Last May, my student Jordyn Regier and I went to Costa Rica to investigate opportunities for future research projects. We found and identified so many ferns! We spent about a week hiking through the jungle and collecting preliminary data. I can’t wait to return! Jordyn worked with me for an NSF REU fellowship at PepperdineContinue reading “Field work in Costa Rica”
Author Archives: helenholmlund
SURB Students present research at SCCUR
A couple weeks ago, three students in my lab (Mayra Hernandez, Jordyn Regier, and Camille Sicangco) presented their research at the Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research (program available here). They presented the projects that they initiated last summer during Pepperdine’s SURB program (our NSF REU Site Program). Mayra presented her research on coastal sageContinue reading “SURB Students present research at SCCUR”
Resurrection ferns in New Phytologist’s blog
New Phytologist’s blog recently featured our 2019 research article on the resurrection ferns. The blog post features a fluorescence micrograph of a resurrection fern stem by Dr. Anna Jacobsen (shown above). Click on the link below to read the blog post. Here is the citation for our 2019 article: Holmlund, H.I., Pratt, R.B., Jacobsen, A.L.,Continue reading “Resurrection ferns in New Phytologist’s blog”
Ferns on Lizard Island
Last summer (winter?) in Australia, I traveled to Lizard Island to study the ferns there. Lizard Island is located off the coast of northeastern Australia in the Great Barrier Reef. Lizard Island was named by Captain Cook because of the large goannas that roam the island. As far as field work goes, it was aContinue reading “Ferns on Lizard Island”
A Year in Canberra, Australia
This past year, I received a NSF GROW fellowship to study ferns in Marilyn Ball’s lab at the Australian National University. I was based in Canberra, the “bush capital,” for most of my time in Australia. ANU is indeed situated in “the bush”! The university is surrounded by hills covered with native plants and wildlife.Continue reading “A Year in Canberra, Australia”
MicroCT Paper in New Phytologist
Our study of how water moves through resurrection ferns was recently published in New Phytologist! This study was a collaboration with Drs. Anna Jacobsen and Brandon Pratt at California State University, Bakersfield. We used high resolution micro-CT scans to visualize the dynamics of water movement in resurrection ferns while they were drying out and resurrecting.Continue reading “MicroCT Paper in New Phytologist”
Natalie’s paper accepted to Plant Disease
Our lab recently had a short paper (a disease “note”) accepted to the journal Plant Disease! The paper is titled “First Report of Botryosphaeria dothidea Causing Stem Canker and Plant Death in Malosma laurina in Southern California.” Pepperdine graduate (class of 2017) Natalie Aguirre is the lead author on the paper. Over the last coupleContinue reading “Natalie’s paper accepted to Plant Disease”
Santa Cruz Island, January 2018
Earlier this month, several of us took a field trip to Santa Cruz Island to continue our research project on foliar water uptake in island ferns. This time, we were transplanting island ferns to the mainland for further experiments. As always, the boat ride was fantastic! Dolphins followed us part of the way, and theContinue reading “Santa Cruz Island, January 2018”
Eclipse Adventure
Last August, I went to Oregon with my labmate Kate to view the solar eclipse! The journey was a fantastic adventure, and we enjoyed every minute of it. First, we drove through Eureka and Crescent City in northern California. The air was filled with smoke from the nearby wildfires, creating a fiery sunset. Also, weContinue reading “Eclipse Adventure”
Summer Adventues
This summer, I spent three weeks doing field work at La Selva Biological Research Station in Costa Rica! The field station is located in the beautiful Costa Rican rainforest. The rainforest is alive with frogs, bugs, and many other critters! The howler monkeys woke us up every morning. Sloths are hard to spot inContinue reading “Summer Adventues”
Holmlund Lab 