FLORA of the GUIANAS
biennial meeting,
BERLIN,
24 – 25 AUGUST 2006
 

[BGBM][FU-Logo]
[Guianas]

invitation - information - preliminary program - participants

 

INVITATION

As agreed upon during the General Meeting of the Flora of the Guianas Project in Cayenne in February 2003, the next meeting will be hosted by the Botanic Garden & Botanical Museum of the Freie Universität in Berlin, Germany. It will take place on August 24-26, 2006.

As usual the General Meeting will be preceded by a Board Meeting and followed by a one-day Scientific Workshop, which will take place on Friday, August 25. The general theme of the workshop will be "how floras can help with conservation", but any other topic of interest for plants and plant conservation in the Guianas may be submitted.

In the absence of tropical vegetation in the surroundings of Berlin, no field trip will be organised. Instead, a tour of the garden and greenhouses of the Berlin Botanic Garden will be offered on Thursday afternoon, and a semibotanical trip by public transport to a sightseeing area will be arranged on Saturday.

On behalf of the Board, I would like to invite you to participate in this meeting and workshop.

Would you be kind enough to fill the registration form (RTF-file, 26 KB) and return it by June 30, 2006 to the following address (preferably by email):

Harrie SIPMAN
Freie Universität Berlin
Botanic Garden & Botanical Museum
Königin-Luise-Str. 6-8
D-14195 Berlin, Germany

Phone: + 49 30 838 50 149
Fax: + 49 30 84 17 29 49
E-mail: h.sipman@bgbm.org

 

FLORA of the GUIANAS
biennial meeting,
BERLIN,
24 – 25 AUGUST 2006
 

[BGBM][FU-Logo]
[Guianas]

invitation - information - preliminary program - participants

LOCATION

The meeting will take place at the Botanical Museum, Königin-Luise-Strasse 6-8, D-14195 Berlin, Germany. This building houses the 3.5 million specimen herbarium B and a large botanical library, which will be accessible for participants during the meeting. It is surrounded by the Botanic Garden, which includes a large greenhouse complex. See its Website. It is part of the Freie Universität Berlin.
For the ways to reach the Museum, see the BGBM website.

 

DRAFT SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY23Arrival
THURSDAY24 Morning: Board Meeting (only for Board members)
Afternoon: General Meeting, garden tour
FRIDAY25 Workshop, lectures 20 to 30 minutes; already registered speakers include P. Haripersaud, M. Jansen-Jacobs, S. A. Mori, H. Sipman, H. ter Steege, G. Zijlstra, E. Lucas, J.-J. De Granville
SATURDAY26Semibotanical sightseeing trip
SUNDAY27Departure

 

ACCOMODATION

The participants are requested to book their own accommodation. A special arrangement has been made with hotel Ravenna, Grunewaldstr. 8-9, 12165 Berlin, http://www.ravenna-hotel.de/, which is moderately priced and conveniently located at 10 minutes walking distance from the meeting place. When booking mention the password "Flora", that entitles to a reduced rate of € 70/night for a single room, when booked before July 23, 2006.

Many hotels, hostels and guestrooms in a wide range of price classes can be found on the website http://www.berlin-tourist-information.de/. The suburbs closest to the Botanic Garden are Steglitz, Charlottenburg, Zehlendorf and Schöneberg. The city of Berlin has an excellent public transport system and it will be possible to reach the meeting place within an hour from almost any corner of the town. The cheapest fares, around € 30 ($35), can be found in youth hostels and some cheap hotels like hotel Ambiente am Stössensee, Glockenturmstrasse 30, tel. 3009200, which, however, may require over half an hour travel by public transport to reach the Meeting. For cheap accomodation in the neighbourhood of the Garden see http://www.zimmer-in-steglitz.de. Further information can be found on the BGBM website.

(14 Aug.) The weather in Berlin: Currently we are in a period of cool,  rainy weather. Forecast for next week is better, but to be sure, prepare for temperatures of 15-20-25° Celcius and showers during daytime.

 

SPREAD THE NEWS

When you know other colleagues with an active interest in the Flora of the Guianas who might be interested to participate but have not received an invitation, please pass a copy on to them.

 

FLORA of the GUIANAS
biennial meeting,
BERLIN,
24 – 25 AUGUST 2006
 

 

 

[BGBM][FU-Logo]
[Guianas]

invitation - information - preliminary program - participants

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

We. 23. Aug.
19:00 Informal welcome meeting for early arrivers at the Italian restaurant Garibaldi, Königin-Luise-Str. 11, opposite of the main Garden entrance; if weather permits, on the terrace.

