Identification of phenolics and nucleoside derivatives in Gastrodia elata by HPLC-UV-MS

An HPLC-UV-MS method for simultaneous identification of predominant phenolics and minor nucleoside derivatives in Gastrodia elata was developed, which was based on their UV and MS characteristics summarized through a series of homemade reference standard experiments. Phenolics showed characteristic UV lambda(max) at 267 nm, [M + NH4](+) base peak in positive mode and [M - H](-) base peak in negative mode while nucleosides exhibited UV lambda(max) at 255 nm, [M + H](+), [M - H + 2H(2)O](-) or [M - H + CH3COOH](-). Phenolics conjugates mainly underwent the consecutive loss of gastrodin residue (- 268 U) and the combined loss of H2O and CO2 from the citric acid unit under negative MS/MS conditions whereas nucleosides simply lost the ribose (- 132 U) under positive MS/MS conditions. According to these characteristics, a special pattern under MS/MS conditions and reported compound data for G. elata in the literature, not only 15 phenolics were identified but also 6 nucleoside derivatives were identified. Among these compounds, seven phenolics and three nucleoside derivatives have not been reported yet from G. elata.

Analysis of Saponins from Leaves of Aralia elata by Liquid Chromatography and Multi-stage Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Four saponins were isolated from the leaves of Aralia elata, and established using NMR and other spectroscopic methods, as well as data reported in the literature. Three Aralia saponins from the leaves of Aralia elata sharing the same structures as those isolated from the root bark suggested that the leaves would be a good substitute for the root bark of Aralia elata. These four Aralia saponins were then extensively investigated using complementarily positive and negative electrospray ionization multistage tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn). Two isomers of saponins with different sugar linkages were then successfully differentiated by positive ESI-MSn and verified with different retention times and the collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra by LC-MS. A simple and effective LC-MS method was thus developed for the rapid identification and screening of these saponins in plant extracts from leaves of Aralia elata.

Stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in tree rings show physiological responses of Pericopsis elata to precipitation in the Congo Basin

In equatorial regions, where tree rings are less distinct or even absent, the response of forests to high-frequency climate variability is poorly understood. We measured stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in anatomically distinct, annual growth rings of four Pericopsis elata trees from a plantation in the Congo Basin, to assess their sensitivity to recorded changes in precipitation over the last 50 y. Our results suggest that oxygen isotopes have high common signal strength (EPS = 0.74), and respond to multi-annual precipitation variability at the regional scale, with low δ18O values (28–29‰) during wetter conditions (1960–1970). Conversely, δ13C are mostly related to growth variation, which in a light-demanding species are driven by competition for light. Differences in δ13C values between fast- and slow-growing trees (c. 2‰), result in low common signal strength (EPS = 0.37) and are driven by micro-site conditions rather than by climate. This study highlights the potential for understanding the causes of growth variation in P. elata as well as past hydroclimatic changes, in a climatically complex region characterized by a bimodal distribution in precipitation.

Resposta de três acessos de Chloris elata a herbicidas pulverizados em pós-emergência.

Objetivou-se avaliar a resposta de três acessos de C. elata a herbicidas pulverizados em pós-emergência.

