Environmental regionalization and endemic plant distribution in the Maghreb

Clustering methods based on environmental variables are useful in the planning of conservation strategies for species and ecosystems. However, there is a lack of work on the regionalization of the vast space of North Africa and the distribution of plant species. The current lists of endemic plants are focused mostly on an occurrence at the country level and not on regions with different conditions. The aim of this work was to lay out an environmental scheme for northwest Africa and to collect data about the occurrence of endemic plants in this area. Clustering with 12 of 33 tested environmental rasters was performed to divide the Maghreb into environmental clusters. Then, a list of 1618 endemic plant taxa (1243 species and 375 subspecies) was prepared and their distribution in estimated environmental clusters was examined. Eleven clusters with different conditions were estimated. The main drivers of regionalization were temperature amplitude, precipitation seasonality, and precipitation of the warmest quarter. According to the occurrence of endemic plants, northwest Africa may be divided into three zones: Atlas, Mediterranean (two environmental clusters), and southern zone (eight environmental clusters). The presented results provide a good basis for understanding the spatial patterns of the Maghreb, including its environment and species diversity. A designed list of endemic plant species together with environmental data may facilitate the planning of future research in north Africa and arranging methods of biodiversity protection.

Эндемичные и реликтовые растения Тюменской области в линогравюре

В Тюменской области произрастает 4 эндемичных растения и 13 реликтовых. Одно из них (Бруннера сибирская) является одновременно и эндемиком и реликтом. Важнейшей частью работы является создание серии открыток об этих растениях. Этот труд стал основным результатом. Коллекция открыток «Эндемичные и реликтовые растения Тюменской области» насчитывает 13 растений, большая часть которых – реликты, то есть растения, сохранившиеся на нашей территории с доледниковых времен. Открытки выполнены в технике высокой печати – линогравюра, что позволило сделать процесс изготовления открыток технологичным (приблизить его к производственному). С каждой доски отпечатано 10 экземпляров открытки, при этом сохранилась возможность продолжения печати. There are 4 endemic plants and 13 relict plants growing in the Tyumen region. One of them (Brunner Siberian) is both endemic and relict. The most important part of the work is the creation of a series of postcards about these plants. This work was the main result. The collection of postcards "Endemic and relict plants of the Tyumen region" has 13 plants, most of which are relics, that is, plants that have been preserved on our territory since pre-glacial times. The postcards are made in the technique of high printing - linocut, which made it possible to make the process of making postcards technologically (bring it closer to production). 10 copies of the postcard were printed from each board, while the possibility of continuing printing was preserved.

Phytochemical analysis of different extracts of Pinda concanensis and Heracelum grande

Aromatic plants are a reservoir of secondary metabolites that are responsible for the plants' medicinal efficacy and a major source of aromatic compounds and essential oils. Now a day, there is a renewed interest in the plant kingdom in the search for novel bioactive and fragrance compounds as demands for herbal products are increasing enormously. In the present study two endemic plants, Pinda concanensis and Heracelum grande from Western Ghats were analyzed for secondary metabolites by using different plant parts (roots, leaves, and seeds) and by using range of solvent from polar to non-polar. Glycosides, terpenoids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, and alkaloids were found in methanolic extracts of Pinda concanensis root, leaf, and seeds and methanolic extracts of seeds of Heracelum grande. While extracts of chloroform and petroleum ether exhibits presence of some of them. Obtained results show the importance of both the plants as an important source of biologically active molecules for pharmaceuticals and cosmetic industries. Keywords: Phytochemical screening, secondary metabolites, biologically active compounds.

Flavonoids from the Roots of Amomum compactum Soland Ex Maton (Zingiberaceae)

Amomum compactum Soland Ex Maton is one of the Zingiberaceae family plants which is the endemic plants from West Java, Indonesia. This study was aimed to determine the chemical structure of flavonoid compounds from n-hexane extract of A.compactum Sol. Ex Maton roots. Dried powder of the roots was extracted consecutively with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol solvents. Three flavonoids, 5-hydroxy-3,7,4`-trimethoxy kaempferol (1), 5-hydroxy-3,7,3',4'-tetra methoxy kaempferol (2) and 4'-hydroxy-3,5,7-trimethoxy kaempferol (3), have been isolated from the roots of A. compactum Sol. Ex Maton. The chemical structures of compounds 1-3 were identified by spectroscopy data including infrared 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR and HRTOF-MS as well as by comparison with previously reported spectral data. Compounds 1-3 were isolated from this plant for the first time and showed free radical DPPH scavenging activity.

Conserving Endemic Plant Species in Oceanic Island’s Protected Areas

Oceanic islands are known for their high levels of plant diversity, due to disjunct geographical distribution that leads to speciation. The main factors contributing to genetic speciation includes the creation of a barrier within a previously widely distributed taxon and the limited dispersal of seeds, which favours genetic differentiation and, thus, fosters rapid speciation. Plant survival and population fitness vary according to environmental factors and to human interference. This chapter depicts the importance of oceanic islands as biodiversity hotspots, discusses the threats to which endemic plants on islands are exposed, namely climate change, invasive alien species, urbanisation, touristic activities, fire, changes in agriculture practices and collecting pressure. The best practices worldwide to protect endemic plant species in protected areas are also addressed, namely the implementation of prevention and mitigation actions, the programs executed to protect endemic species, and management plans to avoid future threats.

Distribution of alpine endemic plants of northern Asia: a dataset

We describe a dataset providing information on the geographic distribution of northern Asian endemic alpine plants. It was obtained by digitising maps from the atlas “Endemic alpine plants of Northern Asia”. Northern Asia includes numerous mountain ranges which may have served as refugia during the Pleistocene ice ages, but there have been no studies that analysed this question. We suggest that this dataset can be applied for better understanding of the alpine endemism in northern Asia. The dataset includes 13709 species distribution records, representing 211 species from 31 families and 106 genera. Each record provides data regarding the distribution of an individual species. These data provide a foundation for studying northern Asia's endemic alpine species and conducting research on the factors concerning their distribution.