Research on mosses of the family Orthotrichaceae:
Integrative Taxonomy
Phylogeny and Evolution
Ecology, Distribution and Diversification
About us
We are a research team focused on the study of the mosses of the family Orthotrichaceae. It is a very diverse group of bryophytes, widespread around the globe. They mostly live as epiphytes although some species are saxicolous. The family comprises two subfamilies with very different morphological, biogeographic and ecological traits: whereas Macromitrioideae is almost exclusively intertropical, Orthotrichoideae is common in temperate and cold regions of both hemispheres, as well as of high tropical mountains.
Our research has mainly focused on Orthotrichoideae and especially on the so called ‘orthotrichaceous mosses’, those of Orthotrichum and related genera. These mosses play a significant role in the epiphytic cryptogamic communities under temperate climates, both in dry and in oceanic or hyper-oceanic conditions. Now, we take a further step to address the study of the entire family as a whole.
We are interested in many issues related to the diversity, distribution and evolution of these plants. To investigate these questions, we have spent three decades studying the morphology and life of Orthotrichaceae in the main areas of the world where they are diversified. In addition, we use multiple approaches for case studies, combining molecular, biogeographic and biometric data analysis techniques.
Meet the team

Francisco lara
Professor of Botany at U.A.M. (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain).
Focused on Field work and Taxonomy. Also fascinated with distribution and diversification patterns, and several ecological aspects.
ORCID: 0000-0002-1665-5277

isabel draper
Senior lecturer at U.A.M.
Specialised in the analysis of molecular data and on the reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationships and the evolutionary and biogeographic history of the family Orthotrichaceae.
ORCID: 0000-0003-3102-9386

ricardo garilleti
Professor of Botany at U.V. (University of Valencia, Spain).
Centered in Taxonomy and Field work. Also interested in Biogeography, character evolution and nomenclature.
ORCID: 0000-0002-5977-2908

Vicente MAZIMPAKA
Emeritus Professor at U.A.M.
My research interest is centered on Ecology and distribution of bryophytes, Taxonomy, Phylogeny and Biogeography of Orthotrichaceae.
ORCID: 0000-0002-8635-5392

Juan Antonio CALLEJA
Assistant Professor at U.A.M.
My research comprises studies on phylogeny and biogeography of vascular plants and bryophytes (Orthotrichaceae), plant – animal interactions, and conservation biology.
ORCID: 0000-0002-6586-0939

Belén ALBERTOS
Assistant Professor U.V.
Research interest focused on plant conservation. Also interested in taxonomy, biogeography and ecology of bryophytes. Strong supporter of Science dissemination.
ORCID: 0000-0002-2116-5600

Beatriz VIGALONDO
High school Science Teacher at Madrid.
Specialized in systematics and biogeography of plants. Transmitting science and the importance of Taxonomy and Biodiversity to young students.
ORCID: 0000-0003-1425-4661

Amelia MATEO
P.h.D student at U.A.M.
Master of Science and Assistant Professor at University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Mayagüez.
ORCID: 0000-0001-7600-5236

Nikolay Matanov
P.h.D student at U.V.
Interuniversity Master’s degree in Ecosystem Restoration at Complutense University of Madrid (U.C.M.).
ORCID: 0000-0002-1892-6552

Pablo AGUADO-RAMSAY
P.h.D student at U.A.M.
Master’s degree in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology and Master’s degree in Advanced bioinformatics analysis, both at University Pablo de Olavide.
ORCID: 0000-0002-8714-9304

MACARENA CUERDO
Laboratory technician.
Master’s degree in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at University Pablo de Olavide.
ORCID: 0000-0001-7399-6070
COLLABORATORS

Mario Fernández-Mazuecos
Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. web

Tamara Villaverde
King Juan Carlos University, Spain. web

Juan Larraín
Herbarium CONC, University of Concepción, Chile. web

Jairo Patiño
University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain. web

DENILSON F. PERALTA
Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais, Brazil. web

Jacques van rooy
South African Narional Biodiversity Institute. National Herbarium. web.

Alain Vanderpoorten
Institute of Botany, University of Liège, Belgium. web

Thomas Kiebacher
Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, Switzerland. web

Misha Ignatov
Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia. web

Stuart McDaniel
University of Florida, USA. web

Gordon Burleigh
University of Florida, USA. web

Matt Johnson
Texas Tech University, USA. web

Rubén G. Mateo
Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. web

Ying Yu
Associate Professor at Huangshan University, China. web

Maren FLAGMEIER
NGS technician, Spain.

Des Callaghan
Bryophyte Surveys Ltd. Bristol, United Kingdom. web

Irene Bisang
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany. web

Vladimir Fedosov
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia. web

Nagore G. Medina
Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. web


