The ferns of Great Britain:

Mode of access: Internet.

The ACEN Student Scholarship: a profile of financial hardship and Work Integrated Learning

An increasing emphasis on embedding Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) in the curriculum has impacted on teaching and learning approaches in Australian higher education institutions (Higher Education Base Funding Review: Final Report, 2011). Yet whilst the benefits and costs of these approaches have been identified (Bradley, Noonan, Nugent, & Scales, 2008; Patrick et al., 2009) insufficient attention has been paid to financial costs experienced by students studying subjects with a Work Integrated Learning component. In 2010 the Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN) responded to this issue by offering three modest student scholarships based on evidence of hardship. Data collected from over 1000 applicants between 2010 and 2012 indicate travel, accommodation, food, clothing, equipment and loss of income are of major concern especially for students on lengthy placements involving relocation. At the same time the Australian Federal Government’s review of base funding has recommended a detailed assessment of the costs of providing student placements across all disciplines - in particular health and education (DEEWR, 2011, p.94). This paper considers costs from the student perspective and highlights major concerns identified through ACEN scholarship applications over a three year period. The implications for ACEN are described and recommendations documented which outline ACEN’s role in ensuring that these issues are given greater consideration across the sector.

Del combate singular al singular combate sexual en la sátira trovadoresca medieval gallego-portuguesa

Integran este número de la revista ponencias presentadas en Studia Hispanica Medievalia VIII: Actas de las IX Jornadas Internacionales de Literatura Española Medieval, 2008, y de Homenaje al Quinto Centenario de Amadis de Gaula.

A Remarkable new fern from Panama

Toward the last of February, 1911, in the course of fieldwork connected with the Smithsonian Biological Survey of the Panama Canal Zone, I accompanied Mr. Henry Pittier from the Canal Zone, where our work had been carried on up to that time, to Chiriqui, the westernmost province of Panama, and spent nearly all of March in collecting plants--mainly ferns and lower cryptogams--in the mountains north of David, the principal city of the province...(Document contains 10 pages)

Biological survey of the Panama Canal Zone (1912)

At first it was intended to confine the collections to the Canal Zone proper, but as the faunal and floral areas extended to the north and south of this region, it was decided to carry the work into the Republic of Panama, a step which met with the hearty approval of that Republic. The work accomplished has been very valuable to science, including collections and observations of vertebrate animals, land and fresh water mollusks, and plants, including flowering plants, grasses and ferns. Special attention will be given during the coming season to vertebrate animals, insects, crustaceans, rotifers and other minute freshwater animals, and also to the microscopic plants known as diatoms. Includes appendix of papers that resulted.

Caracterização das estratégias ecofisiológicas de samambaias em resposta à inundação na restinga de Maricá, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

