Pine-oak Woodlands Research Articles

Taxonomy of Rumfordia (Asteraceae)

Rumfordia (Asteraceae, Heliantheae, Melampodiinae), of montane Mesoamerica consists of si'x species-R. alcortae, R. connata, R. floribunda, R. guatemalensis, R. penninervis, and R. revealii. The most common, R. floribunda, is divided into the varieties floribunda, spectabilis, and the newly described australis and jaliscensis. The rationale for taxonomic judgments and the major remaining biosystematic problems are discussed. Comparative studies suggest close relationships of Rumfordia with Axiniphyllum and Polymnia. Thefirst chromosome count for Rumfordia, R. floribunda with n = 24, is also reported. Rumfordia consists of attractive, large shrubs and herbs that inhabit the pine-oak and fir forests of Middle America. De Candolle described the genus in 1836 to accomodate its most common species, R. floribunda of south-central Mexico. In only the last 40 years-thanks largely to the work of the eminent field taxonomists McVaugh, Rzedowski, Standley, and Steyermark-have sufficient materials for an adequate study of the genus been assembled. Robinson (1909) last revised Rumfordia, but subsequently eight species have been described, doubling its size. Besides providing a workable taxonomic treatment, I have attempted to reveal biosystematic problems that cannot be clarified from the available herbarium material. Accordingly, more extensive collections, field observations, and experimental data are needed to confirm and extend the relationships proposed herein, which are admittedly inadequate, being based only upon 256 specimens. Rumfordia is apparently most closely related to Polymnia and Axiniphyllum. In particular, R. guatemalensis approximates certain species of Polymnia in habit, leaf form, texture, and venation, inflorescence pubescence, phyllary shape, rayand disk-corolla structure and number, and anther structure. Polymnia differs from Rumfordia in having more deeply lobed and toothed leaves, weakly keeled inner phyllaries and paleae, comparatively large ray-achenes, and abortive disk-florets. Given the only known chromosome number in Rumfordia (R.floribunda, n = 24) and the occurrence of n = 16 and 15 inPolymnia (Wells, 1965; Stuessy, 1977), one can readily postulate a common ancestor with a base of x = 8. Also, the two genera appear to have diverged with respect to habitat and distribution. Rumfordia occurs in the cool montane pine-oak woodlands, predominantly on the Pacific slope; Polymnia grows in tropical montane rain for1 I thank B. L. Turner for critical comments and for cytological material, M. C. Johnston for assistance with the Latin diagnoses, and the curators of the following herbaria for loans: A, CAS, DS, F, GH, LL, MICH, MO, NY, TEX, uc, us. The label data are available at

The Phlebotomine Sandfly-protozoan Parasite Community of Central California Grasslands

California phlebotomine sandflies carry at least seven protozoan species, including trypanosomes, hemogregarines, malaria and gregarines. This article discusses the arthropod-host-parasite complex, with infection foci centered around ground squirrel burrow systems in grasslands, chaparral and oak-pine woodlands. The complex illustrates several concepts of landscape epidemiology, insect bionomics and vector potential, and community dynamics. Transmission occurs both inside and outside the burrows and employs either inoculative or contaminative routes. Prevalence varies seasonally and yearly with parasites overwintering outside the flies. Natural infections were seldom harmful, but more infected flies died during transport. Some parasites interacted with each other. Parasite life cycles are adjusted to the short adult life span of the fly, while the earlier annual generations of sandflies may be more capable transmitters. INTRODUCTION This article concludes a 4-year study of California sandflies as hosts of protozoan parasites. It is a holistic view of an arthropod-parasitehost complex centered around colonial rodent burrows. It presents some new findings on the parasites and shows how the various populations are associated in a natural community. Seldom have so many parasites been associated with a specific host group in a particular geographic landscape. Chaniotis and Anderson (1968) found trypanosomes in wild California sandflies, and described their role as hosts of infectious agents. In other areas, sandflies carry human viral, bacterial and protozoan infections (Barnett, 1962). They transmit the leishmanias, causing a variety of diseases in man and animals (Adler, 1964; W.H.O., 1971). They also carry trypanosomes, harbor developing hemogregarines, monoxenous flagellates and gregarines, and are implicated as transmitters of reptile malaria. Our work in California has clarified many of these life cycles. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study methods for specific parasite groups were discussed in earlier publications (Anderson and Ayala, 1968; Ayala, 1970a-d; 197ta-c; Ayala and Lee, 1970; Ayala and McKay, 1971; Chaniotis and Anderson, 1968). More than 1600 sandflies and 1150 wild verteb;rates were examined for natural infections. Most animals were returned to Berkeley to study the parasites in natural and experimental hosts and in cultures. Infections were followed in laboratory-infected sandflies, and naturally infected flies were brought from the field to transmit their infections to laboratory-reared vertebrates. 1 Present address: University of Valle Medical School, International Center for Medical Research and Training, Apartado aereo 5390, Cali, Colombia,

