Susan Abernathy - PhD student
Contact
[email protected]
Research summary
Aerial roots grow on many common indoor greenspace plants however little is known about them. The epidermis of these roots is covered with a spongy outer layer known as velamen but its structure and function are unknown. Many aerial root plants are endemic to tropical rainforests in the Americas and in Asia. These plants live under dense canopies in the forest where there is low light, high humidity, and little air flow. Soils in the tropics are nutrient-poor while temperatures are high, and rainfall is plentyful in the wet season but minimal in the dry season.
My research aims to understand the role of velamen in aerial roots by considering their tropical origins and responses to their native environmental conditions. Anatomical, physiological, ecological, and evolutionary aspects of velamen are investigated to understand the whole organism of multiple species of aerial root plants. This knowledge can be applied to indoor greenspaces where these plants may be improving the air quality especially if they are located in urban environments.
My Background
I earned my BS and MS in Biological Science, concentrating in Botany, at Colorado State University in the US. My master work focused on phytoremediation in Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and its implications for environmental cleanup. I am interested in how plants work, especially at the membrane interface, and how this knowledge can be applied to improve the quality of life for people.
Country of birth: United States
Hobbies: Travel and sports
A weird fact: I’ve had 2 fascinating experiences with lava and volcanoes. The first was surviving a volcanic eruption followed by earthquakes in the Philippines while the island was being hit by a typhoon. The second was walking out a few miles onto a slightly cooled lava bed in Hawaii where the lava began flowing just a foot below my feet and became visible in the cracks near my shoes. In both cases, I found the power of geological processes completely awe inspiring, immensely powerful, and a little unnerving all at the same time.
[email protected]
Research summary
Aerial roots grow on many common indoor greenspace plants however little is known about them. The epidermis of these roots is covered with a spongy outer layer known as velamen but its structure and function are unknown. Many aerial root plants are endemic to tropical rainforests in the Americas and in Asia. These plants live under dense canopies in the forest where there is low light, high humidity, and little air flow. Soils in the tropics are nutrient-poor while temperatures are high, and rainfall is plentyful in the wet season but minimal in the dry season.
My research aims to understand the role of velamen in aerial roots by considering their tropical origins and responses to their native environmental conditions. Anatomical, physiological, ecological, and evolutionary aspects of velamen are investigated to understand the whole organism of multiple species of aerial root plants. This knowledge can be applied to indoor greenspaces where these plants may be improving the air quality especially if they are located in urban environments.
My Background
I earned my BS and MS in Biological Science, concentrating in Botany, at Colorado State University in the US. My master work focused on phytoremediation in Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and its implications for environmental cleanup. I am interested in how plants work, especially at the membrane interface, and how this knowledge can be applied to improve the quality of life for people.
Country of birth: United States
Hobbies: Travel and sports
A weird fact: I’ve had 2 fascinating experiences with lava and volcanoes. The first was surviving a volcanic eruption followed by earthquakes in the Philippines while the island was being hit by a typhoon. The second was walking out a few miles onto a slightly cooled lava bed in Hawaii where the lava began flowing just a foot below my feet and became visible in the cracks near my shoes. In both cases, I found the power of geological processes completely awe inspiring, immensely powerful, and a little unnerving all at the same time.