Performance of adult psyllids in no-choice experiments on juvenile and adult leaves of Eucalyptus globulus

The presence of glaucous juvenile leaves and glossy adult leaves in the canopy of the heteroblastic plant Eucalyptus globulus Labill., is a source of within-tree variation that affects herbivory by three psyllid species (Ctenarytaina eucalypti Maskell, C. spatulata Taylor and Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore) (Homoptera, Psyllidae). In no-choice field experiments with adult female psyllids in clip-on cages, we compared (1) leaf-settling, honeydew production, and survival of the Ctenarytaina species on juvenile and adult leaves of E. globulus, (2) leaf-settling and survival of G. brimblecombei on juvenile and adult leaves, (3) leaf-settling and survival of the three species on waxy (untreated) juvenile leaves and de-waxed (rubbed) juvenile leaves, and (4) leaf-settling and survival of C. spatulata on juvenile leaves from which wax was repeatedly removed. Leaf-settling by C. eucalypti was significantly greater on juvenile than adult leaves, however, honeydew production and survival were equal on both leaf types. In contrast, leaf-settling, honeydew production, and survival by C. spatulata were significantly greater on adult than juvenile leaves. Similarly, leaf-settling and survival by G. brimblecombei were significantly greater on adult than juvenile leaves. Wax removal from juvenile leaves significantly increased leaf-settling and survival of C. spatulata and G. brimblecombei. Although wax removal decreased leaf-settling by C. eucalypti, it did not affect survival. Repeated removal of regenerating wax from juvenile leaves did not affect leaf-settling or survival of C. spatulata. These results suggest that the epicuticular wax of juvenile leaves plays a role in resistance to C. spatulata and G. brimblecombei, however other unknown factors are probably also involved.     

Structural and functional divergence of Campanula spatulata subspecies on Mt Olympos (Greece)

 Campanula spatulata is represented on Mt Olympos (2917 m) by two subspecies: the lowland spruneriana, from 400 to 1100 m, and the upland spatulata, from 1700 m to 2500 m. Spatulata populations significantly differed from those of spruneriana in the following features: (i) they consisted of shorter individuals with smaller flowers and lower flower production, (ii) they allocated more energy and resources below ground, (iii) they flowered much later in the year, had longer duration of flowering, and longer flower life span, (iv) they produced smaller fruits with fewer but heavier seeds, (v) they received lower numbers of insect visits for fewer hours per day, and (iv) they were pollinated by smaller insects. Between and within subspecies comparisons showed that in most cases the patterns of character change were neither gradual nor monotonous all along the elevation gradient. The differences in phenological characters are in agreement with patterns associated so far with elevation change. The taxonomic and biometric differences of the insect pollinators as well as the temporal separation of the flowering periods provide substantial evidence of reproductive isolation of the two C. spatulata subspecies on Mt Olympos. Received July 25, 2001 Accepted December 6, 2001     

First record of the Red Gum Lerp Psyllid,Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hem.: Psyllidae), in Europe

The eucalypt‐feeding psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hom.: Psyllidae), an Australian insect, is reported for the first time in Europe. It was initially detected in Portugal and Spain, in September 2007, on Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. At present, G. brimblecombei has only been found associated with E. camaldulensis and E. tereticornis Smith, being apparently absent from E. globulus Labill., the main eucalypt species planted on the Iberian Peninsula. Generalist predators, such as ants, spiders and ladybeetles, were observed in trees attacked by G. brimblecombei, but no psyllid parasitoids were detected.     

Stylet penetration and survival of three psyllid species on adult leaves and `waxy' and `de-waxed' juvenile leaves of Eucalyptus globulus

