My research focused on answering an unanswered and vital question in ecology: what causes of rarity.  A puzzling situation arises when rarity differs among closely related species - i.e., one species occurs rarely while the other appears prevalently.  Last summer, at Point Reyes National Seashore, CA, I evaluated the causes of rarity among co-occurring Linanthus species.  Within the Linanthus genus, species display differential distributions.  Linanthus rosaceus and L. grandiflorus are listed as species of concern by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and in the highest class of rarity by the California Native Plant Society.  Studying the ecology of these species in comparison with the common species, L. parviflorus, may provide the link for the cause of rarity. 

Prior to my study, little knowledge existed about the three Linanthus species.  Specifically, for these species, I quantified the breeding system, pollination biology, germination success, and fecundity of the three co-occurring congeneric species in order to explain their differential distributions. I found that the breeding system and magnitude of pollen limitation are similar for rare and common congeners.  However, the common species achieves higher population growth rates under conditions of plentiful pollen receipt.  Differences in the abundance and distribution of these species may be explained by the ability of the common species to take advantage of conditions that are extremely favorable for pollination.  I used to results of this study to write my honors thesis and received Suma Cum Laude Honors. 

This summer, I will return to Point Reyes National Seashore to conduct follow up studies on this system and explore causes of rarity and invasiveness among other rare and common co-occurring congeneric species found at the seashore.  More specifically I will focus on the herbivory rates in co-occuring congeneric Lipinus and Cirsuim species.