海南野生兰科植物保育生物学研究

兰科(Orchidaceae)是高等植物中第二大科，包括石斛属在内的许多种类均具有较高的观赏价值和独特的药用价值。过度采挖和商业利用及原生境丧失致使野生兰科植物资源受到了毁灭性的破坏，许多兰科植物种类日趋濒危。本研究以海南岛野生兰科植物为对象，从生物多样性、群落生态学、菌根体系的建立和重引入实施工程等方面开展工作，研究结果如下： 1）报道了中国兰科植物2个新种，1个中国新记录属，6个中国新记录种及11个海南新记录种。其中，2个新种为长筒天麻Gastrodia longitubularis和芳香白点兰Thrixspermum odoratum；1个中国新记录属为小囊兰属Micropera；6个中国新记录种，分别为疏花羊耳蒜Liparis sparsiflora、三色槌柱兰Malleola insectifera.、红花小囊兰Micropera poilanei、美丽云叶兰Nephelaphyllum pulchrum、腐生齿唇兰Odontochilus saprophyticu和白花曲唇兰Panisea albiflora；11个海南新记录种，分别为密花石豆兰Bulbophyllum odoratissimum、金唇兰Chrysoglossum ornatum、勐海隔距兰Cleisostoma menghaiense、束花石斛Dendrobium chrysanthum、无叶美冠兰Eulophia zollingeri、滇南翻唇兰Hetaeria rubens、心叶球柄兰Mischobulbum cordifolium、毛叶芋兰Nerviliaplicata、平卧曲唇兰Panisea cavalerei、云南曲唇兰Panisea yunnanensisi及台湾白点兰Thrixspermum formosanum。 2）海南琼北火山岩地区调查结果表明，该区有兰科植物10属14种，成斑块状分布；其区系成分单一，生活型不全面；附主植物种类多样，人工种植的经济作物为该地区兰科植物的主要附生宿主。生境特征分析结果显示，琼北火山岩地区独特的地质气候条件及植被类型是影响该地区兰科植物种类数量的主要因素。人工干扰所致的植被破坏、生境破碎化是该地区兰科植物多样性丧失的主导因素。 3）以我国兰科海南特有种-华石斛（Dendrobium sinense TangetWang）为研究对象，采用双向指示种分析法（TWINSPAN）和除趋势对应分析法（DCA）对海南霸王岭国家级自然保护区华石斛附生群落进行了分类和排序。结果表明：TWINSPAN分类结果将22个样方划分为2个植被类型、5个群系、7个群丛组；并分别对各群丛组的生境特点、植被树种组成作了论述。DCA二维排序图较好地验证了TWINSPAN的分类结果，并客观地反映了群落的生境特征。随着海拔逐渐升高，华石斛附生群落植被类型从山地常绿林逐渐过渡到高山苔藓矮林，群落中的优势种由喜高温耐干旱的热带、亚热带树种逐渐演变为耐低温喜湿的亚热带、温带树种。华石斛在主要群落类型群系间、群丛组内的数量、密度和空间分布格局表现出较大差异，以具通风、凉爽和高湿环境的高山苔藓矮林附生数量最多。附生群落类型的多样性反映了华石斛对多样生境的适应性。华石斛附生群落植被类型群丛组的划分，进一步细化和丰富了海南热带森林植被类型山地常绿林和高山矮林的划分，有助于了解华石斛自然居群的生境特点，为进一步开展华石斛的保育工作提供了科学依据。 4）兰科菌根菌对兰花种子萌发和原球茎生长起了重要作用，在成年阶段也扮演着重要角色。为了解东南亚特有种五唇兰的菌根形态和菌根真菌的动态侵染过程，对不同生境下两种变异类型（叶背绿色和叶背紫色）的成年植株菌根分三个时间段采样并进行显微观察。结果表明，成年的五唇兰植株与菌根真菌有着密切关系，菌丝的侵染、定殖和消解程度随着生长发育变化而变化；在营养生长阶段和生殖生长阶段都发现菌丝结，这两个阶段的菌丝特征有所不同；而在休眠阶段的菌根中观察不到菌丝结；不同生境和不同变异类型的菌根结构无明显区别。 5)利用种子原地共生萌发技术，通过种子预处理及播种等技术的不断完善，获得了大量种子萌发原球茎；初步揭示了华石斛种子萌发原球茎规律。结果表明：10%NaOH浸泡10min预处理能显著提高华石斛种子萌发率；原生境人工播种明显提高了萌发的原球茎数及宿主原球茎产生率；但不同附生宿主间存在差异，自然萌发原球茎数非常低。播种后2.5个月左右种子开始萌发，4.5个月左右达到高峰，在6.5个月原球茎数基本趋于稳定。 6)华石斛菌根化苗重引入实验结果表明，实验室筛选的有益真菌与原生境下筛选有益真菌存在一定差异。菌根化苗重引入野外生境，3个月后以12号华石斛菌根化苗生长最好，3、9号华石斛菌根化苗生长较正常，而7、10号两种华石斛菌根化苗叶片受损或死亡，无菌组培苗基本已死亡；华石斛菌根化苗成活率在50%以上，而对照几乎全部死亡；从菌根化苗长势评价，3、9、12号3个内生真菌华石斛菌根化苗生长较好，为真正有益共生真菌。

Revision of the genus Fosterella (Bromeliaceae)

