Syntaxonomic revision of chasmophytic vegetation of the Centaureo cuspidatae-Portenschlagiellion ramosissimae (Southeastern Adriatic)

Abstract

The Centaureo-Portenschlagiellion describes the cliff vegetation of the Southeastern Adriatic. This habitat type harbours many endemic taxa and has a high value for biodiversity conservation. Notwithstanding its importance, knowledge of the syntaxonomy of this alliance is still poor. This article aims at revising the synchorological, coenological and floristic relationships of the associations of the Centaureo-Portenschlagiellion. The revision is based on a data set of 103 relevés of Mediterranean xerothermic cliffs from Croatia, Bosnia i Herzegovina and Montenegro. The relevés were clustered by using the Flexible beta method. An indicator species analysis was used to identify the diagnostic taxa of the main clusters of relevés and non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination was undertaken to visualize the floristic relationships among them. Results revealed that only seven associations belong to the Centaureo-Portenschlagiellion, whereas the others already described in phytosociological literature were invalidly described or should be treated as syntaxonomic synonyms of the previous ones. Two associations (Inulo-Centaureetum cuspidatae and Portenschlagiello-Campanuletum portenschlagianae) were reduced to the rank of subassociations of the Moltkio-Inuletum verbascifoliae. Two other subassociations were described for the first time. Data provided with this revision may be considered as essential base-line information that should aid in evaluating the state of this vegetation type in the future.     

Syntaxonomical study of Italian wall vegetation

A syntaxonomical study of Italian wall vegetation based on classification and ordination of a large phytosociological data set from various authors (using the IAHOPA program) has confirmed the alliances Centrantho-Parietarion and Galio-Parietarion (order Parietarietalia judaicae, class Parietarietea judaicae), as already proposed by traditional syntaxonomy. The variation in humidity and the north-south geographical gradient are shown to be the most significant factors for the differentiation of this vegetation in Italy. The presence of some associations belonging to the class Asplenietea trichomanis (alliance Cystopteridion, Potentillion caulescentis and Centaureo-Campanulion) shows a strong connection with natural rock vegetation.     

Oligotrophic spring vegetation in Spanish mountain ranges

Montio-Cardaminetea syntaxa occurring in the siliceous mountains of the Iberian Peninsula are reviewed. At the highest altitudes three associations are recognized in Spanish mountain ranges: one in the Pyrenees,Montio-Bryetum schleicheri (alpine-subalpine); another in the Ibero-Atlantic ranges,Stellario alsines-Saxifragetum alpigenae (oromediterranean); and a third in the Sierra Nevada,Sedo melanantheri-Saxifragetum alpigenae (oromediterranean). At slightly lower altitudes two other associations have been identified:Myosotidetum stoloniferae (supramediterranean), located in the western ranges; andSaxifragetum aquaticae (subalpine), located in the central and eastern Pyrenees. Syntaxonomically the Pyrenean associations are classified in theCardamino-Montion alliance, the Ibero-Atlantic associations in theMyosotidion stoloniferae alliance, and the Sierra Nevada association in a hypothetical Nevadan-North African alliance. A western European framework is suggested for the Spanish mountain associations which mainly show an E-W distribution pattern.     

Intergenic spacers of rRNA genes in three species of theCynareae (Asteraceae)

Intergenic spacers of the rRNA genes of three species of theCynareae tribe:Cynara cardunculus subsp.scolymus (artichoke),Onopordum acanthium, andO. illyricum were cloned in the plasmid pGEM-7zf(+). Detailed restriction mapping and partial sequencing of the IGSs were carried out. The structural analysis showed a clear diversity betweenCynara andOnopordum, while a high degree of homology was found between the twoOnopordum spp. In all three species a fragment of about 450 bp from the 5 end of 18S to the Acc I site with a high sequence homology was present. Nucleotide sequences upstream from the above mentioned Acc I site show a gradual decrease of homology betweenCynara andOnopordum.     

