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To describe the composition of the penultimate glacial Brazilian Atlantic forest, we analyzed pollen, charcoal and diatoms deposited in the section from 871 to 1400 cm of core CO14 drilled in the Colônia basin in southeastern Brazil. The landscape was characterized by a cool grassland with three conifer genera: Araucaria, Podocarpus and Ephedra. Total arboreal pollen frequency did not change during the transition from glacial to interglacial conditions. Changes in Podocarpus frequency and concentration showed out‐of‐phase responses with austral summer insolation at an orbital scale while, at a millennial scale, both northern and southern hemisphere ice volume controlled the interplay between positions of the Inter‐Tropical Convergence Zone and South Tropical Front (STF), which in turn defined the latitudinal distribution of rainfall. The disappearance of Podocarpus and the decrease of Araucaria observed between ~167 and 160 ka were related to a dry interval which was not observed elsewhere. During Termination II a progressive decrease in conifer pollen taxa was in phase with a southward shift in the STF and increase in Atlantic sea surface temperatures. Our results show that southern hemisphere conifer distribution is strongly linked to austral summer insolation and winter precipitation and will be threatened by the southward expansion of the summer rainfall boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Pith in woody species fulfills essential roles, from functioning as the first vascular tissue in shoots, to serving as starch storage and facilitating heartwood formation. While the spongy cells of pith may die and be reabsorbed at maturity by some species, the pith persists throughout the lifespan of conifer trees. Pith features and functions of extant conifers have been documented in contemporary studies, and pith anatomy has been described for extinct progymnosperms and coniferous ancestors through fossils. However, up to now, few studies have described the wood anatomy of pith in living conifers and covered only 24 species in four families. Here we describe the pith of 7 genera and 16 species from the previously unstudied conifer families of Araucariaceae and Podocarpaceae, based on stained and unstained cross-sections. Comparisons between pith sections of the same tree in successive years yielded insights into maturation of the conifer pith. Conservative pith characteristics were identified among genera and families. Araucariaceae pith is dissimilar on a familial level, but the genus Araucaria is unified by pith shape and heterocellularity. In contrast, all Podocarpaceae piths develop secondary cracks, and most species have irregularly shaped piths. Beyond our study of similarities and differences of pith in Araucariaceae and Podocarpaceae, a look at pith patterns in the paleobotanical record and further examples in living conifers could increase the understanding of conserved characteristics and pith evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Hispaniola is the second largest island in the Caribbean and a hot spot of biodiversity. The island was formed by the fusion of a northern and southern palaeo‐islands during the mid‐Miocene (15 Ma). The historical split of Hispaniola together with repeated marine incursions during the Pleistocene is known to have influenced lineage divergence and genetic structure in a few birds and mammals, but the effect on vascular plants is less understood. The conifer genus Podocarpus has two species, P.hispaniolensis and P.buchii, that are endemic to the mountains of Hispaniola and are IUCN endangered. The former occurs in the mountains of the north, and the latter in the south, with a region of sympatry in the Cordillera Central. Here, we evaluate the historical split of the two palaeo‐islands and repeated marine incursions as dispersal barriers to the geographical distribution of genetic diversity, genetic structure, divergence patterns and the historical demography of the two species. Location: Hispaniola island, Caribbean. Methods: Using genotyping‐by‐sequencing in 47 Podocarpus samples, we identified two sets of single nucleotide polymorphisms for our analyses (74,260 and 22,657 SNPs). We conducted a phylogenetic and an approximate Bayesian computation analysis to test evolutionary hypotheses of sympatric and allopatric speciation and stepping‐stone colonization. Results: Podocarpus showed a population genetic structure that corresponds to the geographic distribution of the species. Podocarpus on Hispaniola fit a stepping‐stone colonization model with bottlenecks at each mountain colonization event and speciation in Cordillera Central. Main conclusions: The historical events in question did not seem to have influenced the genetic structure, diversity or demography of Podocarpus; instead, the current geographic barriers imposed by lowland xeric valleys did. The clear divergence between species together with the elevated within‐population genetic diversity and significant genetic structure calls for a multi‐population in situ conservation of each species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine if a leaching fraction (LF)-guided irrigation practice with fixed irrigation run times between LF tests (LF_FX) could be improved by making additional adjustments to irrigation run times based on real-time weather information, including rain, using an evapotranspiration-based irrigation scheduling program for container production (LF_ET). The effect of the two irrigation practices on plant growth and water use was tested at three target LF values (10%, 20%, and 40%). For both Viburnum odoratissimum (Expt. 1) and Podocarpus macrophyllus (Expt. 2) grown in 36-cm-diameter containers with spray-stake microirrigation, the change in plant size was unaffected by irrigation treatments. LF_ET reduced water use by 10% compared with LF_FX in Expt. 2 but had no effect (P < 0.05) on water use in Expt. 1. Decreasing the target LF from 40% to 20% reduced water use 28% in both experiments and this effect was similar for both irrigation practices. For the irrigation system and irrigation schedule used in these experiments, we concluded that an LF-guided irrigation schedule with a target LF of 10% resulted in plant growth similar to one with a target LF of 40% and that the addition of a real-time weather adjustment to irrigation run times provided little or no improvement in water conservation compared with a periodic adjustment based solely on LF testing.

