ATBC 2008 - ATBC Awards

ATBC Awards (2008)

Alwyn Gentry Award for Best Student Paper

Oral : Maylin Adriana Gonzales

Towards large-scale inventories of tropical trees using DNA-barcoding techniques. Mailyn Adriana Gonzalez¹, Christopher Baraloto², Julien Engel³, Scott Mori⁴, Pascal Petronelli², Bernard Riéra⁵, Aurelien Roger¹, Christophe Thébaud¹, Jérôme Chave¹
¹ Laboratoire d'Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; ² Unité Mixte de Recherche Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, campus agronomique, Kourou, French Guiana; ³ et Diversité Biologique, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France ; ⁴ New York Botanical Garden; ⁵ Laboratoire Fonctionnement, Evolution et Mécanismes Régulateurs des Ecosystèmes Forestiers, Brunoy, France.

Abstract. The workload required for identifying tropical plants remains a major impediment to the development of large-scale biodiversity surveys in the tropics. Here we assess whether molecular identification tools, specifically ‘DNA-barcoding’ techniques, may help in the taxonomic identification of tropical tree during large-scale inventory programs. This approach relies upon a combination of small, universal, and highly variable DNA sequences that should be unique to each species. We tested this approach in 143 species belonging to 44 woody plant families collected at the Nouragues Station, French Guiana. We sampled several species per genus and two individuals per species when possible and maximized the phylogenetic coverage of woody angiosperms at our site. We sequenced 5 DNA plastid regions (from 284 to 678 bp) from the tissue of 192 plants providing a first DNA barcoding reference database for tropical woody plants. Identification based on sequences alone allowed us to identify unambiguously all individuals to the family level and 90% of them to the genus level. A combination of two DNA markers provided enough variation to distinguish species in about 80% of the samples. In addition to facilitating the identification of rare individuals, our dataset enabled us to improve the estimation of phylogenetic diversity of sampled area. DNA-barcoding of plants should become a standard tool in the toolkit of tropical ecologist and pave the road for biodiversity sampling of unprecedented size.

Finalists for the Oral Award: Adriana Bravo & Alexandra Pardow

Poster : Elodie Courtois

Emission of plant volatiles in the vegetative parts of 33 tropical tree species in French Guiana. Elodie Courtois¹, Didier Stien ², Pierre-Alain Blandinieres², Jerome Chave¹
¹ laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Toulouse
² laboratoire Matériaux et Molécules en Milieu Amazonien, Cayenne

Abstract. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by plants are implicated in a range of functions (pollinator attraction, defense against herbivores). A number of studies have focused on the VOCs emitted by flowers, much less on the defensive compounds emitted by other plant organs such as leaves and bark. To examine the evolution and function of these vegetative VOCs, we characterized the bouquet of VOCs emitted by the bark and the leaves for 189 individuals belonging to 33 woody tropical species spread in 16 families in two study sites in French Guiana (Nouragues and Paracou research stations). VOCs were extracted by SPME (Solid Phase Micro Extraction) and analyzed by GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry). It allow us to isolate 392 molecules divided into 6 Green Leaf Volatiles (1.5%), 83 monoterpenes (21%) and 303 sesquiterpenes (77%). Of our 31 species in which leaves were analyzed, 14 emitted less than 5 compounds and 9 emitted more than 20 compounds (families Annonaceae, Burseraceae, Meliaceae and Caesalpiniaceae). Of the 33 species in which bark samples were analyzed, all had more than 5 compounds, and 11 had more than 20 compounds (same families as above). Three molecules were ubiquitous (encountered in more than 50% of the samples), while 313 molecules (79%) were found in less than 10 samples. This result confirms the astounding chemical diversity of tropical rain forest trees.

Alwyn Gentry’s legacy to tropical biology was not limited to the phenomenal contributions he made to the study of diversity and conservation of tropical plants. He was a caring and supportive mentor to students from all over the Americas. In remembrance and recognition of the contributions of a singular scientist, colleague, mentor, and friend, the Association for Tropical Biology presents the Alwyn Gentry Award for the Best Student Paper each year at its Annual Meeting.

Two awards are given each year, one for the best student oral presentation, and one for the best student poster.

The award recipients will each receive a $100 prize, plus a free one-year subscription to Biotropica and $100 in books from the University of Chicago Press. In addition, each of the winners will have their photograph and abstract published in Biotropica.

Eligibility. - All individuals who have been students within the previous 12 months are eligible, including those who have completed the Ph.D. within that period. The number of years of eligibility is not limited The work must have been done by the student as the senior author on the paper. Two or more students may present a joint paper and would then split the award

Award Criteria. - originality of study - contribution of the study to science - breadth of the study - quality of the research design and execution of the data analysis - quality of the presentation, including audio-visual materials.

The Committee reserves the right to make no award if it deems that no deserving paper has been presented or if fewer than five eligible papers are presented. All students who wish to be considered for the Gentry Award must indicate so on their registration forms.

To be eligible for the award, please email a copy of your submitted abstract to Susan Laurance (Laurances@si.edu), Coordinator of Awards, and to Dr Pierre-Michel Forget (atbc2008@yahoo.com), President-elect of the ATBC, with 'ATBC Award' in subject.

Deadline: May 9, 2008 CLOSED

Luis F. Bacardi Advances in Tropical Conservation Award

The ATBC is pleased to invite young conservation scientists to apply for the Luis F. Bacardi Advances in Tropical Conservation Award.

This $300 award, which will be awarded each year for the best oral presentation on a conservation-related theme at the ATBC Annual Meeting, is open to individuals with a doctorate who completed their Ph.D. no more than five years previously (For the 2008 meeting in Paramaribo, Suriname, those who completed their Ph.D. in 2003 or thereafter are eligible).

The Bacardi award, provided to the ATBC by an endowment from the Lubee Bat Conservancy, is designed to foster high-quality conservation science in the tropics. In addition to the honorarium, the winner of the award will have his/her abstract and photo published in Biotropica.

If you wish to be considered for this award, please send a copy of your submitted abstract to Susan Laurance (Laurances@si.edu), Coordinator of Awards, and to Dr Pierre-Michel Forget (atbc2008@yahoo.com), President-elect of the ATBC, with 'ATBC Award' in subject.

In your email message indicate the year you received your Ph.D. and the name of the granting university and department.

Deadline: May 9, 2008 CLOSED

Be careful when using colors in your oral and poster presentations: see Banquet Address

Jaguar (Panthera onca) (by night)