Personal information

Plant Biology, Plant Reproduction, Plant Genetics and Epigenetics, Plant Taxonomy, Plant Conservation

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)

Instituto Superior de Agronomia: Lisboa, PT

2019-10-01 to present | Assistant Professor
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Ana D. Caperta

Instituto Superior de Agronomia: Lisboa, PT

2015-11-01 to 2019-09-30 | Researcher (Centro de Investigação em Agronomia, Alimentos, Ambiente e Paisagem )
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Ana D. Caperta

Instituto Superior de Agronomia: Lisboa, PT

2014-11-01 to 2015-10-31 | Invited Researcher (Centro de Botânica Aplicada à Agricultura)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Ana D. Caperta

Instituto Superior de Agronomia: Lisboa, PT

2009-07-01 to 2014-06-30 | Auxiliar Researcher (Centro de Botânica Aplicada à Agricultura (CBAA))
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Ana D. Caperta

Education and qualifications (1)

Instituto Superior de Agronomia: Lisboa, PT

1999-01-01 to 2003-04-08 | PhD
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Ana D. Caperta

Professional activities (1)

Instituto Superior de Agronomia: Lisbon, PT

2019 to present | Responsible Professor of Students with disabilities
Invited position
Source: Self-asserted source
Ana D. Caperta

Funding (22)

Screening Alnus glutinosa resistance to an emerging disease under climatic stressors: predicting alder forests resilience across river networks

2019-12-01 to 2022-11-30 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

PTDC/ASP-SIL/28593/2017

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Limonium spp. as a model for autonomous apomixis: characterization of genetic-molecular factors distinguishing apomictic from sexual reproductive processes

Limonium spp. as a model for autonomous apomixis: characterization of genetic molecular factors distinguishing apomictic from sexual reproductive processes

2016 to 2020 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisbon, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

PTDC/AGRPRO/4285/2014

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Taxonomic reassessment of Limonium spp. (Plumbaginaceae) from Morocco Atlantic Coast

2015-04 to 2016 | Grant
Linnean Society of London (London, GB)
Source: Self-asserted source
Ana D. Caperta

Xtreme crops: edible halophyte cultivation using saline water

2015 to 2020 | Grant
LEAF (Lisboa, Portugal, --Select One--, PT)
Source: Self-asserted source
Ana D. Caperta

Avaliação da biodiversidade taxonómica, padrões biogeográficos e ecologia de espécies do complexo triploide Limonium auriculae-ursifolium no litoral da Península Ibérica

2015 to 2018 | Grant
N/A (N/A, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

BPD/UID/AGR/04129/2013

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Taxonomic reassessment of Limonium spp. (Plumbaginaceae) from Morocco Atlantic coast

2015 to 2016 | Grant
N/A (N/A, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

Percy Sladen Grant

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Integração da biodiversidade taxonómica em Limonium spp. para o desenvolvimento de estratégias adequadas de conservação

2014 to 2015 | Grant
N/A (N/A, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

BCC//UI0240/AGR/2014

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Integração da biodiversidade taxonómica em Limonium spp. para o desenvolvimento de estratégias adequadas de conservação

2014 to 2015 | Grant
N/A (N/A, PT)
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Fieldwork: long term conservation of endemic species in João do Amaral Franco Seed Bank

2013 to 2013 | Grant
N/A (N/A, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

Millenium Seed Bank Kew

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Voluntariado Ambiental: recuperação de habitats para a conversão de espécies das arribas e dunas da faixa costeira de Cascais

2013 to 2013 | Grant
N/A (N/A, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

Universidade Técnica de Lisboa

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Evolutionary and Reproductive Biology Studies

2009 to 2014 | Contract
Fundação para a CIência e Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
Source: Self-asserted source
Ana D. Caperta

HIGH TEMPERATURE STRESS EFFECTS IN CHROMATIN REMODELLING: IDENTIFICATION OF EPIGENETIC TARGETS FOR PLANT FERTILITY

2007-10-01 to 2008-11-30 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

SFRH/BPD/26442/2006

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Polyploidization as an evolutive driving force: genomic restructuring and nuclear topology remodelling

2007-01-01 to 2009-12-31 | Grant
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Lisbon, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER: 82559
Source: Self-asserted source
Ana D. Caperta via DimensionsWizard
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Identification of epigenetic markers involved in plant fertility

2007 to 2009 | Grant
N/A (N/A, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

SFRH/BPD/26442/2005

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Polyploidization as an evolutive driving force: genomic restructuring and nuclear topology remodelling

2005-07-07 to 2007-12-31 | Grant
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Lisbon, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER: 57575
Source: Self-asserted source
Ana D. Caperta via DimensionsWizard
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Polyploidization as an evolutive driving force: genomic restructuring and nuclear topology remodelling

2005-07-07 to 2007-12-31 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

POCI/BIA-BDE/57575/2004

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Identification of DNA sequences that modify epigenetic patterns

2003 to 2006 | Grant
N/A (N/A, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

SFRH/BPD/11191/2002

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Identification of DNA sequences that modify epigenetic patterns

2003 to 2006 | Grant
N/A (N/A, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER: SFRH/BPD/11191/2002
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

IDENTIFICAÇÃO DE SEQUÊNCIAS DE DNA QUE MODIFICAM PADRÕES EPIGENÉTICOS EM GENOMAS REESTRUTURADOS: NOVAS ESTRATÉGIAS PARA O MELHORAMENTO DE PLANTAS E CONSERVAÇÃO DE RECURSOS GENÉTICO

2003 to 2006 | Grant
Fundação para a CIência e Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

SFRH/BPD/1191/02

Source: Self-asserted source
Ana D. Caperta
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Tools to evaluate unexpected effects of alien chromatin in the host genome

1999 to 2003 | Grant
N/A (N/A, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

PRAXIS XXI/AGR/11171/1998

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Micropropagação de Orquídeas nativas do sul da China

1994 to 1995 | Grant
N/A (N/A, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

Bolsa Mestre

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE

Peer review (5 reviews for 5 publications/grants)

Review activity for Biologia. (1)
Review activity for Environmental geochemistry and health. (1)
Review activity for Journal of soils and sediments. (1)
Review activity for Plant cell, tissue and organ culture. (1)
Review activity for Planta. (1)