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A key question in insect community ecology is whether parasitoid assemblages are structured by the food plants of their herbivore hosts. Tritrophic communities centred on oak‐feeding cynipid gallwasps are one of the best‐studied tritrophic insect communities. Previous work suggests that host plant identity is a much stronger predictor of oak–cynipid interactions than of cynipid–parasitoid interactions. However, these relationships have not been formally quantified. We reason that the potential for ‘bottom‐up’ effects should increase with host plant phylogenetic diversity. We, therefore, generated quantified interaction network data for previously unstudied tritrophic cynipid communities in Sichuan, China, where, in addition to Quercus, cynipid host plants include Castanea, Castanopsis and Lithocarpus. We characterise these communities taxonomically and compare the extent to which host plant taxonomy predicts plant–herbivore and plant–parasitoid associations. We sampled 42,620 cynipid galls of 176 morphotypes from 23 host plant species, yielding over 4500 specimens of 64 parasitoid morphospecies. Many parasitoids were identifiable to chalcidoid taxa present in other Holarctic oak cynipid communities, with the addition of Cynipencyrtus (Cynipencyrtidae). As elsewhere, Sichuan parasitoid assemblages were dominated by generalists. Gallwasp–plant interaction networks were significantly more modular than parasitoid–plant association networks. Gallwasps were significantly more specialised to host plants (i.e. had higher mean d' values) than parasitoids. Parasitoid assemblages nevertheless showed significant plant‐associated beta diversity, with a dominant turnover component. We summarise parallels between our study and other Fagaceae‐associated cynipid communities and discuss our findings in light of the processes thought to structure tritrophic interactions centred on endophytic insect herbivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castanopsis chinensis (Spreng.) Hance is widespread in the subtropical forests of China. Castanopsis qiongbeiensis G.A. Fu and Castanopsis glabrifolia J. Q. Li & Li Chen are limited to the coastal beaches of Wenchang county in the northeast of Hainan Island, and have similar morphological characteristics to C. chinensis. It is supposed that C. qiongbeiensis and C. glabrifolia are closely related to C. chinensis. In the present study, the genetic differentiation, gene flow, and genetic relationship of C. chinensis, C. qiongbeiensis, and C. glabrifolia were investigated by using 15 nuclear microsatellite markers; a total of 308 individuals from 17 populations were sampled in the three species. The allelic variation of nuclear microsatellites revealed moderate but significant genetic differentiation (FCT = 0.076) among C. chinensis, C. qiongbeiensis, and C. glabrifolia, and genetic differentiation between C. chinensis and C. glabrifolia was larger than that between C. chinensis and C. qiongbeiensis. Demographic simulations revealed unidirectional gene flow from C. chinensis to C. glabrifolia and C. qiongbeiensis, which highlight dispersal from mainland to island. The isolation effect of Qiongzhou Strait increased the genetic differentiation of species on both sides of the strait; however, the differentiation was diminished by gene flow that occurred during the historical period when Hainan Island was connected to mainland China. Our results supported the argument that C. glabrifolia should be considered an independent species and argued that C. qiongbeiensis should be regarded as an incipient species and independent conservation unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[ Objective ] Castanopsis grandicicatricata N. H. Xia & D. H. Vuong is a species of Castanop- sis ( Fagaceae ) originally endemic to central and northern Vietnam , but now a scattered population was discovered in the Dawei Mountain area of the Pingbian Miao Autonomous County , Yunnan Province , Chi- na. This study aims to check its identity , to verify the close relatives from the literatures based on mor- phological speculation , and to show its systematic status. [ Methods ] Spacer ITS2 of nuclear rRNA genes 5.8S and 26S and chloroplast gene rbcL were used as molecular markers to reconstruct systematic tree. [ Results ] Morphologically , it could be distinguished from other Castanopsis species known in China by its cupule of 4.5-6.0 cm in diameter and the spine base was connate into tree-like branched bundles with a spheroid nut , where scar covering ca. 2 / 3 of the nut. The morphology-based speculation of the close rela- tives reported in the literatures was validated through phylogenetic tree restruction , C . mekongensis is one of its close relative. [ Conclusion ] C . grandicicatricata is a newly recorded species of Castanopsis from China. This new record holds significant implication for the study of the flora of southeast Yunnan and northern Vietnam.

