Auburn evolutionary ecologist explores the impact of environmental changes on species with $1.6 million NSF award

How do changes in our environment such as weather and temperature impact how species coexist?

Ronald Bassar, an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, is the recipient of a $1,616,701 award from the National Science Foundation, Division of Environmental Biology. The evolution of fluctuation-dependent species coexistence examines the role our changing environment plays using two species of fish, Trinidadian guppies and Hart’s Killifish.

“The traditional model of species coexistence relies on the environment being a constant factor,” Bassar said. “This is known as character displacement and is how most researchers have looked at this for decades. But what if the environment is not a constant factor and it fluctuates?”

Variation in environmental conditions can be regular, periodic changes fluctuations or irregular and random. Variation in conditions can favor coexistence, and hence diversity, when different species respond to the variation in contrasting ways. Changing climate can significantly increase the wet or dry seasons, which then can impact growth and breeding.

His research through the Guppy Project dives into three different areas: math models, streams and systems to further analyze their coexistence.

COSAM Talks - Ron Bassar

In this episode of COSAM Talks, Bassar shares insight about himself, what an evolutionary ecologist does, his $1,616,701 NSF award and advice for students.

Information session with career options for STEM majors and graduates to be held March 20

DREAM-Math information briefing will be held March 20 for those with a STEM degree or current student majoring in science, technology, engineering or math.

The Developing, Recruiting and Empowering Alabama Mathematics Teachers, or DREAM-Math, project streamlines the process and removes roadblocks for people interested in becoming mathematics teachers. DREAM-Math is a collaborative effort between Auburn University’s College of Education, College of Sciences and Mathematics, Tuskegee University and other partners throughout the state to address the critical shortage of mathematics teachers in Alabama.

The program is for those who have never been teachers but who have earned — or will have earned by May — a STEM degree that includes at least 12-15 hours of mathematics at or above Calculus I.

Funded by a $3.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Noyce Scholarship Program, DREAM-Math will provide participants a scholarship of more than $35,000 to complete a full-time, four-semester master’s-level teacher certification program. It also will support new teachers in launching their careers, including a $10,000 annual stipend as they complete four years of teaching in a high-need school.

Register to be an exhibitor at ASEF

Exhibitors are needed for the Alabama State Science and Engineering Fair, or ASEF. You can register for a hands-on exhibit table, an information table or a hands-on workshop for the event taking place on April 1.

ASEF hosts middle and high school regional science and engineering fair winners from across Alabama. Students from ASEF advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), the premier science competition in the world. ISEF provides a forum for millions of students from over 50 countries, regions and territories to showcase their independent research and compete for nearly $4 million in prizes and scholarships.

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