Taxonomic and nomenclatural inventory of the Umbelliferae in Central Asia, described on the basis of collections of the National Herbarium of Uzbekistan

The National Herbarium of Uzbekistan (TASH) in Tashkent is the oldest and largest botanical collection not only in Uzbekistan, but also in the entire region of Central Asia. The article presents a complete inventory of the type material of Umbelliferae taxa stored in the National Herbarium of Uzbekistan (TASH), as well as some key events of the TASH history and its main personalities. The herbarium in its current state is a result of merging of seven Uzbekistanian herbaria. TASH played a special role in the studies of Central Asian Umbelliferae (Apiaceae). TASH currently holds type specimens of 130 taxa of Umbelliferae, including 125 species and 5 intraspecific taxa (according to the ranks proposed in protologues). The TASH Umbelliferae type collection contains holotypes of 82 taxa, lectotypes of 36 taxa, isolectotypes of 22 taxa, syntypes of 15 taxa, and isotypes of 19 taxa. The names of 54 taxa have been preserved in the modern nomenclature of the Umbelliferae, whereas the names of 46 and 33 taxa are now considered as nomenclatural and taxonomic synonyms. Four lectotypes are designated here

Przyrodnicze kolekcje naukowe Akademii Pomorskiej w Słupsku

Pomeranian University in Słupsk hosts two significant natural history collections, i.e. the Herbarium Slupensis (SLTC) botanical collection and the zoological collection, which contains mainly the arthropods. In the Herbarium both the historical and contemporary material is stored, including fungi, lichens, bryophytes and vascular plants that were collected mainly in the Polish Pomerania. The zoological collection contains predominantly the specimens of beetles and spiders, originating from Belarus and Poland (from Pomerania, but also from Masuria and Lower Silesia). In the two collections there are representatives of very valuable species. Both the Herbarium and the zoological collection are presently being digitised, supplemented with new specimens and developed. They present a significant contribution to knowledge on diversity of fauna and flora in the region and in Poland.

Green Room Circuit at Paulo VI Campus in Maranhao State University, Brazil

The implementation of the Environmental Management Advisory at Maranhão State University, in 2015, promoted environmental education actions as a continuous in the institution, and coordinated by the Environmental Management System of the advisory. The approval on the call for the creation of Green Rooms, by the Ministry of Environment, became this university qualified in 2018 to have a Green Room in its space, constituting a space for environmental interactions. Thus, the objective was to discuss the actions developed in 2018. Having a Circuit format, the Green Room of this academy (Green Room Circuit at Paulo VI Campus), in the year in question, four visits were made, with activities scheduled in the Fishery and Aquatic Ecology laboratories, Zoology laboratory, Botanical Collection (Rosa Mochel), Agroecological Trail and seedling workshops. Totalizing 109 participants, 33% were from the capital and 67% from the metropolitan region of Sao Luis and other municipalities of Maranhão state, northeast of Brazil. Therefore, the Green Room Circuit of Paulo VI Campus was faced as a potentializer and dynamizer, for the development of actions that contribute to a sustainable awareness among its participants.

Hawaiian seascapes and landscapes: reconstructing elements of a Polynesian ecological knowledge system

Kaute and its derivatives koute, ʻoute and ʻaute are Polynesian names for a red-flowered Hibiscus. Since its first botanical collection on Tahiti by Banks and Solander (1769), this hibiscus has been referred to as H. rosa-sinensis L. and assumed to have been introduced by the bearers of the archaeological culture known as Lapita. Lapita people settled West Polynesia around 2800 BP and spoke a language derived from Proto-Oceanic, the common ancestor of almost all the Austronesian languages of Island Melanesia and Micronesia as well as Polynesia. However, whereas Proto-Oceanic names can be reconstructed for many plants found in East Polynesia, the term kaute cannot be attributed to Proto-Oceanic, the name likely being locally derived in East Polynesia from that of paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L’Hér. ex Vent.). On the basis of linguistic evidence, we contend that kaute was domesticated in a high island area of Central Eastern Polynesia and then dispersed in relatively recent pre-European times (ca. 500–700 BP) westwards through West Polynesia, to nearby islands such as the Fiji archipelago and Rotuma and to Polynesian Outliers in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Dissemination occurred before the -au- sequence changed to -ou- and k sporadically changed to ʻ, so that kaute rather than contemporary Marquesan koute and ʻoute was the term that was carried westward from the Marquesas. Kaute is here suggested to be an endemic East Polynesian species, different from H. rosa-sinensis L. Further field and genetic research is needed to definitively determine the phylogenetic relationships of kaute and a taxonomic description is required for formal recognition.

