Biography
I am an evolutionary ecologist interested in plants and their reproduction. My research has mainly focused on questions relating to the shift from hermaphroditism to separate sexes, its maintenance and the evolutionary consequences thereof. My research projects have looked at sexual selection in plants, understanding plant mating dynamics, clonal reproduction, and the ecological and evolutionary consequences of polyploidy in plants. I've worked on several research projects across various plant species, including wild strawberries, goldenrods, snapdragons and broadleaf arrowhead. I use a combination of field studies, greenhouse experiments and genetic techniques to help me understand mating and reproduction in plants.
Publications
Selected publications
Kwok A, Stephens S, and Dorken ME. (2023) Male reproductive success is not strongly affected by phenological changes in mate availability in monoecious Sagittaria latifolia. R. Soc. Open Sci.10231117
Kwok A, and Dorken ME (2022) Sexual selection on male but not female function in monoecious and dioecious populations of broadleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia). Proc. R. Soc. B.28920220919
Holt R, Kwok A, Dorken ME (2020). Increased spatial-genetic structure in a population of the clonal aquatic plant Sagittaria latifolia (Alismataceae) following disturbance. Heredity 124:514–523
Education
BSc, Honors Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University
MSc, Integrative Biology at University of Guelph
PhD, Environmental and Life Sciences at Trent University
Teaching
Fall 2025
BIOL2301 Plants: Form and Function
BIOL 3801 Theoretical and Evolutionary Ecology
Winter 2026
BIOL2811: Genetics and Evolution
BIOL3911: Plants and Human Society