Floristic Region Research Articles

Consequences of the incorrect disposal of electronic waste when growing flower seedlings

Abstract The improper disposal of batteries has numerous consequences for the environment, since they contain potentially toxic metals that can be leached, infiltrating, and contaminating the soil layers, the groundwater, as well as the fauna and flora of nearby regions. Therefore, studies were conducted to simulate and analyze soil contamination by the release of potentially toxic metals from the incorrect disposal of alkaline batteries in the environment, in similar natural conditions, by doing leaching tests in fertilized soil resembling a landfill. Therefore, in this paper a simple experiment is proposed for sensitizing students toward the consequences of an incorrect disposal of batteries in the environment.

Revised checklist of endemic vascular plants of Kazakhstan.

We compiled a checklist of endemic vascular plants occurring in Kazakhstan, employing an exhaustive examination of literature sources, herbarium collections, databases and field observations. Our study reveals that 451 taxa can be considered endemic to Kazakhstan, constituting 7.97% of the total vascular plant diversity in the country. These endemic taxa, originating from 139 genera and 34 families, predominantly thrive in the southern regions of Kazakhstan, specifically in the mountain ridges of the Kazakh part of the Tian Shan, including Karatau (123 taxa), Dzungarian Alatau (80 taxa) and Trans-Ili and Kungey Alatau (50 taxa). Notably, 107 endemic species are granted legal protection. Detailed information regarding life form, life cycle, conservation status and geographical distribution across floristic regions was meticulously compiled for each endemic taxon. Of the six groups of life forms, herbs include the highest part of endemic taxa (367 taxa), followed by dwarf semishrubs (25 taxa), shrubs (23 taxa), subshrubs (20 taxa), undershrubs (13 taxa) and trees (3 taxa). The observed life cycles are perennials (408 taxa), annuals (33 taxa) and biennials (10 taxa). This paper serves as a fundamental groundwork for prospective investigations aimed at assessing population sizes and hotspots of plant endemism throughout Kazakhstan, crucial for determining conservation status of endemic plants.

Do phylogenetic community metrics reveal the South African quartz fields as terrestrial-habitat islands?

The quartz fields of the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) are arid and island-like special habitats, hosting ~142 habitat-specialized plant species, of which 81 % are local endemics, characterized by a rapid turnover of species between and among sites. We use several phylogenetic community metrics: (1) to examine species diversity and phylogenetic structure within and among quartz fields; (2) to investigate whether quartz field specialists are evolutionarily drawn from local species pools, whereas the alternative hypothesis posits that there is no significant evolutionary connection between quartz field specialists and the local species pools; and (3) to determine whether there is an association between certain traits and the presence of species in quartz fields. We sampled and developed dated phylogenies for six species-rich angiosperm families (Aizoaceae, Asteraceae, Crassulaceae, Cyperaceae, Fabaceae and Santalaceae) represented in the quartz field floras of southern Africa. Specifically, we focused on the flora of three quartz field regions in South Africa (Knersvlakte, Little Karoo and Overberg) and their surrounding species pools to address our research questions by scoring traits associated with harsh environments. We found that the Overberg and Little Karoo had the highest level of species overlap for families Aizoaceae and Fabaceae, whereas the Knersvlakte and the Overberg had the highest species overlap for families Asteraceae, Crassulaceae and Santalaceae. Although our phylogenetic community structure and trait analyses showed no clear patterns, relatively low pairwise phylogenetic distances between specialists and their local species pools for Aizoaceae suggest that quartz species could be drawn evolutionarily from their surrounding areas. We also found that families Aizoaceae and Crassulaceae in Knersvlakte and Little Karoo were phylogenetically even. Despite their proximity to one another within the GCFR, the studied areas differ in their species pools and the phylogenetic structure of their specialists. Our work provides further justification for increased conservation focus on these unique habitats under future scenarios of global change.

