scholarly journals Diversity and conservation status of lichens and allied fungi in the Greater Toronto Area: results from four years of the Ontario BioBlitz

2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
pp. 394-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Troy McMullin ◽  
Katherine Drotos ◽  
David Ireland ◽  
Hanna Dorval
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
North American ◽  
General Public ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Chemical Analyses ◽  
Biological Surveys ◽  
Greater Toronto Area ◽  
Lichen Diversity ◽  
First Time

Bioblitzes are typically 24-hour biological surveys of a defined region carried out by taxonomic specialists, citizen scientists, and the general public. The largest in Canada is the Ontario BioBlitz, an annual event held in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Between 2013 and 2016, we examined the feasibility of including lichens and allied fungi in the Ontario BioBlitz. These taxa are often overlooked, understudied, and taxonomically difficult. We completed a bioblitz in each of the four major watersheds in the GTA and recorded 138 species in 72 genera which, combined with all previous collections, totals 180 species in 88 genera in the area. Thirteen of the species we collected are provincially ranked as S1 (critically imperilled), S2 (imperilled), or S3 (vulnerable). We collected Lecanora carpinea for the first time in Ontario. Our results provide a baseline list of GTA lichens that can be used for monitoring. This is one of the first detailed lichen surveys of a major North American urban area and it demonstrates that rapid bioblitz surveys are proficient in capturing lichen diversity despite their inconspicuous nature and the advanced microscopy and chemical analyses required for their identification. 

scholarly journals Lichen biodiversity and conservation status in the Copeland Forest Resources Management Area: a lichen-rich second-growth forest in southern Ontario

2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 240 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Troy McMullin ◽  
James C. Lendemer
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Forest Resources ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Lichen Diversity ◽  
Second Growth ◽  
Management Area ◽  
Forest Resources Management ◽  
First Time

Southern Ontario is the most densely populated region in Canada. As a result, ubanization, industrialization, and agriculture are extensive. Few ecosystems in the region have been unaltered, and second-growth forests now dominate the remaining natural landscape. To better understand the lichen diversity in these second-growth forests, we inventoried 24 distinct vegetation communites in the Copeland Forest Resources Management Area (1780 ha) located between Barrie and Orillia in September and October 2011, recording 154 species in 79 genera. One species, Lecidea sarcogynoides, was collected for the first time in Canada and is reported for the first time in North America; one additional species, Micarea micrococca, was collected for the first time in Ontario and is reported for the first time in Canada; three species that have previously been collected in Ontario — Bellemerea cinereorufescens, Phlyctis speirea, and Xanthoparmelia angustiphylla — are reported for the first time in the province; and Candelariella lutella was collected and is reported for the second time in Ontario and the third time in Canada. In addition, six species with a provincial status rank of S1 (critically imperilled) or S2 (imperilled) were located: Arthonia byssacea, Arthonia ruana, Chaenothecopsis pusiola, Cresponea chloroconia, Pachyphiale fagicola, and Placynthiella uliginosa. Our results show that second-growth forests can be important refugia for lichen diversity. The majority of the lichen diversity within the Copeland Forest was contained in a small number of sites (6 of 24). This suggests that management strategies should integrate lichen diversity by targeting species-rich areas. We found that sites with a high variation in: canopy closure, tree species, tree age, moisture, and the presence of snags had the highest lichen diversity. Forest managers in southern Ontario can use our results to identify species-rich areas on their properties.

More Christian Apocrypha

2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
Tony Burke
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
North American ◽  
English Language ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
University Of Edinburgh ◽  
The University ◽  
First Time ◽  
Medieval Christianity

Scholars interested in the Christian Apocrypha (CA) typically appeal to CA collections when in need of primary sources. But many of these collections limit themselves to material believed to have been written within the first to fourth centuries CE. As a result a large amount of non-canonical Christian texts important for the study of ancient and medieval Christianity have been neglected. The More Christian Apocrypha Project will address this neglect by providing a collection of new editions (some for the first time) of these texts for English readers. The project is inspired by the More Old Testament Pseudepigrapha Project headed by Richard Bauckham and Jim Davila from the University of Edinburgh. Like the MOTP, the MCAP is envisioned as a supplement to an earlier collection of texts—in this case J. K. Elliott’s The Apocryphal New Testament (Oxford 1991), the most recent English-language CA collection (but now almost two decades old). The texts to be included are either absent in Elliott or require significant revision. Many of the texts have scarcely been examined in over a century and are in dire need of new examination. One of the goals of the project is to spotlight the abilities and achievements of English (i.e., British and North American) scholars of the CA, so that English readers have access to material that has achieved some exposure in French, German, and Italian collections.

