Climatic triggers and phenological responses in Isoetes cangae (Isoetaceae), an endemic quillwort from Amazon Iron Rocky Outcrops, Brazil

The nocturnal activity of bushy-tailed wood rats (Neotoma cinerea) was monitored for two breeding seasons (1993 and 1994) in the Canadian Rockies. Radiotelemetry was used under three levels of moonlight to assess two measures of nocturnal activity: (i) the proportion of animals crossing rocky outcrops and entering the surrounding forest to forage, search for mates, or both, and (ii) the distance moved from the den site while in the forest. Males and females exhibited significant differences among moonlight levels, with greater activity on nights of intermediate-level moonlight and less activity on nights with bright or dark moonlight. There was no difference in the proportions of males and females active at any moonlight level. The distances moved from the den did not differ among moonlight levels for either males or females. Having traversed the rocks and entered the forest, individuals moved similar distances regardless of light level. These results suggest that wood rats respond to moonlight only when making the decision to cross rocks and enter the forest. This behaviour presumably serves to counteract the increased risk of predation on bright nights.

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Cross-species Transcriptomes Reveal Species-specific and Shared Molecular Adaptations for Plants Development on Iron-rich Rocky Outcrops Soils

10.21203/rs.3.rs-929174/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mariana Costa Dias ◽

Cecílio Caldeira ◽

Markus Gastauer ◽

Silvio Ramos ◽

Guilherme Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Circadian Rhythm ◽

Differential Expression ◽

Native Species ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Light Stimulus ◽

Differential Expression Analysis ◽

Common Mechanism ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Rocky Outcrops ◽

Species Specific

Abstract BackgroundCanga is the Brazilian term for the savanna-like vegetation harboring several endemic species on iron-rich rocky outcrops, usually considered for mining activities. Parkia platycephala Benth. and Stryphnodendron pulcherrimum (Willd.) Hochr. naturally occur in the cangas of Serra dos Carajás (eastern Amazonia, Brazil) and the surrounding forest, indicating high phenotypic plasticity. The morphological and physiological mechanisms of the plants’ establishment in the canga environment are well studied, but the molecular adaptative responses are still unknown. We aimed to identify molecular mechanisms that allow the establishment of these plants in the canga environment.ResultsPlants were grown in canga and forest substrates collected in the Carajás Mineral Province. RNA was extracted from pooled leaf tissue, and RNA-seq paired-end reads were assembled into representative transcriptomes for P. platycephala and S. pulcherrimum containing 31,728 and 31,311 primary transcripts, respectively. We identified both species-specific and core molecular responses in plants grown in the canga substrate using differential expression analyses. In the species-specific analysis, we identified 1,112 and 838 differentially expressed genes for P. platycephala and S. pulcherrimum, respectively. Enrichment analyses showed unique biological processes and metabolic pathways affected for each species. Comparative differential expression analysis was based on shared single-copy orthologs. The overall pattern of ortholog expression was species-specific. Even so, almost 300 altered genes were identified between plants in canga and forest substrates, responding the same way in both species. The genes were functionally associated with the response to light stimulus and the circadian rhythm pathway.ConclusionsPlants possess species-specific adaptative responses to cope with the substrates. Our results also suggest that plants adapted to both canga and forest environments can adjust the circadian rhythm in a substrate-dependent manner. The circadian clock gene modulation might be a central mechanism regulating the plants’ development in the canga substrate in the studied legume species. The mechanism may be shared as a common mechanism to abiotic stress compensation in other native species.

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The confused taxonomy of Pseudolaelia irwiniana (Orchidaceae) with two new synonyms

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.482.3.9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 482 (3) ◽

pp. 297-299

Author(s):

CASSIO VAN DEN BERG ◽

LUIZ MENINI NETO

Keyword(s):

Rio De Janeiro ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

Campos Rupestres ◽

Espírito Santo ◽

New Synonyms ◽

Eastern Brazil ◽

Endemic Genera ◽

Rocky Outcrops ◽

Phylogenetic Affinities ◽

Espirito Santo

Pseudolaelia Campos Porto & Brade (1935: 209) is a small orchid genus in subtribe Laeliinae. Its phylogenetic affinities place it near several small, endemic genera which constitute an isolated lineage in eastern Brazil, together with Adamantinia Van den Berg & Gonçalves (2004: 231), Constantia Barbosa Rodrigues (1877: 78), Isabelia Barbosa Rodrigues (1877: 75) and Leptotes Lindley (1833: t. 1625). All these genera have comparatively fewer species within the subtribe, and the main centre of distribution are the Brazilian Campos Rupestres, and other granitic rocky outcrops in the Brazilian States of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. Also, several species in Pseudolaelia, Constantia and Leptotes are epiphytes on Vellozia sp., considered a very specialized type of epiphytism (van den Berg et al. 2006, Porembsky 2008).

