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A new troglobitic species of the genus Antillobisium is described from Sancti Spiritus province, Cuba. Antillobisium tomasi n. sp. is the third known species of the genus and is well characterized by its large size and extremely slender appendages. Biogeographical and ecological considerations on the genus are given. Se describe una nueva especie troglobia del género Antillobisium de la provincia de Sancti Spiritus, Cuba. Antillobisium tomasi n. sp. es la tercera especie conocida del género y está bien caracterizada por su gran tamaño y por sus artejos extremadamente esbeltos en comparación con las otras. Se dan consideraciones biogeográficas y ecológicas sobre el género.

Resumen Existen escasas experiencias referidas al estudio de los bosques y pastizales naturales pertenecientes al Espinal Santafesino. El presente estudio se llevó a cabo en la localidad de Sa Pereira (31° 34´ S, 61° 22´ O, Argentina), en un relicto de bosque de algarrobos de aproximadamente 100 ha. El objetivo fue realizar una descripción cuantitativa y cualitativa del estado actual de la vegetación. Se realizó un muestreo estratificado en forma sistemática de dieciséis parcelas de 10 m por 100 m. Las variables registradas fueron: especie arbórea, diámetro a la altura del pecho (DAP), altura del árbol y altura de fuste. Se determinó además: estado sanitario, rectitud de fuste, posición sociológica y vitalidad de la copa de cada árbol. Los resultados mostraron un bosque con predominio: Prosopis alba (46 %), Acacia caven (19 %), Celtis tala (18 %) y Geoffroea decorticans (15 %). Se observaron además especies exóticas tales como Morus nigra, Melia azedarach y Ligustrum lucidum. El área basal promedio del bosque fue de 12 m2/ha; el estado sanitario regular y exhibió estructura irregular. Los sectores analizados mostraron diferencias significativas respecto de DAP medio, altura media del árbol y altura de fuste. Los arbustos predominantes fueron Acacia praecox y Grabowskia duplicata; y se presentaron desde arbustal semi-cerrado hasta tramos desprovisto de arbustos. Abstract There are few experiences related to the study of the natural forests and grasslands belonging to the so-called Espinal in Santa Fe, Argentina. The present study was carried out in Sa Pereira (31° 34' S, 61° 22' W, Argentina), in an approximately 100 ha relict of Prosopis. Its objective was to make a quantitative and qualitative description of the current vegetation. A systematic stratified sampling was carried out on sixteen 10 m per 100 m plots. The variables recorded were: tree species, diameter at breast height, tree height and stem height. The health status, stem straightness, sociological position and crown vitality of every individual were also determined. The results showed predominance of Prosopis alba (46 %), Acacia caven (19 %), Celtis tala (18 %) and Geoffroea decorticans (15 %). Exotic species such as Morus nigra, Melia azedarach and Ligustrum lucidum were also observed. The average basal area of the forest was 12 m2/ha; its sanitary state was regular but its structure irregular. Significant differences as to average diameter at breast height, average tree height and stem height were observed in the plots. The predominant shrubs were Acacia praecox and Grabowskia duplicata; occurring from semi-enclosed shrubland sections to parts without shrubs.

В развитие идей А.Д. Фурсаева, был проведен ряд биосистематических и молекулярных исследований флоры Волжской Долины и сопредельных территорий, по результатам которых выявлено и описано семь новых, в большинстве своем эндемичных, видов высших сосудистых растений., In the development of A.D. Fursaev's ideas, a number of biosystematical and molecular researches of the flora of the Volga Valley and adjacent territories were carried out, the results of which revealed and described seven new, mostly endemic, species of higher vascular plants.

Two new populations of the European mudminnow, Umbra krameri Walbaum, 1792, were encountered in Banat and Oltenia regions, south-western Romania, within 2014–2017. The mudminnows were captured with a hand net used normally for frogs. This is the first record of this species for Banat. In Oltenia U. krameri was encountered in a region where it was considered extinct. In both areas U. krameri was present in its characteristic habitats, i.e., small water bodies with dense aquatic vegetation. Umbra krameri is subject to human pressure in both areas, but this pressure is more severe in Banat, where the agriculture is more intensive. The rare findings of the species in southern Romania are probably due to unsuitable searching methods often used in surveys, i.e., conducted only in large, but unsuitable aquatic habitats, and using classical ichthyological methods, such as electrofishing.