Chromosomal evolution, environmental heterogeneity, and migration drive spatial patterns of species richness in Calochortus (Liliaceae)

We used nuclear genomic data and statistical models to evaluate the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping spatial variation in species richness in Calochortus (Liliaceae, 74 spp.). Calochortus occupies diverse habitats in the western United States and Mexico and has a center of diversity in the California Floristic Province, marked by multiple orogenies, winter rainfall, and highly divergent climates and substrates (including serpentine). We used sequences of 294 low-copy nuclear loci to produce a time-calibrated phylogeny, estimate historical biogeography, and test hypotheses regarding drivers of present-day spatial patterns in species number. Speciation and species coexistence require reproductive isolation and ecological divergence, so we examined the roles of chromosome number, environmental heterogeneity, and migration in shaping local species richness. Six major clades-inhabiting different geographic/climatic areas, and often marked by different base chromosome numbers (n = 6 to 10)-began diverging from each other ~10.3 Mya. As predicted, local species number increased significantly with local heterogeneity in chromosome number, elevation, soil characteristics, and serpentine presence. Species richness is greatest in the Transverse/Peninsular Ranges where clades with different chromosome numbers overlap, topographic complexity provides diverse conditions over short distances, and several physiographic provinces meet allowing immigration by several clades. Recently diverged sister-species pairs generally have peri-patric distributions, and maximum geographic overlap between species increases over the first million years since divergence, suggesting that chromosomal evolution, genetic divergence leading to gametic isolation or hybrid inviability/sterility, and/or ecological divergence over small spatial scales may permit species co-occurrence.

РОЛЬ БОТАНИЧЕСКОЙ ЛАБОРАТОРИИ И.Н. ГОРОЖАНКИНА В ИЗУЧЕНИИ ФЛОРЫ СРЕДНЕЙ РОССИИ

2024 marks the 140th anniversary of the beginning of the expeditions of the laboratory of the Botanical Garden of Moscow University under the supervision of Professor Ivan Nikolaevich Gorozhankin to study the Central Russian flora. The historical and scientific context of the studies of this traditional object for the Botanical Garden of Moscow University during the 18th - early 21st centuries is traced. It is shown how the long-term targeted field research by the staff of the laboratory of the Botanical Garden has contributed to a methodologically unified approach to the organization of the program for studying the flora of the Oka River basin allowed not only to expand the territorial coverage, going beyond the purely Moscow region, but also to significant contribute to the development of an important scientific problem, namely, the cognition of the phenomenon of the Oka River flora. Gorozhankin’s principle of systemic research of regional flora was successfully implemented at the end of the 20th century by scientists of the Botanical Garden of Moscow University in the study of the flora of Central Russia.

Central Argentina vegetation characteristics linked to extinct megafauna and some implications on human populations

In this paper we study the relationships between plants and extinct megafauna by examining the characteristics of the vegetation in the central region of Argentina (i.e. Espinal, Monte, and Chaco phytogeographic regions). First, we study the size, shape, quantity, and characteristics of fruits and seeds. We also evaluate the presence of mechanical (spinescence and wood density) and chemical (secondary metabolic compounds) defenses against high rates of herbivory. Complementarily, we assess the importance these plants had for human populations, using archeological, ethnographic, and current data. A high percentage of the analyzed plants met the criteria proposed for fruits and seeds dispersed by megafauna, together with a high frequency of spinescence, high density woods, and secondary metabolites. We propose that these traits cannot be explained by the herbivory pressure of extant fauna in the area, but rather developed in interaction with currently extinct fauna. We suggest that Pleistocene megafaunal extinction had important consequences in the region due to their role as ecosystem engineers and to vegetation’s characteristics, which were probably strongly shaped by megafauna activities. Among these consequences, we discuss the loss of certain interactions between these animals and vegetation, such as loss of seed dispersal mechanisms, shrub invasion, and increased susceptibility of vegetation to fire. Other effects for hunter-gatherer groups were the generation of highly regulated mobility patterns and the formation of barriers for the dispersal of prey. Finally, we also discuss the importance of these plants for human populations as food, construction material, medicines and firewood. Likewise, the role of humans as “heirs” of the megafauna in the propagation of tree and shrub species is highlighted.

