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Wendy Semski

Biological Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
My name is Wendy Semski, I'm 26 years old, and I've lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin my entire life. I am nearing the end of my Bachelor of Science degree with two majors: Biological Sciences and Conservation and Environmental Science. My goal is to become a botanist, and work as a research scientist, a conservationist, or in a botanical garden, and if at all possible, all three. I am excited about the internship with the Chicago Botanic Gardens because I hope that it will give me the tools necessary to be a successful plant scientist, to learn and grow within my chosen field, and to confidently move on to graduate school. Aside from my scientific interests, I am an avid reader (I read pretty much everything, and I am never without a book), I enjoy listening to music and watching television, and spending time with my boyfriend, my friends, and my family.
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The role of relatedness in competition between prairie species (2016)
Ecology, Genetics

Background:

Since 1830, there has been a decline in the nation’s tall-grass prairie habitats. In Illinois, less than 1% of the land area once occupied by prairies remains. Prairie restoration has therefore become a priority for conservation practitioners. Recent research suggests that it is important to consider phylogenetic diversity when planning prairie restorations. Closely related species tend to have more similar functional traits than distantly related species, and as a result, may compete more heavily for resources. My project investigates the relationship between phylogenetic relatedness and competitive interactions among prairie plant species in a greenhouse experiment.

Question:
Do more closely-related prairie plant species compete more heavily than more distantly related species? How do these competitive interactions change over time?

: Ready! Set! Grow! - The Tale of a Greenhouse Experiment. In my video, I describe my project, which investigates the effect of relatedness on competitive interactions between prairie plant species.

Final Presentation/Poster