[Aim] Biogeographically puzzling taxa represent an opportunity to understand the processes that have shaped current species distributions. The systematic placement and biogeographical history of Elkalyce cogina, a small lycaenid butterfly endemic to Brazil and neighbouring Argentina, are long-standing puzzles. We use molecular tools and novel biogeographical and life history data to clarify the taxonomy and distribution of this butterfly., [Location] South America, with emphasis on the Atlantic Rain Forest and Cerrado biomes (Brazil and Argentina)., [Methods] We gathered a data set of 71 Polyommatini (Lycaenidae) samples, including representatives of all described subtribes and/or sections. Among these, we contributed new sequences for E. cogina and four additional relevant taxa in the target subtribes Everina, Lycaenopsina and Polyommatina. We inferred a molecular phylogeny based on three mitochondrial genes and four nuclear markers to assess the systematic position and time of divergence of E. cogina. Ancestral geographical ranges were estimated with the R package BioGeoBEARS. To investigate heterogeneity in clade diversification rates, we used Bayesian analysis of macroevolutionary mixtures (bamm)., [Results] Our results confirm the hypothesis that E. cogina belongs to the subtribe Everina and not Lycaenopsina, but unexpectedly recovered it as the sister group to the rest of Everina, with an estimated divergence time of approximately 10 Ma. Ancestral geographical range reconstruction points to an old colonization from Asia, the centre of diversity for the Everina, to the New World. The Neotropical Polyommatina lineage diversified to produce almost 100 species in multiple genera, whereas the E. cogina lineage did not diversify at all. Such lack of diversification is unique among the seven Everina/Polyommatina lineages that colonized the New World. We also show that the larvae of E. cogina feed on Fabaceae, supporting the identification of this host-plant family as the ancestral state for the whole group., [Main conclusions] The age and biogeographical reconstruction of the Elkalyce lineage are similar to those of the Neotropical lineage of Polyommatina and suggest that both travelled via the route proposed by Vladimir Nabokov (Asia-Beringia-North America-South America). This coincidence suggests that the climatic conditions at c. 10 Ma favoured dispersal from Asia to the Neotropics and that later events may have erased traces of these butterfly lineages in North America., Funding was provided by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (project CGL2013-48277-P). G.T. is supported by the grant BP-A00275 (AGAUR-Generalitat de Catalunya), Marie Curie Actions FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF (project 622716) and the grant 1.50.1617.2013 at Saint Petersburg State University; L.A.K. was supported by CAPES (3200-14-0); A.V.L.F. thanks ICMBio for research permits (SISBIO no. 10802-5), CNPq (fellowship 302585/2011-7 and grant 564954/2010-1), RedeLep-SISBIOTA-Brasil/CNPq (563332/2010-7), the National Science Foundation (DEB-1256742), BR-BoL (MCT/CNPq/FNDCT 50/2010) and FAPESP (grant 2012/50260-6 and BIOTA-FAPESP Programs 2011/50225-3 and 2013/50297-0).

Habitat of Hypericum tosaense in Hyogo Prefecture (rhyolitic rocky hills) was investigated based on the field study on 17 plots. Furthermore, to infer the factor affecting current disjunction of Hypericum tosaense between Setouchi region and Kochi Prefecture, environmental factors (geography and climate) were compared between the regions. In Hyogo Prefecture, H. tosaense was found in Lespedeza homoloba - Pinus densiflora community. A total of 63 species were recorded from 17 plots, of which 40% are commonly distributed on a dry-grassland in China. We found that the 19 species and 14 species were common to the habitats of H. tosaense in Kochi Prefecture (pluvial serpentine areas) and H. attenuatum in Shangdong Peninsula, China, respectively. The environmental factors determinative for H. tosaense distribution seems to be characterized by rocky and steep slope which is not suitable for sustaining soil water. Several localities of H. tosaense were recorded from both Setouchi and Kochi, although we could not confirmed their survival from our field survey except Hyogo Prefecture.

Interspecific hybridization, especially when regularly followed by backcrossing (i.e., introgressive hybridization), conveys a substantial risk for many endangered organisms. This is particularly true for narrow endemics occurring within distributional ranges of widespread congeners. An excellent example is provided by the plant genus Knautia (Caprifoliaceae): Locally endemic K. carinthiaca is reported from two isolated populations in southern Austria situated within an area predominantly occupied by widespread K. arvensis. While K. carinthiaca usually inhabits low‐competition communities on rocky outcrops, K. arvensis occurs mainly in dry to mesic managed grasslands, yet both species can coexist in marginal environments and were suspected to hybridize. Flow cytometry revealed that diploid K. carinthiaca only occurs at its locus classicus, whereas the second locality is inhabited by the morphologically similar but tetraploid K. norica. In the, therefore, single population of K. carinthiaca, flow cytometry and AFLP fingerprinting showed signs of introgressive hybridization with diploid K. arvensis. Hybridization patterns were also reflected in intermediate habitat preferences and morphology of the hybrids. Environmental barriers to gene flow seem to prevent genetic erosion of K. carinthiaca individuals from the core ecological niches, restricting most introgressed individuals to peripheral habitats. Efficient conservation of K. carinthiaca will require strict protection of its habitat and ban on forest clear cuts in a buffer zone to prevent invasion of K. arvensis. We demonstrate the large potential of multidisciplinary approaches combining molecular, cytometric, and ecological tools for a reliable inventory and threat assessment of rare species.

