Lluciapomaresius nisae, a new species of Ephippigerini (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Bradyporinae) from the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula

A new species of the genus Lluciapomaresius Barat, 2012 is described from Serra de Llaberia in Catalonia (in the northeast of Iberian Peninsula). Lluciapomaresius nisae n. sp. was collected in a Mediterranean pine forest dominated by European black pine (Pinus nigra) and secondarily by Calcicolous rosemary scrub. L. nisae is compared to L. panteli (Navàs, 1899) from which it can be separated mainly by the shape of the male cerci, the titillators and the male calling song. Also in the females by the protuberances at the base of the ventral valves of the ovipositor.

Intracanopy variation in leaf morphology and physiology in dominant shrubs of Florida’s xeric uplands

The variation in morphological traits and photosynthetic potentials associated with light conditions in the canopy can determine whole-plant function. However, leaf structure–function relationships are poorly studied in ecosystems experiencing nominal light attenuation. We examined morphological leaf traits (area, specific leaf area, thickness, revoluteness, length–width) and photosynthetic traits estimated from rapid light curves (PARsat, ETRmax, light harvesting efficiency α) in seven shrub species in two xeric upland ecosystems of Florida: rosemary scrub and sandhill. Across species and ecosystem types, shade leaves had greater specific leaf area, were thinner, and less revolute than sun leaves. Surprisingly, shade leaves had smaller areas than sun leaves. Three out of six species showed a tight relationship between morphological and photosynthetic traits. Species common to both sandhill and rosemary scrub ecosystems showed similar photosynthetic traits but greater sclerophylly in the scrub ecosystem. Overall, greater leaf thickness and greater leaf area of upper canopy leaves yielded higher photosynthetic capacities and saturation at higher photon flux densities compared with lower canopy leaves. Our results suggest that variation in leaf morphological traits governed by patterns in light availability have functional significance; however, ecosystem properties such as nutrient availability might also impact light-driven structure-function relationships.