The Plant Press

Welcome Home, Director

From Plant Press, Vol. 11, No. 3 from July 2008.

Cristian Samper showing his botanical roots in Guyana. (Photo by Vicki Funk)

In July 2008 Cristián Samper rejoined the National Museum of Natural History after serving for the past 15 months as Acting Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. In 2007 he was asked to step in when the previous Secretary, Lawrence Small, suddenly resigned after the exposure of a host of problems concerning spending and leadership at the Institution. Samper’s appointment as Acting Secretary was greeted with great relief by most Smithsonian staff members although many from NMNH were afraid that initiatives at NMNH would stagnate in his absence. 

Samper served as the Acting Secretary of the Smithsonian from March 2007 through June 2008. As Acting Secretary, he guided the Institution through a transition period, working with the Board of Regents on comprehensive governance review and reform, as well as enhanced communications with key stakeholders. He worked with Congress to address the funding need for facilities; initiated the planning for the Institution’s first national fundraising campaign; restructured and refocused Smithsonian Enterprises (formerly Smithsonian Business Ventures); and oversaw the work of a new leadership team. He also communicated extensively with Smithsonian staff at town hall meetings. The extended interactions and transparency in his leadership has led to the highest morale within the institution in the 20 years I have been part of the staff. We all express our thanks to Cristián, who served with great distinction as Acting Secretary. He willingly stepped in during a challenging time for the Smithsonian, brought transparency where there had been obfuscation, and helped restore staff morale and the public’s trust. Cristián’s leadership came at a crucial point and we are all grateful to him.

Now he has returned to his position as Director of the NMNH filled with enthusiasm and new skills to address the opportunities and challenges we face here. We are delighted to welcome him back!

Abstracts from Speakers of the Botanical Symposium

From Plant Press, Vol. 11, No. 3 from July 2008.

The seventh annual Smithsonian Botanical Symposium was held 26 April 2008. The symposium, “Partners in Evolution: Interactions, Adaptations, and Speciation,” explored the various ecological interactions, evolutionary adaptations, and co-radiations of plants and animals in habitats across the planet and addressed the processes of coevolution. Below are the speakers’ abstracts from the papers that were presented.

Hans-Dieter Sues, Associate Director for Research and Collections, and Warren L. Wagner, Chair of Botany, with the speakers of the 2008 Smithsonian Botanical Symposium. Left to Right: Hans-Dieter Sues, Ted Schulz, Warren L. Wagner, W. John Kress, John N. Thompson, Scott Hodges, Judith L. Bronstein, and Conrad Labandeira. Missing Olle Pellmyr. (Photo by Donald Hurlbert)

Harmful Dinoflagellates Found in the Mesoamerican Reef of Belize

From Plant Press Vol. 11, no. 3

Department of Botany Curator Maria Faust and her research team, consisting of Patricia Tester, Michael Dowgiallo, David Johnson, Mark Vandersea, Steve Kibler and Chris Holland from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Janelle Fleming from Seashore Coastal Consulting, discovered harmful dinoflagellates present in fore reef water during their April 2008 field sampling in Belize. Information on the taxonomy, biodiversity, and distribution of dinoflagellates, known producers of toxins and causing ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP), is limited. Currently, it is not known whether CFP events are due to specific environmental triggers that increase toxin production, an increase in the abundance of more toxic species, or the combination of the two. Field studies in Belize focused on comparing habitat preferences and abundance of Coolia, Gambierdiscus, and Ostreopsis CFP-associated dinoflagellates in coral reef-mangrove cays in deep versus shallow water habitats and low versus high energy habitats.

Dinoflagellate - Coolia monotis

The highlight of the trip was the discovery of Gambierdiscus species associated on macroalgal species at high energy habitats, at depths of 40-45 feet in Curlew Bank fore reef waters. During numerous drives during the week, the team additionally identified Gambierdiscus species on coral rubble and plastic screens in this unusual habitat. Quantitative analysis produces a clear picture of distribution of Gambierdiscus, which in turn translates into species identification, taxonomic and molecular analyses. The second important discovery which has not been observed since 1981 was that only Ostreopsis and Gambierdiscus CFP species were present in samples collected in coral reef-mangroves along 15 miles long gradient in the central lagoon of Belize. For example, six Ostreopsis species were identified attached to a nylon rope hanging from the dock at Carrie Bow Cay. On the other hand, other dinoflagellate species were very low in numbers or absent in shallow waters, protected mangrove cays and seagrass beds. These data provide crucial information on the distribution and habitat preference of CFP dinoflagellates.

