Ecology

A mere decade ago, decoding the genome of every organism in a major branch of the tree of life and deciphering their diets was a pipe dream. In a groundbreaking study, a team of researchers from Vanderbilt University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and other institutions worldwide have done just that for the first time ever. Led by Abigail LaBella, a postdoctoral researcher in the Rokas Lab, an international research team used the genomes and diets of nearly all known species from an ancient lineage of yeasts to understand the evolution of generalists and specialists.  Read More

The contributions of Quarterman and her graduate students to our understanding of the Middle Tennessee cedar glade ecosystem and the comeback of the critically endangered Tennessee coneflower are just part of her well-deserved legacy. Read More