Edgar T. Wherry Award - Pteridological
Edgar T. Wherry Award - Pteridological
This award is in honor of Dr. Wherry's many contributions to the floristics and patterns of evolutions of ferns. This award is given for the best paper presented during the contributed papers session of the Pteridological Section. The Wherry award distributes $250 each year.
Award Recipients:
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1997
1991
1990
1989
2025
James Brock
, University of Auckland, For the Presentation: Effective long-distance dispersal of ferns between isolated habitats.
2024
Blake Fauskee
, Duke University, For the Presentation: Comparative analysis of RNA editing in Pteridaceae reveals a potential regulatory function. Co-authors: Li-Yaung Kuo, Tracy A. Heath, Pei-Jun Xie, andKathleen M. Pryer.
2023
Katelin Burow
, Purdue University, For the Presentation: Genetic Mechanisms of Sex Determination in Ceratopteris richardii. Co-authors: Grace Estep, Brian Dilkes, Jody Banks, Jen Wisecaver.
Sonia Molino
, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, For the Presentation: Discovering Parablechnum: a complex evolutionary history within the youngest fern family. Co-authors: Weston Testo, Mario Mairal, Guillermo Santos-Rivilla, Rafael Medina
2022
Jessie Pelosi
, University of Florida, For the Presentation:
Here we go again (and again): repeated rounds of polyploidy and biased gene retention in ferns
. Co-Authors: Emily Kim, W. Brad Barbazuk, Emily Sessa
2021
Ana Gabriela Martinez
, National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM. Faculty of Higher Studies Zaragoza, For the Presentation:
Disentangling the systematics of the
Elaphoglossum petiolatum
complex (Dryopteridaceae)
. Co-Author: Alejandra Vasco
Honorable Mention:
Jacob Watts
, University of Cambridge, For the Presentation:
Microarthropods Increase Sporophyte Formation and Enhance Fitness of Ferns
. Co-Authors: Aidan Harrington, James Watkins
David Wickell
, Cornell University, For the Presentation:
Gene fractionation and differential expression of homoeologues following whole genome duplication in the tree fern,
Alsophila spinulosa
. Co-Authors: Fay-Wei Li, Li-Yaung Kuo, Xiong Huang, and Quanzi Li
2020
Amanda Grusz
, University of Minnesota-Duluth, For the Presentation:
An environmentally-based model for the origin of obligate apomixis in ferns: insights from the pellaeid clade (Pteridaceae; Cheilanthoideae)
. Co-authors: Michael D. Windham, Kathryn Picard, Kathleen Pryer, Eric Schuettpelz, and Christopher Haufler
2019
Hannah Ranft,
Sometimes it only takes one to tango: using natural history collections to assess the impact of asexuality in the fern genus
Pteris
Co-authors: Kathryn Picard, Amanda Grusz, Michael Windham, Eric Schuettpelz
2018
Ariana Eily
For the presentation:
A glimpse at genes critical to the Azolla-Nostoc symbiosis
Co-authors: Kathleen M. Pryer, Fay-Wei Li
2017
Dr. Lisa Hooper
, Truman State University
For her paper; "
The current status of
Aleuritopteris
(Pteridaceae) based on recent molecular analyse
" Co-authors: George Yatskievych, Layne Huiet, Kathleen Pryer and Michael D. Windham
Dr. Alejandra Vasco
, National Autonomous University of Mexico
For her paper; "
Leaf evolution and development: building better models from fern leaf diversity
" Co-author: Barbara A. Ambrose
2016
Libing Zhang
, Missouri Botanical Garden
For the paper;  "
Circumscription and phylogeny of the fern family Tectariaceae based on plastid and nuclear markers, with the description of two new genera: Draconopteris and Malaifilix (Tectariaceae)
2015
Emily B. Sessa
, University of Florida
For her paper; "
Exploring potential asymmetric hybridization in a Mediterranean fern complex: the Asplenium obovatum group
2014
Dr. Joanne M. Sharpe
, Sharplex Services
For her paper; "
Hindsight is 20/20: Highlights from a 20-year ecological study of 20 fern species in the Luquillo rainforest of Puerto Rico
" and
Dr. Fay-Wei Li
, Duke University
For his paper; "
Massive horizontal gene transfer of a chimeric photoreceptor within ferns
" Co-author: Kathleen M Pryer
2013
Sally Stevens
, Purdue University, Advisor and co-author Nancy Emery
For her paper; "
No Place Like Home? Testing for Local Adaptation and Dispersal Limitation in the Fern
Vittaria appalachiana
(Vittariaceae)
2012
Weston Testo
, Colgate University, Advisor and co-author James Watkins
For his paper; "
Comparative gametophyte ecology of the American hart's-tongue fern and associated fern taxa: evidence for recent population declines in New York State
2011
Monique McHenry
,University of Vermont, Advisor and co-author David S. Barrington
For her paper; "
Investigating morphological diversity of Andean
Polystichum
(Dryopteridaceae): seeking explanations for incongruence between sequence variation and morphological variation
2010
Susan Sprunt
, Miami University of Ohio
For her paper; "
Of genes, scales and venation: Detecting patterns of variation in the
Pleopeltis polypodioides
species complex (Polypodiaceae)
2009
Michael Sundue
, The New York Botanical Garden’s Institute for Systematic Botany, for his paper entitled “
Silica bodies and their systematic implications in the Pteridaceae.
