COLLABORATION IN BASIC SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (COBASE)

Beginning in January 2000, Anita Klein of the University of New Hampshire hosted Ukrainian scientist Vladimir Dvornik in order to conduct a study on "Molecular Population Genetic Analysis of Conifer Exposed to Chronic and Acute Environmental Pollution." The stated objectives of this six-month project were to develop hyper-variable DNA-based markers to study genetic variability of conifer populations and secondly, to initiate studies using hyper-variable markers to screen for genetic differentiation in conifer populations subject to chronic environmental stress. The introduction of DNA-based methods into forest population genetics in the Former Soviet Union enabled her to examine a number of problems regarding preservation of conifer populations and reforestation. Such problems are particularly acute for Ukrainian conifer populations that are geographically marginal and have unique genetic structure.

At the end of their study, the two scientists concluded that seven Southwestern North American taxa of Cupressus apparently represent either ecological races or scattered populations, or subspecies of one species, and have evolved due to recent multiple bottlenecks and consequent spatial isolation of populations of the species rather than resulting from the multiple speciation event. They plan to continue their collaboration and are already collecting preliminary experimental data for their next project.