ABSTRACTAimIntraindividual trait variability (iITV), which is the variability among repeated architectural units within an individual, may represent a crucial dimension of functional diversity in plant eco‐evolutionary dynamics. Although inter‐ and intraspecific trait variability have been widely studied, the extent of iITV remains largely overlooked. Since iITV might be especially relevant in long‐lived clonal plants, we investigated sources of trait variability (species, site, clone, ramet, leaf) in tundra clonal dwarf shrubs, particularly focusing on iITV and its potential drivers.LocationEurope.Time PeriodJuly 2019 to September 2020.Major Taxa StudiedClonal dwarf shrubs.MethodsWe sampled four widespread boreo‐alpine clonal dwarf shrub species (Dryas octopetala, Empetrum hermaphroditum, Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium uliginosum) along elevation gradients in the Pyrenees and along a latitude gradient in Europe. At each site, we selected four clones per species and sampled five ramets per clone. We measured size‐architectural traits in each ramet and leaf traits in five leaves per ramet. We quantified interspecific, intraspecific and iITV, investigated the relationship between iITV and both climate and clone structural variables, and compared sampling protocols either accounting for or ignoring iITV.ResultsAlthough interspecific trait variability was substantial, we found large proportions of iITV within species. Size‐architectural traits showed larger iITV (up to 100% of ITV), but leaf traits also showed remarkable values (up to 77%). Our results showed that iITV increased with mean annual temperature for specific leaf area. However, climate and clone structural variables were not predictive for iITV for any other trait.ConclusionsOur quantification of iITV in clonal dwarf shrubs evidences the importance of this source of variability and its potential ecological implications and emphasises the need to integrate it in sampling protocols, both to avoid bias in comparative studies and improve the predictive capacity of trait‐based approaches in population and community ecology.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Argentina, Septoria reinamora on leaf spots of Mutisia spinosa. Australia, Cortinarius albofolliculus on mossy soil, Cortinarius descensoriformis among leaf litter, Cortinarius kaki among leaf litter, Cortinarius lissosporus in leaf litter, Cortinarius malogranatus in leaf litter, Cortinarius meletlac on soil in mixed forest, Cortinarius sebosioides in long decayed wood litter, Helicogermslita australiensis as an endophyte from healthy leaves of Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, Puccinia clemensiorum on culms of Eleocharis ochrostachys, Puccinia geethae on leaves of Cyperus brevifolius, Puccinia marjaniae on leaves of Nymphoides indica, Puccinia scleriae-rugosae on leaves of Scleria rugosa. Brazil, Dactylaria calliandrae on living leaf of Calliandra tweediei, Mucor cerradoensis from soil, Musicillium palmae on living leaves of unidentified palm species, Neodendryphiella agapanthi from stalks of Agapanthus praecox, Parafusicladium riodejaneiroanum on living leaves of native bamboo, Parapenidiella melastomatis on living leaves of unidentified Melastomataceae, Pararamichloridium ouropretoense on living leaves of unidentified Poaceae, Pentagonomyces endophyticus (incl. Pentagonomyces gen. nov.) as endophytic from roots of Musa acuminata, Polyschema endophytica from healthy roots of coffee plant, Purimyces endophyticus as root endophyte of Cattleya locatellii, Ramularia rhododendri on living leaves of Rhododendron sp., Staphylotrichum soli from soil, Trichoderma sexdentis from leaves inside a nest of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa, Wiesneriomyces soli from soil. France, Cosmospora