Diversity of functional groups in the vegetation sandy seashore of the Grande, Anclitas and Caguamas Cays (Jardines de la Reina Archipelago, Cuba)

Sandy shores are known to be extreme ecosystems where the vegetation has evolved many morphological and physiological adaptations for its survival. With the aim of identify possible relationships between the vegetation´s functional diversity with abiotic factors and its corresponding quantification, we collected data on the abundance and richness of the sandy coast vegetation complex in Grande, Anclitas and Caguamas keys. Its flora is largely characterized by the dominance of hemicryptophytes and chamaephytes plants with nanophyllous leaves and displaying dispersal syndromes such as zoochory and anemochory. However, the functional groups´ richness, in the present study, varies from one key to another. Functional diversity is similar between the wet and dry seasons, and its spatial variation is influenced by the interplay of the set of abiotic factors herein studied.

A couple of embroiled sheets of Miguel Barnades Manaider and Esteban de Prado in the Herbaria of Real Colegio Alfonso XII of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid)

In this paper we present a couple of sheets of Umbelliferae that are preserved in the RCAXII herbaria. One of them, Selinum carvifolia, where collected in the Gredos Mountains by Miguel Barnades Mainader and was identified by his son Miguel Barnades Clarís. The other, Tragium flabellifolium, was collected in Mieres (Asturias) by Esteban de Prado and identified by Mariano La Gasca.

Fine-scale nutrient and carbonate system dynamics around cold-water coral reefs in the northeast Atlantic.

Ocean acidification has been suggested as a serious threat to the future existence of cold-water corals (CWC). However, there are few fine-scale temporal and spatial datasets of carbonate and nutrients conditions available for these reefs, which can provide a baseline definition of extant conditions. Here we provide observational data from four different sites in the northeast Atlantic that are known habitats for CWC. These habitats differ by depth and by the nature of the coral habitat. At depths where CWC are known to occur across these sites the dissolved inorganic carbon ranged from 2088 to 2186 μmol kg−1, alkalinity ranged from 2299 to 2346 μmol kg−1, and aragonite Ω ranged from 1.35 to 2.44. At two sites fine-scale hydrodynamics caused increased variability in the carbonate and nutrient conditions over daily time-scales. The observed high level of variability must be taken into account when assessing CWC sensitivities to future environmental change.

Ecohydrodynamics of cold-water coral reefs: A case study of the Mingulay Reef complex (western Scotland)

Ecohydrodynamics investigates the hydrodynamic constraints on ecosystems across different temporal and spatial scales. Ecohydrodynamics play a pivotal role in the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems, however the lack of integrated complex flow models for deep-water ecosystems beyond the coastal zone prevents further synthesis in these settings. We present a hydrodynamic model for one of Earth's most biologically diverse deep-water ecosystems, cold-water coral reefs. The Mingulay Reef Complex (western Scotland) is an inshore seascape of cold-water coral reefs formed by the scleractinian coral Lophelia pertusa. We applied single-image edge detection and composite front maps using satellite remote sensing, to detect oceanographic fronts and peaks of chlorophyll a values that likely affect food supply to corals and other suspension-feeding fauna. We also present a high resolution 3D ocean model to incorporate salient aspects of the regional and local oceanography. Model validation using in situ current speed, direction and sea elevation data confirmed the model's realistic representation of spatial and temporal aspects of circulation at the reef complex including a tidally driven current regime, eddies, and downwelling phenomena. This novel combination of 3D hydrodynamic modelling and remote sensing in deep-water ecosystems improves our understanding of the temporal and spatial scales of ecological processes occurring in marine systems. The modelled information has been integrated into a 3D GIS, providing a user interface for visualization and interrogation of results that allows wider ecological application of the model and that can provide valuable input for marine biodiversity and conservation applications.

Piornales, enebrales y pinares oromediterráneos (Pino-Cytision oromediterranei) en el Sistema Central

