Serotaxonomy and systematic relationships of the genus Adenocarpus (Genisteae – Fabaceae)

The storage proteins extracted from the seeds of five species of the genus Adenocarpus and of four subspecies or varieties of the type species A. complicates were studied serologically and compared with the homologous proteins extracted from 20 other species of Genisteae and allied tribes. All taxa of Adenocarpus reacted strongly with an antiserum to A. complicates ssp. complicates; only slight differences were observed between subspecies and between species. Adenocarpus was shown to be isolated from all other Genisteae. However, it was more similar to the Genisteae than to species of other tribes. The highest similarity toward Adenocarpus was presented by Argyrolobium , by some primitive unspecialized genera (Laburnum, Cytisophyllum) , and by such isolated genera as Cytisanthus, Spartium, Echinospartum. Retama and Lupinus were most dissimilar. It is concluded that Adenocarpus , a very uniform and isolated genus, belongs to the Genisteae; it shares many characters with the bulk of primitive genera of the Genisteae; its evolutionary line is independent from all others, but is not very distant from that of Argyrolobium.     

Morphological variation in the Chamaecytisus proliferus (L.f.) Link complex (Fabaceae: Genisteae) in the Canary Islands

FRANCISCO-ORTEGA, J., JACKSON, M. T., SANTOS-GUERRA, A. & FORD-LLOYD, B. V., 1993. Morphological variation in the Chamaecytisus proliferus (L.f.) Link complex (Fabaceae: Genisteae) in the Canary Islands . A multivariate study (Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis, Warďs method) of 47 morphological traits from 164 populations of Chamaecytisus proliferus (L.f.) Link from the Canary Islands confirmed that this species complex is formed by seven morphological types. At least eight traits discriminated between these types. Patterns of variation follow a cline within Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Palma. These results also show that morphological variation is greater in the eastern islands (i.e. Gran Canaria and Tenerife) than in the western islands (La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma) and that no morphological differences are found between plants of typical tagasaste from wild and cultivated populations.     

On the nomenclature and types of Chamaecytisus proliferus (L.f.) Link (Fabaceae: Genisteae), a fodder shrub from the Canary Islands

The name Cytisus proliferus L.f. is here considered perfectly acceptable and should not be replaced by Cytisus prolifer L.f. One specimen from The Natural History Museum, London is confirmed as the lectotype of Cytisus proliferus L.f. Two specimens from the collection of the Swiss botanist Hermann Christ from the Main Herbarium of the Zurich Botanical Garden were selected as lectotypes for Cytisus proliferus L.f. var. canariae H. Christ and Cytisus proliferus L.f. var. palmensis H. Christ. The name Cytisus proliferus Kit. is typified and a specimen from Paul Kitaibel's collection at the Botanical Department of the Hungarian Natural History Museum is assigned as its lectotype.     

Serological relationships among Sophoreae, Thermopsideae and Genisteae (Fabaceae)

A comparison among 20 genera, representatives of Sophoreae, Thermopsideae and Genisteae based on the serological cross reactivity of the seed proteins, indicates: (a) Sophoreae are highly heterogeneous – there is little similarity among genera of the New World, genera of tropical austral Africa, and genera of temperate Eurasia; (b) Sophora and Maackia are strictly related both to Thermopsidae and to Genisteae; (c) Thermopsideae are not intermediate between Sophoreae and Genisteae; (d) Primitive Thermopsideae and Genisteae (Anagyris, Hesperolaburnum) are serologically related among themselves and to the Sophoreae; (e) derived herbaceous genera (Baptisia, Lupinus) are serologically divergent.     

