Ranunculus Repens Research Articles

Host genetic background rather than diet-induced gut microbiota shifts of sympatric black-necked crane, common crane and bar-headed goose

IntroductionGut microbiota of wild birds are affected by many factors, and host genetic background and diet are considered to be two important factors affecting their structure and function.MethodsIn order to clarify how these two factors influence the gut microbiota, this study selected the sympatric and closely related and similar-sized Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) and Common Crane (Grus grus), as well as the distantly related and significantly different-sized Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus). The fecal samples identified using sanger sequencing as the above three bird species were subjected to high-throughput sequencing of rbcL gene and 16S rRNA gene to identify the feeding types phytophagous food and gut microbiota.ResultsThe results showed significant differences in food diversity between black-necked cranes and Common Cranes, but no significant differences in gut microbiota, Potatoes accounted for approximately 50% of their diets. Bar-headed Geese mainly feed on medicinal plants such as Angelica sinensis, Alternanthera philoxeroides, and Ranunculus repens. Black-necked cranes and Common Cranes, which have a high-starch diet, have a similar degree of enrichment in metabolism and synthesis functions, which is significantly different from Bar-headed Geese with a high-fiber diet. The differences in metabolic pathways among the three bird species are driven by food. The feeding of medicinal plants promotes the health of Bar-headed Geese, indicating that food influences the functional pathways of gut microbiota. Spearman analysis showed that there were few gut microbiota related to food, but almost all metabolic pathways were related to food.ConclusionThe host genetic background is the dominant factor determining the composition of the microbiota. Monitoring the changes in gut microbiota and feeding types of wild birds through bird feces is of great reference value for the conservation of other endangered species.

Free range characteristics and use by chickens from two genetic lines

Abstract The free-range system improves chicken’s welfare and enriches their diet. There is little information about influence of chickens on the sward quality. The aim of the study was to identify differences in the chemical and botanical composition of the pasture sward used by chickens and to assess if frequency of chicken exits outdoors is associated with the botanical composition of the ranging areas. One hundred twenty non-beak trimmed mixed sex birds of Green-legged Partridge (GP) and Sasso line C44 (S) were used. Each pen had direct access to an individual outdoor range providing 10.5 m2 per chicken, video-recorded continuously. Vegetation coverage regarding botanical composition was determined based on botanical-weight analysis from three control plots, while range use was calculated from the video material. The data were analysed by ANOVA model in SAS software (v 9.4). Regarding chemical composition, fiber content was higher in dry matter from the control pastures. Significantly more Dactylis glomerata (L.) and Alopecurus pratensis (L.) were observed on ranges used by Sasso. The higher share (%) of weeds and grasses was at the ranges used by chickens (weeds: S:8.66 (1.42) and GP:7.61 (0.59) and grasses: S:10.36 (0.96) and GP:12.10 (0.65)) as compared to control plots (1.45 (1.34)) and 3.86 (2.97), respectively) in contrast to legumes ((S:0.01 (0.01) and GP:0.32(0.26)) and sedges (S:0.64 (0.48) and GP: 0.09 (0.06)) most present in the control plots (10.88 (1.55)). Positive association between range use frequency and proportion of Heracleum sphondylium (L.), Rumex acetosa (L.), Festuca rubra (L.), and Lolium perenne (L.) was observed for Sasso, while foe Green-legged Partridges with proportion of Armoracia rusticana (L.), Stellaria media (L.), Ranunculus repens (L.), Cirsium arvense (L.) and Rumex crispus (L.). Concluding, the sward quality of the ranging areas was affected by the presence of the chickens and it differed between genotypes. Unknown remain if birds used the pasture more frequently depending on its botanical composition or if the pasture composition depended on the frequency of its uses by the birds.

RESEARCHES ON USE OF SOME POST-EMERGENT HERBICIDES TO CONTROL WEEDS IN THE BEARING APPLES ORCHARDS

Mono and dicotyledonous weeds are the competitors of fruit species, in terms of growth, bearing and fruit quality. Therefore, in fruit growing, the aim is to keep the spectrum of weeds below the economic damage threshold (EDT). In this sense, different methods are used: biotechnical (mulching), mechanical (mowing), agrotechnical (black field worked, weeding between rows) or chemical (pre- or post-emergent herbicide use). The paper presents the results of research undertaken between 2019-2021 on the effectiveness of 6 post-emergent herbicides (4 total, based on glyphosate and 2 including other molecules - cycloxidim 100 g / l and oxifluorfen 240 g / l). The application of the products was carried out in an experimental module with the apple varieties 'Jonathan / M9' and 'Idared / M9', 5-7 years old, in variants and replications arranged randomly. Observations and determinations were performed according to the European Weed Research Society (EWRS) scale showed that, from the whole spectrum of weeds followed in the experimental device, the most difficult or difficult to control were the dicotyledonous weeds such as: Equisetum arvense (note 8-9), Cirsium arvense, Gallium aparine, Galinsoga parviflora, Malva neglecta, Matricaria chamomilla, Ranunculus repens, Rumex spp., Stelaria media (note 5). Among the monocotyledons difficult to control were: Agropyron repens, Lolium perene and Cynodon dactylon, requiring the application of herbicides twice vegetation season, or the integrated control of weeds.

