scholarly journals On the Leucanthemopsis alpina (L.) Heywood growing in the Illyrian region

PhytoKeys ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 27-40
Author(s):  
Salvatore Tomasello ◽  
Kamil Konowalik
Keyword(s):  
Balkan Peninsula ◽  
Eastern Alps ◽  
Species Status ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Chloroplast Markers ◽  
Tatra Mts ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
European Mountain ◽  
Herbarium Collections ◽  
Alpine Environments

Leucanthemopsis alpina (L.) Heywood (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) is a small, caespitose plant growing in high alpine environments in all the main southern European mountain ranges. However, the species status in the Balkan Peninsula (and especially in the Dinaric Alps) is not very well known. Surrounding this area, different L. alpina subspecies are found in the Eastern Alps and in the Carpathians. These subspecies differ from one another, both morphologically and in chromosome number. The present study aims to better characterise the populations of L. alpina in the Illyrian and Balkan regions by undertaking a comprehensive survey of herbarium collections for the species in this area, by applying flow cytometry for ploidy determination and by sequencing of two chloroplast markers. Results from our investigation suggest that the only population of the species in the Dinaric Alps is found in the Vranica Mts (Bosnia and Herzegovina). This population consists of diploid plants (unlike tetraploid populations from the Eastern Alps) that are slightly distinct genetically from those of the subspecies growing in the Eastern Alps and the Tatra Mts. Both the ploidy and their genetic distinction indicate that Vranica Mts most probably served as a refugium for the species during the Pleistocene glaciations. Considering its isolated geographical range and its genetic distinction, the population of L. alpina growing in the Vranica Mts should be considered as a separate subspecies.

Reconstruction of the dynamics and origin of rock glaciers in an Alpine environment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Lehmann ◽  
Robert S. Anderson ◽  
Xavier Bodin ◽  
Pierre G. Valla ◽  
Julien Carcaillet
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Rock Glacier ◽  
Alpine Environment ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Rock Glaciers ◽  
Alpine Environments ◽  
Alpine Valleys

<p>Rock glaciers are one of the most frequent cryospheric landform in mid-latitude mountain ranges. They influence the evolution of alpine environments on short (years to decades) and long (centuries to millennia) time scales. As a visible expression of mountain permafrost [1] as well as an important water reserve in the form of ground ice [2], rock glaciers are seen as increasingly important in the evolution of geomorphology and hydrology of mountain systems in the context of climate change and deglaciation [3, 4]. On longer time scales, rock glaciers transport boulders produced by the erosion of the headwall upstream and downstream and therefore participate in shaping mountain slopes [5]. Despite their importance, the dynamics and origin of rock glaciers are poorly understood.</p><p>In this study, we propose to address two questions:</p><p>1) How does the dynamics of rock glaciers change over time?</p><p>2) What is the origin of rock glaciers and what is their influence on the evolution of alpine environments?</p><p>These two questions require an evaluation of the surface velocity field of rock glaciers by relating short and long time scales. To solve this problem, we combine complementary methods including remote sensing, geochronology with a mechanical model of rock glacier dynamics. We apply this approach to the rock glacier complex of the Vallon de la Route in the Massif du Combeynot (French alps).</p><p>In order to reconstruct the displacement field of the rock glacier on modern time scales, we used remote sensing methods (i.e., image correlation and InSAR). Over longer periods (10<sup>3</sup> to 10<sup>4</sup> years), we used cosmogenic terrestrial nuclides (TCN) dating. By applying this methodology to boulder surfaces at different positions along the central flow line of the rock glacier, from the headwall to its terminus, we will be able to convert the exposure ages into surface displacement. The use of dynamic modelling of rock glaciers [6] will allow us to relate the surface kinematics to short to long time scales. It will then be possible to discuss the age, origin of rock glaciers and how topo-climatic and geomorphological processes control their evolution in Alpine environment.</p><p> </p><p>[1] Barsch, D.: Rockglaciers. Indicators for the Present and Former Geoecology in High Mountain Environments, Springer series in physical environment vol. 16, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 1996.</p><p>[2] Jones, D. B., Harrison, S., Anderson, K., and Whalley, W. B.: Rock glaciers and mountain hydrology: A review, Earth-Sci Rev, 193, 66–90, 2019.</p><p>[3] Haeberli, W., Schaub, Y., and Huggel, C.: Increasing risks related to landslides from degrading permafrost into new lakes in deglaciating mountain ranges, Geomorphology, 293, 405–417, 2017.</p><p>[4] Knight, J., Harrison, S., and Jones, D. B.: Rock glaciers and the geomorphological evolution of deglacierizing mountains, Geomorphology, 324, 14–24, 2019.</p><p>[5] MacGregor, K.R., Anderson, R.S., Waddington, E.D.: Numerical modeling of glacial erosion and headwall processes in alpine valleys. Geomorphology 103 (2):189–204, 2009.</p><p>[6] Anderson, R. S., Anderson, L. S., Armstrong, W. H., Rossi, M. W., & Crump, S. E.: Glaciation of alpine valleys: The glacier–debris-covered glacier–rock glacier continuum. Geomorphology, 311, 127-142, 2018.</p>