As matas inundáveis e brejos presentes nas restingas desencadeiam uma série de processos que influenciam as características físico-químicas e biológicas do solo, levando as plantas a apresentarem mecanismos de aclimatação ou adaptação ao estresse da inundação, como alterações morfológicas e fisiológicas de forma a minimizar os efeitos da falta de oxigênio. Dentre as espécies vegetais de samambaias ocorrentes em ambientes inundáveis nas restingas, se destacam três espécies: Acrostichum danaeifolium Langsd. & Fisch., Blechnum serrulatum Rich. e Thelypteris interrupta (Willd.) K.Iwats. O objetivo deste trabalho é caracterizar os aspectos ecofisiológicos que os esporófitos dessas samambaias apresentam para sobreviver em ambientes de inundação na restinga de Maricá, estado do Rio de Janeiro. Neste sentido, foi determinada a caracterização física e química dos sítios de ocorrências destas samambaias, as variações foliares entre elas, espessura, densidade, massa por unidade de folha, teor de clorofilas e atributos quantitativos das células epidérmicas, além da quantificação e determinação à distribuição dos carboidratos. Para as variáveis dos vegetais foram feitas coletas na estação chuvosa e seca e para variáveis do solo na estação seca. Os sítios analisados se mostraram extremamente ácidos, de baixa fertilidade e com toxidez por macro e micro nutrientes, indicando que as samambaias apresentam tolerância a estes fatores. Na época chuvosa (inundação), as samambaias apresentaram queda na densidade foliar, acompanhada de um aumento de massa por unidade de folha. Esta habilidade de conseguir ganhar massa seca por área classifica todas as samambaias analisadas como tolerantes à inundação. Os altos valores de carboidratos solúveis nas folhas indicam aumento da degradação do amido foliar e o menor teor de carboidrato solúvel encontrado nos caules explicita a redução na respiração das raízes destas plantas sob anoxia/ hipoxia, para evitar a oxidação e o incremento do estoque de amido de reserva, elucidando estratégia de tolerância à inundação. A menor disponibilidade de água na estação seca afeta diretamente os atributos foliares diminuindo o índice estomático, a suculência e a massa por unidade de folha, no qual reflete na queda das concentrações de clorofilas. Os menores valores nas concentrações de clorofila têm influencia direta na presença de amidos foliar que são estocado e, alterando toda a dinâmica dos carboidratos nestas espécies. A análise do sítio onde cresce Acrostichum danaeifolium indica níveis críticos de Na no solo e provavelmente, a produção de mucilagem no caule e no pecíolo é uma estratégia de tolerância ao ambiente salino e inundado. O elevado índice de cobertura de Blechnum serrulatum em ambientes inundados indica que esta espécie possui adaptações a solos hidromórficos, entre elas, grande capacidade de estocagem de amido no caule. A maior sinuosidade das células epidérmicas em T. interrupta permite uma alta suculência mantendo o status hidrológico da folha em ambas as estações. Os resultados apresentados, além de agregar informações sobre a biologia das samambaias nos neotrópicos, irão contribuir para a compreensão da dinâmica de ocupação de espécies herbáceas em ambientes alagáveis nas restingas brasileiras

