People
Jansen, Steven J.L.
| Job Title | Plant Morphologist/Anatomist |
|---|---|
| Department | Jodrell |
| Section | Micromorphology |
| Science Teams |
Large-Scale Syntheses |
| Joined Kew | 2004 |
| Foreign Language(s) | Dutch (mother tongue), French, German, Spanish. |
Qualifications & Appointments
Master in Biology, K.U.Leuven (Belgium), 1994
Teaching Cert. in Biology, K.U.Leuven (Belgium), 1995
PhD, Biology, K.U.Leuven (Belgium), 2001.
Council, Systematics Association
Council, Editorial Board & Webmaster, International Association of Wood Anatomists
Visiting Lecturer, University of Leuven (Belgium).
Role
Xylem evolution, ecological and functional adaptations in extant woody plants.
Although in many cases wood anatomical diversity patterns reflect their phylogenetic significance, there is a considerable amount of homoplasy, which can partly be interpreted as the result of ecological adaptations for water transport and mechanical support. Ecological trends in turn can be understood as functional adaptations when considering trade-offs between structure and function in different growth forms and environments, especially with respect to conductive efficiency, vulnerability to embolism, and mechanical strength. Special attention is paid to the structure and function of pits and pit membranes. Given the large variation of pit characteristics, these features provide interesting questions with respect to their homoplastic nature and functional significance. Since pits affect not only the movement of sap in living trees, but also the penetration of liquids, preservatives and gases in timber, research on pit characters provides interesting applications in the field of wood technology, including the paper and pulp industry.
Projects
Anatomical Identification of Plant Material
Selected Publications 2001-2005
Jansen, S., Baas, P., Gasson, P., Lens, F. & Smets, E. (2004). Variation in xylem structure from tropics to tundra: evidence from vestured pits. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 101. 8833-8837.
Choat, B., Jansen, S., Zwieniecki, M., Smets, E. & Holbrook, N.M. (2004). Changes in pit membrane porosity due to deflection and stretching: the role of vestured pits. Journal of Experimental Botany 55: 1569-1575.
Jansen, S., Choat, B., Vinckier, S., Lens, F. Schols, P. & Smets, E. (2004). Intervascular pit membranes with a torus in the wood of Ulmus (Ulmaceae) and related genera. New Phytologist 163: 51-59.
Jansen, S., Broadley, M., Robbrecht, E. & Smets, E. (2002). Aluminium hyperaccumulation in angiosperms: a review of its phylogenetic significance. The Botanical Review 68: 235-269.
Jansen, S., Robbrecht, E., Beeckman, H. & Smets, E. (2002). A survey of the systematic wood anatomy of the Rubiaceae. International Association of Wood Anatomists Journal 23: 1-67.
Selected Publications pre-2001
Jansen, S., Baas, P. & Smets, E. (2000). Vestured pits in the Malvales s.l.: a character with taxonomic significance hidden in the secondary xylem. Taxon 49: 169-182.
Jansen, S., Dessein, S., Piesschaert, F., Robbrecht, E. & Smets, E. (2000). Aluminium accumulation in leaves of Rubiaceae: systematic and phylogenetic implications. Annals of Botany 85: 91-101.
Jansen, S., Piesschaert, F. & Smets, E. (2000). Wood anatomy of Elaeagnaceae, with comments on vestured pits. American Journal of Botany 87: 20-28.
Jansen, S. & Smets, E. (2000). Morphology, distribution, and systematic importance of vestures in the Gentianales. In Nordenstam, B., El-Ghazaly, G. & Kassas, M. (eds) Plant Systematics for the 21st Century. Wenner-Gren International Series. Vol. 77. London: Portland Press. 277-296.
Jansen, S., Smets, E. & Baas, P. (1998). Vestures in woody plants: a review. International Association of Wood Anatomists Journal 19: 347-382.