Mónica Carlsen, Ph.D.
Assistant Scientist – Education Coordinator
Latin America Department
Research Interests
• Plant species diversity and geographic distribution in tropical regions
• Phylogenomics of rapid radiations of species
• Systematics and evolution of Anthurium (Araceae)
Sebastián Tello, Ph.D.
Director and Associate Scientist
Latin America Department
Research Interests
• Biodiversity and macroecology
• Spatial ecology
• Null models and computer simulation models
The disappearing type localities of Anthurium (Araceae). Carlsen, the current REU program co-PI, is an Assistant Scientist and the Education Coordinator of MBG’s Science and Conservation Division. Her research focuses on understanding the systematics and evolution of the Neotropical genus Anthurium (Araceae family). Tello is the Director of the Latin America Department and is interested in the role that historical events and stochastic processes have on traditional biogeographic patterns (like broad scale species richness gradients), and community level patterns (like species coexistence and species turnover). In botanical science, the first description of a new species involves designating a preserved botanical collection as the "type specimen". These type specimens are pivotal as they carry the new species' scientific name and serve as the definitive permanent reference for that species, making them crucial in any herbarium collection, and cornerstones for the study of plant diversity. The "type localities" are the geographical sites where these type specimens were initially collected, marking the species' first official discovery by science. When revising a species group, having specimens from these type localities is essential to confirm the accuracy of the species identification, avoiding confusion with similar species. However, the rapid loss of natural habitats worldwide poses numerous challenges. This loss affects biodiversity, human communities, and the study of plant biodiversity. Tropical forests have disappeared at an alarming rate during the last decades, but it is unclear how many type localities – and the plants that live in them – have been destroyed. Anthurium is the largest genus of the family Araceae, with ca. 1,000 described species. It is believed that most of the forest in the original collection localities where type specimens of hundreds of Anthurium species were collected is now lost due to human alteration. In this project, a student will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess the current conservation status and threats to Anthurium species' type localities. The student will learn how to examine geospatial data in GIS software, search online databases for type locality and specimen information, and analyze human impact factors like urbanization, road construction, agricultural expansion, and forest cover reduction. The student's involvement in this project may lead to co-authorship in a related publication.