Publications by authors named "Elsie Rivera-Ocasio"
Global trade increases plant introductions, but joint introduction of associated microbes is overlooked. We analyzed the ectomycorrhizal fungi of a Caribbean beach tree, seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera, Polygonacaeae), introduced pantropically to stabilize coastal soils and produce edible fruits. Seagrape displays a limited symbiont diversity in the Caribbean.
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- Comparative phylogeography helps uncover how past environmental events and life traits affect the diversity of unrelated species, specifically black (Avicennia germinans) and red (Rhizophora mangle) mangroves in the Neotropics.
- The study involved genetic sampling from 18 Atlantic and 26 Pacific sites and analyzed genetic diversity related to quaternary climate changes and marine currents using coalescence simulations and chloroplast sequencing.
- Findings revealed similar biogeographic patterns for both mangrove species, highlighting genetic breaks due to the Central American Isthmus closure, population declines during the Pleistocene to Holocene, and gene flow influenced by ocean currents, despite their differing life-history traits
Premise Of The Study: Hybridization is common in both animals and plants and can lead to a diverse array of outcomes ranging from the generation of new ecotypes or species to the breakdown of morphological differences. Here, we explore the extent of hybridization in the three currently recognized New World Rhizophora species-R. mangle, R.
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