Cosmopolitan Elements Research Articles

Distribution patterns of glandular trichomes in the flora of the Hengduan Mountains, southwestern China

Abstract Glandular trichomes are traditionally regarded as a defence against insect herbivores in plants. A comprehensive examination of their occurrence across an entire flora is essential for understanding how plant-herbivore interactions influence species abundance, traits, and diversity. In this study, we gathered data on the presence of glandular trichomes in a diverse flora comprising 7751 angiosperm species from the Hengduan Mountains region in southwestern China, testing the effects of plant organ, life form, leaf habit, phylogenetic position, and geographical element on the occurrence of glandular trichomes. Our results showed that 1021 species (13.2%) in the studied flora possessed glandular trichomes. Reproductive organs (88.0%) displayed a significantly higher occurrence of glandular trichomes compared to vegetative organs (59.1%). Within flowers, the calyx (81.1%) was the most defended, followed by the corolla (17.4%), and the gynoecium (12.5%). The androecium (1.8%) was the flower component least associated with glandular trichomes. Herbaceous species (14.0%) were more likely to have glandular trichomes than woody species (11.6%). For woody plants, leaf habit (deciduous/evergreen) had no significant effect on the presence of glandular trichomes on leaf blades, but had a significant effect on the occurrence of glandular trichomes on reproductive organs, with deciduous woody species (11.0%) displaying a higher prevalence compared to evergreen woody species (8.3%). Interestingly, the proportion of species with glandular trichomes was notably lower in the tropical elements (6.8%) compared to both temperate and cosmopolitan elements (15.3% and 15.6%, respectively). Our findings suggest that in the Hengduan Mountains region, the evolution of glandular trichomes exhibits distinct patterns among various life forms, plant organs, leaf habits, and geographical elements, while showing limited influence from phylogenetic relatedness, highlighting the remarkable evolutionary adaptability of this defensive plant trait.

Mid-Carboniferous rugose corals from Xinjiang, Northwest China: Evolutionary and palaeogeographical implications

The mid-Carboniferous represents a key transition in the evolution of rugose corals, but the evolutionary pattern has been scarcely studied due to the lack of consecutive carbonate succession caused by Hercynian orogeny and Gondwana glaciation. In this study, seventeen rugose coral species belonging to fourteen genera are described from the late Visean to Bashkirian strata in the Suguersu section, northern Xinjiang, Northwest China. The late Visean is distinguished by large dissepimented solitary coral species, such as Haplolasma sp., Palaeosmilia murchisoni, and colonial coral Lithostrotion decipiens. Coral diversity dramatically decreased during the Serpukhovian, with only one species present. During the Bashkirian, rugose corals gradually recovered with the increased diversity and abundance, as evidenced by the occurrence of colonial coral Petalaxis kitakamiensis. This evolutionary pattern is consistent with that from South China and Russia, represented by the replacement of the Mississippian large solitary corals by the Pennsylvanian colonial corals. The Suguersu coral assemblage is composed of endemic taxa in Xinjiang and Qinghai regions of Northwest China, South China and Japan in northeastern Palaeotethys, as well as a few cosmopolitan elements across the Palaeotethys. This suggests that the Suguersu coral assemblage is biogeographically endemic, with occasional exchanges with other palaeo-oceans during the mid-Carboniferous period.

Bryoflora of the Romaniv landscape region and adjacent territories (Lviv region)

