The Rubiaceae of São Tomé e Príncipe (Gulf of Guinea): taxonomy and conservation

A synoptic treatment of the Rubiaceae of São Tomé e Príncipe (Gulf of Guinea) is presented based on herbarium collections kept at BM, COI, K and LISC. There are 36 genera and 64 species of Rubiaceae represented in the flora of São Tomé e Príncipe. Identification keys are provided for genera, species and infraspecific taxa. A new combination is made in Chassalia . Twenty-nine taxa are endemic to these islands, two of which are also endemic to Annobon. The conservation status of the endemic taxa is assessed and IUCN categories of threat are proposed for ten taxa. Nineteen taxa of Rubiaceae are considered under threat in São Tomé e Príncipe and ten are considered nearly threatened.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 85–114.     

Pervasive threats within a protected area: conserving the endemic birds of São Tomé, West Africa

The importance of the rainforests on the island of São Tomé for biodiversity is well known. However, the area only recently received full legal protection as a National Park and currently few resources are available to enforce that legislation. With rapid economic development forecast for the island, active conservation efforts are essential. Here we study the distribution and density of the island's endemic bird species, including nine that are Globally Threatened, within the National Park. Sites, covering the full range of primary forest types, were surveyed using distance sampling methods. No introduced species were observed. The highest number of species, including eight Globally Threatened species, were found in lowland rainforest, although many were infrequently encountered. Higher altitude sites were less diverse, but supported some of the common endemic species at extremely high densities. The least diverse assemblage, with generally lower species population densities, occurred at the most accessible mid-altitude forest site. Distance from settlements was a key explanatory variable for the presence of all Globally Threatened species, indicating that human habitation has negative effects on the suitability of nearby forest habitats. This suggests that, as infrastructure improvements proceed, populations of endangered species will come under growing pressure. Integrating the needs of biodiversity conservation and development represents a major challenge for many biodiverse countries and on São Tomé, as elsewhere, may best be achieved by preserving the still intact functioning forest ecosystem.     

The fish grazing of rocky shore algae in the Gulf of Guinea

There is a conspicuous absence of large algae on five breakwater systems surveyed along the northern shore of the Gulf of Guinea. Such algae are a distinctive feature of most natural, rocky areas in the region and their absence on these artificial structures may be accounted for by heavy sedimentation and pollution inside the harbours, and as a result of fish grazing on the outside. Herbivorous pomacentrids (Abudefduf, Pomacentrus), parrot fish (Pseudoscarus) and surgeon fish (Acanthurus) are common along parts of the breakwaters sheltered from direct wave action. Preliminary experiments and observations show the importance of fish grazing and indicate diurnal differences in its intensity. The ‘broken-up’ nature of the breakwaters with moderate wave action is the probable reason for the occurrence of large fish populations and hence the presence largely of grazing-tolerant algae.     

Checklist of the Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae) of Equatorial Guinea (Annobón, Bioko and Río Muni)

This study provides a checklist of the Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae) present in Equatorial Guinea, comprising 52 genera and 124 taxa. Seven species are known from Annobón, 33 from Bioko and 109 from Río Muni. The best represented genus is Senna with eight species. In addition, bibliographic references for Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae) from Equatorial Guinea have been gathered and checked. Fourteen species are included based on literature records, because their distribution ranges suggest they may occur in Equatorial Guinea, 11 introduced species could be naturalized, and 45 taxa are recorded for the first time from the country. This represents an increase of over 35% in the floristic knowledge of Caesalpinioideae from Equatorial Guinea. A statistical summary is presented at the end of the checklist.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 541–562.     

A Late carboniferous palynoflora from the Itararé Subgroup (Paraná Basin) in Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil

Upper Paleozoic sedimentary sequences from several localities of the northeastern Paraná Basin were sampled for paleobotanical and palynological studies. Well-preserved terrestrial assemblages from samples of Campinas, São Paulo State, from an outcrop at the 97 km mark on the Bandeirantes Highway, located at the Municipality of Campinas, São Paulo State were recorded where fertile bryophytes and megaspores were previously also found. The Campinas palynoflora is composed of 23 species of bryophytic and pteridophytic spores, 16 species of pollen grains, and one algae (Botryococcus braunii Kützing). Among the sporomorphs, Reticulatisporites asperidictyus Playford and Helby is described for the first time from the Paraná Basin. Assemblages bear diagnostic species of the Ahrensisporites cristatus Interval Zone, such as Anapiculatisporites argentinensis Azcuy, Cristatisporites inordinatus (Menéndez and Azcuy) Playford, and Psomospora detecta Playford and Helby, of Late Carboniferous age (Pennsylvanian). Palynological content suggests a glacio-deltaic/lacustrine environment of deposition. This is supported by lithological data and by the absence of marine palynomorphs.     

