Pollen profiles from three former lakes in the Lake Garda area

1. Late glacial and postglacial sediments from three former lakes in the Lake Garda area (Southern Alps) were investigated. 2. The pollen diagram from Bondone (1550 m) shows an older phase rich in NAP. A younger one corresponds with the Younger Dryas time according to two radiocarbon determinations. In the Preboreal no climatic deterioration could be found. 3. At first plants, which are nowadays typical for snow-ground, pioneer and dwarf shrub associations, immigrated into the surroundings of Bondone. In Alleröd times larch and pine appeared as the first trees. At the beginning of the Preboreal dense forest existed in that region. During the Alleröd timber line was at about 1500 m. 4. In the pollen diagrams from Saltarino (194 m) and Fiavè (654 m) an oldest period rich in NAP is followed by two stadial and two interstadial phases. Tree birches and larches immigrated during the oldest interstadial phase. 5. In the case of Saltarino and Fiavè only a preliminary dating could be made. A correlation seems to be possible with diagrams published by Zoller as well as with the diagram of Bondone. Discrepances in dating, which arise then, are discussed. According to the two possibilities of dating the youngest stadial is synchronous either with the so-called Piottino stadial or the Younger Dryas time. Consequently the oldest interstadial phase of Saltarino corresponds either with the Bölling or with a pre-Bölling interstadial. The last possibility seems to be more probable. 6. In the southern part of the Lake Garda area reforestation was preceded by a long shrub phase mainly with Juniperus. At about 650 m there was a period with Pinus mugo and only with a small amount of Juniperus before reforestation. A phase with Betula nana well known from areas north of the Alps could nowhere be found. 7. In the area under study larch appeared as the first tree. Lateron it has been the most important constituent of the forests near timber line. Birch, which plays an important role as a pioneer tree in Denmark - for instance at the transition of the pollen zones III/IV - as well as in Southern Germany during Bölling time, was of less importance at the southern border of the Alps. In that area the spreading of Pinus occurred very early causing dense forests. 8. During the last stadial phase (probably Younger Dryas time) dense forests with Pinus and Larix existed at 650 m. In the lower part of the Lake Garda area, however, both thermophilous trees as Quercus and herbs frequently occurred. This leads to the conclusion that during this time tree growth was limited by dryness in lower altitudes of the border of the Southern Alps. Pinus and Juniperus, however, do not show higher values in this period, a fact which cannot yet be explained. 9. A list of plants, which were found in the sediments, is compiled. Helodium lanatum, Dictamnus albus, Mercurialis cf. ovata, Buxus, Cerinthe cf. minor, Onosma, Anthericum and Asphodelus albus are findings, which are of special interest for the history of the flora of that region.

