Biology majors Aurora Lewis '26 and Krystal Moore-Nicks '26 were recently awarded competitive research grants by the Maryland Native Plant Society. Worth $3,500 each, the grants will support their St. Mary's Project research in the coming year.
Lewis is a junior and is originally from Magnolia, Delaware. She has been the biology greenhouse technician intern over the last year and has done directed research under the supervision of Assistant Professor Lorena Torres-Martínez. The Maryland Native Plant Society Grant will fund Lewis' SMP research to study the incidence and genetic variation of an invasive fungal pathogen (Rafaella lauricola) that has decimated populations of Lauraceae (laurel) species such as sassafras and the only wild relatives of avocado in the U.S. (Persea species - Swamp bay and Redbay). Lewis will perform a molecular survey and estimate the genetic variation of R. lauricola among Persea host populations across the Eastern United States to understand its evolutionary ability. The findings of her research will help propose mechanisms to fight the disease and prevent its spread among Maryland native Lauraceae species.
Moore-Nicks is a junior double majoring in biology and marine science and is originally from Baltimore, Maryland. She is the marine science program student ambassador and is active as a researcher, tutor and mentor through programs on and off campus.
This grant will fund her SMP research under the direction of Assistant Professor Elizabeth Hamman and in collaboration with Torres-Martinez. Moore-Nicks will study how the marsh periwinkle affects the fungal endophyte community (fungi living within the leaves) of smooth cordgrass, and how, in turn, the fungal endophyte community affects snail grazing. Moore-Nicks will combine multiple research methods, including field surveys, lab experiments and sequencing to study these feedbacks. The relationship between smooth cordgrass and the fungal-farming marsh periwinkle snail is complex, with significant consequences for marsh ecosystem health. This work will provide foundational data on the interactions between snails and the microbial community, informing future studies on plant health and marsh stability.
According to its website, the Maryland Native Plant Society promotes awareness, appreciation and conservation of Maryland's native plants and their habitats through education, research, advocacy and service.
