Alishan Area Research Articles

Two new species and one new record of Xenosporium with ellipsoidal or ovoid conidia from Taiwan

ABSTRACT Three species of Xenosporium producing ellipsoidal or ovoid conidia were collected from decaying culms of Miscanthus floridulus submerged in freshwater streams of Alishan area, Chiayi County, Taiwan. Xenosporium formosiforme and X. parvulum are described and illustrated as new species. Xenosporium africanum is described in this paper as a new record for Taiwan. The phylogenetic relationships of Xenosporium species and related taxa were sought by comparing the sequences of their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) barcode, 28S rDNA, and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) gene segments. Phylogenetic analysis of these Xenosporium species supports their placement in the Tubeufiaceae. A synopsis of Xenosporium species producing ellipsoidal or ovoid conidia is given. The criteria used to differentiate species are discussed.

New species and records of Helicosporium sensu lato from Taiwan, with a reflection on current generic circumscription

This paper describes and illustrates five species of Helicosporium sensu lato, which represents the partial result of an investigation of fungal diversity associated with submerged wood and decaying culms of Miscanthus floridulus (Poaceae) from freshwater streams in Alishan area, Chiayi County, Taiwan, which was carried out during the years 2016 and 2017. Neohelicomyces longisetosus sp. nov. and Helicosporium flavidum sp. nov. are described and illustrated; the former is proposed based on molecular and morphological data, whereas the latter is based on morphology only. Pseudohelicomyces talbotii, a new record for Taiwan, is renamed as Parahelicomyces talbotii because the former genus was a homonym and thus illegitimate. The other six illegitimate Pseudohelicomyces species are transferred to Parahelicomyces as new combinations. Two other species, namely Acanthohelicospora guianensis and Neohelicosporium sympodiophorum, are also new records for Taiwan. A taxonomic key to Helicosporium sensu stricto is provided. Current generic circumscription of helicosporous taxa based on phylogeny is briefly discussed.

Jennwenomyces, a new hyphomycete genus segregated from Belemnospora, producing versicolored phragmospores from percurrently extending conidiophores

Jennwenomyces, a new hyphomycete genus segregated from Belemnospora, is proposed to accommodate Belemnospora navicularis, based on morphological and molecular data. Jennwenomyces navicularis is described and illustrated based on two specimens collected on decaying culms of Miscanthus floridulus submerged in freshwater streams of Alishan area, Chiayi County, Taiwan. Jennwenomyces produces dematiaceous, versicolored, straight, navicular to cylindrical euseptate phragmospores borne on multiple percurrently extending, annellate conidiophores. Conidial secession is schizolytic, leaving a protuberant hilum at the base of the conidium. The genus is compared with Belemnospora and other morphologically similar hyphomycete genera with percurrent conidiophores such as Endophragmiella, Junewangia, Repetophragma, and Sporidesmiella. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data placed Jennwenomyces within the Sordariomycetes, clustered with species of Dictyosporella, Junewangia, and Sporidesmiella in the family Junewangiaceae.

Ellisembia acicularia sp. nov. and four new records of freshwater hyphomycetes from streams in the Alishan area, Chiayi County, Taiwan

Ellisembia acicularia sp. nov. and four new records of freshwater hyphomycetes from streams in the Alishan area, Chiayi County, Taiwan

Two new earthworm species of the genus Drawida (Oligochaeta: Moniligastridae) from southwestern Taiwan.

This study describes two new species of earthworms belonging to the genus Drawida (Oligochaeta: Moniligastridae) from southwestern Taiwan. They are Drawida alishanensis sp. nov. and Drawida fenqihuensis sp. nov. The two species were found at elevations of 1407-1661 m in the Alishan area, Chiayi County. DNA barcodes from type specimens of the new species are reported. This is the first time that new species of Drawida are discovered from the island of Taiwan. In addition, Drawida keikiensis Kobayashi, 1938 from Korea is found to be synonymous with Drawida syringa Chen, 1933 from central China. The synonymy of Drawida glabella Chen, 1938 with Drawida barwelli (Beddard, 1886) is rejected.