According to a common hypothesis, some of the epidermal structural features in the leaves of tracheid- bearing plants “offset” low specific conductivity of vesselless wood. The data concerning this issue is contradictory, which can be explained by the fact that leaf water relations depend not only on the epidermis structure, but also on the structure of other leaf tissues. In the current study we aimed to evaluate the diversity of water transport systems in the leaves of tracheid-bearing woody plants in the temperate rainforest of south-central Chile. For this purpose, we collected leaves of four Podocarpaceae and two Winteraceae species in natural habitats, examined their leaf anatomy using light and transmission electron microscopy, measured the quantitative characters and analyzed the data using principal component analysis. Leaves of the studied species differ in the mesophyll and xylem anatomy. Four species have features that accelerate water transport through the leaf tissues via the apoplast (Prumnopitys andina), accessory transfusion tissue (Podocarpus saligna) and a network of veins (Drimys species). On the contrary, the leaves of Saxegothaea conspicua and Podocarpus nubigena accumulate water in water-storage tissue (hydrenchyma), but their ecology suggest that hydrenchyma is not an adaptation to environmental conditions. The obtained data indicate the existence of different ways of water delivery to the photosynthetic tissue in the leaves of vesselless plants. In the case of insufficient water supply through the tracheids, hydrenchyma is likely to maintain hydration of the leaves.

Numerous pollens and a few wood fossils with probable affinity to Podocarpus L'Heritier ex Persoon have been discovered from China. However, the leaf fossils of Podocarpus were not well documented. In this study, we describe a new species, Podocarpus pliomacrophyllus sp. nov., from the lower Pliocene of Tengchong, western Yunnan, southwestern China, with detailed cuticular structures. According to gross morphology and cuticular structure of leaves, the present species mostly resembles extant P. macrophyllus (Thunberg) Sweet, which is attributed to the subgenus Foliolatus de Laubenfels. Molecular data support that the genus Podocarpus derived from Gondwana, and the subgenus Foliolatus diverged from the subgenus Podocarpus during the early Miocene. Therefore, the present fossils from Tengchong indicate that the subgenus Foliolatus had spread from India to western Yunnan before the early Pliocene, and then to southeastern China. The Pleistocene glacial events forced Podocarpus to retreat from western Yunnan and the uplifted Hengduan Mountains hindered its reconnection during the subsequent warm interglacials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A partir de adultos recolectados directamente y de la crianza de larvas obtenidas en brotes de Podocarpus spp. (Podocarpaceae), se describe a Magniophaga nuevo género de Depressariidae del centro-sur de Chile. Este género incluye a Magniophaga variabilis sp. nov., cuyas larvas se alimentan de los brotes nuevos de “mañío de hojas largas” (Podocarpus salignus D. Don) y de “mañío de hojas punzantes” (Podocarpus nubigenus Lindley). Se presentan caracteres diagnósticos del nuevo género y especie, se ilustra el adulto, abdomen, las estructuras genitales del macho y de la hembra y se proporcionan antecedentes biológicos de la especie. Con este descubrimiento se incrementa a 14 géneros y 33 especies de Depressariidae presentes en Chile.

Two experiments were conducted to determine if a leaching fraction (LF)- guided irrigation practice with fixed irrigation run times between LF tests (LF_FX) could be improved by making additional adjustments to irrigation run times based on real-time weather information, including rain, using an evapotranspiration-based irrigation scheduling program for container production (LF_ET). The effect of the two irrigation practices on plant growth and water use was tested at three target LF values (10%, 20%, and 40%). For both Viburnum odoratissimum (Expt.1) and Podocarpus macrophyllus (Expt. 2) grown in 36-cm-diameter containers with spray-stake microirrigation, the change in plant size was unaffected by irrigation treatments. LF_ET reduced water use by 10% compared with LF_FX in Expt. 2 but had no effect (P<0.05) on water use in Expt. 1. Decreasing the target LF from 40% to 20% reduced water use 28% in both experiments and this effect was similar for both irrigation practices. For the irrigation system and irrigation schedule used in these experiments, we concluded that an LFguided irrigation schedule with a target LF of 10% resulted in plant growth similar to one with a target LF of 40% and that the addition of a real-time weather adjustment to irrigation run times provided little or no improvement in water conservation compared with a periodic adjustment based solely on LF testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Podocarpus matudae , P. guatemalensis and P. oleifolius are common trees in northern Mesoamerica. • Evolutionary history was inferred using 255 Podocarpus cpDNA sequences and past distributions. • Genetic and environmental differentiation revealed highland and lowland lineages with intermingled individuals. • Long-term persistence and elevational spread of suitable habitat was predicted during the LGM. The biogeographical history of Mesoamerican cloud forests is complex, encompassing a diverse and heterogeneous mixture of species with temperate and tropical origins. The dynamic geological landscape and climate change from the Miocene to the Pleistocene affected the distributions and composition of cloud forests in the region, and contributed to divergence events at different time scales. We assessed genetic variation of 29 populations of P. matudae , and closely related P. guatemalensis and P. oleifolius (Podocarpaceae) by sequencing 255 samples of the psb A- trn H and trn L-F intergenic spacer regions across the species ranges. We conducted phylogenetic, population and spatial genetic analyses as well as divergence time estimation and ecological niche modelling (ENM) to test the generality of demographic