Sanya Sitlani Rose Hills
Assessing drought-driven needle trait variation in Pinus monophylla
Pinyon-juniper woodlands, one of the dominant semiarid ecosystems in North America, are experiencing increasing drought-related mortality due to climate change. Single-leaf pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla), a key species in these ecosystems, is considered drought-adapted but remains highly vulnerable to prolonged water stress. Given its long lifespan and limited ability to migrate, P. monophylla may rely on phenotypic plasticity—adjusting physical traits in response to environmental variation—to persist in a changing climate. I will examine the plastic response of P. monophylla needle traits across a climate and elevation gradient to assess adaptive potential. I ask: (1) How do anatomical (stomatal density), morphological (specific leaf area), and physiological (carbon isotope composition) traits vary with vapor pressure deficit? (2) Do populations experiencing greater drought stress exhibit stronger trait covariance, indicating a coordinated and adaptive response, or lower trait variation, indicating a uniform and less diverse response? Understanding the extent of this plasticity is critical for predicting population resilience and improving reforestation success.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much for making this research opportunity possible for me. I am excited for the chance to deepen my skills as a scientist and to be part of work that addresses urgent environmental challenges. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to share what I learn!