中国柳叶藓科植物的研究－分类、区系和生态

柳叶藓科（Amblystegiaceae）是侧蒴藓类中一个较大的科，世界报导有 39 属，约 300 余种。由于其配子体特征受环境影响较大，其属种的分类位置历来存有争论。中国记载有柳叶藓科 115 个分类单位，己知 23 属，67 种，12 变种，3 变型（Redfearn, et al. 1996），其记录和标本鉴定比较混乱。因此，对中国柳叶藓科全面系统的分类、区系和生态研究，对深入了解中国苔藓植物多样性及特点有重要的科学意义。作者在大量文献查阅和考证后，对国外 9 个主要苔藓植物标本馆的有关中国柳叶藓科 47 份模式标本和标本 300 余份，国内 6 个主要标本馆的 3，000余份标本进行了全面系统的形态解剖学和分类学研究，对孢子和蒴齿的形态特征进行了扫描电镜观察。并采用等级聚类分析方法，对其属种间的系统关系、地理分布特点和区系成分定量研究。同时，在国内首次开展了藓类专科的生态学研究，在吉林长白山、黑龙江五营、辽宁白石砬子和医巫闾山保护区进行样方调查，对样方以及柳叶藓科植物与环境因子的关系进行了典范对应分析。研究的主要结果有：1. 对中国柳叶藓科进行系统分类的结果是共记录 19 属 46 种 5 变种。对每一分类单位给予形态特征描述和绘图，并利用 Arcview 软件绘制其中国分布图。发现中国新分布记录植物 3 种，1 变种：圆叶湿原藓 Calliergon megalophyllum Mikut, 毛叶镰刀藓 Drepanocladus trichophyllus (Warnst.) Podp, 细肋镰刀藓 Drepanoclaldus tenuinervis Kop. 和牛角藓宽肋变种 Cratoneuron filicinum var. atrovirens (Brid.) Ochyra。归并 Campylium amblystegioides Broth. (=Isopterygium minutirameum), Leptodictyum serrulatum Broth. (=Eurhychium pulchellum), Drepanophyllaria cuspidarioides C. Muell. ( = Hygroamblystegium tenax), Amblystegiella yuennanensis Broth. (= Platydictya jungermannioides) 和 Amblystegium schesianum C. Muell., Hygroamblystegium ramulosum Dixon, Cratoneuron longicosatatum Bai X.-L. (Cratoneuron filicinum) 7 个新同物异名，并纠正 9 个前人错误记录。2. 电镜扫描观察结果孢子大都近球形，通常无萌发孔，具近极薄壁区。纹饰皆由周壁形成，一般呈规则或不规则颗粒状、疣状或瘤状，区别在于孢子大小，颗粒或瘤或疣的大小、高度以及密集程度等。孢蒴多为长柱形，弯曲，只有三洋藓的孢蒴形态变化较大。藓齿两层为灰藓型蒴齿。齿毛数量和发育程度各异。总的来说，柳叶藓科植物的孢子体特征在属间或种间差别不大。3. 系统关系的等级聚类分析结果支持了近年来对柳叶藓科植物修订的某些属的概念。如传统上定义很广的细湿藓属（包括狭义的细湿藓属、嗜湿藓属和偏叶藓属）和水灰藓属在聚类树状图中常不聚合在一起。说明了广义细湿藓属的水灰藓属不是一个很自然的分类类群，而应该分为更细的属。柳叶藓属、湿柳藓属和薄网藓属的种类明显常聚在一起，位置较近，且比较稳定，可以同归于柳叶藓属。毛叶镰刀藓与范氏藓和大范氏藓的关系较近，说明适合将毛叶镰刀藓归并入范氏藓属中，范氏藓属和湿原藓属的较近。4. 对中国柳叶藓科的地理分布和区系成分的聚类分析表明，该科为典型的泛北极分布类型，大多分布于北半球的温带和寒带，59％为欧亚美共有种，14％为东亚特有成分，其中 8％ 为中国特有成分。属种的分布特点主要是，牛角藓属、柳叶藓属、细湿藓属、嗜湿藓属、三洋藓属和水灰藓属的中国分布比较广泛，大湿原藓属和偏叶藓属主要分布在东北地区和西南高山地区，而湿原藓属、范氏藓属和镰刀藓属则主要分布在东北地区。总的来说，气候较为寒冷的东北地区是中国柳叶藓科植物的主要分布区。西南地区的种类也较为丰富，是柳叶藓科植物的中国特有属种的分化中心。其他地区的柳叶藓样植物大多是分布在高山地区，表现出地区商的不平衡性。5. 对东北地区柳叶藓科植物的生态调查和典范对应分析研究进一步说明，柳叶藓科多分布于阴湿或水生生境，喜中性的酸碱条件。湿原藓属、范氏藓属、和镰也藓属植物常分布于沼泽，其中范氏藓属和镰藓属的一些种类常沉水或半沉水生长，而其他种类能分布于相对较干燥或季节性积水的地方。牛角藓属和水灰藓属植物常分布于溪流中，牛角藓属常分布于泉水或溪流的源头，而水灰藓属则喜流动的溪流。细湿藓属，柳叶藓属和嗜湿藓属植物的生境较为干燥，既能在林下土生、石生或树干生，也能分布于较为潮湿的生境。三洋藓常见于森林林下，在有些开阔地带也能生长分布，其生境范围明显较柳叶藓科其他各类为广，是唯一能适应陆生环境的柳叶藓科植物。对柳叶藓科植物与其环境因子的进行的典范对应分析结果表明，所研究的 26 种柳叶藓科植物大部分分布于水生环境，因其在排序图中与基质含水量接近。与基质含沙量、草本层郁蔽的相关也较大。其中水生环境下的 19 种柳叶藓科植物与水流速度和水体 pH 值关系较密切。

