Archaeological lore suggests that, "where there are apples there are villages", which begs the question, why? Why do apples do well where humans were? Were apples so intently managed that they relied on humans for dispersal? Why are some apples more successful at reproducing than others? In a three pronged approach I study the co-evolution of apples and humans by looking at first, the regional distribution of moołks and milkst in the Skeena Region — focusing on community ecology and interviews with Elders and knowledge holders (in partnership with Leslie Main Johnson). 

 

In the second approach to this research, and in collaboration with Logan Kistler (Smithsonian Institution), we are using a genome-scale approach for the analysis of a subset of Malus species. The Malus genus is widespread throughout Asia and yet only one species is native to Western North America. Our hypothesis suggests that the Malus distribution in the Pacific Northwest is the result of ancient anthropogenic dispersals (moving from continent-to-continent with people). This research has the potential to humanize what have always been perceived as “natural” plant distributions and fundamentally alter how we understand phytogeography and human migration stories. We are using cutting-edge genomic strategies that have the potential to revolutionize the quality and amount of sequencing genes used to understand plant population genetics.