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Laboratory Address: |
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View of Teide
Volcano Tenerife, Canary
Islands |
Undergraduate level: Graduate level: PCB6990 Advanced Phylogenetics
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Degrees: M.Sc., Conservation and Utilisation of Plant Genetic Resources, The University of Birmingham, Great Britain, 1988. Ph.D., Biology, The University of Birmingham, Great Britain, 1992. |
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1993. Postdoctoral fellow at
Ohio State University, Colorado, OH. 1994 - 1995. Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas, Austin, TX. 1996 - 1998. Lecturer, Department of Agronomy of the Universidad de La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain. 1999. Assistant Professor in Biology,
Florida International University, Miami, Fl. 1999-present. PAPERS PUBLISHED (1999-2001): Barber, J.C.;
Francisco-Ortega, J.; Santos-Guerra, A.; Marrero, A. & Jansen, R.K.
(2000). Evolution of endemic Sideritis (Lamiaceae) in Macaronesia:
Insights from a chloroplast DNA restriction site analysis. Systematic Botany
25:633-647. Barber, J.J.; Francisco-Ortega, J.; Santos-Guerra, A.; Turner, K.G. & Jansen, R.K. (In press). Origin of Macaronesian Sideritis L. (Lamiodeae: Lamiaceae) inferred from nuclear and chloroplast sequence datasets. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. Bogler, D.J. & Francisco-Ortega, J. (In press). Molecular systematic studies in cycads: Evidence from trnL intron and ITS2 rDNA sequences. Memoirs of New York Botanical Garden. Couladis, M.; Tsortanidou, V.; Verykokidou, E.; Francisco-Ortega, J.; Santos-Guerra, A. & Harvala, C. (2001). Antioxidant activity of Argyranthemum spp. aerial parts. Pharmaceutical Biology 39:54-56. Couladis, M.; Tsortanidou, V.; Verykokidou, E.; Francisco-Ortega, J.; Santos-Guerra, A. & Harvala, C. (2001). Composition of the essential oils of Argyranthemum species growing in Canary Islands. Flavour and Fragance Journal 16:103-106. Francisco-Ortega, J.; Bogler, D.J.; Trusty, J. & Andrus, N. (2000). Research in the garden: Molecules, plants, and islands. Garden Views July 2000: 16-17. Francisco-Ortega, J.; Goertzen, L.R.; Santos-Guerra, A.; Benabid, A. & Jansen, R.K. (1999). Molecular systematics of the Asteriscus alliance (Asteraceae, Inuleae) I: from the Internal Transcribed Spacers of Nuclear DNA. Systematic Botany 24: 249-266. Francisco-Ortega, J. & Santos-Guerra, A. (1999). Early evidence of plant hunting in the Canary Islands from 1694. Archives of Natural History 26: 237-265. Francisco-Ortega, J. & Santos-Guerra, A. (In press). Genes y conservación de plantas vasculares. In: Palacios, J. M. & Martín-Esquivel, J. (eds). Naturaleza de las Islas Canarias. Turquesa, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands. Fuertes-Aguilar, J.; Ray, M.C.; Francisco-Ortega, J.; Santos-Guerra, A.
& Jansen, R.K. (In press). Molecular evidence from chloroplast and
nuclear markers for multiple colonizations of Lavatera (Malvaceae) in
the Canary Islands. Systematic Botany. Goertzen, L. G.; Francisco-Ortega, J.; Santos-Guerra, A.; Mower, J.;
Linder, C.R. & Jansen, R. K. (In press). Molecular systematics of the Astericus
alliance (Asteraceae: Inuleae) II: Combined nuclear and chloroplast data.
Systematic Botany. Guala, G.; Bogler, D.J.; Sadle, J. & Francisco-Ortega, J. (2000). Molecular evidence for polyphyly in the genus Apoclada (Poaceae: Bambusoide). Bamboo Science and Culture 14: 15-20. Helfgott, D.M.; Francisco-Ortega, J.; Santos-Guerra, A.; Jansen, R.K. & Simpson, B.B. (2000). The origin of the Bencomia alliance (Rosaceae) in Macaronesia. Systematic Botany 25: 81-96. Lester, R.N.; Francisco-Ortega, J. & Al-Ani, M. (1999). Convergent evolution of heterandry (unequal stamens) in Solanum proved by spermoderm SEM. In: Nee, M., Simmons, D., Jessop, J.P. & Hawkes, J.G. eds). Pp. 51-69. Solanaceae IV: Advances in Biology and Utilization. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Marrero, A. & Francisco-Ortega, J. (In press). Evolución en islas: la forma en el tiempo. In: Palacios, J. M. & Martín-Esquivel, J. (eds). Naturaleza de las Islas Canarias. Turquesa, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands. Marrero, A. & Francisco-Ortega, J. (In press). Características y
condicionantes de la evolución en islas. In: Palacios, J.M. & Martín-Esquivel,
J. (eds). Naturaleza de las Islas Canarias. Turquesa, Santa Cruz de Tenerife,
Canary Islands. Moore, M.J.; Francisco-Ortega, J.; Santos-Guerra, A. & Jansen, R.K.
