DUMMERSTON — During February and March, the Dummerston Conservation Commission will present a morning lecture series titled “Conservation Genetics: Genome Research Applications to Wildlife Biology.”
Following the discovery of the DNA helix structure in the 1950s, DNA mapping became a widespread tool to help biologists understand how the unique gene structure, or genome, of each living organism interacts with its environment. A new field of research called “Conservation Genomics” was born in the 1980s.
According to a news release, the Commission has invited speakers who will each bring their own experience with current genomics studies of plants and animals common to New England and beyond and will describe how recent research can be applied to improve conservation management outcomes.
Applications of Genomics described in these lectures include the spread of Canada lynx population, the ecology surrounding raptors such as the golden eagle in the Midwest, how salamanders adapt to evolving habitat, and how red spruce forest adapts to climate in the Green Mountains.
All lectures will take place at the Evening Star Grange, at the junction of East-West and Middle roads in Dummerston Center, from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday mornings.
• Feb. 8: Sarah Emel, Ph.D.; Darwin post-doctoral fellow, UMass-Amherst, “Grassland Conservation Genomics, Applied to Plant/Animal Adaptive Ecology.”
• Feb. 15: Lisa Komoroske, Ph.D., assistant professor of environmental conservation, UMass-Amherst, “Genomics Applications in Wildlife Conservation” and Nadia Fernandez, M.S.; Ph.D. candidate, UMass-Amherst, “Conservation Genomics Applied to Raptors.”
• March 1: Tanya Lama, M.S.; Ph.D. candidate, UMass-Amherst, “Conservation Genomics in New England Carnivores.”
• March 8: Brittany Verrico, Ph.D. candidate, Keller Laboratory of Ecological Genomics, University of Vermont, “Genomics Applied to Climate Adaptation of Red Spruce in Vermont.”
Lectures will include ample time for audience questions and discussion. There is a suggested donation of $15 for individual lectures, $50 for the series. For more information, visit www.dummerstonconservation.com.