Research was conducted on bryophytes of the Romaniv landscape reserve and adjacent territories, which belong to the North-Podilskyi-Dniester key territory of the regional eco-network of the Lviv region. 73 species of bryophytes from the divisions Marchantiophyta (7 species from the class Jungermanniopsida, 4 species – Marchantiopsida) and Bryophyta (2 species from the class Polytrichopsida, 60 species – Bryopsida) were found in the study area. Among the families, Pottiaceae (9 species, 6.6%), Brachytheciaceae (7 species, 5.1%), Mniaceae (6 species, 4.4%), Plagiotheciaceae (6 species, 4.4%), Bryaceae (5 species, 3.7%), Orthotrichaceae (4 species, 2.9%), the rest of the families are oligo- and monospecies. Among the genera are Ptychostomum (4 species, 2.9%), Plagiothecium (4 species, 2.9%), genera Plagiomnium, Didymodon, Tortula and Orthotrichum – 3 species each (2.2%). According to the substrate affiliation, there is the largest number of epigean bryophytes. Epiphytes predominate on the bark of deciduous trees, or in the root zone of beech trees. However, epixillae develop well at various stages of decay in various types of dead wood. Rocky areas in the middle of the forest, which are located outside the reserve have the biggest species diversity of bryophytes Mosses inhabit anthropogenically disturbed biotopes, in particular, sand mining quarries and agricultural land. Based on the geographical analysis, the bryoflora of this territory can be characterized as nemoral-boreal with some arid and cosmopolitan elements. Features of the geographical distribution of bryophytes are large areas, accordingly, the share of endemics among them is insignificant. Regionally rare for the mixed forest zone are Alleniella besseri, Aloina rigida, Marchantia quadrata, Taxiphyllum wissgrillii. For nemoral – Pellia endiviifolia, Porella platyphylla, Lophocolea bidentata, Encalypta streptocarpa. Data on the species composition of bryophytes and their substrate affiliation make it possible to more widely assess the types of biodiversity. The given sozological analysis of the bryoflora points to the need for further detailed research of the bryoflora. An annotated list of bryophytes was drawn up on the basis of bryofloristic studies of the Romaniv landscape reserve and adjacent territories.

Patterns and drivers of plant sexual systems in the dry-hot valley region of southwestern China

Sexual systems play important roles in angiosperm evolution and exhibit substantial variations among different floras. Thus, studying their evolution in a whole flora is crucial for understanding the formation and maintenance of plant biodiversity and predicting its responses to environmental change. In this study, we determined the patterns of plant sexual systems and their associations with geographic elements and various life-history traits in dry-hot valley region of southwestern China, an extremely vulnerable ecosystem. Of the 3166 angiosperm species recorded in this area, 74.5% were hermaphroditic, 13.5% were monoecious and 12% were dioecious, showing a high incidence of diclinous species. Diclinous species were strongly associated with tropical elements, whereas hermaphroditic species were strongly associated with temperate and cosmopolitan elements. We also found that hermaphroditism was strongly associated with showy floral displays, specialist entomophily, dry fruits and herbaceous plants. Dioecy was strongly associated with inconspicuous, pale-colored flowers, generalist entomophily, fleshy fruits, and woody plants, whereas monoecy was strongly associated with inconspicuous, pale-colored flowers, anemophily, dry fruits, and herbaceous plants. In addition, hermaphroditic species with generalist entomophily tended to flower in the dry season, whereas diclinous species with specialist entomophily tended to flower in the rainy season. However, independent of sexual systems, plants that produce dry fruits tended to flower in the rainy season and set fruits in the dry season, but the opposite pattern was found for fleshy fruit-producing plants. Our results suggest that in the dry-hot valleys, plant sexual systems are associated with geographic elements as well as various life-history traits that are sensitive to environmental change.

Identities of Clones: Cosmopolitical Ethics in Kazuo Ishiguro’s ’Never let me go’

Based on the experience of human cloning in Never Let Me Go and some modern ethical issues, this paper analyzes the cosmopolitan elements and ethical issues, and reveals some modern ethical issues that do exist. By analyzing the settings, plots and techniques, this paper analyzes the reasons why the clones are not accepted in Never Let Me Go, and why clones should be regarded as part of human families.