(In press). Chloroplast DNA evidence for the roles of island colonization and
extinction in Tolpis (Asteraceae: Lactuceae). American Journal of
Botany. Mort, M.E.; Soltis, D.E; Soltis, P.S; Francisco-Ortega, J. & Santos-Guerra, A. (In press). Phylogenetics and evolution of the Macaronesian clade (Crassulaceae) inferred from molecular and morphological data. Systematic Botany. Park, S.-J.; Korompai, E.J.; Francisco-Ortega, J.; Santos-Guerra, A. & Jansen, R.K. (2001). Phylogenetic relationships of Tolpis (Asteraceae: Lactuceae) based on ndhF sequence data Plant Systematics and Evolution. 226:23-33. |
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My main research interest
concerns the use of molecular markers in plant conservation, plant evolution
and plant systematic studies. My laboratory is situated on the grounds of the
Research Center of Fairchild Tropical Garden
(FTG). I have currently several research projects with plants from southern
Florida, the Caribbean Basin, Isla de Cocos, Galápagos, and Canary Islands,
and am also conducting molecular systematic studies with cycads and palms. RESEARCH ON ISLANDS: I have a special interest in the origin and evolution of plants endemic to tropical and subtropical islands. Research projects in my laboratory concern taxa endemic to the Antilles, Galápagos, Canary Islands, and Isla de Cocos. Most of these projects also have a strong conservation component, as many of these endemics are on the verge of extinction. We are using molecular markers to elucidate the taxonomic status of these endangered species and also to understand the major morphological and ecological shifts that occurred following long distance dispersal from the continental to the insular environment. Another component of our research includes developing phylogenies to understand the role played by inter-island colonization and adaptive radiation during the evolutionary history of the insular taxa. Two of our graduate students (Nicole Andrus and Jeniffer Trusty) are involved in these projects. FAIRCHILD/MONTGOMERY BOTANICAL CENTER LIVING COLLECTIONS: Fairchild Tropical Garden and another sourthern Florida
Institute [The Montgomery
Botanical Center (MBC) ] host one of the best living collections of palms
and cycads in the world. A major
component of my research uses these collections for phylogenetic and
conservation genetic studies. Cycads We are currently developing
microsatellites markers to address several questions regarding population and
conservation genetics of members of the Neotropical genera Zamia and Dioon. This research
is being undertaken in collaboration with Dr. Alan Meerow (USDA, Miami), Dr. Andrew Vovides
(Instituto de Ecología de Jalapa, Mexico) and Dr. Terrence Walters (MBC). We
are also exploring the use of low copy nuclear genes for phylogenetic
reconstruction within Zamia and Dioon. This second project is being
carried out in collaboration with Dr. Carl Lewis (FTG). One of our graduate
students (Jeremy Moynihan) is involved in these two projects. In addition, in collaboration with
Dr. David Bogler (Missouri Botanical Garden), we have been conducting
phylogenetic studies of several genera from the New World. Both nuclear and chloroplast DNA
markers have been used in these studies. Palms Research projects on molecular systematics and
conservation genetics of palms concern members of the subtribe
Ptycospermatinae, and the genera Geonoma,
Phoenix, and Coccothrinax. All
these projects are being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Carl Lewis and
Dr. Scott Zona (FTG). One
graduate student from FIU (Julissa Roncal) is working with Geonoma. Another graduate student, Belén Gutiérrez, from Real
Jardín Botánico de Madrid is involved in the phylogenetic study of Phoenix. Protocols to study low copy nuclear genes have been
developed by Dr. Carl Lewis and are the basis for most of the phylogenetic
studies of palms of my lab. In
addition, we anticipate using in the near future AFLPs and/or microsatellites
for population genetic studies of endangered and/or economically important
species of palms. CONSERVATION GENETICS: The use of DNA markers to
fingerprint populations has had a tremendous impact on conservation and
restoration biology. In my laboratory we are currently using AFLPs,
microsatellites, and RAPDs as markers to understand some of the factors
behind population decline of rare species. Current projects include plants
from southern Florida, the Caribbean Basin, Isla de Cocos, and Canary
Islands. GRADUATE STUDENTS: I am supervising five graduate
students, Nicole Andrus, Susan Carrara, Hannah Thornton, Jennifer Trusty and
Jeremy Moynihan. Susan Carrara is also a Master's student. Susan’s research advisor is Dr. Richard Campbell (Curator of Tropical Fruits of FTG) and she plans to work on plant genetic resources of neotropical fruits. Jeremy Moynihan is a Ph.D. student working on
conservation genetics of the Mesoamerican genus Dioon. Hannah Thornton is also a
Master’s student currently conducting her dissertation on the conservation
genetics and restoration ecology of Jacquemontia reclinata (Convolvulaceae).
This is a federally endangered species of South Florida. This project is
being funded by a grant awarded to FTG by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Jennifer Trusty is also a Ph.D. student working on the origin, biogeography, evolution and conservation genetics of species endemic to the Isla de Coco, a volcanic island situated in the Pacific Ocean which is politically part of Costa Rica. FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND OTHER COLLABORATIONS: Additional projects undertaken in my laboratory include genetic conservation of Caribbean endemics (in collaboration with C. Lane and J. Pipoly), and plant systematics of tropical plants (in collaboration with S. Zona and G. Guala). My laboratory has been established as part of a collaboration between
FIU and FTG with a mandate for education and research. The ultimate aims of
the members of my laboratory are to contribute with research discussion to
the rest of the scientific community and to develop educational science for
society. |
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