Martha Burford Reiskind

Training in molecular biotechnology is essential for an expanding list of disciplines that have found modern biology-based skills of critical importance in pursuing research goals in areas ranging from biochemistry to chemical engineering to plant biology. Recognizing this, NC State University has created a core education facility that serves campus-wide needs for graduate students requiring laboratory-based training in aspects of modern biology. This not only facilitates completion of the students? dissertation research, but also lays the basis for career opportunities in academic, government and industrial research settings. Using this campus educational resource as a framework, NC State University proposes to continue a graduate level training program in molecular biotechnology that will involve students from at least 4 colleges and 10 university departments. Ten trainee slots are requested for the next training period, which will be augmented by 4 slots funded from university resources. The program requirements include completing: (1) a graduate level, laboratory minor in molecular biotechnology; (2) an off-campus industrial internship; (3) a capstone biotechnology design course; (4) a course in professional development; (5) a course in research ethics; (6) an annual research symposium; and, (7) a biotechnology-related service project. These requirements are in addition to those associated with the student?s particular department or program for the doctoral degree. This program will also provide a central focus for faculty of the various disciplines involved in this training effort to seek out new opportunities for formal and informal research collaboration.

Bartram������������������s scrub-hairstreak (Strymon acis bartrami) and Florida leafwing (Anea troglodyta) are two endangered butterflies endemic to pine rocklands in south Florida. Both species rely on robust populations of pineland croton (Croton linearis), their only known host plant. Like many species in the Everglades ecosystem, the distribution and dynamics of these species are largely driven by hydrology and fire, the dominant community structuring ecosystem processes in south Florida. Restoration actions in the Everglades ecosystem target both of these processes and therefore understanding how butterflies and their hosts are likely to respond to these actions is of utmost importance. We propose to determine how best to restore prescribed fire within pine rockland habitat. Specifically, we will use a demographic modeling approach to determine the fire return interval that promotes growing populations of both butterflies and their hosts. We also propose to model the potential impact of hydrologic restoration on croton distribution across the park. We will do this by utilizing newly available LIDAR data sets to construct a predictive model of current croton distribution. We will then develop possible future environmental conditions and use the model to predict croton distribution following hydrologic restoration. Together, our goals of understanding population level effects of fire return intervals as well as potential effects of hydrologic restoration on the distribution of these species, are the first step in understanding how these two major landscape structuring forces might interact to affect the persistence of endangered species in the future.

Project Summary Overview: Changes in frequency and/or intensity of disturbance regimes, such as fire frequency, cause changes in population demography and dynamics. Observational and experimental studies of disturbance have a long history in ecology. While there have been some attempts to test effects of interacting disturbances, especially at microcosm scales, we still do not understand how interacting disturbances influence population dynamics. Following the intense disturbance imposed by Hurricane Irma, we have the unique opportunity to test the effects of multiple disturbances on population dynamics of an herbivore and its host in the context of an ongoing, large-scale field experiment. In this RAPID, we propose to experimentally test the hypothesis that hurricanes interact synergistically with more regular disturbances to accelerate habitat change. To do this, we will take advantage of a disturbance experiment implemented in 2015 that recently experienced the full force of the eastern eyewall of hurricane Irma on Big Pine Key, FL. We have already measured vital rate responses to management-based disturbance, and will measure vital rate responses to hurricane disturbance and the interaction between management and hurricane disturbances. We will then use our empirical data to conduct population simulations to predict future population dynamics under increased disturbance scenarios forecast by climate models.

We propose to assist refuge staff in analyzing survey data for three very rare butterflies species. For all three butterfly species, further data analysis will build upon original population estimates and further inform managers about key data gaps. Because of the extreme rarity of these species, rigorous analysis is needed to ensure high quality information is available in a short timeframe. To ensure the continued persistence of these critically endangered species, there is an urgent need to gain a better understanding of the biology and population status.

Rodent pests cause major economic losses and threaten food security and biodiversity worldwide. The problem is particularly acute on islands where most vertebrate extinctions occur. We propose to test an innovative approach based on genetic engineering. This would also support graduate training in the NCSU Genetic Engineering and Society Center.