Do. 24. Aug.
Botanical Museum, Conference room A105
08:30-09:00 Registration
09:00-12:00 Board meeting
12:00-14:00 Lunch break
14:00-15:00 General meeting
15:00-17:00 Tour of the Botanical Garden, guided by Beat Leuenberger
18:00 Dinner downtown; trip by public transport

Fr. 25. Aug. Symposium
Botanical Museum, Main lecture hall
08:30-09:15 Registration
09:15-10:30 Lectures
10:30-11:00 Coffee break
11:00-12:30 Lectures
12:00-14:00 Lunch break
14:00-15:30 Lectures
15:30-16:00 Coffee break
16:00-17:30 Lectures and closing

The talks will be limited to 20 or 30 minutes each, including discussion.

Preliminary list of lectures:

  • 0. Werner Greuter, Director: Welcome.
  • 1. Paddy Haripersaud: Using herbarium data for biodiversity assessment (conf. 29 May).
  • 2. Marion Jansen-Jacobs: The Flora of the Guianas project (conf. 29 May).
  • 3. Scott Mori: Floras: A resource for plant conservation (conf. 7 June).
    Abstract: Guides to the flora of central French Guiana have been or nearly have been published in hard copy format. The Guide to the Vascular Plants of Central French Guiana by S. A. Mori et al., including treatments of the ferns and their allies, the single gymnosperm, and the flowering plants, and the guide to the mosses by W. R. Buck have been published. Nearly complete is a guide to the hepatics of CFG by S. Rob Gradstein. With the completion of the hepatics, all of the plants of CFG will have been inventoried. Because this area has proven to have such high plant diversity, it has been included as part of a large national park planned for most of southern French Guiana. Knowledge of the flora enables conservation planners to know what species of plants will be protected if a national park is established in CFG. In addition, information about the distributions of species found in central French Guiana makes it possible to plan the localities of other reserves in such a way that the greatest number of additional species is added to that protected in CFG. One of the goals of the future park in CFG is to promote ecotourism, and the knowledge of plants in the area, as well as that of animals, will make visits to the park more rewarding for all those interested in the natural history of tropical forests. In addition, this knowledge can be utilized to prepare simplified guides that can be used to teach tropical biology to French Guianan school children. Because Floras are out-of-date the day they are published, the conversion of these hard copy guides to electronic formats is recommended. Not only does an electronic Flora allow for immediate updating of information as new species are discovered, it permits the addition of many more images; something that is prohibitively expense in hard copy publication. Finally, electronic publication lends to the publication of multiple entry keys that are far superior to the dichotomous keys associated with hard copy publication. Because of the encroachment of gold mining and the destruction it brings to forests of CFG, it is important that the French government acts as soon as possible to protect the magnificent forests of this area.
  • 4. Harrie Sipman: Conservation aspects of the genus Cladonia in the Guianas.
  • 5. Hans ter Steege: Forest, Tree- and Functional Diversity of the Guayana Shield Region in an Amazonian Perspective (conf. 20 May).
  • 6. Gea Zijlstra: On holotypes and isotypes (conf. 31 May).
    Abstract: The Code rules that the holotype of a name is the specimen used by the author; duplicates are isotypes. It is not always easy, however, to find out which specimen is the holotype. Attention will be drawn to existing literature on this topic, e.g., about Joseph Martin plants described by Edward Rudge.
  • 7. Eve Lucas: Myrtaceae composition in Atlantic vs Amazonian forest (conf. 5 June).
    Abstract: The species composition of a monphyletic group of genera - the Myrcia group, previously subtribe Myrciinae s.l., was investigated to determine links to Amazonian forests and to the central Brazilian cerrados. The primary dataset for this study was extracted from a database of >12000 Myrtaceae specimens comprising herbarium specimen records held at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the New York Botanic Gardens, the National Herbarium of French Guyana, Cayenne, Rio de Janeiro Botanic Gardens and the National Herbarium of the Netherlands [Utrecht branch]. Multivariate analysis was used to assess floristic links. The following patterns were detected: (i) a north-south differentiation exists for Myrtaceae species, probably caused by historical isolation of these areas and subsequent independent speciation; (ii) This pattern can be detected in the central Brazilian cerrados, where species level links to both the Atlantic and Amazonian forests exist; (iii) The central Brazilian cerrados can be divided according to floristic similarity with the Atlantic or Amazonian rain forests.
  • 8. Jean-Jacques De Granville: Floristic studies in the frame of impact assessments (conf. 8 Aug.).
    Abstract: During the last ten years, requests for environmental impact assessments, including floristic studies carried out by IRD, have increased. They have made possible botanical research and inventories in areas formerly poorly explored botanically. These environmental studies were needed because of three kinds of developmental projects: 1) the Petit-Saut dam, 2) the opening of new roads, and 3) the development of new quarries and mines. Descriptions of the most important botanical surveys resulting from these environmental assessments, including their localization on a map, the main habitats surveyed, and the number of plants recorded, are provided. With more than 8000 plants recorded since 1991; nearly 20 important reports on vegetation types, including a student thesis, completed; and several new species discovered these environmental impact studies have made significant contributions to the herbaria involved in the Flora of the Guianas consortium by enriching their collections and to botanical knowledge and conservation in the Guianas by providing reports and publications and by pointing out which areas should be earmarked for conservation.
  • 9. Tinde van Andel: Medicinal plants of Surinam (conf. 14 May).
    Abstract: Who is using medicinal plants in Paramaribo and which species are most popular? How are these herbs commercialised and where are they gathered? And why are so many species employed in Afro-Surinamese winti religion? This lecture will offer you the first results of a 7-months ethnobotanical field survey on medicinal plant use among various ethnic groups in Suriname.
  • 10. Discussion: Informatics support for the taxonomic work process (Introduction: Walter Berendsohn) (conf. 7 June).
  • 11. Pedro Acevedo: Floristic knowledge an essential tool for conservation, the Caribbean example (conf. 10 July).
  • 12. Nicola Biggs and Terence D. Pennington: Conversion of existing floristic accounts to Flora of the Guianas format –practicalities and challenges (conf. 20 July).
    Abstract: The rationale behind Kew taking on the Meliaceae and Sapotaceae accounts for the Flora of the Guianas was based on the existence of a Flora Neotropica monograph for Meliaceae and a Sapotaceae monograph, and the presence of the original author in Kew. It was felt that an adaptation of these two publications would be relatively straightforward as the most time consuming aspect (the species descriptions) were already in place. The task of converting one flora to another involved a review of species occurrence within the region, adaptation of species descriptions and keys to follow the Flora Guianas format, and modification of measurements and characteristics and degrees of variation to reflect the more limited geographical region. Benefits of this approach include having the bulk of the text already available, the original author on hand to answer queries or provide practical help, and existing lectotypifications for all of the species. Challenges have included combining information from different sources, databasing specimens and editing existing descriptions to fit the format for the Flora of the Guianas, and meeting the significant, albeit reduced cost of the operation in terms of staff time, new illustrations etc.
    •