Miocene flora and paleoclimate estimations of Schrotzburg, South Germany

We present a detailed palaeoclimate analysis of the Middle Miocene (uppermost Badenian-lowermost Sarmatian) Schrotzburg locality in S Germany, based on the fossil macro- and micro-flora, using four different methods for the estimation of palaeoclimate parameters: the coexistence approach (CA), leaf margin analysis (LMA), the Climate-Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program (CLAMP), as well as a recently developed multivariate leaf physiognomic approach based on an European calibration dataset (ELPA). Considering results of all methods used, the following palaeoclimate estimates seem to be most likely: mean annual temperature ~15-16°C (MAT), coldest month mean temperature ~7°C (CMMT), warmest month mean temperature between 25 and 26°C, and mean annual precipiation ~1,300 mm, although CMMT values may have been colder as indicated by the disappearance of the crocodile Diplocynodon and the temperature thresholds derived from modern alligators. For most palaeoclimatic parameters, estimates derived by CLAMP significantly differ from those derived by most other methods. With respect to the consistency of the results obtained by CA, LMA and ELPA, it is suggested that for the Schrotzburg locality CLAMP is probably less reliable than most other methods. A possible explanation may be attributed to the correlation between leaf physiognomy and climate as represented by the CLAMP calibration data set which is largely based on extant floras from N America and E Asia and which may be not suitable for application to the European Neogene. All physiognomic methods used here were affected by taphonomic biasses. Especially the number of taxa had a great influence on the reliability of the palaeoclimate estimates. Both multivariate leaf physiognomic approaches are less influenced by such biasses than the univariate LMA. In combination with previously published results from the European and Asian Neogene, our data suggest that during the Neogene in Eurasia CLAMP may produce temperature estimates, which are systematically too cold as compared to other evidence. This pattern, however, has to be further investigated using additional palaeofloras.

Vegetation cover and radiocarbon dates of palsa and peat plateaus in the Hudson Bay Lowlands

The Holocene development of a treed palsa bog and a peat plateau bog, located near the railroad to Churchill in the Hudson Bay Lowlands of northeastern Manitoba, was traced using peat macrofossil and radiocarbon analyses. Both sites first developed as wet rich fens through paludification of forested uplands around 6800 cal. yr BP. Results show a 20th-century age for the palsa formation and repeated periods of permafrost aggradation and collapse at the peat plateau site during the late Holocene. This timing of permafrost dynamics corroborates well with that inferred from previous studies on other permafrost peatlands in the same region. The developmental history of the palsa and peat plateau bogs is similar to that of adjacent permafrost-free fens, except for the specific frost heave and collapse features associated with permafrost dynamics. Permafrost aggradation and degradation is ascribed to regional climatic, local autogenic and other factors. Particularly the very recent palsa development can be assessed in terms of climatic changes as inferred from meteorological data and surface hydrological changes related to construction of the railroad. The results indicate that cold years with limited snowfall as well as altered drainage patterns associated with infrastructure development may have contributed to the recent palsa formation.

Investigations on Fucus vesiculosus and Fucus serratus at outer Kiel Fjord over one year (August 2012 - July 2013)

Macroalgae, especially perennial species, are exposed to a seasonally variable fouling pressure. It was hypothesized that macroalgae regulate their antifouling defense to fouling pressure. Over one year, the macrofouling pressure and the chemical anti-macrofouling defense strength of the brown algae Fucus vesiculosus and Fucus serratus were assessed with monthly evaluation. The anti-macrofouling defense was assessed by means of surface-extracted Fucus metabolites tested at near-natural concentrations in a novel in situ bioassay. Additionally, the mannitol content of both Fucus species was determined to assess resource availability for defense production. The surface chemistry of both Fucus species exhibited seasonal variability in attractiveness to Amphibalanus improvisus and Mytilus edulis. Of this variability, 50-60% is explained by a sinusoidal model. Only F. vesiculosus extracts originating from the spring and summer significantly deterred settlement of A. improvisus. The strength of macroalgal antifouling defense did not correlate either with in situ macrofouling pressure or with measured mannitol content, which, however, were never depleted.

Plant species, biomass and environmental characteristics of relevés along the North America Arctic bioclimate gradient

Question: How do interactions between the physical environment and biotic properties of vegetation influence the formation of small patterned-ground features along the Arctic bioclimate gradient? Location: At 68° to 78°N: six locations along the Dalton Highway in arctic Alaska and three in Canada (Banks Island, Prince Patrick Island and Ellef Ringnes Island). Methods: We analysed floristic and structural vegetation, biomass and abiotic data (soil chemical and physical parameters, the n-factor [a soil thermal index] and spectral information [NDVI, LAI]) on 147 microhabitat releves of zonalpatterned-ground features. Using mapping, table analysis (JUICE) and ordination techniques (NMDS). Results: Table analysis using JUICE and the phi-coefficient to identify diagnostic species revealed clear groups of diagnostic plant taxa in four of the five zonal vegetation complexes. Plant communities and zonal complexes were generally well separated in the NMDS ordination. The Alaska and Canada communities were spatially separated in the ordination because of different glacial histories and location in separate floristic provinces, but there was no single controlling environmental gradient. Vegetation structure, particularly that of bryophytes and total biomass, strongly affected thermal properties of the soils. Patterned-ground complexes with the largest thermal differential between the patterned-ground features and the surrounding vegetation exhibited the clearest patterned-ground morphologies.