VANILLA YERSINIANA (ORCHIDACEAE), A NEW RECORD FOR PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

MAT ESA, M. I., NORDIN, F. A., GO, R. & RAFFI, A. 2021. Vanilla yersiniana (Orchidaceae), a new record for Peninsular Malaysia. Reinwardtia 20(2): 51−55. — The genus Vanilla Plum. ex Mill. from Peninsular Malaysia is now enriched with the discovery of a newly recorded species, Vanilla yersiniana that made up its regional diversity to eight taxa. This species was documented from two adjacent secondary lowland forests in Perak; further south to the southern tail of Thailand. This paper describes the first record of V. yersiniana in Peninsular Malaysia with some highlights of its morphology and ecology. The data presented will add to the present state of knowledge on the species botanical profile.

Seven new species of Rhynchobombyx Aurivillius, 1909 from Congolian lowland forests (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Seven new species of the Afrotropic Lasiocampidae genus Rhynchobombyx are described and illustrated: Rh. gavinfilippone Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n., Rh. avadomenicarocchio Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n., Rh. julianjameseaton Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n., Rh. anthonychristophereaton Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n., Rh. nicolasroberteaton Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n., Rh. arijakefriend Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n., Rh. madisonellafriend Prozorov, Saldaitis & Müller sp. n. All species originate from the poorly studied Congolian lowland forests ecoregion of Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lectotype and paralectotype of Rh. nasuta Aurivillius, 1909 are designated here, the species type locality is specified.

NAD(P)H Drives the Ascorbate–Glutathione Cycle and Abundance of Catalase in Developing Beech Seeds Differently in Embryonic Axes and Cotyledons

European beech is an important component of European lowland forests in terms of ecology, and produces irregular seeds categorized as intermediate due to their limited longevity. Removal of the excess of reactive oxygen species is crucial for redox homeostasis in growing plant tissues. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is detoxified via the plant-specific ascorbate-glutathione cycle, and enzymatically, mainly by catalase (CAT). The reduced and oxidized (redox) forms of ascorbate (AsA, DHA) and glutathione (GSH, GSSG) decreased during maturation as the content of redox forms of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH, NAD+) phosphate (NADPH, NADP+), cofactors of ascorbate–glutathione enzymes, declined and limited this cycle. The degree of oxidation of glutathione peaked at approximately 80%, at the exact time when the NADP content was the lowest and the NADPH/NADP+ ratio reached the highest values. The glutathione pool was reflected in changes in the NADP pool, both in embryonic axes (R2 = 0.61) and in cotyledons (R2 = 0.98). A large excess of NADPH was reported in embryonic axes, whereas cotyledons displayed more unified levels of NADP redox forms. As a result, anabolic redox charge and reducing power were higher in embryonic axes. CAT was recognized as two proteins, and the abundance of the 55 kDa protein was correlated with all redox forms of ascorbate, glutathione, NAD, and NADP, whereas the 37 kDa protein was oppositely regulated in embryonic axes and cotyledons. Here, we discuss the role of NAD(P) in the regulation of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle, catalase, and seed longevity concerning a putative role of NAD(P)H as a redox biomarker involved in predefining seed quality, because NAD(P)H-derived redox homeostasis was found to be better controlled in embryonic axes than cotyledons.

Bat species diversity trend along an elevation gradient: A study in Crocker Range Park, Sabah, Borneo

Bats (Order: Chiroptera) is a recognised group of bioindicators due to their sensitivity towards alterations in their immediate surroundings. With the threats of climate change becoming more severe on a daily basis, it is reasonable to collect data on how bat diversity is influenced by elevation. This will be useful to predict and monitor possible upslope shifting of bat species due to increase in surrounding temperature or anthropogenic pressure. Hence, this study aims to uncover the bat diversity trend at different elevations in Crocker Range Park (CRP), Sabah, Malaysia. Bat trappings were conducted in four substations within this park, covering an elevation spectrum from 450 to 1900 m a.s.l. The overall sampling managed to capture 133 individuals of bats, predominantly Pteropodidae, with the addition of two new species locality records for CRP, Murina peninsularis and Hypsugo vondermanni. Simple linear regression analyses revealed that both bat diversity and richness have an inverse linear relationship with elevation. Likewise, the Pearson’s correlation value, associating bat diversity with elevation, also shows that they have a negative relationship at r = -0.852. Heterogeneity of habitats explain this trend, as in the lower counterpart of CRP, lowland forests, which are richer in fruit and insect resources persist. Besides, lower land forests have better niche assortment, due to the distinctive layers stratification, allowing bats utilising different guilds to thrive in the same vegetation profile. This study further emphasises the role of CRP to protect most of the bat species found in Borneo, as well as serving as the baseline data for the future studies that look into the impact of temperature increment towards the upslope shifting of the bat population in CRP.

Genetic variation of Anisoptera costata Korth in Tan Phu tropical forest, Dinh Quan district, Dong Nai province

Anisoptera costata Korth, an endangered species is distributed in lowland tropical forests of southern Vietnam. Habitat loss and over-exploitation are the major reasons for threatening this species. Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers were used to analyze 64 adult trees from three A. costata populations in lowland tropical forests of Tan Phu, Dinh Quan district, Dong Nai Province in Southeast Vietnam to detect the effects of deforestation on gene flow and the differentiation among populations in lowland tropical forests. The results showed that all A. costata populations have the moderate levels of the genetic diversity within populations with mean values of observed and expected heterozygosities, 0.242 and 0.269, respectively, moderate genetic differentiation among A. costata populations (0.179), and indicating limited gene flow (Nm = 1.15). Analysis of molecular variance indicated high genetic variation within populations (64.68%) and indicating moderate genetic structure in A. costata in Tan Phu. Bayesian analysis detected two genetic lineages, cluster 1 including one population of Mieu Co Nam and cluster 2 including two populations, Thac Mai and Bau Nuoc. These results contribute understanding genetic diversity of A. costata in lowland forests of Southeastern Vietnam and will provide guidelines for conservation, management and resoration of the species.

Abundance and potency of Non-Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria in Padang Sapu-sapu, Pejem Village, Bangka

Padang sapu-sapu soil is similar with post-tin mining soil in its white sand texture and poor nutrient. One factor causes the disturbed land in Bangka Belitung islands is tin mining activity. One method to rehabilitate marginal soil is by utilizing the potential nonsymbiotic N2-fixing bacteria, which are able to fertilize the soil and is able to provide macro nutrient. This study aims to measure the abundance and potency of non-symbiotic N2-fixing bacteria in padang sapu-sapu, Pejem Village, Bangka. The site selection is determined by purposive sampling method and interviews and the samples were collected randomly. Isolation used selective media Ashby'`s Monitol Agar and Azospirillum media. Morphological characterization was conducted on isolates and a series selective test was carried out, i.e. hipersentivity test, hemolysis test, IAA phytohormone test and nitrogenase test. The study of the abundance population of non-symbiotic N2-fixing bacteria of two different locations showed that the total bacterial population in padang sapusapu is very small compared to its lowland forest. Isolate Azotobacter sp. TH105(a) from the lowland forests is potential as natural fertilizer.