The stylet probing behavior and survival of Ctenarytaina eucalypti Maskell, C. spatulata Taylor and Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Homoptera, Psyllidae) on adult leaves and `waxy' (untreated) and `de-waxed' (rubbed) juvenile leaves of the heteroblastic plant Eucalyptus globulus Labillardiere were compared. Psyllids were confined within clip-on cages and after 15 days the leaf tissue under each cage was sectioned and stained to characterize and quantify stylet tracks. Across all leaf treatments and psyllid species 1438 stylet tracks were observed in 7239 leaf sections and 571 of these stylet tracks reached the vascular tissue. Survival and the number of stylet tracks of C. eucalypti on the different leaf types did not differ. In contrast, C. spatulata survived significantly longer and produced significantly more stylet tracks on adult leaves and `de-waxed' juvenile leaves than on `waxy' juvenile leaves. Although G. brimblecombei survived equally on all treatments, it produced more stylet tracks on adult leaves and `de-waxed' juvenile leaves than on `waxy' juvenile leaves. For all three psyllid species, there was a positive correlation between survival and number of stylet tracks reaching the vascular tissue. Stylet tracks of all species were generally intercellular from the leaf epidermis to the vascular tissue. Oil glands were avoided by all species, as indicated by the repeated branching and formation of stylet tracks at the periphery of the glands. In `de-waxed' juvenile leaves, C. spatulata and G. brimblecombei produced stylet tracks that entered the leaf at the adaxial surface and exited at the abaxial surface. This pattern was rarely observed on adult leaves, and never occurred with C. eucalypti in any leaf type. We conclude that (1) the epicuticular wax on juvenile leaves reduced stylet probing by C. spatulata and G. brimblecombei, (2) there were apparently no internal physical barriers in either juvenile or adult leaves to prevent the stylets of any of the psyllid species from reaching the vascular tissue, (3) the psyllids avoided oil glands in both leaf types, and (4) C. spatulata and G. brimblecombei may lack cues to orient their stylets towards the vascular tissue in the juvenile leaves.     

Phylogenetic affiliation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Choiromyces magnusii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. venosus Tuberaceae Ascomycota</Emphasis>) from Spain

The only two species of Choiromyces collected up to now in Spain, C. venosus and C. magnusii, were studied with both morphological and molecular methods. Phylogenetic inference of nrDNA ITS and LSU sequences showed that they should be considered independent species in the genus Choiromyces. Choiromyces venosus is a hypogeous fungus, infrequent but naturally present in the Iberian Peninsula, that is imported into Spain from central Europe without any indication of its origin or proper taxonomic identification. It is usually sold as highly-prized edible species of the genus Tuber such as T. magnatum. Choiromyces magnusii is a more frequent hypogeous fungus in Spain that is commercialized in spring on a local scale together with different species in the genus Terfezia. Additionally, the Australian species Reddellomyces westraliensis, which was introduced with Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantations, is cited here for the first time in Spain and Europe.     

Two new sorediate species of lichens in the Catillariaceae from the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract:Two new species of lichens are described from the Iberian Peninsula. Halecania giraltiae is the first sorediate saxicolous species known in the genus and has been collected growing on lichens and sometimes directly on rock in localities from northern Portugal to central Spain. Catillaria fungoides, a sorediate, corticolous representative of the C. nigroclavata group, is known from southern Portugal and northern Spain.     

First records of urban invasive Cryptotermes brevis (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) in continental Spain and Portugal

Occurrence of the West Indian drywood termite, Cryptotermes brevis, is registered for the first time as established populations in Barcelona (Spain) and also additional information is given regarding a recent record from Lisbon (Portugal). This serious invasive termite pest was detected in five buildings in Barcelona, Spain and one building in Lisbon, Portugal.     

Impacts of 2 species of predatory Reduviidae on bagworms in oil palm plantations

Integrated pest management (IPM) is widely practiced in commercial oil palm agriculture. This management system is intended to minimize the number of attacks by pest insects such as bagworms on crops, as well as curb economic loss with less dependency on chemical pesticides. One practice in IPM is the use of biological control agents such as predatory insects. In this study, we assessed the response of predatory natural enemies to pest outbreak and water stress, and document the habitat associations of potential pest predators. The abundances of 2 predatory insect species, namely Sycanus dichotomus and Cosmolestes picticeps (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), were compared bagworm outbreak sites and nonoutbreak sites within oil palm plantations. We also examined habitat characteristics that influence the abundances of both predatory species. We found that the abundance of C. picticeps was significantly higher in bagworm outbreak sites than in nonoutbreak sites. There were no significant differences in the abundance of S. dichotomus among outbreak and non‐outbreak sites. Both species responded negatively to water stress in oil palm plantations. Concerning the relationship between predatory insect abundance and in situ habitat quality characteristics, our models explained 46.36% of variation for C. picticeps and 23.17% of variation for S. dichotomus. Both species of predatory insects thrived from the planting of multiple beneficial plants in oil palm plantations. The results suggest that C. picticeps can be used as a biological agent to control bagworm populations in oil palm plantations, but S. dichotomus has no or little potential for such ecosystem service.     