nemaniae on dead or effete stromata of Nemania cf. colliculosa, Inocybe alnobetulae in subalpine green alder stands, Stylonectria hygrophila on dead twigs of Betula pubescens. Germany, Coniochaeta corticalis from bark humus, Coniochaeta fermentaria from fermentation residues from biogas plants, Coniochaeta fibricola from softwood fibres, Coniochaeta weberae from bark humus, Inocybe canicularis on calcareous to more acidic soil with conifers. Iceland, Inocybe islandica associated with Dryas octopetala. India, Vishniacozyma indica on dead twigs. Iran, Botryotrichum lycii on rotten leaf of Lycium depressum. Italy, Cuphophyllus dolomiticus among Salix retusa, Salix reticulata and Dryas octopetala, Inocybe subentolomospora on moss with the presence of Alnus incana, Populus nigra and Salix spp. Malaysia, Catenulostroma pellitae on leaf spots of Eucalyptus pellita. Mexico, Colletotrichum mexicanus from fruit of Persea americana cv. Hass. New Caledonia (France), Cortinarius caeloculus, Cortinarius luteigemellus and Cortinarius perpensus on soil under Nothofagus aequilateralis. New Zealand, Cytospora braithwaitei on branch of Malus domestica. Pakistan, Callistosporium khalidii on humus soil, Entoloma lilacinum on litter in conifer forest, Laccaria decolorans on litter in broad-leaved subtropical forest. Poland, Pseudoneoconiothyrium modrzynanum from resin of Larix decidua ssp. polonica, Tuberculiforma enigmatica isolated from sooty mould community on Quercus robur leaves. Portugal, Clavulus hemisphaericus (incl. Clavulus gen. nov.) on mossy slopes and under Laurus leaf litter, Entoloma daegae on sandy, granitic soil, Hygrocybe aurantiocitrina under laurel forest, Hygrocybe sanguineolutea gregarious in laurel forest, Hygrocybe vulcanica on mossy areas of laurel forest areas, Pachyphlodes algarvensis on sandy soil under Cistus salvifolius, Quercus suber and Pinus pinea. South Africa, Amycosphaerella podalyriae on leaf of Podalyria calyptrata, Erythrobasidium eucalypti from the gut of Gonipterus sp., Letendraea goniomae on leaves of Gonioma kamassi, Pezicula brabeji and Sphaerulina brabeji on twigs of Brabejum stellatifolium, Stachybotrys conicosiae on dead flower head of Conicosia elongata, Talaromyces ignescens from soil. Spain, Cortinarius phaeobrunneus on soil under Quercus ilex and Q. faginea, Inocybe pini-halepensis among grass and fallen leaves of Pinus halepensis, Inocybe subporcorum in sandy soils under Quercus ilex subsp. ballota and Pinus pinaster, Mycena morenoi on dead leaves of Betula pubescens and Salix atrocinerea, Pachyphlodes iberica on clayey and loamy soil under Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia, Ramariopsis coronata in laurel forest. Switzerland, Inocybe minata in a bog on very wet acidic soil with Salix spp. and Betula spp. Thailand, Hypocrella khonsanitii on scale insects (Coccidae), Petchiella hymenopterorum on hymenopteran pupae in the nest (Hymenoptera). Trinidad and Tobago, Neodevriesia maravalensis from office swab. Türkiye, Russula anatolica under Quercus vulcanica. UK, Paracylindrosporium dactylorhizae (incl. Paracylindrosporium gen. nov.) on leaf spots of Dactylorhiza sp., Niesslia hepworthiae and Niesslia libertiae on living leaves of Libertia grandiflora. Ukraine, Lichenohendersonia cetrariae on thallus of terricolous Cetraria aculeata. USA, Atromagnispora indianensis (incl. Atromagnispora gen. nov.) on submerged wood in a freshwater stream, Cytospora michiganensis from utility room (settle plate), Exophiala aeris from air (settle plate), Hongoboletus americanus from mixed pine-hardwood forest, Lorrainsmithia pennsylvanica from bedroom, air, Superstratomyces massachusettsanus from lyse buffer. Vietnam, Aspergillus halopiscium on dry marine anchovy Stolephorus commersonnii. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

