The return of the Iberian wild goat Capra pyrenaica to Portugal: From reintroduction to recolonization

The Iberian wild goat (Capra pyrenaica) is an endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula. Of the four generally accepted subspecies (Capra pyrenaica victoriae, C.p. hispanica, C.p. pyrenaica, C.p. lusitanica) only two subsist (C.p. victoriae, C p. hispanica). The subspecies once found in Portugal, C. p. lusitanica, became extinct in the 19th century. However, the reintroduction of the C. p. victoriae in north-west Spain, led to the natural recolonization of this subspecies into Portugal. Knowledge of the Iberian wild goat in Portugal is still limited, making it difficult to evaluate the major conservation/management needs. To fill this gap, here we describe the historical distribution of the Iberian wild goat in Portugal and summarize the available information on the reintroduction and recolonization process of this species. Additionally, we used line itinerary survey (2011–2012), coupled with Distance Sampling, to estimate current densities, range and population structure of the Iberian wild goat distribution in Portugal. The Iberian wild goat density is 2.78/100 ha (95% CI: 1,72–4,50; CV: 18,36%) and the abundance is of 576 (CI 95%: 356–930; CV: 18,36%). The distribution data shows that the population is divided in three nuclei: 1- Serra do Gerês (13,840 ha); 2–Serra Amarela (1235 ha); 3–Castro Laboreiro (343 ha), in a total area of 15,418 ha. Iberian wild goat population in Portugal has greatly increased in the last years, both in number and distribution range. The demographic data shows a potential for increase in the next years but our current ecological background knowledge still remains limited. Iberian wild goat management will benefit from a long-term project including public awareness, scientific research and management solutions.     

Acidophytic shrublands in the north-west of the Italian peninsula: Ecology,chorology and syntaxonomy

Abstract

The shrublands growing on siliceous and/or calcium-poor substrata of the hilly and mountainous areas of north-western and central Italy were studied. This secondary vegetation is dominated by several acidophilous shrubs like Ulex europaeus, Cytisus scoparius, Erica arborea, E. scoparia and Calluna vulgaris. The synecology, synchorology and syntaxonomy of this vegetation was studied using multivariate methods, and discussed in comparison with similar types described in other zones of the Italian peninsula. Two new subassociations are proposed here: Erico arboreae-Arbutetum unedonis genistetosum germanicae and Calluno-Sarothamnetum ericetosum scopariae. Calluno-Sarothamnetum is typified; the Sarothamnion alliance is discussed and referred to Cytisetea scopario-striati. The presence of Calluno-Ulicetea and Cytisetea scopario-striati classes is discussed, and a syntaxonomical scheme is proposed.     

Systematics,genetics, and biogeography of intertidal mites (Acari,Oribatida) from the Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca

This study demonstrates for the first time the presence of marine‐associated mites in the Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca and reveals a relatively high diversity of these taxa with six species from two different families: Selenoribatidae and Fortuyniidae. Indopacifica, a new genus of Selenoribatidae, is described from Thailand and Malaysia, with two new species, Indopacifica pantai n. sp. and Indopacifica parva n. sp. The genus is characterized by the unique combination of following characters: lacking lamellar ridges, incomplete dorsosejugal suture, fourteen pairs of notogastral setae, and presence of epimeral foveae. A phylogenetic reconstruction based on 18S ribosomal RNA sequences clearly confirms the distinctness of the new genus Indopacifica and places it close to the genus Rhizophobates. The lack of molecular genetic data of possible relatives impedes a clear assessment, and hence, we emphasize the need for further combined approaches using morphological and molecular genetic sequence data. All species show wide distribution areas within this geographic region suggesting that these taxa are good dispersers despite their minute size and wingless body. Molecular genetic data demonstrate recent gene flow between far distant populations of I. pantai n. sp. from the coasts of Thailand and two islands of Malaysia and hence confirm this assumption. The seasonally changing surface currents within this geographic area may favor hydrochorous dispersal and hence genetic exchange. Nevertheless, morphometric data show a slight trend to morphological divergence among the studied populations, whereas this variation is suggested to be a result of genetic drift but also of habitat differences in one population of Alismobates pseudoreticulatus.     

Testing of divergent patterns of butterfly niche breadth in a peninsula

The butterfly fauna on the Korean peninsula are comprised of both the Palearctic and Oriental species. We hypothesized that the Oriental species (immigrated across the sea) tend to have a wider niche breadth compared with the Palearctic species (immigrated from the continent) since the former migrates long distances across the sea and has to adapt to new environments. We tested this hypothesis using Korean butterfly data on distribution, habitat, food and life history traits. The distribution and ecological traits such as habitat breadth, overwintering stage, and voltinism of the Oriental species were found to be significantly different from the Palearctic species. However, the diet breadth and food plant type were not different. These results partly confirm the peninsula niche breadth hypothesis, which predicted that Oriental species have a broader niche breadth than Palearctic species.     

