Alpine Localities Research Articles

Reshaping ‘time of limbo’ and ‘remoteness’: Everyday practices of reception of asylum seekers in Alpine municipalities in Italy

This article focuses on the experiences of widespread reception of asylum seekers and refugees carried out in some Italian Alpine localities, specifically in Valsugana in Trentino and Val di Susa in Piemonte, in the west and in the east of northern Italy. We focus on the description of these two case studies and their relation with the frame of national policies on migration in Italy. What were the main characteristics of these two case studies? How do these local policies interact with the fragmentation, the inconsistency and the emergency-based approach of Italian national immigration policies? This research subsumes and aims to move beyond the questions raised above, focusing on the points of view and narratives of social workers, project managers and reception workers (operatore dell’accoglienza). These actors often describe the implementation process as a process of policy-making. In conclusion, these case studies highlight that in Italy good practices of reception represent a field where there are coordinations, tensions and conflicts between national and local levels. Indeed, in everyday practices, the limbo and isolation (characterizing the life of asylum seekers) are reshaped in inclusion paths. This daily process of policy-making is constantly at risk – in Italy, indeed, good practices of inclusion represent a battlefield criss-crossed by dilemmas.

Psoroma capenseandP. esterhuyseniae(Pannariaceae), two new alpine species from South Africa

AbstractThe new speciesPsoroma capenseandP. esterhuyseniaeare described from four alpine localities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and are the only knownPsoromaspecies from Africa. The specimens were all collected from moist sites near watercourses, on cool and mostly south-facing cliffs.Psoroma capenseresemblesP. tenuein gross morphology but differs in the ascending thallus squamules, lack of secondary compounds and short-ellipsoid to ovoid ascospores. However, a phylogenetic analysis involving the markers ITS, nucLSU, mtSSU andMcm7, comparing the only recent collection ofP. capensewith previously published sequences, shows that it belongs to theP. hypnorumlineage, with no known, closely related species.Psoroma esterhuyseniaeresemblesP. hypnorumbut has subglobose to short-ellipsoid ascospores without apical perispore extensions. The two species are thought to have evolved from one or two long-distance dispersal events during the Pleistocene.

Relationship between heavy metal accumulation and histological alterations in voles from alpine and forest habitats of the West Carpathians.

The interaction between toxic heavy metals and bio-elements in internal organs and femoral bones and their potential impacts on bone structural properties and renal histopathological changes in bank voles and snow voles were investigated. Our results reveal that heavy metals Hg and Pb accumulate more in femoral bones of alpine habitats than forests. In snow voles, the parameters of the primary osteons' vascular canals (length, average perimeter and area) simultaneously decreased with an increase of Pb and Sr. Wider primary osteons' vascular canals of snow voles contained decreased levels of K, but increased Ba. In bank voles, the number of primary osteons increased in alpine habitats along with K, Hg, and Pb accumulation. In the kidneys of bank voles, rising levels of Rb, Hg, and Zn were detected in alpine habitats. Hg increases the most in kidney tissue from alpine habitats in both vole species, and Hg levels (mean value 0.25μg/g, max. value 0.55μg/g) in the renal tissues of bank voles from alpine localities are similar to Hg levels from Hg-polluted industrial areas in other studies. This reflects that alpine areas of the Tatra Mountains are highly contaminated with Hg. The intensity of renal hemosiderosis relates significantly to Zn, Fe, and Cu levels in snow voles, with Fe and Zn levels in bank voles from forest habitats, and with Rb in bank voles from alpine habitats. The intensity of tubule necrosis in renal tissues of bank voles from alpine habitats was negatively related to Se content. In bank voles from forest habitats, significant positive correlations were found between the intensity of glomerular hyperplasia and amounts of Zn. The interactions of the detected element's association with bone tissue and internal organs are discussed.

Review of the endemic New Zealand genus Arctesthes Meyrick (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae), with descriptions of two new range-restricted species

The genus Arctesthes Meyrick (Geometridae: Larentiinae: Xanthorhoini), endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, is revised. Four species are recognised, including two new species, as follows: Arctesthescatapyrrha (Butler, 1877), A.siris (Hudson, 1908), A.titanicasp. nov. and A.avatarsp. nov. All except A.catapyrrha are restricted to subalpine and alpine localities. Adults and genitalia are fully described and illustrated for all species; larvae of A.catapyrrha are also briefly described and illustrated. Only Arctesthescatapyrrha is widespread; A.siris is restricted to a few mountain ranges of Central Otago; A.titanica is only known from two wetland localities in the Von Valley of the Otago Lakes district, and A.avatar is only known from a few wetlands in a restricted area of north-west Nelson. The two new species are considered of very high priority for conservation.

