Biogeographic patterns and processes of speciation and hybridization in spore-bearing
plants
Organizers:
Paul G. Wolf, Utah State University (USA)
Tom A. Ranker, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (USA)
Abstract:
In the last five years, techniques and tools for studying biogeographic variation and patterns of
speciation have gone through another leap, as both are a function of new technologies, but also
because of new ways of exploring data. Thus, we feel it is time for a coordinated effort to bring
researchers together to share their findings in these core areas of fern and lycophyte systematics
and evolution. The presentations in this colloquium span the field of biogeography with
particular attention to the interplay of biogeographical patterns with speciation and hybridization
processes in ferns and lycophytes. The case studies range from global to regional and tropical to
temperate and explore both gametophyte and sporophyte generations.
Keynote speaker:
David Barrington, University of Vermont (USA)
Other speakers:
Lucie Bauret, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle (France)
Aaron M. Duffy, Utah State University (USA)
Jordan Metzgar, University of Alaska (USA)
Jerald B. Pinson, University of Florida (USA)
Michael A. Sundue, University of Vermont (USA)
Stina Westrand, Uppsala University (Sweden)
Angelo Troìa, Università degli Studi di Palermo (Italy)
Marc Bogonovich, Indiana University (USA)
Sally Stevens, University of Florida (USA)
Amanda Grusz, Smithsonian Institution (USA)
Robbin C. Moran, New York Botanical Garden (USA)
Evolution and development in ferns and lycophytes: case studies and perspectives
Organizers:
Alejandra Vasco, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (México)
Barbara A. Ambrose, New York Botanical Garden (USA)
Abstract:
Lycophytes and ferns occupy a key phylogenetic position within the land plants, the lycophytes
being sister to all other vascular plants, and ferns being sister to seed plants. The fossil record
indicates that ancestral vascular plant lineages had a sporophyte‐dominant life cycle, naked and
dichotomously branched axes, tracheids, and terminal sporangia. Moreover, fossils of early
lycophytes, ferns, and seed plants suggest that the early ancestors of each of these three lineages
had naked branching axes that terminated in sporangia. Therefore, lycophytes and ferns comprise
two evolutionary lineages that have evolved independently some organs and growth forms, such
as leaves, heterospory, and tree habit that are analogous to organs and forms in seed plants.
While other growth forms and organs found in lycophytes and ferns, such as a sporophyte‐
dominant life cycle, branching, and sporangia, are homologous to those found in their sister
groups. Finally, some lineages of lycophytes and ferns contain morphological novelties: such as
the ligule and the rhizophore in lycophytes, and the abaxial position of the sporangia in
leptosporangiate ferns. Therefore, lycophytes and ferns provide a fascinating comparison for
evolutionary developmental studies. Most studies in evolutionary developmental biology have
been focused on seed plants, however, comparative studies that include the other two major
vascular plant lineages, lycophytes and ferns, will be integral to understanding the evolution and
development of not only these two plant lineages but also all vascular plants. This symposium on
evolutionary developmental biology of lycophytes and ferns will include talks that encompass
various areas of research including phylogenetics, comparative morphology, anatomy,
development, molecular genetics, and genomics.
Keynote speaker:
Barbara A. Ambrose, New York Botanical Garden (USA)
Other speakers:
Edgar Javier Rincon, Universidad de Antioquia (Colombia)
Alexander J. Hetherington, University of Oxford (UK)
Chi-Lien Cheng, University of Iowa (USA)
Rafael S. Cruz, Universidade de São Paulo (Brazil)
Alejandra Vasco, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (México)
Andrew Plackett, University of Oxford (UK)
Future challenges of fern and lycophyte ecology: a call for conservation and collaboration
in the next generation
Organizers:
Klaus Mehltreter, Instituto de Ecología (México)
James E. Watkins Jr., Colgate University (USA)
Abstract:
The past two decades have seen enormous progress in our knowledge and understanding of the
ecology of ferns. Updated floras and increasingly precise phylogenies have provided the
essential biogeographical, taxonomic, and evolutionary background information for ecological
studies. As we continue to construct the foundation for the next generation of ecological study,
we must sustain our efforts to understand ferns from an organismal yet broad perspective. How
have ecophysiological characters evolved in different groups of ferns? Which insects feed on and
have coevolved with ferns? Which biogeographic features determine endemism in ferns? How
do ferns respond to disturbances such as hurricanes in the short and long-term? Why are some
fern rare and endangered and others common? How can we refocus our efforts on ecology to
understand better how ferns will respond to climate change and how the impacts to our fern flora
will influence our forests? To resolve many of these questions a large, and diverse collaborative
effort is necessary to develop field studies before many of the natural habitats together with their
endangered or endemic fern species disappear known only from greenhouse and herbarium
collections. This colloquium presents an overview of current ecological studies of ferns from a
wide range of perspectives and different biogeographic regions of the world, and calls for an
integrative, collaborative effort to investigate fern ecology with a comparative approach at larger
spatial and temporal scales.
