Personal information
Biography
Ana D. Caperta' main areas of scientific activity are Plant Biology, Cell Biology, and Genetic Resources and Plant Conservation. She has been coordinating a working group that uses halophytes (salt tolerant plants) with sexual and apomixis (asexual seed production) reproduction. Research aims at disclosing major speciation forces in Limonium. These species that are widespread in coastal environments in Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, have a huge environmental importance and conservation value in natural habitats. She established and curate a Limonium ex situ collection at ISA.
Other research is oriented to find sustainable solutions for halophytes cultivation and halophytes reintroduction into natural habitats. Some of technologies employed are technosols construction and /or the use of biofertilizers such as symbionts (plant growth promoting bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhiza). Besides cultivation of Limonium spp. with agro-economical potential, other halophytes are also under study using saline water drip irrigation.
Previous scientific focus covered aspects of the modulation of plants reproductive development, starting with the effect of high temperatures in meiosis disruption in cereals. Earlier research activity was on epigenetic reprogramming during reproduction, namely epigenetic patterns of chromatin organization in mitosis and meiosis and of specific DNA sequences with potential role in gametophyte chromatid segregation. Other works focused on cytoskeleton dynamics during cell division, vital for cell function and viability, to understand the nature of the process underlying polyploid induction. Her PhD centered on nucleotypic features of the epigenetic switch mechanism that silences rRNA genes in Secale cereale. Her first scientific activity was on orchid biodiversity, reproduction and conservation and on wild orchid species from South China.
Ana D. Caperta has translated basic research findings into conservation practice and as such she gave expert advice on Limonium to Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas (ICNF), and as a Specialist for Limonium for the Red Data Book for vascular plants in Portugal, and has collaborated with Municipalities and ICNF on Limonium and halophytes production. She gave scientific support to artistic work. Her work received press coverage in newspaper Público and in SIC Notícias TV channel.
Non-scientific Interests: University teaching skills, psychology (trained in Gestalt Therapy), gardening, forestry, and trekking.
Activities
Employment (4)
Education and qualifications (1)
Professional activities (1)
Funding (22)
PTDC/ASP-SIL/28593/2017
PTDC/AGRPRO/4285/2014
BPD/UID/AGR/04129/2013
Percy Sladen Grant
BCC//UI0240/AGR/2014
Millenium Seed Bank Kew
Universidade Técnica de Lisboa
SFRH/BPD/26442/2006
SFRH/BPD/26442/2005
POCI/BIA-BDE/57575/2004
SFRH/BPD/11191/2002
SFRH/BPD/1191/02
PRAXIS XXI/AGR/11171/1998
Bolsa Mestre