Urban allergophytes of central Italy

This research was designed to compare allergenic flora of various cities of central Italy. Because the data on this problem are rather scant, we wanted to highlight the relationships among the ecological conditions of the urban habitats, and the plants whose pollens cause allergic manifestations in the human population. Our results pointed out that the structural design of the urban land use types play an important role in the distribution of allergophytes. The compact structure of the historic city center does not impede the establishment of allergophytes. Actually, it promotes some species that come from the dry pastures and rocky walls of the surrounding ecosystems. Allergenicity was revealed throughout the urban area, with a prevalence of species with monoporate pollens characteristic of the Poaceae. Highly allergenic plants are present in the central zone (within the city walls) and in some peripheral land use models (urban road verges). The particular abundance of Urticaceae with small triporate pollen grains and of various cultivated species, introduced by man for aesthetic reasons, contributes to the increase of allergophytism. The study points out the role of the interactions between the allergenic flora, human impact through the land use patterns, urban fauna, and the meso- and microclimatic conditions of the cities studied.     

Aerobiological and ecological study of the potentially allergenic ornamental plants in south Spain

A number of ornamental plant species produce pollen grains with allergenic properties, thus posing a potential risk to human health. A comparative study of the ecological and aerobiological characteristics of ornamental urban flora in four Andalusian cities revealed the presence of over 100 potentially allergenic ornamental plant species. Most of these were phanerophytes, and species of Asiatic origin predominated, followed by Mediterranean and American species. However, not all potentially allergenic ornamental plants were of aerobiological significance, since some produce only small amounts of pollen, while others were infrequent or were located at a considerable distance from the sampler. Even so, when designing new urban parks and gardens, every effort should be made to ensure maximum species variability avoiding the excessive use of any single species.     

Allergenicity of the ornamental urban flora: ecological and aerobiological analyses in C��rdoba (Spain) and Ascoli Piceno (Italy)

Comparative ecological and aerobiological analyses of ornamental urban flora in the cities of Córdoba (Spain) and Ascoli Piceno (Italy) identified a group of plants with allergenic pollen whose behaviour is influenced by a number of factors. The geographical position and the resulting climate of both cities favoured the presence of Mediterranean species. In Córdoba, strongly allergenic evergreens introduced during the Moorish period predominated (Cupressus sempervirens, among others), while in the urban area of Ascoli Piceno, Pinaceae were abundant. In both cities, many species of American origin have been introduced for aesthetic reasons, contributing to an increase in the overall allergenicity of urban greenery. The pollen spectrum differed between the two cities: airborne Oleaceae and Cupressaceae pollen abounded in Córdoba, whilst allergenic pollen from surrounding natural environments (Corylaceae) predominated in Ascoli Piceno. These results pointed to a large number of potentially allergenic species in cities, thus highlighting the importance of greater ecological and aerobiological knowledge of allergenic species of urban ornamental flora. Avoidance of more allergenic species when planning new urban green areas could ensure healthier environments for pollen-allergy sufferers.     

Habitat functionality for the ecosystem service of pest control: reproduction and feeding sites of pests and natural enemies

• 1 Landscape management for enhanced natural pest control requires knowledge of the ecological function of the habitats present in the landscape mosaic. However, little is known about which habitat types in agricultural landscapes function as reproduction habitats for arthropod pests and predators during different times of the year.
• 2 We studied the arthropod assemblage on six crops and on the seven most abundant native plant species in two landscapes over 1 year in Australia. Densities of immature and adult stages of pests and their predators were assessed using beat sheet sampling.
• 3 The native plants supported a significantly different arthropod assemblage than crops. Native plants had higher predator densities than crops over the course of the year, whereas crops supported higher pest densities than the native plants in two out of four seasonal sampling periods. Crops had higher densities of immature stages of pests than native plants in three of four seasonal sampling periods, implying that crops are more strongly associated with pest reproduction than native plants. Densities of immature predators, excluding spiders, were not different between native plants and crops. Spiders were, however, generally abundant and densities were higher on native plants than on crops but, because some species disperse when immature, there is less certainty in identifying their reproduction habitat.
• 4 Because the predator to pest ratio on native plant species showed little variation, and spatial variation in arthropod assemblages was limited, the predator support function of native vegetation may be a general phenomenon. Incentives that maintain and restore native remnant vegetation can increase the predator to pest ratio at the landscape scale, which could enhance pest suppression in crops.

