Assistant Curator
Herbarium
Research Interests
• Bromeliaceae family
• Neotropical flora
• Plant systematics
Enhancing practical identification of new genera within the subfamily Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae). Aguirre-Santoro is an Assistant Curator in the Herbarium and evolutionary biologist interested in the family Bromeliaceae (pineapple family). Molecular phylogenetics has revolutionized the classifications of plants across various taxonomic levels. While these advancements have often validated traditional taxonomic groups, they have also reshaped our understanding of supraspecific entities such as families, tribes, subtribes, genera, and subgenera. However, the practical identification of newly circumscribed taxa presents a challenge, as molecular characters may not always be useful for routine identification. Although systematists typically make their best effort to offer diagnoses to identify new taxa, these may not always be practical, often relying on obscure characters visible only with sophisticated equipment (such as pollen or anatomical features) or structures not easily preserved in herbarium specimens. This complexity makes it challenging for general botanists to accurately identify specimens. This project aims to address the practical challenges associated with the identification of the new genera within Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae, pineapple family). According to Barfuss et al. (2016) eight new genera have been split from the genus Vriesea. However, the new classification presents a challenge in identifying these genera, as it relies on DNA sequence data and distinctions in stigma types. This reliance makes the accurate diagnosis of herbarium specimens a challenging task. By exploring several other macroscopic characters, this project seeks to offer a more accessible and reliable means of identifying these genera using herbarium specimens. The student involved in this project will gain expertise in herbarium specimen handling, utilization of a microscope and steroscope, database management, the analysis of morphological trait and geographical data and describing plants using scientific terminology. Additionally, the student will be exposed to locating and understanding taxonomic literature, applying the rules of botanical nomenclature and addressing botanical nomenclatural problems, contributing to a holistic learning experience. It is possible for the student participating in this project to receive co-authorship on a publication resulting from this work.
Reference:
•Barfuss, M. H., Till, W., LEME, E. M., Pinzón, J. P., Manzanares, J. M., Halbritter, H., ... & Brown, G. K. (2016). Taxonomic revision of Bromeliaceae subfam. Tillandsioideae based on a multi-locus DNA sequence phylogeny and morphology. Phytotaxa, 279(1), 1-97