02 Feb 2022

Collecting field trip in Parc National de Guadeloupe for Elise's thesis

Two weeks collecting lichens and leaves

From January 18 to February 1st, as a research collaboration with the Parc National de Guadeloupe, Elise Lebreton (FRIA PhD Student), Nicolas Magain and Emmanuël Sérusiaux sampled lichens and leaves in Guadeloupe.

Lots of organisms grow on the surface of leaves in tropical forests, including lichens, fungi, algae and bryophytes.

The three main goals of the field trip were:

- A taxonomic and phylogenetic revision of Gomphillaceae and Strigulaceae in Guadeloupe.

- Characterizing green algae within and outside of lichens at the surface of leaves from an ecological point of view.

- A broader project of checklists of lichens from France's Overseas territories.

Even if recent sulphur emissions from the volcano seem to have harmed lichen communities, the field trip was a success, with many interesting specimens collected!

A lot of work for Elise in the lab now!

A slideshow of pictures from the field trip can be found on the Website of the Faculté des Sciences

Picture: Barthélémy Dessanges from the Parc National de Guadeloupe delivering the collecting permits to Elise and Nicolas.