     

警惕杰克贝尔氏粉蚧Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi Gimpel & Miller在中国大陆扩散

杰克贝尔氏粉蚧原产于新热带区,是新近传入中国大陆的一种外来生物,主要危害水果、蔬菜、园林植物和粮食作物。该虫于2012年首次在我国海南乐东被发现,寄主植物为丝瓜;之后又在新疆乌鲁木齐的花卉市场被发现,寄主植物为来自广东或福建的盆景人参榕。杰克贝尔氏粉蚧寄主范围广泛,涉及50科200多种,且极易随农产品的贸易活动进行远距离传播扩散,对我国农林产业的安全生产构成了潜在巨大威胁。概述了杰克贝尔氏粉蚧的地理分布和生物学特征,浅析了其在我国的传播扩散趋势,并从物种鉴定、生物防治和检验检疫处理等方面提出了防控建议,以期为有效预防和控制该种粉蚧在我国的进一步传播扩散提供参考。     

Ecological aspects of Sargassum muticum (Fucales,Phaeophyta) in Baja California,Mexico: reproductive phenology and epiphytes

The reproductive phenology and epiphytic macroalgae of Sargassum muticum were studied through an annual cycle (September 1987 to November 1988) at two sites on the northwestern coast of Baja California, Mexico, which were subjected to different degrees of wave exposure. Sargassum muticum is a brown alga of Japanese origin, now considered a permanent member of the marine flora of Baja California. A similar reproductive development was observed at both sites, with a maximum percentage of reproductive plants from May to July (spring–summer) and minimum from December to March (winter). Reproductive plants were found throughout the year. A total of 48 species of epiphytes were identified and seasonal variation in their diversity was observed. The greatest diversity was found at the more protected site.     

Distribution pattern of allergenic plants in the Beijing metropolitan region

Urbanization has significantly affected the composition and distribution pattern of plant species within and around cities. Plants with airborne pollens can cause seasonal allergic symptoms that are intensified by increasing air pollution and temperature. In urban landscapes, the reduced native biodiversity, increased exotic biodiversity, and species homogenization may all affect the abundance and distribution of allergenic plants. We investigated the plants with airborne pollens in the Beijing metropolitan region to determine the distribution pattern of allergenic plants as influenced by urbanization. Our results show that native allergenic plants dominated the urban area in the region. The species richness of allergenic plants, particularly the exotic plants with airborne pollens, significantly differed between land use types. The higher the plant diversity in the urban area, the higher the frequency of allergenic plant occurrence. Despite the homogenization of the allergenic plant communities, their characteristic species were still present across the metropolitan region. The flowering allergenic plants also differed between the different land use types. We suggest that some common allergenic plants should be avoided by urban planners, especially those that are exotic to the region. Humans susceptible to pollinosis should stay away from places that are concentrated with allergenic plants, and be aware of the flowering phenology of allergenic plants.     

基于植物区系的雷州半岛天然林群落树种特征研究

传统涉及植物区系和重要值的研究思路通常先分析该地区的植物区系组成,然后再分析该区域某个区系中某个优势种的重要值。该种思路存在未能完全同时反映不同区系不同植物物种参与群落构建和其在群落中的地位等缺陷。为了解决上述问题,构建物种群落指数,以雷州半岛天然季雨林的木本植物为对象开展研究。基于雷州半岛8个区域的80个20 m×20 m固定样地的实测数据,通过植物区系+重要值的方式构建物种群落指数开展研究。(1)湛江云脚村群落、湛江湖光岩、雷州鹰峰岭、雷州足荣村、徐闻双洋村、廉江高桥和廉江谢鞋山皆以热带区系分布为主导,数值皆大于0.8以上。廉江根竹嶂地理位置特殊,以9区系东亚和北美洲间断分布为主,数值接近0.5。(2)第2区系树种在雷州半岛群落树种组成和构建中处于优势地位,最高值为0.4261,朴树和鹅掌柴为优势种;第3区系树种和第6区系树种处于劣势地位;第4区系树种处于优势地位,最高值为0.3339,橄榄为优势种;第5区系树种处于优势地位,最高为0.3787,阴香和樟树为优势种;第7区系树种在雷州半岛地区群落内分布较为均衡,普遍适应各个样地。本研究表明,雷州半岛地区带有明显的热带性区系特征;物种群落指数能够较好的体现雷州半岛样地各个区系树种在植物群落组成的特征。     