Modeling phyllotaxis: From the inhibition potential to the real plant

We developed a new parametrization of the classic Douady and Couder model of phyllotaxis based on the inhibition potential: it allowed us to accurately reproduce the vegetative meristem of Linum usitatissimum displaying Fibonacci phyllotaxis, and the reproductive meristem of Ranunculus repens. We calculated the inhibition potential within the meristem and the auxin concentration at the front. We show that phyllotaxis modes and the convergence of the divergence angles towards “noble” angles are the consequence of minimizing the inhibitory potential under the constraint of decreasing plastochron ratios. Our approach, which gives a physicochemical basis to the van Iterson diagram, produces the same results as approaches based on mechanical constraints, suggesting these are two facets of the same botanical reality.

Weed communities of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) cultivation

Jerusalem artichoke could be used as a source of renewable energy in the meaning of biomass combustion or liquid fuels production. The presented study concerned on the impact of JA plantation for biomass combustion on plant diversity. The spontaneous vegetation of JA crops studied on the basis of phytosociological methods consisted of varied groups of species that contain weeds (32%), meadow (29%), and ruderal (13%) species. Most of the species occurred sporadically (55%) with low frequency. Most of the plants accompanying JA cultivation were perennial, mainly hemicryptophytes (51%) with a smaller number of geophytes (17%). Therophytes constituted 25% of spontaneous flora of JA crops. It can be proposed the group of generalist energy crop weeds with Convolvulus arvensis, Elymus repens, Equisetum arvense, Ranunculus repens, and Rumex obtusifolius.

Naturalisation of Ranunculus repens in Kashmir Himalaya: Floristic and Ecological Aspects

Naturalisation is the most crucial stage along the ecological process of introduction-naturalisation-invasion continuum. Therefore, reporting the transition of alien plant species at the naturalised stage along the continuum can be crucial for the early warning and rapid response in invasion management. Here we report Ranunculus repens as a new distribution record from Kashmir Himalaya. We provide a floristic account of this newly naturalised species and photographic illustrations of the distinguishing characters from an allied species, R. bulbosus, with which it is misidentified in the region. We also investigated the ecological aspects of this naturalised species by undertaking quadrat sampling in the R. repens-dominated community. Our results revealed that R. repens show positive association with those native species in the community which possess similar traits, but show interestingly negative association with other alien species found within the same community, thus hinting towards habitat filtering among the alien species pool in the region. Hopefully, the present study will validate report of R. repens from this Himalayan region, facilitate its field identification, guide control strategies at this early stage of naturalisation when chances of management success are maximum and prompt further studies on its potential invasion risk.

Новые ассоциации и высшие синтаксоны ивняков в восточноевропейском секторе Арктики

Новые ассоциации и высшие синтаксоны ивняков в восточноевропейском секторе Арктики

Control of Umbelliferae in Grassland and Pasture, a new herbicide containing ArylexTM active

Anthriscus sylvestris is a perennial or biennial herbaceous plant in permanent grassland and pasture. With its half rosette it is able to displace valuable forage grasses and has only a medium feed value. At present, no effective and long-lasting solutions with selective acting herbicides is available against it and other hard-to-control weeds of the Umbelliferae family. ArylexTM active (halauxifen-methyl) is a new active ingredient in the subgroup of aryl picolinates belonging to synthetic auxins. Herbicides containing this active ingredient have been marketed in Germany since 2018 for weed control in cereals. For the use in grassland and pasture GF-3635 is now under development by Corteva Agriscience in Germany and other European countries. It is a premix of Arylex, fluroxypyr and triclopyr and contains at the 1.5 L/ha maximum use rate 10 g/ha Arylex, 300 g/ha Fluroxypyr and 300 g/ha triclopyr. GF-3635 is thus a further development of the Product Starane Ranger® available since 2005, Ranger® since 2012 respectively, with equal amounts of fluroxypyr and triclopyr per hectare. It can be safely applied during the whole vegetation period, does not harm valuable grass species and has no negative impact on yield quantity and Forage quality. GF-3635 controls A. sylvestris, Heracleum sphondylium, Plantago lanceolata, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Taraxacum officinale and Urtica dioica.