Die vorliegende Arbeit stellt eine umfassende taxonomische Revision der Gattung Fosterella L.B. Sm. (Bromeliaceae) dar, die alle 31 derzeit akzeptierten Arten umfasst und einen Bestimmungsschlüssel für diese beinhaltet. Die Revision beruht auf der morphologisch-anatomischen Auswertung von Herbarmaterial (über 800 Exsikkate), Lebendpflanzen (ca. 150 Akzessionen) und eigenen vergleichenden Untersuchungen im Freiland. Die Gattung Fosterella ist seit nunmehr etlichen Jahren Forschungsgegenstand einer interdisziplinären Studie, die sowohl molekulrae, als auch anatomische, morphologische und biogeographische Untersuchungen einbezieht. Unser Interesse an der Gattung Fosterella gründet sich auf ihrer enormen ökologischen und biogeographischen Vielfalt, sie gilt als hervorragendes Modellsystem für Artbildungsmechanismen in den Anden. In den letzten Jahren wurde von verschiedenen molekularen Methoden Gebrauch gemacht, um die verwandtschaftlichen Beziehungen innerhalb der Gattung zu untersuchen, so dass mittlerweile gut aufgelöste Stammbäume vorliegen. Diese molekularen Studien, überwiegend durchgeführt von Dr. Martina Rex, wurden ergänzt durch intensive Sammelaktivitäten und eingehende taxonomische Untersuchungen im Rahmen der vorliegenden Revision. Auf diese Weise konnten die morphologische Plastizität der einzelnen Arten erfasst und schließlich ein wohlfundiertes Artkonzept vorgelegt werden. Zunächst wird ein kurzer Überblick über die Familie der Bromeliaceen als auch die Gattung Fosterella gegeben, in dem jeweils Informationen zur Verbreitung, Morphologie, Physiologie, Ökologie und Phylogenie geliefert werden. Im Anschluss an einen historischen Überblick des taxonomischen Werdegangs wird die Abgrenzung der Gattung Fosterella zu den nächstverwandten Gattungen Deuterocohnia, Dyckia und Encholirium erläutert. Die morphologischen Merkmale zur Differenzierung der Arten innerhalb der Gattung werden im Hinblick auf ihre Zuverlässigkeit und ihr Gewicht diskutiert. Der Artschlüssel basiert auf Merkmalen, die leicht auszumachen und gut zu unterscheiden sind. Bei der ausführlichen Beschreibung der Arten wird auch auf ihre jeweilige Verbreitung, Ökologie, taxonomische Abgrenzung, systematische Verwandtschaft sowie die Etymologie des Namens eingegangen. Beigefügt sind jeweils Zeichnungen, ein Foto vom Holo-/Lectotypus, Fotos von Lebendpflanzen sowie eine Verbreitungskarte. Im Rahmen der taxonomischen Arbeit wurden fünf Arten zu Synonymen reduziert: Fosterella chiquitana Ibisch, R. Vásquez & E. Gross und F. latifolia Ibisch, R. Vásquez & E. Gross wurden in die Synonymie von F. penduliflora (C.H. Wright) L.B. Sm. eingezogen; F. fuentesii Ibisch, R. Vásquez & E. Gross als Synonym zu F. albicans (Griseb.) L.B. Sm. gestellt; F. elata H. Luther in die Synonymie von F. rusbyi (Mez) L.B. Sm. verwiesen und F. nowickii Ibisch, R. Vásquez & E. Gross als Synonym zu F. weddelliana (Brongn. ex Baker) L.B. Sm. gestellt. Fosterella schidosperma (Baker) L.B. Sm. var. vestita L.B. Sm. & Read wird zum Synonym von Fosterella weberbaueri (Mez) L.B. Sm. reduziert. Sechs Arten wurden neu beschrieben: Fosterella batistana Ibisch, Leme & J. Peters; F. christophii Ibisch, R. Vásquez & J. Peters; F. elviragrossiae Ibisch, R. Vásquez & J. Peters; F. kroemeri Ibisch, R. Vásquez & J. Peters; F. nicoliana J. Peters & Ibisch und F. robertreadii Ibisch & J. Peters. Das Taxon F. gracilis (Rusby) L.B. Sm. wurde neu etabliert. Um die Evolution von einzelnen morphologischen Merkmalen zu rekonstruieren, wurden die Zustände von zehn ausgewählten Merkmalen kodiert und auf einen molekularen Stammbaum kartiert. Die folgenden Merkmalszustände wurden als ursprünglich innerhalb der Gattung ermittelt: Stammlosigkeit, ganzrandige Blattspreiten, flache Rosetten mit dem Boden aufliegenden Blättern, locker beschuppte Blattunterseiten, schildförmige Haare mit gezähntem Rand, ganzrandige Pedunkel-Brakteen, rispenförmiger Blütenstand, kahle/verkahlende Blütenstandsachsen, weiße Petalen und einfach-aufrechte Narben. Rückschlüsse bezüglich der Evolution und Ausbreitung der Gattung Fosterella werden diskutiert: Die überwiegend kleinen Verbreitungsgebiete der Arten hängen offensichtlich mit ihren fragmentierten, inselartigen Habitaten (z.B. innerandine Trockentäler) zusammen. Die Tatsache, dass die Yungas-Bergregenwälder des Departamento La Paz, Bolivia, die Region mit der größten Artenvielfalt darstellen, lässt sich mit der extrem variablen Topographie und der außerordentlich hohen Vielfalt an Habitaten dieser Region erklären. Aus folgenden Gründen erscheint es sehr wahrscheinlich, dass die Gattung Fosterella ihren Ursprung im Tiefland hat: Die Mehrheit der Arten weist einen eher mesophytischen Habitus auf und ist in mehr oder weniger humiden Habitaten zu finden. Die Gattung ist durch mehrere Arten in sehr alten Habitaten des präkambrischen Schilds im Tiefland von Zentral-Südamerika vertreten. Weiterhin betreiben, soweit bekannt, alle Fosterella Arten C3 Photosynthese, während in den Gattungen der Schwestergruppe, Deuterocohnia, Dyckia and Encholirium, CAM der verbreitete Photosyntheseweg ist. In jedem Fall ist die Besiedelung der Anden und/oder Tieflandhabitate mehrfach unabhängig voneinander geschehen, vielleicht sogar in beiden Richtungen.