Studies of the Sinuous Cloak-Fern (Notholaena sinuata) Complex

Along rocky ledges in the deserts, grasslands, and oak-pine woodlands of the New World there occurs a polymorphic complex of ferns characterized by linear, pinnate-pinnatifid, paleaceous fronds, the sinuous cloak-ferns. Until recently little was known concerning the members of this complex other than gross morphological characteristics and even these have not been well understood. Anatomical data was non-existent until Tryon (1956) noted the peculiar presence of two vascular bundles in the stipes of the sinuous cloak-ferns. Cytological data was limited to the report of apogamy in the taxon sinuata (Woronin, 1908), and physiological information was restricted to studies of comparative toxicity in the taxa sinuata and cochisensis (Mathews, 1945). Ecological observations were scanty, indicating only wide eco logical amplitude in regard to substrates and elevations occupied by members of this complex (Weatherby, 1943). Numerous specific and varietal names have been proposed for the various entities of this polymorphic complex, and considerable taxonomic confusion has existed concerning the status of these taxa and the names to be applied to them (Tryon, 1956). This confusion was largely resolved by Weatherby (1943), who first clearly delimited the three major taxa within this complex: sinuata, cochisensis, and integerrima (Fig. 1). Despite the great morphological differences between sinuata and cochisensis, Weatherby (1943) considered the three taxa to be varieties of Notholaena sinuata (Lag. ex Sw.) Kaulf. due to the morphological intermediate position of integerrima. This treatment has been widely followed, despite the demonstration by Mathews (1945) that the taxa sinuata and cochisensis differ not only morphologically but also in their toxicity to livestock. Another major taxon of this complex, N. sinuata var. pruinosa (Fee) Fourn. or N. crassifolia Moore and Houlst. was not recognized by Weatherby (1943); however, he suggested it might be recognized as a distinct variety of N. sinuata. In his revision of the American species of Notholaena, Tryon (1956) did not recognize this taxon as distinct but synonomized it with A7, sinuata var. sinuata; but he

The Pine‐Oak Woodland Community

EcologyVolume 43, Issue 1 p. 180-181 Article The Pine-Oak Woodland Community R. H. Whittaker, R. H. WhittakerSearch for more papers by this author R. H. Whittaker, R. H. WhittakerSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 January 1962 https://doi.org/10.2307/1932069Citations: 3AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume43, Issue1January 1962Pages 180-181 RelatedInformation

The Mexican Big-Eared Bat in Arizona

Observations made during the summer of 1958 have added to the knowledge of the habits and ecology of Phcotus phyllotis , 29 specimens of which were taken during the summer. The majority were taken in association with Mexican pine-oak woodland, although a few were taken from other habitats that were either similar to or in geographical proximity to pine-oak woodland. Those individuals taken in mist nets were active well after dark and during fair weather. Observations on their flight under natural conditions indicate that they are swift, agile flyers. These bats made many audible sounds during flight in the wild

Birds of Pine-Oak Woodland in Southern Arizona and Adjacent Mexico Joe T. Marshall, Jr.

Birds of Pine-Oak Woodland in Southern Arizona and Adjacent Mexico Joe T. Marshall, Jr.