Hector E. Perez
Assistant Professor
Environmental Horticulture Dept.
University of Florida
Rm. 103 Bldg. 550, PO Box 110675
Gainesville FL 32611-0675
Voice: 352.392.1831 x 221
Fax: 352.392.1413
Email:heperez@ufl.edu
Professional Background:
Education
Ph.D. Horticulture (Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology Specialization) (Univ. Hawaii), 2006
M.S. Environmental Horticulture (University of Florida), 2001
B.S. Management/Entrepreneurship (Florida Atlantic University), 1994
Teaching and Research
Hector Perez has a 60% teaching and 40% research assignment. He teaches Plant Propagation (PLS 3221/L, HOS 5222C); Environmental Plant Identification and Use (ORH 3513C, HOS 5115); Techniques in Landscaping (ORH 4932); and mentors undergraduate students taking Garden and Landscape Management (ORH 4905). He is developing a graduate level Ex situ Plant Conservation Course. Hector guides students to an understanding of concepts and proficiency in applications through active and inquiry-based lessons. Lessons developed for any course are student-focused rather than teacher-centered. In this regard, students are not passively receiving information, but are required to openly practice their thinking. Hector is also co-advisor of the Environmental Horticulture Club.
Research in the lab focuses on developmental physiology of seeds; germination ecology; and macro-propagation. A rationale for the research program is to understand how germplasm may be stored and propagated more effectively for restoration purposes. We work with native and endangered plants from various ecosystems. Hector is one of the founding members of the Plant Restoration and Conservation Horticulture (PRCH) research consortium. Members of PRCH work collaboratively to research the applications of horticultural technologies to conserve and restore plant diversity in ecosystems.
Research Projects
Developing A Web-Based Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Ecological Restoration (2007-10; $500,000; Co-PI; USDA-CREES-HEC)
Establishing Provenance, Viability-Testing Standards, and Enhanced Germination for Seed Production of Wiregrass in Florida (2007-08; $49,650; PI; Florida Wildflower Foundation)
Long-term Educational Wildflower Meadow (2007-08; $24,357; PI; Florida Wildflower Foundation)
Propagation, Production, and Landscape Evaluation of Native Wildflowers in West, Central, and South Florida (2007-08; $36,298; Co-PI; Florida Wildflower Foundation)
Overcoming Dormancy Mechanisms and Promoting Germination of Florida Native Wildflowers Useful for Roadside and Urban Planting (2006-07, $31,060, Florida Wildflower Foundation)
Implications of Embryo Desiccation Tolerance, Seed Dormancy and Seed Damage for
Conservation of Pritchardia Palms Endemic to Hawaii (2001-2006)
Graduate Student Supervisory Committees:
Julie Sorenson (Member; Current)
Alison Heather MS (Co-Chair; Current)
Dan Steever MS-NT (Member; Graduated DEC 2006)
Selected Pubs
Perez, H.E. (2005). What Students Can Do to Improve Graduate Education in Conservation Biology. Conservation Biology 19: 2033-2035.
Perez, H.E. (2005). Rapid Excision of Pritchardia Embryos. PALMS 49: 36-39.
Dehgan, B.D. and H.E. Perez (2005). Preliminary Study Shows Germination of Caribbean Applecactus (Harrisia fragrans) Improved with Acid Scarification and Gibberellic Acid. Native Plants Journal Spring: 91-96.
Perez, H.E. and K.D. Kobayashi (2004). Graduate Student Professional Development: A Case Study. HortTechnology 14: 625-627.
Dehgan, B., J.G. Norcini, S.M. Kabat, and H.E. Perez (2003). Effect of Seed Scarification and Gibberellic Acid Treatment on Seedling Emergence of Sky-blue Lupine (Lupinus diffusus). Journal of Environmental Horticulture 21: 64-67.
