Growth and biochemical analysis of evergreen haloxeric tree species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvadora oleoides</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvadora persica</Emphasis> under NaCl stress

In vitro growth, development, total soluble proteins and peroxidase profiles of Salvadora oleoides and Salvadora persica under NaCl stress were analysed in the present investigation. The plants are evergreen haloxeric tree species of family Salvadoraceae. Shoot apex from natural plants were initially used for screening of NaCl tolerance on MS culture medium. Shoot apex of S. oleoides and S. persica could survive optimally up to 200 and 100 mM NaCl. Axillary buds from nodal shoot segments of S. oleoides and S. persica were activated on 6 and 4 μM BAP, and were used further for extraction of total soluble proteins and peroxidases. Total soluble proteins were increased up to 150 mM NaCl in S. oleoides, but decline above 50 mM NaCl in S. persica. Peroxidase activity remained almost constant in S. oleoides at all the concentrations and duration of NaCl, but increased at 100 mM NaCl during fourth week of treatment in S. persica. Eleven peroxidase isozymes were observed in zymogram of S. oleoides. Isozymes P1, P2, P3, and P4 were slightly appeared, but P6 isozyme was lacking in S. persica. The P5 isozyme was more prominent in S. persica than S. oleoides. Isozyme P9 of S. persica was visible during the first week of NaCl treatment, but disappeared in the fourth week. Molecular biology of these plants can be useful further for the understanding of stress tolerance mechanisms for prospects.     

Ixodid ticks of African buffalo (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Syncerus caffer</Emphasis>), impala (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aepyceros melampus</Emphasis>) and elephant (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Loxodonta africana</Emphasis>) in five protected park estates in the Zambezi valley,Zimbabwe

Wildlife hosts many pathogens of economic importance and is considered as a reservoir of important tick-borne diseases of livestock in southern Africa. The species composition of ticks parasitizing buffalo (Syncerus caffer), impala (Aepyceros melampus) and elephant (Loxodonta africana) was investigated in five protected parks in the Zambezi valley, Zimbabwe. A total of 1104 adult ticks was collected from 75 adult animals comprising five buffaloes, five elephants and five impalas drawn from five protected wildlife parks. Five tick species belonging to two genera were recovered, with Rhipicephalus decoloratus being the most prevalent species in all the three animal groups. Amblyomma hebraeum was only recovered from buffaloes whereas Rhipicephalus zambeziensis was recovered from buffalos and elephants. Significant differences in mean tick species distribution and concentration were observed amongst the wildlife parks and these appeared to be influenced by the number of hosts in each park. The study revealed that buffaloes are the major host of R. decoloratus in the Zambezi valley. The presence of these ixodid ticks within the Zambezi valley may have significant ecological and economic impacts on wildlife conservation, domestic animals and human health.     

Molecular evidence for hybridization between invasive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solidago canadensis</Emphasis> and native <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>. <Emphasis Type="Italic">virgaurea</Emphasis>

Hybridization between alien and native species is biologically very important and could lead to genetic erosion of native taxa. Solidago × niederederi was discovered over a century ago in Austria and described by Khek as a natural hybrid between the alien (nowadays regarded also as invasive) S. canadensis and native S. virgaurea. Although interspecific hybridization in the genus Solidago is considered to be relatively common, hybrid nature of S. × niederederi has not been independently proven using molecular tools, to date. Because proper identification of the parentage for the hybrid Solidago individuals solely based on morphological features can be misleading, in this paper we report an additive polymorphism pattern expressed in the ITS sequences obtained from individuals representing S. × niederederi, and confirm the previous hypothesis that the parental species of this hybrid are S. canadensis and S. virgaurea. Additionally, based on variability at the cpDNA rpl32-trnL locus, we showed that in natural populations hybridization occurs in both directions.     