Vavilovia formosa is one of five genera in tribe Fabeae, (Fabaceae, Leguminosae) with close phylogenetic relationships to Pisum. It grows in subalpine and alpine levels in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Russia and Turkey and is recognized as an endangered and protected plant. This study was conducted to reveal its intraspecific variability, as well as to predict the past, extant and future species distribution range. We analysed 51 accessions with common phylogenetic markers (trnF-trnL, trnS-trnG, matK, rbcL, psbA-trnH and ITS). These represent in total up to 2551 bp of chloroplast and 664 bp of nuclear sequences per sample. Two populations from Turkey and Armenia were analysed for genetic diversity by AFLP. Leaf morphometry was conducted on 1457 leaflets from 43 specimens. Extracted bioclimatic parameters were used for niche-modelling approach. Analysis of cpDNA revealed two haplotypes, 12 samples from Armenia, Daghestan, Nakhichevan and Iran belonged to H1 group, while 39 samples of all Turkish and part of Armenian were in H2 group. The mean intrapopulation diversity based on AFLP was low (H E = 0.088) indicating limited outcrossing rate. A significantly positive correlation between geographical latitude and leaf area ( $$\rho$$ = 0.527, p

The article covers some information on anthropogenic influence upon natural ecosystems that is considered to be one of the strongest factors for reducing biodiversity of Georgian flora. With this purpose, some species of fam. Iridaceae that need to be protected under in situ conditions are being studied. The paper focuses on the fam. Iridaceae. This family is particularly interesting as it unites a considerable number of valuable, beautifully flowering plants with ornamental leaves, representing different biomorphs. Particularly rare and endangered species are: Iris iberica, I. Grossheimii, I. Lycotis, I. Camillae, I. Elegantissima, etc. We have carried out complex studies of bio-ecological peculiarities of bulbous geophytes and ephemeroids of genus Iridodictyum winogradowii, Ir. Reticulatum, Siphonastilis lasica and Iuno caucasica. There has been studied rhythm of growth and development of vital cycle of monocarpic shootings and ways of their propagation in the sub arid zone of East Georgia. There should be mentioned that they have perfectly adapted to the conditions. Such rare species of rootstock plants like Iris iberica, I. Carthalinical. Aphylla, I. graminea, I. imbricata, I. timofejewii, I. prilipkoana, I. musulmanica, Siphonastilis lazica and others even give abundant self-seedlings that undoubtedly makes it possible to protect them from being finally extinct. All the investigated plants can be recommended for using in landscape architecture under the conditions of East Georgia that will contribute to conservation of the valuable genofond of relict and endemic plants of Georgian flora. The work deals with the results of in situ conservation of some of rare and endemic species of fam. Iridaceae from Iridaceae Juss family. According to IUCN categories, the studied taxaare discussed as the endangered species in nature.

Yalankoz (Pterocarya pterocarpa (Michx.) Kunth ex I.Iljinsk.) Juglandaceae familyasına ait hızlı gelişen bir ağaç türüdür. Doğal olarak Türkiye, Rusya, Azerbaycan, Ermenistan, Gürcistan, İran ve Ukrayna’da yayılış gösterir. Ayrıca relikt küçük populasyonları Güney Anadolu’da görülmektedir. Bu çalışmada, Adıyaman’da yeni belirlenen sekiz yeni populasyon sunulmuştur. Ana yayılıştan uzak söz konusu relikt populasyonlar yörede bulunan su kenarlarındaki yoğun faaliyetlerden dolayı yok olma tehlikesi sınırındadırlar. Yöredeki relikt populasyonların korunması için acil çalışma ve projelere ihtiyaç bulunmaktadır

Snake blenny was noted for the first time in the Puck Bay [see Fig.1] on depth 42.1 m. This part of the Bay is connected with Gdańsk, deep with the maximum depth of 118 m. Snake blenny is probably a post glacial relict fish species in the Baltic. It prefers comparatively deep waters between 30 m to 120 m, as those water depths probably holds the suitable habitat for the fish for spawning and feeding life. However, considering snake blenny’s low tolerance for oxygen deficiency, which may occur in deepest parts of the Gulf of Gdansk, this species may be endangered in this area Taśmiak długi Lumpenus lampretaeformis (Walbaum 1792) został odnotowany po raz pierwszy w wodach Zatoki Puckiej na głębokości 42,1 m (rys 1.) w bezpośrednim sąsiedztwie Głębi Gdańskiej gdzie maksymalna głębokość dochodzi do 118 m. W Bałtyku ryba ta jest prawdopodobnie reliktem pochodzenia polodowcowego. Siedliskiem taśmiaka długiego, zarówno dla celów rozrodczych jak i żerowiskowych, w Bałtyku są wody w zakresie głębokości od 30 m do 120 m. Biorąc pod uwagę wrażliwość tego gatunku na niedobory tlenowe, które występują w Bałtyku w szczególności w najgłębszych partiach wód włączając tu Głębię Gdańską, jego siedliska mogą być zagrożone Renata Kozak

