Coastal Wetlands StudiesStephen Formel
2016 The Garden Club of America Award in Coastal Wetlands Studies
Stephen K. Formel is a PhD candidate in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department of Tulane University. He will investigate the effects of endophytes on plant growth in smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) in Louisiana. Endophytes are fungi and bacteria that live inside plants without causing disease. Many endophytes have been found to enhance plant growth and help the plant resist stress. However, endophytes are not incorporated into salt marsh management strategies, in part because they are not well-studied in salt marsh plants. By inoculating smooth cordgrass with combinations of endophytes, he will identify the endophytes with potential for improving plant fitness in conservation and restoration.
The Garden Club of America Award in Coastal Wetlands Studies
To promote, expand, and enrich the body of research concerning the coast by actively supporting graduate students in the field of coastal wetlands science.
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