A new species of ambrosia beetle Indocryphalus chiyui Lin & Beaver (tribe Xyloterini LeConte, 1876) from Taiwan is described. The species is monogamous and xylomycetophagous, breeding in Castanopsis cuspidata var. carlesii (Hemsl.) Yamazaki (Fagaceae). Indocryphalus sordidus (Blandford) is recorded for the first time from Taiwan. Diagnostic characters, biological data and a key to species of Indocryphalus in Taiwan are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castanopsis chinensis (Spreng.) Hance is widespread in the subtropical forests of China. Castanopsis qiongbeiensis G.A. Fu and Castanopsis glabrifolia J. Q. Li & Li Chen are limited to the coastal beaches of Wenchang county in the northeast of Hainan Island, and have similar morphological characteristics to C. chinensis. It is supposed that C. qiongbeiensis and C. glabrifolia are closely related to C. chinensis. In the present study, the genetic differentiation, gene flow, and genetic relationship of C. chinensis, C. qiongbeiensis, and C. glabrifolia were investigated by using 15 nuclear microsatellite markers; a total of 308 individuals from 17 populations were sampled in the three species. The allelic variation of nuclear microsatellites revealed moderate but significant genetic differentiation (FCT = 0.076) among C. chinensis, C. qiongbeiensis, and C. glabrifolia, and genetic differentiation between C. chinensis and C. glabrifolia was larger than that between C. chinensis and C. qiongbeiensis. Demographic simulations revealed unidirectional gene flow from C. chinensis to C. glabrifolia and C. qiongbeiensis, which highlight dispersal from mainland to island. The isolation effect of Qiongzhou Strait increased the genetic differentiation of species on both sides of the strait; however, the differentiation was diminished by gene flow that occurred during the historical period when Hainan Island was connected to mainland China. Our results supported the argument that C. glabrifolia should be considered an independent species and argued that C. qiongbeiensis should be regarded as an incipient species and independent conservation unit.

Research was undertaken in southeastern Taiwan covering a study area of 80 km² and an altitudinal range between 50 and 1,630 m.a.s.l. One hundred and twenty-four quadrat plots of 20 m² were set up to investigate the forest composition within the area. In total, we recorded 26 Fagaceae species, showing that this area has the highest Fagaceae diversity in Taiwan. Of these 26 species, 11 are endemic to Taiwan and 10 frequently possess prominent buttresses. Our results show that the Fagaceae diversity of the forests in our study area is unique in Taiwan. We conclude that it is necessary to create a conservation area in order to protect these forests and appeal for the support of Fagaceae lovers worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seasonal timing of flowering and fruiting is crucial for the reproductive success of plants and for resource availability to animals. Although plants synchronize their reproductive timing to coincide with appropriate seasons by responding to environmental cues, seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation vary minimally in very wet tropical environments. To explore the latitudinal cline in the reproductive phenology of the Fagaceae in Asia, we analyzed phenology data for a total of 94, 121, and 219 species from Thailand, Malesia, and China, respectively, in the three genera of Fagaceae, Quercus, Castanopsis, and Lithocarpus. We found that Quercus and Castanopsis showed flowering peaks in April in China. In Thailand, the peak shifted to an earlier month, and the peak disappeared in Malesia. The flowering period lengthened with decreasing latitude in the animal-pollinated genera Castanopsis and Lithocarpus. However, this was not the case for the wind-pollinated genus Quercus. The fruiting period lengthened with decreasing latitude in all three genera. We examined the relationship between reproductive phenology and climatic factors. The combination of monthly temperature and precipitation best explained the monthly change in the proportion of flowering and fruiting species in China in all three genera. However, climatic factors had almost no impact on the predictive ability of the model in Malesia. Our results on phenological shifts in the family Fagaceae, from the temperate climates and seasonal tropics to the humid tropics, provide valuable information for predicting phenological changes in future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genus Castanopsis are native to tropical and subtropical Asia, comprising about 120 species. Some species from Castanopsis have been used as folk medicines in Asia. Phytochemistry investigations of the different plant parts of Genus Castanopsis have disclosed the presences of natural products including phenolics, terpenoids, steroids, and essential oils. Phenolics exist in Castanopsis species widely, particularly, triterpene ellagitannins were found to be potential chemotaxonomic marks of this geuns. The crude extracts and chemical constituents from Castanopsis have extensive biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, antimicrobial, etc. In conclusion, the phytochemistry and biological