Climatic change, and in particular aridification, has played a dominant role in shaping Southern Hemisphere biotas since the mid-Neogene. In Australia, ancient and geologically stable ranges within the vast arid zone have functioned as refugia for populations of mesic taxa extirpated from surrounding areas, yet the extent to which relicts may be linked to major aridification events before or after the Pliocene has not been examined in detail. Here we use molecular phylogenetic and morphological data to show that isolated populations of saxicoline geckos in the genus Oedura from the Australian Central Uplands, formerly confounded as a single taxon, actually comprise two divergent species with contrasting histories of isolation. The recently resurrected Oedura cincta has close relatives occurring elsewhere in the Australian arid biomes with estimated divergence dates concentrated in the early Pliocene. A new taxon (described herein) diverged from all extant Oedura much earlier, well before the end of the Miocene. A review of data for Central Uplands endemic vertebrates shows that for most (including Oedura cincta ), gene flow with other parts of Australia probably occurred until at least the very late Miocene or Pliocene. There are, however, a small number of palaeoendemic taxa—often ecologically specialized forms—that show evidence of having persisted since earlier intensification of aridity in the late Miocene.

On the territory of the Czech Switzerland National Park took place during the Holocene significant changes in vegetation cover to the form is most enrolled medium Holocene climatic optimum when broadleaf deciduous forests expanded into Central Europe. These transformations are caused by climatic changes. However, it started the process of soil acidification to this day that caused the other variations of the vegetation composition, even the extinction a variety of species especially in sandstone areas. In addition, in the last few centuries the human impact is graduating, which more or less of the original forests changes due to agricultural and economic reasons to breed-specific and the same-aged plantations which supports the already declining species diversity and relative abundance of the undergrowth species. This work focuses on a single species, evergreen undergrowth shrub Ledum palustre which is characterized by strong demands on its habitat and indicates the specific habitat type. It grows on the upper north-facing edges of rocks with plenty of light and humidity. At these locations stores organic material thanks the favourable hydrology. This makes possible to study the use of pollen and macroremains the paleoecology of the species. On the basis of recent occurrences and the relationships...

Fueron halladas dos especies de Opiliones en la Reserva Histórica de Santa Catalina (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Holmbergiana weyenberghii (Holmberg) (Eupnoi, Sclerosomatidae, Gagrellinae) y Discocyrtus prospicuus (Holmberg) (Laniatores, Gonyleptidae, Pachylinae). Ambos taxones están asociados a bosques de Celtis ehrenbergiana y bosques higrófilos a lo largo de la costa del río de la Plata, por lo que pertenecen al área opiliológica Mesopotámica. La Reserva Histórica de Santa Catalina no está cerca de la costa del río, por lo cual los bosques de Santa Catalina son considerados como un refugio de una distribución histórica de los opiliones mesopotámicos, siendo una extensión o digitación de su distribución natural siguiendo el sistema hidrológico del río Matanza-Riachuelo. En adición, se ofrecen datos sobre la historia natural de ambas especies.Two species of opiliones have been found in the Santa Catalina Historical Reserve (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Holmbergiana weyenberghii (Holmberg) (Eupnoi, Sclerosomatidae, Gagrellinae) and Discocyrtus prospicuus (Holmberg) (Laniatores, Gonyleptidae, Pachylinae). Both species are associated with Celtis ehrenbergiana woods and hygrophilous woods along all the coast of the La Plata river, so they belong to the Mesopotamic opiliological area. The Historic Reserve of Santa Catalina is not near the river coast, and because of this the Santa Catalina forests is considered as a refuge of an historical distribution of the mesopotamic opiliones, being an extension or fingering of their natural distribution following the Matanza-Riachuelo rivers hydrological system. In addition, data about the natural history of both species is offered.

Among the great diverse of Baikal fauna of amphipods (more than 350 species and subspecies) Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing 1899) takes the special place. It is characterized by a high morphological variability and wide thermal-adaptive possibilities. By common opinion G. fasciatus is a thermophilic relict segregated from other Baikal temperature sensitive amphipods' fauna. In present study we tested hypothesis of segregated status of G. fasciatus among some Baikal and some Palearctic amphipods using of heat-shock proteins' (HSP) molecular weight as comparative biomarkers. We used heat-shock proteins (HSP) from two families: HSP70 and small HSP (sHSP) immunochemically related to α-crystalline. 15 species of Baikal amphipods from different genera and families and 2 Palearctic species from genus Gammarus were tested. It was shown, that molecular weights of HSP70 were the same in all investigated species and corresponds close to 70 kD. In the contrast, the molecular weights of sHSP in G. fasciatus was 37 kD and differed from all other species, in which molecular weights of sHSP were 35 kD. In sum, this study showed that sHSPs molecular weights may relate to evolutional differences between the close related species. Additionally, obtained data can be taken as new indication of segregated status of thermophilic relict G. fasciatus which linked with its phylogenetic history in Lake Baikal.

