The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $307,382 Project Grant under its Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to Boise State University. The three-year grant, effective September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2026, will fund research to measure how climate change may disrupt the species interactions that shape local adaptation in big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) populations. The project will integrate field and lab-based reciprocal transplant experiments, soil microbiome analysis, and modeling to isolate the adaptive importance of plant-microbe interactions across environmental gradients. This research aims to improve understanding of how biotic interactions influence local adaptation and population persistence, with implications for guiding plant selection for ecological restoration efforts. The project will also provide hands-on research and mentorship experiences for undergraduate students.
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