Keynote speaker:
Klaus Mehltreter, Instituto de Ecología (México)
Other speakers:
Jarmila Pittermann, University of California Santa Cruz (USA)
Marcelo Guerra, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Nathalie S. Nagalingum, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney (Australia)
Joanne Sharpe, Sharplex Services (USA)
Donald R. Farrar, Iowa State University (USA)
Eddie Watkins, Colgate University (USA)
Genomics and transcriptomics of ferns and lycophytes
Organizers:
Joshua P. Der, California State University Fullerton (USA)
Emily B. Sessa, University of Florida (USA)
Abstract:
The pace of genomic- and transcriptomic-based discovery in plants has accelerated tremendously
in recent years, fueled by rapidly advancing high-throughput DNA sequencing technology.
Approximately 100 plant nuclear genomes have been sequenced to date, but genomic resources
for ferns and lycophytes have lagged behind those of other land plant lineages, especially
angiosperms. Recent developments are now bringing fern and lycophyte genomics to the
forefront of comparative analysis and are revealing new insights into polyploidy, fern genome
structure, gene family composition, and gene expression. This colloquium will focus on recent
advances in fern and lycophyte genomics and transcriptomics, and will update the community on
efforts to generate complete nuclear genome sequences for ferns.
Keynote speaker:
Joshua P. Der, California State University Fullerton (USA)
Other speakers:
Paul Wolf, Utah State University (USA)
Fay-Wei Li, Duke University (USA)
Blaine Marchant, University of Florida (USA)
Mike Barker, University of Arizona (USA)
Sean Graham, University of British Columbia (Canada)
Erin Sigel, Smithsonian Institution (USA)
Henriette Schleupmann, Utrecht University (Netherlands)
Jody Banks, Purdue University (USA)
Mari Salmi, University of Texas Austin (USA)
Jing-Ke Weng, Whitehead Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA)
The integration of ecological and phylogenetic approaches in pteridology
Organizers:
Michael Sundue, University of Vermont (USA)
James E. Watkins Jr., Colgate University (USA)
Michael Kessler, University of Zurich (Switzerland)
Abstract:
Historically, pteridologists have integrated ecological patterns and evolutionary hypotheses but
lacked quantitative tools to do this in a predictive manner. The rapidly resolving tree of life
provides enormous opportunity to break new ground in ecology and evolution of ferns and
lycophytes. The challenge we face is that of methodology and creativity. How do we integrate
phylogeny, ecology, and morphology? The presenting speakers address this question in a variety
of ways. They are united in their use of a phylogenetic framework, but otherwise diverge in their
approach. Together, the speakers provide a variety of solutions to the integration of disciplines
and offer perspective on the future of pteridology.
Keynote speaker:
Michael Kessler, University of Zurich (Switzerland)
Other speakers:
Anthony Baniaga, University of Arizona (USA)
Dirk Karger, University of Zurich (Switzerland)
Monique McHenry, Fiddlehead Laboratory (USA)
Joel Nitta, Harvard University (USA)
Jarmila Pittermann, University of California Santa Cruz (USA)
Harald Schneider, Natural History Museum London (UK)
Emily Sessa, University of Florida (USA)
Wes Testo, University of Vermont (USA)
Chie Tsutsumi, National Museum of Nature and Science (Japan)
Eddie Watkins, Colgate University (USA)
Yoko Yatabe, Tokyo Metropolitan University (Japan)