Terpenoids of plants in arid environments.

Arid and desert environments are characterized by the sparse and discontinuous vegetation cover. Species that have been able to survive difficult bioclimatic conditions and adapt from generation to generation in these areas had to develop physiological and biochemical mechanisms of tolerance and/or resistance. The use of secondary metabolites, specifically terpenoids, is predominant in most of the biotic and abiotic interactions in which these plants are involved. Studies have shown their roles in the prevention of oxidative stress by intervening in thermo-tolerance, water stress, and salt stress generalized in a model of "the protective role of volatile compounds" explained by a single biochemical mechanism. Other studies have proven the functions of terpenoids in direct and indirect defenses against natural enemies, herbivores, and pathogenic microorganisms, in the attraction of pollinators, in competition and facilitation and other interactions between plants. This review mainly summarizes the recent research progress on the adaptation mechanisms of plants in arid environments and the biological and ecological roles of terpenoids in the various biotic and abiotic interactions.

Differentiation of forest vegetation across bioclimatic sector border (western part of the West Sayan Ridge)

A detailed description of the forests of the northern and southern macroslopes of western part of the West Sayan Ridge has been performed and differences in their forest vegetation have been analyzed. Along the West Sayan Ridge watershed, the important botanical and geographical boundary of the Altai-Sayan Mountains occurs. Its northern macroslope belongs to the humid bioclimatic sector; bioclimatic conditions throughout the southern macroslope vary in its different parts: the central and eastern parts are resided in the semihumid sector, while the western one is settled in the «rain shadow», where vegetation is similar to the semiarid sector one. The West Sayan background vegetation type is forest. The work is based on 120 complete geobotanical relevés made by the authors in 2019 using standard methods on test plots of 20 × 20 m. These plots had been uniformly distributed on a 300-kilometer transect crossing the northern and southern macroslopes of West Sayan’s western part. After all, 9 basic units of forest communities have been revealed, 6 of them are found to be altitudinal zone forests. These plant community positions in ecological-phytocenotic and floristic classification hierarchy have been ascertained. The altitudinal allocation and areas of altitudinal zone forests have been characterized and analyzed; the scheme of altitudinal zonation has been specified; the pictures in the text illustrate those results. In West Sayan’s western part, the northern and southern macroslopes are shown to have different altitudinal zone boundary marks and a different set of forest communities: six types of forests follow each other from north to south throughout 300 km. The significant hierarchical level of syntaxonomic differences of altitudinal zone forests on northern and southern macroslopes supports the presence of a bioclimatic barrier. In ecological-phytocenotic classification hierarchy these differences are reflected by the rank of classes of formations (deciduous, dark coniferous, and light coniferous forests substitute each other); in floristic classification hierarchy – the rank of classes (the forests of Brachypodio–Betuletea, Asaro–Abitetea, Vaccinio–Piceetea, and Rhytidio–Laricetea substitute each other from north to south).

Establishment and new hosts of the non-native seed beetle Stator limbatus (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) on acacias in Europe

Stator limbatus is a phytophagous beetle native to warm regions of North and Central America, feeding on Fabaceae seeds and one of the most polyphagous species within the subfamily Bruchinae, here reported for the first time in Europe and on new hosts. Adult beetles emerged from Acacia spp. seeds collected in the islands of Corsica (France), and Sardinia (Italy). The wide presence in Sardinia and Corsica supports the hypothesis that this alien species was introduced several years ago. In both islands, S. limbatus emerged from Acacia mearnsii seeds, with infestation rates of up to 74.2 and 90.8% in 2019 and 2020, respectively. This seed beetle also emerged from two previously unreported host species, Acacia saligna and A. pycnantha, showing highest infestation rates of 4.0 and 95.1%, respectively. Both Acacia species are reported as new host associations with S. limbatus. Overall, seed infestation rates recorded in 2019 and 2020 indicate that S. limbatus is well established and that Mediterranean bioclimatic conditions are suitable for its population increase in size. This study lays the foundations for further research on known and potential host species and the spread and distribution of S. limbatus in Europe.