A preliminary list of subalpine and alpine bryophytes of Rize, North-East Turkey

Based on the published papers, floristic investigations of bryophytes (liverworts and hornworts) were carried out for subalpine and alpine localities in the boundary of Rize province in Turkey. The number of bryophyte taxa in these regions is 140 (119 mosses and 21 liverworts) with the lists cited in this paper. The hepatic list includes 15 genera and also mosses 55 genera. The largest genera of liverworts and mosses were found to be Scapania with four taxa and Sphagnum is with 13. Racomitrium heterostichum , R. macounii, Ditrichum pusillum , and Hymenoloma crispulum were the most common moss species. Two liverworts, Aneura pinguis and Scapania undulata were noted as the most common. When the altitudinal data were analyzed, it was seen that 2300 m. is the most survey area of intensive collecting. Upper limits of the taxa are observed at 3060 and 3065 m. Bryophyte records above 3000 m were not very rich according to the available information. The study provides an updated and useful catalog of the bryophytes occurring above forest boundary of Rize.

New data on the phylogeny ofAriantinae (Pulmonata,Helicidae) and the systematic position ofCylindrus obtususbased on nuclear and mitochondrialDNAmarker sequences

The phylogenetic relationships among genera of the subfamily Ariantinae (Pulmonata, Helicidae), especially the sister-group relationship of Cylindrus obtusus, were investigated with three mitochondrial (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) and two nuclear marker genes (Histone H4 and H3). Within Ariantinae, C. obtusus stands out because of its aberrant cylindrical shell shape. Here, we present phylogenetic trees based on these five marker sequences and discuss the position of C. obtusus and phylogeographical scenarios in comparison with previously published results. Our results provide strong support for the sister-group relationship between Cylindrus and Arianta confirming previous studies and imply that the split between the two genera is quite old. The tree reveals a phylogeographical pattern of Ariantinae with a well-supported clade comprising the Balkan taxa which is the sister group to a clade with individuals from Alpine localities. Additional lineages representing samples from southern Alpine localities as well as from Slovakia split from more basal nodes, but their relationships are not clearly resolved. To achieve more definitive conclusions concerning the geographical origin of Ariantinae, still more sequence data are needed to obtain a tree with better resolution of basal nodes. The genetic data also provided new insights concerning the genus Cepaea, which was used as one of the outgroup taxa. Cepaea vindobonensis is only distantly related to Cepaea nemoralis and Cepaea hortensis, the latter two being more closely related to Eobania vermiculata. Thus, in our tree, the genus Cepaea is paraphyletic.

The ecological niches of Bythotrephes and Leptodora: lessons for predicting long-term effects of invasion

We here exploit two large datasets on zooplankton in Norwegian lakes, spanning a wide range of geographical, physical, chemical and biological properties, to assess the ecological niches and habitats of Bythotrephes longimanus and Leptodora kindtii. The species overlapped geographically, yet co-occurred only in a limited number of lakes. Bythotrephes inhabited virtually all types of lakes, except alpine localities and productive lakes dominated by cyprinid communities where the hyaline Leptodora was most abundant. The zooplankton communities also differed in Bythotrephes and Leptodora lakes, probably both reflecting different predatory regimes, but also water quality and other lake-specific properties. We found no evidence for species being excluded by the presence of Bythotrephes, rather the diversity in general was higher in lakes with these predators present compared with those without. We found, however, a very close association between Bythotrephes and Daphnia galeata and to some extent also between Bythotrephes and D. longispina, suggesting that these species also may benefit from Bythotrephes invasion. Both Bythotrephes and Leptodora species occur naturally in this region, and knowledge about the ecological preferences and the zooplankton community composition in Bythotrephes—and Leptodora lakes will provide valuable information about the long-term effects of Bythotrephes invasion and potential interaction with of Leptodora as top invertebrate predator.

Patterns of connectivity in Citril Finches Serinus citrinella: sympatric wintering of allopatric breeding birds?