activities of genus Castanopsis make it a promising source of natural products for drug discovery and development. This review collected the literatures published prior to 2023 on the traditional medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and bioactivties of the genus Castanopsis by searching from several scientific databases, such as Elsevier, Sci-finder, PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and Baidu Scholar. The main purpose of this systematic review is to provide the available information for relevant scholars to understand the progress in phytochemistry and biological activies of the genus Castanopsis and help the further development of this genus., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organization that can inappropriately influence our work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Forests are already and will continue to experience a rapid and extreme change in climatic conditions in the future. The distributions of forests are expected to shift northward and to higher altitudes based on the results of species distribution modelling (SDM). Although SDM is criticized for lack of biotic interactions and natural migration mechanisms, it is still an important tool for understanding the influence of climate change on forest distributions at a landscape scale. We hypothesize that based on extant forest cover, distribution of protected areas and understanding on seed dispersal mechanisms, the suitable range of forest tree species will decline, and certain species might be driven to extinction in the absence of suitable space for migrations in a rapidly changing climate. To assess this scenario, we modelled the current and future potential distribution of 18 Castanopsis species in Asia using MaxENT. Mild (RCP-4.5) and severe (RCP-8.5) climate change scenarios from 17 climate change models were assessed. Three groups of current Castanopsis distribution were identified and they responded differently under climate change. One-third of the species will experience potential range reductions while two-third will have potential range expansions. However, when we overlaid the results with forest cover and protected area coverage, range expansions are unlikely to happen due to fragmented forest cover and lack of efficient seed dispersal mechanisms. Natural species migrations and local adaptation are not likely to happen for Castanopsis and therefore immediate adaptive strategies should be considered in forest management. This situation was particularly severe in the marginal tropical zones across coastal South China and the Northern Indo-China region.

In the present article, the establishment of the species Castanopsis: C. bulgarica Mantzouka, Ivanov, and Bozukov is proposed after the study of a new fagaceous fossil wood stem discovered in 2016 from a new Late Miocene to Early Pliocene plant fossiliferous locality east of Boboshevo town, south‐west Bulgaria. A detailed palaeoxylotomical study of the fossil wood revealed characteristics of the 'evergreen Quercus type' (e.g. the gradual porosity of the vessels, the existence of two types of rays: uniseriate and multiseriate aggregate, the oval shape of the solitary vessels outline, the occurrence of tracheids) as well as heterocellular compound‐aggregate rays, typical for Castanopsis. Similarities and differences of the anatomical characteristics/features of the studied specimen with the descriptions of the fossil representatives of Fagaceae (Quercoxylon, Lithocarpoxylon, and Castanopsis) along with its botanical affinities are discussed. A taxonomic list of the Bulgarian fossil fagaceous record of the same age and their nearest living relatives is provided. Emended xylotomical keys with the addition of Castanopsis have been created. Moreover, the presence of evergreen Castanopsis species with heterocellular rays of two distinct sizes in the fossil record of the 'evergreen oak woods' is supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytoplasmic genome of one species may be replaced by that of another species without leaving any trace of past hybridization in its nuclear genome, which can thus confuse the inference of genealogical relationship and evolutionary history of many congeneric species. In this study, we used sequence variations of chloroplast DNA and restriction site-associated DNA to investigate gene exchange between Castanopsis fabri and Castanopsis lamontii, and to infer the divergence history of the two species by comparing different divergence models based on the joint allele frequency spectrum. We evaluated climatic niche similarity of the two species using climatic variables across their entire distribution range in subtropical China. Clear genetic differentiation was revealed between C. fabri and C. lamontii, and gene exchange between the two species was discovered as a consequence of secondary contact. The gene exchange rates were variable across the genome. Gene exchange could allow C. fabri to widen its habitat through pollen swamping and broaden its climatic niche, and the chloroplast genome of C. lamontii is captured by C. fabri during this process. These results further our understanding of the timing and contribution of gene exchange to species divergence in forests.

