In a world where the climate is shifting faster than many plants can adapt, focusing on ancient groups that have survived for millions of years takes on a new level of significance. A young researcher at the University of Tennessee has received a prestigious award that will allow for a deeper look into the mechanisms governing the survival of flora.
Assistant Professor Jacob Suissa from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology has been honored with the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from Oak Ridge Associated Universities. The five-thousand-dollar grant, supplemented by matching funds from the college, is dedicated to studying the evolution of the vascular systems in ferns. The research will utilize the university's new X-ray microscope and machine learning techniques for image analysis.
Suissa is investigating how development influences the emergence of new plant forms and functions. Ferns, whose ancestors date back to the Devonian period, serve as an ideal model: their vascular tissues—a network of tubes delivering water and nutrients—evolved under conditions vastly different from those of today. Understanding these shifts helps explain why some species persisted while others perished.
The practical implications of this work are clear. When a plant's vascular system is compromised, it faces grave threats. Insights into how these systems evolve will prove useful in breeding resilient agricultural crops and assessing the ability of wild species to withstand warming and drought. Furthermore, studying how development shapes the arrival of new traits contributes to the creation of predictive models for evolution as a whole.
Suissa is a classically trained botanist who examines plant evolution across deep time and amidst global change. He also curates the fern collection at the university herbarium and leads the educational nonprofit Let’s Botanize, which aims to spark interest in plants to combat the biodiversity and climate crises.
The Powe Award is presented to early-career assistant professors within their first two years of a tenure-track appointment. The honor highlights a researcher's potential while advancing the College of Arts and Sciences' mission to foster groundbreaking research. Since plants form the foundation of food chains and regulate the Earth's climate, supporting such projects contributes to the long-term stability of ecosystems.
By supporting young botanists investigating ancient survival mechanisms, we can more accurately predict which species will adapt to future conditions and gain practical tools for preserving the planet's green cover.
