Elizabeth Tuan

I am a senior biology major at the College of Wooster.

Research Direction

For my Senior Independent research, I will be looking at the maintenance of pollen color polymorphism in the American Bellflower (Campanula americana). In particular, I will be focusing on pollen color preference and floral constancy displayed by three types of pollinators (Halictid, Megachile, and Bombus). My research will determine if pollen color preference and constancy is present in bees, and whether preference and constancy are dependent on morph frequency. These aims will be achieved using three different arrays with varying ratios of white to purple pollen. By assessing pollen color preference and constancy in local bee populations, I hope to discover if assortative mating between bellflower individuals with similar pollen color plays a role in the maintenance of different pollen color morphs.