Looe Key National Sanctuary

From Plant Press, Vol. 11, No. 3 from July 2008. 

Mark and Diane Littler along with their summer intern Kyle Glenn conducted a 25-year follow-up survey of Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary off Big Pine Key, in the Florida Keys. Along with a collaborating team, lead by Brian E. Lapointe from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, the group conducted water-quality surveys, fish counts, transects of distribution and abundance of algae and invertebrates and a detailed species inventory. These data will be used to compare with a similar study the Littlers and Lapointe did 25 years ago for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary is the most heavily visited coral-reef site in the continental United States with thousands of snorkelers and scuba divers every year impacting the resource. However, following the “no-take” ruling some 10 years ago the first impression is that the reef system is in relative good shape with abundant sea fans, brain coral, healthy diversity of algae and increases in herbivorous fish. The Littlers collected more than 300 specimens and are presently working up the species inventory at the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, Florida.

Art by Alice Tangerini: Sampera coriacea

From Plant Press, Vol. 11, No. 3 from July 2008.

Cristián Samper, Director of the National Museum of Natural History and former Acting Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, was recently honored by having a genus and a species named after him (see article on page 8). Sampera coriacea , a widespread species from Colombia to Peru, was chosen as the type because it is the most widespread species in the genus. It is interesting to note that a different species from Peru now has the name Sampera cuatrecasasii (M.O. Dillon & Sagast.) V.A. Funk & H. Rob. José Cuatrecasas, a well known botanist, studied the plants of the northern Andes, Colombia in particular, and was associated with the Department of Botany at the Smithsonian Institution for many years.

Staff Departure

From Plant Press, vol. 11, No. 3 from July 2008.

In May, Marjorie Knowles, museum specialist, left the Department to be closer to her family in New England and pursue her own personal endeavors. A staff member since 1987, Knowles had provided support for Paul Peterson, the collections management unit under Rusty Russell, and most recently as research assistant to Harold Robinson. Several of her accomplishments include the original digitization of the José Cuatrecasas monograph of the Espeletiinae during the time she lived in his home, and a large part of the editing and correcting of that manuscript that took place in the years that followed. She also served as herbarium technician for the Verbenaceae, Labiatae, Solanaceae and Asteraceae during the time she assisted Robinson. She updated the Asteraceae genus board, prepared the list of Cuatrecasas publications used in his obituary, did extensive SEM work, and proofread and prepared illustrations. She deferred on co-authorship of papers on which she worked, until the last paper, which was entomological.

A 14-Month Study of Chiliochtricum

From Plant Press, Vol. 11, No. 3 from July 2008.

Mauricio Bonifacino came to the US National Herbarium from Montevideo, Uruguay, to conduct research on the systematics of Chiliotrichum group (Compositae: Astereae) through a postdoctoral fellowship granted by the Smithsonian Institution under the guidance of Vicki Funk. Before his arrival and during his time here, he was also involved in other projects.

Mauricio Bonifacino

Before he arrived, Bonifacino had conducted field work in Venezuela (October 2006) and along the southern Andes in Argentina and Chile (December 2006) to collect material for his research, though he also contributed to other research projects with no less than 400 specimens that have been incorporated to the US National Herbarium. He then spent a month at the New YorkBotanical Garden learning molecular techniques with Fabian Michelangeli, who served as his host and advisor.

He, as well as his wife Valerie and two sons (Joaquín and Juan Manuel), arrived in Washington, DC, at the end of January 2007, and he immediately set to work on molecular systematics of the Chiliotrichum group.

Samper Honored with Plant Names

From Plant Press, Vol. 11, No. 3 from July 2008.

