Susan Fawcett

Susan Fawcett
National Tropical Botanical Garden

PhD

About

46
Publications
29,623
Reads
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1,620
Citations
Introduction
My primary research is focused on phylogenomics, taxonomy and historical biogeography of the fern family Theypteridaceae. I recently received my doctoral degree from the Barrington/Sundue Lab at the University of Vermont. I am currently at Research Botanaist at the University and Jepson Herbaria at UC Berkeley, and teaching faculty at the University of Michigan Biological Station.
Additional affiliations
September 2015 - May 2020
University of Vermont
Position
  • PhD Student
September 2015 - December 2019
University of Vermont
Position
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

Publications

Publications (46)
Article
Full-text available
Premise Hybridization is recognized as an important mechanism in fern speciation, with many allopolyploids known among congeners, as well as evidence of ancient genome duplications. Several contemporary instances of deep (intergeneric) hybridization have been noted, invariably resulting in sterile progeny. We chose the christelloid lineage of the f...
Article
Full-text available
Dubautia haupuensis is newly described from windswept ridgelines near the summit of H aʻupu, in an isolated range noted for floristic endemism on Kauaʻi, in the Hawaiian Islands, where only two clusters of plants are currently known. Based on molecular phyloge-netic data, this highly endangered shrub of the Hawaiian silversword alliance belongs to...
Article
Full-text available
The generic classification of the Thelypteridaceae has been the subject of much controversy. Proposed taxonomic systems have varied from recognizing the approximately 1200 species in the family within the single genus Thelypteris, to systems favoring upwards of 30 genera. Insights on intrafamilial relationships, especially for neotropical taxa, hav...
Book
Full-text available
Based on morphological, biogeographical, and phylogenomic data, a new generic classification system is proposed for the Thelypteridaceae. We give an overview of the previous classifications of the family, and a summary of the morphological, cytological, geographic and molecular data underlying these classifications is given. A synoptical phylogenet...
Article
Full-text available
The Seven Lakes Nature Preserve comprises nearly 2,400 hectares of aquatic, wetland, and upland habitats in southeastern Alger and northeastern Schoolcraft counties in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The preserve was obtained and protected by the J.A. Woollam Foundation and has undergone several expansions. In an area of Michigan with rela...
Article
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Premise Embryo excision is an effective, under‐described means of promoting germination in the sunflower family and may help to ensure the survival of endangered taxa or lineages with limited seed availability. Methods and Results We describe and illustrate a detailed method of embryo excision used successfully to stimulate germination in a divers...
Article
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Field and phylogenetic studies of Collinsia previously resulted in discovery of the distinctive "metamorphica" clade from meta-morphic scree of the upper Merced River drainage on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada, California. The three component lineages within this clade are described here as new species: C. metamorphica from the Sout...
Conference Paper
Studies of the primarily Californian tarweeds, Hawaiian silverswords, and relatives (tribe Madieae) over the past 100 years have provided detailed examples of a diversity of evolutionary and biogeographic phenomena, such as adaptive radiation, chromosome evolution, introgressive hybridization/reticulation, edaphic shifts, and long-distance dispersa...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction Ferns constitute the second largest group of vascular plants. Previous studies have shown that the diversity and composition of fern communities are influenced by resource availability and water stress, among other factors. However, little is known about the influence of these environmental factors on their biotic interactions, especia...
Article
Full-text available
The present taxonomic study of Thelypteridaceae (Polypodiopsida) in Pakistan is based on the study of fern specimens in 15 herbaria in Asia, Europe and USA. A total of six genera and eight species are recognized; a key, detailed description of species, distribution in Pakistan and worldwide, ecology, and a list of specimens examined from Pakistan a...
Article
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In recent years, knowledge of the ferns of India has advanced significantly. Recent contributions to our understanding of the Thelypteridaceae are an annotated checklist of Indian pteridophytes, a global phylogenomic study of the Thelypteridaceae, and a new generic classification of the family. The present paper seeks to provide a checklist and cla...
Article
Full-text available
The Thelypteridaceae is the second most species-rich fern family in the Solomon Islands, representing 47 of the 449 ferns and lycophytes from the islands and a third of its endemic pteridophyte flora. Recently, there has been a major effort to document the botanical diversity of this tropical island archipelago, which has resulted in the discovery...
Article
Full-text available
We provide an annotated checklist of all known lycophytes and ferns in the Solomon Islands following an updated classification. It comprises two classes, 12 orders, 3 families, 122 genera, 449 species, and six infraspecific taxa, including 1 new species described here and 18 species newly recorded for the country. In addition, we make six new nomen...
Article
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Two new species of Goniopteris are described from Ecuador and Peru: G. deltata and G. yanachagae . Both are illustrated and compared with similar species.
Article
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Menisciopsis wailele (Thelypteridaceae) is a single-island endemic fern species restricted to the Hawaiian island of Kauai. All observations indicate it is an obligate rheophyte, preferring sites of fast-moving water along concave walls of remote streams and waterfall edges. This paper presents data on its morphology, evolution, taxonomy, distribut...
Article
