BGBM research survey

BGBM Research Interests & Projects - a provisional inventory

This inventory is based on the data provided by the permanent staff members on their personal pages. Research by associated staff is incompletely covered.

Biodiversity informatics / Floristic projects / Taxonomic arrangement / Geographic arrangement / General subjects

A. Floristic research projects

  • Med-Checklist. A critical inventory of vascular plants of the circum-mediterranean countries (BGBM & Conservatoire botanique de la Ville de Genève, Geneva
  • Flora de la República de Cuba (with Institut für Spezielle Botanik der Universität Jena, Jardín Botánico Nacional, Universidad de La Habana and Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática de la Academia de Ciencias de Cuba
  • Flora of the Guianas (Consortium of 5 European and 2 North American institutions, the University of Guyana, Georgetown, and the National Herbarium, University of Suriname, Paramaribo website
  • Inventario Florístico del Parque Nacional "El Imposible" (Co-operation of: Servicio de Parques Nacionales, CENREN, MAG, El Salvador; Fundación Salvanatura; Jardín Botánico La Laguna; and BGBM
  • Listado Básico de la Flora Salvadoriensis and Flora of El Salvador (long-term projects with Jardín Botánico La Laguna

 

B. Taxonomic arrangement

Algae:

  • Algaterra Information System
  • The diatomflora of Korea
  • Morphology, taxonomy and nomenclature of Gomphocymbella species
  • Typification of Otto Müller's taxa from East African material at B
  • Historical diatom-diversity in Lake Malawi and tributary waters, East Africa
  • Medium-term changes in the biodiversity of diatoms in Berlin waters: a comparison of old and new samples
  • Nomenclature of algae
  • Typification of Ehrenberg's taxa ]
  • Red List of Algae in Berlin
  • Taxonomy of algae especially phytoflagellates

 

Fungi, incl. lichenized fungi:

  • Higher fungi, especially Basidiomycetes (taxonomy, nomenclature, photography) and the genus Panaeolus world-wide
  • Taxonomy of Graphidales of the Guianas and New Guinea
  • Taxonomy of Cladonia in the Guianas, in co-operation with Prof. T. Ahti, Helsinki
  • Key to the lichen genera of the Neotropics
  • Guide to, and placement of keys on Internet
  • Maintaining of pre-1949 lichen literature database in the Internet: Mattick's Literature Index
  • Revision of the lichen genus Hypotrachyna in the Neotropics, in co-operation with J. Elix (Canberra, Australia) and T. Nash (Tempe, USA), supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft.
  • The lichen flora of selected Aegean islands (Greece) and their phytogeographical and historical significance, supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft
  • The lichen flora of Costa Rica. Participation in the Ticolichen programm managed by Robert Lücking, and the Inventario National de Biodiversidad of INBio

 

Bryophyta:

  • Tropical mosses, Taxonomy of Calymperaceae, especially Mitthyridium.

 

Pteridophyta:

  • Taxonomy of the fern genus Adiantum

 

Flowering plant families:

Adoxaceae:

  • Contribution to Flora Hellenica (Adoxa)

Boraginaceae:

  • Contribution to Flora Hellenica (Amsinckia, Asperugo, Borago, Cerinthe, Lappula, Rochelia)
  • Revision of Greek species of Alkanna (Boraginaceae) (PhD thesis, A. Vasiliou)

Cactaceae:

  • Monographic studies, revisions, taxonomic history (Pereskia, Maihuenia, Denmoza, Opuntia ser. Armatae, south American Harrisia and other mainly South American genera)
  • Contribution to Flora of the Guianas
  • Contribution to Flora of Argentina
  • Contribution to Flora of Chile

Capparaceae:

  • Phylogeny of Old-World Capparoideae (PhD thesis, K. Rabe; co-supervisor Dr N. Kilian)

Caryophyllaceae:

  • Taxonomy and biogeography of Silene
  • Caryophyllaceae treatment for the Flora de la República de Cuba

Cistaceae:

  • Taxonomy, biogeography and ecology of vascular plants in the Mediterranean, in particular Cisteae.
  • Contribution to Flora Hellenica (Cistus, Fumana, Halimium, Helianthemum, Tuberaria)

Combretaceae:

  • Revision and phylogenetic analysis of the genus Anogeissus (Combretaceae,
    Myrtales, Rosidae) by means of morphological-anatomical and under consideration of
    molecular data (diploma thesis Gesche Hohlstein; cosupervisors N. Kilian)

Compositae:

