Allison G. Kidder

PhD Candidate

Research Interests

Plant ecology, plant ecophysiology, plant water relations

Research Description

My overarching area of interest is plant water relations.  Specifically, I'm investigating how coastal fog might facilitate the establishment of Baccharis pilularis (commonly called coyote brush) in rare coastal prairie habitat in central coastal California. To see if this plant is using fog water I am comparing the stable isotope ratios of hydrogen and oxygen of the water sources available to the plants (e.g., rain, fog, ground, and soil waters) to the water in adult and seedling stem tissue.  I am also assessing whole plant and tissue level response to drought stress of B. pilularis seedlings and adults by measuring seasonal plant water potentials, stomatal conductance, and pressure volume curves. Another facet of my research involves comparing water relations of prostrate and erect ecotypes of baccharis at UC's Bodega Marine Lab using many of the same measurements. Information from my research should help guide land managers toward sound predictions regarding baccharis invasions in coastal grasslands as well as provide baseline information about the water relations of one of the most common shrubs in the California Floristic Province.

Recent Teaching

102A - Terrestrial Resource Ecology

C12 - Introduction to Environmental Studies (two semesters)