About

The Ávila-Lovera lab at The University of Utah is interested in understanding how plants respond to and tolerate drought, with a special focus on stem photosynthesis in desert plants. Stem photosynthesis is known to be advantageous in seasonally dry ecosystems, as plants have an extended growing season, but its effects on plant drought tolerance and survival are fairly unknown.

Menodora spinescens in Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by M. De Guzman.

Oranys, Osedipo and Eleinis (+ two field assistants) in Lytle Nature Preserve in May 2025. Photo by Oranys Marín.

The lab at our end of semester lunch, December 2025.

Starch granules stained with Lugol. February 2026.

Recent Events

The Lab went to Tucson, AZ, for Botany 2026

Here's a list of presentations:

Rinn B., Ávila-Lovera E. Role of climate of origin and phylogenetic relatedness in the response of stem photosynthesis to drought. Annual Meeting of the Botanical Society of America. Tucson, Arizona. August 1-5, 2026. (poster)
Vandendries A., Ávila-Lovera E. A desert shrub (Ericameria nauseosa) operates beyond the hydraulic optimum predicted by gain-risk stomatal optimization theory. Annual Meeting of the Botanical Society of America. Tucson, Arizona, August 1-5, 2026. (poster)
Adegbeyeni O., Marin O., Ávila-Lovera E. Variable Water-Use Strategies in Desert Plants with Photosynthetic Stems. Annual Meeting of the Botanical Society of America. Tucson, Arizona, August 1-5, 2026. (talk)
Marín O., Manuitt-Brito P., Ávila-Lovera E. Stem photosynthesis is more important in dry than wet conditions in the desert shrub Ericameria nauseosa. Annual Meeting of the Botanical Society of America. Tucson, Arizona, Aug. 1-6, 2026. (talk)

The Lab at ESA 2026 in Salt Lake City

Eze C.E., Alveo R., Winter K., Ávila-Lovera E., Slot M. Differential effects of warming and vapor pressure deficit on photosynthesis in tropical forest tree species with contrasting successional status. Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Salt Lake City, Utah, July 26-31, 2026. (poster)

Marín O., Manuitt-Brito P., Ávila-Lovera E. Different Organs, Different Strategies: Photochemical Responses to Drought in Ericameria nauseosa. Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Salt Lake City, Utah, Jul. 26-31, 2026. (poster)