New data on an old pest complex: The status of Phlyctinus callosus Schönherr and Phlyctinus xerophilus Haran (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in South Africa

Phlyctinus is an endemic weevil genus of the Cape Floristic Region that comprises eight to ten species, previously classified under the monotypic P. callosus sensu lato concept. Two species of this genus, Phlyctinus callosus and P. xerophilus, are of economic concern to the deciduous fruit and grapevine industry in the Western Cape province of South Africa, causing primary damages and being of phytosanitary concern at the adult stage. The taxonomic revision conducted in 2020 raised doubts whether one of the two species was a newly emerging pest and/or what species was considered in studies before the clarification of species boundaries. Also unclear is whether these species can be controlled similarly using current control measures. The aim of this study therefore is to review the pest status of the two species over time based on museum records, field collections and historical publications, and to clarify how control measure(s) are impacted. We infer that neither species appear to be emerging pests in the region, both being of agricultural significance for at least 80 years. Phlyctinus callosus is mostly distributed along the southern coast, while P. xerophilus is distributed in inland valleys. The two species show similar biology, physiology and ecology in agro-ecosystems, and can be excluded from the host plant canopy using stem-barriers, adults being flightless. As such, it is shown that the naming of P. xerophilus as a pest is mainly a taxonomical clarification within a pre-existing species complex.

Effects of climate and environmental heterogeneity on the phylogenetic structure of regional angiosperm floras worldwide

The tendency of species to retain ancestral ecological distributions (phylogenetic niche conservatism) is thought to influence which species from a species pool can persist in a particular environment. Thus, investigating the relationships between measures of phylogenetic structure and environmental variables at a global scale can help understand the variation in species richness and phylogenetic structure in biological assemblages across the world. Here, we analyze a comprehensive data set including 341,846 species in 391 angiosperm floras worldwide to explore the relationships between measures of phylogenetic structure and environmental variables for angiosperms in regional floras across the world and for each of individual continental (biogeographic) regions. We find that the global phylogenetic structure of angiosperms shows clear and meaningful relationships with environmental factors. Current climatic variables have the highest predictive power, especially on phylogenetic metrics reflecting recent evolutionary relationships that are also related to current environmental heterogeneity, presumably because this favors plant speciation in various ways. We also find evidence that past climatic conditions, and particularly refugial conditions, play an important role in determining the phylogenetic structure of regional floras. The relationships between environmental conditions and phylogenetic metrics differ between continents, reflecting the different evolutionary histories of their floras.

Flammability of native and invasive alien plants common to the Cape Floristic Region and beyond: Fire risk in the wildland–urban interface

High-impact mega-fires in many temperate forests and shrublands of the world have called for pre-emptive approaches to mitigate fire risk. Comparative appraisals of the characteristics and flammability of plant fuels can inform fire risk predictions and vegetation management efforts in the wildland–urban interface of such fire-prone regions. Prompted by recent extreme fires in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, we assessed the flammability and fuel traits of excised terminal branches of 30 woody species (many of which have never been studied before) that commonly occur as native, alien or invasive species in this region and some other temperate regions of the world. We furthermore assessed changes in flammability and fuel moisture in these species after partial drying of excised branches under ambient conditions for 2–4 weeks to simulate extreme drought conditions. Several prominent alien invasive taxa in the study region and elsewhere showed high flammability, namely Pinus radiata (median flammability index score of 2.5), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (2.3), Acacia mearnsii (2.2), Acacia melanoxylon (2.2), Pinus pinaster (2.2), Acacia cyclops (2.0) and Cestrum laevigatum (2.0). The high fire risk posed by these species needs to be considered in potential further plantings and in invasive plant clearing efforts. Conversely, Osteospermum moniliferum (median flammability index score 0.9) and Acacia saligna (1.3) are species with large invasive ranges that showed low flammability, which may suppress fire regimes in fire-prone ecosystems but present suitable options for fire mitigation in their native ranges. Fynbos and thicket species native to the study region mostly displayed high and low flammability, respectively. Species of which the flammability is likely to increase disproportionately under extreme drought conditions include select fynbos and thicket species, and among the alien invasives, all four Acacia species, Leptospermum laevigatum, Callistemon viminalis, Pinus pinaster and Osteospermum moniliferum. Management of these species should be a secondary priority (after high flammability species) in the wildland–urban interface and other high fire risk areas.

