Image: Jess Stephens, one of our PBIO grad students, was recently awarded a DDIG grant. Her project is titled "Carnivorous plant syndromes: The role of volatile emissions in the diversification of the pitcher plant genus Sarracenia." The grant is investigating how plant-insect interactions have contributed to carnivorous plant diversification through examining whether trap volatiles additionally support previously identified syndromes, whether volatiles influence prey specialization, and the mechanisms in which carnivorous plants avoid capturing their pollinators. Jess' work will be in collaboration with Drs. Andre Kessler and Robert Raguso at Cornell University. Nice job, Jess! * photo of a Sarracenia flava attracting potential prey
