Alophia graniticola (Tigridieae, Iridaceae): A New Species from the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract— A new species of Alophia (Tigridieae, Iridaceae), only known from the Brazilian Amazon, is here described and illustrated. Alophia graniticola was found growing over granite outcrops in the Serra dos Carajás mountain range, Pará state, Northern Brazil, inside or at the edges of dry deciduous forests. This is the third native species of Alophia registered in Brazil, differing from the other species of the genus by the anthers with an incurved apex, an unprecedented feature in the genus. An identification key for all Alophia species is also provided.

PETROGENESIS, MAJOR OXIDES AND TRACE ELEMENTS GEOCHEMISTRY OF MIGMATITE IN AJUBA, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Petrogenesis, major oxides and trace elements geochemical study was carried out on migmatite in Ajuba. The study area is located on Latitudes 8° 05'N and 8°13'N and Longitudes 5°23'E and 5°30'E. Five rock samples were taken from the migmatite outcrops and used for petrographic and geochemical analyses. The geochemical analysis was done using X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer technique. The dominant rock type is migmatite; gneiss and granite outcrops were also found in sparse distribution. Ptygmatic folds, which constitute the palaeosome, is the common structure observed on the migmatite rock. The petrographic analysis shows that the migmatite consists of quartz, biotite, plagioclase, hornblende and microcline. The major oxides analysis indicates SiO2 as the dominant oxide with concentration range values (70.71 wt. % - 79.32 wt. %) and average of 74.80 wt. %. Al2O3 (14.98 wt. % - 16.44 wt. %, average: 15.70 wt. %) and Fe2O3 (9.10 wt. % - 15.41 wt. %, average: 12.39 wt. %), K2O (6.67 wt. % - 8.86 wt. %, average: 7.50 wt. %) and CaO (0.49 Wt. % - 4.64 wt. %. average: 2.73 wt. %). P2O5, MnO and TiO2 are less than 1.0 wt. %. The trace elements analysis indicates the concentration distributions: Rb (0.11-0.15 ppm, average 0.13 ppm), Co (0.04-0.17 ppm, average 0.10 ppm). Trace elements ˂ 0.10 ppm are Zn, W, Ni, Cu, V and Pb. From the petrographic and geochemical assessment, the petrogenesis of the migmatite has silica-rich igneous parentage. Moreover, the plots of SiO2-CaO and K2O-SiO2 placed the migmatite on the “upper boundary field of Francisian Greywacke” protolith and Shoshonite series, respectively.

Comparative characteristics of metabolites from various cyanobacteria biofilms

Cyanobacterial communities collected from the Ruskeala marble in the territory of Ruskeala quarry and granite-rapakivi from quarries of Southern Finland are compared. Two types of cyanobacterial biofilms were characterized by external features, diversity, and composition of metabolites. Identification of cyanobacteria was carried out according to morphological characters. In total, forty-nine cyanobacteria taxa belonging to four orders, fifteen families, twenty-two genera were revealed. Of these, forty-one taxa were identified on granite outcrops, and eighteen taxa on marble substrate. A complete list of cyanobacterial species in decreasing order of occurrence is presented in the text. Calothrix parietina is defined as the dominant of the first type biofilm on marble, Gloeocapsa atrata on granite. For the second type of biofilms, a greater abundance of Gloecapsopsis magma was noted, and a variety of cyanobacteria from the genus Gloeocapsa (6 taxa) on both types of substrate. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the first type of biofilm contains mono-, di- and trisaccharides and amino acids in high concentrations, and the second type is characterized by a clear dominance of sugar alcohols. In general, biofilms of the second type on marble and granite are more similar in composition to metabolites than biofilms of the first type. The role of cyanobacterial biofilms in the biodegradation of stony substrates is discussed. It was noted that in biofilms of the first type there is less malic and oxalic acid on marble than on granite, which is most likely due to the binding of these metabolites to calcium, which is part of the substrate.

The Landscape Complexes of the Regional Landscape Park «Murafa»