A new species and a new record of Helicomyces from Taiwan

Helicomyces geniculatus sp. nov. from decaying wood submerged in a freshwater stream at Juchi Town of Alishan area, Chiayi County, Taiwan, is described and illustrated. It differs from other Helicomyces species in having geniculate conidiophores arising from repent hyphae and also borne on erect setae. Abundant stalked sclerotia were also found in this species. Helicomyces torquatus is described in this paper as a new record for Taiwan, with new observation. The phylogenetic relationship of H. geniculatus, H. torquatus, and related taxa were sought by comparing the sequences of their ITS barcode of the nuc rDNA. A synopsis of the 13 accepted Helicomyces species is given.

A new species of Helicoön from Taiwan

Helicoön subglobosum sp. nov. from a decaying wood submerged in a freshwater stream at Juchi Town of Alishan area, Chiayi County, Taiwan, is described and illustrated with light and scanning electron micrographs. It differs from previously described species of Helicoön in having large subglobose conidia which are borne singly on very short conidiophores. The phylogenetic relationship of H. subglobosum and related taxa were sought by comparing the sequences of the ITS barcode and partial large subunit regions of the nuc rDNA. A synopsis of the 18 accepted species and a dichotomous key to the genus are given.

Two new species of helicosporous hyphomycetes from Taiwan

Helicoma chiayiense sp. nov. and Helicosporium taiwanense sp. nov. on decaying wood submerged in a freshwater stream of Alishan area, Chiayi County, Taiwan, are described and illustrated with light and scanning electron micrographs. Helicoma chiayiense is distinct in having hyaline conidiophores arising from repent mycelium, producing broad conidia that bear secondary conidia. Helicosporium taiwanense is distinct in having robust poly-denticulate conidiophores producing conidia with a wide conidial filament. The phylogenetic relationship of these species was sought among representative taxa of the helicosporous hyphomycetes by comparing their ITS of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA).

Four new earthworm species of the genus Amynthas (Megascolecidae: Oligochaeta) from southwestern Taiwan with re-description of Amynthas tungpuensis Tsai, Shen and Tsai, 1999

ABSTRACTThis study describes four new species of earthworms belonging to the genus Amynthas (Megascolecidae: Oligochaeta) from southwestern Taiwan. They are Amynthas quadriorbis sp. nov., Amynthas douliouensis sp. nov., Amynthas tsou sp. nov. and Amynthas dinghuensis sp. nov. The former three species are sexthecate with three pairs of spermathecal pores in 6/7–8/9 whereas A. dinghuensis is a small, octothecate earthworm with four pairs of spermathecal pores in 5/6–8/9. Amynthas quadriorbis and A. douliouensis were found in the foothills at elevations < 250 m near Douliou, Yunlin, whereas A. tsou and A. dinghuensis were from elevations of 1400–1664 m in the Alishan area, Chiayi. Amynthas quadriorbis has four large genital papillae in the male pore region. Amynthas douliouensis has paired genital papillae in presetal VIII–X and simple male pore structure. Amynthas tsou has paired genital papillae in presetal VIII–IX and male porophore with or without an anterior, posteromedial, or one anteromedial and one posteromedial papillae. Amynthas dinghuensis has two pairs of genital papillae medial to male porophores in postsetal XVII and presetal XIX. In addition, re-description of Amynthas tungpuensis, an endemic earthworm widely distributed in western Taiwan, is given. DNA barcodes (a 658-base-pair section of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene) of the four new species and of A. tungpuensis are also reported.