Se revisan fitosociológicamente los bosques y matorrales oromediterráneos del Sistema Central pertenecientes a la alianza Pino-Cytision oromediterranei. Un suborden, una asociación y seis subasociaciones se proponen como nuevos: Juniperenalia nanae, Echinosparto pulviniformis-Cytisetum oromediterranei, Cytiso-Echinospartetum barnadesii ericetsoum arboreae, Junipero-Cytisetum oromediterranei adenocarpetosum hispanici, arctostaphylletosum crassifoliae, ericetosum aragonensis, genistetosum cinerascentis y populetosum tremulae. Asimismo, se proponen diversas correcciones nomenclaturales y se tipifican los principales sintáxones de la clase. Por último, se presenta un esquema sintaxonómico de la misma en la Península Ibérica hasta el nivel de asociación, con la diagnosis biogeográfica, ecológica y florística de los sintáxones de rango superior.Finalmente, en el apéndice florístico se proponen tres nuevas combinaciones nomenclaturales: Echinospartum ibericum Rivas-Martínez, Sánchez-Mata & Sancho, E. ibericum subsp. pulviniformis (Rivas-Martínez) Rivas-Martínez y Thymus praecox Opiz subsp. penyalarensis (Pau) Rivas-Martínez, Fernández-González & Sánchez-Mata.

Estudio ecológico comparado de los jarales de Madrid, I. Variación anual de la humedad del suelo

Durantedos años consecutivos se ha estudiado el contenido en agua de las capas superficiales del suelo de 29 parcelas pobladas por distintas unidades de jaral pertenecientes a la alianza Cistion laurifolii. Se aportan gráficas sobre la marcha de los contendio hídricos disponibles de los suelos, poniéndose de relieve la existencia de dos periodos: uno húmedo, caracterizado por existir agua disponible más o menos abundante, y otro seco en el que no existe agua disponible en los niveles superficiales del suelo. La duración de estos periodos se discute relacionándola con el régimen de precipitaciones, valorándose la importancia de éste frente a las precipitaciones totales anuales. Se comparan los distintos sintáxones para el factor hídrico por medio de análisis multivariables, determinándose la diferenciación de éstos en base a dicho factor.

Estudios sobre el género Tulostoma y Geastrum (Gasteromycetes)

Se realiza un estudio macro y microscópico de Geastrum campestre (Morgan) Kamblev & Lec y G. saccatum (Fr.) Fischer. Se amplia la corolooia de Tulostoma giovanellae Bresad. hasta ahora conocido en España peninsular de la region Mediterránea al centro peninsular. Se propone la sinonimia de Tulostoma campestre Morgan a T. fimbriatum Fr.

Poa feratiana Boiss. & Reuter en el Sistema Central (España)

Se da a conocer la presencia del taxon Poa feratiana Boiss. &  Reuter en el Sistema Central, Se comenta la corologia del taxon en la Península Ibérica.

Ecología y fitosociologia del ecótono de dos jarales de Cistion laurilfolii de la Sierra de Guadarranma (España)

Se describe la subasociación Rosmarino-Cistetum ladaniferi cistetosum cyprii. que representa el ecótono entre Rosmarino-Cistetum ladaniferi y Santolino-Cistetum laurifolii. La ecología del nuevo sintaxon se ha estudiado seleccionando dos grupos de parcelas que comprenden representantes de las tres unidades fítosociológicas, y sobre las que se han efectuado medidas de temperatura y humedad edáficas bajo la cubierta vegetal a lo largo del año, así como de distintos aspectos microclimáticos a lo largo de un día tipo. El carácter de transición de la nueva subasociación ha quedado puesto de manifiesto tanto para el factor térmico como hídrico.

Ecological comparative study of the rock-rose scrubs of Madrid, II. Soil-pH seasonal fluctuation

During twao years soil and litter pH of 31 permanent plots grown by several rock-rose scrubs (jarales) of Cistion laurifolii at different dynamic stages have been measured. Acidily records show the existence of important seasonal variations and according to a certain rythm. The different syntaxa are characterized as for this ecological factor and the results for these matorrals are compared with other data of heath-scrubs. Adult jaral-phases tend to decrease soil pH when compared with younger dwarf-scrubs-phases, nevertheless upper soil levels generally remain less acidic. Multivariable analysis do not show preference of t he different syntaxa for a certain soil-pH range.

7. On the priority of "Genistion purgantis" Tüxen in Tüxen & Oberdorfer 1958 and "Senecioni-Genistetum purgantis" Tüxen & Oberdorfer 1958

In a recent review of which we were co-authors (Rivas-Martínez, Belmonte, Cantó, Fernández-González, Fuente, Moreno, Sánchez-Mata & Sancho, Lazaroa 7: 93-124. 1987), rejection of names Genistion purgantis Túxen in Túxen & Oberdorfer 1958 [Veróff. Geobot. Inst. Rúbel Zúrich 32: 228] and Senecio tournefortii-Genistapurgans Ass. Túxen & Oberdorfer 1958 [op. cit.: 229-230] versus Pino-Cytision purgantis Rivas-Martínez 1964 [Anales lnst. Bot. Cavanilles 22: 358] and Junipero nanae-Sarothamnetum purgantis Rivas-Martínez 1963 [Anales Inst. Bot. Cavanilles 21(1): 172-186] respectively, was proposed and adopted.

