Astragalus taledensis, a new species of Leguminosae from Xinjiang, China

A new species, Astragalus taledensis P. Yan & H. Zhang (Leguminosae), is described from Xinjiang Province, China. Astragalus taledensis is distinguished from other species of Astragalus by its simple leaf, prostrate stem and the type of the legumes. The stamens of A. taledensis are nearly equal in shape and length, which is similar to some species of A. sect. Ornithopodium (eastern group). The species is most similar to Astragalus hamiensis S. B. Ho, from which it differs for the simple leaf, prostrate stem, length of the flower, bract and calyx, and width of the legume.

Mechanical Behaviour of a Residual Soil from Ignimbrite Rock of São Miguel Island - Azores

Azores consists of nine islands and several islets, located in the North Atlantic to 1600 km from Continental Portugal and is distributed between latitudes 36° 55' to 39° 43' N and longitude 24° 46' to 31° 16' W. Azores archipelago is in a convergence zone of a series of dynamic tectonic structures, that are responsible for seismicity and volcanism, geological and petrological of these islands. The island of São Miguel, an eastern group, in addition to other petrology’s in its geology, has ignimbrite, which is a pyroclastic rock with a dacitic or rhyolitic composition, resulting from the deposition of materials in semi-melting at high temperatures from a pyroclastic flow. At the site of Água D’Alto, the residual soil sample resulting from the ignimbrite alteration was taken and was evaluated with the interest of studying its application or use as construction material. The soil was subjected to physical and chemical classification test, compressibility, and stress-strain behaviour. This material shows good mechanical characteristics, although its chemism is potentially corrosive.

Population genetic structure of European wildcats inhabiting the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains

Habitat fragmentation and loss have contributed significantly to the demographic decline of European wildcat populations and hybridization with domestic cats poses a threat to the loss of genetic purity of the species. In this study we used microsatellite markers to analyse genetic variation and structure of the wildcat populations from the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and North Macedonia. We also investigated hybridisation between populations of wildcats and domestic cats in the area. One hundred and thirteen samples from free-leaving European wildcats and thirty-two samples from domestic cats were analysed. Allelic richness across populations ranged from 3.61 to 3.98. The observed Ho values ranged between 0.57 and 0.71. The global FST value for the four populations was 0.080 (95% CI 0.056–0.109) and differed significantly from zero (P < 0.001). The highest FST value was observed between the populations North Macedonia and Slovenia and the lowest between Slovenia and Croatia. We also found a signal for the existence of isolation by distance between populations. Our results showed that wildcats are divided in two genetic clusters largely consistent with a geographic division into a genetically diverse northern group (Slovenia, Croatia) and genetically eroded south-eastern group (Serbia, N. Macedonia). Hybridisation rate between wildcats and domestic cats varied between 13% and 52% across the regions.

Genetic, bioacoustic and morphological analyses reveal cryptic speciation in the warbling vireo complex (Vireo gilvus: Vireonidae: Passeriformes)

Cryptic species are closely related taxa that are difficult to separate morphologically, but are reproductively isolated. Here we examine the warbling vireo complex (Vireo gilvus), a widespread songbird speculated to be comprised of more than one cryptic species. We included three taxa within the complex: two of the western (Vireo gilvus swainsonii and Vireo gilvus brewsteri) subspecies and the single eastern (Vireo gilvus gilvus) subspecies. We used mtDNA and microsatellite loci to assess the congruence of genetic data to the current subspecies boundaries. We then incorporated bioacoustic, morphometric, and ecological niche modeling analyses to further examine differences. We found two genetic groups with mtDNA analysis. Microsatellite analyses revealed four genetic groups: an eastern group, a Black Hills group and two western groups that do not agree with current western subspecies boundaries based on phenotypic data. Our results suggest that eastern and western warbling vireos have been reproductively isolated for a long period of time and therefore, may be best treated as separate species; however, more research into areas of contact to examine the presence of hybridization is advised before making a taxonomic revision. Differences between the two western genetic groups appear less clear, requiring additional research.