Local Knowledge on the Uses,Habitat, and Change in Abundance of Multipurpose <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mimusops</Emphasis> Species in Benin

Multipurpose NTFP species typically experience higher harvest demand because of their multiple uses, which, when combined with unsustainable land use practices, may threaten population viability. We assessed local knowledge on the uses, habitat, and population status of Mimusops andongensis and Mimusops kummel, both multipurpose NTFP species in Benin, to promote their valorization and conservation and thus sustain local knowledge on their uses for domestication issues. One hundred households were randomly selected for structured interviews for M. andongensis and 500 for M. kummel. The relationship between age, sex, and ethnic groups and the species uses was assessed using comparison and correspondence analyses. Nearly all organs of the species were used. Both species were mainly exploited for medicinal purposes but also in construction and as firewood. We found similarities in some uses of the species organs, although the species occur in different ecological zones and are used by different ethnic groups. This result should be considered for the valorization of the species. Most informants reported that populations of M. andongensis were decreasing, although some felt that they were increasing, whereas less than one-third said that M. kummel was decreasing. There were strong relationships between gender, age, and ethnic affiliation of the users and the exploited organs of both species. Potential uses exist based on both the past and current uses of the species and in comparison to other countries where they are exploited. Local ethnoecological knowledge and practices will help to valorize and conserve the species. However, further research on the species’ seed germination and propagation ability are also necessary.     

A sophisticated species conservation strategy for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nyssa yunnanensis</Emphasis>, a species with extremely small populations in China

Conservation of plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) is a focus of wild plant conservation in China at present. A relevant strategy for PSESP conservation requires improvement from previous programs for rare and endangered plants and national key protected plants. An integrated strategy for PSESP conservation of the Nyssa yunnanensis was initiated and applied over a 7-year period (2009–2015). Here, we reviewed the processes to implement the strategy: resource inventory, formulation of conservation action plan (CAP), in situ conservation, seedling propagation, near situ conservation, ex situ conservation and scientific research. Major concerns and technical requirements for each action are described and further analyzed within a broad scope to conserve PSESPs. A detailed resource inventory that highlights both the change in population status and the participation of local residents is recommended before the formulation of the CAP. Techniques for determination of the area of a mini-reserve is developed for in situ conservation of N. yunnanensis. Near situ conservation is a novel approach whereby establishing new viable population in contiguous areas with a similar climate, habitat and community, in which techniques for seedling preparation, soil preparation, and early management are introduced. A population-based species conservation strategy for N. yunnanensis may aid additional PSESP conservation, so as to contribute to overall wild plant conservation.     

Identification of 21 novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">S-RNase</Emphasis> alleles and determination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-genotypes in 66 loquat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eriobotrya</Emphasis>) accessions

As observed in other self-incompatible species in the Pyrinae subtribe, loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) demonstrates gametophytic self-incompatibility that is controlled by the S-locus, which encodes a polymorphic stylar ribonuclease (S-RNase). This allows the female reproductive organ (style) to recognize and reject the pollen from individuals with the same S-alleles, but allows the pollen from individuals with different S-alleles to effect fertilization. The S-genotype is therefore an important consideration in breeding strategies and orchard management. In an attempt to optimize the selection of parental lines in loquat production, the S-RNase alleles of 35 loquat cultivars and their 26 progeny, as well as five wild loquat species, were identified and characterized in this study. The best pollinizer cultivar combinations were also explored. A total of 28 S-alleles were detected, 21 of which constituted novel S-RNase alleles. The S-haplotypes S₂ and S₆ were the most frequent, followed by S ₂₉ , S ₃₁ , S ₅ , S ₂₄ , S ₂₈ , S ₃₃ , S ₃₄ , S ₃₂ , and S ₁₅ , while the rare alleles S ₁ , S ₉ , S ₁₄ , S ₁₆ , S ₁₇ , S ₁₈ , S ₁₉ , S ₂₀ , S ₂₁ , S ₂₂ , S ₂₃ , S ₂₇ , and S ₃₅ were only observed in one of the accessions tested. Moreover, the S-genotypes of five wild loquat species (E. prinoides, E. bengalensis, E. prinoides var. dadunensis, E. deflexa, and E. japonica) are reported here for the first time. The results will not only facilitate the selection of suitable pollinators for optimal orchard management, but could also encourage the crossbreeding of wild loquat species to enhance the genetic diversity of loquat cultivars.     