Cloning and Characterization of Microsatellite Loci in a Gorgonian Coral, Junceella juncea (Anthozoa; Octocorallia; Ellisellidae) and Its Application in Clonal Genotyping

We attempted to isolate microsatellites from a Symbiodinium-free gorgonian octocoral, Junceella juncea, using two methods, partial genomic library screening and enrichment. Among the 3856 clones screened by the partial library method, 10 possibly positive signals were found, and 3 of them could be used to design primers and amplified consistently. In contrast, only one locus isolated by the enrichment method gave reliable amplification and was useful. The results indicate that microsatellites are rare in Junceella juncea, as reported for other cnidarians. Overall, we obtained 4 polymorphic loci to test the feasibility in investigating clonal structure of J. juncea. A total of 40 multilocus genotypes were found among 152 colonies, and the number of genotypes (clones) identified at 7 reefs ranged from 2 to 16. The results of a nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis indicated the recruitment of J. juncea populations mainly comes from self-retention. These novel microsatellite loci will provide a useful tool to study clonal structure and population genetics for J. juncea in the future.     

Social Organization of a Maternity Group in the Noctule Bat,Nyctalus noctula (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Social organization of a captive group of noctule bats, N. noctula, was studied by frequent censuses of bats at roost sites during one summer season. Numerous nonrandom associations as measured by information indices of similarity (Kullback 1959; Semkin 1972; Zakharov et al. 1987) were found between related and unrelated individuals. The social group structure revealed by multidimensional scaling analysis was affected first of all by the history of group formation, and also by bat age and sex. Spatial bonds were in general stronger between related than unrelated bats. However, nearly all closest associations observed were formed by at best distantly related bats; family membership influenced the socio-spatial positions of noctules far less than the above-mentioned variables did. It is suggested that emergence and persistence of nonrandom associations is mainly due to individual attainment of a certain level of comfort in company of familiar conspecifics whose behaviour is predictable, and thus reduction of aggression within a group. Other benefits of stable associations would be derived from this primary function.     

Plant communities on anthropogenically disturbed sites on the Chukotka Peninsula,Russia

Abstract. The vegetation of anthropogenically disturbed sites on the Chukotka Peninsula was investigated in 1986 and 1990. 102 sites had been bulldozed free of vegetation and soil between 2 and 20 yr ago and revegetated. Anthropogenic vegetation differs considerably from natural tundra. The total plant cover decreases, lichens are absent, moss composition changes, and graminoids predominate. A floristic classification was developed in order to describe the diversity of anthropogenic communities formed on these sites. Four associations were distinguished, all belonging to the alliance Poion glaucomalacanthae. An additional alliance characterized by Alopecurus alpinus is suggested for colder sites, but it has not yet been described. There is a correspondence of associations to substrate types. The association Phippsietum algidae was found only on loam substrate. The Artemisietum glomeratae and Saxifragetum punctatae are connected with rubble or gravel. The graminoid association Arctagrostietum arundinaceae is generally widespread in disturbed habitats and occurs on a variety of substrate types.     

3种不同来源侧耳品种亲缘关系差异化分析

采取拮抗实验、酯酶同工酶、基因组进行多态性分析(RAPD)、内部转录间隔区序列(ITS)对来源不同的特大凤尾菇(Pleurotus sajor-caju)、夏秀990(Pleurotus geesteranus)和黑平A3三个侧耳品种的亲缘关系进行了对比分析。实验结果表明:供试的3个侧耳品种从形态学水平、蛋白质水平和分子水平上看,其品种间亲缘关系界定具有一致性。表现为特大凤尾菇与夏秀990的亲缘关系较近,与黑平A3的亲缘关系较远,夏秀990与黑平A3亲缘关系较远。本研究从不同的水平,为食用菌菌种属间亲缘关系的鉴定提供了综合分析方法,对区分同种异名、杂交亲本选择以及判定杂交结果具有指导意义。     

Analysis of Phenetic Relationships Among Populations of the Avian Genus Batis (Platysteirinae) by Means of Cluster Analysis and Multidimensional Scaling

In the course of a study of the evolution of a genus of African flycatchers, Batis, numerical techniques were employed to analyse the characters of the populations of the forest-dwelling Batis and to throw some light on their relationships. The techniques reported upon in this paper are non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS) and the Unweighted Pair-group Method using Arithmetic Averages (UPGMA). The results obtained from these numeric analyses closely parallel those using non-quantitative methods.     

The Reindeer Oestrids Hypoderma tarandi and Cephenemyia trompe (Diptera: Oestridae): Batesian Mimics of Bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus spp.)?

