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Abstract: Leaf secondary compounds were examined in browsed and non-browsed Juniperus ashei trees to identify selective browsing patterns by goats and deer. Analysis of volatile leaf oils (terpenoids) revealed that the browsed trees were lower in total oil than non-browsed trees (2.18 vs. 3.46%, DW basis). Extractable and fiber-bound condensed tannins (CT) were not different but protein-bound CT concentrations were greater in browsed trees. Among digestibility measures (NDF, ADF, IVDMD), IVDMD was greater in non-browsed leaves. Terpene components analyzed on a percent total oil basis had 3 differences versus 12 significant differences on a mg/g DW basis. The terpenoid components profile differed little between browsed and non-browsed trees. Total CT are negatively associated with oil yields. No association was found between crude protein and oil yields or between digestibility (IVDMD, NDF, ADF) and oil yields. The question of whether individual plants or populations may invest less in CT when greater amounts of terpenes are produced (or vice-versa) may have evolutionary implications since individual browsers or populations may adapt to consuming or avoiding either CT or terpenes. The fact that browsed tree leaves were less digestible than non-browsed tree leaves may be a result of complex interactions between CT, terpenes, fiber, and nutrients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Analyses of individuals classically treated as Juniperus oxycedrus L. var. oxycedrus from Morocco, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Turkey, using DNA sequencing of nrDNA (ITS 1, 5.8S, ITS 2) plus RAPDs, leaf terpenoids and morphology revealed that two cryptic, genetically distinct but morphologically almost identical species are present. These species, J. oxycedrus L. var. oxycedrus and Juniperus deltoides R.P. Adams, are about as different from each other as Juniperus navicularis and Juniperus macrocarpa are from J. oxycedrus var. oxycedrus. Examination of herbarium specimens revealed that the two species are largely allopatric with J. deltoides occurring from Italy eastward through Turkey into the Caucasus Mts. and Iran. J. oxycedrus var. oxycedrus appears to be largely concentrated west of Italy (France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco). Cryptic speciation is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Twelve individual genotypes selected from Juniperus populations, varieties and species were analyzed using ITS sequences, RAPDs, ISSRs, and leaf volatile terpenoids. These four data sets, all analyzed in the same manner, illustrated that these data sets can be used at different organizational levels: specific, inter-specific and intraspecific. Similarity matrices for the ITS, RAPD, and ISSR data sets were highly correlated (r ranged from 0.83 to 0.95). In contrast, the terpenoid matrix had a low correlation with the other data matrices (r ranged from −0.04 to 0.38). Because these 12 genotypes were taken from several species, the terpenoids, having been shown to most useful at the infra-specific level, were not concordant at this taxonomic level. The high correlation between DNA markers and ITS sequence data implies that these data are measuring concordant patterns among these genotypes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]