Identifying bipolar knapping in the Mesolithic site of Font del Ros (northeast Iberia)

Despite recent advances in the identification of bipolar knapping, its role in many sites is not well known. We propose to assess the significance of this technique in the context of changes that occur in the Mesolithic. A lithic assemblage was recovered from unit SG at Font del Ros (Catalunya, Spain) in which pitted stones, cores and products arising from bipolar reduction (flakes, fragments and splintered pieces) were identified. This study indicates that the bipolar technique is fundamental in the settlement. These results are key to defining the organization of Holocene hunter-gatherer subsistence in northeast Iberia.     

Atlas of Iberian water beetles (ESACIB database)

The ESACIB (‘EScarabajos ACuáticos IBéricos’) database is provided, including all available distributional data of Iberian and Balearic water beetles from the literature up to 2013, as well as from museum and private collections, PhD theses, and other unpublished sources. The database contains 62,015 records with associated geographic data (10×10 km UTM squares) for 488 species and subspecies of water beetles, 120 of them endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and eight to the Balearic Islands. This database was used for the elaboration of the “Atlas de los Coleópteros Acuáticos de España Peninsular”. In this dataset data of 15 additional species has been added: 11 that occur in the Balearic Islands or mainland Portugal but not in peninsular Spain and an other four with mainly terrestrial habits within the genus Helophorus (for taxonomic coherence). The complete dataset is provided in Darwin Core Archive format.     

Evaluating the effects of climate change on tree species abundance and distribution in the Italian peninsula

Question: What is the effect of climate change on tree species abundance and distribution in the Italian peninsula? Location: Italian peninsula. Methods: Regression tree analysis, Random Forest, generalized additive model and geostatistical methods were compared to identify the best model for quantifying the effect of climate change on tree species distribution and abundance. Future potential species distribution, richness, local colonization, local extinction and species turnover were modelled according to two scenarios (A2 and B1) for 2050 and 2080. Results: Robust Random Forest proved to be the best statistical model to predict the potential distribution of tree species abundance. Climate change could lead to a shift in tree species distribution towards higher altitudes and a reduction of forest cover. Pinus sylvestris and Tilia cordata may be considered at risk of local extinction, while the other species could find potential suitable areas at the cost of a rearrangement of forest community composition and increasing competition. Conclusions: Geographical and topographical regional characteristics can have a noticeable influence on the impact of predicted climate change on forest ecosystems within the Mediterranean basin. It would be highly beneficial to create a standardized and harmonized European forest inventory in order to evaluate, at high resolution, the effect of climate change on forest ecosystems, identify regional differences and develop specific adaptive management strategies and plans.     

鼠类对山杏和辽东栎种子的贮藏

在北京市东灵山地区,选择灌丛生境,人工释放山杏和辽东栎种子,对两种种子在释放处被鼠类就地取食、存留动态、种子被搬运和贮藏的距离、位置、状态、微生境等进行了分析比较。采用活捕饲喂和咬痕比较的方法,对野外取食山杏和辽东栎种子的鼠类进行了鉴定。结果表明：1)取食山杏和辽东栎种子的鼠类主要是大林姬鼠和岩松鼠;2)山杏种子被鼠类搬运的平均距离大于辽东栎种子,两种种子大多数被搬运至21m之内,在9m之内最为集中;3)山杏种子的中位存留时间较辽东栎种子长;4)在释放处,鼠类对辽东栎种子的就地取食强度(54．83％)大于对山杏种子的取食(0．17％);5)在搬运之后,大部分山杏种子被埋藏起来,仅有3粒被取食;而辽东栎种子大部分被取食;6)鼠类趋向于把种子搬运到灌丛下方或灌丛边缘进行贮藏或取食。山杏种子在贮藏点的数量为1—3粒,而辽东栎种子在贮藏点的数量均为1粒。     

Triterpenoid saponins from a cytotoxic root extract of Sideroxylonfoetidissimum subsp. gaumeri

Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of an ethanolic root extract of Sideroxylonfoetidissimum subsp. gaumeri (Sapotaceae) revealed activity against the murine macrophage-like cell line RAW 264.7. Systematic bioassay-guided fractionation of this extract gave an active saponin-containing fraction from which four saponins were isolated. Use of 1D (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT135) and 2D (COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, and HMBC) NMR, mass spectrometry and sugar analysis gave their structures as 3-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-16α-hydroxyprotobassic acid, 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-28-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-16α-hydroxyprotobassic acid, 3-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)[β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 3)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-16α-hydroxyprotobassic acid, and the known compound, 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-28-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-protobassic acid. Two further saponins were obtained from the same fraction, but as a 5:4 mixture comprising 3-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)[β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 3)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-16α-hydroxyprotobassic acid and 3-O-(β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)-16α-hydroxyprotobassic acid, respectively. This showed greater cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ = 11.9 ± 1.5 μg/ml) towards RAW 264.7 cells than the original extract (IC₅₀ = 39.5 ± 4.1 μg/ml), and the saponin-containing fraction derived from it (IC₅₀ = 33.7 ± 6.2 μg/ml).