Horticulture & Related FieldsJason Leung

Revealing the origins of recolonization and trends in genetic diversity in the threatened seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) by sequencing field collections, germplasm accessions, and historic herbarium specimens

Seabeach amaranth is a federally threatened plant native to the sandy beaches and barrier islands of the East Coast, where it was formerly found from Massachusetts to South Carolina. A poor competitor with other vegetation, this spreading, succulent annual grows just above the tide line in foredune environments. Though seabeach amaranth gradually disappeared from all but the southern part of its range through the 20th century, the species has serendipitously reestablished populations in New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere in recent decades. Here we propose to use DNA sequencing of field samples, germplasm, and historical herbarium specimens to understand the origins of seabeach amaranth's recolonization and reveal trends in genetic diversity across time and space.

School: Columbia University