Genetic diversity and population structure in the narrow endemic Chinese walnut <Emphasis Type="Italic">Juglans hopeiensis</Emphasis> Hu: implications for conservation

The conservation of narrow endemic species relies on accurate information regarding their population structure. Juglans hopeiensis Hu (Ma walnut), found only in Hebei province, Beijing, and Tianjin, China, is a threatened tree species valued commercially for its nut and wood. Sequences of two maternally inherited mitochondrial markers and two maternally inherited chloroplast intergenic spacers, three nuclear DNA sequences, and allele sizes from 11 microsatellites were obtained from 108 individuals of J. hopeiensis, Juglans regia, and Juglans mandshurica. Haplotype networks were constructed using NETWORK. Genetic diversity, population differentiation, and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) were used to determine genetic structure. MEGA was used to construct phylogenetic trees. Genetic diversity of J. hopeiensis was moderate based on nuclear DNA, but low based on uniparentally inherited mitochondrial DNA and chloroplast DNA. Haplotype networks showed that J. hopeiensis haplotypes were different than haplotypes found in J. regia and J. mandshurica. Allelic variants in nuclear genes that were shared among J. hopeiensis populations were not found in J. regia or J. mandshurica. Sampled populations of J. hopeiensis showed clear genetic structure. The maximum parsimony (MP) tree showed J. hopeiensis to be distinct from J. mandshurica but threatened by hybridization with J. regia and J. mandshurica. J. hopeiensis populations are strongly differentiated from sympatric Juglans species, but they are threatened by small population sizes and hybridization.     

Geometric morphometric analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Setaria italica</Emphasis> (L.) P. Beauv. (foxtail millet) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachiaria ramosa</Emphasis> (L.) Stapf. (browntop millet) and its implications for understanding the biogeography of small millets

Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. (foxtail millet) was originally domesticated in northern China. The time and route of its introduction into South Asia is currently unclear due to the possible confusion with autochthonous Brachiaria ramosa (L.) Stapf. (browntop millet). Geometric morphometrics (GM) offer an alternative to traditional archaeobotanical methods to distinguish between these two small millet species. This study aims at finding a method to securely distinguish among charred caryopses of S. italica and B. ramosa, testing its validity on archaeobotanical assemblages and proposing a new approach for studying the dispersion of S. italica throughout Eurasia. Modern S. italica (n = 35) and B. ramosa (n = 34) caryopses and 15 archaeological specimens from a 5th millennium bp archaeological occupation site in northwestern India were analysed. Archaeological and modern caryopses (before and after charring) were photographed with a Leica EZ4D stereoscope, and TPSdig software was used to scale the photographs and manually apply a configuration of three landmarks and six semi-landmarks onto the contours of the embryos. Multivariate statistics were carried out to analyse the shape differences between modern S. italica and B. ramosa and to classify the archaeological specimens. The results show that the shape of the embryo of both species can be clearly distinguished using a GM-approach, both before and after charring. However, charring tends to smooth the shape differences between the two groups, which may affect the interpretation of archaeobotanical assemblages. The comparison between modern and archaeological caryopses suggests that S. italica was not present in northwestern India during the 5th millennium bp.     

