Rana temporaria on Monti della Laga (Central Italy): isolated population or wide distribution? First record in Abruzzo and Marche

In Central Italy Rana temporaria is only known to occur as a glacial relict on the eastern side of Monti della Laga (Lazio). In this study we report the presence of the species in other areas of the mountain chain, with documented sightings in five distinct localities in Marche and Abruzzo. We use these new records, together with other occurrence data from the Apennine chain, to generate a species distribution model and perform an analysis of the geological preference of the species in Central Italy. Although the model indicates a wide area of Marche and Abruzzo as suitable for R. temporaria, the actual distribution of the species in northern and central Apennine appears strongly associated with sandstones. Therefore, we argue that the presence of this geological substrate on Monti della Laga, but not in surrounding karst uplands, could be among the factors explaining its isolation. Our study aims at paving the way for future surveys and measures to protect these isolated populations from the threat posed by climate change.

Biometric Analysis of Cranial and Somatic Features in the Pannonian Root Vole

The Pannonian root vole Alexandromys oeconomus ssp. mehelyi represents a rare glacial relict, whose occurrence is nowadays bound to several areas in Europe. Four somatic and 25 craniological features were analysed, based on 355 measured specimens. Sex is a significant factor affecting the average value of all four somatic features, where all of them achieve higher values in males than in females. While body length and tail length were also affected by seasons, body weight and the length of the hind foot were stable features present across the seasons. In cranial features, the largest variability in the adult population is characterised by neurocranium breadth (LaN), total length of the cranial base (LB), and skull (LCr); whereas the smallest variability of the cranial dimensions is reflected in the values of the greatest palatal breadth (PS) and postorbital breadth (Io). Calculating the weight from cranial remains may be used to estimate the size of the prey and to determine vole biomass consumed by predators, such as raptors, highlighting the utility of studying feeding ecology.

The occurrence of ladybells (Adenophora liliifolia) in border meadow Drahos (Drahoše) near Hollóháza (NE Hungary) and Skároš (SE Slovakia)

The ladybells (Adenophora liliifolia (L.) Besser) is a glacial relict plant species and is endangered throughout Europe. The species is strictly protected in Hungary and listed in the Habitats Directive of the EU. It is a designating species of the HUBN20085 Északi-Zempléni-hegység Natura 2000 site in Hungary. The occurrence of the species is limited to very few localities both in Hungary and Slovakia. This study was undertaken to characterize the habitats of ladybells from a phytosociological perspective and analyse the structure of its population in Drahos (Drahoše) meadow. Two relevés were sampled, one at each side of the border. The number of individuals was recorded, and selected quantitative variables of the stem, leaves, and inflorescence of each individual were evaluated during eight years of the survey.

Anatomical traits of Artemisia umbelliformis subsp. eriantha (asteraceae) alpine glacial relict from Mt. Durmitor (Montenegro)

In this study, the vegetative anatomy of Artemisia umbelliformis subsp. eriantha, a Central European alpine glacial relict, wild-growing on Mt. Durmitor (Montenegro) was examined for the first time. The aim was to investigate the general anatomy and particular anatomical traits which might have possible taxonomic value. Microscopic slides were prepared according to the standard histological procedures. The adventitious young root showed a primary structure, while the older root showed a secondary structure with a well-developed periderm on its surface. The rhizome showed a primary structure with elements of a secondary structure (periderm). The stem cross section is characterized by a round shape with a well-developed periderm at certain stages, and collateral vascular bundles arranged in a circle. The petiole is concave in shape with a single-layered epidermis and parenchyma tissue with one large and two small vascular bundles. Druses and rhombohedral crystals are observed inside some petiole parenchyma cells. The leaf lobe cross section has an oblong-linear shape and is isolateral and amphistomatous in structure. The anticlinal walls of the leaf epidermal cells are sinuate. Secretory canals are present in the root cortex parenchyma (endodermal secretory canals) and the rhizome cortical parenchyma. The stem, petiole and leaf lack secretory canals. The stem and leaf are covered with T-shaped non-glandular and glandular trichomes. The taxonomic value of the analyzed characteristics is briefly discussed.

