Category: Biodiversity and Floristics

Biodiversity and Floristics

Biosurveys / BioBlitzes

Biosurveys are an important research activity used to document the biodiversity of an area. It is these baseline surveys that allow us to better understand how natural and human influences change an environment over time. During biosurveys, we also collect specimens which we identify, mount on archival paper, and deposit in the BRIT herbarium. These specimens are often collected in duplicate so they can be exchanged with herbaria worldwide, which enhances the availability of research material in the BRIT herbarium and herbaria of our exchange partners.

BRIT Staff March 17, 2021

Biodiversity and Floristics

Illustrated Texas Floras Project

This book series published by BRIT provides a detailed and fully illustrated inventory of native and naturalized plant species for major regions of Texas. These floras provide solid science as well as information vital to user communities including ranchers, foresters, farmers, Agricultural Extension Agents, horticultural producers, Master Gardeners, homeowners, and developers. Dr. George Diggs (Austin College) is primary author, with BRIT associates Barney Lipscomb, Robert O’Kennon, and Robert George (Project Coordinator), and Monique Dubrule Reed (Texas A&M).

Barney L. Lipscomb March 17, 2021

Biodiversity and Floristics

Prairie Research Program

The Prairie Research Program (PReP) includes projects related to natural resource management, ecology, native vegetation, and stewardship of prairie and rangeland habitats. We collaborate with landowners to investigate plant biodiversity metrics, often associated with disturbance events (past and present).

Brooke Byerley Best, Ph.D. March 17, 2021

Biodiversity and Floristics

Lichen Systematics

As models for symbiosis, lichens contain many completely unrelated associates with separate evolutionary histories. Lichen systematics can therefore produce phylogenies that reconstruct the history of the fungal partner, the photosynthetic partner, or from other microorganisms.

Manuela Dal Forno, Ph.D. March 17, 2021

Biodiversity and Floristics

Lichen Microbiome

Our understanding of microbiome diversity and functionality in organisms and systems has rapidly advanced as new technologies have been developed and have become more accessible. Lichens have been the subject of these studies for over a decade now, but there is still much left to do.

Manuela Dal Forno, Ph.D. March 17, 2021

Biodiversity and Floristics

Lichen Genomics

The study of distinct lineages as part of the lichen symbiosis opens a myriad of interesting and yet to be explored questions. A few that I am interested are regarding Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) among the symbionts and detecting genes responsible for lichenization in Basidiomycota.

Manuela Dal Forno, Ph.D. March 17, 2021

Biodiversity and Floristics

Lichen Discovery in the Southern Philippines

Please visit Dr. Dal Forno’s website or the main NSF-project page for the most updated content on this research

Manuela Dal Forno, Ph.D. March 17, 2021

Biodiversity and Floristics

Taxonomy and Systematics of Ferns and Lycophytes

We are interested in what the species of ferns and lycophytes are and where they occur—something often poorly known for tropical species—and the evolutionary relationships among the species. We generate phylogenetic trees based on DNA sequences that show how the species are related and use the trees as a framework for answering questions about character evolution, biogeography, and evolutionary processes.

Alejandra Vasco, Ph.D. March 17, 2021

Biodiversity and Floristics

Ferns and Lycophytes of Texas

Texas is home to more than 127 native species of ferns and lycophytes

Alejandra Vasco, Ph.D. March 17, 2021

Biodiversity and Floristics

Evolution and Development of Leaves

The evolution of leaves changed life on Earth. We study the expression and phylogeny of leaf development genes in lycophytes and ferns to better understand the evolution and development of leaves in the land plants.

Alejandra Vasco, Ph.D. March 17, 2021

Category: Biodiversity and Floristics

Biosurveys / BioBlitzes

Illustrated Texas Floras Project

Prairie Research Program

Lichen Systematics

Lichen Microbiome

Lichen Genomics

Lichen Discovery in the Southern Philippines

Taxonomy and Systematics of Ferns and Lycophytes

Ferns and Lycophytes of Texas

Evolution and Development of Leaves

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