African Cycad Ecology,Ethnobotany and Conservation: A Synthesis

Africa hosts a rich assemblage of cycads: 66 Encephalartos species, Stangeria eriopus and Cycas thouarsii. Most Encephalartos and S. eriopus adults appear to be fire-tolerant, and certain Encephalartos species may be fire-dependent. Four Encephalartos species and S. eriopus are primarily insect-pollinated. African cycad populations typically have sex ratios of 1:1, with very small populations often male-biased. Coning is typically infrequent and erratic, with many species exhibiting mast-seeding. Viable seed production in Encephalartos populations tends to decline with decreasing population size, and seed predation by weevils is common. Seed dispersal in Encephalartos is usually localized, but vertebrates may facilitate dispersal over longer distances. Stem material of 25 Encephalartos species and S. eriopus is used for traditional medicine, primarily in South Africa. Two-thirds of Africa’s cycad species are threatened, with four species already Extinct in the Wild. The illegal acquisition of cycads from wild populations is the principle threat to their persistence. Further research is recommended on seed and fire ecology, population dynamics, and the outcomes of conservation interventions.     

Immune defenses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agriotes lineatus</Emphasis> larvae against entomopathogenic nematodes

The present work describes the immune response of wireworm larvae, Agriotes lineatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Elateridae) when challenged with two species of entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) (Strongyloidea: Steinernematidae) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar) (Rhabiditoidea: Heterorhabditidae). Two main immunological processes including cellular and humoral reactions have been addressed. Total haemocyte counts after infection with H. bacteriophora increased quickly in initial times, but decreased over time post-injection (at 12 and 16 h). Instead, haemocyte numbers after infection with S. feltiae was unchanged in the early stage, but significantly decreased until 16 h post-injection. Plasmatocytes and granulocytes showed more significant changes compared to other haemocytes. The encapsulation response to parasites was significantly different against two nematode species. Particularly, S. feltiae was almost unrecognized by host haemocytes (5.85 % of encapsulated parasites). Assays with H. bacteriophora showed 23.5 % of encapsulated nematodes. From 8 to 12 h after H. bacteriophora infection, an increase in phenoloxidase activity was detected, while in the larvae injected with S. feltiae the enzymatic activity decreased gradually reaching the lowest level 16 h post-injection. This is the first report on the modulation of immune response of wireworm larvae after infection with entomopathogenic nematodes.     

Life history,breeding biology and movement in a new species of carnivorous marsupial,the buff-footed antechinus (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Antechinus mysticus</Emphasis>) and a sympatric congener,the subtropical antechinus (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Antechinus subtropicus</Emphasis>)

Antechinus are one of just a few mammal genera worldwide which exhibit semelparous reproduction. Consequently, the life history of many antechinus has been well studied. However, in the last few years, several new species have been described in the genus and their ecology is little known. Here, the first multi-year ecological study of breeding, growth and movement in one of these species, the buff-footed antechinus, Antechinus mysticus, was undertaken. Over a 2-year period, monthly capture-mark-recapture data from two geographically close sites (~2.5 km apart) in south-east Queensland, Australia, were collected. At one site, the subtropical antechinus, Antechinus subtropicus, also occurred. This allowed the investigation of possible competitive effects between this larger Antechinus species and A. mysticus. Intensive trapping across the breeding season of A. mysticus also allowed the growth rates of pouch young of a wild antechinus population to be calculated for the first time. Results showed that A. mysticus followed the synchronous, semelparous breeding strategy seen in all congeners. Male A. mysticus were last caught in August, and females gave birth in September. Average distance moved by A. mysticus was comparable with congeners. Competition with A. subtropicus may affect A. mysticus because A. mysticus weighed more and males moved further when not in sympatry with A. subtropicus. However, female A. mysticus moved further when in sympatry with A. subtropicus, confounding clear interpretation. Overall, the life history information obtained for A. mysticus provides a foundation for further research and will aid the conservation management of this new species.     

