Dr. Paul Marino | Boreal At Memorial

Paul Marino, Master of Mosses

Dr. Paul Marino - Bryophyte and Agricultural Ecologist
B. A. University of Vermont, M.Sc. Northern Arizona University, Ph.D. University of Alberta
Associate Professor and Department Head

Dr. Marino’s research at Memorial University focuses primarily on exploring the ecology and phylogeny of Splachnaceae mosses, how fragmentation of the landscape influences population biology and interactions between species in agricultural ecosystems, post-dispersal seed predation, and lastly sustainable agriculture.

His work in bryophyte ecology and evolution focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind which plants attract insects by examining, in detail, the spore dispersal in Splachnaceae mosses. This is being done in collaboration with Robert Raguso (Univ. of South Carolina) and Bernard Goffinet (Univ. of Connecticut). Mosses in the family Splachnaceae can be found worldwide, although they are found primarily throughout the Boreal. A number of species share the common characteristic of growing on dung or other animal matter. These species, are usually geographically segregated and in the northern hemisphere, spore dispersal results from visitation by flies.The sporophytes of these species are highly modified and promote the dispersal of spores to new droppings by flies. Some have a distinctive odour (may smell like decaying organic matter), may be brightly coloured, and spores are sticky.

Immediate goals of Dr. Marino’s and his fellow researchers include: 1) characterization of sporophyte odor chemistry, 2) functional analysis of putative key adaptations, and 3) phylogenetic reconstruction of the Splachnaceae and the reconstruction of ancestral character-states.

Most recent fieldwork for this study has been conducted in Alaska (Boreal) and Chilean (not Boreal) Patagonia. Some of the findings brought forth by this fieldwork shows that in number of cases, sporophyte colours and odours, as well as the species of flies that visit them, species-specific, which means that the mosses can co-exist in the same habitat by having different chemical signals. This is very fascinating because a similar pattern of is found in flowering plants. Having different chemical signals to attract a specific insect species is an advantage whether you are a moss or flowering plant because it reduces the competition with similar species in close proximity.

The Splachnaceae are the only family of mosses known to exhibit entomophily. The studies have shown that various species in several genera produce volatile compounds, emitting an odour from the stomata that attracts flies and assists in the dispersal of spores