Macaronesian millipedes (Diplopoda) with emphasis on endemic species swarms on Madeira and the Canary Islands

Endemic species swarms constitute large fractions of the millipede faunas of Madeira (29 species of the Cylindroiulus madeirae group, plus six species of Acipes , out of a total of 60 species) and the Canary Islands (46 species of Dolichoiulus , plus four species of the Glomeris alluaudi-group , out of a total of about 79 species). The poorer faunas of the Azores (22 species) and the Cape Verde Islands (15 species) in contrast only include a few endemics. The Cylindroiulus madeirae group and Dolichoiulus show a high degree of diversity of structure (size, colour, leg length etc.) and habitat (laurisilva, xeric habitats, caves). The C. madeirae group, unlike Dolichoiulus , is strongly concentrated in the laurisilva. In this habitat, microhabitat differentiation is pronounced in both swarms.     

Radiation of the genus Dysdera (Araneae, Haplogynae, Dysderidae) in the Canary Islands: The island of Gran Canaria

This study continues studies on the taxonomy and distribution of Dysdera in the Canarian archipelago. Four new species are described: Dysdera andamanae sp. n., D. arabisenen sp. n., D. tibicena sp. n. and D. yguanirae sp. n. Four new synonymies are reported: D. bailadero Wunderlich, 1991 and D. pauciserae Wunderlich, 1991 = Dysdera iguanensis Wunderlich, 1987, D. tamadabaensis Wunderlich, 1991 = D. paucispinosa Wunderlich, 1991; D. sinuosa Wunderlich, 1994 = D. tilosensis Wunderlich, 1991. Six species are redescribed: D. bandamae Schmidt, 1973, D. iguanensis Wunderlich, 1987, D. insulana Simon, 1883, D. paucispinosa Wunderlich, 1991, D. tilosensis Wunderlich, 1991 and D. verneaui Simon, 1883; and neotypes are designated for D. insulana and D. verneaui . The presence of the following species in Gran Canaria is reported for the first time: D. iguanensis , formerly only collected on Tenerife, D. insulana , previously of doubtful location, and D. levipes , known from Tenenfe and La Gomera. Morphological affinities, ecology and distribution of the species are discussed.     

A rare new species of Polhillia (Genisteae,Fabaceae)

The new species Polhillia ignota Boatwr. is described. This species is known only from two collections, one between Vredenburg and Saldanha and the other close to Porterville. The new species is most similar to P. obsoleta, which is known only from a few localities around Worcester, in its narrow, sericeous leaflets and flowers of equal size, but differs in its flattened mature leaves with larger leaflets (up to ± 12 mm long), longer pseudo-peduncles (up to ± 15  mm long), denser inflorescences (with up to four flowers), shorter pedicels (1–2 mm long) and non-auriculate wing- and keel petals.     

Indirect seed dispersal by the feral cats Felis catus in island ecosystems (Canary Islands)

In this paper we present an unusual incidence of an introduced Carnivora Felis catus as indirect seed disperser of plants that produce fleshy fruits in different ecosystems in the Canary Islands Four hundred and twenty six seeds from at least 8 fleshy fruit plant species have been identified in the analysis of 1047 scat groups, the majority of them being found in the lower habitats (<600 mas1) of the Canary archipelago Seeds from two plant species were significantly matched with the presence of lizard prey, and fruits of Jumperus phoenicea, Neochamaelea pulverulenta and Withania artstata were directly consumed by the cats Passing through the gut of the Gallotia galloti (Lacertidae) and Felis catus apparently does not damage the seeds At the moment, the phenomenon studied in this paper does not seem to have a great quantitative importance m the natural regeneration of the plants if we compare the direct vs indirect seed dispersal     

Adaptive radiation of island plants: evidence from Aeonium (Crassulaceae) of the Canary Islands

The presence of diverse and species-rich plant lineages on oceanic islands is most often associated with adaptive radiation. Here we discuss the possible adaptive significance of some of the most prominent traits in island plants, including woodiness, monocarpy and sexual dimorphisms. Indirect evidence that such traits have been acquired through convergent evolution on islands comes from molecular phylogenies; however, direct evidence of their selective value rarely is obtained. The importance of hybridization in the evolution of island plants is also considered as part of a more general discussion of the mechanisms governing radiations on islands. Most examples are from the Hawaiian and Canarian floras, and in particular from studies on the morphological, ecological and molecular diversification of the genus Aeonium, the largest plant radiation of the Canarian Islands.     