    Lecturers are kindly requested to bring a ca. 2-page summary of their lecture for inclusion in the Meeting Report to be published in the Flora of the Guianas Newsletter.

    Posters:

  • Caroline Rahan-Chin: Conservation of the Flora of Suriname
  • Holger Teichert: Pollination of Unonopsis stipitata (Annonaceae) by scent-collecting male euglossine bees in Nouragues (French Guiana)
    • Abstract: The present study is one of the first descriptions of pollination by scent-collecting male euglossine bees in the family Annonaceae. Observations in the natural reserve Nouragues (French Guiana) showed that the main flower visitors of Unonopsis stipitata are male euglossine bees (Euglossa cf. imperialis and Eulaema bombiformis) attracted by floral odor. It is well known, that especially orchids and some genus of the Araceae, Solanaceae, Gesneriaceae, Bignoniaceae and Euphorbiaceae, attract male euglossine bees by floral perfumes. Observations showed that the bees collected fragrances while brushing on the inner whorl of petals, then hovered, and transferred the compounds to the tibial capsule on the hind legs. Neutral red stained flowers were used for localization of the putative scent-producing areas. The results of the NR staining concur with the behavior of the bees. Further investigations using scanning electron- and light microscopy, showed that osmophores are frequently embedded in the epidermis of the inner petal surface. In contrast to other genera of Annonaceae, the flowers of U. stipitata form no pollination chamber during anthesis. The anthesis is divided in a pistillate stage on the first day and a staminate stage on the second day, with an overlapping of both stages during the second day. The presence of the two bee species during floral anthesis differed significantly. In mean, the smaller E. cf. imperialis arrived at individual flowers at 10:43 AM and the larger E. bombiformis at 11:53 AM, respectively. The mean time of fragrance collection per flower by E. cf. imperialis and E. bombiformis also differed significantly. Eulaema bombiformis remained up to 140 min at one flower, whereas E. imperialis remained at the maximum for 38 min. Flower morphology of Unonopsis and pollinator behavior are correlated. The bees are hanging with the tarsi of the hind legs on the petals and their foretarsal brushes take up perfume from the inner petal surface. During this behavior the bees have intensive contact with the flowers´ reproductive organs and get pollen deposited on their head and mouthparts. The observations clearly indicate that U. stipitata is being pollinated by male euglossine bees, which adds a further pollination syndrome for the New World Annonaceae, which otherwise are largely pollinated by beetles.