Оцінювання якісного стану газонного культурфітоценозу на території саду будинку Уряду України

Landscaping and greening of state institutions characterized by a set of special landscape planning decisions due to the functional purpose of the objects. Lawn coverings are eco-stabilizing elements of landscape objects for various purposes. Moreover, the perception of various structural elements of landscape objects depend on the quality of a lawn. The authors analyzed the history of the landscaping of the Building of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (CMU) according to archival data and found that the formation of the landscaping of the garden is characterized by a long history. Literature and cartographic data show that in the early years of the foundation of the garden of the building of CMU the plants assortment consisted of various types of fruit plants, which are arranged with ornamental trees, shrubs and lawn. The authors used the methods of Ukrainian scientist O. O Laptev (1987) to evaluate the quality of the structure of lawn and indicators of general decorativeness. In the article we presented results of distribution of lawn coverings by different types of functional purpose, which is represented with graphic material. We found 25 species of undesirable vegetation in the study area, where the highest hit rates is characteristic for the plants Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H.Wigg. and solitary species such as Asarum europaeum L., Ranunculus repens L. and Omphalodes scorpioides (Haenke) Schrank. The results of the research show that 5705 m2 of lawn cover was evaluated by 4 points with closed mosaic inclination with 75 % projective cover, 1089.5 m2 − 3 points and 60 % of projective cover, 2 points – 815.1 m2 and single (1 point) – 362 m2. The authors provide recommendations for improving the overall decorative condition of lawn.

The variation of the chemical composition of the main plant species in a subalpine grassland in northwestern Greece

AbstractThis study presents the results of a survey conducted in the year 2013 in a subalpine grassland located in Epirus, in northwestern Greece, and concerns the determination of the chemical composition of nine wild plants species (Alopecurus gerardii V., Stipa pennata L., Phleum alpinum L., Trifolium repens L., Lathyrus aphaca L., Lotus corniculatus L., Ranunculus repens L., Achillea millefolium L., and Geranium lucidum L.) at various stages of growth. The highest mean neutral detergent fiber content was determined in S. pennata L. samples with 546 g kg−1 dry matter (DM). The highest mean acid detergent fiber content was determined in samples of A. gerardii L. with 358 g kg−1 DM. For calcium (Ca), the highest average content was determined in the samples of L. corniculatus L. with 9.6 g kg−1 DM. For phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu), the highest average contents were determined in the samples of R. repens L. with 2.8 g kg−1 DM, 60.2 mg kg−1, and 5.6 mg kg−1 DM, respectively. For magnesium (Mg), the higher average content was found in L. aphaca L. samples with 1.6 g kg−1, for potassium (K) in G. lucidum L. samples with 15.6 g kg−1, for sodium (Na) in A. millefolium L. samples with 15.3 g kg−1, and for manganese (Mn) in P. alpinum L. samples with 37.9 mg kg−1. The chemical composition of plant species meets the nutritional requirements of grazing animals in the investigated area. Among the plant species, legumes and other forbs have the highest nutritional value.

Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Mould Contamination of Selected Plants from Meadows Covered by the Agri-Environmental Program.

The aim of the study was the evaluation of selected species of meadow plants obtained from the first cut from the area covered by the agri-environmental program ‘Natura 2000’ in terms of the presence of cytotoxic compounds detected by the MTT test and the level of fungal contamination. The research was carried out on plant species that were evaluated differently in previously used methods for quality assessment of pasture feeds according to Klapp and Filipek. Twenty-six plant species were harvested in 2014 from meadows located in the valley of the Bydgoszcz Canal. Mycological examination of meadow plant samples was carried out according to PN-ISO 7954:1999. Cytotoxicity evaluation was performed using the MTT [3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] test. Selected samples were also subjected to evaluation of the endophytes occurrence in grasses using PCR. Natural meadow positions included in the study were dominated by moulds belonging to Humicola spp., Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., Torula spp., Fusarium spp. and Mucor spp. The highest level of fungal contamination was observed for Carex acutiformis Ehrh. The most infested grasses were Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P.Beauv., Festuca arundinacea Schreb. and Lolium perenne L. The MTT test showed that the most cytotoxic species were Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) P.Beauv. (IC50 1.563 mg/mL) and Ranunculus repens L. (IC50 3.125 mg/mL). Epichloë endophytes were detected in one of 13 examined grass samples. Our own research suggests that previously used feed quality assessments should be verified by introducing modern methods of molecular biology and instrumental analysis. Results of this study may broaden the knowledge of the causes of problems resulting from feeding of roughage, mainly from natural meadows, and help in creating new rankings of the feed value of meadow sward components.