Capsule Individuals ringed at different localities, where previous analyses detected local genetic and morphological differentiation, overlapped in wintering areas. Aims To analyse winter site fidelity and connectivity in Citril Finches, a species with locally differentiated allopatric breeding populations, but which forms into pairs at the end of the wintering period, when these populations could be sympatric. Methods Analysis based on 238 recoveries obtained from 12 648 birds ringed at alpine localities and 2368 birds ringed at lower-elevation wintering areas in Central Catalonia. Results Citril Finches showed marked winter site fidelity. Birds ringed at different sub-alpine mountain ranges tended to winter in different river basins, but we found some overlap between these sub-populations. Birds from different localities within the same mountain range partly overlapped in wintering areas. Conclusion We found that many Citril Finch sub-populations cohabit during the winter pair formation period, which prompts the question of how Citril Finch populations can maintain local differentiation despite the ample opportunities for gene flow.

Beobachtungen und Untersuchungen über die Insektenfauna der Lärche (Larix decidua) im östlichen Randgebiet ihrer natürlichen Verbreitung, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung einer Großstadtlärche

Summary The arthropod fauna of larches, Larix decidua, from four different E. Alpine localities is studied and compared. In particular, the fauna of a single tree growing in the isolation of a city is compared with that of larches in different wooded sites. Larch pests as well as indifferent larch inhabitants and their biological controlling agents are studied. The following are dealt with: 1. the larch mining moth, Coleophora laricella Hb., and its parasites; 2. the larch needle tortrix, Tmetocera lariciana Heim., development, number of generations and parasites; 3. the larch bark tortrix, Laspeyresia grunertiana Rtzb., larval development in bark mines, parasites; 4. the larch bud midge, Dasyneura laricis F. W. It was possible, for the first time, to rear a parasite of this insect, a Torymus species, the development of which is described; 5. Adelges laricis Vall., the life cycle is described; 6. Sacchiphantes viridis Ratz. The summer virginogeniae of this species were also found on larch, for the first time; 7. several species of Cinarines are described as honeydew producers; 8. Syrphid larvae, Neuroptera, Coccinellidae, Miridae, Anthocoridae, Chalcididae and Aphididae were observed and are described as biological controlling agents of Cinarines; 9. a new species of parasite was reared from the Neuropteran Conwentzia pineticola End., the description was prepared by Ch. Ferriere and is included; 10. Eriophyes pini var. laricis Nalepa. Gall formation and the differences from Dasyneura galls are noted; 11. the larch thrips, Taeniothrips laricivorus Krat., its occurrence in western Wienerwald is recorded; 12. the larch bark beetle, Ips cembrae Heer, adult feeding prior to maturity appears to be regulary on young shoots. Notes are also given on the spider fauna and the bark fauna. At the end, all species found on larch and their distribution in the localities are given in tabular form. A comparison between the fauna of the city larch and that of forest larches shows that only comparatively few species are restrictet to the forest biozonose and many species can maintain themselves also in isolation.

The Genetic Impact of Translocations and Habitat Fragmentation in Chamois (Rupicapra) spp.

The chamois is a useful species with which to investigate the combined genetic impact of habitat fragmentation, over hunting, and translocations. Genetic variation within and between chamois (genus Rupicapra) populations was analyzed in 259 individuals from 16 sampling sites located in Italy, Spain, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Two mitochondrial DNA markers (control region and cytochrome b) and 11 nuclear microsatellites were typed. The principal results of this study can be summarized as follows: 1) high and significant differentiation between almost all chamois populations is observed even on a microgeographical scale, probably caused by the patchy distribution of this species, sharp geographical barriers to gene flow, and drift effects related to recent bottlenecks; 2) historical translocation events have left a clear genetic signature, including interspecific hybridization in some Alpine localities; 3) the Apennine subspecies of chamois, Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata, shows a high and similar level of divergence (about 1.5 My) from the Pyrenean (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) and the Alpine (Rupicapra rupicapra) chamois; therefore, the specific status of these taxa should be revised. These results confirm the potential of population genetic analyses to dissect and interpret complex patterns of diversity in order to define factors important to conservation and management.

Variable Wood Formation and Adaptation to the Alpine Environment of Ephedra pachyclada (Gnetales: Ephedraceae) in the Mustang District, Western Nepal