A re-evaluation of diversity of the Aporocotylidae Odhner, 1912 in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Siganus fuscescens</Emphasis> (Houttuyn) (Perciformes: Siganidae) and associated species

The aporocotylid fauna of the mottled spinefoot, Siganus fuscescens (Houttuyn), from Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, was characterised using a combined morphological and molecular approach. Four aporocotylid species were identified, three belonging to the genus Ankistromeces Nolan & Cribb, 2006 and one to Cardicola Short, 1953. Specimens of Cardicola matched an undescribed species from the same host and locality; this species is described as Cardicola mogilae n. sp. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS2 and 28S data showed that C. mogilae n. sp. forms a strongly supported clade with other Cardicola species from siganid fishes. We record Ankistromeces olsoni Nolan & Cribb, 2006 in Moreton Bay for the first time, redescribe A. dunwichensis Nolan & Cribb, 2006 on the basis of new specimens and sequence data and re-report Ankistromeces sp. X from Moreton Bay based on molecular data. We review the status of the ten putative species of aporocotylids reported from siganids. Small variation in ITS2 rDNA sequences, in association with different geographic localities, was previously used to separate Cardicola lafii Nolan & Cribb, 2006 from C. parilus Nolan & Cribb, 2006, C. bartolii Nolan & Cribb, 2006 from C. watsonensis Nolan & Cribb, 2006, C. tantabiddii Nolan & Cribb, 2006 from Cardicola sp. 2, Ankistromeces sp. Y from A. olsoni and Ankistromeces sp. X from Ankistromeces sp. Z. These five combinations are reinterpreted as each representing a single species; Cardicola lafii is recognised as the senior synonym of C. parilus and C. bartolii as the senior synonym of C. watsonensis. This study thus suggests that six, rather than ten, species should be recognised as infecting S. fuscescens. This richness remains greater than is known for any other fish species and siganids are, so far, unique among fishes in harbouring two strongly radiated lineages of aporocotylids.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudodelphis eleginopsis</Emphasis> n. sp. (Nematoda: Guyanemidae), a new tissue-dwelling parasite of the Patagonian blennie <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eleginops maclovinus</Emphasis> (Cuvier) (Perciformes: Eleginopsidae) in Argentina,with notes on related forms

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, a new nematode parasite, Pseudodelphis eleginopsis n. sp. (Dracunculoidea: Guyanemidae), is described from tissues behind the gills of the Patagonian blennie Eleginops maclovinus (Cuvier) (Perciformes: Eleginopsidae) off the Atlantic coast (San Matías and San José Gulfs) of Patagonia, Argentina. The new species is mainly characterised by the length of the body (males 10–13 mm, larvigerous females 31–59 mm), the number (14) and arrangement of cephalic papillae, the absence of a buccal capsule, the muscular to glandular oesophagus length ratio (1:3–4) of larvigerous females, the length of the spicules (48–63 µm) and the number (7 pairs) and arrangement of the caudal papillae in the male. Pseudodelphis eleginopsis n. sp. is the first species of this genus described from a marine fish in the Atlantic Ocean and the first known dracunculoid parasitising the fish host belonging to the family Eleginopsidae. As revealed by the examination of very young females of the new species, the female genital tract of Pseudodelphis spp. is monodelphic. The genus Syngnathinema Moravec, Spangenberg & Frasca, 2001 is considered a junior synonym of Pseudodelphis Adamson & Roth, 1990 and, consequently, S. californiense and S. chitwoodi are transferred to Pseudodelphis as P. californiensis (Moravec, Spangenberg & Frasca, 2001) n. comb. and P. chitwoodi (Moravec & Kuchta, 2013) n. comb., respectively. Two dracunculoid species, Pseudodelphis limnicola Brugni & Viozzi, 2006 and the previously established Philonema percichthydis Moravec, Urawa & Coria, 1997, both described from the same freshwater host species, Percichthys trucha (Valenciennes), in the same region (Patagonia), are considered to be identical; therefore, the valid name of this species is Pseudodelphis percichthydis n. comb. and P. limnicola becomes its junior synonym. A key to the species of Pseudodelphis is provided.     