Climate change and elevational range shifts: evidence from dung beetles in two European mountain ranges

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 646-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Menéndez ◽  
Adela González-Megías ◽  
Pierre Jay-Robert ◽  
Rocío Marquéz-Ferrando
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Range Shifts ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
European Mountain ◽  
Elevational Range

Nomenclatural notes and typifications in Campanula versicolor (Campanulaceae) and related names

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 323 (3) ◽  
pp. 264 ◽  
Author(s):  
IVANA JANKOVIĆ ◽  
DMITAR LAKUŠIĆ ◽  
ROMEO DI PIETRO ◽  
NEVENA KUZMANOVIĆ
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variability ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Balkan Peninsula ◽  
Original Material ◽  
Herbarium Collections

Campanula versicolor is a member of the Campanula pyramidalis complex. It is distributed in the southern Balkan Peninsula, with a small disjunct range in SE Italy (Puglia and Basilicata administrative regions). Due to its high morphological variability, 17 taxa have been described (at specific and infraspecific level). However, the taxonomic status of these taxa is not clear. In modern floristic literature and checklists they are considered as synonyms within broadly defined C. versicolor. Considering the fact that misinterpretations of their taxonomy in floras and checklists might be caused by unresolved nomenclatural issues, after studying the original material from relevant herbarium collections, we designated lectotypes or epitypes for the following names: C. corymbosa, C. planiflora, C. plasonii, C. rosanii, C. tenorei, C. versicolor, C. versicolor f. mrkvickana, C. versicolor subsp. thessala subvar. lancifolia, C. versicolor var. rosanii, C. versicolor var. thessala, C. versicolor var. thessala f. tomentella, C. versicolor var. tomentella and C. willdenowiana. Note on the already typified C. mrkvickana is also provided.

scholarly journals Assessing the genetic structure of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) in Romania

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-26
Author(s):  
Mihai Fedorca ◽  
◽  
Ovidiu Ionescu ◽  
Neculae Șofletea ◽  
Ancuța Fedorca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Tetrao Urogallus ◽  
Mountain Regions ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Expected Heterozygosity ◽  
European Mountain

Romania holds the most extensive mountain range with oldgrowth forests, in which both habitat surface and capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) numbers are ones of the highest in Central and Eastern Europe. While previous genetic studies have found that the individuals located in different European mountain ranges are isolated and have highlighted that the species is declining. Here, we are aiming to assess the genetic structure of capercaillie in Romania by genotyping 137 samples collected in the field with 9 STR markers. Expected heterozygosity was 0.586, whereas observed heterozygosity values were 0.859. Population structure analyses indicated weak population differentiation and suggested that sufficient gene flow exists among individuals sampled in different mountain regions. We did not find evidence for a past genetic bottleneck. Our findings contain important information to wildlife managers to focus conservation efforts in areas such as Curvature Carpathians, which serve as a connectivity corridor to avoid eroding the extent or quality of habitat and to prevent further fragmentation.

scholarly journals Glacial Erosion Rates Determined at Vorab Glacier: Implications for the Evolution of Limestone Plateaus

Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 356
Author(s):  
Olivia Steinemann ◽  
Alicia Martinez ◽  
Vincenzo Picotti ◽  
Christof Vockenhuber ◽  
Susan Ivy-Ochs
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Alps ◽  
Crystalline Rock ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Glacial Erosion ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Glacier Forefield ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Cosmogenic Nuclide ◽  
Crystalline Bedrock ◽  
The Relationship

Understanding how fast glaciers erode their bedrock substrate is one of the key elements in reconstructing how the action of glaciers gives mountain ranges their shape. By combining cosmogenic nuclide concentrations determined in glacially abraded bedrock with a numerical model, we quantify glacial erosion rates over the last 15 ka. We measured cosmogenic 36Cl in fourteen samples from the limestone forefield of the Vorab glacier (Eastern Alps, Switzerland). Determined glacial erosion rates range from 0.01 mm a−1 to 0.16 mm a−1. These glacial abrasion rates differ quite markedly from rates measured on crystalline bedrock (>1 mm a−1), but are similarly low to the rates determined on the only examined limestone plateau so far, the Tsanfleuron glacier forefield. Our data, congruent with field observations, suggest that the Vorab glacier planed off crystalline rock (Permian Verrucano) overlying the Glarus thrust. Upon reaching the underlying strongly karstified limestone the glacier virtually stopped eroding its bed. We attribute this to immediate drainage of meltwater into the karst passages below the glacier, which inhibits sliding. The determined glacial erosion rates underscore the relationship between geology and the resulting landscape that evolves, whether high elevation plateaus in limestone terrains or steep-walled valleys in granitic/gneissic areas.

