Bio

I am a plant ecologist interested in understanding biodiversity. I used genomic tools, such as genotyping-by-sequencing and metabarcoding to study the biological diversity, from genotypes to ecological interactions.


escolasticodennis[at]gmail.com ; ORCID ; ResearchGate ; GitHub

Professional Appointments

03-06-2024 - Present
Postdoctoral Researcher - Microbial Ecology. Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, Natural Resources Canada. Quebec, Canada
Supervisor: Christine Martineau
07-11-2023 - 22-05-2024
Biologist - Microbial Ecology. Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, Natural Resources Canada. Quebec, Canada
Supervisor: Christine Martineau

Education

2018-2024
PhD in Biology. Laval University. Quebec, Canada
Supervisor: Juan Carlos Villarreal Aguilar; Co-supervisor: Nicolas Derome.
Recherche: “Évolution et symbiose chez des populations d’une espèce de mousse dans la région subarctique”
2015-2017
Master in Biological Sciences. National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Mexico City, Mexico
Supervisor: Claudio Delgadillo Moya
Recherche: “Significado de la reproducción asexual en Calymperes afzelii Sw. y Syrrhopodon incompleuts Schwägr. en el estado de Tabasco”
2008-2014
Bachelor in Ecology. Juárez Autonomous University of Tabasco (UJAT). Tabasco, Mexico
Supervisor: Ma. Guadalupe Rivas Acuña; Co-supervisorr: Claudio Delgadillo Moya
Recherche: “Los musgos de la Zona Ecoturística del Ejido Las Flores en Huimanguillo, Tabasco”

Publications

  1. Sierra, A. M., Escolástico-Ortiz, D. A., Zartman, C. E., Derome, N., Lovejoy, C., & Villarreal A, J. C. (2025). Assembly and co-occurrence networks of nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with epiphyllous liverworts in fragmented tropical forests. ISME Communications, ycaf173. https://doi.org/10.1093/ismeco/ycaf173
  2. Degenhardt, D., Van Dongen, A., Balaberda, A., Escolástico-Ortiz, D. A., & Martineau, C. (2025). Evaluation of Boreal Plant and Microbe Communities on Tailings Solvent Recovery Unit (TSRU) Tailings: A Meso-Scale Greenhouse Study. Chemosphere, 387, 144662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144662
  3. Rabearison, T. J., Maire, V., DesRochers, A., Poirier, V., Escolástico-Ortiz, D. A., Morency, M.-J., & Martineau, C. (2025). Phylogenetically related fast-growing trees and their root traits affect soil microbial communities. Applied Soil Ecology, 214, 106389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106389
  4. Hernández-Rodríguez, E., Herrera-Paniagua, P., Benítez-Chávez, Á. R., & Escolástico-Ortiz, D. A. (2024). Shedding light on the diversity of epiphytic mosses in some Mexican forests. Botanical Sciences, 102(4), 1265–1283. https://doi.org/10.17129/botsci.3471
  5. Escolástico-Ortiz, D. A., Blasi, C., Bellenger, J.-P., Derome, N., & Villarreal-A, J. C. (2023). Differentially abundant bacteria drive the N2-fixation of a widespread moss in the forest-tundra transition zone. Symbiosis, 90(2), 193–211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-023-00930-y
  6. Escolástico-Ortiz, D. A., & Delgadillo-Moya, C. (2023). Rainfall and gemmiferous shoots influence asexual reproduction in two tropical mosses. Botanical Sciences, 101(3), 713–724. https://doi.org/10.17129/botsci.3252
  7. Escolástico-Ortiz, D. A., Hedenäs, L., Quandt, D., Harpke, D., Larraín, J., Stech, M., & Villarreal A, J. C. (2023). Cryptic speciation shapes the biogeographic history of a northern distributed moss. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 201(1), 114–134. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boac027
  8. Delgadillo-Moya, C., Escolástico-Ortiz, D. A., Herrera-Paniagua, P., Juárez-Martínez, C., Peña-Retes, A. P., & Hernández-Rodríguez, E. (2022). Manual de Briofitas. Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. (3rd edition). http://www.ibiologia.unam.mx/barra/publicaciones/3a-edicion_Manual-Briofitas.pdf
  9. Rivas-Acuña, M. G., & Escolástico-Ortiz, D. A. (2019). Briofitas. In: La Biodiversidad de Tabasco: Estudio de Estado. Vol. II (pp. 175–177). CONABIO, México. https://www.biodiversidad.gob.mx/region/EEB/estudios/ee_tabasco
  10. Escolástico-Ortiz, D. A., & Juárez-Martínez, C. (2018). Notothylas javanica (Anthocerotophyta: Notothyladaceae): nuevo registro para la brioflora de México. Acta Botanica Mexicana, 123, 183–190. https://doi.org/10.21829/abm123.2018.1287
  11. Rivas-Acuña, M. G., Escolástico-Ortiz, D. A. & Cámara C., L. del C. (2011). Estudio Preliminar de la Brioflora de Tabasco, México. Mesoamericana, 16(2), 185. Stored file in Research Gate

