Kaius Helenurm

	Kaius Helenurm, Associate Professor
	Ph.D. (Population Biology) Washington University, 1989 M.S. (Botany) University of British Columbia, 1983 B.S. (Biology) University of Toronto, 1979

Room: 181, 181A
Phone: (605) 677-6174
E-mail: helenurm@usd.edu

Courses

BIOL 103 Biology Survey II
BIOL 161 Principles of Genetics and Evolution
BIOL 310 Environmental Science
BIOL 410 Conservation Biology
BIOL 415 Evolution of Disease
BIOL 419 Plant Ecology

Research Interests

SanClemente Island My research area is conservation biology. Specifically, I am interested in the interaction of genetics and ecology in the long-term survival of endangered plant populations.

Current work in my lab is focused on rare and endangered plants of San Clemente Island, ranging from genetic surveys of natural populations (using allozymes and RAPDs) to field and greenhouse experiments testing local adaptation, genetic differentiation, and the effect of genetic variation on survival and reproduction. In addition, we are initiating reintroduction experiments for several taxa based on genetic and ecological data.

San Clemente Island

San Clemente Island is the southernmost of California's Channel Islands, located about 100 km WNW of San Diego. Despite an area of only 148 square kilometers, it contains a variety of plant communities ranging from grassland, island woodland, and maritime cactus scrub to coastal sage scrub, coastal bluff, coastal dune and coastal marsh. It also has a surprisingly high proportion of endemic plant taxa for its size and proximity to the mainland. Forty-seven taxa (about 13% of its native flora) are endemic to the Channel Islands, and 14 of these are known only from San Clemente Island.

San Clemente Island was used mainly for sheep and some cattle ranching between 1868 and 1934, in spite of frequent drought. The U.S. Navy took over the island in 1934, and the removal of sheep and cattle caused rapid growth of the feral goat population. In 1972, 10,000 goats were estimated to occur on the island. An eradication program was initiated and finally completed in 1992. However, more than a century of overgrazing has resulted in great loss of vegetation, soil erosion, and reduced shrub and tree cover. Current threats to plant taxa are primarily from introduced competitors and from military activities, including trampling, increased incidence of fire, and construction of training facilities.

Six plant taxa have federal endangered status and 21 others are federal species of concern (USFWS). Several others are rare enough to merit official recognition.

Recent Publications


	McGlaughlin, M.E., L. Riley and K. Helenurm. 2008. Isolation of microsatellite loci from the endangered plant Galium catalinense subspecies acrispum (Rubiaceae). In review.

	Wallace, L.E. and K. Helenurm. 2008. Has herbivory negatively impacted genetic variability in the flora of the California Channel Islands? Insights from Crossosoma californicum (Crossosomataceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences. In press.

	Furches, S., L. Wallace and K. Helenurm. 2008. High genetic divergence characterizes populations of the endemic plant Lithophragma maximum (Saxifragaceae) on San Clemente Island. Conservation Genetics. In press.

	McGlaughlin, M.E., L.E. Wallace and K. Helenurm. 2008. Isolation of microsatellite loci from the endangered plant Sibara filifolia (Brassicaceae). Molecular Ecology Notes 8:367-369.

	Wallace, L.E., M. Steven Furches and K. Helenurm. 2006. Polymorphic microsatellite loci in Lithophragma maximum (Saxifragaceae), an endemic plant of San Clemente Island. Molecular Ecology Notes 6:459-461.

	Wallace, L.E. and K. Helenurm. 2006. Characterization of microsatellite loci in polyploid Lavatera assurgentiflora ssp. assurgentiflora and ssp. glabra (Malvaceae). Molecular Ecology Notes 6:331-333.
	Helenurm, K. and Hall, S.S. 2005. Dissimilar patterns of genetic variation in two insular endemic plants sharing species characteristics, distribution, habitat, and ecological history. Conservation Genetics 6:341-353.

	Helenurm, K., R. West and S. Burckhalter. 2005. Allozyme variation in the endangered insular endemic Castilleja grisea. Annals of Botany 95:1221-1227.

	Wallace, L.E. and K. Helenurm. 2005. Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Crossosoma californicum (Crossosomataceae). Molecular Ecology Notes 5:246-248.

	Helenurm, K. 2003. Genetic diversity in the rare insular endemic Sibara filifolia (Brassicaceae). Madrono 50:181-186.

	S.C. and K. Helenurm. 2002. Genetic diversity in Delphinium variegatum (Ranunculaceae): a comparison of two insular endemic subspecies and their widespread mainland relative. American Journal of Botany 89:613-622.

	Helenurm, K. 2001 High levels of genetic polymorphism in the insular endemic herb Jepsonia malvifolia. Journal of Heredity 92:427-432.
	Dodd, S.D., and K. Helenurm. 2000. Floral variation in Delphinium variegatum (Ranunculaceae). Madrono:47:116-126.
	Helenurm, K. 1998. Outplanting and differential source population success in Lupinus guadalupensis. Conservation Biology 12:118-127.
	Helenurm, K. and L.S. Parsons. 1997. Genetic variation and the reintroduction of Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus to Sweetwater Marsh, California. Restoration Ecology 5:236-244.
	Helenurm, K. and B.A. Schaal. 1996. Genetic load, nutrient limitation, and seed production in Lupinus texensis (Fabaceae). American Journal of Botany 83:1585-1595.
	Helenurm, K. and B.A. Schaal. 1996. Genetic and maternal effects on offspring fitness in Lupinus texensis (Fabaceae). American Journal of Botany 83:1596-1608.