Plants of Ephedra normally have vessels, but are known to become nearly vessel-less in some alpine localities. Previous studies implied that wood formation in Ephedra differs fundamentally from that in dicotyledons in which vessel-bearing and vessel-less taxa are systematically distinct. Using E. pachyclada in the Mustang district of Nepal, growing in an altitudinal range of over 2000 m, variation in wood formation and adaptation to alpine environment was studied in this normally vessel-bearing species. Variation in wood anatomy and wood formation was observed with conventional optical microscopy. The lengths of three kinds of tracheary elements were measured and statistically analysed against habitat altitude and plant size of the individuals studied. In E. pachyclada three kinds of tracheary elements, vessel elements, tracheids and fibre-tracheids, were nearly equal in length within individuals showing no elongation after differentiation from cambial initials. Tracheary element lengths among individuals had a negative correlation with altitude and a positive correlation with plant size. Multivariate analyses showed that altitude has a stronger correlation with tracheary element lengths than plant height or stem diameter. Moreover, several individuals from high elevations completely lacked vessels, and vessel formation fluctuated even in individuals from lower elevations. Wood anatomical trends in E. pachyclada are considered as an adaptation to extremely dry conditions in high mountains. Fluctuation in vessel formation in individuals from low elevations indicated that vessels differentiate only when their lateral expansion is allowed. These results showed that E. pachyclada has a different system of wood formation from dicotyledons and supported the opinion that the wood structure of Gnetales is fundamentally different from that of angiosperms.

Wood Anatomy of Hawaiian and New Guinean Species of Tetramolopium (Asteraceae): Ecological and Systematic Aspects

Qualitative and quantitative features are reported for five Hawaiian and one New Guinean species of Tetramolopium. Tetramolopium humile differs from the other Hawaiian species in its numerous narrow vessels, numerous vasicentric tracheids, and wide rays. Although these features are adaptive in the dry alpine localities of T. humile, they would be adaptive also in the remaining species, which are from dry to moderately dry lowland localities. Thus, one can consider these features of T. humile as systematic indicators. The wood of T. pumilum (New Guinea) has distinctive wide, tall rays that may be related to the short stems in this species; T. pumilum has wood more mesomorphic than that of any of the Hawaiian species. Within Hawaiian Tetramolopium, wood anatomy correlates with dryness of habitat. The species of Tetramolopium studied have highly xeromorphic wood in comparison with woods of dicotyledons at large.

Durchsetzungs- und Reproduktionsstrategien bei Trifolium pallescens Schreb. und Trifolium thalii Vill.: II. Untersuchungen zur Populationsbiologie

Population studies of two closely related alpine Trifolium species were made. The species prefer distinct habitats and reproduce only by seeds: Trifolium pallescens grows on alpine screes, often in morainic areas; Trifolium thalii is predominantly found in subalpine-alpine pastures. This contrast in habitat behaviour was compared with the behaviour of the species along their altitudinal distribution. Comparison of reproductive behaviour of the two species investigated shows distinct habitat-controlled differences: Trifolium thalii, a plant of more competitor-influenced habitats, has patterns of a K-strategist. Trifolium pallescens, in contrast, shows characteristics of an invasive pioneer species such as less developed vegetative structures, higher seed production, higher seed-bank reserves, smaller seeds and higher rates of seedling mortality (r-selected). The different strategies have decisive influence on the altitudinal distribution of the species. The upper altitudinal limit of distribution of the two species is not primarily attributed to smaller chances of seedling establishment, but to decreasing seed production with increasing altitude. For both species the lower altitudinal limit obviously is determined by habitat preferences: for Trifolium pallescens increasing seedling mortality, caused by increase parching of soils during the growing season with decreasing altitude, is the limiting factor. For Trifolium thalii the role of more competitive species, especially Trifolium repens, a plant of pasture communities of the lowlands, is discussed. Studies in reproduction behaviour and growth forms of alpine species supply basic data for the choice of suitable native species for the revegetation of alpine localities, depleted of vegetation by human influence. The results of this study are discussed in relation to the suitability of these species for high altitude revegetation. The importance of seed banks for revegetation is emphasized.

Bartlettiella, a new lichen genus from New Zealand, with notes on a new species ofMelaneliaand a new chemodeme ofBryoria indonesicain New Zealand

Abstract A new, fruticulose lichen genus with one species, Bartlettiella fragilis D. Galloway & P.M. Jorg., is described from several alpine localities in North Island. The taxonomic position of Bartlettiella is still uncertain, since no fruiting bodies are known. The genus has a green algal photobiont and produces gyrophoric acid. Melanelia inactiva P.M. Jorg., a sorediate species devoid of lichen chemistry, is also newly described; it occurs also in southern South America. The depsidone stictic acid is reported for the first time in the genus Bryoria, from a New Zealand specimen of B. indonesica.

Photosynthesis and water relations and the role of anatomy in Umbilicariaceae (lichenes) from Central Spain.