During several-year long research on Tupiznica (1160 m), a low limestone mountain in eastern Serbia, some terraces, cirque niches and other occurrences and forms in the highest parts of mountain with unfamiliar genetic origin have been registered. Using the complex analysis of this morphology, and relying on the achievements of contemporary geomorphology, we have come to conclusion that the aforementioned terraces resemble relict periglacial, or, cryoplanation relief, which has been taken from the fact that Tupiznica was in its Last Glacial Maximum with its highest parts in the zone of mountainous periglacial environment. Considering the fact that this morphology is registered on a low mountain, the aim of this paper is to prove the given assumption and solve this problem.

Two new genera and species of Saharo-Sindian buthid scorpions are described on the basis of single specimens collected respectively in the deserts of Occidental Sahara and the North of Afghanistan. Th ese new scorpion taxa represent further endemic relicts in the Saharo-Sindian faunas. Comments are also included on the evolution of the desert regions of North Africa and the Middle East, as well as the possible consequences of these events on the distribution of the extant scorpion fauna.

A new species of the hard-bodied oonopid genus Trilacuna Tong & Li is described from a cave in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, southwestern Iran. Trilacuna qarzi sp. nov. is the first troglobiont species known of the genus, and is also the fifth oonopid species to be reported from Iran. Relationships of this new species are briefly discussed in the contextof the limits of the genera belonging to the Dysderoides complex. Fil: Javad Malek Hosseini, Mohammad. Shiraz University; Irán Fil: Grismado, Cristian José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina Fil: Sadeghi, Saber. Shiraz University; Irán Fil: Bakhshi, Yaser. Shiraz University; Irán

This paper addresses the problematic nature of the current (from Miklosich to Derksen) supposition about the Proto-Slavic, implicitly also Proto-Indo-European, antiquity of the verb *žьlděti ‘desiderare, cupere’. On the level of Church Slavonic, its absence from Russian Church Slavonic is proven and the autochthonous nature of its Old Russian derivatives is denied – these turn out to be of South Slavonic provenance. The absence of continuity of either the verb or its derivatives in Bulgarian is also noted. However, in Serbo-Croatian, in the central Štokavian terrain, it is exceptionally well documented, continually from the 13th c. to the present day – in both literary Serbian (starting from Serbian Slavonic) and in folklore, including modern attestations in dialects. Hence, the possibility of the Old Church Slavonic antiquity of the verb being practically ruled out, an alternative interpretation is off ered: S.-Cr. žud(j)eti may be a locally developed formation, secondary to the adjective žedan (< *žędьnъ), through its earlier form *žĭndĭnŭ which through a dissimilation n – n > l – n could have yielded *žĭldĭnŭ > žьldьnъ. Formal-semantic and typological parallels to such a development, with examples from Serbian and other languages, Slavic and non-Slavic, are presented. У раду се указује на проблематичност постојеће (од Миклошича до Дерксена) претпоставке о прасловенској – самим тим и индоевропској – старини глагола *žьlděti ‘desiderare’ тако што се на нивоу црквенословенског региструје његова непосведоченост у рускословенском и оспорава аутохтоност изведеница у староруском – за које се испоставља да су јужнословенског порекла. Затим се констатује одсуство континуитета глагола и/ли изведеница у бугарском. Са друге стране, у српско-хрватском се, на централном штокавском терену, документује изразито добра посведоченост глагола и изведеница, и то континуирано од xiii века до данас, у књижевном језику (почев од српскословенског) и у народном стваралаштву, закључно са савременим дијалекатским потврдама. Стога се, практично искључивши и могућност да је глагол старословенски, предлаже алтернативно тумачење с.-х. жуд(ј)ети као локално развијене творбе, секундарно развијене од придева жедан (< *žędьnъ), преко његовог ранијег лика *žĭndĭnŭ који је дисимилацијом n – n > l – n могао дати *žĭldĭnŭ > žьldьnъ. Предочавају се формално-семантичке односно типолошке паралеле оваквом развоју, на примерима из српског и других језика, словенских и несловенских.

