Pacific Southwest Research Station

Education

B.S. Forest Science, 1985, Humboldt State University
M.S. Forest Science (Physiology), 1988, Oregon State University
Ph.D. Genetics and Forest Science (Forest Genetics), 1993, Oregon State University

Research Interests/Duties

My interests are in population genetics and the conservation of genetic resources. As Director of NFGEL, I am responsible for project development, client relations, scientific reporting, and administrative duties including budget planning. NFGEL provides genetic testing and information for integrated solutions to on-the-ground problems faced by natural resource managers and policy makers. Solutions are provided for public agencies, non-government organizations, and private industries across the United States, often spanning geographical and organizational boundaries. NFGEL uses state-of-the-art technology to address genetic conservation and management of all plant species using various laboratory techniques including DNA analyses.

Selected Publications

• Wilson, BL, VD Hipkins and TN Kaye.  2010.  One taxon or two: are Frasera umpquaensis and F. fastigiata (Gentianaceae) distinct species?  Madrono 57(2): 106–119.
• Krutovsky, KV, JB St. Clair, R. Saich, VD Hipkins, and DB Neale.  2009.  Estimation of population structure in coastal Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii] using allozyme and microsatellite markers. Tree Genetics & Genomes 5:641-658.
• DeWoody, J, TH Rickman, BE Jones, and VD Hipkins.  2009.  Allozyme and microsatellite data reveal small clone size and high genetic diversity in aspen in the southern Cascade Mountains. Forest Ecology and Management  258(5): 687-696.
• Dvorak, WS, KM Potter, VD Hipkins, and GR Hodge.  2009.  Genetic diversity and gene exchange in Pinus oocarpa, a Mesoamerican Pine with resistance to the pitch canker fungus (Fusarium circinatum).  International Journal of Plant Sciences. 170(5):609–626.
• Mock, KE, CA Rowe, MB Hooten, J DeWoody, and VD Hipkins.  2008.  Assessing antiquity, sexual reproduction, and ploidy in western North American aspen (Populus tremuloides). Molecular Ecology  17(22):4827-4844.
• DeWoody, J, C Rowe, VD Hipkins, and K Mock.  2008.  “Pando” lives: molecular genetic evidence of a giant aspen clone in central Utah.  Western North American Naturalist  68(4): 493-497.
• DeWoody, J, L Arguello, D Imper, RD Westfall, and VD Hipkins.  2008.  Genetic evidence of hybridization between Oenothera wolfii (Wolf's evening primrose) and O. glazioviana, a garden escape.  Madrono 55(2): 132-142.
• Potter, KM, WS Dvorak, BS Crane, VD Hipkins, RM Jetton, WA Whittier, and R. Rhea.  2008.  Allozyme variation and recent evolutionary history of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) in the southeastern United States.  New Forests 35:131-145.
• Braatne, JH, SJ Brunsfeld, VD Hipkins, and BL Wilson.  2006.  Naturalization of plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera) along drainages west of the Rocky Mountains.  Western North American Naturalist 66(3):310-320.
• Wheeler, N, P Payne, V Hipkins, R Saich, S Kenny and G Tuskan.  2006.  Polymix breeding with paternity analysis in Populus: a test for differential reproductive success (DRS) among pollen donors.  Tree Genetics & Genomes  2(1):53-60.
• DeWoody, J, JD Nason, and VD Hipkins.  2006.  Mitigating scoring errors in microsatellite data from wild populations.  Molecular Ecology Notes 6:951-957.
• Wilson, BL, VD Hipkins, E Rey-Vizgirdas and TN Kaye.  2005.  Variation in Lewisia kelloggii (Portulacaceae) with description of a new species endemic to Idaho.  Western North American Naturalist 65(3):345-358.
• Schmidtling, RC and V Hipkins.  2004.  The after-effects of reproductive environment in shortleaf pine.  Forestry 77(4):287-295.
• Hipkins, VD and JH Kitzmiller.  2004.  Genetic variation and clonal distribution of quaking aspen in the central Sierra Nevada.  Transactions of the Western Section of the Wildlife Society  40:32-44.
• Hipkins, VD, BL Wilson, RJ Harrod, and C Aubry.  2003.  Isozyme variation in showy stickseed, a Washington Endemic Plant, and relatives.  Northwest Science, 77:170-177.
• Chen, Z, TE Kolb, KM Clancy, VD Hipkins, and LE DeWald.  2001.  Allozyme variation in interior Douglas-fir: association with growth and resistance to western spruce budworm herbivory.  Canadian Journal of Forest Research  31(10):1691-1700.
• Wilson, BL, J Kitzmiller, W Rolle, and VD Hipkins.  2001.  Isozyme variation and its environmental correlates in Elymus glaucus from the California Floristic Province.  Canadian Journal of Botany 79:139-153.
• Samman, S, BL Wilson, and VD Hipkins.  2001.  Genetic variation in Pinus ponderosa, Purshia tridentata, and Festuca idahoensis, community-dominant plants of California’s yellow pine forest.  Madrono  47(3):164-173.
• Schmidtling, RC and V Hipkins.  2001.  Evolutionary relationships of slash pine (Pinus elliottii) with its temperate and tropical relatives. (Dedicated edition: Tree improvement).  Southern African Forestry Journal  190: 73-78.
• Wilson, BL, DL Doede and VD Hipkins.  2000.  Isozyme variation in Sisyrinchium sarmentosum (Iridaceae).  Northwest Science 74(4):346-354.
• Schmidtling, RC, V Hipkins and E Carroll.  2000.  Pleistocene refugia for longleaf and loblolly pines.  Journal of Sustainable Forestry  10(3/4):349-354.