During our long-term studies on Cortinarius species in alpine habitats, we discovered several collections of a Cortinarius species resembling C. spilomeus. We carried out comparative morphological studies and a phylogenetic analysis based on rDNA ITS sequences. We included also type material of Cortinarius spilomeus forma dryadicola. We confirmed that Cortinarius spilomeoalpinus is a distinct species which is typical for alpine Dryas octopetala habitats. Cortinarius spilomeus forma dryadicola is not part of C. spilomeus sensu stricto. It is conspecific with the later described C. ferrusinus, another taxon of sect. Spilomei, and we treat it as forma of it. Detailed descriptions are given for the alpine taxa, and a differential diagnosis and dichotomous identification key are provided. Citation: Peintner U, Huymann L, Ferrari RJ (2025). Cortinarius spilomeoalpinus (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) a new alpine species of sect. Spilomei from the South-Tyrolean Dryas octopetala habitats. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 15: 265-274. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2025.15.12.

Results of our analysis of species components of palynofloras of the Allerød–Holocene deposits of nine sections located in the territory of the modern Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine are summarized. It is demonstrated that rare and relict species (Betula humilis, Dryas octopetala, Pinus cembra, Linnaea borealis, Thalictrum foetidum, Pinguicula vulgaris, Scheuchzeria palustris, Utricularia intermedia, and Utricularia minor; all listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine, 2009) participated in the formation of the species composition of these fossil palynofloras. For the first time, the spatiotemporal differentiation of the distribution of these species on both the Right Bank and the Left Bank of the Forest-Steppe zone during the Allerød– Holocene was established based on the generalized data of paleofloristic studies. Results of palynological studies indicate that the Left Bank of the studied territory, compared to the Right Bank, has a higher degree of paleofloristic study. For each of the rare and relict species, the upper limit of participation in the composition of the vegetation cover of the Forest-Steppe zone during the main Allerød–Holocene stages was substantiated, and the general tendency of the regressive character of the modern areas of their distribution was confirmed. The obtained data indicate the perspective of using paleofloristic materials for further detailing of paleobotanical reconstructions, as well as for paleophytochorological, chorological research, analyses of relicts and their refugia.

Occurrence, bioaccumulation and trophodynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in terrestrial and marine ecosystems of Svalbard, Arctic.

The Eastern Baltic area stands out as a unique location due to the finds of Europe’s youngest dated mammoth remains (12.6–11.2 ka cal BP). Our study explores the drastic climate and landcover changes during the extinction of these gigantic herbivores at the Pleistocene/Holocene boundary. We used macrofossil analysis to determine the major contemporary terrestrial plant genera present in the area and used corresponding pollen taxa for REVEALS model-based landcover reconstructions. Our results indicate that these last mammoths utilised the open landcover of the Eastern Baltic, which developed as the continental ice sheet retreated during the termination of the last glaciation. Due to climate warming during the initial stages of the Holocene interglacial, the Eastern Baltic became speedily populated by birch and pine forests. The abrupt disappearance of typical forb-dominated tundra indicators, such as Dryas octopetala, and the fast increase in tree birch marked a shift from an open, tundra-like landscape to a forested one, making the environment inhospitable for mammoths even in northernmost Estonia by the beginning of the Holocene. A comparison between the isotopic values of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) obtained from mammoths’ molars from 14.3 and 11.3 to 43.5 and 39.1 ka cal BP showed that mammoths experienced a decline in the nutritional value of their diet, resulting in their demise in the Eastern Baltic.

Looking for White Mountain Avens at Sea Level

Alpine tundra, covering 3% of the Earth's land surface, harbors approximately 4% of higher plant species. Changes in this vegetation significantly impact biodiversity and ecosystem services. Recent studies have primarily focused on large-scale and long-term vegetation changes in polar and high-latitude regions. However, the study of short-term vegetation changes and their primary drivers has received insufficient attention in alpine tundra. This study aimed to investigate vegetation changes and their dominant drivers in the alpine tundra of Changbai Mountains-located at the southern edge of the alpine tundra distribution in Eastern Eurasia-over a short period by re-surveying permanent plots in 2019 and comparing them with data from 2014. The results showed that significant changes were observed in alpine tundra vegetation during the study period. The importance values of typical alpine tundra plants such as Rhododendron chrysanthum, Vaccinium uliginosum, and Dryas octopetala decreased noticeably, while those of herbaceous species such as Deyeuxia angustifolia and Sanguisorba sitchensis increased significantly. Species richness, diversity, and evenness at different altitudinal gradients showed varying degrees of increase. A distinct expansion trend of herbaceous species was observed in the alpine tundra, contributing to a shift in plant community composition toward herbaceous dominance. This shift might result in the meadowization of the dwarf shrub tundra. Our findings further revealed that soil nutrients rather than climate factors, dominated the changes of plant communities over a short period. These findings provide scientific references for the conservation and management of biodiversity, as well as for projecting future vegetation dynamics in alpine tundra.

