Rafael Acuña-Castillo

Phylogenomic study of Costa Rican Chamaedorea Willd. (Arecaceae)

The mountains and foothills of Costa Rica and western Panama are exceptionally rich in unique plant species, including the palm genus Chamaedorea. These palms are important components of tropical forests and widely used as ornamental plants, yet their evolutionary relationships remain poorly understood. Earlier DNA studies lacked either the resolution or the sampling depth needed to clarify how the many species in this group are related. As a result, scientists are still uncertain about the boundaries between several species, making it difficult to determine which names represent truly distinct plants. This confusion complicates conservation planning and creates challenges for botanical collections, growers, and hobbyists.

This project addresses these gaps by applying next-generation DNA sequencing to Chamaedorea palms from Costa Rica-Panama. Researchers will gather samples from protected areas throughout the region, analyze their DNA, and compare the results with existing data from other countries. The goal is to build a detailed evolutionary “family tree” and resolve longstanding questions about species identities—especially within groups of closely related, often locally endemic palms. By integrating genetic findings with morphological study, the project will clarify species distinctions, support better conservation decisions, improve identification in botanical collections, and encourage sustainable, legal propagation of rare palms.

Establishment of a Living Collection of Native Palms (Palmaretum) on the Caribbean Slope of Costa Rica as a Research and Education Tool

Costa Rica is home to an extraordinary diversity of native palms (111 species in total), many of which are native to the Caribbean slope. These palms are important for forest function and diversity, food webs, and local communities, but many species are now threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and the decline of traditional knowledge about their uses. 

This project proposes creating a palmaretum, a living collection of native palms, at three locations on the Caribbean slope: Finca Oasis, the Manuel Koss Rubinstein Ecological Station, and Tirimbina Biological Reserve. The goal is to gather seeds or seedlings from 20 native palm species in the first year, expanding to 30 within two years. The young plants will be grown in nurseries and later transplanted along trails, each identified with a coded tag linked to a database.

The palmaretum will serve several purposes: protecting endangered species, providing material for habitat restoration, community education, and scientific research. It will support education programs, guided tours, and community outreach to raise awareness about the importance of palms. By coordinating efforts among universities, reserves, and local partners, the project will build a long-term conservation network that safeguards Costa Rica’s native palms for future generations.

 Gustavo Lima

Recipient of the Phyllis Sneed Award

Unveiling the enigmatic world of Astrocaryum subsect. Acaulia: the quest for rediscovery of acaulescent palms described over a century ago

This research project is an urgent quest to rescue from oblivion a group of very rare, spiny palms that have no visible trunk (acaulescent) and are found only in the Brazilian Cerrado. The situation is critical because, out of the five species in this group, four are considered to be probably extinct, known only from old drawings and samples collected over one hundred years ago. Scientists cannot confirm if they still exist, and we must find them before we can protect them. Our work will be a meticulous scientific investigation. First, we will act as botanical detectives, carefully examining plant collections. We will search for samples of these palms that might have been collected over the years but were incorrectly identified or labeled, currently hiding among thousands of other dry samples. Next, we will conduct highly focused expeditions to the exact historical locations where these plants were first described in the Brazilian Central Plateau, during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The main goal is to find and document living populations in the wild. This discovery is vital for proving their existence, improving our understanding of them, and providing the crucial information needed to start their conservation plan.

Preserving the native palms of Veracruz (Mexico) by enriching the scientific collection of the Francisco Javier Clavijero Botanical Garden.

Veracruz is the third most biodiverse state in Mexico, with 6,876 species of angiosperms. However, it has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the country. This accelerated loss of biodiversity, along with a lack of basic taxonomic studies, limits conservation efforts and the understanding of plant diversity. Palms are a charismatic and ecologically relevant group, providing shelter and food for numerous animal species. They also hold significant economic and cultural value for the human communities that use them. Mexico is home to nearly 100 palm species, approximately 30% of which are found in Veracruz, making them key to understanding the country's vegetation.

The objective of this project is to promote and strengthen the study of Veracruz palms by enriching the botanical collections of the Clavijero Botanical Garden, incorporating native and underrepresented taxa. Based on the taxonomic treatment of the state's palms, collections will be made in previously reported areas, with an emphasis on the tropical and montane cloud forests of the Los Tuxtlas Biological Station, the region with the greatest palm diversity in Veracruz. The collected material will be used to develop horticultural practices for its conservation and to establish methodological foundations for a future national palm collection.

Ecological and Conservation Assessment of Pinanga subterranea: Unraveling Underground Flowering and Threats in Betung Kerihun National Park, Kalimantan, Indonesia

Scientists discovered Pinanga subterranea in 2023. It is a completely unique palm species from Borneo that flowers and fruits entirely underground, making it the only palm in the world known to do this. Because its life cycle is hidden beneath the soil, it is critically understudied and faces an imminent threat from the rapid deforestation of its rainforest home. However, its 'Least Concern' status is likely misleading, as this classification underestimates its rarity in a region with some of the world's highest deforestation rates.

The research will focus on Betung Kerihun National Park in Kalimantan, a location chosen specifically for its ecological similarities to Lanjak Entimau and Batang Ai in Sarawak, where the species was first found. The primary goal is to gather the critical data needed for its protection. Researchers will map the population and study specific environmental needs, such as soil type and moisture, and identify major threats from agriculture and logging. Using a combination of field exploration, local knowledge, GPS, satellite imagery, and DNA analysis. This project will provide the solid information required for governments and conservation organizations to create effective action plans and protect this irreplaceable part of Borneo's natural heritage.