Collaborators on the NSF project focus on the Sticta phylogeny met in Storrs from Sept. 14-18. Reports included an update on new species discovered in Madagascar, China, Colombia and other parts of the world, as well as mt genome structure in these lichenized fungi and their associated cyanobacteria.
Martha assembled and annotated the mt genome of Oxystegus tenuirostris, which is now published:
Alonso, M., R. Medina, M.J. Cano, J.A. Jiménez & B. Goffinet. (in press). The complete mitochondrial genome of the moss Oxystegus tenuirostris (Hook. & Taylor) A.J.E. (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta). Mitochondrial DNA (Mitogenome announcement).
With the departure of Beatriz following Dinah and Satpal finally taking a break from UConn, the lab crew is down to its 4 members. The summer was very busy for all involved, and highly productive, in terms of undergraduates and visitors gaining unique skills and experiences and producing many data, culminating in already two manuscripts.
With the summer coming (soon) to an end, starts a new semester, marked by the arrival of a new member, Charlie Delavoi from Chicago, joining the Ph.D. program in EEB.
A new species of Archidium described from Brazil:
Peralta D. F., A. M. Rios & B. Goffinet. 2015. Archidium oblongifolium (Archidiaceae, subg. Archidiella), a new species from Brazil. Cryptogamie-Bryologie 36: 211–215. pdf Google Scholar
Abstract: Archidium oblongifolium (Archidiaceae, subg. Archidiella) is proposed, described and illustrated as a new species based on collections from central Brazil. It is characterized by oblong leaves and lax leaf cells. A. oblongifolium is currently known only from three specimens from a single area, and could thus be considered vulnerable or threatened.
After Antoine leaving last Saturday it was Marta’s turn to board the plane heading home after a nice farewell. Good luck with the dissertation.
Rafa Medina uploaded a video showing the active sperm cells of Physcomitrium. Enjoy.
Photos of past events have been added to the photo library.
For the summer the lab is joined by 1) Beatriz Vigalondo, a Ph.D. student from the University of Madrid, who will be screening Illumina data for new markers in the Orthotrichum complex, 2) Dinah Parker, a UConn undergraduate who continues her work on the Lobariaceae (lichens!) of China and 3) Satpal Jutla, also an undergraduate at UConn, hoping to unravel the diversity of Physcomitrium pyriforme in North America. Welcome to all, and good luck.
Lily Lewis joined the Sticta project team and the postdoc team in the lab at least for the summer. Welcome (back).
Emily Behling has worked, under the supervision of Lily Lewis, for two years on the diaspores trapped in the feathers of migratory birds. She has co-authored the paper published in PeerJ, presented the work at the Evolution meeting last year and now earned the Connecticut Museum of Natural History Award for her work entitled: Migratory Birds Carry Plant Diaspores in their Feathers. Congratulations Emily.