Dryas octopetala var. asiatica, a dwarf shrub belonging to the Rosaceae family and native to Asia, exhibits notable plasticity in photosynthesis in response to temperature variations. However, the codon usage patterns and factors influencing them in the chloroplast genome of this species have not yet been documented. This study sequenced and assembled the complete genome of D. octopetala var. asiatica. The annotated genes in the chloroplast genome were analyzed for codon composition through multivariate statistical methods including a neutrality plot, a parity rule 2 (PR2) bias plot, and an effective number of codons (ENC) plot using CodonW 1.4.2 software. The results indicated that the mean GC content of 53 CDSs was 38.08%, with the average GC content at the third codon base position being 27.80%, suggesting a preference for A/U(T) at the third codon position in chloroplast genes. Additionally, the chloroplast genes exhibited a weak overall codon usage bias (CUB) based on ENC values and other indicators. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between ENC value and GC2, an extremely positive correlation with GC3, but no correlation with GC1 content. These findings highlight the importance of the codon composition at the third position in influencing codon usage bias. Furthermore, our analysis indicated that the CUB of the chloroplast genome of D. octopetala var. asiatica was primarily influenced by natural selection and other factors. Finally, this study identified UCA, CCU, GCU, AAU, GAU, and GGU as the optimal codons. These results offer a foundational understanding for genetic modification and evolutionary dynamics of the chloroplast genome of D. octopetala var. asiatica.

Clavatols exhibit a wide range of biological activities due to their diverse structures. A genome mining strategy identified an A5cla cluster from Penicillium sp. MYA5, derived from the Arctic plant Dryas octopetala, is responsible for clavatol biosynthesis. Seven clavatols, including one new clavatol derivate named penicophenone F (1) and six known clavatols (2-7), were isolated from Penicillium sp. MYA5 using a transcriptome mining strategy. These structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Antibacterial, aldose reductase inhibition, and siderophore-producing ability assays were conducted on compounds 1-7. Compounds 1 and 2 demonstrated inhibitory effects on the ALR2 enzyme with inhibition rates of 75.3% and 71.6% at a concentration of 10 μM, respectively. Compound 6 exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with MIC values of 4.0 μg/mL and 4.0 μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, compounds 1, 5, and 6 also showed potential iron-binding ability.

Dendrochronology and extreme climate signals recorded in seven Icelandic shrubs: A multi-species approach in the sub-Arctic

Soil microbial community responses to long-term experimental warming in an alpine Dryas octopetala heath in Norway

Thermal germination characteristics of three High Arctic plants: Implications for their response to climate warming

While soil pH is known to be a key driver of plant species composition, we still have a poor understanding of the quantification of the responses of leaf traits to different soil types, especially in highly sensitive alpine environments susceptible to global environmental changes. By combining traditional and modern geometric morphometrics we aimed to bridge the existing gap and determine whether certain leaf traits reliably separate evergreen Dryas octopetala populations residing in the subalpine-alpine zone of the Kazbegi region, in the eastern part of the Central Great Caucasus in Georgia. To achieve this aim, three populations of D. octopetala were analysed through traditional and, for the first time, modern geometric morphometrics. Both methods revealed congruent results indicating significant differences in leaf shape and size in locations with similar climatic conditions but different soil pH environments (acid vs neutral to slightly alkaline) thus suggesting that D. octopetala exhibits stronger leaf morphological plasticity (wider and larger leaves vs narrower and smaller leaves) to respond to changes in the soil pH gradient. In addition, modern geometric morphometrics, with its high degree of precision as an accessible and inexpensive method, could be advantageous for researchers and scientists seeking to gain a deeper understanding of plant species? unique responses to varying environmental conditions.

