Department: Biology

Areas of expertise:

• Pollination biology
• Plant systematics
  
  

Current research in Virginia and West Virginia includes natural history and conservation studies of two endangered plant species, the shale barren rock cress (Bochera serotina) and piratebush (Buckleya distichiophylla). Additionally, I am conducting studies on a plant species known from only one population in Virginia, Michaux’s gladecress (Leavenworthia uniflora). A major part of each of these studies involves pollination experiments and flower-visitor observations. Floristic surveys in Rockingham County and other parts of the Shenandoah Valley also comprise some of my Virginia studies.

My Galápagos research has taken a variety of directions. Over the years, my work has concentrated on the reproductive biology of Galápagos natives and endemics. However, I am currently involved in a systematics study of a few members of the Galápagos endemic flowering plant genus Scalesia. My colleagues and I, using morphological and molecular data are attempting to determine the boundaries of these species, and whether they are capable of forming fertile hybrids.

Dr. McMullen is author of the book, Flowering Plants of the Galápagos, published by Cornell University Press. 

Dr. McMullen earned his doctorate at the University of Maryland, his master's at JMU and his bachelor's at Eastern Mennonite University.

Media contact: Eric Gorton, gortonej@jmu.edu.