Aa (Orchidaceae) of Southern Central Andes: Taxonomy, Nomenclature, and a New Species with Dark Flowers

Abstract—A new species, Aa tenebrosa, from the Yungas Montane Grasslands is described, illustrated, and compared to similar species. Descriptions, brief taxonomic notes, and data on the ecology of Aa species from the Southern Central Andes (Argentina) are provided.

First report of an economically important genus Euscelidius (Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Athysanini) from the Indian subcontinent, with description of a new species

The economically important genus Euscelidius Ribaut, 1942 is reported first time from the Palearctic temperate coniferous forests and montane grasslands and shrublands of Pakistan with the new species Euscelidius cornix sp. nov. Photographic illustrations and a description are provided for the habitus and male genitalia. A key and aedeagal illustrations are provided to distinguish all the species of the genus Euscelidius Ribaut worldwide along with their distribution.

Management Intensity Controls Nitrogen-Use-Efficiency and Flows in Grasslands—A 15N Tracing Experiment

The consequences of land use intensification and climate warming on productivity, fates of fertilizer nitrogen (N) and the overall soil N balance of montane grasslands remain poorly understood. Here, we report findings of a 15N slurry-tracing experiment on large grassland plant–soil lysimeters exposed to different management intensities (extensive vs. intensive) and climates (control; translocation: +2 °C, reduced precipitation). Surface-applied cattle slurry was enriched with both 15NH4+ and 15N-urea in order to trace its fate in the plant–soil system. Recovery of 15N tracer in plants was low (7–17%), while it was considerably higher in the soil N pool (32–42%), indicating N stabilization in soil organic nitrogen (SON). Total 15N recovery was only 49% ± 7% indicating substantial fertilizer N losses to the environment. With harvest N exports exceeding N fertilization rates, the N balance was negative for all climate and management treatments. Intensive management had an increased deficit relative to extensive management. In contrast, simulated climate change had no significant effects on the grassland N balance. These results suggest a risk of soil N mining in montane grasslands under land use intensification based on broadcast liquid slurry application.

Drymaria veliziae (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from the Andes of Cajamarca (North Peru)

A new species from the Northern Peruvian Andes (Cajamarca department), Drymaria veliziaesp. nov., is proposed in the present paper. It grows in the high-elevation montane grasslands and it is morphologically similar to D. auriculipetala from which it differs in having elliptic-ovate leaves, blade margin bases glandular, large number of stipules arranged in a pedicel form at the leaf axis and by the short and glandular pedicels. A detailed description, original photographs and a location map are provided, as well as an updated diagnostic key of Drymaria Ser. Frutescens. The IUCN status of the new species is assessed as Endangered (EN).