Using fire, planting, and topsoil translocation for restoration in South African Fynbos: assessing the success and cost‐effectiveness of various restoration treatments

The successful restoration of endangered habitat types at a low cost is of vital importance. We tested how successful and cost‐effective six combinations of restoration treatments were in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Treatments were applied to an area that was primarily covered invasive alien grasses. Treatments that tested combinations of burning, direct sowing of seed, and planting of seedlings, aimed to test the synergistic effect of three treatment factors. Topsoil translocation aimed to determine if this, combined with planting, can restore native shrub cover and whether the addition of mulch and seed can improve overall success. The mechanical removal of invasive grasses, sowing and planting, were tested in the absence of fire. Both topsoil translocation treatments and the treatment that had been burned, sown and planted (“Burn‐sow‐plant”) led to plant species richness resembling near‐pristine plots and approximately 30% higher than the burn‐only treatment (“Burn”). Native shrub cover was the highest for treatments which included planting. Survival for planted species was 36–41% higher for Burn‐sow‐plant. The contribution of sowing was low, with 9–16% of species sowed being present across treatments. We show that topsoil translocation can be successful if combined with planting. Burn‐sow‐plant was most successful at a reasonable cost, despite planting being expensive, whereas Burn and Burn‐sow were less successful, but cheaper. The treatment in which grass was removed before sowing and planting was the least successful and most expensive. We conclude that the most successful treatments are not necessarily the most expensive.

A tough nutlet to crack: Resolving the phylogeny of Thesium (Thesiaceae), the largest genus in Santalales

AbstractWith over 350 species, Thesium is the largest genus in Santalales. It is found on all continents except Antarctica; however, its highest diversity is in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa where approximately half the species occur. Thesium samples of ca. 590 collections from throughout its entire geographic range were obtained and nuclear ribosomal ITS sequenced from 396 accessions representing 196 named taxa and 30 currently unnamed taxa for a total of ca. 230 species. In addition, two chloroplast genome spacers (trnDT, trnLF) were sequenced from 269 and 315 accessions, respectively. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods were employed to generate gene trees and infer phylogenies. The value of the morphological characters traditionally used in the taxonomy of the genus and previous infrageneric classifications are discussed. Broad scale relationships were generally congruent among the ITS and the chloroplast trees. For example, both the nuclear and chloroplast trees support the presence of Eurasian and African clades. In contrast, major incongruence was detected between nuclear and chloroplast trees for a number of taxa including the recently described T. nautimontanum that is sister to the entire African clade on the ITS tree. Although the causes of this incongruence are currently unknown, a novel form of chloroplast capture is hypothesized. A hypothesis of the biogeographical history of the genus based on our molecular phylogeny is presented.

Ecological-cenotic analysis of the flora of the north-western part of the Altai-Sayan floristic province

Ecological-cenotic analysis of the flora of the north-western part of the Altai-Sayan floristic province

A.P. Khokhrjakov and the botanical geography of the Okhotsk-Kolyma Region

The Magadan period in life and scientific career of the remarkable botanist A.P. Khokhrjakov is described. He devoted a significant part of his creative life to this mountainous harsh, but amazing edge of our country. Botanical geography became one of the focuses among a wide range of his scientifi c interests during that period of intensive study of flora and vegetation of the vast mountainous territories of the Magadan region and neighboring territories. A deep multidimensional analysis of flora with the allocation of its geographical and genetic elements together with a thorough attention to the endemic and relict species, became an outcome of these studies. That basis allowed him to approach an understanding of the formation and development of the flora of various regions, making his original contribution to the development of botanical, geographical and floral zoning of Northeast Asia. Numerous publications by A.P. Khokhrjakov remain in demand and serve as necessary sources of information on this complex and distinctive mountain flora.