Heliconia samperiana W.J. Kress &J. Betancur

As a tribute to the accomplishments of Cristián Samper during his term as Acting Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, a genus and a new species were named in honor of him. Vicki Funk and Harold Robinson named a genus of Compositae after Samper in recognition of his service. The genus Sampera V.A. Funk & H. Rob. (Compositae: Liabeae) was previously the subgenus Andromachiopsis H. Rob. & Brettell (1974) in Oligactis. Molecular data have shown that this subgenus is not the sister group of the remaining species of the genus Oligactis. The new genus contains eight species of shrubs that have small heads without rays, and yellow flowers. It is distributed from Colombia southward to northern Peru with the majority of species in Ecuador.

John Kress and his colleague Julio Betancur of the Herbario Nacional Colombiano in Bogotá named a new species of the tropical genus Heliconia in honor of Samper. Kress was asked by a committee planning a tribute for Samper if it would be appropriate to dedicate a species to him. “Of course,” Kress replied, “and I have just the right plant!” Heliconia samperiana W.J. Kress & J. Betancur is a robust plant resembling a banana in appearance with a large bright red inflorescence. The species is known only from a very small area in the Chocó region of western Colombia. Kress and Betancur will be publishing the new species in a Colombian botanical journal to recognize Samper’s contributions to the conservation of biodiversity in that country.

New Faces

From Plant Press, Vol. 11, No. 3 from July 2008.

Andrew P. Clark

In June Andrew P. Clark joined the permanent staff of the Core Collections Management Team. Andrew graduated from TowsonUniversity in May 2007, with a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Botany. Following graduation he interned at the Adkins Arboretum on the Eastern Shore, followed by a long term appointment with Chesapeake Natives, Inc., based in College Park and funded by Americorps and Volunteer Maryland. At Towson Clark worked in the university herbarium and developed the skills that made him an excellent candidate for this position. He is also quite knowledgeable of the plants of the Chesapeake region and has worked at educating residents of the importance of preserving local diversity by incorporating native plants into home landscaping. Clark is currently working toward a Master’s in Ecology and Environmental Physiology at the University of Maryland. His responsibilities in CCM will include oversight of shipping and receiving activities, acquisitions and the exchange program.

Robin Everly

Robin Everly has joined Smithsonian Institution Libraries as the new Botany-Horticulture Librarian. Everly comes to the museum from the U.S. National Arboretum Library, where she had been at the library for the past six years. She was also a Technical Information Specialist/Database Indexer at the National Agricultural Library for 10 years. She has been a very active participant in the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries. Academically, Everly has a Masters in Library Sciences (M.L.S.) and a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Maryland.

Mark and Diane Littler are advising a Link Foundation Fellow, Kyle Glenn, a master’s student from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories on Monterey Bay, California. Glenn is conducting research at the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, Florida, this summer on nutrient translocation in rhizophytic Bryopsidales.

Awards and Grants

From Plant Press, Vol. 11, No. 3 from July 2008.

In 2003, the National Museum of Natural History began awarding Science Achievement Awards, recognizing exceptional scientific publications in natural history. A maximum of five awards are made in any one calendar year. In close consultation with the Senate of Scientists, an interdisciplinary review committee honored five scientists for their outstanding work this year. Among the 2008 Science Achievement Award winners is Warren Wagner for his paper “Revised Classification of the Onagraceae” (Systematic Botany Monographs 83: 1-240; 2007). 

 

Dan Nicolson

Dan Nicolson was recognized as the annual Distinguished Speaker by the New England Botanical Club. In honor of the recognition, Nicolson gave a lecture “My Beautiful Life” at HarvardUniversity on 4 April.

Nicolson also received the “Award for Distinguished Career in Science” by the Washington Academy of Sciences during the Academy’s annual banquet, held on 6 May at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia. The award certificate that Nicolson received reads “In recognition of his towering accomplishment as a taxonomic botanist and particularly his expertise in the arcane subject of botanical nomenclature.” As an awardee, Nicolson automatically became a fellow of the Academy. The presenter and nominator was Emeritus Curator Stanwyn Shetler, endorsed by Alain Touwaide, immediate Past-President of the Academy.Shetler and Touwaide themselves were awarded for their scientific contribution by the Academy in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Emanuela Appetiti served as banquet committee chair, in charge of organizing the event, which also featured keynote speaker William Fitzhugh, Curator in the Department of Anthropology. Nicolson’s wife Allie, son David, and daughter-in-law Tamar joined in the celebration.