On Friday, May 19, 2023, at 7:00 pm, the Gila Native Plant Society will sponsor a presentation on alpine flora by Dr. Hannah Marx of the University of New Mexico. GNPS is pleased to report that Dr. Marx has agreed to come to Silver City to present in person. Under the full title “Updates on the floristic diversity of alpine ecosystems in the southern Rocky Mountains,” she will discuss the evolution and ecology of alpine plant communities and the effects of climate change on alpine systems. 

The program will be presented live at Harlan Hall on the WNMU Campus in Room 111, as well as via Zoom for those who prefer to attend online. As always, the public is welcome. Anyone interested in joining in the Zoom presentation may request a link from gilanative@gmail.com. 

Dr. Hannah Marx is an Assistant Professor and Curator of the Herbarium at the University of New Mexico. Originally from Washington state, she attended the University of Washington and began pursuing a career in botany.

Dr. Marx completed her PhD at the University of Idaho with a dissertation that explored the phylogenetic diversity of oceanic and sky-island communities. She then went on to postdoctoral research at the University of Arizona and the University of Michigan before joining the University of New Mexico in January 2021. 

At UNM, her lab uses fieldwork and bioinformatic approaches to understanding how plant diversity changes over space and time, particularly in alpine ecosystems. In her presentation, Dr. Marx will share progress on her research program.

The Gila Native Plant Society is committed to promoting education, research and appreciation of the native flora of the Southwest; encouraging the preservation of rare and endangered plant species; and supporting the use of suitable native plants in landscaping.  For information on programs, publications and membership, please visit www.gilanps.org.