Presentations and Conferences

  • 74th Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologist (CSM-2025)
    17-20 June, 2025. McGill University. Montreal, Canada
    Presentation: « Plant community and species effect on roots and rhizosphere microbiomes in a soil reclamation context ». D.A. Escolástico-Ortiz, A. Samad, D. Degenhardt, M.J. Morency, C. Martineau
  • Journées Centre SÈVE
    14-15 November 2024. Centre SÈVE. Orford, Canada
    Poster: « Le rôle des communautés et espèces végétales sur les communautés microbiennes de plantes dans le cadre de la remise en état des sols ». D.A. Escolástico-Ortiz, A. Samad, D. Degenhardt, M.J. Morency, C. Martineau
  • Canadian Society of Soil Science Conference
    9-13 June 2024. University of British Columbia. Vancouver, Canada
    Présentation: « Plant-soil feedback effects on microbial communities in soil reclamation covers ». D.A. Escolástico-Ortiz, A. Samad, D. Degenhardt, M.J. Morency, C. Martineau
  • Colloque of the Centre for Northern Studies
    14-16 February. Laval University. Quebec, Canada
    Poster: « Accounting for cryptic species uncovers molecular variation in moss clonal populations ». D.A. Escolástico-Ortiz, N. Derome, JC Villarreal
  • Colloque of the Biology Department
    22-24 March 2023. Laval University. Quebec, Canada
    Presentation: « La fixation d’azote d’une mousse subarctique est façonnée par des bactéries abondantes dans la toundra ». D.A. Escolástico-Ortiz, JC Villarreal, N. Derome
  • Seminar of the Biology Department, Ecology and Evolution
    16 December 2022. Liege University. Liège, Belgium
    Presentation: « Histoire évolutive et fixation d’azote associé avec une mousse nordique ». D.A. Escolástico-Ortiz
  • Kathrin Rousk - Lab Meeting
    8 December2022. Copenhagen University. Copenhagen, Denmark
    Presentation: « Differentially abundant bacteria drive the N2-fixation of a widespread moss in the forest-tundra transition zone ». D.A. Escolástico-Ortiz
  • NEES Seminar
    29 November 2022. Nees Institut für Biodiversität der Pflanzen-Universität Bonn. Bonn, Germany
    Presentation: « Evolutionary history and associated biological N2-fixation in a northern distributed moss ». D.A. Escolástico-Ortiz
  • International Association of Bryologists: Bryophytes, lichens, and northern ecosystems in a changing world
    6-9 July 2021. Laval University. Quebec, Canada
    Presentation: « Elucidating the phylogeographic history and post-glacial demographic signatures of the moss Racomitrium lanuginosum Brid ». D.A. Escolástico-Ortiz, L.Hedenäs, D. Quandt, D. Harpke, J. Larraín, M. Stech & J.C. Villarreal
  • Colloque of the Biology Department
    22-26 March 2021. Laval University. Quebec, Canada
    Presentation: « La spéciation façonne la phylogéographie de la mousse arctique Racomitrium lanuginosum (Hedw) Brid ». D.A. Escolástico-Ortiz, J.C. Villarreal
  • Colloque of the Centre for Northern Studies
    13-14 February, 2020. McGill University. Montreal, Canada
    Poster: « Phylogéographie de la mousse Racomitrium lanuginosum dans l’Arctique ». D.A. Escolástico-Ortiz, J.C. Villarreal

Grants, Fellowships and Awards

  • Award for study finalization
    29 April 2025. Centre for Northern Studies (CEN). PhD in Biology, Laval University
    400 $ CAD
  • Award for excellence in publication
    2 May 2023. Centre for Northern Studies (CEN). PhD in Biology, Laval University
    300 $ CAD
  • Scholarship for training (Bourse de mobilité)
    31 January 2023. Centre for Northern Studies (CEN). PhD in Biology, Laval University
    500 $ CAD
  • Scholarship for a training course
    14 September 2022. Centre of Forest Studies (CEF). PhD in Biology, Laval University
    3,000 $ CAD
  • Internship Mitacs Globalik
    October 2022-January 2023. MITACS. Nees Institut für Biodiversität der Pflanzen-Universität Bonn. Bonn, Germany
    6,000 $ CAD
  • Stanley Greene Award
    September 2021. The International Association of Bryologists (IAB). PhD in Biology, Laval University
    750 $ USD
  • Merit scholarship program for foreign students (PBEEE)
    2021-2022. Le Fonds de recherche du Québec - Nature et technologies et ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement Supérieur du Québec. PhD in Biology, Laval University
    25,000 $ CAD
  • Scholarship “Complemento Doctorado” - SEP 2018
    2018-2019. Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) México. PhD in Biology, Laval University
    4,480 $CAD
  • Becas del Programa de Fomento, Formación y Consolidación de Capital Humano de Alto Nivel.
    2018-2022. Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de México (CONACYT). PhD in Biology, Laval University
    72,000 $CAD