The response of net photosynthesis and dark respiration in eight species of Umbilicariaceae (lichenes) to temperature (-5, 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30°C) and irradiance (55, 110, 220, 400, 620 μmol photons m-2 s-1 PAR) was studied. The samples were collected in montane and alpine localities of the Spanish Sistema Central. The species differed widely in their net photosynthetic rates. The optimal temperature for net photosynthesis in alpine species was significantly lower than in montane species. Montane species were more photophytic than alpine ones. Water saturation and water loss rate were dependent on morphology and particularly anatomy of the thallus. The physiological and structural data are useful in the interpretation of the ecology and altitudinal distribution of the Umbilicariaceae. No adaptation could be linked to particularities of the mediterranean climate.

NEAR‐VESSELLESSNESS IN EPHEDRA AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

Wood of two specimens of Ephedra from high alpine localities is nearly vesselless: E. gerardiana from 4,750 m in Tibet, and E. rupestris from 4,300 m in Argentina. Ephedra gerardiana from lower elevations in the Himalayas has more vessels, although even there they are not abundant. Instances in other species of Ephedra in which extensive areas of latewood or even entire growth rings are vesselless are cited; these tend to occur in high deserts with climates somewhat less extreme than those of the alpine localities. Near‐vessellessness is interpreted as an adaptive condition in which the proportion of tracheids, conductively safer than vessel elements, reaches a maximum. Near‐vessellessness in Ephedra wood is probably reversible within limits, and should be likened to production of latewood to the exclusion of earlywood. Comparisons are offered to dicotyledons in which abundance of vessels is lowered with respect to ecological extremes.

Anastrophyllum assimile and Marsupella revoluta, new to the interior of North America

Anastrophyllum assimile (Mitt.) Steph. and Marsupella revoluta (Nees) Lindb. are reported from the Keele Peak area, central-eastern Yukon Territory, Canada, and M. revoluta is also reported from Devon Island, Northwest Territories, Canada. These new localities extend a pattern of disjunct occurrences throughout the known range of both species, which further support the hypothesis of their relictual status. However, collections of A. assimile from coastal British Columbia and the Alexander Archipelago, Alaska, are indicative of strong oceanic affinities of North American populations of this species. Also, the arctic and alpine localities at which either A. assimile or M. revoluta might be expected to occur in the interior of Alaska and the Yukon are limited in number as both species invariably occur in association with siliceous substrates.

The karyology of some Taraxacum species from alpine regions of Europe

The karyotypes of 18 samples assigned to 13 agamospecies in Taraxacum are described. The species are classified among six sections; Eiythrosperma Lindb. f., Vulgaria Dahlst., Alpestria v. Soest, Alpina Hagl., Fontana v. Soest and Cucullata v. Soest, all from alpine localities in Europe. No previous cytological work is known for agamospecies in the last four sections. Two small chromosome types and the occurrence of accessory chromosomes are described for the first time in Taraxacum. Sibling karyotypes were found to be invariable, but extensive karyotypic variation was found between samples, even intraspecifically. Karyotypes were compared by means of a “karyotype similarity index”. Samples with a high overall similarity tended to have smaller chromosomes. Eight species exhibited regular chromosome sets, the remainder being irregular. The nature of the origin of the latter is discussed in relation to the origin of agamospecies in the genus.

A note on ligule length inPoa colensoi

Abstract Characteristic of Poa colensoi is the conspicuous, sheathing, membranous, hyaline ligule; Hooker (1864) described the species P. colensoi from specimens collected on the Ruahine Range and considered the prominent ligule to be a very curious character. In 1915, Petrie recognised a variety having a short, inconspicuous ligule—P. colensoi var. breviligu-lata, of common occurrence in alpine localities of both North and South Islands.

Sull'embriologia diLeontopodium Nivale(Ten.) Huet ex Hand. Mazz.

Abstract Embryology of « Leontopodium nivale » (Ten.) Huet ex Hand.-Mazz. — As in « Leontopodium alpinum » Cass. var. a typicum Fiori e Paoletti, from different alpine localities, no cases of apomixis have been observed (Maugini 1962) while Sokolowska-Kulczycka (1959) has noticed this phenomenon in the same species collected on the Tatra mountains, an embryological research on « Leontopodium nivale » (Ten.) Huet ex Hand. Mazz. has been undertaken. The material, collected in the alpine garden of Campo Imperatore (Abruzzo), has shown that the development of the female gametophyte occurs as in Leontopodium alpinum, according to the normal monomegasporial type which leads to the formation of an 8-nucleate gametophyte which at maturity is almost always poliantipodate. In « Leontopodium nivale » there is no trace of apomixix, but many cases of degeneration, particularly in the mature gametophyte, have been observed.