  • Treatment for Med-Checklist
  • Contribution to Flora Iberica (Leucantheminae)
  • Contributions to the checklist of vascular plants of northern Morocco
  • Studies in the Compositae of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra
  • Systematics of the Lactucinae (Prenanthes in Africa and SW Asia)
  • The Lactuceae of China (Coordinating co-authorships Lactuceae for 'Flora of China')
  • Molecular systematics of the Lactuceae substribes Sonchinae and Lactucinae
  • Molecular systematics of the genus Launaea (Lactuceae, Sonchinae)
  • Taxonomy and biogeography of vascular plants in the Mediterranean, particularly Anthemideae
  • Taxonomy of Lactuceae, Hypochoeridinae; Inuleae, Phagnalon
  • Revision of Carduus, Alfredia and Olgaea (in co-operation with Dr M. Aghababian, Erevan)
  • Taxonomy, floristics, morphology and anatomy of Achillea
  • Contribution to W. Rothmaler's "Exkursionsflora von Deutschland, Kritischer Band" (Achillea)
  • Database "Natural Substances in the Compositae: The Bohlmann Files" (Dr. J. Jakupovic, TU Berlin & C. Zdero)
  • Contributor to Kubitzki, K. (ed.), The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants (Compositae-Anthemideae)
  • Compositae of Europe, a synonymic checklist. Part of the EU research project Euro+Med Plant Base (Electronic
    online database, University of Reading)
  • Taxonomic monograph of Saussurea subg. Amphilaena (Compositae) (PhD thesis, E. von Raab-Straube)
  • Taxonomy and biogeography of Cynareae (Compositae)
  • Lactuceae - a review
  • Reconstruction of the molecular phylogeny of the Lactuceae/Asteraceae with special emphasis on the tribal delimitation, the subtribe Hieraciinae and the genera Crepis and Scorzonera
  • Phylogeny of the Lactuceae inferred from molecular markers with special emphasis on
    sub tribal delimitation  

Dipsacaceae:

  • Pterocephalus

Gramineae:

  • Taxonomy and geography of grasses of Europe, the Mediterranean Region and Tropical Africa

Labiatae:

  • Contribution to Flora Hellenica (Galeopsis, Glechoma, Leonurus, Phlomis, Prunella)

Menispermaceae:

  • Menispermaceae of the Guianas

Menyanthaceae:

  • Contribution to Flora Hellenica (Menyanthes, Nymphoides)

Olacaceae:

  • Contribution to Flora of the Greater Antilles

Opiliaceae:

  • Neotropical Opiliaceae

Portulacaceae:

  • Phylogeny of Portulaca sect. Neossia (Portulacaceae) (diploma thesis Simone Kipka; cosupervisor N. Kilian

Potamogetonaceae:

  • Revision of Potamogeton in Australia (PhD thesis, S. Papassotiriou; co-supervisor Dr S. Jacobs, Sydney)

Rutaceae:

  • Contribution to Flora de la Republica de Cuba
  • Taxonomy, floristics, morphology and anatomy of Rutaceae, especially Zanthoxylum
  • Contribution to Flora of the Greater Antilles

Scrophulariaceae:

  • Taxonomy, biogeography and ecology of vascular plants in the Mediterranean, in particular Verbasceae, Rhinantheae
  • Contribution to Flora Hellenica (Lindernia, Bacopa, Limosella, Mimulus, Digitalis, Sibthorpia, Melampyrum, Tozzia, Parentucellia, Bellardia, Pedicularis, Rhynchocorys, Lesquereuxia, Lathraea)

Solanaceae:

  • Contribution to Flora Hellenica (Atropa, Hyoscyamus, Physalis)

Turneraceae:

  • Turneraceae. Treatments for the Flora de la República de Cuba

Zygophyllaceae:

  • Contribution to Flora of the Guianas

 

C. Geographical arrangement

Africa (excl. Mediterranean)

  • Taxonomy and geography of grasses of Tropical Africa
  • Historical diatom-diversity in Lake Malawi and tributary waters, East Africa
  • Typification of Otto Müller's diatom taxa from East African material at B

America

general:

  • Opiliaceae
  • Cactaceae, monographic studies, taxonomic history (Pereskia, Maihuenia, Denmoza, and other mainly South American genera)
  • Neotropical flora and vegetation, succulents in general

Argentina:

  • Flora of Argentina, contribution, Cactaceae.

Chile:

  • Flora of Chile, contribution, Cactaceae.