The montane terrain of northern Laos is covered by species-rich subtropical evergreen oak forests, home to endemic tree genera such as Mytilaria (Hamamelidaceae), and characterised by the coexistence of several honeybee and bumblebee species. We explored community-level plant–pollinator interactions of this unique little-known ecosystem. Extensive direct observations on flowering phenology and flower-visitor assemblages of 288 plant species of 82 families were conducted in a montane forest ecosystem in Houaphanh and Xiangkhouang Provinces, Laos, from 2005 until 2016. Based mainly on the extensive flower-visit data, we assessed the pollination system of each plant species. Five sympatric honeybee species (Apis dorsata, A. laboriosa, A. cerana, A. florea and A. andreniformis) were common on various types of flowers, and floral preferences differed among species. Long-tongued bees belonging to Bombini and Anthophorini (Apidae) were species-rich and frequent visitors on various deep flowers, especially Acanthaceae, Balsaminaceae, Lamiaceae, Rubiaceae and Zingiberaceae. Character displacement by tongue length was observed among the bee species, and many relaxed species-specific and species-semispecific interactions were observed between the bees and the deep-flowers. Four plant species, in the genera Mytilaria, Chloranthus, Dioscorea and Cryptocarya, were visited exclusively by thrips. Two plant species, in the genera Lysimachia and Thladiantha, had oil-secreting flowers, which were specifically visited by the oil-collecting bees Macropis and Ctenoplectra, respectively. The dominant pollination system assessed was general insect pollination (31%), followed by long-tongued bee, small bee, honeybee, dipteran, lepidopteran, beetle, wasp, carpenter bee, thrips (e.g. the endemic genus Mytilaria), bird and hemipteran pollination. Our results suggest that the plant–pollinator interactions in the Palaeotropic montane ecosystem are characterised by significant contribution of the five honeybee species and species-rich, morphologically diverse long-tongued bees, both of which have contributed to shaping the remarkable diversity of angiosperms with deep flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersed fossil pollen grains of Fagaceae from the Eocene sediments of the south of Primorskii Region have been analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. Fourteen types of Fagaceae pollen were identified: one of them represented the extinct genus Eotrigonobalanus, four were assigned to the subfamily Castaneoideae, two to the genus Fagus, and seven to the genus Quercus; four of the latter were produced by deciduous oaks (Quercus), one, by evergreen oaks (Cyclobalanoides), and two, by evergreen sclerophyllous oaks (Heterobalanus). The presence of pollen of the extinct genus Eotrigonobalanus in the study region was demonstrated for the first time. The data obtained are indicative of considerable diversity of the family Fagaceae in the Eocene of Primorskii Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytoplasmic genome of one species may be replaced by that of another species without leaving any trace of past hybridization in its nuclear genome, which can thus confuse the inference of genealogical relationship and evolutionary history of many congeneric species. In this study, we used sequence variations of chloroplast DNA and restriction site-associated DNA to investigate gene exchange between Castanopsis fabri and Castanopsis lamontii , and to infer the divergence history of the two species by comparing different divergence models based on the joint allele frequency spectrum. We evaluated climatic niche similarity of the two species using climatic variables across their entire distribution range in subtropical China. Clear genetic differentiation was revealed between C. fabri and C. lamontii , and gene exchange between the two species was discovered as a consequence of secondary contact. The gene exchange rates were variable across the genome. Gene exchange could allow C. fabri to widen its habitat through pollen swamping and broaden its climatic niche, and the chloroplast genome of C. lamontii is captured by C. fabri during this process. These results further our understanding of the timing and contribution of gene exchange to species divergence in forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new fossil species, two attributed to the genus Castanopsis ( C. nanningensis and C. guangxiensis ) and one to the organ genus Lithocarpoxylon ( L. nanningensis ) are described on the basis of well-preserved mummified wood from the upper Oligocene of Yongning Formation in the Nanning Basin, Guangxi Province, South China. The two species of Castanopsis represent the most ancient reliable wood record of this genus in China and also southeastern Asia, which is the center of diversity of extant species. The fossil leaf records of Castanopsis indicated this genus has migrated to South China in the late Eocene. This fossil wood evidence confirms the presence and persistence of Castanopsis in this region in the late Oligocene. In the Yongning Formation, the presence of numerous Fagaceae woods with faint or absent growth ring boundaries (in C. nanningensis ) occasionally associated with prominent ring-porous patterns, suggests that Guangxi (South China) had a seasonal (probably monsoonal) tropical climate during the late Oligocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted on the secondary forest of Castanopsis on Jiangle Forest Farm in Sanming City, Fujian Province, China to determine the vegetation disturbance status. Twenty one quadrats (20 m x 30 m) were sampled and recorded the vegetation parameters such as DBH, height, seedling and sapling density of woody species, and location and altitude of each quadrat. An evaluation system was established to assess the disturbance to the secondary forest based on the standard quadrat of the Jiangle Forest Farm. Using the evaluation system, we found that the Castanopsis forests on the farm were mostly pristine or sustained minor disturbance. These results suggest that secondary forests of Castanopsis must be managed and protected according to the disturbance status. More basic and applied researches should be conducted, for sustainable development of the forest and its products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel mass spectrometry method is developed to analyze of honey. • Four botanical origins of honey are distinguished with multivariate analysis. • Potential markers for three different types of honey are identified and quantified. • The results derived from the new method are verified by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. The botanical origins of honey are important for the quality control and commercialization of honey. In this research, we established a nanoliter electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (Nano-ESI-MS) method to identify Castanopsis honey (CH), Eurya honey (EH), Dendropanax dentiger honey (DH), and Triadica cochinchinensis honey (TH). In total, 38 compounds were identified based on the collision-induced dissociation experiments by Nano-ESI-MS with 16 differential compounds and 7 quantified as potential differential markers. These four types of honey were distinguished from each other by their mass spectrometry data combined with multivariate analysis with three out of the 7 differential markers, i.e., phenethylamine, tricoumaroyl spermidine, and (+/–)-abscisic acid, identified as potential markers for CH, EH, and DH, respectively. Both the qualitative and quantitative results derived from Nano-ESI-MS were further verified by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. Our studies provided the significant potential of the Nano-ESI-MS method in the identification of the botanical origins of different kinds of honey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the remarkable aspects of the tremendous biodiversity found in tropical forests is the wide range of evolutionary strategies that have produced this diversity, indicating many paths to diversification. We compare two diverse groups of trees with profoundly different biologies to discover whether these differences are reflected in their genomes. Ficus (Moraceae), with its complex co-evolutionary relationship with obligate pollinating wasps, produces copious tiny seeds that are widely dispersed. Lithocarpus (Fagaceae), with generalized insect pollination, produces large seeds that are poorly dispersed. We hypothesize that these different reproductive biologies and life history strategies should have a profound impact on the basic properties of genomic divergence within each genus. Using shallow whole genome sequencing for six species of Ficus, seven species of Lithocarpus, and three outgroups, we examined overall genomic diversity, how it is shared among the species within each genus, and the fraction of this