NADVIRNA AREA ON LINGUISTIC MAPS

The paper is devoted to the status of dialects of the settlements in Nadvirna district, Ivano-Frankivsk region, which required a through studying of the works of well-known dialectologists of the boundaries of pokutskyi, naddnistrianskyi, hutsulskyi, boikivskyi dialects. The paper contains the analysis of the linguistic maps of AUL (Atlas of the Ukrainian language), made by S. Bevzenko, О. Horbach, Ya. Zakrevska, F. Zhylko, Ya. Yanіv, Т. Yastremska; it also includes descriptive works of the researchers of sub-dialects of a south-west dialect where dialects of settlements of Nadvirna distirct, Ivano-Frankivsk region were represented. The material, cartographed by precursors, has proved that dialects of Nadvirna area are not similar at all language levels. It was stated that researchers chose various networks of dialects which did not allow them to draw demarcation lines between hutsulskyi, naddnistrianskyi, pokutskyi and boikivskyi dialects. In descriptive works about these dialects a starting point in defining boundaries is Nadvirna, part of Nadvirna district (except for the settlements in the north), part of Nadvirna area to the north of Yaremche and others. The attention has been paid to the fact that a demarcation line can stretch for tens and hundreds of kilometers. The assumption has been made that a greater part of Nadvirna area will have a status of transitional dialects. Some own maps of lexical-semantic phenomena, which helped separate groups of dialects – a northern group, a south-eastern group, were analyzed. It has been stated that a larger number of cartographic data will enable to elaborate the boundaries of dialects which contact, to determine transitional dialects, to identify zones and groups of dialects on Naddniprianshchyna area.

Rutile Mineral Chemistry and Zr-in-Rutile Thermometry in Provenance Study of Albian (Uppermost Lower Cretaceous) Terrigenous Quartz Sands and Sandstones in Southern Extra-Carpathian Poland

The geochemistry of detrital rutile grains, which are extremely resistant to weathering, was used in a provenance study of the transgressive Albian quartz sands in the southern part of extra-Carpathian Poland. Rutile grains were sampled from eight outcrops and four boreholes located on the Miechów, Szydłowiec, and Puławy Segments. The crystallization temperatures of the rutile grains, calculated using a Zr-in-rutile geothermometer, allowed for the division of the study area into three parts: western, central, and eastern. The western group of samples, located in the Miechów Segment, is characterized by a polymodal distribution of rutile crystallization temperatures (700–800 °C; 550–600 °C, and c. 900 °C) with a significant predominance of high-temperature forms, and with a clear prevalence of metapelitic over metamafic rutile. The eastern group of samples, corresponding to the Lublin Area, is monomodal and their crystallization temperatures peak at 550–600 °C. The contents of metapelitic to metamafic rutile in the study area are comparable. The central group of rutile samples with bimodal distribution (550–600 °C and 850–950 °C) most likely represents a mixing zone, with a visible influence from the western and, to a lesser extent, the eastern group. The most probable source area for the western and the central groups seems to be granulite and high-temperature eclogite facies rocks from the Bohemian Massif. The most probable source area for the eastern group of rutiles seems to be amphibolites and low temperature eclogite facies rocks, probably derived from the southern part of the Baltic Shield.

Population genetic structure of European wildcats inhabiting the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains

Habitat fragmentation and loss have contributed significantly to the demographic decline of European wildcat populations and hybridization with domestic cats poses a threat to the loss of genetic purity of the species. In this study we used microsatellite markers to analyse genetic variation and structure of the wildcat populations from the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and North Macedonia. We also investigated hybridisation between populations of wildcats and domestic cats in the area. One hundred and thirteen samples from free-leaving European wildcats and thirty-two samples from domestic cats were analysed. Allelic richness across populations ranged from 3.61 to 3.98. The observed Ho values ranged between 0.57 and 0.71. The global FST value for the four populations was 0.080 (95% CI 0.056–0.109) and differed significantly from zero (P < 0.001). The highest FST value was observed between the populations North Macedonia and Slovenia and the lowest between Slovenia and Croatia. We also found a signal for the existence of isolation by distance between populations. Our results showed that wildcats are divided in two genetic clusters largely consistent with a geographic division into a genetically diverse northern group (Slovenia, Croatia) and genetically eroded south-eastern group (Serbia, N. Macedonia). Hybridisation rate between wildcats and domestic cats varied between 13% and 52% across the regions.

