Wendy McBride. Conserving Rare Plants and Their Pollinators
The need for information on the basic biology, including reproductive
systems and pollination ecology, of rare species is integral to both species-
and community-level conservation efforts. Angiosperms are often dependent
upon interactions with animal pollinators for successful reproduction, and
pollinators are often reliant upon plants for vital food and other resources.
This talk explores the pollination ecology of two rare plants occurring in
Arizona, Erigeron rhizomatus (Zuni fleabane), and Sphaeralcea gierischii
(Gierisch’s globemallow), and the tightly bound relationship between plants
and their pollinators. This mutual dependence informs conservation efforts
and reminds us of the complexity of organisms, their intricate connections
and interconnected fates, much of which we still do not understand despite
our impacts on the environment around us.
Wendy is a botanist based in Flagstaff. She has a background in teaching, independent botanical research, and working as a consulting botanist. She has been working with plants for 18 years and enjoys opportunities to learn more about plants and explore their biology, ecology, and taxonomy.