shared diversity that agrees with the major phylogenetic pattern. A substantially larger fraction of the genome is shared among species of Lithocarpus, a considerable amount of this shared diversity was incongruent with the general background history of the genomes, and each fig species possessed a substantially larger fraction of unique diversity than Lithocarpus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil pollen grains of Castaneoideae from Holocene sediments from the southern Sea of Japan (J-3) at a depth of 200-202, 165-167, and 120-122 cm were studied with a scanning electron microscope. Pollen of some extant species of Castaneoideae, native to the region ( Castanopsis cuspidata, C. sclerophylla, and Lithocarpus glaber) were also studied. As a result, four types of fossil pollen grains were revealed; type I is identified to species as Castanopsis cuspidata, type II is referred to the genus Castanopsis, type III is assigned to the genus Lithocarpus, and type IV is only identifined to subfamily (Castaneoideae type). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of a phytochemical and chemotaxonomical investigation of Castanopsis species (Fagaceae), three new phenolic compounds, (3R,1′S)-[1′-(6″-O-galloyl-β-d-gluco-pyranosyl)oxyethyl]-3-hydroxy-dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (1), (2R,3S)-2-[2′-(galloyl)oxyethyl]-dihydroxybutanoic acid (2), and (3S,4S)-3-hydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydro-5,6,7-trihydroxy-4-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-1H-[2]-benzopyran-1-one (3) were isolated from the fresh leaves of Castanopsis fargesii. In addition, a known phenolic glycoside, gentisic acid 5-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (4) was also isolated and identified. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods including one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our knowledge about gall wasps associated with the diverse East Asian oaks, Castanopsis and Cyclobalanopsis, is limited due to the lack of extensive field studies. Here, we describe twelve new oak gall wasp species, Dryocosmus cannoni Schwéger & Tang, D. caputgrusi Tang & Schwéger, D. crinitus Schwéger & Tang, D. harrisonae Melika & Tang, D. hearni Melika &Tang, D. hualieni Schwéger & Tang, D. konradi Tang & Melika, D. liyingi Melika & Tang, D. moriius Tang & Melika, D. quadripetiolus Schwéger & Tang, D. salicinai Schwéger & Tang, and D. taitungensis Tang & Melika, from Taiwan and mainland China. Seven newly described species induce galls on Quercus subgenus Cyclobalanopsis and five on other Fagaceae genus, Castanopsis. All of the new species concepts are supported by morphological and molecular data. We provide descriptions, diagnoses, host associations for the new species and an illustrated identification key to Eastern Palaearctic Dryocosmus species. We represent natural language phenotypes in a semantic format supported by biomedical ontologies to increase the accessibility of morphological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Quaternary climate cycles played an important role in shaping the distribution of biodiversity among current populations, even in warm-temperate zones, where land was not covered by ice sheets. We focused on the Castanopsis-type broadleaved evergreen forest community in Japan, which characterizes the biodiversity and endemism of the warm-temperate zone. A comparison of the phylogeographic patterns of three types of phytophagous weevils associated with Castanopsis (a host-specific seed predator, a generalist seed predator, and a host-specific leaf miner) and several other plant species inhabiting the forests revealed largely congruent patterns of genetic differentiation between western and eastern parts of the main islands of Japan. A genetic gap was detected in the Kii Peninsula to Chugoku-Shikoku region, around the Seto Inland Sea. The patterns of western-eastern differentiation suggest past fragmentation of broadleaved evergreen forests into at least two separate refugia consisting of the southern parts of Kyushu to Shikoku and of Kii to Boso Peninsula. Moreover, the congruent phylogeographic patterns observed in Castanopsis and the phytophagous insect species imply that the plant-herbivore relationship has been largely maintained since the last glacial periods. These results reinforce the robustness of the deduced glacial and postglacial histories of Castanopsis-associated organisms.