Phytogeographic characterization of Gran Canaria Island (Canary Islands-Spain)

Studies on the flora and fauna of the Canary Islands show that this Archipelago is one of the planet’s diversity hot spots. However, an analysis of the differences in the phytogeographic characteristics of each of the islands that make up this Archipelago is lacking. This article focuses on the phytogeographic characterization of the island of Gran Canaria. This island exhibits geological and climatic characteristics resulting in a rich vascular flora, including endemic species and genera that are significantly different from the other islands of the Archipelago. These differences are verified through statistical analysis of the existing similarity between the floras of the members of the Canary Islands. This study also analyses the subdivision of Gran Canaria Island, indicating that there are three well-differentiated areas on the island itself. Finally, this study argues that these areas, themselves, should be considered biogeographic sectors.

Validations and descriptions of European syntaxa of vegetation dominated by lichens, bryophytes and algae

Fourty-two high-rank syntaxa and seven associations of the thallophyte system of syntaxa are either described as new or validated in this paper. Among those, there are the following nine classes: Aspicilietea candidae, Caulerpetea racemosae, Desmococcetea olivacei, Entophysalidetea deustae, Gloeocapsetea sanguineae, Mesotaenietea berggrenii, Naviculetea gregariae, Porpidietea zeoroidis, Roccelletea phycopsis. Eleven orders and ten alliances as well as three associations are described or validated: the Aspicilietalia verruculosae (incl. Aspicilion mashiginensis and Teloschistion contortuplicati), the Caulerpetalia racemosae (incl. Caulerpion racemosae), the Desmococcetalia olivacei (incl. Desmococcion olivacei), the Dirinetalia massiliensis, the Fucetalia vesiculosi (incl. Ascophyllion nodosi), the Gloeocapsetalia sanguineae, the Lecideetalia confluescentis (incl. Lecideion confluescentis), the Mesotaenietalia berggrenii (incl. Mesotaenion berggrenii, Mesotaenietum berggrenii and Chloromonadetum nivalis), the Naviculetalia gregariae (incl. Oscillatorion limosae and Oscillatorietum limosae), the Porpidietalia zeoroidis (incl. Porpidion zeoroidis), and the Roccelletalia fuciformis (incl. Paralecanographion grumulosae). Further, five orders, seven alliances and four associations, classified in known classes, were described as well. These include: the Bacidinetalia phacodis, the Agonimion octosporae and the Dendrographetalia decolorantis (all in the Arthonio radiatae-Lecidelletea elaeochromae), the Staurothelion solventis (in the Aspicilietea lacustris), the Pediastro duplicis-Scenedesmion quadricaudae and the Pediastro duplicis-Scenedesmetum quadricaudae (both in the Asterionelletea formosae), the Peccanion coralloidis and the Peltuletalia euplocae (both in the Collematetea cristati), the Laminarion hyperboreae, the Saccorhizo polyschidi-Laminarietum and the Alario esculenti-Himanthalietum elongatae (all in the Cystoseiretea crinitae), the Delesserietalia sanguinei, the Delesserion sanguinei and the Delesserietum sanguineae (all in the Lithophylletea soluti), as well as the the Rinodino confragosae-Rusavskietalia elegantis and the Rhizocarpo geographici-Rusavskion elegantis (both in the Rhizocarpetea geographici).

Disponibilidad del recurso hídrico en la microcuenca del río Bermúdez. Región central de Costa Rica.

La microcuenca del río Bermúdez es parte de la principal zona de explotación hídrica en la región Central de Costa Rica, razón por la cual se realiza un diagnóstico de la disponibilidad del recurso hídrico en esta microcuenca donde se identifican las áreas con mayor problemática de disponibilidad de este recurso. Para ello se calculó un balance hídrico mensual, según uso del suelo, unidad geomorfológica y zona climática. Con base en este balance se determinó y clasificó la disponibilidad del recurso, identificando en la microcuenca solamente tres categorías: alta, media y moderada. No existen áreas de baja disponibilidad de recurso hídrico lo que demuestra que la oferta es suficiente, sin embargo, existe una presión importante sobre el recurso hídrico pues más de la mitad del área de la microcuenca se encuentra con una disponibilidad moderada.