Spotlight: Zachary Bloomer
& Mary Gadalla

Zachary Bloomer and Mary Gadalla are biology majors investigating levels of nickel and zinc tolerance in an endangered plant species, Pediomelum piedmontanum, "Dixie Mt. Breadroot".

There is only one known population in Georgia where this species is located on an ultramafic substrate on Burks Mt. in Columbia County.

In order to test for metal tolerance, Mary and Zach are manipulating metal concentrations in hydroponic assay and measuring growth and biomass for both roots and shoots.

Mary and Zach presented a poster on their research project at the ASU Phi Kappa Phi Student Research and Fine Arts Conference and won first place.

They are also presenting a research poster to the Tri Beta Biological Honor Society/Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting on April 15, in Huntsville, AL. Dr. Stacy T. Bennetts, Assistant Professor of Biology, is their faculty advisor.