Fitz Dougherty

Stomata are complexes on leaves that allow plants to acquire CO₂ when open, but opening stomata also results in a disproportionately large loss of water. I am broadly interested in how plants regulate their stomata and control gas exchange. I am studying stomatal regulation across the land plant phylogenies from a mechanical, cell-to-cell interaction perspective by exploring guard cell turgor pressure dynamics, a hormonal perspective by looking at the potential interaction of ABA and CO₂, and an environmental stimulus perspective by investigating stomatal responses to VPD.