A5049375280- Botany and Geology in Latin America and Caribbean
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Fern and Epiphyte Biology
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Plant and soil sciences
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Cocoa and Sweet Potato Agronomy
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Plant Pathogens and Resistance
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Research on scale insects
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Botanical Research and Applications
- Study of Mite Species
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
Montgomery Botanical Center
2015-2024
Florida International University
2012-2020
U.S. National Arboretum
2017
Harvard University
2017
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
2017
Centro de Estudios Universitarios Arkos
2017
Despite a recent new classification, stable phylogeny for the cycads has been elusive, particularly regarding resolution of Bowenia, Stangeria and Dioon. In this study, five single-copy nuclear genes (SCNGs) are applied to order Cycadales. The specific aim is evaluate several gene tree–species tree reconciliation approaches developing an accurate order, contrast them with concatenated parsimony analysis resolve erstwhile problematic phylogenetic position these three genera. DNA sequences...
Premise of research. Conservation plant species often requires ex situ (off-site) cultivation living collections. Cycads constitute the most imperiled major group plants, and collections are an important part conservation planning for this group, given seed recalcitrance, difficulties with tissue culture, ongoing in threats. Very little is known about genetics cycads. Thus, study seeks to illuminate how well collection a cycad can capture diversity wild population.Methodology. A model...
Significance Opsins are photosensitive receptors capturing specific wavelengths of incoming light to convey color vision across animals. Lack reliable expression systems study invertebrate G q opsins has limited our ability tease apart genotype–phenotype relationships underlying spectral tuning and visual adaptations in insects compared homologous yet phylogenetically distant vertebrate t opsin lineages. We developed a robust method express proteins vitro, which we apply the system lycaenid...
Premise of research. The genus Zamia L. (Zamiaceae), consisting 79 species, is the most species-rich and widely distributed cycad in New World arguably morphologically ecologically diverse Cycadales. However, a strong phylogenetic framework for this still lacking.Methodology. We used multilocus sequence data set 10 independent loci (nine single-copy nuclear genes [SCNGs] one plastid) extensive taxon sampling (ca. 90% species) to infer relationships within Zamia. implemented concatenated...
Conservation of imperiled plant species often requires ex situ (offsite) living collections. Protocols for developing these collections most emphasize sampling depth, but little is known about the genetics such This study compares how well a single collecting protocol can capture diversity in wild populations two closely related species. We selected exemplar species, bay rush (Zamia lucayana) and sinkhole cycad decumbens), based on similarities differences that allow rigorous comparison,...
Horticulture is an essential part of plant conservation programs, and botanic gardens are uniquely suited for horticulture work. Here, we present a case study successful cycad (Cycadales) propagation program at Montgomery Botanical Center (MBC, Miami, FL), using palma corcho ( Microcycas calocoma ) as example. This species highly sought in the nursery trade, overcollection wild plants one factor leading to imperilment natural populations. Thus, distribution can make strategic contribution...
Abstract A conservation assessment for the three cycad species native to Bahamas Islands is presented. Results are based on field surveys all islands where these occur. Zamia angustifolia Eleuthera, integrifolia Abaco, Andros, Grand Bahama and New Providence, lucayana endemic Long Island. Z. of highest concern because small number adult plants, its restricted distribution extensive development occurring within habitat. also has a Eleuthera and, although threatened by urban in it relatively...
• Premise of the Study: This study Zamia in Puerto Rico is most intensive population genetics investigation a cycad to date terms number markers, and one few microsatellite DNA studies plants from highly critical Caribbean biodiversity hotspot. Three distinctive taxa occur on island: Z. erosa north coast, portoricensis pumila , both south. Their relationships are largely unknown. We tested three hypotheses about their genetic diversity, including possibility multiple introductions. Methods:...
Consistent abiotic factors can affect directional selection; cyclones are phenomena with near-discrete geographic limits. The current study investigates selective pressure of on plants at the species level, testing for possible natural selection. New World Arecaceae (palms) used as a model system, monopodial, unbranched arborescent form most directly affected by wind load. Living specimens known provenance grown common site were same cyclone. Data percentage mortality compiled and analysed...
Several individuals of the Caribbean Zamia clade and other cycad genera were used to identify single-copy nuclear genes for phylogeographic phylogenetic studies in Cycadales. Two strategies employed select target loci: (i) a tblastX search Arabidopsis conserved ortholog sequence (COS) set (ii) Arabidopsis-Populus-Vitis-Oryza Shared Single-Copy (APVO SSC) against EST databases GenBank. From first strategy, 30 loci selected, from second, 16 loci. In both cases, matching GenBank accessions as...
Two major lineages of beetles inhabit cycad cones in the New World: weevils (Curculionoidea) subtribe Allocorynina, including genera Notorhopalotria Tang and O’Brien, Parallocorynus Voss, Protocorynus O’Brien Rhopalotria Chevrolat, family Erotylidae, genus Pharaxonotha Reitter. Analysis 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) mitochondrial gene as well cladistic analysis morphological characters indicate four radiations, with a probable origin on Dioon Lindl. comparatively recent host shifts onto Zamia L....
Coevolution between plants and insects is thought to be responsible for generating biodiversity. Extensive research has focused largely on antagonistic herbivorous relationships, but mutualistic pollination systems also likely contribute diversification. Here we describe an example of chemically-mediated species interactions affecting trait evolution lineage We show that volatile compounds produced by closely related Zamia cycads are more strikingly different from each other than phenotypic...
The influences of Cycas micronesica and Zamia integrifolia plants on soil chemistry were determined in Tinian Florida order to more fully understand how cycad affect the environments which they grow. introduction C. into a karst habitat generated decreases phosphorus after five years increases nitrogen six years. carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus stoichiometry beneath significantly diverged from those adjacent native forests with Pisonia grandis, Psychotria mariana, Aglaia mariannensis, Cynometra...
Zamia magnifica (Zamiaceae), a new species endemic to Sierra Norte, Oaxaca, Mexico, is described. characterized by having rupicolous habit, pendent leaves bearing leaflets that are densely tomentose and pink caramel in color when emerging, broad oblong coriaceous texture with few non-prominent denticulations ovulate strobili short (<4 cm) peduncles. It compared Z. furfuracea meermanii, the Mesoamerican which it shares closest morphological resemblance.
Zamia brasiliensis Calonje & Segalla, a new subterranean-stemmed species of (Zamiaceae) from Mato Grosso and Rondônia, Brazil, is described illustrated. It compared to two morphologically similar with adjacent geographic distributions: Z. boliviana the Cerrado biome, Amazonian ulei. The shares unarmed petioles but readily distinguishable by its much broader leaflets. has leaflets somewhat resembling those juvenile individuals ulei, latter easily differentiated presence prickles on petiole.
The Cycadales are a group of significant global conservation concern and have the highest extinction risk all seed plants. Understanding synchronisation reproductive phenology may be useful for by enabling targeting pollen collection from wild populations identifying window fertilisation to aid in cultivation Cycadales. Phenological data 11 species Zamia were gathered herbarium specimens. Four phenological characters coded with monthly character states. DNA was isolated sequenced 26S, CAB,...