Geographical distribution, habitats and modern state of Carlina cirsioides (Asteraceae) populations

The study of the current state and habitats of rare and threatened species of plants is a relevant task of ecological research. The paper presents the results of the study of systematic position, habitats and modern state of populations of a rare species included in the Red DataBook of Ukraine Carlina cirsioides Klokov (=C. acaulis L.). Carlina cirsioides is well-known to European phytosozologists as an endemic and relic species of the Flora of Ukraine. At the same time, the species independence of this taxon is not recognized by the authors of monographs on the Carlina genus and by the authors of “Flora Europaea”. Comparative morphological, chorological and ecological-coenotic analyses do not give sufficient reasons to consider C. cirsioides described by Klokov as a separate species, endemic and relic species of the Flora of Ukraine. According to the morphological traits, the specimens from the lowland part of Ukraine belong to the C. acaulis caulescens subspecies, which is distributed mostly in the lowlaand regions of Europe. Ecological-coenotic conditions of habitats of C. acaulis in the plains of Ukraine are different from those in the mountain regions and are close to the plains habitats of this species in Central Europe. Steppe communities of class Festuco-Brometea, of which C. acaulis is component in the plains part of Ukraine, are close to xerothermic herbaceous communities of Central Europe; forest communities of Erico-Pinetea with C. cirsioides in Ukrainian Polissia and the North-East Poland are very сlose by floristic composition. The removal of separate species status of the plains populations of C. acaulis near the eastern border of the range does not at all downplay its sozological significance. Taking into account the low number of C. acaulis in the Volhynian-Podolian Upland and in the Polesian Lowland, all localities of this species in the lowland part of the range in Ukraine must be taken under protection in situ.

Drastic changes of the amphipod fauna in northern Germany and the displacement of Gammarus lacustris G.O. Sars, 1864 to relict habitats/status

The amphipod fauna of Central Europe has changed dramatically over the last century. This change has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. This dynamic is well documented in northeast Germany. This study places it in a landscape-ecological context. An example of a displacement is Gammarus lacustris G.O. Sars, 1864, a circumpolar species with a variety of habitats, but relegated to relic habitats. The species turns out to be a very weak competitor. Already with the immigration of Gammarus roeselii Gervais, 1835 (probably in the 1960s), it became a relic species in northeast Germany. Massive waves of introduction of Pontocaspian species of the genera Dikerogammarus, Pontogammarus and Echinogammarus a few decades later intensified this process for this and other species.

Ladislavella occulta (Jackiewicz, 1959) – a species of aquatic snails new for Hungary with remarks on its distribution in Central and Eastern Europe

A finding of the lymnaeid species Ladislavella occulta (Jackiewicz, 1959) [Mollusca: Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae] in Hungary is reported, which is the first record of this snail in the country. The shells of L. occulta were found in 1989 in the marsh area of the Bátorliget Nature Reserve. The current distribution of this species in Eastern and Central Europe is reviewed. It is hypothesized that L. occulta represents a relic species, whose origin may be traced back to the Pleistocene

Phylogenetic placement of Paratrichaptum and reconsideration of Gloeophyllales

Paratrichaptum accuratum is a large conspicuous polypore fungus growing on dead or living angiosperm trees in subtropical-boreal areas of China, Indonesia, Japan, and Taiwan. The present study places P. accuratum in the family Gloeophyllaceae that belongs to the order Gloeophyllales within Agaricomycetes (Basidiomycota), based on evidence derived from morphological and ecological characteristics, and phylogenetic analyses of sequences of nuclear rDNA regions (5.8S, nuc 18S, nuc 28S) and protein-coding genes (rpb1, rpb2, and tef1). The analyses presented in this study also give strong support for including Jaapia in Gloeophyllaceae and Gloeophyllales. Thus, the names Jaapiaceae and Jaapiales are considered here as synonyms of Gloeophyllaceae and Gloeophyllales. Since Paratrichaptum represents the earliest diverging lineage in Gloeophyllales, pileate basidiocarps and brown rot appear to be ancestral states of Gloeophyllales. Paratrichaptum accuratum may represent a relic species, according to its phylogenetic position, peculiar distribution pattern and rare occurrence.