清末から日本植民地時期までの台湾阿里山地域における蕃産品交易所に関する研究

Before the Japanese colonial period, the western part of Taiwan Island was exploited by Han Chinese immigrants from the coastal areas of southern China. The governance of the Great Qing imperial government did not reached over the mountain area of East Taiwan, which at the time was controlled by the Austronesian aboriginals. As the Han Chinese exploratory force expanded towards the east, aboriginals resisted because their territory was being invaded, and conflict between the two nations occurred frequently. In order to prevent the escalation of conflicts, the Qing imperial government drew the boundary line and two heterogeneity Territories were formed. Meanwhile, many Han Chinese traders crossed the boundary line and bartered to the aboriginals and trading works were normalized and monopolized by local leaders. However, Han Chinese traders didn't employ any storefronts in the aboriginal territory; instead, they conducted their business the peddler way. During the early Japanese colonial transition period, a designated market was appointed by the colonial government in order to better managed and regulate trading in the aboriginal territories. Therefore, spatial entity which are similar to storefronts were made in those places. During the mid-Japanese colonial period, the enforcement of aboriginal region development colonial policy blurred the boundary line, the once heterogeneity territories were united and governed by the colonial government. Han Chinese trader's rights were revoked and replaced by government agency, and “Trading stations” were established by the colonial government to replace the previous appointed designated market The research subject of this essay emphasized on the trading-places/trading-station established by the Han Chinese trader / Japanese colonial government in the Mt. Alishan area during the Qing Dynasty to the Japanese Colonial Period. Trader Liu’s Family pursued the trading works in Mt. Alishan area from 1892 A.D.(late Qing Dynasty) to 1927 A.D.(Mid-Japanese Colonial Period). After that, the trading rights was revoked by the colonial government and the trading work were resumed by the police association. Significant amount of research material such as the official historic documents of the colonial government and those trader's Biography are available. By comparing these historic data, this essay shows how the changing process of the trading works and spaces took place during this era. Multiple research point of views are used in this essay. The first viewpoint of this essay is to show the formative process of the trading spaces established by the Han nationality traders in the late Qing Dynasty. It talks about how the traders secured a base in the aboriginal territory and how logistic networks were established. This essay consider that the formative process as a trading system production process. The elements of the trading system such as the trader's base, aboriginal settlements, and the store in the city, etc., are analyzed in this essay. The second viewpoint of this essay is to show the impact on the reorganization of trading spaces in the aboriginal region by the colonial policy after the government had intervened. By analyzing how each element of the trading system and the modification of logistic networks were changed, this essay discuss the impact of the process on the transition of the trading system. The last viewpoint of this essay is to show the result of presenting the established trading stations and the new logistic networks after the old trading system had collapsed. Finally, by studying the trading-places/stations, this paper reveals how the business space formed and changed in the exclusive area (aboriginal territory) and what the causing factor resulted in.

The deep structure of south-central Taiwan illuminated by seismic tomography and earthquake hypocenter data

The Taiwan mountain belt is generally thought to develop above a through-going basal thrust confined to within the sedimentary cover of the Eurasian continental margin. Surface geology, magnetotelluric, earthquake hypocenter, and seismic tomography data suggest, however, that crustal levels below this basal thrust are also currently being involved in the deformation. Here, we combine seismic tomography and earthquake hypocenter data to investigate the deformation that is taking place at depth beneath south-central Taiwan. In this paper, we define the basement as any pre-Eocene rifting rocks, and use a P-wave velocity of 5.2km/s as a reference for the interface between these rocks and their sedimentary cover. We found that beneath the Coastal Plain and the Western Foothills clustering of hypocenters near the basement-cover interface suggests that this interface is acting as a detachment. This detachment is located below the basal thrust proposed from surface geology for this part of the mountain belt. Inherited basement faults appear to determine the geometry of this detachment, and their inversion in the Alishan area result in the development of a basement uplift and a lateral structure in the thrust system above them. However, across the Shuilikeng and the Chaochou faults, earthquake hypocenters define steeply dipping clusters that extend to greater than 20km depth, above which higher velocity basement rocks are uplifted beneath the Hsuehshan and Central ranges. We interpret these clusters to form a deeply penetrating, east-dipping ramp that joins westward with the detachment at the basement-cover interface. It is not possible to define a basal thrust to the east, beneath the Central Range.