Purpose. To identify the peculiarities of the landscape complexes of the regional landscape park (RLP) «Murafa». Methods: theoretical generalization, systematization of facts, finding of empirical relationships, analytical and cartographic analysis, cartographic, logic, field. Results. Forest-steppe upland landscapes are widespread on the territory of RLP Murafa. Within them sloping, floodplain, floodplain-terrace, watercourse and plakor terrains are well-defined. The tracts of slopes of different steepness with oak-hornbeam forests on chernozems podzolic and dark grey podzolic soils, with meadow steppes on deep low humus chernozems, tracts of limestone and granite outcrops have been preserved in the sloping areas. Meadows of different levels and humidity, black alders, willows, sedge thickets are typical tracts of floodplains. The tracts of flat surfaces with oak-hornbeam forests on dark grey podzolic soils and chernozems podzolic were common in the past in the structure of floodplain-terraces areas. Aquatic areas of shallow and deep places are distinguished in watercourse areas. Aquatic tracts of islands, rapids, shivers, the central watercourse, shallow watercourses and branches, bays were formed on the shallow areas. The tracts of central deep water, central shallow water and coastal shoals were formed on the deep places. The tracts of convex areas of actual watersheds with meadow steppes groupings on typical shallow low-humus chernozems are allocated on plakors. The tracts of slightly sloping surfaces of watersheds and ravines with dark grey podzolic soils under oak and hornbeam forests also were common here in the past. Conclusion. While creating RLP "Murafa", mainly integral natural complexes of river valleys were included. It was found that the landscape structure at the local level is dominated by sloping areas. The least common are plakor areas. It was discovered that rural residential, meadow-pasture agricultural, mining, forest and water anthropogenic landscapes were formed on the place of natural tracts of the park due to the process of anthropogenization.

Automatic and Manual Fracture-Lineament Identification on Digital Surface Models as Methods for Collecting Fracture Data on Outcrops: Case Study on Fractured Granite Outcrops, Bangka

Three-dimensional outcrop models, or Digital Surface Models (DSMs), have proved their capacity in many geoscience studies. Along with the advantage in the rapid acquisition, DSMs are capable of creating virtual models of fractured outcrops to be interpreted for further analysis. This paper reports the DSM robustness by comparing the result of fracture-lineament measurement using DSMs and discusses the possible causes of error that might occur. The first method applied in this study is the scanline method to collect fracture data directly from outcrops, measuring more than 1,400 fracture data. The second method is applying fully automatic and manual fracture identification by optimizing hill-shaded DSMs. Two well-exposed granite outcrops in Bangka, Indonesia, are designed for the pilot area. Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry is utilized to generate the DSMs, where a series of aerial images are captured using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The images are then processed into hill-shaded DSMs to be automatically analyzed following the algorithm in PCI Geomatics software and manually assessed. The textures of DSMs are also used in fracture identification through RGB filtering as the third method. The results show that the semiautomatic measurement using RGB-filtering texture has the closest pattern to the scanline data compared to the hill-shaded DSM method. The differences rely on several conditions, such as the geometry and texture of the outcrops. Eventually, methods of fracture identification using DSM are expected to be capable as options in preliminary fracture data collecting on outcrops, especially when the scanline is unable to be performed.

The Noongar of south-western Australia: a case study of long-term biodiversity conservation in a matrix of old and young landscapes

Occurring across all southern hemisphere continents except Antarctica, old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes (OCBILs) are centres of biological richness, often in biodiversity hotspots. Among a matrix of young, often disturbed, fertile landscapes (YODFELs), OCBILs are centres of endemism and diversity in the exceptionally rich flora of the south-west Australian global biodiversity hotspot, home to Noongar peoples for ≥ 48 000 years. We analysed contemporary traditional Noongar knowledge of adjacent OCBILs (e.g. granite outcrops) and YODFELs (e.g. creekline fringes) both at a single site and in two larger areas to test whether patterns of disturbance dictated by Noongar custom align with OCBIL theory. We found that Noongar traditional knowledge reflects a regime of concentrated YODFEL rather than OCBIL disturbance—a pattern which aligns with maximal biodiversity preservation. SIMPER testing found traditional Noongar OCBIL and YODFEL activities are 64–75% dissimilar, whereas Pearson’s chi-square tests revealed camping, burning, travelling through country and hunting as primarily YODFEL rather than OCBIL activities. We found that Noongar activities usually avoid OCBIL disturbance. This combined with high floristic diversity following enduring First Peoples’ presence, suggests that traditional Noongar knowledge is valuable and necessary for south-west Australian biodiversity conservation. Similar cultural investigations in other OCBIL-dominated global biodiversity hotspots may prove profitable.

Description of Isoetes afloramientorum, sp. nov. (Isoetaceae), and a second record for Isoetes santacruzensis, two granite outcrop quillworts in Bolivia

A second population of the diploid Isoetes santacruzensis is reported. This extends the range of that newly described endemic of granite outcrop pools by approximately 100 kms southward into central Bolivia from its type location. Another distinct taxon has been detected in the vicinity of the new I. santacruzensis population. The morphology of probably tetraploid I. afloramientorum sp. nov. is described. A cluster of distinct taxa comparable to similar complexes seen in North America, Australia and northern Brazil may be present on Bolivian granite outcrops. There is an urgent need for field investigation of this unique and important habitat to determine the contemporary status and protection requirements of its rare and possibly endangered flora.