Swampy area transformations by exploitation ofRaphia hookeri (Arecaceae) in southern Benin (West Africa)

The Raphiapalms in the southern part of Benin are confined to freshwater swamps, where the natural vegetation consists of a forest rich in Dicotyledons. Human activity has transformed this forest into a “raphiale” where Raphia hookerihas become the main arborescent species. The influence of this transformation on the vegetation results in a more regular distribution of Raphis hookeritrunks and a gradual disappearing of clumps of ramets. By now, the future of Raphis hookerispecies is almost ensured except in situations of over-exploitation.     

Functional and historical drivers of leaf shape evolution in palms (Arecaceae)

Aim

Leaves display a remarkable variety of shapes, each with potential ecological advantages in specific climates. While the relations between leaf shape and either climate or height have been relatively well studied in eudicots, the macroecological drivers of shape remain poorly known in monocots. Here, we investigated the associations between climate and plant height with the evolution of leaf shape in a clade with high species and morphological diversity.

Location

Global.

Time period

Cretaceous to contemporary.

Major taxa studied

Palms (Arecaceae).

Methods

We apply a Bayesian phylogenetic mixed model to test for associations between climate and leaf shape (all – entire-leaved, pinnate-dissected, palmate-dissected and costapalmate). We further reconstruct the ancestral leaf shape using multistate speciation and extinction models and compare the frequency of shapes with global temperatures through time.

Results

We find that plant height associates with dissected leaves and that annual precipitation associates with pinnate shapes. The ancestral leaf shape is unclear, but early diversification was dominated by pinnate-dissected palms, which has remained the most species-rich form of leaves throughout palm history.

Main Conclusions

Palms that are tall and live in humid regions are more likely to have pinnate leaves. Through geological time scales, temperature did not play an obvious role in determining leaf shapes. This study contributes to our understanding of how the diversity of leaf shapes is linked to biological and climatic factors.     

Reproductive Biology of the Monoecious Understory Palm Prestoea schultzeana in Amazonian Ecuador1

Prestoea schultzeana is a monoecious, protandrous palm in the forest understory of Amazonian Ecuador. We studied its leaf production, population density, sexual expression, phenology, pollination, and the specificity of the floral visitors. On average, 1.4 leaves and 0.9 inflorescences are produced per individual per year. The number of staminate flowers per inflorescence is relatively constant compared with the number of pistillate flowers which varies greatly. Flowering occurs in staminate and pistillate phases of approximately 19 and 0–7 days duration, respectively. Flowers open in the morning, and staminate flowers abscise in the afternoon of the same day whereas pistillate flowers last for two days. Flowers are whitish-yellow with a sweet odor and produce nectar. They were visited by Coleoptera (Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae, Nitidulidae, Ptiliidae, Staphylinidae), Hemiptera, Diptera (Drosophilidae, Syrphidae, Ceratopogonidae), Lepidoptera (Nymphalidae), and Hymenoptera (Formicidae, Halictidae). All examined individuals of the syrphid fly Copestylum sp. visiting pistillate flowers carried 100–500 grains of P. schultzeana pollen. Pollen occurred on all body parts, but especially on the legs, and this makes Copestylum sp. the most important pollinator. Most floral visitors were also frequent on the flowers of co-occurring plant species; notably the palm Hyospathe elegans shared most visitor species with P. schultzeana.     

Rattan (Calamoideae) abundance and above-ground biomass at a primary rainforest of Peninsular Malaysia

Background: Rattans are widespread throughout paleo-tropical forests; however, there is no information on their contribution to above-ground biomass (AGB).

Aims: This study established biomass baseline values for 11 different rattan species in a Malaysian primary forest, and calculated the overall rattan AGB contribution and dynamics during two years.

Methods: All rattan stems in five 100 m × 100 m study plots were counted in 2011 and 2013. Biometric non-invasive measurements were carried out on 11 climbing and non-climbing species and total rattan biomass for both years calculated was compared.

Results: Rattans contributed with 3.1 Mg ha^?1 to the forest AGB. There was no significant change in rattan biomass between the years.

Conclusions: These preliminary results are the first published on the AGB contribution of rattans to Malaysian primary forests. Further studies are required to ascertain values across forest types and over time to reliably estimate the contribution of rattan species to ABG and carbon sequestration.     

攀援植物绞股蓝幼苗对光照强度的形态和生长反应

 利用遮阳网产生光照强度梯度,以研究攀援植物绞股蓝(Gynostemma pentaphyllum)幼苗对光梯度的形态和生长反应。结果表明：1)相对生长速率、净同化速率和总生物量随光照强度减弱而降低,总叶面积、比茎长、株高、分枝角度、叶面积率和比叶面积却增加;2)株高生长与相对生长速率成负相关;3)幼苗生物量分配对光梯度的反应不敏感。这些结果意味着绞股蓝幼苗的形态和生长反应对不同光环境具有可塑性,比茎长和株高随光照减弱而增加有利于绞股蓝幼苗“寻找”到外界支持物。     

猴与人掌(跖)纹的比较研究

本研究对猴和人的手（脚）掌纹进行了观察,并应用χ2检验进行比较分析,结果显示：(1)指（趾）间区、小鱼际区、脚弓区纹型出现频率,猴远远高于人。猴指（趾）间区纹型出现频率达95.5%以上,而人的指间区最高的Ⅰ4为72.1%,最低的Ⅰ1仅为1.0%,趾间区fⅠ3为34.6%,fⅠ1是3.7%;猴的手掌小鱼际区纹型频率为131.8%,脚掌小鱼际区为59.1%,而人分别为14.4%和18.5%;脚弓区也类似。(2)上述区的纹型类型,猴与人也有明显差异。最明显的特点是猴的斗形纹频率明显高。如指间区、趾间区、手掌小鱼际区和脚掌小鱼际区的斗形纹频率分别是77.3%、40.9%、59.1%和22.7%,而人分别为0.1%、0.3%、0和0。本研究结果对研究灵长目皮纹的遗传与进化有重要意义。 Abstract：Dermal ridges of palms (soles) in monkeys and men were observed.Using the method of χ2 examination to make a comparative study and analysis.The results showed the ridge pattern frequencies of the monkeys i n their interdigital areas were much higher than men.The ridge pattern frequenc y of the monkeys in each interdigital area and sole interdigital area was over 9 5.5%,but men’s Ⅰ4 was 72.1% at the highest, and Ⅰ1 was only 1.0% at the l owest, fⅠ3 was 34.6% and fⅠ1 was 3.7%.The ridge pattern frequency of the m onkeys in their hypothenars of palms was 131,8%,soles was 59.1%,but that of men were 14.4% and 18.5%.These similar phenomenon also existed in the arch areas of the feet.There were obvious differences between monkeys and men in their types o f ridge patterns.The obvious character was that the whorl frequency of the monke ys was obviously higher. For example ,the whorl frequency of the monkeys in thei r interdigital areas and sole interdigital areas ,hypothenar of the palms and so le were 77.3% and 40.9%,59.1%and 22.7% respectively.But those of the men were 0. 1% and 0.3%,zero and zero.The results are very significant for researching the i nheritance and evolvement of the primates'dermal ridges.     

湛江南亚热带植物园棕榈科观赏植物引种初报

本文介绍湛江南亚热带植物园棕榈科观赏植物的原产地、观赏特性、生态适应性及繁殖方式等,并对其发展前景作了阐述。