Shall we promote natural history collection today?—Answered by reviewing Ernest Henry Wilson’s plant collection process in China

Plant diversity exploration needs to be accelerated because many species will go extinct before their discovery and description, and many species-rich regions remain poorly studied. However, most contemporary plant collections prefer to focus on a specific group, which hinders the exploration and conservation of plant diversity. Therefore, we need an alternative approach to the dilemma at hand. The comprehensive Natural History Collection (NHC), which existed throughout the pinnacle of biodiversity exploration in the 20th century could be considered. We explore Ernest Henry Wilson’s (one of the most successful naturalists in the 20th) plant collections in China as a case to illustrate the advantages of NHC and discuss whether NHC deserves to be promoted again today. From multiple sources, we gathered 19,218 available specimen records of 11,884 collecting numbers assigned and analyzed the collected species, the collection's nature, and restored four routes of his explorations. Results reveal that Wilson's specimens were collected from 28 prefecture-level cities and 38 county-level regions of 7 provinces or municipalities, they belong to 200 families, 1046 genera, 3794 species, and 342 infraspecific taxa, approximately 41 %, 22 %, 10 %, 5 % of Chinese plant families, genera, species, and infraspecific taxa respectively. The Wilson case study shows that NHC is particularly effective in emphasizing species discovery and conservation, recording ecological information, understanding a region's flora, and developing landscape applications. Therefore, we strongly advocate for the expansion of natural history collections in species-rich regions. Furthermore, we recommend the employment of specialized collectors, the enlistment of international cooperation, and the standardization of guidelines for future NHCs.

Survey of the apocynaceae family in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil deposited in Recife herbaria

The Apocynaceae Juss. family is dispersed throughout the tropical and subtropical zones of the world, considered one of the largest families of angiosperms. Diverse, its individuals are trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas. In Brazil, it occurs in all its biomes, with the Atlantic Forest being the most expressive. In the states of Pernambuco and Paraíba, the most found genera are Allamanda, Aspidosperma, Mandevilla, and Plumeria. The aim of this study was to survey the species of Apocynaceae recorded in the state of Pernambuco through the cataloging of herbaria in the city of Recife-PE. Visits were made to the herbaria to observe the collected species and verify the list found in the digital collection of SpeciesLink using the accession numbers. The catalog obtained from the collection was organized in an Excel spreadsheet to construct a table and graph that demonstrate the most frequent genera and species. A total of 1968 species of Apocynaceae are recorded in the herbaria of the city of Recife, with the most prominent genera being Mandevilla, Aspidosperma, Allamanda, Himatanthus, Tabernaemontana, and Rauvolfia. The high frequency of appearance of certain genera in Pernambuco is evident when comparing the records of this study with the existing literature. Therefore, it is of great importance to conduct research focused on the family and its representatives to better understand the region's flora and further explore the potential of this family.

A past–present–future lens of environmental change: blending applied paleoecology and participatory system dynamics modeling at a conservation site in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa

Landscapes are social–ecological systems (SESs) that produce ecosystem services, which change over time in response to environmental, biotic, and social drivers. Failure to consider this variability, and the feedbacks that can stabilize or destabilize systems, can have consequences for sustainable ecosystem services provision. This study applies a conceptual meta-framework, past–present–future lens, to interpret changes in land cover and ecosystem services within the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) of South Africa. Paleoecology (fossil pollen, spores, and charcoal) and participatory system dynamics modeling were used to explore long-term variability in provisioning ecosystem services (plant biodiversity) and the drivers of this variability (fire and herbivory) at Elandsberg Private Nature Reserve (Elandsberg PNR). From ca. 1800s, the paleoecological record suggests that environmental changes, particularly a transition to unpalatable Elytropappus-dominated vegetation, were driven by grazing and that an ecological threshold was crossed in ca. 1950s due to agricultural intensification. Participatory system dynamics was used to identify feedbacks in the dynamic SES structure. The ecological model replicates the paleoecological results and, furthermore, suggests that in the future, returning the system to within historical ranges variability may require sustained reductions in both grazing and fire over decades. This innovative approach blends paleoecology and participatory system dynamics to provide an evidence-based understanding of temporal variability and feedbacks for policymakers and land-use managers to inform sustainable land management.