International Symposium on "Dawn of a New Natural History - Integration of Geoscience and Biodiversity Studies". 5-6 March 2004. Sapporo, Japan., Gall-forming aphids are highly specific to their host plants, and speciation in galling aphids has proceeded in association with a single species or species group of host plants (primary host). This study firstly aims to revise the associations between galling aphids and their host plants by focusing on historical changes in the distribution of host plants. Aphids of the Eriosomatinae are typically associated with the primary and secondary host plants and alternate host plants seasonally, with sexual reproduction on the primary host plant. However, some species are not host-alternating and are wholly parthenogenetic on the secondary host plant. This study secondly aims to test the possibility of long-term persistence of an aphid species by means of parthenogenesis (relict hypothesis). The eriosomatine genus Colopha is a small aphid group represented by three sexual and three asexual species. The sexual species are associated with two Ulmus sister species distributed disjunctly in Europe and eastern North America. In East Asia, an asexual species, Colopha kansugei, is distributed widely on the secondary host. This study tested whether the relict hypothesis is applicable to C. kansugei by comparing DNA sequences. A high rate of substitution (3.4% at the maximum) was found in the mitochondrial COI sequence between local populations. Available evidence suggests that Colopha kansugei has persisted on the secondary host plant through parthenogenesis, probably following the local extinction of the primary host. Use of molecular techniques might possibly detect much more ancient species among parthenogenetic aphids with disjunct distributions.

This paper introduces a geo-ecological analysis done on a relict, threatened and little known Mediterranean population of yew (Taxus baccata). We study the case of Sierra Arana (southern Spain). The priority is to know under what conditions the species develops and its ability for future preservation, for which, through fieldwork -the main methodological procedure-, its identification and location and the analysis of not only its population demographic structure, but also of its conservation status, its habitats and ecological niches are undertaken. The results obtained are a chorological map of the species and a major knowledge of it; establishing: a) predominance of mature trees -middle-aged and long-lived-, scarcity of young specimens and absence of seedlings; b) a significant imbalance in sex ratio, prevailing male individuals; c) a conservation status that varies from optimum to degraded for the population as a whole; d) habitats located on very steep slopes over basic soils, even in sub-rupicolous locations; e) ecological niche corresponds to preforestal orla of deciduous and marcescent forests of Acer monspessulanum and Quercus faginea. Finally, we present a proposal for the conservation and regeneration of yew based on the protection of existing specimens and on the reforestation in the most appropriate ecological niches. The main conclusion established is the critically endangered state of Taxus baccata in Sierra Arana due to its little chance of natural regeneration and expansion, requiring extraordinary measures to its preservation., Este trabajo consiste en un análisis geoecológico de una población mediterránea relicta, amenazada y poco conocida de tejo (Taxus baccata). Se estudia el caso de Sierra Arana (sur de España). El objetivo prioritario es conocer en qué condiciones se desarrolla la especie y sus posibilidades de preservación en el futuro, para lo cual se aborda, mediante el trabajo de campo -principal procedimiento metodológico-, su identificación y localización, el análisis de la estructura demográfica de la población, de su estado de conservación, de los hábitats y de los nichos ecológicos. Como resultados se obtienen un mapa corológico de la especie y un mayor conocimiento de la misma, estableciéndose: a) el predominio de árboles adultos de edades medias y longevas, la escasez de individuos juveniles y la inexistencia de plántulas; b) un destacado desequilibrio sexual, con prevalencia del género masculino; c) un estado de conservación óptimo a degradado para el conjunto de la población; d) unos hábitats en laderas acusadas sobre suelos básicos, en emplazamientos incluso subrupícolas; e) un nicho ecológico coincidente con la orla preforestal de bosques caduco-marcescentes de Acer monspessulanum y Quercus faginea. También se plantea una propuesta de conservación y regeneración del tejo basada en la protección de los ejemplares existentes y en la reforestación de los nichos ecológicos más adecuados. Se concluye que Taxus baccata en Sierra Arana se encuentra en peligro crítico de extinción a consecuencia de sus escasas posibilidades de regeneración y expansión de manera natural, requiriendo de medidas extraordinarias para su conservación.

A new species, Bembidion (?Nipponobembidion) ruruy sp. n., is described from the foot of Ruruy Volcano, Kunashir Island, Kuril Archipelago, Russia. It is only the second consubgener, being characterized by the reduced wings, the rounded elytral shoulders, and the backward position of the posterior supra-orbital pore. In this connection, the subgenus Nipponobembidion Habu & Baba, 1968 is rediagnosed and both of its species are keyed. It might have originated from Plataphodes Ganglbauer, 1891, possibly in relation to volcanic activities in the region.

