Expanding Frontiers in Microbial Research
Fungi, archaea, bacteria and beyond
Since 2010 my research groups studied natural habitats in Mexico, Baja California, expanding our area of work in 2015 into other regions of California in the US. Some of the most remarkable expeditions included the Sierra la Giganta Baja Sur, Bahia Vizcaino Baja California, and Chanel Islands in California.
The "A" team in conservation biology
In 2012 Jiji Foundation sponsored the first project on Rare and Endemic flora inhabiting ephemeral wetlands of Baja California; later on, by 2013 the project known as Nocturnal rodents of Reserva Natural Valle Tranquilo in collaboration with Terra Peninsular Civil Organization was approved and, by the end of 2016 the first Natural Reserve dedicated to Ephemeral Wetlands was established, and the San Quintin Botanical Garden was born to protect the souther region of the Mediterranean Baja California.
VPMRG- The vernal pool microbes research group
In 2015 the project on Microbial communities in the California vernal pools took place at the University of California, in Merced. The scientific framework incorporated classical ecology theory and methodologies, applied to micro-organisms. We studied species distributions, organismal habitat use, niche breadth evolution, biogeography, molecular ecology, extreme ecosystems ecology, and lastly, symbiosis. We use microbes to answer questions about biodiversity and ecology, the origins of life, evolution, and adaptation to extreme environments.
We believed that vernal pools are appropriate natural laboratories to address interesting questions in science, thus we constantly monitor five sites, across the Northwestern Baja California region: 1) Mesa de Jesus Maria, Tijuana; 2) Mesa El Descanso; 3) San Antonio Del Mar; 4) Mesa Coloniet and, 5) Cerro de las Torres, San Quintin. And three sites in California: 1) Santa Barbara; 2) Merced; 3) Vina Plains, Chico. We keep a record of the physicochemical characteristics of the landscape, encompassing soil and water properties. Meteorological records and vegetation type analysis are also features of our concern.