Dwindling status of Epimedium Elatum (Morren & Decne) and its geographical distribution in Kashmir Himalaya, India

2018 ◽  
pp. 47-52
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plant ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Culture Techniques ◽  
Kashmir Himalayas ◽  
Near Future ◽  
First Time ◽  
Tissue Culture Techniques

Epimedium elatum (Morren & Decne) of family Berberidaceace is a rare perennial medicinal plant, endemic to high altitude forests of Northwestern Himalayas in India. Ethnobotanically, it has been used as an ingredient for treatment of bone-joint disorders, impotence and kidney disorders in Kashmir Himalayas. Phytochemically, it is rich in Epimedin ABC and Icariin; all of these have been demonstrated to possess remarkable biological activities like PDE-5 inhibition (treatment of erectile dysfunction), anticancer, antiosteoporosis antioxidant and antiviral properties. The present investigation reports its traditional usage, comprehensive distribution and conservation status from twenty ecogeographical regions in Kashmir Himalayas, India. The species was reported from Gurez valley for the first time. Numerous threats like excessive grazing, deforestration, habitat fragmentation, tourism encroachment, landslides and excessive exploitation have decreased its natural populations in most of the surveyed habitats. Consequently, its existence may become threatened in near future if timely conservation steps are not taken immediately by concerned stakeholders involved in medicinal plant research. Moreover, use of plant tissue culture techniques is recommended for development of its in vitro propagation protocols. Therefore, introduction of this medicinal plant in botanical gardens, protected sites and development of monitoring programmes are needed for its immediate conservation in Northwestern Himalayas, India.

The first lichenological survey in Koryakia (Northern Kamchatka, Russia) — the last unexplored part of Beringia

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Himelbrant ◽  
I. S. Stepanchikova ◽  
T. Ahti ◽  
V. Yu. Neshataeva
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Russian Far East ◽  
Far East ◽  
Kamchatka Peninsula ◽  
Lichen Diversity ◽  
Magadan Region ◽  
Specific Species ◽  
First Time ◽  
Lichen Flora

The first lichenological inventory in Koryakia has resulted in the list of 315 species reported from Parapolsky Dale, within and in vicinities of the Koryak State Reserve. Altogether 46 species are published from the Kamchatka Territory for the first time, including Lecanographa grumulosa new to Russia, East Asia and Beringia; Cercidospora trypetheliza, Lecania dubitans, Pertusaria borealis, Piccolia ochrophora, Protoparmelia cupreobadia, Rimularia badioatra and Strangospora moriformis new to Russian Far East; Abrothallus bertianus, Cladonia strepsilis, Physciella melanchra, Rimularia badioatra, Sclerococcum parasiticum, Sphinctrina leucopoda and Strangospora moriformis new to Beringia. The lichen diversity of the study area is relatively poor due to natural reasons. Comparison with neighboring regions (Kamchatka Peninsula, Chukotka, Magadan Region, Yakutia and Alaska) shows that the lichen flora of Parapolsky Dale contains almost no specific species. The majority of the species recorded here are also known from neighboring regions, especially Alaska and Kamchatka Peninsula.

NORTH AMERICAN WATER MITES OF THE FAMILY MOMONIIDAE VIETS (ACARI: ARRENUROIDEA). IV. REVISION OF SPECIES OF STYGOMOMONIA (SENSU STRICTO) SZALAY, 1943

1991 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 501-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian M. Smith
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
North American ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
North American Species ◽  
Water Mites ◽  
Dispersal Patterns ◽  
The Family ◽  
Three New Species ◽  
New Diagnosis ◽  
First Time

AbstractMorphological, life history, and distributional data are presented for North American species of the subgenus Stygomomonia (sensu stricto) Szalay, 1943. Adults of the seven previously recognized species are redescribed, and deutonymphs of five of these species are described for the first time. Two species, S. (s.s.) neomexicana Cook and S. (s.s.) occidentalis Cook are substantially revised on the basis of an examination of the types and extensive series of newly collected specimens. Three new species are described, S. (s.s.) californiensis on the basis of deutonymphs and adults, and S. (s.s.) imamurai and S. (s.s.) cooki on the basis of adults. A new diagnosis of the subgenus is proposed and discussed, the relationships of the various species are discussed, and a key to deutonymphs and adults of North American species is presented. New distributional data are presented for all species, and dispersal patterns from Pleistocene refugia are discussed.

scholarly journals Isodontia Mexicana (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), a New Invasive Wasp Species in the Fauna of Ukraine Reared from Trap-Nests in the Crimea

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Fateryga ◽  
Yu. V. Protsenko ◽  
V. Yu. Zhidkov
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
North American ◽  
Southern Coast ◽  
Wasp Species ◽  
Positive Identification ◽  
Trap Nests ◽  
The Crimea ◽  
Adult Wasp ◽  
First Time

Abstract Isodontia mexicana (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), a New Invasive Wasp Species in the Fauna of Ukraine Reared from Trap-Nests in the Crimea. Fateryga, A. V., Protsenko, Yu. V., Zhidkov, V. Yu. - Th e North American wasp Isodontia mexicana was found for the first time in Ukraine in trap-nests operated near Pushkino (southern coast of the Crimea) in 2012. Th ree nests contained five cocoons, from which only one adult wasp emerged in 2013, allowing the positive identification; other cocoons were either empty (one) or destroyed by Melittobia acasta (three). Such a find of a newly established invasive species in Ukraine represents the easternmost point in its European range and possibly the most remarkable jump-dispersal event in its distribution.