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Polinização de Vellozia candida Mikan (Velloziaceae) nos Afloramentos Rochosos do Costão de Itacoatiara, Niterói, RJ: Um Caso de Melitofilia em Inselbergue do Brasil

EntomoBrasilis ◽

10.12741/ebrasilis.v5i1.164 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 29-32

Author(s):

Fábio Castro Verçoza

Keyword(s):

Floral Biology ◽

Pollination Ecology ◽

Reproductive Phenology ◽

Flowering Period ◽

Rock Outcrops ◽

Floral Visitors ◽

Rocky Outcrops ◽

And Behavior ◽

Effective Pollinator

Este trabalho apresenta dados sobre a fenologia reprodutiva, a biologia floral e a ecologia da polinização de Vellozia candida Mikan (Velloziaceae) nos afloramentos rochosos do Costão de Itacoatiara, Niterói, RJ. Uma população de dez indivíduos da espécie foi estudada nessa localidade no período de junho de 2006 a dezembro de 2008. Foram realizadas observações sobre período de floração, morfologia, cor e odor das flores, ocorrência e comportamento dos visitantes florais. A floração de V. candida ocorreu de setembro a dezembro nos dois anos consecutivos do estudo. As flores são brancas, nectaríferas e exalam odor suave e adocicado. Reúnem características típicas da síndrome da melitofilia e foram intensamente visitadas por três espécies de abelhas. Xylocopa ordinaria Smith se destacou como o polinizador efetivo da espécie estudada. Por ser uma abelha de grande porte e robusta, durante a coleta de néctar e de pólen, deposita este último no estigma, polinizando as flores. Pollination of Vellozia candida Mikan (Velloziaceae) on Rock Outcrops of Costão de Itacoatiara, Niterói, RJ: A Case of Mellitophily Inselberg BrazilAbstract. This paper presents data on the reproductive phenology, floral biology and pollination ecology of Vellozia candida Mikan (Velloziaceae) on rocky outcrops of Costão Itacoatiara, Niterói, RJ. A population of ten individuals of the species was studied in this location from June 2006 to December 2008. Observations were made on flowering period, morphology, color and odor of flowers, the occurrence and behavior of floral visitors. The flowering of V. candida occurred from September to December in two successive years of study. The flowers are white, exude nectar and sweet odor. Meet typical syndrome melitophyly and were intensively visited by three species of bees. Xylocopa ordinaria Smith stood out as the effective pollinator of the species studied. Being a bee large and robust, while collecting nectar and pollen, the latter deposited on the stigma, pollinating the flowers.

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Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae on rocky outcrops in the Agreste Mesoregion of the Paraíba State, Brazil

Hoehnea ◽

10.1590/2236-8906-51/2014 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 345-365 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Thaynara de Sousa Silva ◽

Leonardo Pessoa Felix ◽

José Iranildo Miranda de Melo

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Geographic Distribution ◽

Distribution Data ◽

Transition Area ◽

Rocky Outcrops ◽

Taxonomic Studies

ABSTRACT The present study consists of the floristics-taxonomic survey of Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae on rocky outcrops located at an Atlantic Forest-Caatinga transition area in Paraíba State, northeast of Brazil, in order to provide data for the implementation of the biota conservation’s policies, especially of the flora associated to rocky environments of Paraíba State, given that the taxonomic studies focusing on such families in this state are still incipient. During the study, ten species in six genera of Bromeliaceae and six species in five genera of Orchidaceae were recorded. The treatment includes keys for recognition of the species of families, morphological descriptions, illustrations, geographic distribution data, and comments on the phenology of the species.

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Degree of threat to the biological diversity in the Ilha Grande State Park (RJ) and guidelines for conservation

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/s1519-69842002000300001 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 375-385 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

C. J. R. ALHO ◽

M. SCHNEIDER ◽

L. A. VASCONCELLOS

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Forest Growth ◽

Human Occupation ◽

Herbaceous Vegetation ◽

Serra Do Mar ◽

Rocky Outcrops ◽

Mountain Chain ◽

Landscape Units

The State Park of Ilha Grande is only a part (5,594 hectares) of the entire island (19,300 hectares) which is located off the south coast of Rio de Janeiro state, between the cities of Mangaratiba and Angra dos Reis. Approximately half of the Park area (47%) is covered by dense Atlantic forest. The secondary forest growth is in a process of ecological succession close to attaining maturity (43%) and the remaining part (10%) is composed of human-altered areas (1%), rocky outcrops with herbaceous vegetation (7%), mangroves and beaches (2%). The fauna is well represented but already shows signs of degradation with introduced species. The analysis of the degree of threat has shown that the dense forest habitat has a relatively stable status of conservation while the secondary forest, the mangrove and the herbaceous vegetation on rocky outcrops (and their fauna) are categorized as vulnerable. The area altered by human occupation is considered threatened. Since the coastal area where Ilha Grande is located is well known for its beautiful scenery (known as the green coast, because of the contrast between the ocean and the Atlantic forest covering the Serra do Mar mountain chain). There is a strong possibility for tourism to become the means in which to achieve economic sustainability for conservation. Contradictorily, tourism is also the major threat to local biodiversity and its landscape units. Because tourism is not organized and controlled, during high season the numbers grow above local capacity, giving rise to a proliferation of hotels, guesthouses and camping grounds. The resulting untreated open sewage, random garbage disposal and other harmful activities form the major threats to biodiversity.