DIVERSITY OF SPONTANEOUS PLANTS IN PUBLIC GARDENS AT ARID ENVIRONMENTS

Public gardens are necessary to improve the quality of life, and wellbeing of urban residents. The objective of this study was to inventory the floristic diversity of spontaneous species in three sites representing different public gardens in southwestern Algeria. To document all spontaneous species present, a total of 64 quadrats were established in August 2021. To express differences in diversity between sites, the species richness and biological diversity index were used. A total of 375 individuals, representing 15 families, 29 genera, and 31 species were recorded. The family Asteraceae is represented by the highest number of species (7 species) followed by Amaranthaceae and Poaceae (5 species), whereas, 10 families are represented by one species each. Therophytes (58.06%) and Chamephytes (16.13%) are relatively high life forms of the vegetation spectra. Phytogeographical analysis of the vegetation in the area revealed the forte representation of cosmopolitan elements. The ranges of diversity indices observed in the three sites were: Shannon- Weaver index (2.99-3.86), Evenness index (0.76-0.88) and Sørensen coefficient (53%-61%). The application of principal component analysis to the data characterized the ecological gradients responsible for the distribution of these taxa at the level of the three sites. This study contains important information on spontaneous plants in arid environments, which should be integrated into the priority of plant genetic resources valorization programs.

Kraftwerk and the international ‘re-birth of Germany’: Multiplicity, identity and difference in music and International Relations

Kraftwerk are widely recognised as one of the most important groups in the history of popular music – and for (West) German national identity in the 20th century. They have been labelled as both typically German and thoroughly cosmopolitan, but, rather than being paradoxical (as some have claimed), this tension reveals an under-explored international politics at work. Using the emerging approach of Multiplicity, I illuminate Kraftwerk’s international dimensions to develop the insight that all societies are inter-societal and all nations international. The article thus intervenes into an ongoing debate in International Political Sociology (IPS) that has seen calls to abandon ‘the international’ in favour of ‘the global’. In practice, this would also ignore ‘the national’ which, as Cultural Studies scholarship on Kraftwerk and recent sociological work shows, remains an important mode of meaning-making. Yet these same literatures dismiss cosmopolitanism or afford no constitutive role to the international, meaning they slide back into methodological nationalism. Using Multiplicity, I address both the national and the cosmopolitan elements of societal identity and suggest a newly co-ontological conception of identity and difference for International Relations (IR). Sketching Kraftwerk’s genesis, innovations, inspirations, influence and importance, I thus illuminate the inter-national politics of the musical ‘re-birth of Germany’.

Diversity of Plant Communities Associated with Urban Green Spaces in Southwestern Algeria

Urban green spaces are essential to assuring the quality of life. This study aims to study the diversity of plant communities associated with urban green spaces in southwestern Algeria. Based on data collected from 57 phytoecological surveys with an area of 1 m², plant communities were analyzed using diversity parameters (specific richness, biodiversity indices and similarity) and plant functional traits (life forms, morphological, phytogeographical and dispersal types). 32 species belonging to 31 genera in 13 families have been identified. According to the real spectrum (data based on abundance) of plant functional traits, plant species are mainly geophytes (48.27%) which adopt various dispersal strategies, including barochores (71.55%) and anemochores (17.24%). Phytogeographic analysis revealed the dominance of the cosmopolitan element (41.55%) which is well adapted to the Saharan climate. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering of species based on their abundance by Minitab 17 revealed six groups. This work provides important information that can serve as a basis for the management and conservation of biodiversity in southwestern Algeria.

The Sheikh’s Advisor: Philip Plant and the Rapid Modernisation in Qatar 1949-1952

This paper is based on research undertaken for the Origins of Doha Project. It is a unique attempt to interrogate the construct of the Arab city against rigorously collected evidence and meticulous analysis of historical urban geography. We have found that Doha in its urban layout, physical development, architecture, and pre-oil demograph-ics, combined its disparate cosmopolitan elements into a blend that probably typified the historic Gulf town, simultaneously encapsulating aspects of the generalised " Arab and Islamic town. " We have found strong structural principles at work in both the traditional and the early modern town, many of which correlate strongly with tribal social organisation, although the historic population of Doha was neither overwhelmingly tribal in character nor entirely Arab in origin. Rather, these constituted prevailing ideologies, social structures, and identities in a diverse and cosmopolitan population

Ever Closer Union? Unification, Difference, and the ‘Making of Europe’, c.950–c.1350