Structural complexities in a foreland thrust belt inherited from the shelf-slope transition: Insights from the Alishan area of Taiwan

The Alishan area of Taiwan spans the transition from the platform with full thickness of the Eurasian continental margin in the north to the thinning crust of its slope in the south. This part of the foreland thrust and fold belt includes important along-strike changes in structure, stratigraphy, and seismic velocities. In this paper we present the results of new geological mapping from which we build geological cross sections both across and along the regional structural trend. Fault contour, stratigraphic cutoff, and branch line maps provide 3-D consistency between the cross sections. Minimum shortening is estimated to be ~15 km with displacement overall to the northwest. A P wave velocity model helps constrain the structure at depth by providing insight into the possible rock units that are present there. P wave velocities of ≥ 5.2 km/s point toward the presence of basement rocks in the shallow subsurface throughout much of the southeastern part of the area, forming a basement culmination. The changes in strike of thrusts and fold axial traces, the changing elevation of thrusts and stratigraphic contacts, and the growing importance of Middle Miocene sediments that take place from north to south are interpreted to be associated with a roughly northeast striking lateral structure coincident with the northern flank of this basement culmination. These transverse structures appear to be associated with the inversion of Eocene- and Miocene-age extensional faults along what was the shelf-slope transition in the Early Oligocene, uplifting the margin sediments and their higher P wave velocity basement during Pliocene-Pleistocene thrusting.

Late Quaternary mass-wasting records in the actively uplifting Pa-chang catchment, southwestern Taiwan

Although dominated by erosion over long term, the tectonically active mountains of Taiwan commonly contain thick landslide and debris-flow gravels capping hillslopes or forming alluvial terraces. These deposits and their associated landforms serve to study ancient mass-wasting histories and their controls on fluvial processes. This study focuses on the Pa-chang River draining the <2000m high Ali-shan area in southwestern Taiwan (current tectonic uplift: 5–8mmyr−1). Although small (catchment area: 83km2), the Pa-chang exhibits one of the largest alluvial terraces in Taiwan, which stretches from the outlet of the catchment for 9km along the river and comprises fluvial and debris-flow gravels up to 150m thick. Totally 55 radiocarbon dates have been obtained, tracing the mass-wasting records back to 14.8ka. The largest events, which created the studied major terraces, occurred in 10.0−11.3 and 8.7−9.4ka. These events are synchronous with the formation of some regionally largest alluvial terraces in Taiwan, and may have been triggered by the frequent heavy rains associated with the early Holocene East Asian summer-monsoon maximum. More mass-wasting events have been dated at ~5.4, ~1.9, 1.2−1.7, 0.7−0.9, ~0.6, and <0.3ka. The vast supply of sediment from the recorded mass-wasting events not only caused river aggradation but also regulated the subsequent incision by forming boulder armors. As a result, the bedrock incision in the upper part of the catchment has been negligible since the early Holocene debris-flow deposition. The incision rates increase to the downstream direction as the size and concentration of boulders reduce. Still, the 14.8ka-averaged bedrock incision rate (<4.5mmyr−1) at the catchment outlet is lower than the current uplift rate (6mmyr−1). At the same site, however, the bedrock incision rate is 23mmyr−1 averaged over the past 0.6ka. Even higher rates of incision (>50mmyr−1) are detected further downstream after the recent gravel mining. The fact that the obtained bedrock incision rates and patterns are decoupled with the tectonic uplift advises caution in using short-term erosion data to interpret the tectonics of the Taiwan's mountains.

