Comparative transcriptomics of reciprocal transplants of Spartina alterniflora Dr. Christina L. Richards University of South Florida

Department of Integrative Biology University of South Florida Tampa Florida 33620 USA

clr@usf.edu http://biology.usf.edu/ib/faculty/crichards/ https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7848-5165 Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project

Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602-3636 USA

gcelter@uga.edu https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/ Dr. Christina L. Richards University of South Florida

Department of Integrative Biology University of South Florida Tampa Florida 33620 USA

clr@usf.edu http://biology.usf.edu/ib/faculty/crichards/ https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7848-5165 Principal investigator 2026

The project will compare transcriptome responses of Spartina alternifora to natural high and low salt environments using the Agilent microarray to test the following hypotheses: 1) in addition to known stress related genes, there will be novel gene network configurations and novel genes associated with networks in natural salt environments; 2) the pattern will vary for genotypes originating from high salt compared to those from low salt habitats; 3) local adaptation can be correlated to changes in gene network response. This work will not only contribute to our understanding of genome function in natural environments, but will provide novel insight into the nature of rapid response to ecologically relevant conditions in an important salt marsh dominant plant.

creek marsh biomass LTER NSF GCE plants Spartina botany plant ecology Overall geographic extent of the research project -81.307978 -81.176185 31.536369 31.380150 2011-05-16

USF Internal grant, USF start-up funds for Richards

estuary marsh complex Sapelo Island - Sapelo Island on the Southeast Georgia Coast -81.307978 -81.176185 31.536369 31.380150 GIS file (ArcGIS shapefile) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/gis/GCE-3-2011_GIS_GCE3_Cabretta_Lighthouse_Richards.zip GPS data file (Trimble, Excel) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/gps_data/GCE-3-2011_GPS_Cabretta.zip GPS data file (Trimble, Excel) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/gps_data/GCE-3-2011_GPS_Lighthouse.zip Map (Google Earth KML/KMZ or map image) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/maps/GCE-3-2011_Maps_Cabretta_Research_GCE3_Richards.kml Map (Google Earth KML/KMZ or map image) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/maps/GCE-3-2011_Maps_Lighthouse_Point_ge_GCE3_Richards.kml

Transplants in high salt and low salt Spartina zones at Lighthouse and Cabretta

Tags for transplants

Plants collected last summer (with GPS coordinates on file). Transplants will be approximately in the same locations but we can take new GPS.

Project description or documentation https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/documents/GCE-3-2011_Documents_NEW_RESEARCHERS_AWARD.pdf Permit application or documentation https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/permits/GCE-3-2011_Permits_LOA.pdf