Pennsylvanian palynofloras from the Itu rhythmites (Itararé Subgroup, Paraná Basin) in São Paulo State, Brazil

The rhythmites of Itu present the best exposures of glacial varvites known in the Paraná Basin, and constitute a classic geological monument related to the Late Palaeozoic Gondwanan glaciation. Palynological results in this paper are based on rhythmites from two quarries in Itu area, central-eastern State of São Paulo, Brazil, including correlate levels of the “Itu Varvite Park”, as well as based on samples from the borehole IT-IG-85 (at 171 and 228 m) drilled also in the Itu City. Well-preserved indigenous miospores and microphytoplankton elements have been recorded. The former comprise 15 spore species and 19 pollen species, of which three are recorded for the first time in the Brazilian part of the Paraná Basin (Verrucosisporites cf. V. andersonii, Convolutispora archangelskyi and Caheniasaccites verrucosus). Microalgae include prasinophyceans (Leiosphaeridia sp., Tasmanites sp., Deusilites tenuistriatus), chlorophyceans (Botryococcus braunii) and zignemataceans (Tetraporina). The palynological content confirms a late Pennsylvanian (Kasimovian/Gzhelian) age for these rhythmites, which are assigned to the Crucisaccites monoletus interval Zone, based on the record of the eponymous pollen species and Scheuringipollenites maximus. Although very scarce, prasinophycean algae suggest low salinity marine conditions.     

Taxonomic note on some paleozoic marine algae (Uzbekistan, Central Asia)

The paleozoic marine algae of Central Asia were recently investigated and attributed to warm-water and Tethyan microflora. If the majority of the taxa (114 out of 117) were already described from other basins, a few elements merit attention. Two chlorophyte species are new (Atractyliopsis nuratauensis nov. sp., Amarellina moscoviensis nov. sp.) and a new Hoeegonites sp. is left in open nomenclature. The flora also contains representatives of the puzzling Moniliporelleae, a rhodophyte family only reported from Kazakhstan with the genus Furcatoporella. An unusual in situ cluster of calcispheres is also illustrated.     

Ovarian regression and apoptosis in the South American teleost Leporinus taeniatus Lütken (Characiformes, Anostomidae) from the São Francisco Basin

Involution and resorption of both postovulatory and atretic follicles were analysed in piau‐jejo Leporinus taeniatus (Characiformes, Anostomidae) in order to evaluate the role of apoptosis during ovarian regression. Histological and ultrastructural analyses showed hallmarks of apoptosis in the granulosa: aggregation of compacted chromatin against the nuclear envelope, cell shrinkage, surface blebbing, loss of cell adhesion and cell fragmentation into apoptotic bodies. Protein synthesis activity preceded the onset of the cell death. The breakdown of the basement membrane led to the detachment of the granulosa cells into the follicular lumen. TUNEL‐positive reactions were detected in in situ DNA fragmentation of granulosa of both postovulatory and atretic follicles. Apoptosis increased in a time‐dependent manner contributing to reduction of the follicular areas. The apoptotic index (per cent of apoptotic cells) of the granulosa increased in postovulatory follicles soon after spawning, then these follicles degenerated and only remnants were observed at 7 days. In contrast, the granulosa cells reabsorbed the yolk during follicular atresia and the apoptotic index increased only in the late stage of regression. The results indicated apoptosis as the major mechanism to rapidly eliminate postovulatory follicles and being an essential process in the ovarian regression after spawning.     

Checklist of Commelinaceae of Equatorial Guinea (Annobón,Bioko and Río Muni)

A checklist of Commelinaceae of Equatorial Guinea, comprising 46 taxa in 12 genera, is presented. The best represented genus is Palisota, with 11 species. Bibliographical references for Commelinaceae from Equatorial Guinea have been gathered and checked. Eleven species of Commelinaceae are recorded for the first time in the country. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 159 , 106–122.     

Genetic diversity and chemical polymorphism of Thymus caespititius from Pico,São Jorge and Terceira islands (Azores)

Thirty-one individuals from Thymus caespititius were collected on the islands of Pico, São Jorge and Terceira (Azores) and the volatiles were isolated by distillation–extraction and analyzed by GC and GC–MS. The same plants were analyzed by RAPD using 17 arbitrary primers that generated 187 scorable polymorphic bands. The volatile composition of the individuals was in accordance with previous results obtained from the populations’ analysis, confirming that the chemical polymorphism was in some cases more evident among different plants from the same island than among those collected on different islands. RAPDs analyses using the same individuals did not show identical clustering as with the volatile oil profiles and no straight correlation among collection site, chemical analysis and molecular assessments could be found, suggesting that other molecular tools should be explored in order to fully understand the influence of both environmental and genetic factors on volatiles composition.     

An annotated list of the marine algae of Visakhapatnam (India)

In all, 80 species and varieties of marine algae are recorded from the intertidal region of the Visakhapatnam coast. Of these, 18 are new records for India and seven are first records for the east coast. Information on the localities of their occurrence and notes on the morphology and other features of taxonomic interest are given in the annotations.     

Marine green algae (Chlorophyta) from the north coast of Papua New Guinea

The marine benthic green algae of the north coast of Papua New Guinea (mainly from Madang province) are documented, based on collections made by the first author between 1980 and 1990. All records (118 taxa) are listed with bibliographic, taxonomic, nomenclatural and biogeographical notes. Identification keys are added for genera represented by at least two species. Representatives of the Pseudocodiaceae and some Udoteaceae are illustrated. The green algal flora of the north coast appears to be much richer than that of the south coast where 72 taxa, including 19 unchecked records from literature, are recorded from the Port Moresby area.