Gina at workGina at work

as a researcher at The as a researcher at The Northwestern Center for Northwestern Center for

Biological Research (CIBNOR) Biological Research (CIBNOR) and professor at the and professor at the

Autonomous University of Baja Autonomous University of Baja California Sur in La Paz, California Sur in La Paz,

MexicoMexicoPhotos courtesy of Taylor Morey and friends of GinaPhotos courtesy of Taylor Morey and friends of GinaPresentation by Juan-Pablo HernandezPresentation by Juan-Pablo Hernandez

Initial steps: studies of decay Initial steps: studies of decay of cardon cactus in 1991-1994of cardon cactus in 1991-1994

With Gerardo Toledo, a M.Sc. studentWith Gerardo Toledo, a M.Sc. student

Initial steps: studies of decay Initial steps: studies of decay of cardon cactus in 1991-1994of cardon cactus in 1991-1994

On the island of Espiritu Santo with Gerardo Toledo (R) and Yoav Bashan (L)On the island of Espiritu Santo with Gerardo Toledo (R) and Yoav Bashan (L)

Initial steps: studies of decay Initial steps: studies of decay of cardon cactus in 1991-1994of cardon cactus in 1991-1994

On the island of Espiritu SantoOn the island of Espiritu Santo

Initial steps: studies of decay Initial steps: studies of decay of cardon cactus in 1991-1994of cardon cactus in 1991-1994

On the island of Espiritu SantoOn the island of Espiritu Santo

• Initial steps: Initial steps: studies of studies of decay of decay of cardon cardon cactus in cactus in 1991-19941991-1994

On the island of Espiritu SantoOn the island of Espiritu Santo

Initial steps: helping farmers in Initial steps: helping farmers in Valle de Santo Domingo to Valle de Santo Domingo to improve their crops (1992-improve their crops (1992-

1994)1994)

Initial steps: Study of Initial steps: Study of microbiology of a saltern in microbiology of a saltern in

1991-19921991-1992

Initial steps: Study of Initial steps: Study of microbiology of a saltern in microbiology of a saltern in

1991-19921991-1992

In the laboratories of In the laboratories of CIBNOR in 1992CIBNOR in 1992

With Norma HernandezWith Norma Hernandez

Initial steps: mangrove Initial steps: mangrove research, the great love of her research, the great love of her

life in 1992-1993life in 1992-1993

Collecting propagules of black mangroves for experiments in Balandra LagoonCollecting propagules of black mangroves for experiments in Balandra Lagoon

Initial steps: mangrove Initial steps: mangrove research, the great love of her research, the great love of her

life in 1992-1993life in 1992-1993

Collecting seedlings of black mangroves at local beach with Joseph DobruvskyCollecting seedlings of black mangroves at local beach with Joseph Dobruvsky

Surveying cacti and desert Surveying cacti and desert plants in 1996plants in 1996

With Luz Gonzalez visiting from ColombiaWith Luz Gonzalez visiting from Colombia

Surveying a desert in Baja Surveying a desert in Baja California Sur in 1996California Sur in 1996

With Luz Gonzalez visiting from ColombiaWith Luz Gonzalez visiting from Colombia

South of LoretoSouth of Loreto

The oasis of San IgnacioThe oasis of San Ignacio

Surveying cacti and desert Surveying cacti and desert plants in 2002plants in 2002

Probably in San Juan de los Planes, Probably in San Juan de los Planes, a heavy deforested areaa heavy deforested area

Surveying desert plants in Surveying desert plants in 20042004

Probably near La Paz at an area to be converted to a golf-course communityProbably near La Paz at an area to be converted to a golf-course community

With the major love of her With the major love of her professional life; arid-region professional life; arid-region

mangrovesmangroves

With the major love of her With the major love of her professional life; arid-region professional life; arid-region

mangrovesmangroves

Giving a tour of mangroves to visitorsGiving a tour of mangroves to visitors

Taking samples from mangroves seedlings Taking samples from mangroves seedlings with her student Patricia Vazquez in 1998with her student Patricia Vazquez in 1998

Proud of the first reforestation of arid-Proud of the first reforestation of arid-region mangroves in Mexico in 1996region mangroves in Mexico in 1996

Getting a Ph.D. at the Getting a Ph.D. at the University of University of Waterloo, Waterloo,

Canada (1996-2000)Canada (1996-2000)

A long and life-changingA long and life-changingbreak in her desert studiesbreak in her desert studies

Teaching basic microbiology at Teaching basic microbiology at the Autonomous University of the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur in La Paz Baja California Sur in La Paz

(2002-2006)(2002-2006)

With her student Ani FloresWith her student Ani Flores

A field trip with her students A field trip with her students to the damaged mangroves to the damaged mangroves

on El Mogoteon El Mogote

In the mangrove at Balandra that were In the mangrove at Balandra that were planned to be converted to a golf planned to be converted to a golf course. Gina fought endlessly to course. Gina fought endlessly to

conserve this outstanding natural areaconserve this outstanding natural area

Balandra mangroves were declared a municipal park and a RAMSAR priority conservation site Balandra mangroves were declared a municipal park and a RAMSAR priority conservation site in 2008. Gina did not live to see her greatest success.in 2008. Gina did not live to see her greatest success.

With Ani Flores (L)With Ani Flores (L)Luis Leyva (M), andLuis Leyva (M), andLior Bashan (R)Lior Bashan (R)

Gina left all of us much to Gina left all of us much to dodo

May the mangroves of the Baja May the mangroves of the Baja California Peninsula be protected, California Peninsula be protected,

as she intended them to be.as she intended them to be.