A5026997787- Bryophyte Studies and Records
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Connexins and lens biology
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Neuroscience, Education and Cognitive Function
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Plant and animal studies
- bioluminescence and chemiluminescence research
- Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras
2014-2024
International Institute of Tropical Forestry
2022-2024
US Forest Service
2020-2023
University of Puerto Rico System
2017-2020
University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus
2018
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
2013-2016
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
2009
Summary Bryophytes, including the lineages of mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, are second‐largest photoautotroph group on Earth. Recent work across terrestrial ecosystems has highlighted how bryophytes retain control water, fix substantial amounts carbon (C), contribute to nitrogen (N) cycles in forests (boreal, temperate, tropical), tundra, peatlands, grasslands, deserts. Understanding changing climate affects bryophyte contributions global different is primary importance. However,...
As one of the earliest plant groups to evolve stomata, hornworts are key understanding origin and function stomata. Hornwort stomata large scattered on sporangia that grow from their bases release spores at tips. We present data development immunocytochemistry identify a role for hornwort is correlated with sporangial spore maturation. measured guard cells across genera assess developmental changes in size analyze any correlation genome size. Stomata form base sporophyte green region, where...
In seed plants, the ability of guard cell walls to move is imparted by pectins. Arabinan rhamnogalacturonan I (RG1) pectins confer flexibility while unesterified homogalacturonan (HG) impart rigidity. Recognized as first extant plants with stomata, mosses are key understanding function and evolution. Moss stomata open close for only a short period during capsule expansion. This study examines ultrastructure pectin composition development in Funaria hygrometrica relates these features limited...
Stomata are key innovations for the diversification of land plants. They consist two differentiated epidermal cells or guard and a pore between that leads to an internal cavity. Mosses hornworts earliest among extant plants have stomata, but unlike those in all other plants, bryophyte stomata located exclusively on sporangium sporophyte. Liverworts only group entirely devoid stomata. leaves stems tracheophytes involved gas exchange water transport. The function bryophytes is highly debated...
Because stomata in bryophytes are uniquely located on sporangia, the physiological and evolutionary constraints placed bryophyte fundamentally different from those leaves of tracheophytes. Although losses have been documented mosses, extent to which this process occurred remains relatively unexplored. We initiated study by plotting known occurrences loss numbers per capsule most recent moss phylogeny. From this, we identified 40 families 74 genera that lack stomata, at least 63 independent...
The greatest cost associated with terrestrial photosynthesis is maintaining hydration in the presence of phenomenal evaporative forces from atmosphere (Wong et al., 1979). Without capacity to maintain internal water reserves, vascular plants (tracheophytes) would never have escaped soil boundary layer (Raven, 1977). Two key adaptations enable homoiohydry land plants: (1) a means rapidly conduct over long distances via xylem and (2) ability regulate use by stomata Xylem alone has been...
• Premise of the study: Mosses are central in understanding origin, diversification, and early function stomata land plants. Oedipodium , first extant moss with true stomata, has an elaborated capsule numerous long‐pored stomata; contrast, reduced short‐lived Ephemerum few round‐pored stomata. Here we present a comparative study sporophyte anatomy ultrastructure two divergent mosses its implications for diversity function. Methods: Mature sporophytes species were studied using light,...
The occurrence of stomata on sporophytes mosses and hornworts is congruent with a single origin in land plants. Although true are absent early-divergent mosses, Sphagnum has specialized epidermal cells, pseudostomata, that partially separate but do not open to the inside. This research examined two competing hypotheses explain pseudostomata: (1) they modified stomata, or (2) evolved from cells independently stomata.•Capsule anatomy ultrastructure pseudostomata were studied using light...
Background and Aims Studies on stomatal development the molecular mechanisms controlling patterning have provided new insights into cell signalling, fate determination evolution of these processes in plants. To fill a major gap knowledge patterning, this study describes pattern divisions that give rise to stomata underlying anatomical changes occur during sporophyte moss Funaria. Methods Developing sporophytes at different stages were examined using light, fluorescence electron microscopy;...
In seed plants, stomata regulate CO2 acquisition and water relations via transpiration, while minimizing loss. Walls of guard cells are strong yet flexible because they open close the pore by changing shape over substomatal cavity. Pectins necessary for wall flexibility proper functioning. This study investigates differences in pectin composition two taxa that represent key lineages plants with stomata: Arabidopsis, an angiosperm diurnal stomatal activity, Phaeoceros, a bryophyte lacks...
Abstract The use of species as a concept is an important metric for assessing biological diversity and ecosystem function. However, delimiting based on morphological characters can be difficult, especially in aquatic plants that exhibit high levels variation overlap. Sphagnum cuspidatum complex, which includes dominate peatland hollows, provides example challenges delimitation. Microscopic have been used to define taxa the possibility these may simply phenoplastic responses water...
The synapse between auditory Johnston's Organ neurons (JONs) and the giant fiber (GF) of Drosophila is structurally mixed, being composed cholinergic chemical synapses Neurobiotin- (NB) permeable gap junctions, which consist innexin Shaking-B (ShakB). Previous observations showed that misexpression one ShakB isoform, ShakB(N+16), in a subset JONs do not normally form junctions results their de novo dye coupling to GF. Misexpression transcription factor Engrailed (En) these also has this...
Some species of Neckeropsis have leaf-like structures that develop on the perichaetia after fertilization archegonia. It has been suggested these are either ligulate perichaetial leaves or multiseriate paraphyses. Using light microscopy, a detailed morphological and ontogenetic description was done for paraphyses in reproductive branches N. disticha. Important developmental stages were also described nine other (N. exserta, lepineana, nitidula, obtusata, nano-disticha, crinita, undulata,...
A fundamental question in bryology is to identify what environmental factors influence bryophyte distribution an ecosystem and how they respond disturbances. We investigated the of moss Thuidium urceolatum species liverwort Plagiochila, representing distinct life-forms (wefts fans), Luquillo Forest Dynamic Plot, where environment disturbance history well described. hypothesized that if presence T. urcealutum Plagiochila spp. are affected by habitat (riparian versus upland) past land use,...
Puerto Rico is in dire need of transforming its education system to counter the current economic recession and ensure a future with talented Ricans at forefront scientific research technology development. Here we present group neuroscientists educators, NeuroBoricuas, committed revolutionize culture by incorporating neuroscience training inquiry-based activities public private schools. We carry out our vision through diverse methods, such as community outreach activities, where promote...
Abstract The synapse between auditory Johnston’s Organ neurons (JONs) and the giant fiber (GF) of Drosophila is structurally mixed, being composed cholinergic chemical synapses Neurobiotin-(NB) permeable gap junctions, which consist innexin Shaking-B (ShakB). Misexpression one ShakB isoform, ShakB(N+16), in a subset JONs that do not normally form results their de novo dye coupling to GF. This similar effect misexpression transcription factor Engrailed (En) these same neurons, also causes...
In botanical research, vascular plants tend to overshadow their counterparts, the bryophytes. This trend can be observed in Virgin Islands, with roughly 1,200 tracheophytes identified region and no official count of bryophytes on record. this study, we documented diversity distribution bryophyte species Islands (British, United States, Puerto Rico) using historical data from collections available through online herbaria. We also which islands had most recorded, as well families were...