Benjamin R Montgomery

Some material is also located here: http://faculty.uscupstate.edu/bmontgomery

Research Interests

My research focuses on the evolutionary ecology of plant reproduction and plant pollinator interactions. I currently focus on the partitioning of pollinators among different species of Silene, a genus of wildflowers with a wide array of floral traits and multiple pollination syndromes. Additionally, I am interested in delayed self pollination as a mechanism that allows for cross pollination while also providing reproductive assurance. Longer term research interests include competition for pollination between different species and mechanisms for the maintenance of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) as well as repercussions of CMS for the maintenance of genetic diversity.

Virtual Floral Dissections

I am collaborating with John Riley to explore the creation a library of virtual flower dissections. Flowers are photographed from a 360 degree pan at multiple levels of dissection, allowing the viewer to observe the relationship of floral parts from different perspectives. A few examples are linked here.