If you are planning for #Botany2027 and did or did not attend #Botany2026, fill out this form if you need childcare!! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... please!! This year there was no childcare and the nursing room is more a custodian closet without a lock, AC, water/sink+light goes off very 5 mins

Hey #Botany2026, mark your schedule for an amazing talk by Kelly González, postdoc in my research group on ecological niche modeling and whether riverweeds (Podostemaceae) care for anything other than river rapids!! Tomorrow at 2:15 pm at San Luis 1

In case you were wondering, yes we practiced extreme botany and had too much fun, while keeping it safe for all folks involved in fieldwork. Here the awesome NYBG student Kate Samra. We designed a system inspired but what firefighters do for water rescue

This work was possible because of the support in the field of locals in Panama. Edilio, Chaki, Bebis, Diana. STRI folks Carlos Jaramillo, Karen and Jonatan and many more. Here at a hidden gem: a waterfall covered in riverweeds 7/8

4) Based on phylogeographic patterns and Bayesian tests of gene flow results, we propose an east-to-west direction of migration of riverweeds across drainages in Panama. MUCH MORE to come on this! 6/8

3) We tested the hypothesis that gene flow follows a unidirectional water flow. We did not find support for this hypotheses from our data. Past river dynamics, limitations of the model, drift could cause these patterns. However, IBD suggests that gene flow doesn’t occur w/out limitation 5/8

2) We tested the hypothesis derived form island geography theory that gene flow is reduced with distances in riverine islands. We found that a significant pattern of IBD that is much stronger between than within rivers. Overland is a stronger barrier to dispersal than fluvial connections 4/8

1) We investigated the extent of gene flow across rivers using the multispecies coalescent with migration model (MSCM) and admixture plots. Gene flow occurs across adjacent rivers is this due to dispersal of pollen/seeds overland or through direct historical fluvial connections? 3/8

Islands are natural laboratories to study evolution. They served as evolutionary arenas for famous study cases:Darwin’s finches, anoles. Less known insular ecosystems are river rapids, which act as riverine archipelagos. Only 1 family of angiosperms (Podostemaceae) inhabit these rocky islands 2/8👇

THRILLED to announce that my NSF "Closing the gap: The history of river connections with the formation of the isthmus of Panama and its impact on the evolution of plants in rivers" in collab w/Carlos Jaramillo at STRI and Caroline Strömberg at UW was awarded! Add for a PhD student+a postdoc to come🧵

At 106, grandpa died today. I can’t allow myself feeling sadness for a timely and dignified passing. I do feel nostalgia reflecting on his life. I want to let you all know he lived on this earth for a long time, through historic events, outliving many, quietly minding his own business. He lived free

I was so lucky to be joined by incredible female Botanists. Kate is a graduate student at NYBG. Diana is a Panamanian student and member of the Guna indigenous community. Learning from each other was so fulfilling 7/8

Things went so great, we rewarded ourselves by hiking up the tallest peak in Panama. Volcán Barú, 11,401 ft elev. It was a great bonding experience. Body hurt for 2-3 days but so totally worth it 6/8

Podostemaceae grow on rocks. This, and the questions I am interested in, led to geologist going us on the trip. I am so thankful to my wonderful collaborator Carlos Jaramillo at STRI. He provided the ideal conditions for an incredibly productive trip 5/8

The success of this trip was possible only from the connections and friendship we made with locals. Edilio helped me so much with logistics. I have deep admiration and respect for his knowledge of nature, curiosity, and love for adventure. So proud to call him my friend 4/8

We tested a new system I put in place for getting safely into the toughest rapids. I tried it first then everyone had so much FUN!!! #extremebotany but without a mess 3/8

We were set to collect river plants and visited rivers, streams, waterfalls, and rapids without previous records for Podostemaceae. We found them in almost all! as well as other cool plants too. Seriously, get your feet wet 2/8

Hello BlueSky! Giving this a try. I recently embarked in an INCREDIBLE expedition and my 1st with students at #NYBG. We explored rivers of Panama. Here I share my memories of wonderful plants, habitats, and people #womeninSTEM 1/8. More details in this blog anamariabedoya.weebly.com/field_experi...