Alice Gerlach

 

My research in systematics is not possible without the use of biological collections. For this reason, I strive to incorporate a large number of specimens in my studies. Due to their high value for science and culture, collections should be well conserved, managed and classified into the herbarium, which corresponds to the library of all systematic scientists. 

The theme of my research program is biodiversity in different areas of mycology, especially: 

 

• Wood-decaying fungi

(e.g. Basidiomycota, and Ascomycota order Hypocreales)

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• Lichens

(specially Parmeliaceae, including the genus Usnea)

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My research focuses on specimens from Brazil and the Philippines, two megadiverse countries. I'm also interested to obtain sequences of Usnea from other places of the world, to be able to reconstruct a consistent phylogeny of the genus in the future. I genuinely believe that it is essential to combine the traditional taxonomy and the molecular phylogenetics to really understand the diversity and evolution of this important biological group.