LIFE HISTORY AND HYBRIDIZATION STUDIES ON GIGARTINA STELLATA AND PETROCELIS CRUENTA (RHODOPHYTA) IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC1

Fourteen isolates of the crustose marine red alga Petrocelis cruenta J. Agardh from various localities in the British Isles, France (including the type locality), Spain and Portugal gave rise in culture to dioecious foliose plants identifiable as Gigartina stellata (Stackhouse) Batters although two isolates formed only sterile foliose blades. A total of 145 isolates of Gigartina stellata were also grown in culture from various localities in the U.S.A. (Maine), the British Isles, Iceland, Denmark, France, Spain and Portugal using both carpospores and vegetative blade apices. Two basic types of life history were found among these isolates: a direct-type life history involving the formation of further foliose plants from carpospores, some isolates of which also form spermatangia on the same papillae as the cystocarps; and a heteromorphic-type in which only crustose plants resembling Petrocelis cruenta are formed from carpospores. Only heteromorphic-type life histories were found from Spain and Portugal. Both life history types were found in plants from the U.S.A., the British Isles and northern France. Only direct-type life histories were found in plants from Iceland and Denmark. Some Petrocelis-like crusts derived from field collected G. stellata carpospores and Petrocelis crusts of hybrid progeny formed tetrasporangia in 8:16 h LD, 10° C but not in 8:16 h LD, 15° C; 16:8 h LD 10° C or 15° C; and 10:6.5:1: 6.5 h LDLD, 10° C. The spores thus formed were viable and produced normal dioecious male and female gametophytes. Short day and low temperature conditions appear necessary for tetrasporogenesis. The results from crossing experiments with 32 male and 27 female isolates of the heteromorphic-type derived from both G. stellata and P. cruenta showed that two virtually non-interbreeding populations with a high degree of geographical separation exist in the north-eastern Atlantic. Morphological differences between plants from each population are described. On the basis of culture and crossing results, Petrocelis cruenta J. Agardh is placed in synonymy with Gigartina stellata (Stackhouse in Withering) Batters.     

Lusitaneura covensis n. gen., n. sp., first Caloneurodea from the Carboniferous of Portugal (Insecta: Pterygota: Panorthoptera)

Lusitaneura covensis n. gen., n. sp., from the Late Carboniferous (Lower Stephanian C) of the Douro Basin (NW of Portugal), is the first Portuguese representative of the Palaeozoic insect order Caloneurodea.     

Do Eucalyptus plantations host an insect community similar to remnant Eucalyptus forest?

Abstract We examined the potential of forest plantations to support communities of forest‐using insects when planted into an area with greatly reduced native forest cover. We surveyed the insect fauna of Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtaceae) plantations and native Eucalyptus marginata dominated remnant woodland in south‐western Australia, comparing edge to interior habitats, and plantations surrounded by a pastoral matrix to plantations adjacent to native remnants. We also surveyed insects in open pasture. Analyses focused on three major insect orders: Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Plantations were found to support many forest‐using insect species, but the fauna had an overall composition that was distinct from the remnant forest. The pasture fauna had more in common with plantations than forest remnants. Insect communities of plantations were different from native forest both because fewer insect species were present, and because they had a few more abundant insect species. Some of the dominant species in plantations were known forestry pests. One pest species (Gonipterus scutellatus) was also very abundant in remnant forest, although it was only recently first recorded in Western Australia. It may be that plantation forestry provided an ecological bridge that facilitated invasion of the native forest by this nonendemic pest species. Plantation communities had more leaf‐feeding moths and beetles than remnant forests. Plantations also had fewer ants, bees, evanioid wasps and predatory canopy beetles than remnants, but predatory beetles were more common in the understory of plantations than remnants. Use of broad spectrum insecticides in plantations might limit the ability of these natural enemies to regulate herbivore populations. There were only weak indications of differences in composition of the fauna at habitat edges and no consistent differences between the fauna of plantations adjacent to remnant vegetation and those surrounded by agriculture, suggesting that there is little scope for managing biodiversity outcomes by choosing different edge to interior ratios or by locating plantations near or far from remnants.     