    Sa. 26. Aug.
    AM: Excursion to Park Sanssouci and botanical garden in Potsdam by public transport (semibotanical excursion), ca. 9:00-15:00
    PM: free / departure

     

    FLORA of the GUIANAS
    biennial meeting,
    BERLIN,
    24 – 25 AUGUST 2006
     

    [BGBM][FU-Logo]
    		[Guianas]

    invitation - information - preliminary program - participants

    PRELIMINARY LIST OF PARTICIPANTS, status 22 Aug.

    Acevedo, PedroSmithsonian InstitutionUSAacevedop@si.edu
    Andel, Tinde vanNational Herbarium of The Netherlands, Utrecht branchThe NetherlandsT.R.vanAndel@bio.uu.nl
    Berendsohn, WalterBotanic Garden & Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Freie Universität BerlinGermanyW.Berendsohn@bgbm.org
    Biggs, Nicola (Nicky)Kew Botanical GardenUnited Kingdomn.biggs@kew.org
    Dressler, StefanForschungsinstitut Senckenberg, FrankfurtGermany Stefan.Dressler@senckenberg.de
    Esser, Hans-JoachimBotanische Staatssammlung MünchenGermanyesser@bsm.mwn.de
    Garcia, Rafael E.Edelca, Sta. Elena de UairénVenezuelarfgartzia@yahoo.de
    Gonzalez, SophieInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) Guiane Francaisesophie.gonzalez@cayenne.ird.fr
    Gouda, EricUtrecht University Botanic GardensThe Netherlandse.j.gouda@bio.uu.nl
    Greuter, WernerBotanic Garden & Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Freie Universität BerlinGermanyw.greuter@bgbm.org
    Haripersaud, PaddyNational Herbarium of The Netherlands, Utrecht branchThe NetherlandsP.P.Haripersaud@bio.uu.nl
    Hiepko, PaulBotanic Garden & Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Freie Universität BerlinGermanyp.hiepko@bgbm.org
    Jansen-Jacobs, MarionNational Herbarium of The Netherlands, Utrecht branchThe NetherlandsM.J.Jansen-Jacobs@bio.uu.nl
    Leuenberger, BeatBotanic Garden & Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Freie Universität BerlinGermanyb.leuenberger@bgbm.org
    Lucas, EveKew Botanical GardenUnited Kingdome.lucas@kew.org
    Lukkien, Vijko & PipasiFaculty of Biology, Utrecht UniversityThe Netherlandsv.p.a.lukkien@bio.uu.nl
    Mori, ScottNew York Botanical GardenUSAsmori@nybg.org
    Poncy, OdileMuseum National d'Histoire Naturelle, ParisFranceponcy@mnhn.fr
    Rahan-Chin, Caroline M.National Herbarium of Suriname, AdeK University of SurinameSurinamebbs@uvs.edu or rahan@sr.net
    Scharf, UweBotanical Institute, Leipzig UniversityGermanyuscharf@uni-leipzig.de
    Silva, Phillip daFaculty of Natural Sciences, University of GeorgetownGuyananessie159@yahoo.com
    Sipman, HarrieBotanic Garden & Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Freie Universität BerlinGermanyh.sipman@bgbm.org
    Steege, Hans terNational Herbarium of The Netherlands, Utrecht branchThe Netherlandsh.tersteege@bio.uu.nl
    Teichert, HolgerUniversity of UlmGermanyholger.teichert@uni-ulm.de
    Weigend, MaximilianFreie Universität BerlinGermanyweigend@zedat.fu-berlin.de
    Zijlstra, GeaNational Herbarium of The Netherlands, Utrecht branchThe NetherlandsG.Zijlstra@bio.uu.nl
    BGBM homepage BGBM research homepage

    page editor: Harrie Sipman, this page last updated 22 August 2006, imprint