The color pattern (two areas on each of 20 transverse bands along the dorsal surface of the body) in two reindeer oestrids, Hypoderma tarandi and Cephenemyia trompe (Diptera: Oestridae), was analyzed and compared with that of different bumblebee species found in an oestrid study area in northern Norway. A clustering analysis and multidimensional scaling analysis of the resulting matrix of pairwise similarity coefficients indicated that Bombus lapponicus, B. alpinus, and B. monticola (Hymenoptera: Bombinae) comprise a Mullerian guild whose members serve as Batesian models for H. tarandi, and that B. pratorum, B. jonellus, and B. lucorum comprise a Mullerian guild whose members may serve as Batesian models for C. trompe. The oestrid mimics also resemble their models in size.     

Reconstructing the history of Campanulaceae with a Bayesian approach to molecular dating and dispersal–vicariance analyses

We reconstruct here the spatial and temporal evolution of the Campanula alliance in order to better understand its evolutionary history. To increase phylogenetic resolution among major groups (Wahlenbergieae–Campanuleae), new sequences from the rbcL region were added to the trnL-F dataset obtained in a previous study. These phylogenies were used to infer ancestral areas and divergence times in Campanula and related genera using a Bayesian approach to molecular dating and dispersal–vicariance analyses that takes into account phylogenetic uncertainty. The new phylogenetic analysis confirms Platycodoneae as the sister group of Wahlenbergieae–Campanuleae, the two last ones inter-graded into a well-supported clade. Biogeographic and dating analyses suggest that Western Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean have played a major role as centers of migration and diversification within the Campanula alliance, probably in relation to the intense orogenic activity that took place in this region during the Late Neogene, and that could have promoted isolation and allopatric speciation within lineages. Diversification rates within several Campanula lineages would have increased at the end of the Miocene, coinciding with the Messinian Stage. Strong selective pressures from climate changes and the expansion of mountainous regions during this period are suggested to explain the adaptation to drought, cold or disturbed environments observed in many Campanula species. Several independent long-distance dispersal events to North America are inferred within the Rapunculus clade, which seem to be related to high ploidy levels.     

A Giemsa C-banding and DNA content study inScilla cilicica andS. morrisii,two little known sibling species of theS. siberica alliance (Hyacinthaceae)

S. cilicica Siehe andS. morrisii Meikle are two little known sibling species of theScilla siberica alliance with previously difficult taxonomy, especially with regard to specific delimitation and geographic distribution. Quantitative C-band karyotyping and DNA content determinations were performed in four provenances, including the type localities. Both species (2n = 12) differ strikingly in their banding patterns despite of similar DNA content. Karyotype diversification involved changes in eu- and heterochromatin quantities and resulted in some changes of chromosome form. Despite this, actual phylogenetic relatedness is indicated by a chromosomal marker (NOR-position) of rare occurrence in the alliance. Karyological results and circumstantial evidence from the literature suggest thatS. morrisii is an endemic, exclusive to Cyprus as a member of theS. siberica alliance.S. cilicica seems to be restricted to continental S. Anatolia opposite to Cyprus. Its occurrence on Cyprus is questionable.The authors dedicate this paper respectfully to emer. O. Univ.-Prof. DrLothar Geitler on the occasion of his 90th birthday.     

Corresponding Caricion bicolori-atrofuscae communities in western Greenland,northern Europe and the central European mountains

The alliance Caricion bicolori-atrofuscae comprises plant communities of more or less wet calcareous fens on shallow peat with a high base saturation, occurring in arctic as well as alpine, more seldom subalpine areas. The characteristic species are presented and compared with those from communities of the Caricion lavallianae growing in lowland and mountain sites of temperate and boreal calcareous fens.An abbreviated ecological characteristic is given and the contact communities of the different community complexes are pointed out. The regional floristic differences within the communities are shown, and the geographical distribution and regional frequency of the differentiated associations are given. The synsystematic ranks of three central European mountain to alpine associations are discussed in detail (Caricetum frigidae, Juncetum alpini, Equiseto-Typhetum minimi). They should be excluded from this alliance.Generally, the alpine phytocoenoses are more often invaded by species from neighbouring communities, presumably as an effect of competition in sites less favouring fen development in comparison to the oro-arctic and arctic sites, especially those with an oceanic to suboceanic climate.We conclude, that the observed floristic differences are mainly caused by historical processes and not by the different ecology of the sites in question. This must be taken into consideration when discussing the synsystematic delimitation and rank of the corresponding communities.Nomenclature follows: Lid (1974), Nyholm (1954–68). Acknowledgement. The authors are grateful to the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for travel grants since 1973 for their investigations in Scandinavia and Greenland.     