Abstract The article explores the relationships between the universal and the particular in high medieval Europe. It notes the enduring appeal of views of the period as being marked by an increasingly unified ‘European’ culture and explains their modern salience. It observes the parallel phenomena of division and plurality in the period and the prominence of themes of conflict and fragmentation in the following centuries. The purpose of the article is to re-examine the relationship between these seemingly contradictory forms and developments. Its aim is to illuminate and explain the strengthening elements of division and disunity discernible in Europe between the eleventh and the fourteenth centuries in terms of the new, over-arching cultural unities which characterise the same high medieval period. Taking as its basis the model of ‘Europeanisation’ developed by Robert Bartlett, it complicates his picture of advancing homogenisation by demonstrating the ways in which new, encompassing, integrative cultural forms promoted dis-integration and encouraged the articulation and reproduction of difference. The processes of change through which high medieval unities were created were themselves divisive, while strengthened institutions, particularly the Church and papacy, fostered division and provided fora within which contending claims could be negotiated. New, widely disseminated media allowed difference to be more sharply articulated. The cosmopolitan elements in high medieval European culture, the article contends, bore within them the seed of the particular(istic), which ripened together with those same universalising currents. This dialectic of unity and plurality sheds a fresh light on the transition from the central to the later Middle Ages in Europe.

Scholar and Spokesman: Benoy Sarkar on the West, Religion, Nationalism and Internationalism

Benoy Kumar Sarkar was both a serious scholar of history and society and a spokesman who wanted to promote ideas of equality between East and West and highlight the secular achievements of the Hindus. He has been hailed as a pioneer of Neo-Indology, a premature postcolonial sociologist, a conservative nationalist and an anti-colonial internationalist. Elements of several ideologies can be found in his writings. This article assesses his critique of orientalist constructions of East and West, the features of Hinduism and Buddhism and their influence overseas, the peculiarities of nationalism and Hindu-Muslim relations in India and the conservative, authoritarian and cosmopolitan elements in his writings on nationalism and international affairs.

National and Cosmopolitan Elements of Chinese Film Forever Young and Cross-Cultural Communication

As an "atypical" historical film released in recent years, the film Forever Young gives up the usual grand narrative angle and pays attention to the small potatoes. It pieces together and links the hundred-year history of China's struggle and self-improvement through a "messy" and "broken" cross-narrative method and a consistent theme of "being true to yourself”. This paper analyzes the national and cosmopolitan elements reflected in the film and explores the acceptance in both domestic and foreign markets, indicating the weakness of contemporary Chinese films in the process of cross-cultural communication. It has been found out that the elements of nationalism are mainly embodied in three aspects, hundred years historical changes of China, oriental core values and oriental implicit artistic style and that the elements of cosmopolitanism are reflected in its narrative techniques, characterization and the theme.Based on the analysis of the weakness of this film in cross-cultural communication, this paper suggests that it should avoid dealing with sensitive topics and obscure values for better cross-cultural communication effects.

A Preliminary Introduction to the Vascular Plants of Zayandeh-Rood River

Abstract Rivers are a part of the national and natural treasures of the country with a variety of living organisms have high importance. In the present study, in order to investigate the flora of Zayandeh-Rood River, a list of aquatic macrophytes (submerged and emergent) and coastal plants along with geographical distribution (chorotype) and their life forms were compiled. A total of 92 species and 79 genera belonging to 36 families were identified. Poaceae (15 genera and 16 species), Amaranthaceae (8 genera and 10 species), Asteraceae (7 genera and 7 species), Brassicaceae (5 genera and 5 species), Fabaceae (4 genera and 4 species), and Potamogetonaceae (3 genera and 6 species) were the most important plant families. The highest number of identified species had the life forms of hemicryptophytes and throphytes (31.52%), helophytes and hydrophytes (13.04%), geophytes and phanerophytes (4.35), and chamaephytes (2.18%), respectively. Investigating the geographical distribution showed that the largest portion of the geographical distribution of plants in the region belonged to plural elements (25%), cosmopolitan elements (14.13%), Irano–Turanian elements (13.04%), and Irano-Turan-Euro-Sieberian elements (7.61%). The study indicated the diversity of aquatic and coastal vegetation of Zayandeh-Rood River that should be considered for conservation.

