May 2023

We had two new members join the Hoban lab this month: Mikaely Evans, a rising junior at Macalaster College, started her time in the Hoban lab as a NSF REU; and Samarth Mohan, a rising high school junior, started working as a volunteer. Very exciting news and welcome to them both!

Additionally, Emily Schumacher was promoted to the Tree Conservation Biology Lab Manager in the lab. ​In her new role, Emily will work closely with the lab scientist in planning new methodologies and initiatives to continue to grow the Tree Conservation Biology program and increase her role in managing budgets and grant reporting. With Emily’s guidance, the program will seek ways to more effectively research and disseminate knowledge on tree conservation biology, mentor future plant conservationists, and manage a complex set of strategic partnerships including NSF, IMLS, USGS, IUCN, the US Botanic Garden and US Forest Service.

Publications: 

• Hoban, S., Da Silva, J., Mastretta-Yanes, A., et al., 2022. Monitoring status and trends in genetic diversity for the Convention on Biological Diversity: an ongoing assessment of genetic indicators in nine countries. Conservation Letters. Open Access. #A1, B1, A2, C3
  • This paper describes a project underway to apply indicators of genetic diversity conservation which are affordable and simple, in nine countries around the world. We address concerns of policy makers and implementation challenges, and describe a roadmap for further development and deployment, incorporating feedback from a broad community. We demonstrate that countries can successfully and cost-effectively report the status of species’ genetic diversity and adaptive capacity with existing biodiversity observation data, and, in doing so, better conserve the Earth's biodiversity.

Outreach: 

• ​​Sean Hoban, Tree Conservation biologist has been invited to join the Whitebark Pine Recovery Plan Genetics Working Group.  This team, led by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, is advising on writing a Recovery Plan for whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), which was recently listed under the Endangered Species Act.  The recovery plan will have a goal of listing all activities needed to recover the species to the point it can be delisted.

Project Progress: 

• Austin Koontz and Emily Schumacher both submitted articles for peer review 
• (Pictured below): The USBG Hybrid Acorn project continued with more sampling from the grounds for possible parent individuals for the acorns sampled last fall. 

From left to right: Emily Schumacher, Mikaely Evans, and Laura Aguiniga stopping for a breaking during leaf tissue sampling. Right picture: Mikaely Evans using the pole pruner to sample leaf tissue from a white oak.