Archive - September 2012

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Graduate Student from the University of Washington Visits Fairchild

Fri, Sep 21, 2012 at 08:42:23 PM

Patricia Lu-Irving, graduate student working with Prof. Dick Olmstead in the Department of Biology at The University of Washington visited Fairchild to collect Lantana depressa from our collection and from wild populations for a phylogenetic reconstruction and systematics of the Lantaneae. Thanks to Wyatt Sharber and Dr. Joyce Maschinski for helping Pat locate plants.

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Fairchild biologists make entomological find

Fri, Sep 21, 2012 at 03:44:16 PM

Fairchild biologists Devon Powell and Jennifer Possley are now published entomologists. While conducting a plant survey in one of Miami's Environmentally Endangered Lands Preserves in 2009, Devon noted an unfamiliar insect feeding on native poisonwood trees. Jennifer contacted University of Florida Entomologist James Cuda and his colleagues about the species, and a research collaboration was born. A paper entitled "NEW HOST PLANT RECORD FOR THE POISON IVY SAWFLY, ARGE HUMERALIS (HYMENOPTERA: ARGIDAE), AND ITS PERFORMANCE ON TWO HOST PLANT SPECIES" was published in the most recent issue of Florida Entomologist. Full text is available at this link: http://journals.fcla.edu/flaent/article/view/79324/76668.

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FIU-Fairchild Faculty Delivers Talk at Bahamas National Trust

Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 11:25:59 AM

Sponsored by past President of the Bahamas National Trust (Mr. Pericles Maillis), FIU-Fairchild faculty Dr. Javier Francisco-Ortega delivered a talk entitled "David Fairchild’s Plant Hunting Expeditions to the Bahamas Islands" at The Retreat Gardens, Bahamas National Trust on September 12. During this visit Dr. Francisco-Ortega also met with colleagues from the College of the Bahamasand the Bahamas National Trust to discuss the logistics of the coming symposium "Celebrating 30 Years of the Flora of the Bahamas: Conservation and Science Challenges" that will take place between October 30th and 31st, 2012. Image below: Dr. Francisco-Ortega with past Bahamas National Trust Presidents Mrs. Sandra Buckner and Mr. Pericles Maillis.

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Reception to FIU-Fairchild and UM-Fairchild Graduate Students

Sun, Sep 09, 2012 at 05:19:41 PM

On Saturday September 8th, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden hosted a reception for graduate students from Florida International University and University of Miami who are performing their research in close association with Fairchild. These students have office and lab facilities at Fairchild and access to all of the resources of the Garden. Prof. Suzanna Rose (Founding Director and Current Director of the School of Integrated Science and Humanity of FIU) delivered the keynote address entitled "Creative Risk-Taking in Graduate School and Life". Currently the Garden hosts 15 graduate students from FIU or UM. Images below: Top (Prof. Suzanna Rose delivering her lecture), bottom (graduate students with FIU-Fairchild Faculty, FIU Faculty, UM Faculty, and Fairchild Scientists).

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FIU-Fairchild Faculty Attends FloraMac2012 International Symposium at Madeira Island

Sun, Sep 09, 2012 at 07:39:14 AM

Between September 5th and 8th 2012 the Madeiran Botanical Group (University of Madeira at Funchal) organized the FloraMac2012 International Symposium. The event focused on plant biodiversity issues pertinent to the Macaronesian Islands (Azores, Canaries, Cape Verde, Madeira, and Selvagens archipelagos). Our FIU-Fairchild faculty Dr. Javier Francisco Ortega delivered a talk on "Pre-Linnean references to the Macaronesian Flora." Dr. Francisco-Ortega thanks the FloraMac2012 Organizing Committee for sponsoring his attendance to this international meeting. Image below, from left to right: Dr. Arnoldo Santos-Guerra (Head of the Botany Unit, Canary Island Institute for Agricultural Research), Dr. Javier Francisco-Ortega, Dr. Maria Romeiras (Subdirector of the Tropical Botanic Garden of Lisbon, Institute for Tropical Scientific Research, Portugal), and Dr. Miguel Sequeiras (Faculty at the Department of Biology, University of Madeira and Coordinator of the FloraMac2012 Organizing Committee).

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