Colombia:

  • Lichen checklist

Costa Rica:

  • The lichen flora of Costa Rica. Participation in the Ticolichen project, leader Robert Lücking, and the Inventario National de Biodiversidad of INBio

Cuba:

  • Flora de la Republica de Cuba, contributions, Olacaceae , Rutaceae
  • Caryophyllaceae and Turneraceae. Treatments for the Flora de la República de Cuba

El Salvador:

  • Lichens of El Salvador, in collaboration with W. Berendsohn
  • Inventario de los árboles de El Salvador

Greater Antilles:

  • Flora of the Greater Antilles, contributions, Olacaceae , Rutaceae

Guianas:

 

Asia

  • The Lactuceae of China (Coordinating co-authorships Lactuceae for 'Flora of China')
  • Phytodiversity and vegetation of representative palaeo-African refugia in the southern coastal mountains of the Yemeni mainland and on Socotra (A partial project of the BIOTA-Ost project group "Biodiversity and ecology of palaeo-African refugia in S Arabia and on Socotra" sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research)
  • Vascular plant flora and phytogeography of the southern governorates of Yemen, (Al-Mahra, Hadhramout, Shabwa, Abyan, Lahj, Aden)
  • Lichens of New Guinea (in co-operation with Dr A. Aptroot (Baarn, The Netherlands), Dr E. Sérusiaux (Liège, Belgium) and others)
  • Lichen flora of Iran in cooperation with Iranian scientists
  • The diatom flora of Korea

Australia

  • Revision of Potamogeton in Australia (PhD thesis, S. Papassotiriou; co-supervisor Dr S. Jacobs, Sydney)

 

Europe (excl. Mediterranean)

  • W. Rothmaler's "Exkursionsflora von Deutschland, Kritischer Band", contribution, Achillea
  • Taxonomy and geography of grasses of Europe
  • Medium-term changes in the biodiversity of diatoms in Berlin waters: a comparison of old and new samples
  • Red List of Algae in Berlin (in cooperation with Regine Jahn and Ursula Geissler)

 

Mediterranean

General:

  • Med-Checklist: a critical inventory of vascular plants of the circum-mediterranean countries (edited by Prof. W. Greuter, et al.) (with the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève; sponsored by OPTIMA. Current: evaluation and incorporation of supplementary literature for vol. 2 in prep. ; co-editing the series Med-Checklist notulae ; WWW publication of the database in preparation
  • Taxonomy, biogeography and ecology of vascular plants in the Mediterranean, in particular Cisteae (Cistaceae), Verbasceae, Rhinantheae (Scrophulariaceae)
  • Taxonomy and biogeography of vascular plants in the Mediterranean, particularly Anthemideae (Compositae)
  • Taxonomy and geography of grasses of the Mediterranean Region

Greece:

  • Taxonomy and biogeography of vascular plants of Mediterranean areas, especially Greece
  • Flora Hellenica (ed. D. Phitos & al., based at botanical institutions in Patras/Greece, Copenhagen/Denmark, Lund/Sweden and Berlin-Dahlem). Vol. 1 published. Accounts in preparation: Adoxaceae, Boraginaceae p.pte., Cistaceae, Labiatae p.pte., Menyanthaceae, Scrophulariaceae p.pte., Solanaceae p.pte. (for genera see Systematic Arrangement)
  • Plant biodiversity of Greece and the Aegean. Current: regional floras/annotated checklists of Santorini island group, Eastern Thessaly, and Western Thrace; miscellaneous additions to the flora of Greece
  • The lichen flora of selected Aegean islands and their phytogeographical and historical significance (inventories of Evvia, Ikaria, Kalimnos, Kos, Nisiros, Telendos, Paros & Antiparos, and Santorini island group, supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft

N African countries:

  • Plant biodiversity of Morocco. Current: Contributions to the checklist of vascular plants of northern Morocco (Compositae); Checklist of the Beni-Snassen area
  • Cytological investigations in phanerogams, particularly NW Africa

Iberian peninsula:

  • Flora Iberica, contribution, Compositae-Leucantheminae

Slovenia:

  • Lactuceae (excl. Hieracium and Taraxacum) for 'Flora von Istrien'

 

 

D. General subjects, arranged according to keywords

  • Assembling, processing and networking of botanical information
  • Inventorying and monitoring of plant biodiversity
  • Franz Bauer - biography
  • Diatoms as bioindicators
  • Changes in the biodiversity of freshwater diatoms
  • Management of live and preserved botanical collections
  • DNA based plant identification (DNA barcoding)
  • Embryology of the Centrospermae and Tubiflorae
  • History of herbarium collections
  • History of diatom research
  • History of plant taxonomy
  • Botanical illustration
  • Information modelling in biology, biological and environmental informatics in general
  • Journal botanique of A. Bonpland & A. v. Humboldt
  • Medicinal plants of temperate regions
  • Scanning electron microscopy
  • Molecular Systematics (Taxonomy, Phylogeny, Molecular Clock Reconstructions)
  • Database Natural Substances in the Compositae: The Bohlmann Files (Dr. J. Jakupovic, TU Berlin & C. Zdero)
  • Nomenclature, see separate page
  • Phylogeographical and population genetic studies
  • Pollination ecology, seed dispersal, and seedling establishment
  • Succession and floristic composition of (secondary) vegetation
  • Women in paleobotany (in cooperation with Dr. Barbara Mohr, Museum für Naturkunde Humboldt Universität zu Berlin)
  • Studies on the woody flora of El Salvador