Intensive cytotype screening in the primary contact zone of relict serpentine Knautia arvensis agg. revealed a striking predominance of the derivative tetraploid (81 % of subpopulations) over the diploid maternal race. Eleven mixed-ploidy subpopulations with the close spatial proximity of both cytotypes were identified. Flow cytometric analyses of almost 5 000 individuals led to discovery of two extremely rare minority cytotypes (3x, 6x). Vegetation analyses were made at two different spatial scales and in both cases confirmed the absence of distinctions in habitat preferences of cytotypes. Slight microhabitat segregation of cytotypes was however apparent at the finest spatial scales. Cytotype distribution within mixed-ploidy sites was not random. Striking patterns of cytotype clumping into cytotype uniform patches and negative spatial correlations between diploid and tetraploid individuals were apparent at all sites. Distribution of life cycle stages of diploids and tetraploids within the mixed-ploidy subpopulations were significantly different. The clonality was the most common mode of reproduction in the subpopulations of both cytotypes. Seedlings accounted for only 7 % of new plants. Significant distinctions in the plant vigour between the cytotypes were showed during the in situ comparison in...

Fueron halladas dos especies de Opiliones en la Reserva Histórica de Santa Catalina (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Holmbergiana weyenberghii (Holmberg) (Eupnoi, Sclerosomatidae, Gagrellinae) y Discocyrtus prospicuus (Holmberg) (Laniatores, Gonyleptidae, Pachylinae). Ambos taxones están asociados a bosques de Celtis ehrenbergiana y bosques higrófilos a lo largo de la costa del río de la Plata, por lo que pertenecen al área opiliológica Mesopotámica. La Reserva Histórica de Santa Catalina no está cerca de la costa del río, por lo cual los bosques de Santa Catalina son considerados como un refugio de una distribución histórica de los opiliones mesopotámicos, siendo una extensión o digitación de su distribución natural siguiendo el sistema hidrológico del río Matanza-Riachuelo. En adición, se ofrecen datos sobre la historia natural de ambas especies., Two species of opiliones have been found in the Santa Catalina Historical Reserve (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Holmbergiana weyenberghii (Holmberg) (Eupnoi, Sclerosomatidae, Gagrellinae) and Discocyrtus prospicuus (Holmberg) (Laniatores, Gonyleptidae, Pachylinae). Both species are associated with Celtis ehrenbergiana woods and hygrophilous woods along all the coast of the La Plata river, so they belong to the Mesopotamic opiliological area. The Historic Reserve of Santa Catalina is not near the river coast, and because of this the Santa Catalina forests is considered as a refuge of an historical distribution of the mesopotamic opiliones, being an extension or fingering of their natural distribution following the Matanza-Riachuelo rivers hydrological system. In addition, data about the natural history of both species is offered., Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales

Este trabajo consiste en un análisis geoecológico de una población mediterránea relicta, amenazada y poco conocida de tejo (Taxus baccata). Se estudia el caso de Sierra Arana (sur de España). El objetivo prioritario es conocer en qué condiciones se desarrolla la especie y sus posibilidades de preservación en el futuro, para lo cual se aborda, mediante el trabajo de campo -principal procedimiento metodológico-, su identificación y localización, el análisis de la estructura demográfica de la población, de su estado de conservación, de los hábitats y de los nichos ecológicos. Como resultados se obtienen un mapa corológico de la especie y un mayor conocimiento de la misma, estableciéndose: a) el predominio de árboles adultos de edades medias y longevas, la escasez de individuos juveniles y la inexistencia de plántulas; b) un destacado desequilibrio sexual, con prevalencia del género masculino; c) un estado de conservación óptimo a degradado para el conjunto de la población; d) unos hábitats en laderas acusadas sobre suelos básicos, en emplazamientos incluso subrupícolas; e) un nicho ecológico coincidente con la orla preforestal de bosques caduco-marcescentes de Acer monspessulanum y Quercus faginea. También se plantea una propuesta de conservación y regeneración del tejo basada en la protección de los ejemplares existentes y en la reforestación de los nichos ecológicos más adecuados. Se concluye que Taxus baccata en Sierra Arana se encuentra en peligro crítico de extinción a consecuencia de sus escasas posibilidades de regeneración y expansión de manera natural, requiriendo de medidas extraordinarias para su conservación., This paper introduces a geo-ecological analysis done on a relict, threatened and little known Mediterranean population of yew (Taxus baccata). We study the case of Sierra Arana (southern Spain). The priority is to know under what conditions the species develops and its ability for future preservation, for which, through fieldwork -the main methodological procedure-, its identification and location and the analysis of not only its population demographic structure, but also of its conservation status, its habitats and ecological niches are undertaken. The results obtained are a chorological map of the species and a major knowledge of it; establishing: a) predominance of mature trees -middle-aged and long-lived-, scarcity of young specimens and absence of seedlings; b) a significant imbalance in sex ratio, prevailing male individuals; c) a conservation status that varies from optimum to degraded for the population as a whole; d) habitats located on very steep slopes over basic soils, even in sub-rupicolous locations; e) ecological niche corresponds to preforestal orla of deciduous and marcescent forests of Acer monspessulanum and Quercus faginea. Finally, we present a proposal for the conservation and regeneration of yew based on the protection of existing specimens and on the reforestation in the most appropriate ecological niches. The main conclusion established is the critically endangered state of Taxus baccata in Sierra Arana due to its little chance of natural regeneration and expansion, requiring extraordinary measures to its preservation.

