Publications

@article{González-Salvatierra2021,

title = {Seasonal changes in photosynthesis for the epiphytic bromeliad Tillandsia brachycaulos in a tropical deciduous forest.},

author = {C. González-Salvatierra and L. M. Peña-Rodríguez and C. Reyes-García and E. de la Barrera and J. L. Andrade },

url = {https://botanicalsciences.com.mx/index.php/botanicalSciences/article/view/2842},

doi = {10.17129/botsci.2842},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-10-01},

journal = {Botanical Sciences},

volume = {99},

pages = {850-862},

abstract = {Background: Sunlight stress and drought affect plants by inducing various biochemical and physiological responses, which reduce growth. Seasonal changes in light and water availability that occur in forest canopies, where epiphytes occur, are extreme.

Questions: What are the seasonal changes in photosynthesis for an abundant epiphytic bromeliad in contrasting microenvironments? Is Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) an important feature of photoprotection for this epiphyte?

Studied species: Tillandsia brachycaulos Schltdl. (Bromeliaceae)

Study site and dates: Canopy of the tropical dry deciduous forest of Dzibilchaltún National Park, Yucatan, Mexico during the rainy season 2008 and dry season 2009.

Methods: Diurnal measurements of photosystem II efficiency, titratable acidity, leaf water potential, and photosynthetic pigment concentration were measured during the dry and rainy seasons in adult plants of T. brachycaulos in shaded and exposed microenvironments. The prevailing environmental conditions (photon flux density, precipitation, air temperature and relative humidity) were also seasonally characterized.

Results: The highest irradiance occurred during the dry season, caused photo-inactivation, a decrease of the quantum efficiency of photosystem II, and a reduction in CAM activity of about 40% in leaves of exposed plants of T. brachycaulos. During the rainy season, the leaf water potential of exposed and shaded plants of T. brachycaulos was lower at midday than at predawn, indicating water loss during the day. 

Conclusions: Individuals of T. brachycaulos reduced CAM activity during the dry season; and, during the rainy season, increased carbon gain by stomata opening during phase II and IV of CAM.

},

keywords = {CAM, chlorophyll, chlorophyll fluorescence, Crassulacean acid metabolism, ecophysiology, epiphytes, microenvironment, pigments, shade, tropical dry forest, water, water relations},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Cooke2021,

title = {One hundred questions in conservation physiology for generating actionable evidence to inform conservation policy and practice},

author = {S. J. Cooke and J. N. Bergman and C. L. Madliger and R. L. Cramp and J. Beardall and G. P. Burness and T. D. Clark and B. Dantzer and E. de la Barrera and N. A. Fangue and C. F. Franklin and A. Fuller and L. A. Hawkes and K. R. Hultine and K. E. Hunt and O. P. Love and H. A. MacMillan and J. W. Mandelman and F. C. Mark and L. B. Martin and A. E. M. Newmann and A. B. Nicotra and G. D. Raby and S. A. Robinson and Y. Ropert-Courdet and J. L. Rummer and F. Seebacher and A.E. Todgham and S. Tomlinson and S. L. Chown },

url = {https://academic.oup.com/conphys/article/9/1/coab009/6214572},

doi = {10.1093/conphys/coab009},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-04-07},

journal = {Conservation Physiology},

volume = {9},

pages = {coab009},

abstract = {Environmental change and biodiversity loss are but two of the complex challenges facing conservation practitioners and policy makers. Relevant and robust scientific knowledge is critical for providing decision-makers with the actionable evidence needed to inform conservation decisions. In the Anthropocene, science that leads to meaningful improvements in biodiversity conservation, restoration and management is desperately needed. Conservation Physiology has emerged as a discipline that is well-positioned to identify the mechanisms underpinning population declines, predict responses to environmental change and test different in situ and ex situ conservation interventions for diverse taxa and ecosystems. Here we present a consensus list of 10 priority research themes. Within each theme we identify specific research questions (100 in total), answers to which will address conservation problems and should improve the management of biological resources. The themes frame a set of research questions related to the following: (i) adaptation and phenotypic plasticity; (ii) human–induced environmental change; (iii) human–wildlife interactions; (iv) invasive species; (v) methods, biomarkers and monitoring; (vi) policy, engagement and communication; (vii) pollution; (viii) restoration actions; (ix) threatened species; and (x) urban systems. The themes and questions will hopefully guide and inspire researchers while also helping to demonstrate to practitioners and policy makers the many ways in which physiology can help to support their decisions.},