Fish–environment Associations in the Coastal Waters of Andros Island, The Bahamas

Synopsis We surveyed fish communities and corresponding environmental conditions at three broadly similar coastal sites of eastern Andros Island, The Bahamas over a summer–winter–summer sequence to assess the relationship between detailed environmental features and fish species patterns. Environmental variables included covers of various benthic flora components, benthic flora diversity, floral canopy height, micro-crustacean diversity and density, water temperature, extent of destructive land-use and extent of invasion by human-introduced exotic terrestrial plants. Correspondence analysis (CA) indicated that spatial (site) differences in environmental characteristics were greater than temporal (seasonal) differences. Detrended canonical correspondence analysis (DCCA) was used to assess the strength of relationships between the environmental characteristics and the distribution patterns of 25 fish species. Environmental features deemed to be most important in influencing fish species patterns included benthic flora canopy height, extent of invasion by exotic terrestrial plants, cover of Batophora oerstedii, cover of Thalassia testudinum, turf cover, water temperature, micro-crustacean diversity, and micro-crustacean density. Based upon similarities in distribution patterns, fish species formed four clusters which, ultimately, reflected similarities in species’ feeding habits and preferences for habitats that likely maximize foraging success. We conclude that fish distribution patterns are related to environmental characteristics, and that anthropogenic coastal activity, by influencing coastal benthic characteristics, may influence the distribution and abundances of fish species in coastal habitats.     

Origin and Diffusion of the House Mouse in the Mediterranean

The house mouse (Mus musculus), after humans, is the most widespread mammal on earth and one of the worst invasive species for both biological diversity and human health. This ubiquity is the consequence of its strong ecological relationship with humans, namely commensalism. Human activities promote its diffusion by eliminating ecological barriers and by increasing the human environment suitable for this species. This paper deals with recent zooarchaeological data that has helped to decipher the main factors of human evolution involved in the origin of commensal behaviour in the house mouse and in its invasive process throughout the Mediterranean. Understanding this process contributes to our overall knowledge on how human activities modelled mammalian diversity during Holocene. In the Near Eastern core of European Neolithisation, two factors are recognised as the main driving forces to explain the beginning of house mouse commensalism: rise of farming practices (cultivated fields, large scale grain storage, domestication of plants) and human dispersal of domesticated plants through the cultural area of the pre-ceramic Neolithic. These factors increased the attractiveness of the anthropic ecosystem as well as the diffusion vectors of mice by passive transport. Nevertheless, the Neolithisation of the Mediterranean did not promote the house mouse’s invasion of Europe. The commercial and demographic expansions of Phoenicians and Greeks during the last millennium bc were the vectors that allowed the house mouse to overwhelm the ecological barriers that previously prevented its westward invasion of the human environment.     

The taxonomy of Pilayella littoralis (L.) Kjellm. (Phaeophyta,Ectocarpales) in the British Isles,a numerical approach

The taxonomy of Pilayella littoralis (L.) Kjellm. is confused due to the extreme variability of the species. A numerical taxonomic study has been carried out using computer clustering techniques on 71 morphological and ecological characters with 163 plants from a wide range of habitats in Britain, and the status of the clusters formed scrutinized with reference to the original data. On this basis certain clusters were grouped together as seasonal variants of similar entities. Estuarine plants tend to have in common a number of characteristics which separate them from those collected in marine habitats, such as a much higher incidence of opposite branching and considerably finer filaments. A number of other environmental gradients other than salinity can be associated with these characteristics, for example substrate, exposure etc. The fact that seasonal morphological variation is also common, especially in marine populations, underlines the complexity of the relationship between environment and form in the species, and it is concluded that the establishment of a practicable natural classification of intraspecific variation in P. littoralis is impossible.     