and genetic scenarios for cloud forest-adapted species. The results revealed genetic differentiation among species, with some individuals of P. oleifolius and P. guatemalensis placed in the P. matudae group and some P. oleifolius in the P. guatemalensis group. Predictions of ENMs under past climatic conditions and a strong signal of spatial expansion suggest that the highland P. matudae and P. oleifolius populations experienced expansions into lower elevation during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Contrary to predictions by the two precipitation models and elevational ups and downs for cloud forest taxa during the LGM, genetic differentiation and predicted distribution of suitable habitat support the hypotheses that P. matudae and P. oleifolius remained in situ during the LGM primarily within the current fragmented distribution of the cloud forest and spread into the lowlands during the LGM, whereas the distribution of suitable habitat for P. guatemalensis had no major changes upwards from the Last Inter Glacial (LIG) to current conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Neophyllaphis (Takahashi) (Aphididae: Neophyllaphidinae) is composed of 18 species; however, in the Americas only nine species have been reported previously. A new species, Neophyllaphis varicolor Miller & Halbert, was described in 2014 in USA. Colonies resembling those of this new species have been observed in Costa Rica on Podocarpus spp. In order to determine if N. varicolor is also present in Costa Rica, we sampled Neophyllaphis colonies from Podocarpus falcatus and P. chinensis. Additionally, we sampled individuals from Podocarpus sp. in Spain and Vietnam. DNA of each sample was extracted and used to amplify and sequence the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and elongation factor I (EF-1α) partial regions. According to morphological characteristics, sequences comparisons done in GenBank and BOLD, and phylogenetic analyses, the colonies collected from Podocarpus spp. in Costa Rica and the colony from Vietnam corresponded to the species N. varicolor. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of the presence of N. varicolor in Central America and Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A unique podocarpus-like ɑ-Fe 2 O 3 /TiO 2 composite with balsam pear texture was prepared through an economical and large-scale production route. For this composite, TiO 2 nanoparticles were uniformly embedded in the gaps between ɑ-Fe 2 O 3 leaves. When tested as anode material for lithium ion battery, ɑ-Fe 2 O 3 /TiO 2 composite delivered high initial discharge capacity (1534 mAh g−1 at 200 mA g−1) and good cyclic stability (1047 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g−1), better than those of ɑ-Fe 2 O 3 /TiO 2 composite reported previously. The outstanding electrochemical performance of ɑ-Fe 2 O 3 /TiO 2 should benefit from not only TiO 2 nanoparticles for alleviating the structural strain associated with cycling, but also the podocarpus-like structure with balsam pear texture for supplying short electron diffusion pathways and rich active sites. The results showed that the ɑ-Fe 2 O 3 /TiO 2 composite is a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries. Highlights • A unique podocarpus-like ɑ-Fe 2 O 3 /TiO 2 composite with balsam pear texture was prepared through one-step hydrothermal method. • The composite, as anode material of lithium ion battery, delivered high initial discharge capacity and good cyclic stability. • The good electrochemical performance should be ascribed to the podocarpus-like structure and the synergistic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bioactivity-guided phytochemical investigation of Podocarpus neriifolius D. Don. (Podocarpaceae) has led to the isolation of one new (2) and three known (1, 3, and 4) B-type podolactones, along with three totarane-type diterpenes (5-7). Their structures were determined by interpretation of High Resolution ElectroSpray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (HRESIMS) and 1D and 2D NMR data, and comparison with the values reported in the literature. The structure of compound 1, previously identified as 3-deoxy-2α-hydroxynagilactone E (8), was revised as its 2β-epimer, which has been reported recently as a new compound. All of the isolates were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against a panel of four human cancer cell lines, namely, ovarian (OVCAR3), breast (MDA-MB-231), colon (HT-29), and melanoma (MDA-MB-435), and compounds 1 and 3 were found to be cytotoxic with IC50 values in the low micromolar range for most of the cell lines used. The major compound, inumakilactone A (3), was further tested in vivo using the HT-29, MDA-MB-435, and OVCAR3 cells in a murine hollow fiber model, for the first time.Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competitive interactions between native tree seedlings and exotic grasses frequently hinder forest restoration. We investigated the consequences of competition with exotic grasses on the growth and net nitrogen (N) uptake capacity of native rainforest seedlings used for reforestation depending on soil N availability and N source. Tree seedlings and grasses were grown in the greenhouse in different competition regimes (one tree species vs one grass species) and controls (grass monocultures or single tree seedlings) at low and high soil N. After 8 weeks, we quantified net N uptake capacity using 15N-labelled organic (i.e. glutamine and arginine) and inorganic (i.e. ammonium and nitrate) N sources and biomass indices. Depending on soil N availability, we observed different species-specific responses to growth and N acquisition. Tree seedlings generally increased their net N uptake capacity in response to competition with grasses, although overall seedling growth was unaffected. In contrast, the responses to competition by the grasses were species-specific and varied with soil N availability. The different N acquisition strategies suggest the avoidance of competition for N between trees and grasses. Overall, the results highlight that quantifying underlying mechanisms of N acquisition complements