Sascha A. Ismail

Swiss Academy of Sciences

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Chris J. Kettle

Alliance Bioversity International - CIAT

Jaboury Ghazoul

ETH Zurich

Thomas Borsch

Freie Universität Berlin

Virginia K. Duwe

Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin

G. Ravikanth

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

R. Uma Shaanker

University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore

C.G. Kushalappa

University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences

Ludo A. H. Muller

Freie Universität Berlin

Irmi Seidl

Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research

Lena Gubler

University of Bern

Cooperative Institutions

University of Leeds

National Institute of Amazonian Research

University of Edinburgh

Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

University of Oxford

John Wiley & Sons (United States)

Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement

Missouri Botanical Garden

Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi

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Biodiversitätsschädigende Subventionen in der Schweiz

Lena Gubler Sascha A. Ismail Irmi Seidi

10.5281/zenodo.3935430

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Development of microsatellite markers for Crepis mollis (Asteraceae)

Applications in Plant Sciences (2016)

Virginia K. Duwe Ludo A. H. Muller Thomas Borsch Sascha A. Ismail

Premise of the study: Polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for the threatened species Crepis mollis (Asteraceae) to investigate population and conservation genetics. Methods and Results: Illumina sequencing was conducted on pooled genomic DNA from 10 individuals of two populations. Ten polymorphic and 10 monomorphic microsatellite loci with di‐, tri‐, tetra‐, penta‐, and hexanucleotide repeat motifs were developed and characterized in C. mollis . In the polymorphic markers, up to 17 alleles per locus were detected with an observed and expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.120 to 0.780 and 0.102 to 0.834, respectively. Furthermore, the polymorphic markers were tested for cross‐amplification in three congeneric species ( C. biennis, C. foetida , and C. sancta ) and amplified in up to three loci. Conclusions: The markers developed in this study are the first microsatellites tested on C. mollis and will be useful for performing population and conservation genetic studies in this threatened species.

10.3732/apps.1600022

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Large range sizes link fast life histories with high species richness across wet tropical tree floras

Scientific Reports (2025)

Timothy R. Baker Stephen Adu‐Bredu Kofi Affum‐Baffoe Shin‐ichiro Aiba Perpetra Akite

Understanding how the traits of lineages are related to diversification is key for elucidating the origin of variation in species richness. Here, we test whether traits are related to species richness among lineages of trees from all major biogeographical settings of the lowland wet tropics. We explore whether variation in mortality rate, breeding system and maximum diameter are related to species richness, either directly or via associations with range size, among 463 genera that contain wet tropical forest trees. For Amazonian genera, we also explore whether traits are related to species richness via variation among genera in mean species-level range size. Lineages with higher mortality rates—faster life-history strategies—have larger ranges in all biogeographic settings and have higher mean species-level range sizes in Amazonia. These lineages also have smaller maximum diameters and, in the Americas, contain dioecious species. In turn, lineages with greater overall range size have higher species richness. Our results show that fast life-history strategies influence species richness in all biogeographic settings because lineages with these ecological strategies have greater range sizes. These links suggest that dispersal has been a key process in the evolution of the tropical forest flora.

10.1038/s41598-024-84367-3

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A case of behavioural diversification in male floral function – the evolution of thigmonastic pollen presentation

Scientific Reports (2018)

Tilo Henning Moritz Mittelbach Sascha A. Ismail Rafael Acuña-Castillo Maximilian Weigend

Obvious movements of plant organs have fascinated scientists for a long time. They have been studied extensively, but few behavioural studies to date have dealt with them, and hardly anything is known about their evolution. Here, we present a large experimental dataset on the stamen movement patterns found in the Loasaceae subfam. Loasoideae (Cornales). An evolutionary transition from autonomous-only to a combination of autonomous and thigmonastic stamen movement with increased complexity was experimentally demonstrated. We compare the stamen movement patterns with extensive pollinator observations and discuss it in the context of male mating behavior. Thigmonastic pollen presentation via stamen movements appears to be a crucial component of floral adaptation to pollinator behaviour, evolving in concert with complex adjustments of flower signal, reward and morphology. We hypothesize that rapid adjustments of pollen presentation timing may play a significant role in the diversification of this plant group, representing a striking example for the evolutionary significance of plant behaviour.