20th years’ results of Cedrus species and provenance adaptation trials established in cool and semi-arid variant of supra-mediterranean bioclimatic stratum’s in the south western Turkey

Twenty provenances of Atlas Cedar, three provenances of Lebanon Cedar and two provenances of Cyprus Cedar had subjected to 20 year adaptation trials in Soutwestern Mediterrenean Elmalı and Keçiborlu locations where Supra-Mediterranean (cool,semi-arid) Bioclimatic conditions prevail. According to 20 year’s results, it was determined that Algerian Atlas cedar, Lebanon cedar and Cyprus cedar provenances had adaptation capability to mentioned conditions. Nevertheless, Morocco provenances of Atlas cedar had lower adaptation hence vulnerability to expected climate change due to global warming.

Population structure and genetic diversity in common bean accessions from Northeast Brazil

Common bean is of great relevance for several countries, especially those located in tropical regions. Common bean in Brazil has a wide genetic diversity, which is used by breeders to improve this crop. In this study, we used GBS methodology to genotype common bean accessions from Northeast Brazil, and to study its population structure and genetic diversity. After a filtering process, we identified 30,529 high-quality SNPs distributed in 11 linkage groups. The number of SNPs per chromosome ranged from 1,731 to 3,853. The population structure analysis separated the accessions into two subpopulations, according to K=2, one subpopulation with 26 Andean and the other with 60 Middle American accessions. Considering K=3, Middle American accessions were divided into two subpopulations with presence of allele mixture between these two groups. Based on the PCA, we were able to verify a narrow genetic base of accessions belonging to the Andean gene pool, as well as a vast genetic diversity among the accessions from the Middle American gene pool. The knowledge on the genetic diversity among the accessions is of extreme importance to subsidize the common bean breeding programs in Northeast Brazil, and to explore the variability existing in cultivars adapted to the specific bioclimatic conditions.

Bioclimatic Conditions of June 2019 in Poland on a Multi-Year Background (1966–2019)

The study objective was to characterise human-biometeorological conditions in the summer season in the period 1966–2019 in Poland, with particular consideration of June 2019. The study was conducted based on data from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management—National Research Institute (IMGW–PIB) for the years 1966–2019. The data provided the basis for the calculation of the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). The study revealed high spatial variability of human-biometeorological conditions in Poland, with strenuous character intensifying from the north to the south of the country. An increase in UTCI in the summer season was recorded in the studied multi-annual period. It was the most intensive in the north-eastern Poland. The consequence of the observed changes was an increase in the frequency of days with heat stress categories (days with UTCI > 26.0 °C), and a decrease in the frequency of days with cold stress categories (days with UTCI < 9.0 °C). Season 2019 stood out at the scale of the entire country in the context of the multi-annual period. This particularly concerns June, when mean monthly UTCI values were the highest in the analysed multi-annual period.

Climatic changes and distribution of plant formations in the state of Paraíba, Brazil

The state of Paraíba in northeast Brazil contains four of the seven biomes present in the country: Mata Atlântica, Cerrado, Caatinga and Matas Serranas. On the other hand, Amazônia, Pantanal and Pampa were not found in this area. This special situation allows us to analyse changes in the distribution of these four large Brazilian biomes according to bioclimatic conditions, using the methodology of bioclimatic regime types. Based on the analysis of variables from periods of hydric and thermal vegetation stagnation, obtained from hydric and bioclimatic balances, average monthly temperature and rainfall, that methodology enables us to establish a typology of 27 types of bioclimatic regimes and 243 bioclimatic regime subtypes with the 9 Thornthwaite ombrothermal levels. In Paraíba 4 types of bioclimatic regimes are currently identified (mesophyllo, tropophyllo, xerophyllo and eurythermophilous) and 9 subtypes according to ombrothermal levels. In order to analyse the changes, extreme change situations were chosen: a past scenario with the Last Glacial Maximum (40 ky); and an RCP 8.5 climate change scenario for the CMSS 4.0 model for the year 2070. This enabled 3 bioclimatic regime maps of each of the 3 aforementioned situations to be obtained, providing a map of potential distribution of the plant formations of Paraíba state according to the specific field knowledge and bioclimatic mapping obtained for the present. This paper concludes that a retrocession of the Mata Atlântica can be seen from the Last Glacial Maximum up to the present, losing its optimal bioclimatic conditions and therefore remaining in a highly fragile relict situation in the face of anthropic pressure (sugarcane cultivation and urban expansion); an advance toward 2070 of the Caatinga in its shrub form as a predominant formation is indicated by the projection of climate change in 2070 for the analysed situation, specifically resulting from anthropic pressure, in this case due to livestock activities which have affected this biome in Paraíba since the mid-19th century.

