Publications

Books

An Evolutionary Road Trip, Part 1: Origins of Our Flora & Fungi

This is the first book in a five-part series and is now available on Amazon. This book focuses on the origins of life, photosynthesis, algae, fungi, and the algal ancestors of plants during the Archean and Proterozoic Eons.

Description: Journey into the hidden history of how life evolved to shape the world beneath our feet. This vivid and approachable book tells the story of how Earth’s first organisms emerged, thrived, and transformed the planet into a world bursting with life. Explore how key adaptations allowed organisms to survive, even as shifting continents and changing climates continually reshaped the surface of the Earth. From the rise of early algae and fungi in ancient seas to their bold steps onto glaciers and then land, uncover the remarkable partnerships that laid the foundation for modern ecosystems. Blending fossil evidence, genetic discoveries, and scientific insights, this book brings to life the astonishing saga of how life’s earliest forms built the world we know today. Ideal for readers curious about nature’s deep past, it reveals how plants and fungi worked together to make Earth a living planet.

An Evolutionary Road Trip, Part 2: How Plants & Fungi Colonized Land

This is the second book in a five-part series and is available on Amazon. This book focuses on the early Paleozoic and the rise and early diversification of land plants and fungi.

Description: Come along on an exploration of when plants and fungi began to dramatically alter Earth's terrestrial landscape during the early Paleozoic Era. This engaging and accessible book narrates how these pioneering organisms evolved, colonized land, and fostered the development of complex ecosystems. Discover how key adaptations enabled plants and fungi to survive and thrive amid the shifting climates and expanding landmasses, laying the groundwork for the vibrant biosphere we see today. From the emergence of algal-like plants to the conquest of land by fungi and early vascular plants, explore the remarkable steps that reshaped our planet's ecological fabric. Blending fossil evidence, genetic discoveries, and scientific insights, this book brings to life the astonishing saga of how life’s earliest forms built the world we know today. Ideal for readers curious about nature’s deep past, it reveals how plants and fungi worked together to make Earth a living planet.

Journal Articles

Haghighi, F., Choo, T., Fueyo-Gomez, I., Sun, S., Galfalvy, H., Singer, A., Benitez, A., McClenton, M., Chamberlain, S., Lorenzetti, B., Meore, A., Feder, A., Adams, T., & Boyer, J. (2026). 318. Growing Wellness: How Therapeutic Horticulture Empowers Veterans Through Connection and Resilience. Biological Psychiatry, 99(10), S236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2026.03.552.

Meore, A., N. Ganesh, S. Sun, A. Singer, L. Byma, B. Gibbard, A. Feder, T. Adams, H. Galfalvy, J. Boyer, and F. Haghighi. (2024). Pilot Study of Telehealth Delivery of Horticultural Therapy (TeleHT) as an Acceptable Intervention and in Reducing Suicide Risk Factors and Improving Wellness in Veterans. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2024.103075.

Meore, A., S. Sun, L. Byma, S. Alter, A. Vitale, E. Podolak, B. Gibbard, T. Adams, J. Boyer, H. Galfalvy, R. Yehuda, A. Feder, and F. Haghighi. (2021). Pilot Evaluation of Horticultural Therapy in Improving Overall Wellness in Veterans with History of Suicidality. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102728.

Boyer, J. 2014. Scientific Adventure in a Children’s Garden. Public Garden 28: 8-9.

Boyer, J., K. Fortney, and S. Watts. 2010. The Changing Landscape of Museum-Provided Professional Development for Teachers. In Fortney, K. and B. Sheppard [eds.] An Alliance of Spirit: Museum and School Partnerships. The AAM Press, Washington D.C., 57-64.

Boyer, J. and W.E. Stein. 2008. [Ph.D. Dissertation]. Testing the Telome Concept: A Modeling Approach for Understanding the Growth of Early Vascular Plants. State University of New York. 237 p.

Chapter 1: An Analysis of the Telome Concept and Early Land Plant Growth. 13 p.
Chapter 2: Growth and Development in Psilotum nudum (Psilotaceae). 38 p.
Chapter 3: A Morphometric Analysis of an Early Euphyllophyte, Psilophyton dapsile 22 p.
Chapter 4: Modeling the Morphogenesis of Basal Euphyllophytes. 51 p.
Chapter 5: A Comparative Study of Fossil and Simulated Plants. 33 p.

Boyer, J. 2008. Science Educators and Interactive Workshops. Education Update 14: 4.

Stein, W. E. and J.S. Boyer. 2006. Evolution of land plant architecture: beyond the telome theory. Paleobiology 32: 450-482.

Boyer, J. 1995. [M.S. Dissertation] Reexamination of Eospermatopteris eriana (Dawson) Goldring from the upper Middle Devonian (=Givetian) Flora at Gilboa, New York. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. 64 p.

Johansen, J.R. and J.S. Boyer, Jr. 1995. A morphometric analysis of six Chaetoceros strains from inland saline lakes, with a description of Chaetoceros transisetus sp. nov. In Kocilek, J.P. and M.J. Sullivan [eds.] A century of diatom research in North America: a tribute to the distinguished careers of Charles W. Reimer and Ruth Patrick. Koeltz Scientific Books, Champaign, 87-101.

Google Sites

Report abuse