Kristin Mercer
The Ohio State University
Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology
614-292-8433
mercer.97@osu.edu
I apply ecological genetics and evolutionary theory to pressing agricultural and environmental questions. More narrowly, my research investigates how gene flow and selection influence the evolution of agricultural plant populations in crop centers of origin. This work is presently unfolding along two paths. First, I am studying the on-going evolution of traditional varieties of maize (Zea mays ssp. mays) in Mexico in the context of global climate change. Second, I explore the ways that genetic variation, environmental heterogeneity, and ecological interactions influence the introgression of crop alleles into wild populations of Helianthus annuus. I also have experience studying the sustainability of agricultural systems on interdisciplinary teams.
Publications
Mercer, K .L. and Wainwright, J. D. 2008. Gene Flow from transgenic maize to landraces in Mexico: An analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 126:109-115.
Mercer, K .L., D. A. Andow, D. L Wyse and R. G. Shaw. 2007. Stress and domestication traits increase the relative fitness of crop-wild hybrids in sunflower. Ecology Letters 10:383-393.
Mercer, K. L., D. L. Wyse and R. G. Shaw. 2006 Effects of competition on fitness of wild and crop-wild hybrid sunflower from a diversity of wild populations and crop lines. Evolution 60(10): 2044-2055..
Mercer, K. L., R. G. Shaw and D. L. Wyse. 2006. Increased germination of d
iverse crop-wild hybrid sunflower seeds. Ecological Applications 16(3): 845-854.Jordan, N R., D. A. Andow, and Mercer, K .L. 2005. New concepts in agroecology: A service-learning course. The Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education 34:83-89
Mercer, K. L., N. Jordan, D. L. Wyse and R. G. Shaw. 2002. Multivariate differentiation of quackgrass (Elytrigia repens) from three farming systems. Weed Science 50(5): 677-685.
Last Updated: January 30, 2008