锡林郭勒草原国家级自然保护区种子植物区系研究北大核心CSCD

该研究以查阅文献和野外实地调查相结合的方法,对锡林郭勒草原国家级自然保护区种子植物进行调查、统计、排序,并对该区系种子植物的种类组成、水分生态类型、生活型及种的地理成分进行分析。结果表明:锡林郭勒草原国家级自然保护区有野生种子植物856种,分别隶属于87科,345属;其中,裸子植物3科,5属,11种;被子植物84科,340属,845种。植物水分生态类型以中生植物为主,共559种,占区系总种数的65.30%;旱生植物213种,占区系总种数的24.88%。生活型以草本植物为主,占区系总种数的88.67%。区系中种的地理成分较为复杂,既反映出保护区植物地域性强的特征,也反映出该区域生境类型多样、植物丰富度高的特征。     

Influence of past land use and current human disturbance on non-native plant species on small Italian islands

Biological invasions are regarded as one of the main drivers of habitat degradation in island ecosystems. Mediterranean islands have been subjected to a high degree of land conversion over the past 60 years, resulting in a massive reduction in the amount of rural land and the sprawl of tourist activities. The aims of this paper are to evaluate the current level of invasion of alien plant species in semi-natural vegetation types that have developed after the abandonment of agriculture and to analyze the relationships between non-native species, native flora, and environmental characteristics. Two Italian islands (Ponza and Ventotene) were surveyed using a random-stratified sampling. The occurrence and relative cover of alien plant species were compared and separate analyses were performed for the native flora. Abundance patterns of both native and alien species were then studied in the light of the environmental and anthropogenic features. Although we found that some non-native species are extremely widespread, their relative cover at the plot level is low. Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance and Indicator Species Analysis revealed dissimilarities in the native species composition, while Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests showed differences in the ecological requirements (moisture, soil reaction, and nitrogen) of the native species pool. Canonical Correspondence Analysis pointed to the importance of the proximity to agricultural areas, human disturbance, and past land management, particularly residual terraces, in determining the difference between plant communities on the two islands. The results of our study suggest that traditional forms of agriculture may represent a key element for countering the establishment and spread of non-native plants in Mediterranean areas.     

城市中的花粉致敏植物及其影响因素

大量致敏花粉飘散于空气中会引发花粉症,严重危害人体健康。由于不当的城市绿地建设使得花粉致敏植物在城市中大量聚集,加之城市热岛效应和交通污染等多方面的因素,使得城市中花粉症患者数量激增。综述了花粉致敏植物的种类、物候特征和影响因素提出了控制花粉致敏植物的建议;总结了目前花粉致敏植物研究中应进一步关注的问题,旨在为改善城市空气质量,建设合理绿化环境提供科学依据。     

Petals may act as a reward: myrmecochory in shrubby Darwinia species of south‐eastern Australia

The removal rates of fruits (the diaspore) were assessed in exclusion experiments in three shrubby species of Darwinia, endemic to the Sydney Basin of south‐eastern Australia. There was a clear pattern of fruit removal in just a few days by small species of ants from the genera Iridomyrmex, Crematogaster and Pheidole. When only ants had access to fruits an average of 41% of fruits were removed, whereas when only vertebrates had access an average of 13% of fruits were removed. There was some variation in the number of fruits removed both between species and within species across study sites or annual seed crops. When ants had access to seeds this variation in removal amounted to 10–80% over 1–4 days. Uniquely in Darwinia, it is the old petals (which remain attached to the fruit) that are attractive to the ants, rather than a specific lipid body. This likely represents a case of successful ecological fitting by Darwinia to take advantage of the widespread presence of myrmecochory in the Australian flora.     

FUnaria mediterranea monstruositäten aus italien

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the value of some nitrophilous plants as bioindicators related to global warming. As a case study, the space–time dynamics of the populations of some nitrophilous and ruderal species have been investigated along the southern-central Adriatic side of the Italian Peninsula. These have been examined according to the range of their distribution areas, to their ecological needs, and to the availability of past data, which have then been related to the data on global warming across the same territories. The choice for this investigation was for nitrophilous species with a Mediterranean distribution – of the Stenomediterranean type – and for some recent entries into the local flora as alien species. The spread of these species occurs in areas with intense human activity, where they have exploited the conditions of the warmer niche, such that their presence and their spatial spread observed over time are clearly linked to global warming. For all of the species in question, rapid increases in the population numbers have been observed, along with a northward shift of their distribution areas. These changes correspond to the increase in average annual temperature as revealed by the thermometric measurements.     