keywords = {anthropocene, biodiversity, biodiversity threats, conservation decisions, conservation physiology, ecophysiology},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Cooke2020,

title = {Reframing conservation physiology to be more inclusive, integrative, relevant and forward-looking: reflections and a horizon scan},

author = {S. J. Cooke and C. L. Madliger and R. L. Cramp and J. Beardall and G. P. Burness and S. L. Chown and T. D. Clark and B. Dantzer and E. de la Barrera and N. A. Fangue and C. F. Franklin and A. Fuller and L. A. Hawkes and K. R. Hultine and K. E. Hunt and O. P. Love and H. A. MacMillan and J. W. Mandelman and F. C. Mark and L. B. Martin and A. E. M. Newmann and A. B. Nicotra and S. A. Robinson and Y. Ropert-Courdet and J. L. Rummer and F. Seebacher and A.E. Todgham},

url = {https://academic.oup.com/conphys/article/8/1/coaa016/5815645},

doi = {10.1093/conphys/coaa016},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-04-04},

journal = {Conservation Physiology},

volume = {8},

number = {1},

pages = {coaa016},

abstract = {Applying physiological tools, knowledge and concepts to understand conservation problems (i.e. conservation physiology) has become commonplace and confers an ability to understand mechanistic processes, develop predictive models and identify cause-and-effect relationships. Conservation physiology is making contributions to conservation solutions; the number of ‘success stories’ is growing, but there remain unexplored opportunities for which conservation physiology shows immense promise and has the potential to contribute to major advances in protecting and restoring biodiversity. Here, we consider how conservation physiology has evolved with a focus on reframing the discipline to be more inclusive and integrative. Using a ‘horizon scan’, we further explore ways in which conservation physiology can be more relevant to pressing conservation issues of today (e.g. addressing the Sustainable Development Goals; delivering science to support the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration), as well as more forward-looking to inform emerging issues and policies for tomorrow. Our horizon scan provides evidence that, as the discipline of conservation physiology continues to mature, it provides a wealth of opportunities to promote integration, inclusivity and forward-thinking goals that contribute to achieving conservation gains. To advance environmental management and ecosystem restoration, we need to ensure that the underlying science (such as that generated by conservation physiology) is relevant with accompanying messaging that is straightforward and accessible to end users.},

keywords = {conservation physiology, ecophysiology, evidence, horizon scan, sustainability, sustainable development goals},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Briones2020,

title = {A few islands of preliminary research among a sea of unknown: moving plant ecophysiology forward in megadiverse countries},

author = {O. Briones and C. Reyes-García and E. A. Díaz-Álvarez and C. Tinoco-Ojanguren and E. de la Barrera and J. L. Andrade},

url = {http://botanicalsciences.com.mx/index.php/botanicalSciences/article/view/2546},

doi = {10.17129/botsci.2546},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-03-11},

journal = {Botanical Sciences},

volume = {98},

number = {98},

pages = {212-216},

abstract = {A principal intention of ecological sciences is to explain biodiversity: why are some species and not others found in certain places. As an experimental science, plant ecophysiology focuses on the interactions among plants, the environment, and other biological species. In this context, the VII Mexican Ecology Congress focused on "addressing the complexity of nature." Some examples of how ecophysiology can address said complexity were discussed during the symposium.},

keywords = {atmospheric pollution, climate change, drought, ecophysiology, environmental productivity index, epiphytes, food security},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Díaz-Álvarez2019c,

title = {Drying protocol does not alter plant δ13C and δ15N: a baseline survey for ecological studies},

author = {E. A. Díaz-Álvarez and E. de la Barrera},

doi = {10.1080/10256016.2019.1673747},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-10-09},

journal = {Isotopes in Environmental & Health Studies},

volume = {55},

pages = {526-531},

abstract = {The use of stable isotopes in plant ecological studies has become widespread over the past few decades, given the potential of this tool for integrating physiological processes within an individual and allowing to track ecosystem-wide processes at various scales, with applications ranging from determining past meteorological conditions and potential adaptations of ecosystems to climate change, to biomonitoring studies of atmospheric pollution. However, the drying protocol might alter the isotopic signatures of plant samples given that high temperatures can volatilize various organic compounds or delay the halting of physiological processes at lower drying temperatures. We thus evaluated the effect of four drying protocols on the carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures for 23 species of plants. In particular, leaves were either freeze dried, placed in a herbarium drying stove (ca. 50 ºC), in a gravity convection oven (80 ºC), or microwaved (900 Watts) in 2-minute pulses, until constant weight. For each species, neither treatment led to significantly different δ13C values, which ranged from ‒31.7‰ to ‒12.4‰. The δ15N values of 21 of the species considered were not affected by the drying protocols, ranging from ‒11.6‰ to ‒8.8‰. For Tillandsia makoyana, significant differences were observed between the freeze dried and the microwaved samples and between the freeze dried samples and those dried at 50 ºC for Macroptilium gibbosifolium. },

