Diversity of Essential Oils and the Respective Hydrolates Obtained from Three Pinus cembra Populations in the Austrian Alps

Pinus cembra, stone pine, is an Alpine coniferous tree rich in aromatic compounds. Twigs with needles are used commonly to produce essential oils for various purposes in pharmacy, food industry, and cosmetics. Hydrolates as byproducts of hydrodistillation encounter increasing interest owing to their aromatic properties. The variabilities in the compositions of essential oil and the related hydrolates are studied in samples from individual trees growing on three sites in the Austrian high mountain range. The essential oils have been obtained by steam distillation. All essential oils contained monoterpene hydrocarbons as main compounds, especially α-pinene (36–37%), β-phellandrene (27–30%), and β-pinene (7–9%). In contrast, the volatiles in the corresponding hydrolates were dominated by oxidized compounds as α-terpineol (28–34%), terpinen-4-ol (6–8%), and verbenone (6–7%). The pinene rich essential oils might be used in pharmacy as pinene containing oils from other Pinus species, while the hydrolates are of interest for cosmetics and other well-being promoting products.

Simulation of rainfall effects on sediment transport on steep slopes in an Alpine catchment

The Alps represent a young, high mountain range which displays strong geomorphological activity. As the major source area in Central Europe, they deliver large quantities of sediment to the lowlands. However, our knowledge on process differentiation is still not sufficient to distinguish between the summer and winter periods of denudation. To increase our understanding of soil detachment, artificial rainfall experiments were carried out to generate data for the physically-based soil erosion model EROSION 2D/3D. Additionally, state-of-the-art, close-range remote sensing methods were applied to validate the results. The first rainfall simulations showed promising results for predicting denudation during the summer period, thus indicating the applicability of this experimental approach. However, further research is required for seasonal dynamics during other times of the year.

Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) stellatum (Diptera: Simuliidae), a new black fly from a high mountain range in southeastern Brazil

The larva, pupa, female, and male of Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) stellatum sp. n. are described and illustrated. The pupa of this new species has four gill filaments, with the dorsal primary branch bifurcating at about half the length of the ventral branch. The adult and immature stages are similar to those of species in the S. auristriatum group. Up to date, Simulium stellatum sp. n. has been found only in the high mountain range of Itatiaia National Park in southeastern Brazil. It is the second species of the subgenus S. (Psaronicompsa) recorded at elevations above 2000 m.

Part I: A Description of the Penny Ice Cap, its Accumulation and Ablation

The Penny Ice Cap on the Cumberland Peninsula of Baffin Island, N.W.T., Canada, was studied during the summer of 1953. This ice cap has an area of some 5900 sq. km. and rests on a 2000 m. high mountain range. It has ten major outflowing glaciers, three of which reach the sea in fjords. The progress of snow accumulation and ablation and the net annual loss or gain of water at various altitudes on the ice cap are recorded. The firn line is at about 1550 m. and the outflowing glaciers are noticeably retreating.