Cereal weeds variation in middle Egypt: Role of crop family in weed composition.

Cereals occupies a major part in the diet of humans globally, participating more to our daily protein and calorie intake than any other crop. The present study highlight the weed flora of cereal crops compared to other crops in middle Egypt and their distribution. Ninety-two weed species were recorded in the all studied crops, cereal and other crops; in the studied area belong to 67 genera and 20 families. Egyptian clover; showed the highest numbers of both weed species and genera followed by wheat, on contrast the lowest weed species and genera numbers were recorded associated with Solanaceous crops tomato and pepper. Wheat crops exhibited the highest number of weed species, among cereals, followed by maize crop, while the lowest weed species number was detected in barley crop. Chenopodium murale, Cynodon dactylon, Convolvulus arvensis and Malva parviflora were the most frequent species in winter cereals, while Echinochloa colona, P. oleraceae were the most frequent weeds in summer cereals. Chorological analysis of the recorded weed species showed that cosmopolitan elements showed the highest numbers in total weed flora Differences in weed species compositions were fundamentally influenced by seasonal priority. Based on TWINSPAN and Ward classifications, crop family showed slightly effect as a factor affecting weed composition.

A new Changhsingian brachiopod fauna from the Xiala Formation at Tsochen in the central Lhasa Block and its paleogeographical implications

AbstractPermian faunal affinity in the Lhasa Block plays a critical role in reconstructing its paleogeographic evolution. Cisuralian and Guadalupian faunas have been described from the Lhasa Block, but very few Lopingian (late Permian) brachiopods have been reported so far. In this paper, a new diverse brachiopod fauna consisting of 17 species of 17 genera and an unidentifiable Orthotetoidea is described from the uppermost part of the Xiala Formation at the Aduogabu section in the central part of the Lhasa Block. The age of this fauna can be assigned to the Changhsingian (late Lopingian) as indicated by the associated foraminifersColaniella parva(Colani, 1924) andReichelina pulchraMiklukho-Maklay, 1954. Characteristic brachiopods includeSpinomarginifera chengyaoyenensisHuang, 1932,Haydenella wenganensis(Huang, 1932), andAraxathyriscf.dilatatusShen, He, and Zhu, 1992. They also generally suggest a Changhsingian age. Paleobiogeographically, this fauna is uniformly composed of typical Tethyan elements represented bySpinomarginiferaHuang, 1932 andHaydenellaReed, 1944, and some cosmopolitan elements, but no typical cold-water taxa of Gondwanan affinity. This is in contrast to the contemporaneous brachiopod faunas from the Tethys Himalayan region that are characterized by typical cold-water taxa of Gondwanan affinity, e.g.,Costiferina indica(Waagen, 1884),Retimarginifera xizangensisShen et al., 2000,Neospirifer(Quadrospina)tibetensisDing, 1962. Thus, it is strongly indicative that the Lhasa Block had drifted into a relatively warm-water regime during the Changhsingian. An analysis of the paleobiogeographic change of brachiopods in the Lhasa Block throughout the entire Permian further suggests that the Lhasa Block probably had rifted away from the northern peri-Gondwanan margin between the latest Cisuralian and middle Guadalupian, that is, the Neotethys Ocean had opened before middle Guadalupian.

Anthropogenic Effects of “Sarilar Quarry” In Obrukbasi (Kirsehir) On Mountain-Steppe Vegetation

This research encompasses Quarry in Obrukbasi (Kirsehir) and its environ. With the evaluation of 394 plant specimens collected in 2017-2018 in the research area, 55 families, 150 genera, 170 species were determined. The total taxon number is 170. 24 species are endemic for Turkey. The distribution and ratios of species in the Phytogeographical regions is as follows: 44 Iranian-Turanian elements (27%), 6 European-Siberian elements (3,5), 5 Mediterranean elements (2,9), 66 Cosmopolitan elements (39%), 3 elements with unknown Phytogeographical region (1,7%). About 40 species are agricultured in culture gardens on the area. Keywords : Obrukbasi, Quarry, Flora, Taxon. DOI : 10.7176/JSTR/5-6-06