Anther and pollen development in some species of Poaceae (Poales)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Desenvolvimento pós-seminal de espécies de Poaceae (Poales)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Desenvolvimento de óvulo, fruto e semente de espécies de Poaceae (Poales)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Embriologia e desenvolvimento pós-seminal de espécies de Poaceae (Poales)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Silicoflagellates of early Paleocene to early Miocene sediments of the subantarctic South Atlantic

Nearly complete Paleogene sedimentary sequences were recovered by Leg 114 to the subantarctic South Atlantic. Silicoflagellate assemblages from the Paleogene and immediately overlying lower Neogene from Sites 698 (Northeast Georgia Rise), 700 (East Georgia Basin), 702 (Islas Orcadas Rise), and 703 (Meteor Rise) were examined. The described assemblage from Hole 700B represents the most complete yet described from the Paleocene, encompassing planktonic foraminifer Zones Plb (upper part) through P4 and Subchrons C25N to C23N. All lower Eocene sediments are barren as a result of diagenesis, except for a single sample from Hole 698A. Middle Eocene silicoflagellates described from Hole 702B range in age from early middle Eocene (P10) to late Eocene (PI5), with correlations to Subchrons C21N to C18N. Hole 703A contains late Eocene through early Miocene assemblages, with paleomagnetic control from Subchrons C16R to C6AAN. Leg 114 biosiliceous sequences contain exceptionally diverse assemblages of silicoflagellates. Approximately 155 species and separate morphotypes are described from the Paleogene and earliest Neogene. New taxa described from Leg 114 sediments include Bachmannocena vetula n. sp., Corbisema animoparallela n. sp., Corbisema camara n. sp., Corbisema constricta spinosa n. subsp., Corbisema delicata n. sp., Corbisema hastata aha n. subsp., Corbisema praedelicata n. sp., Corbisema scapana n. sp., Corbisema triacantha lepidospinosa n. subsp., Dictyocha deflandreifurtivia n. subsp., Naviculopsis biapiculata nodulifera n. subsp., Naviculopsis cruciata n. sp., Naviculopsis pandalata n. sp., Naviculopsis primativa n. sp., and Naviculopsis trispinosa eminula n. subsp. Taxonomic revisions were made to the following taxa: Corbisema constricta constricta emended, Corbisema disymmetrica crenulata n. comb., Corbisema jerseyensis emended, and Distephanus antarcticus n. comb. Silicoflagellate assemblages from the Paleogene and earliest Neogene of Holes 698A, 699A, 700B, 702B, and 703A are the basis of a silicoflagellate zonation spanning the interval from 63.2 to 22.25 Ma. Silicoflagellate zones recognized in this interval include the Corbisema hastata hastata Zone, Corbisema hastata aha Zone, Dictyocha precarentis Zone, Naviculopsis constricta Zone, Naviculopsis foliacea Zone, Bachmannocena vetula Zone, Dictyocha grandis Zone, Naviculopsis pandalata Zone, Naviculopsis constricta-Bachmannocena paulschulzii Zone, Bachmannocena paulschulzii Zone, Naviculopsis trispinosa Zone with subzones a and b, Corbisema archangelskiana Zone, Naviculopsis biapiculata Zone, Distephanus raupii Zone, Distephanus raupii-Corbisema triacantha Zone, and Corbisema triacantha mediana Zone.

Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera of the Kerguelen Plateau

An almost complete Upper Cretaceous sedimentary sequence recently recovered on the Kerguelen Plateau (southern Indian Ocean) during ODP Leg 183 was analysed for planktonic foraminifera in order to refine and integrate the zonal schemes previously proposed for the Southern Ocean area. Detailed biostratigraphic analysis carried out on holes 1135A, 1136A and 1138A (poleward of 50°S palaeolatitude during Late Cretaceous time) has allowed recognition of low and mid-high latitude bioevents, useful for correlation across latitudes, in addition to known Austral bioevents. The low latitude biozonation can be applied to Turonian sediments, because of the occurrence of Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica, which marks the boundary between Whiteinella archaeocretacea and Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica zones. The base of the Whiteinella archeocretacea Zone falls within the uppermost Cenomanian-Turonian black shale level in Hole 1138A. The stratigraphic interval from upper Turonian to uppermost Santonian can be resolved using bioevents recognized in the mid-high latitude sections. They are, in stratigraphic order: the last occurrence of Falsotruncana maslakovae in the Coniacian, the first occurrence of Heterohelix papula at the Coniacian/Santonian boundary, the extinction of the marginotruncanids in the late Santonian, and the first occurrence of Globigerinelloides impensus in the latest (?) Santonian. The remainder of the Late Cretaceous fits rather well in the Austral zonal scheme, except that Globigerinelloides impensus exhibits a stratigraphic range in agreement with its record at the mid-high latitude sections and extends further downwards than previously recorded at southern sites. Therefore, despite the poor recovery in certain intervals and the presence of several hiatuses of local and regional importance as revealed by correlation among holes, a more detailed zonal scheme has been obtained (mainly for the less resolved Turonian-Santonian interval). Remarks on some species often overlooked in literature are also provided.

Contribution of woody habitat islands to the conservation of birds and their potential ecosystem services in an extensive Colombian rangeland

The conservation of birds and their habitats is essential to maintain well-functioning ecosystems including human-dominated habitats. In simplified or homogenized landscapes, patches of natural and semi-natural habitat are essential for the survival of plant and animal populations. We compared species composition and diversity of trees and birds between gallery forests, tree islands and hedges in a Colombian savanna landscape to assess how fragmented woody plant communities affect forest bird communities and how differences in habitat characteristics influenced bird species traits and their potential ecosystem function. Bird and tree diversity was higher in forests than in tree islands and hedges. Soil depth influenced woody species distribution, and canopy cover and tree height determined bird species distribution, resulting in plant and bird communities that mainly differed between forest and non-forest habitat. Bird and tree species and traits widely co-varied. Bird species in tree islands and hedges were on average smaller, less specialized to habitat and more tolerant to disturbance than in forest, but dietary differences did not emerge. Despite being less complex and diverse than forests, hedges and tree islands significantly contribute to the conservation of forest biodiversity in the savanna matrix. Forest fragments remain essential for the conservation of forest specialists, but hedges and tree islands facilitate spillover of more tolerant forest birds and their ecological functions such as seed dispersal from forest to the savanna matrix.