Carbon and nutrient physiology in shrubs at the upper limits: a multi-species study

Aims Carbon and nutrient physiology of trees at their upper limits have been extensively studied, but those of shrubs at their upper limits have received much less attention. The aim of this study is to examine the general patterns of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) in shrubs at the upper limits, and to assess whether such patterns are similar to those in trees at the upper limits. Methods Across Eurasia, we measured the concentrations of soluble sugars, starch, total NSCs, N and P in leaves, branches and fine roots (< 0.5 cm in diameter) of five shrub species growing at both the upper limits and lower elevations in both summer (peak growing season) and winter (dormancy season). Important Findings Neither elevation nor season had significant effects on tissue N and P concentrations, except for lower P concentrations in fine roots in winter than in summer. Total NSCs and soluble sugars in branches were significantly higher in winter than in summer. There were significant interactive effects between elevation and season for total NSCs, starch, soluble sugars and the ratio of soluble sugar to starch in fine roots, showing lower soluble sugars and starch in fine roots at the upper limits than at the lower elevations in winter but not in summer. These results suggest that the carbon physiology of roots in winter may play an important role in determining the upward distribution of shrubs, like that in the alpine tree-line trees.

A new genus for Painter & Painter’s Villa “celer”-group in the New World (Diptera: Bombyliidae)

The bee fly genus Hemipenthes Loew in the New World reflects a heterogeneous assemblage of species. Study of species attributed to Painter & Painter’s 1962 Villa “celer” group (the species were later transferred to Hemipenthes) from the southern United States, and Central and South America shows a suite of characters that separate it from Hemipenthes s. str. and it is here described as the new genus Ins Evenhuis, n. gen. with its type species Anthrax ignea Macquart. Eight described species are here transferred to Ins: Ins celeris (Wiedemann, 1828), n. comb., Ins constituta (Walker, 1852), n. comb.; Ins curta (Loew, 1869), n. comb., Ins ignea (Macquart, 1846), n. comb.; Ins leucocephala (Wulp, 1886), n. comb., Ins martinorum (Painter, 1962), n. comb., Ins minas (Macquart, 1848), n. comb., and Ins pleuralis (Williston, 1901), n. comb. Two new species, Ins pectorcolumbo Evenhuis, n. sp. from El Salvador and Ins zanouts Evenhuis, n. sp. from Panama and Costa Rica are described and illustrated. The holotype of Anthrax divisa Walker, 1852, has been examined and found to be conspecific with Ins minas (Macquart, 1848), n. syn., and Anthrax galathea Osten Sacken, 1886 is found to be synonymous with Ins constituta (Walker, 1852), n. syn. Two other South American species currently in Hemipenthes, H. melaleuca (Wiedemann), and H. ruficollis (Bigot) are here transferred to Chrysanthrax, n. combs. A key to species in the genus is given.

BOOK REVIEW «DETERMINANT OF LICENS OF THE SAMARA REGION. PART I. FOLIOSE, FRUTICOSE AND SLIMY SPECIES: STUDY GUIDE. SAMARA: SAMARA UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2018. 128 P.: IL.» OF A.G. TSURIKOV AND E.S. KORCHIKOV

In the Samara region to date, there is a need for a closer study of lichen flora. So far, there is no complete list of species of lichens in the region, but only some local territories, often isolated from each other. Although attempts to study this group of organisms have been undertaken for a long time, this issue has not yet been finally resolved. A positive aspect is the publication of the “Identifier of lichens in the Samara region”. In the work of V.G. Tsurikova and E.S. Korchikova presented the original key for determining leafy, bushy and mucus species, accompanied by color photographs that facilitate this determination. The publication also contains a sufficient complete description of lichens (151 species).

ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА МИКРОБИОЦИНОЗА ПОЛОСТИ РТА У ПАЦИЕНТОВ С ПОЛНЫМ ОТСУТСТВИЕМ ЗУБОВ ДО ЛЕЧЕНИЯ И ПОСЛЕ ВНУТРИКОСТНОЙ ИМПЛАНТАЦИИ

A qualitative, or species, study of the microflora of the oral cavity was carried out using the technique of aerobic and anaerobic cultivation in patients with a full adentia of the upper and lower jaw before and after implantation. In patients after dental implantation, a change was observed both in the qualitative composition of the flora (the frequency of isolation of certain species) and the number of microbes secreted, which, in addition, underwent a certain dynamics on the 7th and 14th days of observation. On the 7th and further, on the 14th day of the study, a gradual decrease in the proportion of obligate-anaerobic and, above all, virulent periodontopathogenic species was observed (although their complete disappearance did not occur). In addition, the number of stabilizing microbial species was restored and was approaching normal. As a positive fact, indicating the favorable results of the surgical stage of treatment, it should also be noted that the number of most pathogenic species decreased by the 14th day from the moment of surgery to the minimum values.

The Hintons’ legacy to the knowledge of the flora of Mexico

<p><em>Background</em>: The Hinton family comprises three generations of plant collectors that have made an important contribution to the knowledge of the flora of Mexico. They have collected in 13 Mexican states and have provided material for the description of 8 genera and about 555 species new to science.</p><p><em>Question</em>: What is the contribution of the collections of the Hintons to our knowledge of the flora of Mexico? Where was their main collecting effort and how many species have been recorded?</p><p><em>Species study</em>: Vascular plants</p><p><em>Study site</em>: Mexico</p><p><em>Method</em>: Different national and foreign databases were consulted and a list of species collected by the Hintons was obtained. The records were reviewed to eliminate synonymy and a complete list of species and their distribution by states was compiled.</p><p><em>Results</em>: A total of 28,947 records were obtained and 25,717 of them were identified to species level. In addition to the family's collection, the herbaria with the largest number of records are LL-TEX, K, IEB, and MEXU. The records come from about 2,752 different collecting localities throughout Mexico and account for 5,730 species, 1,573 genera, and 233 families.</p><p><em>Conclusions</em>: Many of the specimens collected by the Hintons come from areas that are still underexplored today. The contribution of the Hinton family to the knowledge of the flora of Mexico represents an important legacy and their collections constitute an enduring source of information for people interested in the flora of Mexico<em>.</em></p>