A5065305382- Plant and animal studies
- Botanical Research and Applications
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Botany and Geology in Latin America and Caribbean
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Fern and Epiphyte Biology
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Berry genetics and cultivation research
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
- Seed Germination and Physiology
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Yeasts and Rust Fungi Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- Mechanical Failure Analysis and Simulation
- Plant Pathogens and Resistance
- Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
Miami University
2008-2024
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
2012-2024
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
1998
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
1989
University of Puerto Rico System
1989
Polyploidy, an important mechanism of plant evolution, was investigated in Consolea, endemic Caribbean opuntioid genus represented by nine subdioecious species with very narrow distributions, including classified as rare or threatened. Standard chromosome counting and flow cytometric analyses were used to determine numbers ploidy each taxon. Compared the base number ( x = 11), mitotic meiotic counts indicated that there are seven hexaploid (2 n 66) two octoploid 88); no diploids found....
Premise The Caribbean islands are in the top five biodiversity hotspots on planet; however, biogeographic history of seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) there is poorly studied. Consolea consists nine species dioecious, hummingbird‐pollinated tree cacti endemic to West Indies, which form a conspicuous element SDTF. Several threatened by anthropogenic disturbance, disease, sea‐level rise, and invasive conservation concern. However, no comprehensive phylogeny yet exists for clade. Methods We...
The breeding system and the embryology of Consolea spinosissima, a tree-like opuntioid endemic to Jamaica, were investigated. Morphological embryological studies revealed that species is subdioecious, with three sexual morphs present in 150 × 120 m plot studied at Hellshire Hills, Jamaica. female morph has pistillate flowers open stigma lobes, no pollen grains, sets fruit. male cryptic staminate closed viable nonfunctional gynoecium does not set seed. weak hermaphrodite low fruit "perfect"...
Population biology has been studied in few species of cycads, and these studies have focused on adult demography. We investigated all life-history stages, including seed germination recruitment, Zamia amblyphyllidia over 3 yr Cambalache Forest, Puerto Rico, constructed stage transition matrices from our field data. found two distinct stages germination: radicle emergence and, 1-7 mo later, leaf emergence. Seeds released cones early, before the onset dry season, germinated faster but suffered...
We investigated the effect of prescribed wet‐season fire on demography Zamia pumila L. (Zamiaceae) in slash pine savanna Everglades National Park, Florida. monitored survival, coning, leaf production, and herbivore damage two plots burned during wet season 1995 unburned plots. Fire killed all leaves promoted flushing new but caused minimal mortality adults seedlings. Seeds within cones were killed, some dispersed seeds survived. Coning, particularly females, was enhanced plot that earlier...
Anther development, microsporogenesis, and microgametogenesis were studied using both light TEM microscopy in the six accessible subdioecious/cryptically dioecious species of Consolea (Cactaceae). wall are uniform staminate flowers all species, typical for Cactaceae. Breakdown microsporogenesis male‐sterile anthers occurs early, at onset meiosis, results bearing no pollen grains. The abortive process follows a common pattern investigated species. tapetum is first layer to deviate from normal...
Ovule development, megasporogenesis, and megagametogenesis were studied in six cryptically dioecious species of Consolea. All showed uniform development typical for the Opuntioideae. proceeds acropetally, but shows developmental asynchrony across floral morphs. At anthesis, female morph ovules are functional available fertilization, whereas staminate flower senescing incapable being fertilized. In occasional plants some species, flowers may reach anthesis with a few apical capable seed...
A systematic survey was conducted to isolate and identify root soil-borne oomycetes fungi associated with the rare endangered southeastern USA conifer, Torreya taxifolia Arn.Twenty four trees showing different degrees of decline were sampled at two sites: State Park, Liberty County, Florida (n = 12) US Corps Engineers in Decatur, Georgia 12).All T. showed moderate severe levels (100% incidence) based on criteria, such as poor development trees, stunting fragility.Disease severity higher,...
Population structure, leaf phenology and turnover were followed over a 29‐month period in Zamia debilis L.f. ex Aiton (Zamiaceae), an understory species the Cambalache Forest northern Puerto Rico. It was not possible to determine plant age or measure subterranean stems; size classes based on number × leaflet indices used population structure. Despite seasonal year fluctuations at individual level, profiles remained relatively constant. At any one time, 50% of composed unbranched individuals...
Ernodea Swartz (Tribe Spermacoceae) and Erithalis P. Browne Chiococceae) are two genera of Rubiaceae that endemic to the Caribbean, composed four nine species, respectively. Molecular phylogenies were analyzed in a biogeographic context using Brooks Parsimony Analysis (BPA) Fitch methods. A geographic association Cuba Dominican Republic was supported by area cladograms generated BPA for combined data matrix. Additionally, parts Hispaniola (Dominican Haiti) appear different places on...
The threatened mint Florida skullcap (Scutellaria floridana) is endemic to four counties in the panhandle. Because development and habitat modification extirpated several historical occurrences, only 19 remain date. To inform conservation management delisting decisions, a comprehensive investigation of genetic diversity relatedness, population structure, clonal was conducted using SNP data generated by ddRAD. Compared with other Lamiaceae, we detected low (HE = 0.125-0.145), moderate...
The genus Ernodea, consisting of erect or prostrate shrubs, has been thought to consist nine species, most which are endemic the Bahamian Archipelago. classification is difficult because original species descriptions incomplete and include characters great plasticity. Addition- ally, reproductive genetic studies failed provide evidence support recognition distinct species. We measured 30 floral vegetative from samples representing all taxa distributed across entire range delimit...
Ernodea consists of nine historically recognized species, most which are endemic to the Bahamian Archipelago. The species quite diverse morphologically, and their boundaries difficult identify because intermediate forms. As part a comprehensive investigation evolution taxonomy genus, populations five taxa were studied on Great Abaco Inagua (Bahamas) Puerto Rico. Starch gel electrophoresis was performed leaf extracts 13 scorable loci examined. fixed for same allele across 12 these loci. one...
Hymenocallis henryae is a rare, charismatic spider lily endemic to the Florida panhandle. Currently under review determine if listing Endangered Species Act warranted, this species has undescribed genetic diversity, information crucial process. We conducted field observations of 21 historic populations across species’ geographical range and performed genomic analyses 279 individuals from 19 extant populations. Most had fewer than 40 individuals, while with >100 were found exclusively on...
To protect and manage species listed under the US Endangered Species Act requires knowledge of species' biology. Biological information was lacking for Euphorbia telephioides, a threatened endemic to pine flatwoods in Florida Panhandle. Decline this is due largely habitat loss degradation. understand conservation requirements recovery E. we established three permanent plots, marked 150 plants, investigated size reproduction, response fire, situ seed germination seedling survival from 2010...
Reproductive ecology studies of rare species can provide information pertinent to population growth and persistence. One confined two disjunct localities, one on private land located in Florida the other that is composed subpopulations public South Carolina, federally threatened Miccosukee gooseberry, Ribes echinellum. Studies were carried out determine change abundance between 1992 2012 understand lack seedling recruitment wild. In Florida, number patches increased northern part study area...