Castanopsis (Fagaceae) is a plant genus that includes dominant tree species in the broadleaved evergreen forests of Japan. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity and genetic structure of 76 natural populations of C. sieboldii and C. cuspidata, using variations in chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences and chloroplast microsatellites (cpSSR) to elucidate the phylogeographic patterns reflected by seed flow. Most chloroplast haplotypes were shared between the two species on the main islands, although biparentally inherited microsatellite (nSSR) analyses showed a species-specific pattern in the previous study. The current patterns of haplotype sharing of cpDNA suggest the retention of an ancestral polymorphism that existed in Castanopsis before the two species split or historical introgression in the refugia during the glacial periods. Haplotype network was defined by three groups: Taiwan, southern parts of the Ryukyu Islands, and the central parts of the Ryukyu Islands to the main islands. The observed north-south genetic differentiation in cpDNA on the Ryukyu Islands was not detected by previous nSSR analyses. These results suggest that the lower levels of seed-mediated gene flow between the islands resulted in clear genetic differentiation of cpDNA on the Ryukyu Islands. Moreover, the cpSSR analysis indicated east-west genetic differentiation on the main islands, a pattern found in previous nSSR analyses of Castanopsis and several plant and animal species inhabiting Castanopsis forests in Japan, suggesting the existence of eastern refugia in the last glacial period. Our cpSSR investigation and their higher intraspecific variation provide a useful phylogeographic tool for these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fagaceae have a long fossil history that can be dated back to the Late Cretaceous. They are the key element of several distinct biomes found throughout the Northern Hemisphere; therefore, it is a prime candidate for modern biogeographic analysis. Castanopsis (Fagaceae) species are the dominant trees of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests and some tropical forests. They are used for timber and have medicinal and edible uses. Here, we describe two species, Castanopsis zhoui sp. nov. and C. cf. chinensis , based on fossil leaves with cuticle features recovered from the middle Miocene of Fujian Province, Southeast China. Our fossils enrich the Neogene fossil record of this genus in regions that contain the greatest diversity of its extant species in China and southern and southeastern Asia. Castanopsis species grow today in tropical to subtropical evergreen forests with a mean annual temperature ranging from 13 °C to 27 °C. The occurrence of Castanopsis zhoui sp. nov. and C. cf. chinensis confirms previous paleoclimate estimates of Zhangpu flora using the leaf physiognomy method. • Two species of Castanopsis with cuticles from the Miocene of Fujian, China. • It is the first fossil record of Castanopsis in Fujian Province. • It contributes to knowledge the diversification of Castanopsis during the Neogene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perennial organ functions of trees living in seasonal environments exhibit temporal changes that can be classified as long-term interannual changes and seasonal fluctuations within single years. However, few studies have separately quantified these changes from longitudinal measurement data or analyzed the relationships between them. We developed a hierarchical Bayesian statistical model consisting of three parts: a long-term interannual change expressed by consecutive annual linear trends, seasonal fluctuations with 26 values for two-week periods in a year, and a random effect for repeated measurements. The model can extract long-term interannual changes and seasonal fluctuations from longitudinal repeated measure data. The pattern of seasonal fluctuation, the amount of seasonal fluctuation, and the net annual change are expressed by the estimated model parameters. We applied our model to foliar chlorophyll (Chl) and nitrogen (N) content measured repeatedly on more than 1-year-old leaves of saplings in four evergreen broad-leaved tree species using nondestructive optical methods. The model successfully explained large variations in the Chl and N content. In general, seasonal fluctuations corresponded to the phenology of current-year leaves; Chl and N tended to decrease from the opening to maturation of new leaves and increased during the rest period. The magnitude of the decrease in the Chl and N content in the growth period of current-year leaves (Δγ) did not decrease noticeably as leaves aged. For the Chl content, Δγ was positively correlated with the maximum value before leaf opening across species. For the N content, Δγ and the maximum value before leaf opening were not clearly correlated across species, but were positively correlated within some species. A model parameter for annual linear trends in Chl and N varied from positive (indicating increasing trends) to negative values (indicating decrease) depending on species and leaf age in years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species, Castanopsis praefissa R.Y. Li et B.N. Sun sp. nov. and Castanopsis praeouonbiensis R.Y. Li et B.N. Sun sp. nov., are described from fossil specimens collected from the upper Miocene Shengxian Formation, Zhejiang Province, Southeast China. The fossil leaves are obovate to elliptical with serration mostly confined to the upper 1/3 of the lamina, pinnate venation, straight anticlinal walls and cyclocytic stomata. The fossil cupule is globose with fasciculate and branched spines, and a broadly ovate nut scar. The fossil leaves and cupule have been compared with those extant and other fossil species hitherto described in this genus. Castanopsis praefissa shows the closest affinity to C. fissa, and C. praeouonbiensis closely resembles C. ouonbiensis. Castanopsis fissa has toothed leaves and scaly cupules, whereas C. ouonbiensis has untoothed leaves and spiny cupules. Furthermore, they were not collected from the same site. So it is reasonable to assign them to two different species, rather than to one. Castanopsis praeouonbiensis and C. praefissa became extinct in this area because of the cooling climate from the late Miocene to the present day in Zhejiang Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]