keywords = {atmospheric pollution, biomonitoring, ecophysiology, microwave, stable isotopes},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Díaz-Álvarez2019,

title = {Elemental and isotopic assessment for Colombian orchids from a montane cloud forest: a baseline for global environmental change},

author = {E. A. Díaz-Álvarez and J. D. Felix and E. de la Barrera},

url = {https://rdcu.be/bCRG6},

doi = {10.1007/s11738-019-2893-y},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-05-16},

journal = {Acta Physiologiae Plantarum},

volume = {41},

number = {6},

pages = {99},

abstract = {Orchidaceae is the largest family of plants, reaching its maximum diversity in Colombia where 4000 species have been registered. One particular ecosystem with high diversity of orchids is the tropical montane cloud forest characterized by high humidity and low air temperatures. However, due to anthropic pressure such as land use change its area has been reduced. This is not the only anthropic disturbance that can affect the continuity of this forest and orchids, climate change and nitrogen deposition also become threats. By means of elemental composition and isotopic measurements of carbon and nitrogen, we determined the photosynthetic pathway for orchids from a tropical cloud forest in Colombia, for which, we also evaluated the nutritional status of nitrogen and its relationship with atmospheric deposition. We found 46 species from 18 genera; of these, 19 species were epiphytic, 9 lithophytic and 18 terrestrials. The carbon content was not significantly different among the species evaluated, averaging 46.4 ± 0.41% (dry weight). In turn, only one terrestrial orchid had a nitrogen content above 2.2%, averaged 1.4 ± 0.07% for the remaining 45 species. The δ13C that averaged − 28.1 ± 0.4‰ for 45 species was typical of C3 plants, while only one species, whose δ13C of 18.8‰ can be considered CAM. The δ15N values for 44 orchids were negative, in total they ranged from − 8.1 to 4.5‰. It can be concluded that the temperatures in this area are not yet high enough to produce a noticeable change in photosynthesis as evidenced by the carbon content of orchids, however, the expected rise would bring harmful consequences for these populations of orchids, especially when considering that these orchids were collected at the highest altitudinal range of the region. Moreover, the rates of nitrogen deposition are not high enough yet to leave a significant signal in the vegetation.},

keywords = {biodiversity, CAM, ecophysiology, epiphytes, global change, nitrogen, orchid, photosynthesis, stable isotopes},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Gudiño2018,

title = {Estructura de los nectarios florales y el néctar en la familia Cactaceae},

author = {W. Gudiño and E. de la Barrera and J. Márquez-Guzmán},

url = {http://web.ecologia.unam.mx/cactsucmex/csm2018_63_4.pdf},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-11-01},

journal = {Cactáceas y suculentas mexicanas},

volume = {64},

pages = {100-126},

abstract = {Los nectarios son estructuras glandulares o tejidos especializados encargados de sintetizar y secretar el néctar. El néctar, por su parte, es una solución compuesta por azúcares y proteínas que las plantas usan como recompensa para los polinizadores o para los insectos que las protegen de la herbivoría. Por más de 200 años los nectarios y el néctar han sido objeto de la atención de numerosos investigadores, debido al rol central que juegan en la interacción planta-polinizador. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los trabajos se enfocan solo en la interacción ecológica y pocos en la forma, función y ubicación. Los pocos trabajos acerca de nectarios en la familia de las Cactaceae son un claro ejemplo de que a pesar de que, las cactáceas son uno de los grupos más importantes

en las zonas áridas del país aún falta mucho por conocer de esta familia. El objetivo de este trabajo es reunir, sintetizar y analizar la información disponible a la fecha sobre los nectarios florales y el néctar en la familia Cactaceae, con el propósito de ofrecer a los interesados un documento con información actualizada. },

keywords = {ecophysiology, nectar, nectary, reproductive ecophysiology},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Orozco-Martínez2018,