A review of Sharp's types of Aleochara from Latin America (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

1989 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Klimaszewski
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
South America ◽  
North American ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
First Time

AbstractA review of David Sharp's types of Aleochara from Mexico, and Central and South America is presented. Nineteen species are treated here, one of which is described as new (A. felixiana), seven are redescribed [A. angusticeps Sharp, A. funestior Sharp, A. mexicana Sharp, A. oxypodia Sharp, A. simulatrix Sharp, A. gracilis (Sharp), and A. duplicata (Sharp)] and one [A. miradoris Sharp] is put in synonymy under A. mexicana Sharp. The remaining ten species were treated in my 1984-revision of North American Aleochara but are here included in a checklist with references to description, redescription, and illustrations. Some additional information is provided for previously synonymized A. torquata Sharp (= A. sallaei Sharp), and for A. quadrata Sharp. Illustrations of genitalic structures of both sexes are provided for the first time for the seven redescribed species. Lectotypes are designated for A. angusticeps, A. duplicata, A. funestior, A. mexicana, and A. oxypodia.

Pregnancy and the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Highly Predisposed North American Native Population

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 2253-2260 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTINE A. PESCHKEN ◽  
DAVID B. ROBINSON ◽  
CAROL A. HITCHON ◽  
IRENE SMOLIK ◽  
DONNA HART ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
North American ◽  
Shared Epitope ◽  
Reproductive History ◽  
Early Age ◽  
Age At First Birth ◽  
Native Population ◽  
First Birth ◽  
Pregnancy Smoking ◽  
First Time

Objective.To examine reproductive history and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk in a highly predisposed population of North American Natives (NAN) with unique fertility characteristics.Methods.The effect of pregnancy on the risk of RA was examined by comparing women enrolled in 2 studies: a study of RA in NAN patients and their unaffected relatives; and NAN patients with RA and unrelated healthy NAN controls enrolled in a study of autoimmunity. All participants completed questionnaires detailing their reproductive history.Results.Patients with RA (n = 168) and controls (n = 400) were similar overall in age, education, shared epitope frequency, number of pregnancies, age at first pregnancy, smoking, and breastfeeding history. In multivariate analysis, for women who had ≥ 6 births the OR for developing RA was 0.43 (95% CI 0.21–0.87) compared with women who had 1–2 births (p = 0.046); for women who gave birth for the first time after age 20 the OR for developing RA was 0.33 (95% CI 0.16–0.66) compared with women whose first birth occurred at age ≤ 17 (p = 0.001). The highest risk of developing RA was in the first postpartum year (OR 3.8; 95% CI 1.45–9.93) compared with subsequent years (p = 0.004).Conclusion.In this unique population, greater parity significantly reduced the odds of RA; an early age at first birth increased the odds, and the postpartum period was confirmed as high risk for RA onset. The protective effect of repeated exposure to the ameliorating hormonal and immunological changes of pregnancy may counterbalance the effect of early exposure to the postpartum reversal of these changes.

scholarly journals Is the “Centro de Endemismo Pernambuco” a biodiversity hotspot for orchid bees?

2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (3 suppl 1) ◽  
pp. S078-S092 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Nemésio ◽  
JE Santos Junior
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Orchid Bees ◽  
Orchid Bee ◽  
Forest Remnants ◽  
First Time ◽  
Forest Preserve

The orchid-bee faunas (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossina) of the three largest forest remnants in the “Centro de Endemismo Pernambuco”, northeastern Brazil, namely Estação Ecológica de Murici (ESEC Murici), RPPN Frei Caneca, and a forest preserve belonging to Usina Serra Grande, in the states of Alagoas and Pernambuco, were surveyed using seventeen different scents as baits to attract orchid-bee males. Eight sites were established in the three preserves, where samplings were carried out using two protocols: insect netting and bait trapping. We collected 3,479 orchid-bee males belonging to 29 species during 160 hours in early October, 2012. Seven species were collected in the “Centro de Endemismo Pernambuco” for the first time. Richness proved to be one of the highest of the entire Atlantic Forest domain, and diversity in some sites, especially at ESEC Murici, revealed to be one of the highest in the Neotropics. Eulaema felipei Nemésio, 2010, a species previously recorded only at ESEC Murici, was found in no other preserve in the region and its conservation status is discussed.

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