中国碎米蕨类及其相关类群的系统学研究

通过形态学、解剖学、孢粉学、植物地理学及分子系统学等方面的研究，探讨了中国碎米蕨类及其相关类群的系统关系，并对它们的分类进行了修订。 1.解剖学 对碎米蕨类及相关类群36个种的叶表皮特征进行了研究，结果发现该性状对于划分大的类群具有一定的系统学意义。大多数中国蕨科成员如粉背蕨属、旱蕨属和黑心蕨属等连同裸子蕨科中的泽泻蕨属和金毛裸蕨属在叶表皮性状上比较一致。它们之间的亲缘关系较近，是碎米蕨类成员。金粉蕨属、粉叶蕨属、翠蕨属和铁线蕨属与上述类群不同，其上表皮细胞或上下表皮细胞均明显加长，但气孔器仍同碎米蕨类植物一样，为无规则型、极细胞型或腋下细胞型。在所研究的类群中，只有凤尾蕨属和Anopteris的气孔器为聚合型。 2.孢粉学 在光镜和扫描电镜下对中国蕨科、裸子蕨科和凤尾蕨科等83种 (含变种) 植物的孢子进行了观察。根据孢子的颜色、结构和表面纹饰等可将其分成3种类型：大多数中国蕨科成员如粉背蕨属等和裸子蕨科中的泽泻蕨属和金毛裸蕨属的孢子同属第一种类型，颜色较深，表面纹饰由周壁形成。珠蕨属和凤丫蕨属的孢子属第二种类型，颜色较淡，周壁薄，由外壁和周壁共同形成表面纹饰。金粉蕨属、凤尾蕨属、翠蕨属和粉叶蕨属的孢子为第三种类型，颜色较浅，由外壁形成表面纹饰的基本轮廓，具明显的赤道翼。从孢粉学的角度来看，中国蕨科和裸子蕨科都是不自然的。中国蕨属和薄鳞蕨属的孢子形态同粉背蕨属相似，应并入后者。另外，同属新旧世界的种类其孢子纹饰往往有明显的区别, 可能代表了不同的类群。 3.分子系统学 测定了碎米蕨类及相关类群34种植物的rbcL 和trnL-F序列，并结合GenBank上下载的相关资料进行分析。结果发现中国蕨科和裸子蕨科都不是自然类群。在系统树上，Cheilanthes、隐囊蕨属、粉背蕨属、旱蕨属、黑心蕨属等同裸子蕨科中的泽泻蕨属和金毛裸蕨属等聚在一起，构成碎米蕨群。珠蕨属、凤丫蕨属和Llavea则形成另一分支，不是碎米蕨类成员。金粉蕨属在分支图上与南亚的Actiniopteris形成姐妹群，并与凤尾蕨属、粉叶蕨属和翠蕨属等关系近缘，放入凤尾蕨类应更为合适。 系统分析的结果表明，旧世界分布的类群与美洲的同属植物大都关系疏远，如黑心蕨属、金毛裸蕨属和Cheilanthes等。另外，亚洲分布的中国蕨属、粉背蕨属、碎米蕨属、薄鳞蕨属、隐囊蕨属和拟旱蕨属Mildella的成员聚在一起，它们之间的系统关系因为形成了多歧分支而没有得到很好的解决。但是，薄鳞蕨属、中国蕨属和大理碎米蕨等同粉背蕨属的成员聚在一起，并入后者应更为合理。另外，宜昌旱蕨与碎米蕨属的成员关系近缘，支持将前者转入碎米蕨属。 4.植物地理学 碎米蕨类植物的间断分布非常明显。泽泻蕨和戟叶黑心蕨等在形态特征上与美洲的同属种类有明显的区别，可能代表了不同的类群。大多数亚洲碎米蕨类成员如粉背蕨属、中国蕨属和薄鳞蕨属等以中国西南部的横断山区或喜马拉雅为分布中心，可能与喜马拉雅山的隆起有关。 5.分类处理 综合各方面的研究成果，作者认为国产碎米蕨类包括6个属3个群：黑心蕨属、旱蕨属、粉背蕨属、碎米蕨属、拟泽泻蕨属和拟金毛裸蕨属。《中国植物志》中记载的隐囊蕨属、毛旱蕨和旱蕨类成员因其系统学位置不清，暂时作为独立的群处理。 在野外考察和大量标本（包括模式）考证的基础上，对国产碎米蕨类及其相关类群 (特别是粉背蕨属) 进行了修订, 澄清了一些种的分类问题。发现1新种，对1新变种进行了拉丁文描述，使其名称有效。提出新组合5个，另有6种7变种被首次归并。

Sleeping sites, sleeping trees, and sleep-related behaviors of black crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) at Mt. Wuliang, central Yunnan, China

Data on sleep-related behaviors were collected for a group of central Yunnan black crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) at Mt. Wuliang, Yunnan, China from March 2005 to April 2006. Members of the group usually formed four sleeping units (adult male and juvenile, adult female with one semi-dependent black infant, adult female with one dependent yellow infant, and subadult male) spread over different sleeping trees. Individuals or units preferred specific areas to sleep; all sleeping sites were situated in primary forest, mostly (77%) between 2,200 and 2,400 m in elevation. They tended to sleep in the tallest and thickest trees with large crowns on steep slopes and near important food patches. Factors influencing sleeping site selection were (1) tree characteristics, (2) accessibility, and (3) easy escape. Few sleeping trees were used repeatedly by the same or other members of the group. The gibbons entered the sleeping trees on average 128 min before sunset and left the sleeping trees on average 33 min after sunrise. The lag between the first and last individual entering the trees was on average 17.8 min. We suggest that sleep-related behaviors are primarily adaptations to minimize the risk of being detected by predators. Sleeping trees may be chosen to make approach and attack difficult for the predator, and to provide an easy escape route in the dark. In response to cold temperatures in a higher habitat, gibbons usually sit and huddle together during the night, and in the cold season they tend to sleep on ferns and/or orchids.

