June 18, 2024 Chapter Meeting at 7 p.m.
Wendy McBride: Conserving Rare Plants and Their Pollinators
The
need for information on the basic biology, including reproductive
systems and pollination ecology, of rare species is integral to both
species-and community-level conservation efforts. Angiosperms are often
dependent upon interactions with animal pollinators for successful
reproduction, and pollinators are often reliant upon plants for vital
food and other resources.
This talk explores the pollination ecology
of two rare plants occurring in Arizona, Erigeron rhizomatus (Zuni
fleabane), and Sphaeralcea gierischii (Gierisch’s globemallow), and the
tightly bound relationship between plants and their pollinators. This
mutual dependence informs conservation efforts and reminds us of the
complexity of organisms, their intricate connections and interconnected
fates, much of which we still do not understand despite our impacts on
the environment around us.
Wendy is a botanist based in Flagstaff. She has a background in teaching, independent botanical research,
and
working as a consulting botanist. She has been working with plants for
18 years and enjoys opportunities to learn more about plants and explore
their biology, ecology, and taxonomy
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