Biological Sciences Colloquium: Lauran Liggan
Lauran Liggan, PhD candidate in the Alberto lab, will be giving a talk about her work entitled “Unlocking the microscopic life of kelp: molecular monitoring reveals gametophyte-driven processes that shape kelp habitat persistence and recovery.”聽 The abstract is as follows:
Nearshore ecosystems such as kelp forests support high biodiversity and valuable ecosystem services, yet they are declining rapidly worldwide. A key challenge in understanding their recovery lies in resolving processes occurring in cryptic early life stages, particularly the microscopic gametophyte stage that underpin kelp population dynamics. My research utilizes a molecular approach to quantify these cryptic聽蝉迟补驳别蝉听in-situ, integrating environmental DNA, population genetics, and spatial analyses to link early life-stage dynamics with patterns of recruitment and recovery. By making these hidden processes measurable, this work provides new insight into the mechanisms driving kelp forest resilience and offers insights for improving monitoring and restoration in rapidly changing coastal ecosystems.
The presentation will begin at 3:00 PM in Lapham Hall N101, preceded by an informal reception from 2:45 鈥� 3:00PM.