Intraspecific drought tolerance of Betula pendula genotypes: an evaluation using leaf turgor loss in a botanical collection

Key message The results showed a significant relationship between the potential evapotranspiration of the provenance collection site and the leaf turgor loss point and significant positive differences in drought tolerance between provenances and subspecies of B. pendula. Abstract The ecosystem services provided by urban trees make substantial contributions to the quality of urban living and securing resilience towards the challenges posed by a changing climate. Water deficits are a major abiotic stress for trees in urban environments and, in many regions, this stress is likely to be amplified under future climate scenarios. Although wide variation in drought tolerance exists at the species level, many species also show substantial intraspecific variation in drought tolerance. The aim of this study is to evaluate how drought tolerance, inferred from the water potential at leaf turgor loss point (ΨP0), varies in Betula pendula from different geographical origins and determine if the observed drought tolerance can be related to the local climate and seasonal water balance from the provenance of origin, despite the trees now being established in similar soil and climatic conditions within a single botanical collection. Six subsp. betula, five subsp. mandshurica and two subsp. szechuanica were evaluated, giving a total of 12 different provenances. The results showed a significant relationship between the potential evapotranspiration of the provenance collection site and the leaf turgor loss point and significant positive differences in drought tolerance between provenances and subspecies of B. pendula. By directing efforts towards identifying more drought-tolerant genotypes, it will be possible to diversify the palette of trees that could confidently be integrated by urban tree planners and landscape architects into the urban landscape. The results of this study on different ecotypes of B. pendula clearly show that it is possible to find more drought-tolerant plant material.

The importance of the Brazilian Subtropical Highland Grasslands evidenced by a taxonomically verified endemic species list

The Brazilian Subtropical Highland Grasslands (Campos de Cima da Serra) is one of the main areas of endemism in southern Brazil. The complex biogeographic history that resulted in the floristic composition of the region is directly linked to the high degree of plant endemism found there. Here we present a current checklist for the endemic plants – the first taxonomically verified endemic species list for the region. The list comprises 273 endemic taxa (23.5% of its flora) representing 40 families and 117 genera, highlighting fifty-seven taxa reported as endemic from the region for the first time in recent years. Voucher specimens, original publication, locality information and distribution data are provided for each endemic taxon. Botanical collections in the Brazilian Subtropical Highland Grasslands have increased exponentially during the last four decades. However, 41 taxa are known only from the original collection record reported in their protologue. Our results emphasize the importance of the Brazilian Subtropical Highland Grasslands in terms of conservation of its flora and the importance of providing complete information on botanical collection labels as source for a robust knowledge of the flora.

Georeferencing the Natural History Museum's Chinese type collection: of plateaus, pagodas and plants

The digitising efforts of herbaria aim to increase access to and impact of scientific collections, by making the data digitally accessible to the global community. Digitising the NHMUK’s botanical collection of around 5.1 million specimens is an ongoing process, but the majority of the type collections have already been imaged. The Chinese type collection has also been transcribed; however, during the recent georeferencing process, we realised that much of the data had been transcribed incorrectly, particularly the locality information in which 80% of the collection contained errors. We discovered 154 specimens that were mistakenly filed in China. We corrected the mistakes from the previous transcription and georeferenced the collection which consists of 3,736 records. In this paper, we discuss the problems and errors we encountered during the georeferencing process, detailing why there were mistakes, what made the transcription harder than expected and what could have led to errors. We also give a short description about the Chinese language and its difference from European languages, leading to complex problems for georeferencing. We provide a brief guide on how to georeference a Chinese collection, avoiding errors and making the georeferencing process easier and faster.