Berberis aquifolium Pursh - New Species for the Flora of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan

Geobotanical, floristic, systematic, ecological studies were carried out to study the flora and vegetation of the administrative regions of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. The purpose of the study was to study flora and vegetation, to look for new taxa of wild and cultivated flora of the region. Before our research (1970), in the flora of Nakhchivan the Berberidaceae family was represented by only 3 species of the Berberis genus: B. integerrima Bunge, B. iberica Steven, B. vulgaris L. During long-term (1970-2023) research, we identified 3 more species: B. heteropoda Schrenk, B. thunbergii f. atropurpurea and during the expedition on May 10, 2023, the species Berberis aquifolium Pursh was found. It was introduced as a highly ornamental shrub. Thus, based on literary sources and the results of our research, it has been established that 14 wild and cultivated species (and two forms) of barberry are widespread in Azerbaijan. During the research, attention was paid to the habitat conditions of the newly identified taxa, their morphobiological, useful and bioecological features were studied for further rational use. Barberry species are valuable useful plants. Because of the research, it is recommended to create plantations of industrial importance for rational, long-term use, improve, increase productivity, and protect natural thickets and their populations.

Improved Understanding of the Macrofungal Diversity of Mongolia: Species Richness, Conservation Status, and An Annotated Checklist

In this study, we updated and revised the checklist of macrofungi, along with the distribution of phytogeographical regions and the regional conservation status in Mongolia. The checklist comprises 677 macrofungal species belonging to 284 genera and 119 families in the country. Based on previous studies, 18 species are currently invasive to Mongolia. In this checklist, only four species are endemic to Mongolia. Among the 677 species, the regional conservation status of 51 species was previously assessed as threatened in the country. Furthermore, we collected all available occurrence records from various sources. A total of 4733 occurrences of 655 species across Mongolia were analyzed for species richness based on a 0.5° × 0.5° grid cell size. We found the records to be unevenly distributed across Mongolia, where records from the northern and central parts dominate. Among these, we identified 43 grids with a high diversity of macrofungal species. Most of these grids did not reside inside by protected geographical areas.

Revision of Seriphium plumosum (Gnaphalieae: Asteraceae) in southern Africa with description of new species in Seriphium

Seriphium plumosum L. from southern Africa has been shown to comprise at least seven distinct species based on analysis of morphological, environmental, and multilocus DNA sequence data. On that evidence, Stoebe burchellii Levyns, Stoebe virgata Thunb., and Stoebe vulgaris Levyns are reinstated in Seriphium, and four new species are described, viz., Seriphium alto-argillaceum Z.Shaik, Se. burrowsii Z.Shaik, Se. crypticum Z.Shaik, and Se. dunensis Z.Shaik. Four of these species are endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, and one is so far known from a single high-elevation locality. We present a key to species in the Seriphium plumosum complex, and for each species provide a formal description with accompanying images, typification and synonymy, with distribution maps based on verified field-collected and herbarium specimens.

The faunistic diversity of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of the South African Cape Floristic Kingdom

Spider species distribution in the Cape Floristic Kingdom (CFK) was compiled as part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA), whose main aim was to create a relational database for the country’s arachnid fauna. Data from the CFK was extracted from taxonomic and faunistic published papers, as well as unpublished faunistic survey data in national collections. A total of 11 500 records from 130 localities were recorded in the CFK until the end of 2023, representing 62 families, 334 genera and 960 species, with two further families (Synotaxidae and Theridiosomatidae) only known from undescribed species. This represents 42.4% of the total spider fauna of South Africa. For each species, the global and CFK distribution, as well as the level of endemicity and a conservation assessment using the IUCN Red List criteria, are provided. A total of 269 spp. (28.0%) are endemic to the CFK, 49 spp. (5.1%) are of special concern, and 229 spp. (23.9%) are Data Deficient. However, most of the species (682 spp., 71.0%) have a wide distribution with no known threats and are categorised as Least Concern. Salticidae is the most species-rich family (128 spp.), with 30 spp. endemic to the CFK, followed by the Gnaphosidae (107 spp.), Thomisidae (86 spp.) and Lycosidae (49 spp.), while six families are represented by a single species. The last decade has seen an exponential growth in the knowledge of spiders in South Africa, and there are certainly many more species that must still be discovered and described.