Variation in chloroplast single-sequence repeats in Portuguese maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.)

Genetic variation in 12 Pinus pinaster (maritime pine) populations spanning most of the distribution range of the species in Portugal was evaluated using six polymorphic chloroplast microsatellite (cpSSR) loci. Thirty-two haplotypes were found. There were indications of very weak differentiation among populations (Weir’s θcoefficient, 0.023), and the R _ST value, derived from the stepwise mutation model (SMM), was not significantly different from zero. The pattern, in which similarities in allele size, in base pairs, do not contribute to the genetic structure, may be due to the recent mixing of genetic material from different stands through plantations. Overall, a high level of haplotypic variation within populations was detected. Using the SMM estimator (mean genetic distance of individuals within populations, D ² _sh –––) we divided the populations into two groups, with above and below average values. The first group contained 5 populations, mainly from the central part of the country, which possess, in general, high levels of haplotypic diversity. Among them, 2 populations were divergent from the others based on the pair-wise Nei’s distance. The results indicate that there is no discernible geographic genetic pattern for the Portuguese populations of P. pinaster investigated. The history of expansion of the species range in Portugal during the twentieth century (mainly due to human activity) and extensive gene flow among populations associated with the expansion could explain this finding. Received: 15 February 2000 / Accepted: 14 April 2000     

Optimization of galacto-oligosaccharide production by Bifidobacterium infantis RW-8120 using response surface methodology

Oligosaccharide (OS) production, cell concentration (2×10⁹ colony-forming unit/ml), lactose concentration (25% wt/vol), reaction time (6 h), and temperature (50°C) were chosen as the central condition of the central composite design (CCD) for optimizing the production process using Bifidobacterium infantis RW-8120 in skim milk. Statistical analysis (P<0.01) revealed that the most relevant variable concerning OS production and yield was the lactose concentration. The coefficient of determination (R ²) is good for the second-order OS production model (0.92) and fairly good for the second-order nonlinear OS yield model (0.816). An increase of lactose concentration and temperature resulted in a higher OS production. The optimal values for OS production appear to be near the area associated with the central points of the modeling design except for the lactose concentration, which was 40% (wt/vol) of the final volume. Received 29 March 2002/ Accepted in revised form 09 August 2002     

Ecophysiological observations on Drosophyllum lusitanicum

The carnivorous plant Drosophyllum lusitanicum inhabits heathland and ruderal sites in Portugal, Spain and Morocco. In the literature, various theories have been discussed concerning the ability of Drosophyllum to survive the annual dry period in summer. In August 2004, we examined: (1) the microclimate, (2) soil parameters and (3) the physiological conditions of the plants on two sites in Portugal and Spain. First, during the day, plants are exposed to very high air and soil temperatures and very low air humidity. The climatic extremes are not significantly softened by the population, only the wind speed is drastically decreased. During the night, on the other hand, very high air humidity and dew formation could be observed. The harsh climate is accompanied by stressful soil conditions. Second, the soil is completely dry, poor in fine earth, calcium and nutrients and more or less acid. Third, in spite of these climatic and edaphic extremes, all plants were green, produced trapping mucilage and caught numerous animals. Far from being affected by these conditions, Drosophyllum showed even better growth and reproduction on more extreme sites. We analysed the root system and found living fine roots missing. The osmotic value of the plants is rather low and water storage organs are absent. Therefore we conclude that in summer Drosophyllum is nourished by the dew at night.     

Conservation status of the threatened Iberian Peninsula narrow endemic Antirrhinum lopesianum Rothm. (Scrophulariaceae)

Abstract

Antirrhinum lopesianum Rothm. is a narrow endemic of the Lusitan Duriensean biogeographical sector (central western Spain and north-eastern Portugal). The species is listed as threatened in several Spanish documents, although it does not figure as such in any Portuguese document. This paper provides a detailed study of its distribution, estimates of the sizes of its populations, the threats it faces, and its current conservation status. The total number of individuals thought to exist is only 768, distributed along the valley of the River Duero on the Spanish – Portuguese border (562, 71.2%), and in the Portuguese Sabor River valley (206, 26.8%). The main threat to the species is loss of habitat: about one third of the Iberian populations can be considered threatened; one population containing 37.6% of all these plants (289) is severely threatened. To determine the Area of Occupancy and the Extent of Occurrence, an exhaustive bibliographical survey was carried out, and herbarium specimens deposited in several institutions were revised. It is, therefore, classifiable as Critically Endangered in Portugal and Endangered in Spain.     