The significance of littoral and shoreline habitat integrity to the conservation of lacustrine damselflies (Odonata)

Human development of pond and lake shorelines may significantly impact native lacustrine biota including a variety of aquatic macroinvertebrate groups. In an effort to better understand the habitat associations and sensitivities of lacustrine damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera), we sampled adults in littoral macrophyte habitat during two flight periods at 35 randomly selected pond and lake sites in southern Maine during 2000 and 2001. Data were also collected to help characterize water body, shoreline disturbance, and aquatic vegetation at each study site. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling was used for ordination of damselfly assemblages, and coordinates from the most stable solution were related to site variables using forward stepwise multiple regression. Our results suggest that the diversity and composition of damselfly assemblages is related to the abundance and richness of littoral zone macrophytes, extent of riparian disturbance, benthic substrate granularity, and lake productivity; all variables subject to anthropogenic degradation on excessively developed waterbodies. Additionally, we developed a Habitat Tolerance Index useful for distinguishing between relative habitat specialists and generalists from among a diverse assemblage of 19 lacustrine species. Finally, species-specific damselfly associations with multiple genera of floating and emergent macrophytes were assessed using both nonparametric correlation and multiplicative regression yielding significant relationships for 17 species, including two damselflies of global conservation concern (Enallagma laterale and E. pictum). We conclude that the protection of littoral and shoreline habitat integrity, with special emphasis on emergent and floating macrophytes, is critical to the conservation of lacustrine biodiversity.     

Formalized classification of the vegetation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies alba</Emphasis>-dominated forests in the Czech Republic

A phytosociological classification of silver fir (Abies alba) forests in the Czech Republic was carried out using the Braun-Blanquet approach. It is based on the formalized and supervised Cocktail classification method. The definitions of associations were created by combinations of sociological species groups using logical operators. Dominance of single species was included in the definitions of associations. All relevés with at least 50% cover of silver fir in tree layer available from the Czech Republic were used for analysis. Three associations within two classes were distinguished. Vaccinio vitis-idaeae-Abietetum albae (Vaccinio-Piceetea, Piceion excelsae) is an oligotrophic, species-poor spruce-pine-fir forest dominated by Vaccinium myrtillus in the herb layer occurring mostly on podzols. Luzulo-Abietetum albae (Querco-Fagetea, Luzulo-Fagion) is an oligo-mesotrophic spruce-fir forest characterized by the dominance of graminoids (Luzula luzuloides, Calamagrostis arundinacea) in the herb layer. It occurs especially on cambisols. Nutrient-demanding species are typical of the stands of herb-rich mesotrophic Galio rotundifolii-Abietetum albae (Querco-Fagetea, Fagion sylvaticae, Galio rotundifolii-Abietenion) that occurs also mostly on cambisols. Soil nutrients and soil reaction (represented by Ellenberg indicator values) were determined as the most important ecological gradients affecting the variation of the vegetation in these communities.     

A multivariate analysis of geographic variation in morphology inPersoonia mollis (Proteaceae)

This study highlights the utility and limitations of multivariate procedures for the analysis and taxonomic interpretation of geographic variation within a complex species. Morphological data from herbarium specimens ofPersoonia mollis (Proteceae) were analyzed by two ordination procedures, multidimensional scaling (MDS) and canonical variate analysis (CVA). Support for the earlier recognition of nine infraspecific taxa was found. However, plots of canonical variate scores against latitute or longitude across parapatric subspecies boundaries revealed unexpected phenetic homogeneity within subspecies with sharp transitions between subspecies. The geographic variation in morphology withinP. mollis can be best described as a mosaic of nine recognisably distinct and internally homogeneous allopatric or parapatric taxa, where neighbouring taxa share surprisingly narrow zones of morphological transition at ecotones. The utility of these procedures was highlighted by the recovery of unexpected patterns of variation. However, questions of rank remain unresolved by phenetic analysis alone.     

Ribosomal RNA genes in species of theCynareae tribe (Compositae). I.