Temporal Analysis of Urban-Suburban PET, mPET and UTCI Indices in Belgrade (Serbia)

The analysis of the bioclimatic conditions is becoming increasingly relevant in climate interpretations for human needs, particularly in spatial planning, tourism, public health, sports events, bio-prognosis, etc. In this context, our study presents general temporal bioclimatic conditions in Belgrade, defined based on the PET, mPET and UTCI heat budget indices. Monthly, seasonal and annual indices were analyzed for urban and suburban weather stations based on 43 annual sets of meteorological data obtained by hourly observations at 7 h and 14 h CET. This study aims to present the distribution of PET, mPET and UTCI indices to show the pattern of each index in a mild climate location and to examine annual and seasonal differences of each index in the Belgrade urban center and suburban part of the city. The study results indicate higher biothermal stress in the urban area compared to the suburban zone and that the indices are congruent during the summer. At the same time, during the winter, they are more difficult to compare due to their peculiarities becoming more noticeable. The results obtained of all mean monthly and mean annual values of all three indices clearly indicate the difference that follows the definition of the urban heat island (UHI), particularly those from morning observation and winter season. The UTCI index shows the most significant monthly, seasonal and annual difference between urban and suburban areas for both observations. The annual difference of ΔUTCI7h amounts to 1.5 °C is the same as the annual difference of minimum temperatures (Δtmin). In contrast, the annual differences of ΔPET7h ΔmPET7h are °smaller (0.8 °C and 0.7 °C) and closer to the annual differences of maximum temperatures Δtmax amounted of 0.6 °C.

Comparative characteristics of the weather and climate health risk in the Arctic belt of the Krasnoyarsk region

The average for 2009–2019 was determined. monthly indicators of temperature, speed of movement and air humidity in the open area according to the data of meteorological stations at Cape Chelyuskin and Dikson Island. Monthly wind-cold indices (VHI) and equivalent effective temperatures (EET) were calculated, and the assessment of the risk of cold influences on humans was compared. In the Arctic zone of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, thermal discomfort has been established due to low air temperatures, wind strength (from weak to moderate), and humidity (moderate to highly humid) air. Bioclimatic conditions differed in the lower temperatures for 6 months at Cape Chelyuskin and the strength of the wind (1 month); on about. Dixon — higher humidity for 7 months. and wind strength for 2 months. On about Dikson compared with M. Chelyuskin identified less uncomfortable conditions. Average monthly daily temperatures in the open area prove the presence of a cold environment. This suggests that VHI indicates the presence of a potential (4 months) and probable cold health risk (8 months). EET showed the presence of year-round cold risk. At Cape Chelyuskin, the habitat was assessed as «cold» (4 months) and «threat of frostbite» (8 months). Dixon — as «moderately cold» (3 months), «cold» (1 month), «very cold» (1 month) and «threat of frostbite» (7 months).

Ecological niche modelling predicts significant impacts of future climate change on two endemic rodents in eastern Africa

The impact of climate change on rodents is well studied, however, many of these studies are restricted to the Americas. Small- to medium-sized rodents, especially murids, are restricted in their home range and microclimatic niche breadth, and are known to be more sensitive to changes in bioclimatic conditions over time. We analyzed the effect of future climatic scenarios in the near and distant future, using two global climate models (CanESM5 and MIROC-ES2L) for two shared socio-economic pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5), on two eastern Africa endemic small-bodied mice: Stenocephalemys albipes and Mastomys awashensis. Our results indicate that while S. albipes showed increases in area of climatic suitability in the future, M. awashensis is predicted to suffer severe decline in the area of its fundamental niche.