the information on biomass allocation as a measure of responses to competition, particularly with varying environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aims As extreme climatic events including droughts and heat waves become more common in a changing climate, tree mortality has increased across the globe. In order to determine whether certain species have a competitive advantage over others, we explored the water-relations and leaf-gas exchange of four co-occurring species in a forest in northern Aotearoa-New Zealand. We studied the ecologically and culturally significant foundation species, Agathis australis (a conifer), two additional conifers, Phyllocladus trichomanoides and Podocarpus totara and the angiosperm Knightia excelsa. Methods We measured sap flow, leaf-gas exchange and xylem water potentials of leaves and terminal branches with concurrent measures of micrometeorological data on days with very few clouds. We derived whole tree hydraulic conductance and instantaneous water-use efficiency (WUEi) at our remnant forest in west Auckland during February 2015 (southern hemisphere summer). Important Findings The four species behaved similarly in their diurnal curves of gas exchange and water potential. Rates of assimilation, stomatal conductance and WUEi were similar among trees of different species. Whole tree hydraulic conductance was also similar among species. These results indicate functional convergence in water relations, possibly driven by low nutrient soils at the site. Our results suggest that there is no species with a clear adaptive advantage over the others in the context of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of the Study: It is unclear to what extent the co‐occurrence of angiosperm and gymnosperm species in some marginal ecosystems is explained by reduced growth in angiosperms due to carbon (C) limitation and by high stress tolerance in gymnosperms associated with lack of vessels and resource conservation. Methods: We examined growth patterns and traits associated with C balance in four evergreen angiosperm species (including one vesselless species, Drimys winteri) and three gymnosperm tree species of a cold‐temperate rainforest in southern Chile. We measured the mean basal area increment for the first 50 (BAI50) and the last 10 years (BAI10), wood density, leaf lifespan, and nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations in different organs. Key Results: BAI50 was 6‐fold higher in angiosperms than in gymnosperms and ca. 4‐fold higher in Drimys than in the fastest‐growing gymnosperm. BAI10 and aboveground NSC concentrations were significantly higher and leaf lifespan lower in angiosperms than in gymnosperms; these differences, however, were largely driven by the slow growth and low NSC concentrations of the Cupressaceae species (Pilgerodendron uviferum), while the two Podocarpaceae had BAI10 and NSC concentrations similar to angiosperms. In angiosperms, NSC and starch concentrations were generally higher in species with lower BAI10, indicating no severe C limitation. Conclusions: The co‐occurrence of angiosperms and gymnosperms in cold‐temperate rainforests of southern Chile is not explained by growth disadvantages and C limitation in angiosperms. Long leaf longevity, but not lack of vessels, appeared to favor resource conservation and C balance in some gymnosperms (Podocarpaceae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New records of Micropeltidaceae are reported on leaves of Podocarpus parlatorei leaves in the Yungas, Argentina. A new variety, Micropeltis albomarginata var. macrospora is proposed. Dictyopeltis applanata is recorded for the first time in Argentina. Descriptions, illustrations, data on geographical distribution, habitat, and notes are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Here, we report fossil Podocarpium podocarpum (A. Braun) Herendeen in Ganchaigou area, on the edge of the western Qaidam Basin, which is located in the north of the Tibetan Plateau, China. The current fossil is the first Oligocene record of Podocarpium in Tibetan Plateau. Fossils' thermophilous and moisture-loving habits allowed us to reconstruct the paleoclimate there. Two parameters of valves: the length:width ratio and the area were used in analysis of fossil valves to discover the potential paleoclimate information. Generally , Podocarpium valves is slenderer (larger L/W ratio) and smaller (in area) under the gradually cooling climatic conditions from the Eocene to Oligocene and then in the Miocene, the valves becoming more rounded and larger. The fossil report is also a complementary clue to Podocarpium's migratory pattern from South China to Eurasian. Given the spatiotemporal distribution of this genus, we proposed that two distribution ranges where Podocarpium fossils have been found in China as 'Changchang–Qaidam' belt and 'Tiantai–Chifeng' belt. Similarly, the direction ranges of two belts are subparallel to the direction of the East Asian Summer monsoon. The appearance of Podocarpium in Qaidam Basin in Oligocene indicate that there might be a durative period of warmer environment, and the East Asian monsoon might made an effect on the climate of Qaidam Basin in Oligocene. Highlights • First fossil record of Podocarpium in Oligocene in Qaidam Basin, NW China. • The complementary clue in Qaidam Basin to Podocarpium 's migratory pattern from South China to Eurasia. • The possible impact of East Asian monsoon on the climate of Qaidam Basin in Oligocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The podocarpus aphid, Neophyllaphis podocarpi Takahashi, is a pest of Podocarpus species in Florida, namely the nonnative ornamental shrub Podocarpus macrophyllus (common names include bigleaf podocarpus, kusamaki, podo, Japanese yew, and southern yew) (Stamps no date). The podocarpus aphid is recognizable by its blueish purple color (Figure 1). First found in Florida in Miami in 1968, this invasive aphid can now be found anywhere in Florida where the genus Podocarpus is grown (Brown and Mannion 2014). This document is EENY690, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date November 2017. Revised March 2021.