Revision of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neolebouria</Emphasis> Gibson, 1976 (Digenea: Opecoelidae), with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trilobovarium</Emphasis> n. g., for species infecting tropical and subtropical shallow-water fishes

A new opecoelid trematode is reported from fishes of the Lethrinidae, Lutjanidae and Nemipteridae off Lizard Island on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The new species keys to Neolebouria Gibson, 1976 and shows strong similarity to several species of that genus, but is not consistent with the type-species, N. georgiensis Gibson, 1976, or others known from temperate/polar and/or deep-sea fishes. The new species is also phylogenetically distant from N. lanceolata (Price, 1934) Reimer, 1987, the only representative of the genus for which molecular data are available. A new genus, Trilobovarium n. g., is proposed for the new species, T. parvvatis n. sp. Eight morphologically similar species, previously recognised as belonging to Neolebouria, from shallow-water, mostly tropical/subtropical fishes, are transferred to Trilobovarium: T. diacopae (Nagaty & Abdel Aal, 1962) n. comb.; T. ira (Yamaguti, 1940) n. comb.; T. khalili (Ramadan, 1983) n. comb.; T. krusadaiense (Gupta, 1956) n. comb.; T. lineatum (Aken’Ova & Cribb, 2001) n. comb.; T. moretonense (Aken’Ova & Cribb, 2001) n. comb.; T. palauense (Machida, 2014) n. comb.; and T. truncatum (Linton, 1940) n. comb. Paramanteriella Li, Qiu & Zhang, 1988 is resurrected for five species of Neolebouria with a post-bifurcal genital pore: P. cantherini Li, Qiu & Zhang, 1988; P. capoori (Jaiswal, Upadhyay, Malhotra, Dronen & Malhotra, 2014) n. comb.; P. confusa (Overstreet, 1969) n. comb.; P. leiperi (Gupta, 1956) n. comb.; and P. pallenisca (Shipley & Hornell, 1905) n. comb. Neolebouria georgenascimentoi Bray, 2002, a species with an exceptionally long cirrus-sac, is transferred to Bentholebouria Andres, Pulis & Overstreet, 2004 as B. georgenascimentoi (Bray, 2002) n. comb., and N. maorum (Allison, 1966) Gibson 1976, an unusual species known from cephalopods, is designated a species incertae sedis. Eleven species are retained in a revised concept of Neolebouria.     

Life history differences and latitudinal variation in recruitment in two species of arctic-boreal perciform fishes,the fish doctor <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gymnelus viridis</Emphasis> and the Arctic shanny <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stichaeus punctatus</Emphasis>

Growth and recruitment were examined in two arctic-boreal, shallow water marine perciform species: the fish doctor Gymnelus viridis (Zoarcidae) and the Arctic shanny Stichaeus punctatus (Stichaeidae). G. viridis ranges in the Canadian Arctic from northern Hudson Bay to northern Ellesmere Island, whereas S. punctatus has a more southerly range from Nova Scotia coastal waters to northern Hudson Bay. At Nuvuk Islands in northeastern Hudson Bay, where the two species are sympatric in shallow water, they had comparable juvenile growth rates but temporal variation in 0+ recruitment was substantially greater in S. punctatus. This difference may stem from their contrasting early life histories. S. punctatus spawns large numbers of small demersal eggs that hatch into pelagic larvae, whereas G. viridis spawns small numbers of large demersal eggs that hatch directly into demersal juveniles with no pelagic stage, suggesting that recruitment in G. viridis should be less sensitive to yearly variation in the onset of the ice-free period in Hudson Bay and the subsequent pulse of pelagic invertebrate production. Relative to Nuvuk, recruitment variation in G. viridis was found to be greater at Resolute, Cornwallis Island, close to its northern range limit, whereas recruitment variation in S. punctatus was not evident in Newfoundland, closer to its southern range limit.     

