A BLACK BOTANIST UNDERSTANDING ECHINACEA CONSERVATION THROUGH A PHYLOGENETIC LENS

In this thesis, I combine whole plastome sequences and nuclear gene capture data to reconstruct species relationships and characterize the pace of diversification across the genus. With more sampling of intraspecific variation in both the plastome and nuclear data, I find evidence for interspecific gene flow and must reject the previously hypothesized early split between Echinacea lineages including species with ranges centered in the eastern and midwestern U.S. I will also use this thesis to discuss some of the experiences surrounding Black graduate students, particularly, experiences that have impacted me while performing my research on target capture sequencing to further resolve the speciation history of Echinacea. These experiences include: 1) Lack of social safety and isolation for Black and Brown students in a predominantly white institution (PWI) and 2) Issues for Black and Brown students regarding field safety and field work in the rural south.