Questions: Large pteridophytes frequently co‐occur with conifers and angiosperms in the understorey of temperate broad‐leaved podocarp forests but interactions between them are poorly understood. We evaluated the impact of tree ferns on the regeneration niche of vascular woody species to determine whether tree ferns function as biotic filters and influence seedling occurrence. We asked the following questions: (i) do understorey tree ferns influence the woody seedling bank, and (ii) which potential mechanisms drive any such influence? Location: Auckland and Waikato regions, northern New Zealand. Methods: We measured woody seedlings in 164 1‐m2 plots in northern New Zealand temperate broad‐leaved podocarp forest and used multivariate analyses and modelling to assess the relative contributions of abiotic and biotic effects on community composition and seedling abundance. We manipulated the environments beneath 160 tree fern individuals by removing fronds and/or macro‐litter in a balanced factorial design, and recorded the response of the seedling community over 1 year. We then assessed the relative influences of shading and litter depth on the seedling community response. Results: Distance to the nearest tree fern was the best predictor of understorey seedling abundance; seedling abundance decreased beneath tree ferns. There was no strong evidence, however, that tree ferns influence seedling community composition; although the palm Rhopalostylis sapida, was consistently present away from tree fern micro‐sites. Removal of tree fern shading and macro‐litter both influenced the local seedling community; conifers responded positively, and most consistently to frond removal. Frond‐shading and deep litter reduced seedling species richness and seedling abundance. Conclusions: Tree ferns influence the woody seedling bank in temperate broad‐leaved podocarp forest through increased shading and macro‐litter accumulation, both of which reduce the abundance of angiosperm and conifer seedlings. A tree fern‐dominated understorey is likely to reduce conifer establishment and may limit direct competition among woody plants by reducing densities and regeneration opportunities immediately beneath tree fern canopies. This study comprises observational and experimental elements discerning the biotic effect of tree ferns on forest seedling regeneration in mixed angiosperm–conifer forests of northern New Zealand. We accounted for dispersal limitations, environmental variation and within‐side heterogeneity in 160 experimental plots and identified tree ferns as a biotic filter reducing gymnosperm seedling abundance and frequency through shading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-four endophytic fungal isolates recovered from Podocarpus gracilior were screened for Taxol biosynthetic potency. Among these endophytes, three isolates of Aspergillus terreus EFB108, EFB59, EFB14 recovered from P. gracilior cork, leaves and twigs, respectively, were reported as potent Taxol producers. The chemical identity of A. terreus extracted Taxol was verified from the HPLC, NMR and FTIR analyses, with strong cytotoxic activity for HEPG2 and MCF7 cell lines (IC 50 4.5–6.5 nM). Upon nutritional of A. terreus EFB108 (MF377552), the maximum yield of Taxol (265 μg/L) was obtained by growing the fungus on MID medium of initial pH 8.0, with 0.6% asparagine and 2.4% xylose, incubated for 21 days. Taxol yield of A. terreus was increased by ∼2.4 folds (432 μg/L) upon addition of surface sterilized P. gracilior leaves. The yield of Taxol by A. terreus was not affected by the dichloromethane plant extract negating the presence of direct signals inducing Taxol biosynthesis. So, the intimate physical interaction of endogenous endophytes of P. gracilior with the fungus, could be essential for triggering the biosynthesis of Taxol by A. terreus. This is the first report describing the feasibility of A. terreus , endophytes of P. gracilior, for Taxol production that could be a good industrial platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates variation in house mouse Mus musculus body size and mandible shape across New Zealand, using geometric morphometrics and biomechanical advantage analyses. The Mus phylogroups currently known in New Zealand include Mus musculus domesticus, M. m. musculus and M. m. castaneus. We examined samples of house mice inhabiting five different podocarp and beech forest environments across the North and South Islands (Pureora Forest, Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary, Craigieburn Forest Park, Eglinton Valley and Hollyford Valley). Significant variation in mandible shape and body size was found between all five forest populations. South Island mice had larger bodies and greater mechanical advantage in the temporalis muscle compared with their North Island counterparts. Zealandia Sanctuary mouse mandibles were broader and shorter than South Island mouse mandibles, and had greater masseter muscle advantage. Centroid size and body weight, but not head-body length, varied significantly with two distinct genetic haplotypes. Finally, annual rainfall was the most significant covariate with mandible shape. Higher rainfall locations were generally associated with soft-food related mandible shapes, while lower rainfall correlated with hard-food mandible shapes. This preliminary investigation provides the framework for further research into mandible shape and body size variation in New Zealand house mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevational diversity gradients are typically studied without considering the complex small-scale topography of large mountains, which generates habitats of strongly different environmental conditions within the same elevational zones. Here we analyzed the importance of small-scale topography for elevational diversity patterns of hyperdiverse tropical leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). We compared patterns of elevational diversity and species composition of beetles in two types of forests (on mountain ridges and in valleys) and analyzed whether differences in the rate of species turnover among forest habitats lead to shifts in patterns of elevational diversity when scaling up from the local study site to the elevational belt level. We sampled beetle assemblages at 36 sites in the Podocarpus National Park, Ecuador, which were equally distributed over two forest habitats and three elevational levels. DNA barcoding and Poisson tree processes modelling were used to delimitate putative species. On average, local leaf beetle diversity showed a clear hump-shaped pattern. However, only diversity in forests on mountain ridges peaked at mid-elevation, while beetle diversity in valleys was similarly high at low- and