Diversity of Rhizobia isolated from various Hedysarum species

Cultural and physiological properties, serology, plasmid profiles and infective traits were determined for 23 strains of rhizobia isolated from various Hedysarum species: H. coronarium (common name: sulla) (16), H. carnosum (1), H. alpinum (3), H. mackenzii (2) and H. pallens (1) from Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, Alaska and Israel. Strains isolated from H. alpinum, H. mackenzii and H. pallens have slow growth rates on yeast-extract mannitol medium and were unable to nodulate H. coronarium plants, whereas the latter were effectively nodulated by all sixteen fast growing strains from sulla. Regardless of the country of origin all H. coronarium strains fell into one serogroup and were not serologically related with strains of other Hedysarum species. The RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) fingerprinting method which was carried out on five H. coronarium and three H. alpinum strains allowed distinction to be made among serologically related rhizobia. No particular plasmid profile pattern was observed in relation to the host or geographical origin of the strains.     

The presence of two-grained einkorn at the time of the Bandkeramik culture

At the end of the 6th millennium B. C. Triticum monococcum (einkorn) and Triticum dicoccum (emmer) were the main cereals of the early Neolithic Bandkeramik culture in central Europe. New archaeobotanical investigations at relevant Bandkeramik sites reveal the regular occurrence of morphologically two-grained einkorn. Some preliminary thoughts on the state of research and the possible origin of two-grained einkorn forms are presented here. Received January 7, 2002 / Accepted August 5, 2002 Correspondence to: Angela Kreuz     

Insect damage in Eucalyptus: A review of plantations in Chile

Chile has more than 330 000 ha of eucalypt plantations, predominantly in the eighth to the tenth region (approximately 34 to 41°S). Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus is the principal eucalypt planted, but Eucalyptus nitens, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus delegatensis and Eucalyptus viminalis are also grown. There are four main insect pests that have been detected attacking these eucalypts in Chile: the defoliator Gonipterus scutellatus, the bark borers Phoracantha semipunctata and Phoracantha recurva and the native wood borer Chilecomadia valdiviana. More recently, Thyrinteina arnobia and Ctenarytaina eucalypti have been detected. Gonipterus scutellatus and P. recurva have been discovered in Chile within the last 2 years and it is hoped they may still be eliminated using a combination of biological control and chemical control of local populations. Phoracantha recurva and P. semipunctata are not considered a problem because attack only occurs in areas of water deficit, away from current eucalypt plantations. Chilecomadia valdiviana can damage plantations of E. nitens but rarely attacks other eucalypts.?Chilecomadia valdiviana may cause future problems through further host shifts. Thyrinteina arnobia has only been detected during quarantine surveillance in the port of Valparaiso. Ctenarytaina eucalypti, recently detected in August 1999, had an initial limited distribution in the first region. However, since then, this insect has expanded its distribution south up to the tenth region. None of the insects recorded on eucalypts in Chile to date currently presents a threat to the eucalypt industry. It is also essential that additional resources are made available for their continued monitoring and control, particularly given that the 44% of plantations are held by small to medium property owners that would otherwise be unable to control a serious outbreak because of economic restrictions.     

Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of three Mediterranean shrubs in a summer-autumn period in central Portugal

The photosynthetic performance of Cistus crispus, Centaurea africana and Thymus villosus, three shrubs of the Mediterranean-type maquis vegetation of Central Portugal, were studied between July and December 2003 by means of in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements. In C. africana total leaf decay occurred between August and October, in T. villosus no clear pattern of variation of the basal fluorescence (F_o) was observed, and in C. crispus an increase of this parameter was observed in late autumn. In all species, the limitation to photosynthesis by photoinhibition and the contribution of non-reversible processes to total photoinhibition were more pronounced in the summer than in the autumn. However, a pronounced decrease of the effective quantum yield of photosystem 2 (Φ_PS2) was found in late autumn, probably due to a decrease of the carboxylation efficiency of the Calvin-Benson cycle, which was also supported by a parallel decrease of the photochemical quenching coefficient (qP).