生态恢复后的千烟洲植物群落种类组成及结构特征

Qianyanzhou(QYZ) Ecological Station established in 1983 with an area of 204 hm~2 is affiliated to the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network.Before 1982,herbs had been dominant,sparsely dotted with shrubs.After 20-year restoration of the vegetation,the vegetation showed significant changes in both forest coverage and species diversity.Forest coverage had increased to 93.3% in 1999 from 0.4% in 1982.The vegetation could be broadly classified into two groups: artificial forest,accounting for the most percent,and natural secondary forest.These two groups could be subdivided into 12 types.Based on the 2003 field work,The authors studied plant community composition and vertical structure.The results were as follows: 1) On the study plots were there about 150 species,of which 100,49,and 47 grew in arbor layer and shrub layer and herb layer,respectively.Of 12 community types,the amount of species in shrub layer was larger than that of other two layers.As to the species richness in the different community types,Liquidambar formosana community showed the highest and Imperata cylindrical var.major community the least.The amount of species in arbor layer of artificial forest was smaller than those of natural Pinus massoniana forest,but no difference in understory.2) Loropetalum chinense,Quercus fabric and Vaccinium bracteatum were dominant shrub species with a wide distribution.Three ferns Woodwardia japonica、Dryopteris atrata and Dicrannepteris dichotoma were dominant herb species.Lianas were sparse,but Milletlia reticulata were found in all forest types.3) Up to now some natural regeneration species,such as Eurya muricata、Quercus fabri、Vaccinium bracteatum、Rhus chinensis、Adinandra bockiana,had grown in the arbor layer of artificial forests.Some herb species,such as Arundinella setosa、Miscanthus floridulus、Isachne globosa、Scirpus triqueter,which were dominant ones in the herb layer before the restoration of vegetation,disappeared now.4) The vertical structure of natural Pinus massoniana community and Liquidambar formosana community showed more complex comparing with artificial forests.For the artificial forests,the conifer and broad-leaves mixed forest had a more complex structure.In both natural Pinus(massoniana) community and Liquidambar formosana community,it was dominated by individuals with height of 3～4 m,while 10～12 m in the artificial forests.

Natural hybridization between genera that diverged from each other approximately 60 million years ago.

A fern from the French Pyrenees-×Cystocarpium roskamianum-is a recently formed intergeneric hybrid between parental lineages that diverged from each other approximately 60 million years ago (mya; 95% highest posterior density: 40.2-76.2 mya). This is an extraordinarily deep hybridization event, roughly akin to an elephant hybridizing with a manatee or a human with a lemur. In the context of other reported deep hybrids, this finding suggests that populations of ferns, and other plants with abiotically mediated fertilization, may evolve reproductive incompatibilities more slowly, perhaps because they lack many of the premating isolation mechanisms that characterize most other groups of organisms. This conclusion implies that major features of Earth's biodiversity-such as the relatively small number of species of ferns compared to those of angiosperms-may be, in part, an indirect by-product of this slower "speciation clock" rather than a direct consequence of adaptive innovations by the more diverse lineages.

Between two fern genomes.

Ferns are the only major lineage of vascular plants not represented by a sequenced nuclear genome. This lack of genome sequence information significantly impedes our ability to understand and reconstruct genome evolution not only in ferns, but across all land plants. Azolla and Ceratopteris are ideal and complementary candidates to be the first ferns to have their nuclear genomes sequenced. They differ dramatically in genome size, life history, and habit, and thus represent the immense diversity of extant ferns. Together, this pair of genomes will facilitate myriad large-scale comparative analyses across ferns and all land plants. Here we review the unique biological characteristics of ferns and describe a number of outstanding questions in plant biology that will benefit from the addition of ferns to the set of taxa with sequenced nuclear genomes. We explain why the fern clade is pivotal for understanding genome evolution across land plants, and we provide a rationale for how knowledge of fern genomes will enable progress in research beyond the ferns themselves.

