Horticulture & Related FieldsBeth Joslin

Pitcher This: Capturing Diversity for Conservation of Carnivorous Plants

My research focuses on the conservation of the Georgia sweet pitcherplant, Sarracenia rubra subsp. viatorum, a recently described subspecies found in Georgia and South Carolina that remains unlisted at both the state and federal levels despite being designated as a 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan. This project uses a conservation genomics approach to assess genetic diversity and population structure across the subspecies’ range to better understand population health, connectivity, and to identify genetically vulnerable or isolated populations. Preliminary phylogenomic work suggests that S. rubra subsp. viatorum may represent a distinct genetic lineage within the S. rubra complex, underscoring the importance of conserving its unique genetic diversity. The results of this study will help prioritize populations for conservation, identify those most critical to protect in situ, and guide ex situ conservation strategies by highlighting populations with unique or high genetic diversity. This work will also provide data to support future conservation status reassessment and management planning for this rare southeastern plant.

School: University of Georgia