Species delimitation and conservation genetics of the Canarian endemic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bethencourtia</Emphasis> (Asteraceae)

Bethencourtia Choisy ex Link is an endemic genus of the Canary Islands and comprises three species. Bethencourtia hermosae and Bethencourtia rupicola are restricted to La Gomera, while Bethencourtia palmensis is present in Tenerife and La Palma. Despite the morphological differences previously found between the species, there are still taxonomic incongruities in the group, with evident consequences for its monitoring and conservation. The objectives of this study were to define the species differentiation, perform population genetic analysis and propose conservation strategies for Bethencourtia. To achieve these objectives, we characterized 10 polymorphic SSR markers. Eleven natural populations (276 individuals) were analyzed (three for B. hermosae, five for B. rupicola and three for B. palmensis). The results obtained by AMOVA, PCoA and Bayesian analysis on STRUCTURE confirmed the evidence of well-structured groups corresponding to the three species. At the intra-specific level, B. hermosae and B. rupicola did not show a clear population structure, while B. palmensis was aggregated according to island of origin. This is consistent with self-incompatibility in the group and high gene flow within species. Overall, the genetic diversity of the three species was low, with expected heterozygosity values of 0.302 (B. hermosae), 0.382 (B. rupicola) and 0.454 (B. palmensis). Recent bottleneck events and a low number of individuals per population are probably the causes of the low genetic diversity. We consider that they are naturally rare species associated with specific habitats. The results given in this article will provide useful information to assist in conservation genetics programs for this endemic genus.     

Dispersal of remnant endangered trees in a fragmented and disturbed forest by frugivorous birds

Most endangered plant species in a fragmented forest behave as a unique source population, with a high dependence on frugivorous birds for recruitment and persistence. In this study, we combined field data of dispersal behavior of birds and GIS information of patch attributes to estimate how frugivorous birds could affect the effective dispersal pattern of Chinese yew (Taxus chinensis) in a fragmented and disturbed forest. Nine bird species were observed to visit T. chinensis trees, with Urocissa erythrorhyncha, Zoothera dauma and Picus canus being the most common dispersers. After foraging, six disperser species exhibited different perching patterns. Three specialist species, P. canus, Turdus hortulorum, and Z. dauma stayed in the source patch, while three generalist species, U. erythrorhyncha, Hypsipetes mcclellandii, and H. castanonotus, could perch in bamboo patches and varied in movement ability due to body size. As a consequence of perching, dispersers significantly contributed to the seed bank, but indirectly affected seedling recruitment. Moreover, the recruitment of T. chinensis was also affected by patch attributes in a fragmented forest (distances to source patch, patch type, size). Our results highlighted the ability of unique source population regeneration of T. chinensis in a fragmented forest, with high dependence on both frugivorous birds and patch attributes, which should be considered in future planning for forest management and conservation.     

Development of microsatellite markers for the carnivorous plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Genlisea aurea</Emphasis> (Lentibulariaceae) using genomics data of NGS

Genlisea aurea A.St.-Hil. is a carnivorous plant endemic species to Brazil in the Lentibulariaceae family. Very few studies have addressed the genetic structure and conservation status of G. aurea and the Lentibulariaceae. Microsatellites markers are advantageous tools that can be employed to predict the vulnerability of Lentibulariaceae species. Therefore, the development of molecular markers focusing the population analyses of Genlisea for future genetic studies and conservation actions are essential. Thus, we developed simple sequence repeats (SSRs) based on in silico analyses of G. aurea draft genome assembly. We characterized 40 individuals from several populations and identified 12 loci that were polymorphic, with heterozygosity between 0.123 and 0.650. We demonstrated that the G. aurea SSR markers work cross-species in Genlisea filiformis, G. repens, G. tuberosa and G. violacea. These markers will be important for future population, phylogeographic and conservation studies in G. aurea and other Genlisea species.