Progressive landscape transformation from a fluvial to a glacial topography

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Liebl ◽  
Jörg Robl ◽  
David Egholm ◽  
Günther Prasicek ◽  
Kurt Stüwe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Metrics ◽  
Eastern Alps ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Model Time Series ◽  
Channel Slope ◽  
Spatial Transition ◽  
Glacial Landforms

<p>Mid-latitude mountain ranges such as the Eastern Alps are characterized by a strong topographic imprint of Pleistocene glaciations. The characteristic geometry of glacial landforms has been quantified in various ways, but studies about the evolution of glacial landscape metrics are lacking. However, such information is needed to interpret the evolutionary state of glacial topography.</p><p>By employing a landscape evolution model for cold climate processes, we trace the fluvial-to-glacial transformation of a synthetic landscape. Our simulations inspired by alpine glaciations of mid-latitude mountain ranges with peaks and ridges towering above the glacier network lead to a general increase in relief. This is expressed as the formation of overdeepened valleys with steepened flanks. Overdeepening starts at the glacier front and progressively extends upstream with ongoing glacial erosion.</p><p>The topographic signature of the progressively transforming landscape is characterized by an increase of mean channel slopes and its variance. However, above the steep flanks, the initial fluvial topography is persisting. Whereas the initial fluvial mountain range is characterized by a monotonic increase of channel slope with elevation, a transition from increasing to decreasing channel slope with elevation emerges above the equilibrium line altitude where (tributary-)headwalls transition to ridges and summits. This turning point and a high slope variance becomes progressively distinctive with ongoing glacial occupation.</p><p>By comparing landscape metrics derived from model time series with those of the Eastern Alps, we found that the temporal transition observed in our numerical experiments occur as spatial transition from the fully glaciated western to a minorly glaciated eastern part of the Alps. Thus, slope-elevation plots serve as a diagnostic tool for interpreting the glacial - fluvial influence in mountain landscapes. However, catchments of the unglaciated part of the Eastern Alps show also turning points in their slope-elevation distributions, but the variance of slope is significantly smaller at all elevation levels, when compared to the glaciated part.</p>

The imprint of glacial and periglacial erosion processes on fluvial landscape metrics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Liebl ◽  
Jörg Robl ◽  
David Lundbek Egholm ◽  
Kurt Stüwe ◽  
Gerit Gradwohl
Keyword(s):  
Process Model ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Eastern Alps ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Fluvial Processes ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Topographic Pattern

<p>The emerging Pleistocene glaciations have left a distinct topographic footprint in mountain ranges worldwide. However, it is still unclear how the formation of cirques above (including the potential destruction of peak relief) and the excavation of glacial troughs below the long-term snowline altered to the large-scale topographic pattern of mountain ranges originally conditioned by fluvial processes.</p><p>Some mountain ranges such as the Eastern Alps feature a bimodal topographic pattern characterized by a transition from increasing to decreasing slope with elevation. Bimodality might be an expression of glacial reshaping, as glacial troughs with steepened valley flanks have been formed at low elevations and low relief surfaces at high elevations. On the other hand, bimodality might represent the state of fluvial prematurity as expression of ongoing landscape adjustment to an uplift event in the recent past. Despite their completely different evolution, both hypotheses lead to a bimodal landscape with a similar slope-elevation distribution.</p><p>In this study, we explore the impact of cold climate erosional processes on the mountain range scale topographic pattern. For this, we use synthetically generated and natural mountain range landscapes conditioned by fluvial processes and apply a surface process model for cold climate conditions (iSOSIA). In regions with high glacial impact, we explore an upstream migrating glacial signature represented by two frequency maxima in the slope elevation distribution at lower elevations (i.e. below the snowline, where glacial troughs formed). This is accompanied with an increase in slope on average compared to the initial topography. Above the snow line, bimodality vanishes and mean slope is similar to the initial fluvial topography. Interestingly, in the Eastern Alps, we explore a similar pattern where the transition from increasing to decreasing slope with elevation is located at about 1800 m, which is roughly at the position of the last glacial maximum (LGM) snowline of this region.</p>

scholarly journals New Insight into Taxonomy of European Mountain Pines, Pinus mugo Complex, Based on Complete Chloroplast Genomes Sequencing