Marine algal flora of São Miguel Island, Azores

The macroalgal flora of the Island of São Miguel (eastern group of the Azores Archipelago) has attracted the interest of many researchers in the past, the first publications going back to the nineteenth century. Initial studies were mainly taxonomic, resulting in the publication of a checklist of the Azorean benthic marine algae. Later, the establishment of the University of the Azores on the Island permitted the logistic conditions to develop both temporal studies and long-term research and this resulted in a significant increase on research directed at the benthic marine algae and littoral communities of the Island and consequent publications. Prior to the present paper, the known macroalgal flora of São Miguel Island comprised around 260 species. Despite this richness, a significant amount of the research was never made public, notably Masters and PhD theses encompassing information regarding presence data recorded at littoral and sublittoral levels down to a depth of approximately 40 m around the Island and the many collections made, which resulted in vouchers deposited in the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha and the LSM- Molecular Systematics Laboratory at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of the Azores. The present publication lists the macroalgal taxonomic records, together with information on their ecology and occurrence around São Miguel Island, improving the knowledge of the Azorean macroalgal flora at local and regional scales. A total of 12,781 specimens (including some identified only to genus) belonging to 431 taxa of macroalgae are registered, comprising 284 Rhodophyta, 59 Chlorophyta and 88 Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae). Of these, 323 were identified to species level (212 Rhodophyta, 48 Chlorophyta and 63 Ochrophyta), of which 61 are new records for the Island (42 Rhodophyta, 9 Chlorophyta and 10 Ochrophyta), one an Azorean endemic (Predaea feldmannii subsp. azorica Gabriel), five are Macaronesian endemisms (the red algae Botryocladia macaronesica Afonso-Carrillo, Sobrino, Tittley &amp; Neto, Laurencia viridis Gil-Rodríguez &amp; Haroun, Millerella tinerfensis (Seoane-Camba) S.M.Boo &amp; J.M.Rico, Phyllophora gelidioides P.Crouan &amp; H.Crouan ex Karsakoff and the green alga Codium elisabethiae O.C.Schmidt), 19 are introduced species (15 Rhodophyta, two Chlorophyta and two Ochrophyta) and 32 are of uncertain status (21 Rhodophyta, five Chlorophyta and six Ochrophyta).

Marine algal flora of Santa Maria Island, Azores

The algal flora of the Island of Santa Maria (eastern group of the Azores archipelago) has attracted interest of researchers on past occasions (Drouët 1866, Agardh 1870, Trelease 1897, Schmidt 1931, Ardré et al. 1974, Fralick and Hehre 1990, Neto et al. 1991, Morton and Britton 2000, Amen et al. 2005, Wallenstein and Neto 2006, Tittley et al. 2009, Wallenstein et al. 2009a, Wallenstein et al. 2010, Botelho et al. 2010, Torres et al. 2010, León-Cisneros et al. 2011, Martins et al. 2014, Micael et al. 2014, Rebelo et al. 2014, Ávila et al. 2015, Ávila et al. 2016, Machín-Sánchez et al. 2016, Uchman et al. 2016, Johnson et al. 2017, Parente et al. 2018). Nevertheless, the Island macroalgal flora is not well-known as published information reflects limited collections obtained in short-term visits by scientists. To overcome this, a thorough investigation, encompassing collections and presence data recording, was undertaken at both the littoral and sublittoral levels down to a depth of approximately 40 m, covering an area of approximately 64 km2. The resultant taxonomic records are listed in the present paper which also provides information on species ecology and occurrence around the Island, improving, thereby, the knowledge of the Azorean macroalgal flora at both local and regional scales. A total of 2329 specimens (including some taxa identified only to genus level) belonging to 261 taxa of macroalgae are registered, comprising 152 Rhodophyta, 43 Chlorophyta and 66 Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae). Of these, 174 were identified to species level (102 Rhodophyta, 29 Chlorophyta and 43 Ochrophyta), encompassing 52 new records for the Island (30 Rhodophyta, 9 Chlorophyta and 13 Ochrophyta), 2 Macaronesian endemics (Laurencia viridis Gil-Rodríguez &amp; Haroun; and Millerella tinerfensis (Seoane-Camba) S.M.Boo &amp; J.M.Rico), 10 introduced (the Rhodophyta Acrothamnion preissii (Sonder) E.M.Wollaston, Antithamnion hubbsii E.Y.Dawson, Asparagopsis armata Harvey, Bonnemaisonia hamifera Hariot, Melanothamnus harveyi (Bailey) Díaz-Tapia &amp; Maggs, Scinaia acuta M.J.Wynne and Symphyocladia marchantioides (Harvey) Falkenberg; the Chlorophyta Codium fragile subsp. fragile (Suringar) Hariot; and the Ochrophyta Hydroclathrus tilesii (Endlicher) Santiañez &amp; M.J.Wynne, and Papenfussiella kuromo (Yendo) Inagaki) and 18 species of uncertain status (11 Rhodophyta, 3 Chlorophyta and 4 Ochrophyta).