The Azores provide an excellent field test for research activities aimed at developing conservation strategies for endangered tree species. In this work, the urgency to promote Picconia azorica conservation programs addressed (a) insights into the biotaxonomy of the species (including an evaluation of its origin and relationships with the only congeneric species of P. azorica: P. excelsa from the Canary and Madeira islands) and (b) the evaluation of P. azorica genetic diversity. Plastid DNA sequence analysis and molecular markers (RFLP and SSR) were used for this purpose. Phylogenetic data suggest the monophyly of Picconia and support a late Miocene divergence of the two species. Three polymorphic cpSSR loci allowed the identification of five different haplotypes in P. azorica. Uniqueness and relictuality of lineages are presented and discussed. Picconia azorica intra-specific diversity patterns revealed low genetic diversity and a weak genetic structure, which could result from long-lasting ecological stability and efficient interisland seed movement that have been severely affected in recent times. The species survival is at risk, and we suggest management practices focusing on ex situ and in situ conservation units based on eco-genetic data. Additional measures contributing to mild erosion of the genepool and to remove barriers to seed dispersal are indicated.

We examined the diel vertical migrations of the macroscopic pelagic relict crustaceans Gammaracanthus lacustris, Mysis relicta, Monoporeia affinis and Pallaseopsis quadrispinosa in the deep Lake Paasivesi basin of the Saimaa lake complex. The samples were collected in October 2006 and 2007 using a Hydro-Bios Multi Plankton Sampler onboard the research vessel R/V Muikku. The study provides information about the day-and-night and year-to-year changes in the vertical distribution of these crustaceans. Regarding G. lacustris we explored if body size (length), sex or maturity have bearing on the individuals' depth preference or possible diel migrations. We noticed that G. lacustris females occur, with very few exceptions, in the deepest waters at 50—60 m, while the individuals occuring in the depth range of 25—45 m are almost exclusively males. Our results did not indicate any diel vertical migration behaviour in G. lacustris. In contrast, 24 % of M. relicta were observed to ascend to the depths of 1—20 m during the night time. The migrant M. relicta are mainly young individuals, less than 14 mm long. A night-time ascent pattern, on the average by about 10 metres, was also observed in M. affinis and P. quadrispinosa. peerReviewed

The ecology of relict crustaceans in Finnish lakes is quite poorly known. In this study we investigated the vertical distributions of these species in Lake Saimaa in the depth zones between 30 m and 60 m. We found out that Gammaracanthus. lacustris lives mainly in the deepest parts of the lake, while Mysis relicta favours the shallowest zones. The average length of both species increased with the depth in the study area. There were some differences in distributions between years, but the main reasons for that are not known exactly. peerReviewed

Aim The post-glacial range dynamics of many European plant species have been widely investigated, but information rapidly diminishes as one moves further back in time. Here we infer the historical range shifts of Laurus, a paradigmatic tree of the Tethyan flora that has covered southern Eurasia since the Oligo-Miocene, by means of phylogenetic and phylogeographical analyses. Location Mediterranean Basin, Black Sea and Macaronesian archipelagos (Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands). Methods We analysed plastid DNA (cpDNA) sequence (trnK-matK, trnD-trnT) variation in 57 populations of Laurus and three Lauraceae genera. Phylogenetic methods (maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference) and statistical parsimony networks were used to reconstruct relationships among haplotypes. These results were contrasted with the fossil record and bioclimatic niche-based model predictions of past distributions to infer the migration routes and location of refugia. Results The phylogenetic tree revealed monophyly for Laurus. Overall sequence variability was low within Laurus, but six different haplotypes were distinguished and a single network retrieved, portraying three lineages primarily related to geography. A strongly divergent eastern lineage occupied Turkey and the Near East, a second clade was located in the Aegean region and, lastly, a western clade grouped all Macaronesian and central and western Mediterranean populations. A close relationship was observed between the Macaronesian populations of L. azorica and the western populations of L. nobilis. Main conclusions The phylogeographical structure of Laurus preserves the imprints of an ancient contraction and break-up of the range that resulted in the evolution of separate cpDNA lineages in its western- and easternmost extremes. Intense range dynamics in the western Mediterranean and multiple glacial refugia contributed to the generation and long-term conservation of this phylogeographical pattern, as shown by the fit between the haplotype ranges and past suitable areas inferred from bioclimatic models. Finally, our results challenge the taxonomic separation of Laurus into two distinct species. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.