My first research article from my PhD is officially out! 🌱 A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this project possible! 🌿 @jillahamilton.bsky.social @jacobmazza.bsky.social @lucieanderson.bsky.social academic.oup.com/aob/advance-...

Climate gradients drive variation in seed morphology and life history with impacts on seedling performance in Fraxinus nigra

AbstractBackground and Aims. Climate gradients influence seed morphology, emergence, and early life-history traits with cumulative impacts on seedling perf

academic.oup.com

How useful can #herbarium collections be for genetic monitoring? 🌿 We show that Earth’s currently digitized herbarium specimens can be clustered into HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of historical “populations” suitable for population genetic studies 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/bios... 🧵

The utility of herbarium collections for genetic monitoring

Abstract. Despite growing evidence of widespread genetic responses to anthropogenic activity, data shortfalls constrain genetic monitoring efforts and prec

doi.org

Climate gradients drive the evolution of seed morphology and life history with impacts to seedling fitness in Fraxinus nigra https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.17.719241v1

“They’re destroying more than fifty research facilities across thirty-one states, labs that house decades of irreplaceable long-term science…And they’re replacing all of it — the offices, the scientists, the institutional knowledge, the professional independence — with fifteen political appointees”

Trump administration orders dismantling of the U.S. Forest Service

Late Tuesday afternoon, with the subtlety of a wrecking ball and the morality of a foreclosure notice, the Trump administration announced the most devastating attack on the U.S. Forest Service in the ...

hatchmag.com

How does development shape the variation evolution can act on? In our new paper in @pnas.org , we bridge developmental dynamics and quantitative genetics, linking dynamical models of phenotype formation with the statistical parameters used to study evolutionary change www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Bridging developmental and statistical approaches to variation and evolution | PNAS

Phenotypic variation is the raw material for evolutionary diversification and adaptation. However, a critical gap remains in evolutionary theory be...

pnas.org

Check out this new #AJB essay by Sofia Backlund, Sean Stankowski & Rosina Soler! #Seeds as space-time travelers: How does #evolution balance the joint benefits and trade-offs of dormancy & dispersal? doi.org/10.1002/ajb2... #plantscience #botany #germination

North American Forest Genetics Society #NAFGS26 🌲 🌳 🧬! Abstracts due Mar 1 | Travel Awards Mar 8 | Early Reg ends Mar 31 | Looking forward to welcoming you & our invited speakers in Québec City: @jillahamilton.bsky.social @cavenderg9.bsky.social @jeansebmoore.bsky.social @arthurouaknine.bsky.social

Very much a #proudPI moment when your PhD students @michellezavala.bsky.social and @krlopicc.bsky.social give such lovely presentations of their research. So glad to have the opportunity to join the #EvolTREE meeting and share our ongoing research and learn from diverse systems across Europe.

Hamilton Lab members are excited for the upcoming #EvolTREE meeting! Kyra will present our genetic conservation program in black ash , Michelle will discuss climate, hybridization, and stomatal evolution (tinyurl.com/y5rwu8eu), and I will discuss genomics-driven monitoring. Hope to see you there!!

One week to go!!! So excited to host our colleagues next week in the Happy Valley of Pennsylvania! Over 150 registrants from around the world!! If you’re interested in coming but unable to join in person - email me to learn about virtual options forestgeneticsconference2025.com #forestgenetics2025

Thank you to our amazing hosts from the Laurentian Forestry Center and the University of Laval for the amazing tours of forest research labs, greenhouses, and more. This crew is inspired by the facilities and the diversity of ongoing forest research programs!!

I’m so lucky to work with an amazing group of undergraduates passionate about tree conservation, creative, and don’t mind getting their hands a little dirty!! excited for the future with these scientists! @jacobmazza.bsky.social @lucieanderson.bsky.social @krunkg.bsky.social and Raquel! #LuckyPI

#Teamash is headed out on the road to visit our neighbours to the North and we’re bringing 3317 presents!! Black ash Common garden #3 is headed for Quebec!! @krlopicc.bsky.social @jacobmazza.bsky.social @krunkg.bsky.social #conservationgenetics

So thankful for cross-border research collaborations with Natural Resources Canada to study and protect a foundational tree species, black ash #Quebec #commongardens #teamwork #conservation @krlopicc.bsky.social @jacobmazza.bsky.social @krunkg.bsky.social

Day 1 in the books: 1060 trees in their new home! Amazing working alongside friends at Natural Resources Canada and the Forest Gene Conservation Association #blackash #teamwork #commongarden #conservation #internationalcollaboration @krlopicc.bsky.social @jacobmazza.bsky.social @krunkg.bsky.social

Day 2 planting black ash reaches new heights: 1488 trees in the ground with this crew who are feeling a little ‘Hollywood’ with visits from Radio Canada. Stay tuned for great coverage. This all-female led team are rockstars leading innovation in forest genetics & conservation @krlopicc.bsky.social

Four days, 2400 black ash seedlings later - we are over half way!! #teamash is the epitome of #teamworkdreamwork (and should maybe start their own chorus line) #fieldworkshenanigans #commongarden #congen @krlopicc.bsky.social @diegodelorbe.bsky.social

There’s something about going out to the field and planting a tree that just feels good #scienceforthesoul - admittedly we have a lot of trees!! #blackash #commongarden #dreamteam @krlopicc.bsky.social

And with that grading was done and field season began! #Ashapalooza at PSU starts this morning putting our baby black ash seedlings in the field. Site #1 of three common garden experiments. Couldn’t imagine a better team to plant with led by the fearless @krlopicc.bsky.social #conservationgenetics

Thank you so much to @hayleytumas.bsky.social for visiting this week, giving an awesome seminar, judging posters, and hanging with @krlopicc.bsky.social and I in the greenhouse to see our burgeoning ash forest!! #ashapalooza #congen

Part of #TeamAsh discovering Paul Revere and a beautiful healthy ash tree on the Freedom Trail today in downtown Boston. Gorgeous day to catch up, talk science, learn about the history of this beautiful city and #TreeSnap some beautiful ash trees @krlopicc.bsky.social

Spring is springing in the greenhouse and the black ash are reaching for the sun! ☀️ #commongarden #conservationgenetics

What do thousands of dormant black ash seedlings look like right before they are about to burst bud? Now you know. @krlopicc.bsky.social and her team are prepping for spring planting #ashapalooza

Officially a PhD Candidate!! Fraxinus has an amazing champion with @krlopicc.bsky.social So excited for the scientific paths and more you are forging!! #superproudPI #conservationgenetics #treeconservation

Our amazing ‘Team Ash’ has been working hard to overwinter >9000 critically endangered black ash seedlings: building a hoop house, tagging each individual, and monitoring #phenology #growth and more. Next spring these seedlings across multiple environments #conservation #restoration #forestgenetics