10.1038/s41598-018-32384-4

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Was die Schweiz für die Biodiversität tun kann – Handlungsoptionen für ausgewählte Sektoren

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (2022)

Jodok Guntern Sascha A. Ismail Daniela Pauli Ursula Schöni Eva Spehn

10.5281/zenodo.6563562

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Fine- and local- scale genetic structure of Dysoxylum malabaricum, a late-successional canopy tree species in disturbed forest patches in the Western Ghats, India

Conservation Genetics (2016)

Sofia Bodare G. Ravikanth Sascha A. Ismail Mohana Kumara Patel Ilaria Spanu

Tree canopy

10.1007/s10592-016-0877-7

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Does long‐distance pollen dispersal preclude inbreeding in tropical trees? Fragmentation genetics of Dysoxylum malabaricum in an agro‐forest landscape

Molecular Ecology (2012)

Sascha A. Ismail Jaboury Ghazoul G. Ravikanth R. Uma Shaanker C.G. Kushalappa

Abstract Tropical trees often display long‐distance pollen dispersal, even in highly fragmented landscapes. Understanding how patterns of spatial isolation influence pollen dispersal and interact with background patterns of fine‐scale spatial genetic structure ( FSGS ) is critical for evaluating the genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation. In the endangered tropical timber tree D ysoxylum malabaricum ( M eliaceae), we apply eleven microsatellite markers with paternity and parentage analysis to directly estimate historic gene flow and contemporary pollen dispersal across a large area (216 km 2 ) in a highly fragmented agro‐forest landscape. A comparison of genetic diversity and genetic structure in adult and juvenile life stages indicates an increase in differentiation and FSGS over time. Paternity analysis and parentage analysis demonstrate high genetic connectivity across the landscape by pollen dispersal. A comparison between mother trees in forest patches with low and high densities of adult trees shows that the frequency of short‐distance mating increases, as does average kinship among mates in low‐density stands. This indicates that there are potentially negative genetic consequences of low population density associated with forest fragmentation. Single isolated trees, in contrast, frequently receive heterogeneous pollen from distances exceeding 5 km. We discuss the processes leading to the observed patterns of pollen dispersal and the implications of this for conservation management of D . malabaricum and tropical trees more generally.

Fragmentation

Isolation by distance

Population fragmentation

Habitat Fragmentation

10.1111/mec.12054

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Cultural and ecological insights into sacred groves: managing timber resources for improved grove conservation

Forests Trees and Livelihoods (2015)

Alison Ormsby Sascha A. Ismail

This mixed methods study investigated cultural and ecological aspects of five sacred groves within the Kodagu district, South India. Sacred groves are community-managed forests that are protected due to spiritual reasons and can provide habitat for rare species in human-dominated landscapes; however, they are globally threatened due to land use pressures, cultural changes and resource extraction. Within the study region, sacred groves are not only being encroached but are also losing quality, leading to a reduction of rare and threatened species. Interviews with 43 residents documented perceptions of grove quality, grove histories and related beliefs. Ecological indicators of forest disturbance and detailed demographic data of the threatened valuable timber tree Dysoxylum malabaricum as a model species were recorded. Results found degrees of forest disturbance, congruent with residents' perception that grove protection is weakening, and an ongoing local cultural association with these sacred spaces. Management of the sacred groves could be improved through regular interaction between the Forest Department and local temple committees. Additionally, implementing silvicultural management of rare timber species could synergistically serve ecological and cultural conservation goals.

10.1080/14728028.2015.1059294

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Development of ten polymorphic microsatellite markers for Scabiosa canescens Waldst. & Kit. (Dipsacaceae)

Conservation Genetics Resources (2015)

Sascha A. Ismail Virginia K. Duwe Helga Fleischer-Notter Thomas Borsch

10.1007/s12686-015-0446-2

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Citations (1)

Evaluating realized seed dispersal across fragmented tropical landscapes: a two‐fold approach using parentage analysis and the neighbourhood model

New Phytologist (2017)

Sascha A. Ismail Jaboury Ghazoul G. Ravikanth C.G. Kushalappa R. Uma Shaanker

Summary Despite the importance of seed dispersal for survival of plant species in fragmented landscapes, data on seed dispersal at landscape scales remain sparse. Effective seed dispersal among fragments determines recolonization and plant species persistence in such landscapes. We present the first large‐scale (216‐km 2 ) direct estimates of realized seed dispersal of a high‐value timber tree ( Dysoxylum malabaricum ) across an agro‐forest landscape in the Western Ghats, India. Based upon an exhaustive inventory of adult trees and a sample of 488 seedlings all genotyped at 10 microsatellite loci, we estimated realized seed dispersal using parentage analysis and the neighbourhood model. Our estimates found that most realized seed dispersal was within 200 m, which is insufficient to effectively bridge the distances between forest patches. We conclude that using mobility of putative animal dispersers can be misleading when estimating tropical tree species vulnerability to habitat fragmentation. This raises serious concerns about the potential of many tropical trees to recolonize isolated forest patches where high‐value tree species have already been removed.

Fragmentation

Habitat Fragmentation

10.1111/nph.14427

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Citations (41)