OS HERBÁRIOS COMO RECURSOS EDUCATIVOS DINÂMICOS E INTERDISCIPLINARES

ResumoOs herbários são coleções biológicas que incluem o material de referência para todos os que precisem de identificar ou preservar plantas, fungos ou algas. Estas coleções foram usadas inicialmente pelos professores/médicos/herbalistas no século XVI e mais tarde, nas primeiras viagens de exploração científica, tornaram-se uma ferramenta essencial para todos os coletores e botânicos. A contextualização dos herbários do ponto de vista da história das ciências pode ampliar os usos de um herbário e reforçar a sua versatilidade. Desta perspetiva, os herbários transcendem a sua função de repositório, refletindo contextos para além dos da esfera científica, espelhando as políticas de desenvolvimento governamental, educacional e económico de um país. O Herbário do Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade do Porto é uma coleção reconhecida mundialmente como o Herbário da Universidade do Porto (PO) e é uma coleção de referência da flora Portuguesa, contendo coleções históricas, privadas e académicas constituídas desde o século XIX. Tomando como ponto de partida o herbário (coleção botânica desidratada entre papel) e o Herbário da Universidade do Porto (como instituição responsável da organização e conservação de vários tipos de coleções botânicas), este trabalho mostra como os herbários e os Herbários são veículos para a compreensão de assuntos de várias esferas e materializam a sua interconexão, promovendo uma aprendizagem de carácter global, fomentando a sua consciência histórica e cívica. Palavras-chave: Coleções históricas; Herbários: Estudos Interdisciplinares. Abstract Herbaria are biological collections that include reference material for anyone who needs to identify or preserve plants, fungi or algae. These collections were used by the first professors/doctors/herbalists in the 16th century, and later, on the first voyages of scientific exploration becoming an essential tool for all collectors and botanists. The contextualization of herbaria from the point of view of the history of science can broaden the uses of a herbarium and reinforce its versatility. From this perspective, herbaria transcend their repository function, reflecting contexts beyond those of the scientific sphere, mirroring a country's government, educational and economic development policies. The Herbarium of the Museum of Natural History and Science of the University of Porto is a collection recognized worldwide as the Herbarium of the University of Porto (PO) and is a reference collection of Portuguese flora, containing historical, private and academic collections since the 19th century. Taking as its starting point the herbarium (dehydrated botanical collection between paper) and the Herbarium of the University of Porto (as the institution responsible for the organization and conservation of various types of biological collections), this paper shows how herbaria and Herbaria are vehicles for the understanding of subjects from various spheres and materialize their interconnectedness, promoting a global learning, fostering their historical and civic awareness. Keywords: Historical collections; Herbaria; Interdisciplinary studies.

A Project to Improve the Profitability of the Use of Park Areas (Evidence from Zaryadye Park, Moscow City, Russia)

For the effective functioning of a large city, a metropolis, it is extremely important to have in the infrastructure areas and facilities for recreation of citizens, for cultural and entertainment leisure. In this article, it is offered to consider the unique project, which was accomplished in Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation, in the very city center – the creation of multipurpose Zaryadye Park. The article presents the technology of creating a modern park infrastructure, as well as a comparative analysis of foreign and domestic practices in the development of new recreation opportunities. In addition, the article proposes to intensify the use of the socio-engineering methodology of management decision-making that provides a scientific basis for the project activity. Much attention is paid to the tasks which arise with regard to modern park areas. This includes a broad range of scientific and educational programs that contribute to sparking an interest in different age groups to knowledge and innovation, as well as the uncovering historical and natural resources of Russia, creating an oasis for recreation and walks. Moscow State Autonomous Cultural Institution Zaryadye Park is the first park built within the boundaries of the Boulevard Ring. It is a new cultural driver of Moscow, a key link in the network of walking routes around the Kremlin. Unlike other Moscow parks, which have vast territories for the organization of recreational activities, Zaryadye Park has a number of features, which make it unique, namely, a rather small area, multilevelness, botanical collection that demonstrates the natural diversity of Russia, media complexes, which have no analogues in Moscow, and a broad range of offered scientific and educational programs. Various information kiosks are available in the Zaryadye Park for visitors, as well as tourist information centers, exhibition halls, souvenir and gift shops, cafés and bars, the ice cave, the florarium, Sacred Embassy scientific-educational center; large amphitheater, concert hall, and modern gastronomic food court.

Semantic Annotation of Botanical Collection Data

Herbarium specimens have been digitized at the Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum, Berlin (BGBM) since the year 2000. As part of the digitization process, specimen data have been recorded manually for specific basic data elements. Additional elements were usually added later based on the digital images. During the last twenty years, data were transcribed exactly as they were written on the labels, a widely used procedure in European herbaria. This approach led to a large number of orthographic variations especially with regard to person and place names. To improve interoperability between records within our own collection database and across collection databases provided by the community, we have started to enrich our metadata with Linked Open Data (LOD)-based links to semantic resources starting with collectors and geographic entities. Preferred resources for semantic enrichment (e.g., WikiData, GeoNames) have been agreed on by members of the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF) in order to exploit the potential of semantically enriched collection data in the best possible way. To be able to annotate many collection records in a relatively short time, priority was given to concepts (e.g., specific collector names) that occur on many specimen labels and that have an existing and easy-to-find semantic representation in an external resource. With this approach, we were able to annotate 52,000 specimen records in just a few weeks of working time of a student assistant. The integration of our semantic annotation workflows with other data integration, cleaning, and import processes at the BGBM is carried out using an OpenRefine-based platform with specific extensions for services and functions related to label transcription activities (Kirchhoff et al. 2018). Our semantically enriched collection data will contribute to a “Botany Pilot,” which is presently being developed by member organizations of CETAF to demonstrate the potential of Linked Open Collection Data and their integration with existing semantic resources.