Dr. Vivian Negrón-Ortiz
Consolea
Erithalis
My primary research area is the reproductive biology of flowering plants of the Caribbean. Specifically, I am interested in pollination biology, evolution and ecology of plant mating systems, and comparative studies of breeding systems between mainland and island species. I use a combination of hand pollination experiments, fluorescence and light microscopy (serial sections), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and confocal microscopy to determine the breeding system of individual species and investigate the evolution of breeding systems within a genus. I am also interested in the relationship of rarity to plant reproductive biology, and applying my findings to conservation.
Zamia
Ernodea
A second area of interest is Caribbean biogeography. The biogeography of the Caribbean is complex because of the potential of multiple colonizations of the islands from the surrounding mainland, and because our understanding of the geological history is fragmented. This line of research aims to understand the evolution, biogeography and modes of speciation in this region.
While most of my research has been in the Rubiaceae, Cactaceae, and population biology of Zamiaceae, future investigations would include other flowering families with genera of interesting biogeographic distribution and floral morphology.
Negrón-Ortiz, V. 2007. Chromosome numbers, nuclear DNA content and polyploidy in Consolea (Cactaceae), an endemic cactus of the Caribbean Islands. American J Botany (In Press).
Negrón-Ortiz, V. In Prep. The consequences of many flowers and no fruits on the recovery of Consolea corallicola, an endemic cactus of the Florida Keys.
Strittmatter, L. I., Hickey, R. J and Negrón-Ortiz, V. In Review. Heterochrony and its role in sex determination of cryptically dioecious Consolea (Cactaceae): staminate flowers. Botanical J of the Linnean Society.
Strittmatter, L. I., Negrón-Ortiz, V. and Hickey, R. J. 2006. Comparative microsporangium development in male-fertile and male-sterile flowers of Consolea (Cactaceae): when and how does pollen abortion occur - Grana. 45: 81-100.
Negrón-Ortiz, V. 2005. Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus: Erithalis (Rubiaceae: Chiococceae). Sida. 21: 1565-1598.
Negrón-Ortiz, V. and L Strittmatter. 2004. Embryology of floral dimorphism and gender system of Consolea corallicola (Cactaceae), a rare species of the Florida Keys. Haseltonia. 10: 1-10.
Negrón-Ortiz, V. and L.E. Watson. 2003. Hypotheses for the colonization of the Caribbean Basin by two genera of the Rubiaceae: Erithalis and Ernodea Systematic Botany. 28: 442-451.
Negrón-Ortiz, V. and L.E. Watson. 2002. Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of Erithalis (Rubiaceae), an endemic of the Caribbean Basin. Plant Systematics and Evolution 234: 71-83.
Strittmatter, L., V. Negrón-Ortiz, and R.J. Hickey. 2002. Subdioecy in Consolea spinosissima (Cactaceae): breeding system and embryological studies. Amer. J. Bot. 89: 1373-1387.
Negrón-Ortiz, V. and D.L. Gorchov. 2000. Effects of fire season and post-fire herbivory on demography of the cycad, Zamia pumila, in Everglades National Park rockland pine savanna. Int. J. Plant Sci. 161: 659-669.
Negrón-Ortiz, V. 1998. Reproductive biology of a rare cactus, Opuntia spinosissima (Cactaceae), in the Florida Keys: Why is seed set very low? Sex. Plant Reprod. 11: 208-212.
Negrón-Ortiz, V. and R.J. Hickey. 1996. The genus Ernodea (Rubiaceae) in the Caribbean Basin. I. Allozyme Variation and Mating Systems. Syst. Bot. 21: 433-443.
Negrón-Ortiz, V. and R.J. Hickey. 1996. The genus Ernodea (Rubiaceae) in the Caribbean Basin. II. Morphological Analyses and Systematics. Syst. Bot. 21: 445-458.
Negrón-Ortiz, V. 1996. Reproductive biology of Ernodea (Rubiaceae) in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Second International Rubiaceae Conf., Proceedings. Opera Bot. Belgica. 7: 403-412.
Negrón-Ortiz, V., D.L. Gorchov and G.J. Breckon. 1996. Population structure in Zamia (Zamiaceae) in northern Puerto Rico. II. Seed germination and stage-structured population projection. Int. J. Plant Sci. 157: 605-614.
Negrón-Ortiz, V. and G.J. Breckon. 1989. Population structure in Zamia debilis (Zamiaceae) I. Size classes, leaf phenology, and leaf turnover. Amer. J. Bot. 76: 891-900.
Negrón-Ortiz, V. and G.J. Breckon. 1989. A note on the dispersal of Zamia (Zamiaceae) in Puerto Rico. Carib. J. Sci. 25: 86-87.
Pilosocereus
Consolea rubescens