Summary By means of Southern blot hybridization, the structure of the ribosomal DNA in six species of theCynareae tribe has been analyzed. Artichoke and wild artichoke possess only one type of ribosomal genes 13 kb long;Onopordum acanthium has at least two types of rDNA repeats 9.9 kb and 10.3 kb long andO. illyricum has a third gene type 9.7 kb long; inGalactites tomentosa there are at least four ribosomal gene types of 10.9, 11.6, 11.5, and 10kb;Carduus nutans possesses two ribosomal gene types of the same length of 12.5 kb that vary in the nucleotide sequence of the external spacer. The rRNA genes of all the species studied have an identical restriction mapping in the 18 S and 25 S regions, differences in length and/or nucleotide sequence are present in the external spacer.     

The effects of the gastropod Terebralia palustris on infaunal communities in a tropical tidal mud-flat in East Africa

The gastropod Terebralia palustris (Linnaeus) isone of the largest prosobranchs found in tropical intertidal habitats. Theadults form feeding aggregations and frequently dominate the surface of muddysubstrates, where they clearly destabilize the sediment surface. We tested thefollowing hypotheses: 1. The gastropod has negative effects on the density ofinfaunal animals because of potential food competition and/or surface sedimentdisturbance. 2. The disturbance exerted by T. palustrisresults in more variable infaunal assemblages, especially where intensity ofdisturbance is high. To address these hypotheses gastropods were eitherenclosedor excluded from experimental cages, which were randomly assigned to blocks asfar as 300 m apart on an intertidal mudflat in East Africa. Afternine weeks of enclosure the gastropod at high densities clearly affected themeiofauna assemblages. Several meiofauna groups were found in significantlyreduced densities in the presence of the gastropod compared with control cageswithout the gastropods, supporting our primary hypothesis. In cages withoutT. palustris a cyanobacterial carpet developed while thiswas not evident in enclosure cages. T. palustris had nosignificant impact on the macrofauna assemblage. In support of our secondhypothesis, multidimensional scaling ordination (MDS) suggested that there wasan increased variability of meiofauna within cages with high density ofT. palustris.     

Spatial heterogeneity of bacterial community structure in the sediments of the Pearl River estuary

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and multivariate statistical analytical methods were applied to investigate the spatial variation of bacterial community structure in the Pearl River estuary sediment and to address the relationship between microbial community composition and bottom water chemistry in ten different stations. Preliminary results of sequencing analysis of the excised DGGE bands suggested that α-Proteobacteria, γ-Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria were the dominant bacterial groups in the Pearl River estuary sediment. Results of multidimensional scaling analysis of these field data suggested that the composition of bacterial communities varied with sampling sites. Finally, canonical correspondence analysis of the data of environmental variables and bacterial community suggested that bacterial community structure was significantly influenced by the change of environmental variables (total phosphorus, nitrite, ammonium, dissolved oxygen, pH and salinity).     

Studies on systematic embryology inScilla (Hyacinthaceae)

Scilla persica and 5 species of the so-calledS. hohenackeri group, namely,S. furseorum, S. puschkinioides, S. vvedenskyi, S. hohenackeri, andS. greilhuberi, have been investigated embryologically with special reference to embryo sac and endosperm development.Polygonum-type embryo sac development was stated inS. puschkinioides andS. greilhuberi. 8-nucleate, normally structured embryo sacs, which could not be specified further due to sparse availability of the material, were stated inS. furseorum, S. vvedenskyi, andS. hohenackeri. InS. persica the embryo sac develops according to the bisporicAllium-type. In most species endosperm development was stated to be nuclear, exceptS. hohenackeri, where the type could not be specified. Other traits of possible taxonomic significance are the number of layers in the outer integument, which is mostly 4, or 5–6 inS. furseorum, and the occurrence of polyploid versus haploid and early degenerating antipodal nuclei, the latter occurring only inS. persica andS. furseorum. These embryological characters may be useful for assessing taxonomic relationship of the present species with other allied groups withinScilla, in particular, theS. siberica alliance,S. messeniaca, and theS. bifolia alliance. TheAllium-type embryo sac, which occurs inS. persica, is also characteristic for theS. siberica alliance, and may be a common derived character. Lack of antipodal polyploidization, as characteristic forS. persica andS. furseorum, occurs also in theS. siberica alliance, and is perhaps another common derived trait indicating phylogenetic relationship. Nuclear endosperm development is more frequent in spring-flowering squills than helobial development, which has previously been stated inS. messeniaca, some species of theS. siberica alliance, and inS. litardierei. While helobial endosperm may be primitive forHyacinthaceae in general, it may, by reversal, also occur as a derived character, at least in some species of theS. siberica alliance.