Internships and Training

  • Les premiers pas en recherche collaborative avec les Autochtones
    February 5 2025. Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, Natural Resources Canada. Quebec, Canada.
    Workshop
  • L’écogénomique des zones minières pour un nord Canadian durable (GENOSCAN)
    May-October 2022. Laval University. Quebec, Canada.
    Recherche Assistant. Partial time
  • Elucidating the evolutionary history of a cold-temperate moss group (Racomitrium sect. Racomitrium) using long read sequence data
    October 2022 - January 2023. Nees Institut für Biodiversität der Pflanzen-Universität Bonn. Bonn, Allemagne.
    MITACS Stage Globalink. Laboratory: Dietmar Quandt and Julia Bechteler
  • Generalised Linear Mixed Models in R
    26-30 September 2022. Physalia Courses. Online Course.
  • Analyses of nitrogen fixation and metal content in mosses
    March 2022. Sherbrooke University. Sherbrooke, Canada.
    Laboratory of Jean-Philippe Bellenger
  • Meeting: The Dicranidae Working Group
    6-9 July 2021. The Dicranidae Working Group. Online Course.
  • Population Genomics: From Data to Inference
    12-16 November 2018. Physalia Courses/Université Laval. Quebec, Canada.

Teaching experience

  • Cours ETE426: Environmental applied genomics
    20 February 2025. Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) - Programe d’études gradués. Quebec, Canada.
    Presentation: « Métagénomique et microbiome – Utilisation de la génomique pour la recherche dans les laboratoires du gouvernement canadien »
  • Bioinformatic analyses formation on Q2P
    May 21, 2025. Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, Natural Resources Canada. Quebec, Canada.
    Bachelor Student: Ariadna Chamorro; Projet: « Timmins: Vegetation management effects on the soil microbiome of a boreal mixedwood »
  • Microbial analysis formation
    October 1, 2024. Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, Natural Resources Canada. Quebec, Canada.
    Postdoctoral researcher: Amy-lyn Balaberda; Project: « Biogeochemical and Microbial Characterization of Froth Treatment Tailings »a
  • DNA extraction formation
    March 13, 2024. Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, Natural Resources Canada. Quebec, Canada.
    Bacherlor Stydent: Justine Gagne; Project: «Genomics research for optimization of constructed treatment wetlands for water remediation(GROW) »
  • Microbial analysis formation
    January 31, 2024. Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, Natural Resources Canada. Quebec, Canada.
    PhD Student: Toky Jeriniaina Rabearison; Project: « Phylogenetically related fast-growing trees and their root traits affect soil microbial communities »
  • Teaching assistant
    September 1, 2024. Laval University. Quebec, Canada.
    Biodiversity I (BIO-1005)
  • Teaching assistant
    September-December, 2021. Laval University. Quebec, Canada.
    Biodiversity I (BIO-1005)
  • Teaching assistant
    September-December, 2020. Laval University. Quebec, Canada.
    Biodiversity I (BIO-1005)

Peer-reviewing

  • Global Ecology and Conservation March 31, 2025.
  • Revista de Biología Tropical January 2023.
  • Annals of Botany December 2022.
  • The Bryologist November 2022.

Outreach

  • Bryological Times
    June 13, 2025. International Association of Bryologists.
    Article: «Hide and seek in the tundra: Decoding cryptic diversity in Racomitrium lanuginosum populations»
  • Café Science
    4 December, 2024. Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, Natural Resources Canada. Quebec, Canada.
    Presentation: «Effets plantes-sol sur les communautés microbiennes dans un contexte de restauration écologique.»
  • L’épopée forestière:125 ans de science CFL
    20-21 September 2024. Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, Natural Resources Canada. Quebec, Canada.
    Presentation: «Laboratoire de génomique forestière.»
  • La Pepinière
    February 2024. Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, Natural Resources Canada. Quebec, Canada.
    Presentation: «Laboratoire de génomique environnementale- Méthode de métabarcoding»
  • Bryophyte Symposium: Current Knowledge
    25-26 May, 2023. Briofitas Latinoamérica. Online Event.
    Presentation: «La lluvia y los tallos gemíferos influencian la producción de yemas en dos musgos tropicales»
  • Briofitas Latinoámerica - Scientific Group
    2017-Present. Briofitas Latinoamérica. Facebook page.
    Hernandez-Rodriguez, E.; Juárez-Martínez, C., Rodriguez, L.,… Escolástico-Ortiz, D.A.: «A group formed by students aiming to share general knowledge about bryophytes in Latin American countries through social media and podcasts»