. Chris Lortie, an integrative ecologist in the Biology Department at York University (Toronto, Canada) has supported several students doing research out of the Center. Two of these students, Ally Ruttan and Amanda Liczner, are graduating seniors working on Honours Theses in conjunction with Ph.D. student Alex Filazzola; all are studying indirect and direct effects of nurse-plants in desert ecosystems. In 2015 Ally and Amanda completed their projects by submitting thesis papers, whereas Alex is aiming to complete his dissertation by 2018. Ally’s thesis, titled “Basal plant facilitation extends to insect community structure and diversity in the Mojave Desert, California”, was conducted at the Kelso Dunes on the sand hummocks dominated by creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). The focus for this project was to test the hypothesis that nurse-plant effects are not limited to other plants, but rather these effects can extend to other trophic levels such as the insect community. The results of this study support a positive relationship between nurse-plant microsites and insect abundance, richness, evenness, diversity, and composition. In addition, they found certain insect families (Sphecidae, Formicidae, Bradynobaenidae, and Lauxaniidae) to be more closely associated with the shrub islands (nurse-plants), versus Scarabaeidae was associated with open sites. Interestingly, they used several iPod Touch devices to record insect activity at the microsites; each unit was encased in a protective hood and allowed to run constantly for 2-hr intervals during the day.  Ally Ruttan is shown in the photo below sweeping for insects. Photo by Amanda Liczner.

Daniela Klein, a doctoral student at University of Mainz (Germany), along with undergraduate Philipp Hühn and their advisor Dr.Regine Claßen-Bockhoff, are interested in pollinator-driven evolution of floral traits in Salvia subgenus Audibertia. This group of plants provides a unique model system to study the functional significance of the staminal lever mechanism, a morphological trait that has evolved with bee pollination. Most Salvia species are bee-pollinated and therefore have a functional lever mechanism, however, of the 19 species in the Audibertia subgenus, only one taxon (Salvia columbariae) has this trait. In order to learn more about this unique group of Salvia species, Klein, Hühn, and Claßen-Bockhoff arrived at the Center in March of 2014 to conduct pollinator observations in the field, collect morphometric measurements on Salvia flowers, and perform pollen transfer experiments in the field. At the Center, they worked on three species: Salvia columbariae, S. mohavensis, and S. dorrii, however they were also studying species such S. funerea and S. apiana in nearby mountain ranges. Their research objective is to elucidate the mutual adaptations between flowers and pollinators and to understand the evolutionary significance of the staminal lever mechanism. The photo below shows Salvia mohavensis pinned for morphometric measurements at the Allanson Center laboratory.

Photo by Daniela Klein.

Last updated: June 2014