Microhabitat Preference of the Alishan Salamander (Hynobius arisanensis)

Abstract: An analysis of the microhabitat preference of the Alishan salamander (Hynobius arisanensis) was conducted in the Alishan area of Taiwan from 2003 to 2006. The study consisted of two parts: one to record microhabitat use of salamanders, and the other to quantify suitable microhabitat in the study site. The salamanders were found to use most of the microhabitat types available to them in the study site. However, they used rocks as shelters at a high frequency (77.7%). Although decayed logs were less available than rocks, the salamanders seemed to choose the logs as shelters. The decayed logs can keep moisture for a longer time and provide more prey than rocks, which probably causes the salamanders to choose less-available logs. The salamander preferred large rocks, but showed no preference for the size of logs. They also liked the cover objects with mosses growing on them. As for substrates, soil and plant debris were used most frequently. Salamanders were found negatively associated with live pla...

Effect of ecological engineering design on biological motility and habitat environment of Hynobius arisanensis at high altitude areas in Taiwan

Because of thriving tourism in recent years, concrete constructions have been installed by creeks in order to protect the safety of tourists, but the effect of concrete structures on the habitats and the mobility of certain species is still unknown. This study evaluates the different effects of various water bank substrates in terms of the influence on Hynobius arisanensis's (Maki) motility in Alishan National Park. Comparing the concrete area with two other areas where primitive streams flow by, it was observed that concrete structures lead to increased flow velocities, shallower water depths and poorer water quality. In the biological motility assessment, moss, rock, wood, clay and concrete as distinct water bank substrates were used to test the climbing ability of H. arisanensis. Based on the seasonal humidity changes in winter and summer of Alishan area, H. arisanensis's climbing ability was tested in two conditions, high humidity/high temperature and high humidity/low temperature. It was determined that climbing ability dropped rapidly with increasing slope angles. It was observed that the climbing ability of H. arisanensis is slightly decreased in low temperature. Regarding the upper limit of design slope suitable for H. arisanensis are: wood and concrete are ≤45°, moss surface ≤60° and clay surface ≤30°. The results here can provide insights for future engineering projects on creek banks to benefit H. arisanensis conservation.

Neural network-based model for assessing failure potential of highway slopes in the Alishan, Taiwan Area: Pre- and post-earthquake investigation

This paper is aimed at creating an empirical model for assessing failure potential of highway slopes, with a special attention to the failure characteristics of the highway slopes in the Alishan, Taiwan area prior to, and post, the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake. The basis of the study is a large database of 955 slope records from four highways in the Alishan area. Artificial neural network (ANN) is utilized to “learn” from this database. The developed ANN model is then used to study the effect of the Chi-Chi earthquake on the slope failure characteristics in the Alishan area. Significant changes in the degrees of influence of several factors (variables) are found and possible reasons for such changes are discussed. The novelty of this paper lies in the fact that the developed ANN models are used as a tool to investigate the slope failure characteristics before and after the Chi-Chi earthquake.

Confirmation of Two Endemic Athyrium Species (Woodsiaceae) in Taiwan

Two endemic species, Athyrium tripinnatum Tagawa and A. minimum Ching are confirmed to exist in Taiwan. Their taxonomic descriptions, pictures of living plants, illustrations, and additional notes are provided The most recent checklist of Taiwanese ferns contained 18 species and 2 hybrids in the genus Athyrium (Lu and Yang, 2005). Several scientific names recorded in Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae (Wang, 1999) were not recognized by Lu and Yang. However, based on recently collected materials, we believed that at least two of them, A. tripinnatum Tagawa and A. minimum Ching, should be re-established. In the past, these two species were less- known and usually treated as taxonomic doubtful species in the local flora of Taiwan (Yang and Liu, 2002). Athyrium tripinnatum was based on the materials from Alishan area, Central Taiwan, and Sziyuanyako area, NE Taiwan. Kuo (1985) synonymised it into Athyrium foliolosum T. Moore ex R. Sim., which is a misapplied name of A. fimbriatum (Hook.) T. Moore in Taiwan (Fraser-Jenkins, 1997; Wang, 1999; Liu and Fraser-Jenkins, 2006). Wang (1999) treated it as a distinct species under the section Mackinnoniana (Ching & Y. T. Hsieh) Z. R. Wang, but suggested that the relationship between it and A. foliolosum (section Polystichoides Ching & Y. T. Hsieh) needed further study. Liu et al. (2000) and Lu and Yang (2005) accepted Kuo's classification and regarded it as A. foliolosum (5 A. fimbriatum). After a detailed observation of the morphological characters and spore ornamentation, we confirm A. tripinnatum as a valid species and distinct from A. foliolosum and A. fimbriatum which belong to section Polystichoides. The second species, Athyrium minimum, was based on a single collection by Hancock from Tamshui, north Taiwan (Holotype: Hancock s.n., PE!) in 1881. Three small plants were mounted on a specimen sheet with the largest one less