mid-elevation and only declined at highest elevations. A higher turnover of species assemblages at lower than at mid-elevations caused a shift from a hump-shaped diversity pattern found at the local level to a low-elevation plateau pattern (with similar species numbers at low and mid-elevation) at the elevational belt level. Our study reveals an important role of small-scale topography and spatial scale for the inference on gradients of elevational species diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xiphinema japonicum n. sp., isolated in Ningbo, China, from the rhizosphere of Podocarpus macrophyllus (Thunb.) imported from Japan is described. The new species belongs to Xiphinema non-americanum group 7 and is characterized by medium body length (3.0-3.7 mm), total stylet length 190-201 μm, vulva located anteriorly (V = 30.5%-35.3%), two equally developed female genital branches without uterine differentiation (no Z or pseudo-Z organ and/or spines in the uteri), short tail, convex-conoid with subdigitate peg in terminus, and absence of males. The species has four juvenile developmental stages (J1 was not found). The polytomous identification codes of the new species are (codes in parentheses are exceptions) A4-B4-C4-D5(4)-E2(3)-F3(4)-G2(3)- H2-I3-J4-K?-L1. Morphologically, the new species is mainly characterized by combination of the codes C4 and E2(3), making the species unique and different from other species in the genus. It is most similar to the North American species Xiphinema bakeri, herein considered as its cryptic species by the nature of high morphological similarity, but with significant differences in DNA sequences in nearly full length 18S, ITS1, 28S D2/D3, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 sequences. The second morphologically close species is Xiphinema setariae from which the new species could be separated based on morphological and molecular characters. Morphological comparisons with phylogenetically related species are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standing dead trees (or snags) are an important component of forest ecosystems, especially for tree cavity-nesting vertebrate species, but their prevalence in South African forests remains under studied. Consequently, we investigated forest structure, and the presence and abundance of snags in six southern mistbelt forests in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. These forests have had varying levels of timber extraction over the past 150 years or more. We found snags were relatively rare in all six forests (<4.3% of trees sampled). Mean diameter at breast height (dbh) of snags ranged from 52 to 82 cm across the forests, with smaller snags in Kologha Forest and larger snags in Tyume Forest. A bimodal distribution of snag successional stages was found, with frequencies peaking at early and late stages, and few in the intermediate stages. Tree species diversity in the forests was relatively low (twelve-nineteen species across forests; only 28 species in total). There was no significant difference in dbh of trees between forests, with most occurring in the 20-29-cm dbh size class. Future studies are required to identify trees that most likely support suitable cavities for tree cavity-nesting bird species, and to determine cavity-nester assemblage requirements in southern African forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf cuticle micromorphology has been cited as an important set of taxonomic characters in gymnosperms, but previous studies have largely been based on small sample sizes. The premise of this study was to understand whether external factors affect cuticular micromorphology of Podocarpaceae. Two example species, Prumnopitys andina and Podocarpus salignus, were studied. Of 21 sampled characters, nine (c.43% of the total) were visually assessed as being moderately reliable or highly reliable for taxonomic discrimination for both species, with an additional six (c.29%) being moderately reliable or highly reliable for only one or other of the example species, and six characters (c.29%) unreliable for both. Seven of the most variable stomatal characters were selected for further analysis to establish whether environmental factors affect them. The relationship between these seven stomatal characters, the environment and climate was analysed using the R ‘vegan’ package and climate data gathered from WorldClim. Our results showed that both species had larger stomata in moist and shady conditions, and a higher density of (smaller) stomata in sunny and drier conditions. An additional novel finding was the presence of stomata on the adaxial leaf surface in 46% of samples of Prumnopitys andina: the first record of adaxial stomata in this species, highlighting the necessity of studying multiple samples of a given species. In conclusion, these results indicate that larger sample sizes than have hitherto been employed in cuticle micromorphological studies are necessary to fully document the amount of phenotypic variation that exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryofracture of living material and fracture at room temperature of herbarium material were used to obtain cross-sections of the stomatal complexes of four species of Podocarpus (Podocarpaceae) for scanning electron microscopy. Cross-sections of the stomata of one species in Podocarpus subgenus Foliolatus section Foliolatus (Podocarpus rubens), one in Podocarpus section Globulus (Podocarpus beecherae), one in Podocarpus subgenus Foliolatus section Longifoliolatus (Podocarpus insularis) and one in subgenus Podocarpus section Australis (Podocarpus nivalis) were studied. The architecture of the stomatal complex, including the wax plug, is described. It was found that the wax plug sits high in the stomatal antechamber in Podocarpus rubens, P. beecherae and Podocarpus decipiens and about halfway up the chamber in P. nivalis. A ridge, which appears to correspond to the crease where the guard cells meet, exists on the underside of the wax plug in Podocarpus beecherae, P. decipiens and P. rubens; its presence in P. nivalis requires confirmation. In addition, ridges within the stomatal antechamber were observed when viewing the cross-sections of Podocarpus decipiens and P. rubens, the internal surface of the cuticle of P. decipiens, Podocarpus teysmannii, P. insularis and Podocarpus milanjianus, and the external surface of the cuticle of Podocarpus chinensis, Podocarpus macrophyllus and Podocarpus pilgeri. These ridges may consist of wax and be a result of epitaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paleoenvironmental changes for the last 35,000 years were reconstructed from palynological, sedimentological and organic geochemical evidence from a well-dated sediment core from