title = {Can germination requirements predict tolerance to extreme weather? — An assessment for heirloom maize from the P'urhépecha Plateau},

author = {R. Orozco-Martínez and E. de la Barrera },

url = {http://www.fspublishers.org/Issue.php?categoryID=158

http://agro.mx/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/045-OrozcoMtz-delaBarrera-maize-germination.pdf},

doi = {10.17957/IJAB/15.0727},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-07-27},

journal = {International Journal of Agriculture and Biology},

volume = {20},

number = {9},

pages = {2039-2044},

abstract = {The temperature and water potential requirements for seed germination were determined for five heirloom maizes from three different agroclimatological regions from the P'urhépecha community of San Francisco Pichátaro, Michoacán, Mexico. Germination experiments were conducted in environmental controlled chambers exposing seeds to day/night air temperatures (12 h photoperiod) of 15/5, 20/10, or 35/25ºC, and to water potentials of 0, –0.01, –0.05, –0.1, or –0.5 MPa, which were created with aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 20,000). Germination was maximal and occurred at a faster rate for seeds incubated at 35/25ºC. In turn, a high water potential of 0.0 or –0.01 MPa was necessary to achieve maximum germination, which decreased under more negative water potentials until germination was completely inhibited for seeds incubated under –0.5 MPa failed. Although an environmental specialization for germination was not observed among the heirloom maize evaluated, their ability to germinate maximally under high temperatures is indicative of their cultivation potential under the increasing air temperatures expected to occur during the present century. In contrast, germination sensitivity to relatively mild water potentials may be a conservative ecophysiological trait of drought-escape for this tropical annual plant.},

keywords = {agriculture, cereal, climate change, domestication, drought, ecophysiology, food security, germination, maize},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Díaz-Álvarez2017b,

title = {PREPRINT: Mapping pollution in a megalopolis: the case for atmospheric biomonitors of nitrogen deposition},

author = {E. A. Díaz-Álvarez and E. de la Barrera },

url = {https://doi.org/10.1101/118257

},

doi = {10.1101/118257},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-03-19},

journal = {BioRxiv},

volume = {doi: 10.1101/118257},

abstract = {An increase of nitrogen deposition resulting from human activities is not only a major threat for global biodiversity, but also for human health, especially in highly populated regions. It is thus important and in some instances legally mandated to monitor reactive nitrogen species in the atmosphere. However, deployment of automated networks can be excessively costly for most cities so the utilization of widely distributed biological species suitable for biomonitoring may be a good alternative. The aim of this work was thus to assess the suitability of different atmospheric organisms as biomonitors of nitrogen deposition, by means of an extensive sampling of a lichen, two mosses, and one bromeliad throughout the Valley of Mexico, the basin where the megalopolis of Mexico City (population 20 million) is located, and subsequent measurements of nitrogen metabolism parameters. In all cases significant responses of nitrogen content, C:N ratio and 15N were found for the lichen Anaptychia sp. the mosses Grimmia sp. and Fabronia sp., and the bromeliad Tillandsia recurvata in response to season and collected site. In turn, 15N for the mosses responded linearly to the wet deposition (R2= 0.7 for Grimmia sp. and R2=0.2 for Fabronia sp.). Also, the nitrogen content (R2=0.7), the C:N ratio (R2=0.6), and 15N (R2=0.5) for the bromeliad had a linear response to NOx. However, latter species was not found in sites with NOx concentrations above 212 ppm. These biomonitors can be utilized in tandem to determine the status of nitrogenous pollution in regions without monitoring networks.},

note = {This article is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. },

keywords = {biomonitoring, ecophysiology, global change, lichen, megacities, mosses, nitrogen, Tillandsia, urban ecology},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Villa-Reyes2016,

title = {Environmental cues for germination of the invasive bunch grass Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link},