Climatic shifts threaten alpine mycorrhizal communities above the treeline

We retrieved a sediment core from Vasby Mose, a calcareous fen on eastern Sjælland, Denmark. The record spans the period from c. 14 700 to 6800 cal. years BP. During the Lateglacial, Vasby Mose was a lake where minerogenic sandy and clayey sediments accumulated. In the early Lateglacial, from c. 14 700 to 13 200 cal. years BP, a tundralike open, treeless vegetation with Betula nana and Dryas octopetala was found in the region. During the Younger Dryas, a rich flora of aquatic plants was found in the lake. In the Early to Mid-Holocene, Vasby Mose was a spring-fed calcareous fen, with deposition of peat and tufa. The flora included the sedges Carex rostrata and Carex paniculata, the aquatic plant Menyathes trifoliata, the calciphilous reed plant Cladium mariscus and the today nationally extinct bryophyte Meesia triquetra. The fauna included aquatic mollusc taxa such as Pisidium sp., Valvata spp. And Bithynia tentaculate and terrestrial or semi-terrestrial species such as Galba truncatula, Euconolus cf. alderi, Succinea/Oxyloma, Zonitoides nitidus and Vallonia pulchella. The Preboreal oscillation and other Early Holocene climate events are seen as short-lived, wet intervals.

Herbarium records in Arctic dwarf shrub dendrochronology: Methodological approach and perspectives

Acclimation of the Leaf Photosynthetic Apparatus and the Reproductive Sphere in Dryas octopetala L. Plants Introduced into Central Russia

By studying the diversity and community structure of rhizosphere soil fungi of different plants in the tundra on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain, it provides theoretical support for the restoration of environmental degradation and in-depth study of fungal diversity in the tundra of Changbai Mountain. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to determine the ITS1 region of fungal amplicons, so as to analyze the diversity of fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil of six plants in the tundra of Changbai Mountain, and to analyze the correlation between the environment and the diversity and richness of fungal communities in combination with relevant soil physical and chemical factors. The diversity and richness of fungal community in the rhizosphere soil of six plants in Changbai Mountain tundra were different. The Simpson and Shannon indexes of Saxifraga stolonifera Curt were the highest, and the richness of fungal community in Dryas octopetala was the highest. The analysis of fungal community composition showed that the fungal colonies in plant rhizosphere soil samples mainly belonged to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, which were the main dominant phyla. Mortierella, Fusarium and Sordariomycetes are common fungal genera in the rhizosphere soil of six plants, but their abundances are different among different plants. Water content was negatively correlated with fungal diversity, and TP was positively correlated with fungal community diversity. There were some differences in the composition and diversity of rhizosphere soil fungal communities of six plants in Changbai Mountain tundra. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the main soil fungal phyla in the rhizosphere of six plants in Changbai Mountain tundra. The results could provide theoretical guidance for ecological protection of Changbai Mountain tundra.

We analysed food data for rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta collected during a 10 day period at the end of September and beginning of October 2006–2014 in northeast Iceland or for nine years. The total sample was 679 birds, including 455 juveniles and 224 adults; the annual range was 48–88 birds. To describe the importance of items consumed we used percentage by dry biomass (total 1399 g) and percentage by frequency of occurrence. A total of 80+ species were identified, the most important were Betula nana (27% biomass, 62% frequency), Empetrum nigrum (14%, 63%), Dryas octopetala (11%, 64%), and Salix herbacea (10%, 41%). Important plant parts consumed were berries, woody shoots with buds, buds, catkins, seeds and leaves. Difference in diet, both with respect to species and plant parts consumed, depended on year and altitude of collection site but not on ptarmigan sex, age or sex*age interaction. The only significant age difference observed was that juveniles consumed more seeds and less woody parts than did adult birds. Betula spp. dominated the diet in five years and Salix spp. in four years. Betula and Vaccinium spp. were most important at low and medium elevations but Salix spp. showed an opposite pattern. Berries (E. nigrum and Vaccinium spp.) were the dominant plant parts in the diet for six years and woody parts of Salix and Betula spp. in three years. Berries dominated in the diet at low to medium elevations and woody parts showed an opposite pattern.