Lago do Saci (South Amazonia). Dry climatic conditions occurred between 35,000 and 18,200 cal yr BP as recorded by high frequencies of open savanna taxa and low lake level indicated by Sagittaria and low Total Organic Carbon content. Cold temperatures are indicated by the presence of Podocarpus and Ilex . A sedimentation hiatus observed between 18,200 and 9200 cal yr BP was likely related to dry conditions. The beginning of the Holocene was marked by rainforest expansion and an increase in carbon content that represented high lake levels and warmer and wetter climate conditions. Between 7500 and 5000 cal yr BP, the expansion of open savanna, seasonal forest elements and abundant black carbon suggests a dry phase. After 5000 cal yr BP, rainforest expansion and higher lake levels indicate a return to wetter conditions. A reduction of flooding taxa ( Celtis and Mauritia ) between 1800 and 1300 cal yr BP, high lake level conditions and maintenance of a forest physiognomy, suggests a decrease of regional precipitation and subsequent reduction of the flooded areas in a still humid climate regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-elevation ecosystems, such as those on Mount Kenya are undergoing significant changes, with accelerated glacial ice losses over the twentieth century creating new space for alpine plants to establish. These ecosystems respond rapidly to climatic variability and within decades of glacial retreat, Afroalpine pioneering taxa stabilize barren land and facilitate soil development, promoting complex patches of alpine vegetation. Periglacial lake sediment records can be used to examine centennial and millennial scale variations in alpine and montane vegetation compositions. Here we present a 5300-year composite pollen record from an alpine tarn (4370 m asl) in the Hausberg Valley of Mount Kenya. Overall, the record shows little apparent variation in the pollen assemblage through time with abundant montane forest taxa derived and transported from mid elevations, notably high abundances of aerophilous Podocarpus pollen. Afroalpine taxa included Alchemilla, Helichrysum and Dendrosenecio-type, reflecting local vegetation cover. Pollen from the ericaceous zone was present throughout the record and Poaceae percentages were high, similar to other high elevation pollen records from eastern Africa. The Oblong Tarn record pollen assemblage composition and abundances of Podocarpus and Poaceae since the late Holocene (~4000 cal yr BP-present) are similar to pollen records from mid-to-high elevation sites of nearby high mountains such as Mount Elgon and Kilimanjaro. These results suggest a significant amount of uphill pollen transport with only minor apparent variation in local taxa. Slight decreasing trends in alpine and ericaceous taxonomic groups show a long-term response to global late Holocene cooling and a step decrease in rate of change estimated from the pollen assemblages at 3100 cal yr BP in response to regional hydroclimatic variability. Changes in the principal component axis scores of the pollen assemblage were coherent with an independent mid-elevation temperature reconstruction, which supported the strong influence of uphill pollen transport from montane forest vegetation and association between temperatures and montane vegetation dynamics. Pollen accumulation rates showed some variability related to minerogenic sediment input to the lake. The Oblong Tarn pollen record provides an indication of long term vegetation change atop Mount Kenya showing some decreases in local alpine and ericaceous taxa from 5300–3100 cal yr BP and minor centennial-scale variability of montane taxa from mid elevation forests. The record highlights potentials, challenges and opportunities for the use of proglacial lacustrine sediment to examine vegetation change on prominent mountain massifs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) have been used as modifiers to promote growth and mineral nutrient utilization in crop plants, but its over-year effect on current-year shoot (CYS) of juvenile trees is still unclear. In this study, Buddhist pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus) seedlings were cultured under natural and extended photoperiods with or without COS addition for one year. In the following spring, parameters of leaf length, biomass accumulation, and N content in CYS were found to be increased by COS addition under the extended photoperiod. P concentration of COS-treated seedlings was lower under longer photoperiod, but both N and P concentrations were negatively correlated with leaf length and biomass accumulation, suggesting the utilization of N and P for growth demand of CYS. The sole addition of COS mainly resulted in wholeplant P accumulation. However, when combined with the extended photoperiod, COS addition showed over-year effect on biomass accumulation and N content in CYS of transplanted Buddhist pine seedlings. Further studies are needed to confirm these results on other tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of climate change on the lowland vegetation of Amazonia during the last glacial cycle are partially known for the middle and late Pleniglacial intervals (late MIS 3, 59–24 ka and MIS 2, 24–11 ka), but are still unclear for older stages of the last glacial and during the last interglacial. It is known that a more seasonal dry-wet climate caused marginal forest retraction and together with cooling rearranged forest composition to some extent. This is observed in pollen records across Amazonia depicting presence of taxa at glacial times in localities where they do not live presently. The understanding of taxa migration is hindered by the lack of continuous interglacial-glacial lowland records. We present new data from a known locality in NW Amazonia (Six Lakes Hill), showing a vegetation record that probably started during MIS 5 (130–71 ka) and lasted until the onset of the Holocene. The vegetation record unravels a novel pattern in tree taxa migration: (1) from the beginning of this cycle Podocarpus and Myrsine are recorded and (2) only later do Hedyosmum and Alnus appear. The latter group is largely restricted to montane biomes or more distant locations outside Amazonia, whereas the first is found in lowlands close to the study site on sandy soils. These findings imply that Podocarpus and Myrsine responded to environmental changes equally and this reflects their concomitant niche use in NW Amazonia. Temperature drop is not discarded as a trigger of internal forest composition change, but its effects are clearer later in the Pleniglacial rather than the Early Glacial. Therefore early climatic/environmental changes had a first order effect on vegetation that invoke alternative explanations. We claim last glacial