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Bryophyte richness of soil islands on rocky outcrops is not driven by island size or habitat heterogeneity

Acta Botanica Brasilica ◽

10.1590/0102-33062017abb0281 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 161-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Joan Bruno Silva ◽

Julia Caram Sfair ◽

Nivea Dias dos Santos ◽

Kátia Cavalcanti Pôrto

Keyword(s):

Habitat Heterogeneity ◽

Island Size ◽

Rocky Outcrops

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[Beehive] Villages of North Syria

Antiquity ◽

10.1017/s0003598x00025503 ◽

1955 ◽

Vol 29 (113) ◽

pp. 21-24

Author(s):

Paul W. Copeland

Keyword(s):

Red Clay ◽

The West ◽

The North ◽

Western Concept ◽

Distinctive Type ◽

Rocky Outcrops

Peculiar to the red clay plain of northwest Syria are the ‘beehive’ villages called ‘Campo di Melle’ by the early Venetian and Genoese traders. The characteristic beehive name and shape is a purely Western concept as the local beehive is a small mud cube. These village houses, built of mud brick, are ideally adapted to their environment ; they are warm in winter and cool in summer. The villages cluster about ancient ‘tells’ or dot the plains from Aleppo south to Homs, occupying a total area of roughly thirty by one hundred and fifty miles (PLATES v and VI). To the north and east this distinctive type of building gives way to the square mud brick house with flat mud roof supported on poles and brush, while to the west the rocky outcrops of the Lebanon range provide an easily worked stone for houses and barns.

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Parasitism by Helminths in Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Lacertilia: Tropiduridae) in an Area of Rocky Outcrops in Minas Gerais State, Southeastern Brazil

Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.1670/68-03a ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 736-741 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Angélica F. Fontes ◽

Joaquim J. Vicente ◽

Mara C. Kiefer ◽

Monique Van Sluys

Keyword(s):

Minas Gerais ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Minas Gerais State ◽

Rocky Outcrops

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A reconnaissance marine geophysical survey in Alexandria, Egypt, for the detection of ancient shipwrecks and other traces of human activity

Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece ◽

10.12681/bgsg.17222 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 1325

Author(s):

Γ. ΠΑΠΑΘΕΟΔΩΡΟΥ ◽

Α. ΣΤΕΦΑΤΟΣ ◽

Μ. ΓΕΡΑΓΑ ◽

Α. ΧΑΛΑΡΗ ◽

Δ. ΧΡΙΣΤΟΔΟΥΛΟΥ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Depth ◽

Geophysical Survey ◽

Geometrical Shape ◽

Marine Geology ◽

Side Scan Sonar ◽

Corrected Image ◽

Rocky Outcrops ◽

Loose Sediments ◽

Sandy Sediments ◽

The University

A detailed marine geophysical survey was planned and carried out in the coastal zone of Alexandria (Egypt), by the Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography of the University of Patras in co-operation with the Hellenic Institute of Ancient and Medieval Alexandrian Studies. The survey aimed to the detailed mapping of the geomorphological and textural features of the seafloor and the detection and recognition of targets, which may to represent wrecks or man-made structures. The following equipment were used: (i) an EG&G260 corrected image side scan sonar, (ii) a Remote Operated Vehicle (R.O.V) Benthos MKII and (iii) a Trimble 4000 Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). The study of the sonar data has shown that the seafloor is covered by rocky outcrops and loose sediments. The rocky outcrops are layered and cover about 75% of the surveyed zone. The rest of the seafloor is covered by sandy sediments. The sonar survey identified a large number of potentially interesting targets (e.g. shipwrecks) on the sandy seafloor. These targets are located in four isolated areas. The detection and the recognition of the targets is complicated by the presence of cohesionless organic mud of anthropogenic origin The sonar survey has shown the presence of elongated features, which are perpendicular to the Alexandria's shoreline and parallel to the Cape Lochias. These elongated features are detected on sandy seafloor in water depth of about 5 to 8 m, have a maximum depth of about 135 m and a width ranging from 5 to 20 m. At least at one site, two of these features cross each other at a water depth of about 6 m. The visual inspection of the elongated features reveals that consist of well-shaped limestone blocks. The areal extension, the size and the geometrical shape of the elongated features, support the suggestion that some of them may be related to manmade structures.

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