Mason McNair
Ph.D. Candidate
Office: Miller Plant Sciences, Rm 2509
Email: mmcnair@uga.edu
Research Interests
My research focuses on inter- and intra-specific taxonomic delineation. Using North American Cercis (Redbuds) as a model system, I employ both genomic and morphometric approaches to identify the gene(s) underlying the phenotypic traits used to define species, subspecies, varieties, and forms within Cercis. Using a pluralistic approach to taxonomy I combine data from herbaria, common gardens, in-situ and ex-situ populations to make taxonomic determinations. My goal is to establish a robust pipeline for taxonomic delimitation, minimizing impacts on natural populations, and maximizing utility of the data for conservation efforts.