climate-induced modifications on forest composition favoured the expansion of geomorphologic-soil related processes that initiated forest rearrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four species of Lophiostoma and one species of Sigarispora were collected during a survey on the biodiversity of microfungi growing on bark and decorticated wood of Podocarpus parlatorei in Argentina. Lophiostoma punctatum possesses a unique combination of morphological characters and is described as a new species, while L. macrostomum, L. quadrinucleatum, L. vicinum and Sigarispora caulium are reported as new records for Argentina. All species are described and illustrated. Data on geographical distribution, habitat, notes on the fungi described and dichotomous key of the known species on Podocarpus parlatorei in Argentina are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adzebills (Aptornithidae) were an ancient endemic lineage of large flightless Gruiformes that became extinct shortly after Polynesian settlement of New Zealand. The diet and ecology of these enigmatic birds has long been a matter for conjecture, but recent stable isotope analyses of bones of the North Island adzebill (Aptornis otidiformis) have indicated that adzebills may have been predatory. Here, we add to our understanding of adzebill ecology by providing the first stable isotope analyses of South Island adzebill (A. defossor) bones from two Holocene deposits. We interpret the results within frameworks of stable isotope measurements on bones of faunal species with known diets and from the same deposits (thereby mitigating regional effects on isotope values). Our results strongly support the hypothesis that adzebills had a high trophic position. Considered alongside the unique skeletal adaptations of adzebills and the distribution of the species during the Holocene, we suggest that adzebills were most likely terrestrial predators restricted to dry podocarp forests and may have specialised in dismantling rotting logs to obtain invertebrates and/or excavating burrowing animals such as tuatara or the chicks of burrow-nesting birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species belonging to the Coryneliaceae and parasitizing Podocarpaceae hosts were collected from different locations in South Africa and studied morphologically by light microscopy and molecularly by obtaining partial nrDNA (ITS-1/5.8S/ITS-2, 18S and 28S) gene sequences. The position of the Coryneliaceae within the Eurotiomycetidae was not confirmed and a new subclass, Coryneliomycetidae, was introduced. While Eurotiomycetidae usually form cleistothecia/gymnothecia with evanescent, unitunicate asci, and Chaetothyriomycetidae mostly perithecia with bitunicate/fissitunicate to evanescent asci, Coryneliomycetidae form pseudothecial mazaedial ascomata, initially with double-walled asci with the outer layer deliquescing, resulting in passive ascospore release. The Coryneliomycetidae thus occupies a unique position in the Eurotiomycetes. Furthermore, epitypes were designated for Corynelia uberata, the type species of Corynelia (type genus of the family, order and subclass), Lagenulopsis bispora, the type species of Lagenulopsis, and Tripospora tripos the type species of Tripospora, with Lagenulopsis and Tripospora confirmed as belonging to the Coryneliaceae. Corynelia uberata resolved into three clades, one on Afrocarpus (= Podocarpus) falcatus and A. gracilior, and two clades occurring on P. latifolius, herein described as C. africana and C. fructigena. Morphologically these three species are not readily distinguishable, although they differ in spore dimensions, ascomata shape, ornamentation and DNA phylogeny. It is likely that several more species from other parts of the world are currently erroneously placed in C. uberata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we propose a protocol for embryogenic cultures induction, proliferation and maturation for the Brazilian conifer Podocarpus lambertii , and investigated the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) and glutathione (GSH) supplementation on the maturation phase. ABA, zeatin (Z) and salicylic acid (SA) endogenous levels were quantified. Number of somatic embryos obtained in ABA-supplemented treatment was significant higher than in ABA-free treatment, showing the relevance of ABA supplementation during somatic embryos maturation. Histological analysis showed the stereotyped sequence of developmental stages in conifer somatic embryos, reaching the late torpedo-staged embryo. GSH supplementation in maturation culture medium improved the somatic embryos number and morphological features. GSH 0 mM and GSH 0.1 mM treatments correlated with a decreased ABA endogenous level during maturation, while GSH 0.5 mM treatment showed constant levels. All treatments resulted in decreased Z endogenous levels, supporting the concept that cytokinins are important during the initial cell division but not for the later stages of embryo development. The lowest SA levels found in GSH 0.5 mM treatment were coincident with early embryonic development, and this treatment resulted in the highest development of somatic embryos. Thus, a correlation between lower SA levels and improved somatic embryo formation can be hypothesized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Los bosques montanos del noroccidente peruano son formaciones vegetales que presentan una alta diversidad y endemismos. Lamentablemente, en muchos lugares están sujetos a procesos acelerados de deterioro por la deforestación y colonización, aspecto que los convierte en uno de los ecosistemas más amenazados por el hombre. Lo que ahora queda de estos bosques, alguna vez extensos, son sólo fragmentos. Los bosques montanos relictos son ecosistemas ubicados por encima de los 1000 m de altitud, en la Vertiente Occidental de los Andes. Es en estos bosques, donde se pueden encontrar especies de coníferas nativas de nuestro país, pertenecientes a la familia Podocarpaceae. Estas especies juegan un rol de suma importancia en la dinámica de estos ecosistemas tan frágiles; no obstante, debido a la calidad de sus maderas, están siendo extraídas de manera alarmante. En el noroccidente peruano existen zonas de bosques homogéneos de Podocarpáceas tal es el caso del bosque de Cachil en la provincia de Contumazá, bosque de TongodQuellahorco en la provincia de San Miguel (en los cuales predomina la especie Podocarpus oleifolius) y los bosques de San Ignacio en Cajamarca, en los que reportamos cinco especies de Podocarpáceas distribuidas en tres géneros: Podocarpus (P. oleifolius, P. macrostachys, P sprucei), Prumnopitys (P. harmsiana) y Nageia (N. rospigliosii), las cuales representan el 50% del total de especies reportadas para el Perú.