The ecological risks of transgenic plants.

Biotechnologies have been utilized "ante litteram" for thousands of years to produce food and drink and genetic engineering techniques have been widely applied to produce many compounds for human use, from insulin to other medicines. The debate on genetically modified (GM) organisms broke out all over the world only when GM crops were released into the field. Plant ecologists, microbiologists and population geneticists carried out experiments aimed at evaluating the environmental impact of GM crops. The most significant findings concern: the spread of transgenes through GM pollen diffusion and its environmental impact after hybridisation with closely related wild species or subspecies; horizontal gene transfer from transgenic plants to soil microbes; the impact of insecticide proteins released into the soil by transformed plants on non-target microbial soil communities. Recent developments in genetic engineering produced a technology, dubbed "Terminator", which protects patented genes introduced in transgenic plants by killing the seeds in the second generation. This genetic construct, which interferes so heavily with fundamental life processes, is considered dangerous and should be ex-ante evaluated taking into account the data on "unexpected events", as here discussed, instead of relying on the "safe until proven otherwise" claim. Awareness that scientists, biotechnologists and genetic engineers cannot answer the fundamental question "how likely is that transgenes will be transferred from cultivated plants into the natural environment?" should foster long-term studies on the ecological risks and benefits of transgenic crops.     

Seasonal dynamic of the numbers of epiphytic yeasts

The numbers of epiphytic yeasts on the leaves and flowers of 25 plant species throughout their vegetation period was determined. The numbers of yeasts on the leaves were found to change regularly throughout the year. The average dynamics for all of the plant species investigated included an increase in yeast numbers during spring and summer with the maximum in late autumn and early winter. The character of the yeasts’ dynamics depends on the ecological characteristics of the plants and the duration of the ontogenesis of their leaves and flowers. Three types of dynamics of epiphytic yeasts were revealed: year-round with an increase in autumn-winter, year-round without visible changes, and seasonal with a terminal increase for annual plants.     

Correlation between aerobiological and phytogeographical investigations in the Florence area

Summary The aim of our research work was to evaluate the results from our pollen count (p.c.) carried out at the Allergological Centre of Nuovo Osp. San Giovanni di Dio in Florence, in the light of orogeographical, phytogeographical and meteorological data. The highest p.c. was yielded by Graminaceae which appear in small quantities early in the year but increase considereably starting from April. Oleaceae too showed high pollen concentration but over a shorter lenght of time. The p.c. for Compositae and Urticaceae was lower. It should be noted that Cupressaceae yielded constantly high p.c. in February–March. Investigations on the allergenic flora of the surroundings were carried out concentrically in order to find out the closest and the farthest sources of pollen production. The species investigated come under 7 types of vegetation: xerophilous woods, mesophilous woods, conifers woods, parks and gardens, rural areas, meadows, border areas-weeds. A phytosociological study of the types of vegetation has made it possible to evaluate the single species quantitatively. The different sources of pollen production can be spotted by mapping these types of vegetation. The seasonal characterization of pollen production is better defined by means of periodical phenological checking of the existing allergenic flora along carefully planned routes through the areas next to the sampling station.      

Seasonal dynamic of the numbers of epiphytic yeasts

The numbers of epiphytic yeasts on the leaves and flowers of 25 plant species throughout their vegetation period was determined. The numbers of yeasts on the leaves were found to change regularly throughout the year. The average dynamics for all of the plant species investigated included an increase in yeast numbers during spring and summer with the maximum in late autumn and early winter. The character of the yeasts' dynamics depends on the ecological characteristics of the plants and the duration of the ontogenesis of their leaves and flowers. Three types of dynamics of epiphytic yeasts were revealed: year-round with an increase in autumn-winter, year-round without visible changes, and seasonal with a terminal increase for annual plants.