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1331
Author(s):  
Joanna Sokołowska ◽  
Hanna Fuchs ◽  
Konrad Celiński
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Complex Form ◽  
Genetic Identification ◽  
Pinus Mugo ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Chloroplast Genomes ◽  
Mutational Hotspots ◽  
Complete Sequences ◽  
European Mountain ◽  
Insight Into

The Pinus mugo complex is a large group of closely related mountain pines, which are an important component of the ecosystems of the most important mountain ranges, such as the Alps, Carpathians and Pyrenees. The phylogenetic relationships between taxa in this complex have been under discussion for many years. Despite the use of many different approaches, they still need to be clarified and supplemented with new data, especially those obtained with high-throughput methods. Therefore, in this study, the complete sequences of the chloroplast genomes of the three most recognized members of the Pinus mugo complex, i.e., Pinus mugo, Pinus rotundata and Pinus uncinata, were sequenced and analyzed to gain new insight into their phylogenetic relationships. Comparative analysis of their complete chloroplast genome sequences revealed several mutational hotspots potentially useful for the genetic identification of taxa from the Pinus mugo complex. Phylogenetic inference based on sixteen complete chloroplast genomes of different coniferous representatives showed that pines from the Pinus mugo complex form one distinct monophyletic group. The results obtained in this study provide new and valuable omics data for further research within the European mountain pine complex. They also indicate which regions may be useful in the search for diagnostic DNA markers for the members of Pinus mugo complex and set the baseline in the conservation of genetic resources of its endangered taxa.

scholarly journals Old Romance place names in early South Slavic and late Proto-Slavic sound changes

Linguistica ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-114
Author(s):  
Matej Šekli
Keyword(s):  
Balkan Peninsula ◽  
Eastern Alps ◽  
Slavic Language ◽  
Consonant Clusters ◽  
Place Names ◽  
Vowel Reduction ◽  
Nasal Vowels ◽  
Relative Chronology ◽  
Sound Changes

The analysis of Old Romance geographical names in early South Slavic confirms that the majority of late Proto-Slavic sound changes were still operative in the period of the earliest Old Romance-Slavic language contacts in the Balkan Peninsula and eastern Alps from the second half of the 6th century and the beginning of the 7th century onwards. Phonetic substitutions of the type Rom. *kE, *gE → Sl. *c, *ʒ (Balk. Rom. *Kersu → Sl. *Cersъ, Balk. Rom. *Gīla → Sl. *Ʒiĺa) and Rom. *auC → Sl. *ovC (Balk. Rom. *Laurentiu > *Laurenču → Sl. *Lovręčь) point to the fact that the first palatalization of velars as well as the monophthongization of the inherited diphthongs were no longer among the ongoing processes. All other late Proto-Slavic sound changes were either still operative or only took place after the borrowing. This is confirmed by the relative chronology of the following set of Romance-Slavic correspondences: simplification of consonant clusters: Rom. *ps → Sl. *s (Balk. Rom. *Apsaru → Sl. *Osorъ), development of prothetic consonants: Rom. *ū- → Sl. *uū- > *vy- (Alp. Rom. *Ūdẹnu → Sl. *(V)ydьnъ), simplification of j-clusters: Rom. *Ci → Sl. *Cʹ (Balk. Rom. *Arsia → Sl. *Orša), delabialization of *o after *r: Rom. *ro → Sl. *ry > *ri (Rom. *Roma → Sl. *Rymъ > *Rimъ), second regressive palatalization of velars (see above Sl. *Cersъ, *Ʒiĺa), rise of nasal vowels: Rom. *ENC, *ONC → Sl. *ęC, *ǫC (Balk. Rom. *Parentiu > *Parenču → Sl. *Poręčь, Balk. Rom. *Karantānu → Sl. *Korǫtanъ), progressive palatalization of velars: Rom. *Ek, *Eg → Sl. *c, *ʒ (Balk. Rom. *Longātẹku → Sl. *Lǫgatьcь), delabialization of *ū1 > *y: Rom. *ū/*o → Sl. *y (Balk. Rom. *Allūviu → Sl. *Olybъ), labialization of *a > *o: Rom. *a → Sl. *o (Balk. Rom. *Kapra → Sl. *Koprъ), vowel reduction of *i, *u > *ь, *ъ: Rom. *ẹ, *ọ → Sl. *ь, *ъ (Balk. Rom. *Kọrẹku → Sl. *Kъrьkъ, Balk. Rom. *Tọrre → Sl. *Tъrъ).

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