2008
Mary Stensvold
, of USDA Forest Service, Alaska Region
For her paper; “
Genetic diversity in the
Botrychium lunaria
(Ophioglossaceae) complex
." Her co-author was
Don Farrar
; and
Melanie Link-Perez
of Miami University, for her paper, “
Toward a Redefinition of
Adiantopsis
Fée (Pteridaceae)
.” Co-authors were
Linda Watson
and
Jim Hickey
2007
Renee A. Lopez-Smith
, Southern Illinois University
For her paper; "
Sperm cell architecture and the neck canal in diploid and tetraploid
Ceratopteris
cytotypes: does size matter?
" Her co-author was
Karen Renzaglia
2006
Eric Schuettpelz
, Duke University
For his paper; "
Toward a comprehensive phylogeny of extant ferns
2005
James (Eddie) Watkins
, University of Florida
For his paper “
Stress physiology of fern gametophytes: consequences for distribution and abundance
.”
2004
Harald Schneider
, University of Goettingen
For for his paper “
Radiations in Drynarioid ferns: evolution of humus collectors as a putative morphological key innovation
”. The paper was co-authored with
Thomas Janssen
2003
Michael Barker
, Miami University, Ohio
For his paper "
Microlepidopteran soral mimics in the Caribbean
". The paper was co-authored by
Shane Shaw
James Hickey
, and
John Rawlins
2002
David S. Barrington
, Univ. of Vermont
For his paper "
New insights into the phylogeny of Asian Polystichum(Dryopteridaceae) from expanded rbcL data
, co-authored with
Yoko Yatabe
and
Wu Sugong
2001
Sabine Hennequin
, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
For for her paper "
Systematics of the fern genus
Hymenophyllum
s.l. (Hymenophyllaceae) inferred from
rbcL
and
rps4
nucleotide sequences and morphology
." The paper was co-authored by
Jean-Yves Dubuisson
2000
Patricia Sanchez-Baracaldo
, University of California, Berkeley
For the for her talk entitled, "
A recent radiation of Neotropical fern genera in paramo ecosystems
."
1999
Petra Korall,
Stockholm University
For her poster entitled "
Phylogeny of Selaginellaceae based on rbcl gene sequences
" (co-author Paul Kenrick).
Catherine Cardelus,
University of Connecticut
For her poster entitled "
Habitat selection of epiphytic and terrestrial ferns
" (co-author James Watkins).
1997
James P. Therrien
, Univerisyt of Kansas
For his talk entitled "
Evolution and diversification of the Selaginellaceae
."
1991
David S. Conant
For his presentation co-authored by
Diana B. Stein
and
Angela E. Valinski
entitled "
Phylogenetic implications of chloroplast DNA variation in the Cyatheaceae
."
1990
Judith E. Skog
, George Mason University
For her paper entitled "
The relationship of the fossil fern
Schizaeopsis
to
Schizaea
and
Actinostachys
."
1989
Cathy A. Paris
, University of Vermont
For her paper, "
Evolutionary genetics of the
Adiantum pedatum
complex: Phylogeny and biogeography
."
George Yatskievych
, Missouri Botanical Garden
For his paper, "
A reconsideration of the genus
Pityrogramma
in the southwestern United States
."
Society Awards
Distinguished Fellow of the Botanical Society of America
BSA Graduate Student Research Awards
BSA Undergraduate Student Research Awards
BSA Emerging Leader Award
BSA Young Botanist Awards
Student Travel Awards
Developmental & Structural Section Student Travel Awards
Ecological Section Student Travel Awards
Economic Botany Section Student Travel and Presentation Awards
Genetics and Genomics Section Student Travel Awards
Pteridological Section & American Fern Society Student Travel Awards
Named Awards
Charles Edwin Bessey Teaching Award
Vernon I. Cheadle Student Travel Awards
Michael Cichan Paleobotanical Research Grant
TRIARCH "Botanical Images" Student Travel Award
Isabel Cookson Award - Paleobotanical
Darbaker Prize
Katherine Esau Award - Developmental & Structural Section
BSA Graduate Student Research Awards
Margaret Menzel Award - Genetics and Genomics
Maynard Moseley Award - Developmental & Structural and Paleobotanical
Jeanette Siron Pelton Award
Remy, Remy, and Winslow Award - Paleobotanical
A. J. Sharp Award - ABLS/Bryological and Lichenological Section
Grady L. Webster and Barbara D. Webster Structural Botany Publication Award
Edgar T. Wherry Award - Pteridological
Sectional Awards
Ecological Section Best Student Presentation & Poster Awards
Genetics Section Graduate Student Research Awards
Genetics and Genomics Section Poster Presentation Award
Emanuel D. Rudolph Award - Historical
Li-COR Prize - Physiological and Ecophysiological
Physiological and Ecophysiological Section Best Student Presentations
Special Funds
James M. and Esther N. Schopf Fund - Paleobotanical
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