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Premise: The great variation of genome size (C-value) across land plants is linked to various adaptative features. Flow cytometry (FCM), the standard approach to estimating C-values, relies mostly on fresh materials, performing poorly when used with herbarium materials. No fern C-value reports have been derived from herbarium specimens; however, t...
Article
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A new species of Chingia, known only from Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands, is described and illustrated. It is distinctive in having flat, thickened, tortuous stipe scales. It is most closely related to an accession of Chingia clavipilosa from Mount Kinabalu, from which it is distinguished by its lack of hyaline acicular hairs on the abaxial lamina...
Article
Full-text available
Premise: New sequencing technologies facilitate the generation of large-scale molecular data sets for constructing the plant tree of life. We describe a new probe set for target enrichment sequencing to generate nuclear sequence data to build phylogenetic trees with any flagellate land plants, including hornworts, liverworts, mosses, lycophytes, f...
Article
Full-text available
ABSTRACT.—Goniopteris baorucensis, a species known only from the Sierra Baoruco in the southern Dominican Republic, is illustrated and described as new to science. Recent phylogenetic studies have inferred it as a member of a clade of predominantly calciphilic Goniopteris that are largely endemic to the Antilles. New records of two additional uncom...
Preprint
Full-text available
Premise of the study New sequencing technologies enable the possibility of generating large-scale molecular datasets for constructing the plant tree of life. We describe a new probe set for target enrichment sequencing to generate nuclear sequence data to build phylogenetic trees with any flagellate plants, comprising hornworts, liverworts, mosses,...
Data
A more detailed, extensively illustrated informal guide by Art Gilman to assist with identifying new populations of this species in the field.
Article
Full-text available
Since the 1970s, an apomictic tetraploid beech fern (genus Phegopteris (C. Presl) Fée) has been known in northeastern North America. Previously published isozyme data suggest that this lineage is of allopolyploid origin involving long beech fern (P. con-nectilis (Michx.) Watt.) but not broad beech fern (P. hexagonoptera (Michx.) Fée), as originally...
Article
Full-text available
Premise of research. Spores and pollen often exhibit distinctive morphology, resulting from the structure of the exine (spore wall), and elaborate external ornamentation, known as perine. Spore-dispersed plants, particularly ferns, exhibit remarkable variation in the surface structure of their spores and provide an excellent model for the study of...
Article
Full-text available
Premise of the Study Fine‐scale variation in temperature and soil moisture contribute to microhabitats across the landscape, affecting plant phenology, distribution, and fitness. The recent availability of compact and inexpensive temperature and humidity data loggers such as iButtons has facilitated research on microclimates. Methods and Results H...
Preprint
Full-text available
Fine-scale variation in temperature and soil moisture contribute to microhabitats across the landscape, affecting plant phenology, distribution and fitness. The recent availability of compact and inexpensive temperature and humidity data loggers such as iButtons has facilitated research on microclimates. Here, we highlight the use of iButtons in th...
Poster
Full-text available
As early as 1947, Aldo Leopold recognized the devastating impacts of Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) overabundance on the vegetation of northeastern North America, noting the disproportionate pressure on low-growing and palatable species. Although the impacts of White-tailed Deer herbivory have been relatively well-studied for woody plan...
Article
Full-text available
Previous hypotheses on the evolutionary affinities of the eastern North American fern species most recently recognized as Parathelypteris simulata have included hybrid origin from North American progenitors and disjunctions with east Asian species. Recent phylogenetic evidence indicates that Parathelypteris sensu Ching is not monophyletic and that...
Article
Full-text available
The Fijian island of Taveuni has large areas of remaining forest that are less altered than those on neighbouring islands. It is also free of the introduced mongoose, leaving its ecosystems more intact. It is noted for biodiversity and is a target for conservationists, but, as in other parts of Fiji, pteridophytes are under-documented there. To add...
Article
Full-text available
Phylogeny has long informed pteridophyte classification. As our ability to infer evolutionary trees has improved, classifications aimed at recognizing natural groups have become increasingly predictive and stable. Here, we provide a modern, comprehensive classification for lycophytes and ferns, down to the genus level, utilizing a community-based a...
Article
Full-text available
Neotropical savannas exhibit unique patterns of diversity of plant and animal life that are poorly understood. Effective conservation of these often imperiled ecosystems requires a basic understanding of species occurrence as well as the site-specific factors that influence plant community composition. This study focuses on the savanna flora of the...
Article
Primary hemiepiphytism was documented in Pleopeltis bradeorum (Polypodiaceae) at the La Selva Biological Station, Heredia, Costa Rica. Multiple sporophytes and gametophytes were observed, photographed, and collected. Gametophytes were found on the trunks of trees and lianas within 2.5 m of the ground. Mature sporophytes with fertile fronds were obs...
Thesis
Full-text available
Neotropical savannas comprise a biome of extraordinary diversity and endemism, which faces pervasive threats from human development. A basic understanding of ecological dynamics is required for effective conservation, but has not yet been achieved. This study seeks to address the abiotic underpinnings of vegetation assembly on the island of Utila,...
Article
Grass Bay, on the shore of Lake Huron in the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, has been a Nature Conservancy preserve since 1979. It is home to a variety of plants and animals. We conducted a floral survey of a section of Grass Bay and used the Floristic Quality Asssessment (FQA) to determine its relative value to conservation efforts. In order...

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