Phytochrome diversity in green plants and the origin of canonical plant phytochromes.

Phytochromes are red/far-red photoreceptors that play essential roles in diverse plant morphogenetic and physiological responses to light. Despite their functional significance, phytochrome diversity and evolution across photosynthetic eukaryotes remain poorly understood. Using newly available transcriptomic and genomic data we show that canonical plant phytochromes originated in a common ancestor of streptophytes (charophyte algae and land plants). Phytochromes in charophyte algae are structurally diverse, including canonical and non-canonical forms, whereas in land plants, phytochrome structure is highly conserved. Liverworts, hornworts and Selaginella apparently possess a single phytochrome, whereas independent gene duplications occurred within mosses, lycopods, ferns and seed plants, leading to diverse phytochrome families in these clades. Surprisingly, the phytochrome portions of algal and land plant neochromes, a chimera of phytochrome and phototropin, appear to share a common origin. Our results reveal novel phytochrome clades and establish the basis for understanding phytochrome functional evolution in land plants and their algal relatives.

An Exploration into Fern Genome Space.

Ferns are one of the few remaining major clades of land plants for which a complete genome sequence is lacking. Knowledge of genome space in ferns will enable broad-scale comparative analyses of land plant genes and genomes, provide insights into genome evolution across green plants, and shed light on genetic and genomic features that characterize ferns, such as their high chromosome numbers and large genome sizes. As part of an initial exploration into fern genome space, we used a whole genome shotgun sequencing approach to obtain low-density coverage (∼0.4X to 2X) for six fern species from the Polypodiales (Ceratopteris, Pteridium, Polypodium, Cystopteris), Cyatheales (Plagiogyria), and Gleicheniales (Dipteris). We explore these data to characterize the proportion of the nuclear genome represented by repetitive sequences (including DNA transposons, retrotransposons, ribosomal DNA, and simple repeats) and protein-coding genes, and to extract chloroplast and mitochondrial genome sequences. Such initial sweeps of fern genomes can provide information useful for selecting a promising candidate fern species for whole genome sequencing. We also describe variation of genomic traits across our sample and highlight some differences and similarities in repeat structure between ferns and seed plants.

The origin and evolution of phototropins.

Plant phototropism, the ability to bend toward or away from light, is predominantly controlled by blue-light photoreceptors, the phototropins. Although phototropins have been well-characterized in Arabidopsis thaliana, their evolutionary history is largely unknown. In this study, we complete an in-depth survey of phototropin homologs across land plants and algae using newly available transcriptomic and genomic data. We show that phototropins originated in an ancestor of Viridiplantae (land plants + green algae). Phototropins repeatedly underwent independent duplications in most major land-plant lineages (mosses, lycophytes, ferns, and seed plants), but remained single-copy genes in liverworts and hornworts-an evolutionary pattern shared with another family of photoreceptors, the phytochromes. Following each major duplication event, the phototropins differentiated in parallel, resulting in two specialized, yet partially overlapping, functional forms that primarily mediate either low- or high-light responses. Our detailed phylogeny enables us to not only uncover new phototropin lineages, but also link our understanding of phototropin function in Arabidopsis with what is known in Adiantum and Physcomitrella (the major model organisms outside of flowering plants). We propose that the convergent functional divergences of phototropin paralogs likely contributed to the success of plants through time in adapting to habitats with diverse and heterogeneous light conditions.

Managing alcohol related aggression in the emergency department (Part II)

Violence in the emergency department (ED) is a global problem. In our first paper, we highlighted the potential psychological effects of alcohol intoxication, the literatures discussion of alcohol related violence in the emergency department and the importance of developing positive nurse/service user relationships. In this second paper, we discuss personal and organisational strategies clinical nursing staff may consider appropriate to minimise the risk of assault when caring for service users projecting alcohol related aggression.