La Europa cosmopolita de Seyla Benhabib: Conflicto, diferencia y ciudadanía

Seyla Benhabib's idiosyncratic approach provides an original framework for a complex characterization of the paradoxes of contemporary Europe, and the dialectic between identity and citizenship within. This essay analyses Benhabib's approach through three main elements: the lessons of the totalitarian moment, the relationship between Europe and its others in recent history, and the potential of certain cosmopolitan elements catalyzed by the EU project. This type of analysis makes explicit a look from the margins, which marks Benhabib's particular contribution to the critical theory of democracy and to its dialogue with Enlightenment universalism.

LOPINGIAN (LATE PERMIAN) BRACHIOPOD FAUNAS FROM THE QUBUERGA FORMATION AT TULONG AND KUJIANLA IN THE MT. EVEREST AREA OF SOUTHERN TIBET, CHINA

Permian strata containing abundant brachiopods are well developed in the Himalaya Tethys Zone. However, relatively few has been systematically described due to the difficult working condition for collecting. In this paper, we describe the brachiopods from the Qubuerga Formation at the Tulong and Kujianla sections in southern Tibet. The brachiopod faunas consist of 15 species belonging to 11 genera. Among the identified 15 species, Retimarginfera xizangensis , Costiferina indica , Fusispirifer semiplicatus , Spiriferella sinica , Biplatyconcha grandis and Neospirifer ( Quadrospina ) tibetensis are very common in the equivalents of the Himalaya Tethys Zone including the Selong Group at the Selong Xishan and Qubu sections in southern Tibet, the Senja Formation in northwest Nepal, the Zewan Formation in Kashmir, and the upper part of the Wargal Formation and the Chhidru Formation in the Salt Range, Pakistan. They are all comparable and can be assigned to the Wuchiapingian- early Changhsingian. Since the brachiopods from the Qubuerga Formation at Tulong and Kujianla are all composed of typical Gondwanan, bipolar or cosmopolitan elements, it is conclusive that the Himalaya Tethys Zone in the northern margin of the Indian Plate was still situated at southern high-latitudes under cold palaeoclimatic conditions during most of the Lopingian. The faunal succession at Tulong also recorded a rapid warming at the very end of the Changhsingian in view of the fact that the typical cold-water Lopingian brachiopod, gastropod and bivalve faunas were dramatically replaced by extremely abundant conodonts Clarkina in the basal part of the dolostone unit of the Tulong Formation. This end-Changhsingian warming is comparable with that recorded throughout the Permian-Triassic boundary interval at Selong, Qubu in southern Tibet, the Salt Range, Pakistan and the sections in Kashmir as well as South China.

Mapping the Growth of an Arabian Gulf Town: The Case of Doha, Qatar

This paper is based on research undertaken for the Origins of Doha Project. It is a unique attempt to interrogate the construct of the Arab city against rigorously collected evidence and meticulous analysis of historical urban geography. We have found that Doha in its urban layout, physical development, architecture, and pre-oil demographics, combined its disparate cosmopolitan elements into a blend that probably typified the historic Gulf town, simultaneously encapsulating aspects of the generalised “Arab and Islamic town.” We have found strong structural principles at work in both the traditional and the early modern town, many of which correlate strongly with tribal social organisation, although the historic population of Doha was neither overwhelmingly tribal in character nor entirely Arab in origin. Rather, these constituted prevailing ideologies, social structures, and identities in a diverse and cosmopolitan population

Exploring the Cosmopolitan Elements in Lao She's Works

Abstract In this article, the author explores the cosmopolitan elements that are intermingled with his apparently patriotic, even nationalistic, narratives. The author wants to argue that as Lao She's ultimate dream for the entire humanity, this cosmopolitan idealism, or the Great Unity of the world, comes from his own Manchu origin against the backdrop of the Han majority in China, his isolated personal experience as a young lecturer sojourning in London, the bitter experience of him and his family caused by the Western and Japanese invasions, his ambiguous religious beliefs, and his inheritance of the traditional Confucius culturing.