author = {F. Villa-Reyes and E. de la Barrera},

url = {http://rdcu.be/noeu



http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11738-016-2175-x},

doi = {10.1007/s11738-016-2175-x},

year  = {2016},

date = {2016-05-28},

journal = {Acta Physiologiae Plantarum},

volume = {38},

pages = {156},

abstract = {Responses of seed germination to air temperature, water potential, light, and smoke were studied in the laboratory for seeds of the invasive bunch grass Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link (syn. Cenchrus ciliare L.; buffel grass). First introduced to North America during the mid-20th Century for establishing pastures, this African bunch grass has become an invasive species of concern. Across all the experiments conducted, a low germination was observed for P. ciliare fascicles that never exceeded 30% at 21 days after sowing. Optimal day/night air temperatures for germination, controlled with an environmental chamber, were 25/15 and 30/20 ºC, while extreme temperatures of 15/5 and 45/35 ºC inhibited germination. By sowing seeds of P. ciliare under different water potentials, created with aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycol, an optimum of -0.03 MPa led to the highest germination, while no germination was observed at -1.0 MPa. Monochromatic optical filters were utilized to germinate seeds under various wavelengths, of which red (650 nm) and far red (730 nm) led to the highest germination. In addition, seeds that were incubated in the dark had higher germination than those incubated under white light. Incubation in smoke water, which can stimulate germination of phyrophytic species, resulted in a marginal inhibition of germination compared with imbibition with distilled water.},

keywords = {buffel grass, Cenchrus ciliaris, ecophysiology, germination, global change, invasive species, Pennisetum ciliare, zacate buffel},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{delaBarrera2015,

title = {Short-term drought responses by seedlings of three maizes along an environmental gradient in Michoacán, Mexico},

author = {Z. D. Guerrero-Jiménez and E. de la Barrera},

url = {http://agro.mx/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/036-Guerrero-dlB-Maydica-html.pdf

},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-12-17},

journal = {Maydica},

volume = {60},

number = {2},

pages = {M017},

keywords = {climate change, drought, ecophysiology, food security, maize},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Andrade2007,

title = {El metabolismo ácido de las crasuláceas: diversidad, fisiología ambiental, y productividad},

author = {J. L. Andrade and E. de la Barrera and C. Reyes-García and M. F. Ricalde and G. Vargas-Soto and J. C. Cervera},

url = {http://www.ibiologia.unam.mx/sociedad/www/pdf/BSBM%2082/Boletines%20publicados/Numero%2081/Sobretiro%20PWD%20BSBM81/Andrade%20et%20al%202007%20%28BSBM81%2037-50%29.pdf},

year  = {2007},

date = {2007-02-02},

journal = {Boletín de la Sociedad Botánica de México},

volume = {81},

pages = {37-50},

keywords = {agriculture, CAM, ecophysiology, environmental indicators, environmental productivity index, epiphytes, microenvironment, plasticity, stable isotopes},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{delaBarrera2005b,

title = {Challenges to plant megadiversity: how environmental physiology can help},

author = {E. de la Barrera and J. L. Andrade},

url = {http://agro.mx/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/012-De-la-Barrera-Andrade-2005-New-Phytol.pdf},

year  = {2005},

date = {2005-05-01},

journal = {New Phytologist},

volume = {167},

pages = {5-8},

keywords = {acclimation, agriculture, cactus, climate change, conservation, ecophysiology, legume, nitrogen, plant diversity, public policy, seed, stable isotopes, tropical forest},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{delaBarrera2005,

title = {On the sesquicentennial of Fick's laws of diffusion},

author = {E. de la Barrera},

url = {http://agro.mx/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/011-De-la-Barrera-2005-NSMB.pdf},

doi = {10.1038/nsmb0405-280},

year  = {2005},

date = {2005-04-01},

journal = {Nature Structural and Molecular Biology},

volume = {12},

number = {4},

pages = {280},

keywords = {biophysics, diffussion, ecophysiology, Fick},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{delaBarrera2003,

title = {Physiological ecology of seed germination for the columnar cactus Stenocereus queretaroensis},

author = {E. de la Barrera and P. S. Nobel },

url = {http://agro.mx/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/007-De-la-Barrera-Nobel-2003-J-Arid-Environ.pdf},

year  = {2003},

date = {2003-02-01},

journal = {Journal of Arid Environments},

volume = {53},

pages = {297-306},

keywords = {acclimation, action spectrum, adaptation, cactus, columnar, ecophysiology, germination, phytochrome, seed, seed longevity, Stenocereus, temperature, water},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Nobel2000,

title = {Carbon and water balances for young fruits of platyopuntias},

author = {P. S. Nobel and E. de la Barrera},

url = {http://agro.mx/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/001-Nobel-De-la-Barrera-2000-Physiol-Plant.pdf},

year  = {2000},

date = {2000-02-01},

journal = {Physiologia Plantarum},

volume = {109},

number = {2},

pages = {160-166},

keywords = {cactus, CAM, ecophysiology, fruit, opuntia, phloem},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}