Isolation and biodiversity in Cytisus villosus Pourret (Fabaceae,Genisteae): enzyme polymorphism in disjunct populations

ABSTRACT

The genetic diversity of isolated populations of Cytisus villosus has been studied by means of enzyme polymorphism analysis. Two types of isolated populations were studied: “terrestrial islands” in Sicily, and “true islands” in the Aeolian archipelago. In the populations of “true islands” the number of alleles and the heterozygosity are lower than in “terrestrial islands”. Isolation amongst Sicilian populations seems to be more recent than isolation of the Aeolian populations, and may be attributed to climatic changes which occurred during the Holocene and/or to human activities. The disjunction of the Aeolian populations seems much more recent than the origin of the isles themselves; the colonization of the archipelago is attributed to a single, recent dispersal event not followed by local evolution. In view of the biological structure of the Aeolian populations, C. villosus must be regarded as a locally endangered species.     

Under the volcano: phylogeography and evolution of the cave-dwelling Palmorchestia hypogaea (Amphipoda, Crustacea) at La Palma (Canary Islands)

Background

The invasive garden ant, Lasius neglectus, is the most recently detected pest ant and the first known invasive ant able to become established and thrive in the temperate regions of Eurasia. In this study, we aim to reconstruct the invasion history of this ant in Europe analysing 14 populations with three complementary approaches: genetic microsatellite analysis, chemical analysis of cuticular hydrocarbon profiles and behavioural observations of aggression behaviour. We evaluate the relative informative power of the three methodological approaches and estimate both the number of independent introduction events from a yet unknown native range somewhere in the Black Sea area, and the invasive potential of the existing introduced populations.

Results

Three clusters of genetically similar populations were detected, and all but one population had a similar chemical profile. Aggression between populations could be predicted from their genetic and chemical distance, and two major clusters of non-aggressive groups of populations were found. However, populations of L. neglectus did not separate into clear supercolonial associations, as is typical for other invasive ants.

Conclusion

The three methodological approaches gave consistent and complementary results. All joint evidence supports the inference that the 14 introduced populations of L. neglectus in Europe likely arose from only very few independent introductions from the native range, and that new infestations were typically started through introductions from other invasive populations. This indicates that existing introduced populations have a very high invasive potential when the ants are inadvertently spread by human transport.     

Breeding strategies of RavensCorvus corax in an oceanic island ecosystem (El Hierro, Canary Islands)

The breeding population of Ravens on El Hierro consists of between 99 and 120 pairs. Most territories were found at altitudes of 600 metres a. s. l. or lower. Altitude had an important effect on the early stages of clutches, especially in the lower zones or in those at heights less than 900 metres a. s. l. There were no great differences in the timing of nesting in comparison with continental areas. Clutch size and breeding success were lower than in practically all continental zones, which suggests a relationship to the limited resource capacity of island ecosystems.

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Zusammenfassung Auf El Hierro (Kanarische Inseln) brüten 88 bis 120 Paare Kolkraben. Die meisten Brutterritorien liegen bei 600 m ü. NN oder tiefer. Legebeginn und Bruterfolg variieren mit der Meereshöhe. Die Brutperiode weicht nicht von den Werten kontinentaler Populationen ab. Gelegegröße und Bruterfolg waren jedoch geringer als in allen bisher untersuchten kontinentalen Populationen; dies ist wahrscheinlich auf limitierte Ressourcen des Inselökosystems zurückzuführen.

     

Climate warming and introduced herbivores disrupt alpine plant community of an oceanic island (Tenerife,Canary Islands)

Plant Ecology - Invasive alien species and climate change are two of the main current threats to conservation of biodiversity worldwide. Their effects have been extensively studied individually,...