Clay Mineralogy of Spodosols with High Clay Contents in the Subalpine Forests of Taiwan

AbstractThree Ultic Haplorthods with significant illuviation of clay and spodic materials in the subalpine forests located in the Alishan area of central Taiwan were selected to identify the clay mineral compositions by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and to explain the transformation of the clay minerals. The three pedons are dominated by vermiculite and vermiculite-illite interstratified minerals, and they have minor kaolinite, quartz and gibbsite. No hydroxy interlayered vermiculite (HIV) was found in the E horizon of the three pedons because the forest soils are very acidic and have very low Al contents. The presence of HIV in the spodic (Bhs) and argillic horizons (Bt) of the three pedons was associated with greater free Fe and Al contents (Fed and Ald), more favorable pH ranges, and coatings of organo-metallic complexes which prevented continuous weathering. The specific pedogenic process, clay illuviation and podzolization occurred sequentially in the Alishan area, and induced the unusual clay mineral distribution and transformation. The largest amounts of illite are in the C horizon and the amounts of vermiculite increased with decreasing soil depths. A reverse distribution between illite and vermiculite through the soil profile was observed. Illite was transformed to vermiculite due to the strong weathering environment associated with extremely low exchangeable K contents. The weathering sequence of clay minerals of Spodosols with fine textures in the study area is proposed as: illite → vermiculite (or interstratified vermiculite-illite minerals) → HIV and vermiculite.

Negative incidence of Lyme disease-related Borrelia spp. in Alishan, Taiwan.

To investigate the prevalence of Lyme disease-related Borrelia species, wild rodents were captured around Yushan National Park and Alishan Forest Recreation Area Park in Taiwan 2,000 to 3,000 meters above sea level. Borrelia was not isolated from 67 small mammals of 7 species. Sera from rodents showed no positive reactivity against whole cell antigens of B. garinii, B. afzelii or B. valaisiana by ELISA. These results suggested that Lyme disease is not endemic to the Alishan area.

SEASONAL REPRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY OF MALE FORMOSAN WOOD MICE (APODEMUS SEMOTUS): RELATIONSHIPS TO ANDROGEN LEVELS

The annual reproductive cycle of adult male Formosan wood mice (Apodemus semotus) collected monthly from the Alishan area, Taiwan, was investigated. Mean monthly body mass varied between 25.0 g 6 0.8 SE and 27.1 6 1.3 g and did not show significant seasonal change. Mass of reproductive organs, spermatogenic activity, and levels of testicular and plasma androgen exhibited a distinct pattern of seasonal change. Testes, epididymides, and seminal vesicles were lightest and spermatogenesis was virtually arrested in January and December. For the remainder of year, all animals examined were spermatogenically active. However, spermatogenic activity was most intense and reproductive organs were heaviest in March‐April and August‐September. A decline occurred in mass of reproductive organs and diameter of seminiferous tubules in May‐July, but spermatogenesis was unaffected qualitatively. Levels of testicular and plasma androgen were elevated in March‐April and August‐September, coinciding with periods of intense spermatogenic activity and the heaviest reproductive organs and were significantly correlated with mass of testes, epididymides, and seminal vesicles, and diameter of seminiferous tubules. Day length and temperature, but not precipitation, were correlated with mass of testes, epididymides, and seminal vesicles. This is the 1st study to investigate seasonal patterns of androgen levels in plasma and testes in the genus Apodemus.