Climate Change and Alpine Screes: No Future for Glacial Relict Papaver occidentale (Papaveraceae) in Western Prealps

Glacial relicts, especially those with very narrow habitat requirements, are particularly affected by global warming. We considered Papaver occidentale, a glacial relict endemic to the Western Prealps, belonging to the alpine poppy complex (P. alpinum aggr.), as a model taxon to study the actual status and potential future distribution of species restricted to particular microrefugia. For this study, all known localities were visited, each population was georeferenced and the number of individuals was estimated. Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) was used to evaluate the present and future potential distribution range and habitat suitability, taking into account the specificity of its habitat (calcareous screes). According to our study, there are globally 19 natural populations of P. occidentale, and a total of about 30,000 individuals. The taxon is a highly specialized alpine plant growing in the majority of natural sites between 1900 and 2100 m a.s.l. on north-facing screes. Predictions for the end of the 21st century indicate that a suitable area will significantly decrease (0–30% remaining). Under the most severe climatic scenarios (RCP 8.5), the species risks complete extinction. The long-term in situ conservation of P. occidentale, and all other taxa of the P. alpinum complex, is unlikely to be achieved without slowing global climate change. More generally, our fine-scale study shows that local environmental buffering of large-scale climate change in high-mountain flora may be very limited in specialised taxa of patchy environments such as screes.

Climate Change and Alpine Screes: No Future for Glacial Relict Papaver occidentale (Papaveraceae) in Western Prealps

Glacial relicts, especially those with very narrow habitat requirements, are particularly affected by global warming and thus good models for studying the future biodiversity patterns of the Alps. We have used as a model taxon Papaver occidentale, a glacial relict endemic to the Western Prealps, belonging to the alpine poppy complex (P. alpinum aggr.). All known localities were visited, each population was georeferenced and the number of individuals was estimated. Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) was used to evaluate the present and future potential distribution range and habitat suitability, taking into account the specificity of its habitat (calcareous screes). According to our study, there are globally 19 natural populations of P. occidentale. The total number of individuals was estimated at 30756 (with 72% of all individuals in canton of Bern). The taxon is a highly specialized alpine plant growing preferentially between 1900 and 2100 m a.s.l. on north facing screes. Predictions for the end of the 21st century indicate that suitable area will significantly decrease, for both the entire studied area (0-30% remaining) and sites nearby current P. occidentale populations (0-17% remaining). Under the most severe scenario, the species risks complete extinction. The long-term in situ conservation of P. occidentale, and all other taxa of the P. alpinum complex, is unlikely to be achieved without slowing global climate change. More generally, our fine-scale study shows that local environmental buffering of large-scale climate change in high-mountain flora may be very limited in specialised taxa of such patchy environments as screes.

Variability of mandible shape in the freshwater glacial relict Eurytemora lacustris (Poppe, 1887) (Copepoda, Calanoida, Temoridae)

The mandibles of copepods are used to classify the feeding modes of certain species, because these appendages have specific shapes. The number, shape, location, and structure of the mandibular teeth are traits that are related to the feeding preferences of copepods. Therefore, the mandibles have been used as parameters in order to determine the role of the corresponding species in the trophic network. In this study, we aimed to determine the morphological variability of the mandible shape in a rare calanoid, Eurytemora lacustris (Poppe, 1887). The size of the mandibles of E. lacustris is closely related to its body size; however, considering the proportions of the width of the mandibles to that body size, young individuals have relatively larger mandibles. Despite the large body size of males, the females are characterized by larger mandibles than those of males. The teeth of males were found to be smaller, because of intensive abrasion. Moreover, the season and habitat affected the size of the mandibles and also the values of the edge index (EI). The food conditions in the studied lakes fluctuated within seasons, which led to changes in the shape of the dental crowns. Using this index (EI), E. lacustris was classified as an omnivorous species; however, the range of calculated values varied considerably. We note that the values of the EI decrease along with maturation, which suggests that with increase in age, the copepod becomes more herbivorous; however, this contradicts the paradigm that copepods become omnivorous during maturation. All those morphological differences, furthermore, indicate the high phenotypic plasticity of the species, which was found to be related to maturity, sex, phenology, and the environmental conditions of the habitat.