The ecological-coenotic specters of the flora in the river Vyatka protected areas

The paper presents the results of a comparative ecological-coenotic analysis of 6 floras of the river Vyatka (Kirov Region, Russia). The floras of the studied areas are boreal and include rare and relic species of all-European importance. As for ecological structure the floras of the studied protected areas do not differ significantly and refer to 7 ecological-coenotic groups. Meadow and meadow-opening groups dominate in the revealed complex (28,48% to 41,84%). This may be caused by a systematic and strong anthropogenic impact on the protected areas. For example, trampling contributes to the increased invasion of meadow and meadow-edge species in forest ecosystems, where they take a significant part in the living ground cover, often acting as codominants with constant species of the grass-shrub layer of boreal forests. Less presented are wetland (13,61% to 27,15%), boreal (9,63% to 16,33%), nemoral (8,16% to 14,79%) and nitrophilous (8,16% to 13,33%) groups. The share of coniferous group varies from 4,44% to 7,10%. The oligotrophic group is presented by solitary species. The authors have also detected the correlation between the ecological-coenotic structure of the flora of the studied areas and the latitudinal location within the river basin.

Level of relics in high-mountain flora of isolated Fisht-Oshten Massif and Chernomorskaya Chain

For the first time the level of relics of the high-mountain flora of the northwestern edge of the highlands of the Caucasus has been established. The Fisht-Oshten Massif and the Black Sea Chain have a uniquely high level of relics - 51.0% (617 species), with a predominance of Tertiary-relic species - Rt - 41.2% (498 species). The second largest representation is a group of Holocene relics - Rx - 7.3% (88 species), the minimum represented Pleistocene relics - Rg - 2.5% (31 species). The relic level of alpine species is one of the highest in the Caucasus and is 52.8% (338 species). Alpine species also have predominance of Pliocene relics - 46.7% (299 species), the number of glacial relics is 2.5% (16 species), the share of xerothermic relics - 3.6% (23 species). In the preservation of relic species revealed general trends, depending on the remoteness of local flora from the main diaspora on the Fisht-Oshten Massif and the modern area of the meadow belt. These trends persist in Tertiary relics, while other patterns are observed for glacial and Holocene relics. The number of glacial relics fades to the west, most clearly it can be seen in alpine species. The number of Holocene relics as much as possible on the edge areas (Fisht-Oshten Massif and Mt. Semashkho) and minimally on the central peaks of the Black Sea Chain, where the Holocene expansion of xerophyte plants was insignificant.

Comparative Chromosome Mapping of Musk Ox and the X Chromosome among Some Bovidae Species

: Bovidae, the largest family in Pecora infraorder, are characterized by a striking variability in diploid number of chromosomes between species and among individuals within a species. The bovid X chromosome is also remarkably variable, with several morphological types in the family. Here we built a detailed chromosome map of musk ox (Ovibos moschatus), a relic species originating from Pleistocene megafauna, with dromedary and human probes using chromosome painting. We trace chromosomal rearrangements during Bovidae evolution by comparing species already studied by chromosome painting. The musk ox karyotype differs from the ancestral pecoran karyotype by six fusions, one fission, and three inversions. We discuss changes in pecoran ancestral karyotype in the light of new painting data. Variations in the X chromosome structure of four bovid species nilgai bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus), saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis), gaur (Bos gaurus), and Kirk’s Dikdik (Madoqua kirkii) were further analyzed using 26 cattle BAC-clones. We found the duplication on the X in saola. We show main rearrangements leading to the formation of four types of bovid X: Bovinae type with derived cattle subtype formed by centromere reposition and Antilopinae type with Caprini subtype formed by inversion in XSB3.

FIRST CONFIRMED RECORD OF CAREX LIMOSA L. (CYPERACEAE) AND COMMUNITY CARICETUM LIMOSAE BR.–BL. FOR NEVESINJSKO POLJE (BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA)

During the field investigation of wetland flora and vegetation conducted on carstic terrains of Nevesinjsko polje (Bosnia & Herzegovina) we discovered numerous individuals of Carex limosa L. This Arctic–boreal relic species is remarkably rare in Southeastern Europe with only several known records across Balkans and few recent records for Bosnia & Herzegovina. Its habitat in Nevesinjsko polje can be described as an transitional mire with pronounced Sphagnum turfs on top of which C. limosa forms almost homogenous, species–poor stands of community Caricetum limosae Br.–Bl. In this article is presented the short account of this first confirmed record of C. limosa for Nevesinjsko polje (Bosnia & Herzegovina).

A survey of flora and the governing factors in the Kotlina Orawska-Nowotarska Depression, Southern Poland

The article covers the results of a survey of the vascular flora of the peat-bogs and forest swamps of the Kotlina depression in southern Poland. Unexpected concentrations of calcicolous plants are shown to exist and the factors governing their presence are discussed. The discovery of previously unexpected glacial relicts is also examined in the context of the area’s importance in phytogeographical studies of Eastern Europe. A number of observed, but unexplained, discrepancies in the distribution of a small number of relic species have been identified and are given as possible worthwhile lines of further research.