Доповнення до флори Галицького національного природного парку

For the present time, the primary inventory of the flora of the Halytsky National Nature Park has been carried out, the rarity component has been clarified, and the work on the study of vegetation has begun. Despite the long study of this territory, inventory of the flora of the park is incomplete. The paper uses traditional methods of floristic research. Critically worked out herbarium specimens in herbar collections CHER, KRAM, KW, LW, LWKS, LWS. Herbarium specimens that were collected during field studies processed in accordance with conventional methods. During field research on the territory of the park, we identified a number of species that were not listed for the flora of the Halytsky National Park. The results of the study flora of the Halytsky National Nature Park. List of flora Park supplemented with 6 new taxa: Festuca rupicola Heuff., Ranunculus repens L., Saxifraga tridactylites L., Thymus glabrescens Willd., Thymus pannonicus All., Thymus × porcii Borbas. Festuca rupicola – a species belonging to the group of females from the group Festuca valesiaca agg. Ranunculus repens – a species occurs in Ukraine in the Forest-Steppe, Polissya and Steppe, Crimea, but no herbarium materials for the northern part of the Ivano-Frankivsk region were reported. Saxifraga tridactylites – a rare species in Ukraine, occurs in scattered Forest. Thymus glabrescens – Southern and Central-Eastern steppe and forest-steppe species. Thymus pannonicus – Eurasian steppe and steppe forest. Thymus × porcii is a hybrid common in the territory of the overlapping areas of two parent species T. pannonicus and T. pulegioides. For everyone species is presented the citation of herbarium labels and critical notes. Keywords: Halytsky National Nature Park, flora, new species, distribution

Environment and anthropogenic impacts as main drivers of plant assemblages in forest mountain landscapes of Southern Patagonia

Management of natural areas generated multiple trade-offs, and changes in the plant assemblages was identified as one of the most critical ones. In this context, understanding the drivers of change of exotic plant diversity is critically important for biodiversity conservation and land planning. The aim of this work was to evaluate the relationships between environmental gradients in mountain landscapes and anthropogenic impacts related to human uses as drivers for plant assemblages (native and exotic species) in Southern Patagonian forests. The study was located in the Andorra Valley basin (12,934 ha) in the southern Tierra del Fuego Island (Argentina), where mountain landscape units (land-cover and land-use) were identified according to their vegetation types (forests and open-lands), elevational effects (<400 and >400 m.a.s.l.) and anthropogenic impacts derived from economic activities (harvesting and cattle grazing). Classification was based on Landsat 8 OLI images with fieldwork samplings, relevating a total of 101 landscape units. In each unit, forest structure and floristic surveys (dicots, monocots, pteridophytas and bryophytes) were conducted. Data were evaluated using ANOVAs and multivariate analyses (cluster, detrended and canonical correspondence analysis). A total of 104 plant species were surveyed (88% natives and 12% exotics), where managed deciduous forests (Nothofagus pumilio) had the highest values of exotic species occurrence frequency (20%). Multivariate analyses showed that environmental gradients and anthropogenic impacts highly affected the distribution of exotic species. Native species had higher cover values at upper elevations, while exotic plants had a higher cover at lower elevations, where the N-S aspects were strongly correlated with plant preferences for shaded/lighted aspects. The occurrence of exotic species can be specifically related to human activities (e.g., Agrostis stolonifera and Rumex acetosella with cattle grazing; and Poa nemoralis, Ranunculus repens and Stellaria media with harvesting), however one of them (P. trivialis) was related with unharvested forests. We conclude that environmental gradients and anthropogenic impacts define the plant assemblages at landscape level, and they also influence the occurrence of the exotic species, where the main driver was the harvesting. We propose that land-sharing conservation strategy in these mountain landscapes could be the better approach towards sustainability ensuring the preservation of the land-cover and the land-use at the low and upper elevations.

Weeds in Organic Fertility-Building Leys: Aspects of Species Richness and Weed Management

Legume-based leys (perennial sod crops) are an important component of fertility management in organic rotations in many parts of Europe. Despite their importance, however, relatively little is known about how these leys affect weed communities or how the specific composition of leys may contribute to weed management. To determine whether the choice of plant species in the ley affects weeds, we conducted replicated field trials at six locations in the UK over 24 months, measuring weed cover and biomass in plots sown with monocultures of 12 legume and 4 grass species, and in plots sown with a mixture of 10 legume species and 4 grass species. Additionally, we monitored weed communities in leys on 21 organic farms across the UK either sown with a mixture of the project species or the farmers’ own species mix. In total, 63 weed species were found on the farms, with the annuals Stellaria media , Sonchus arvensis , and Veronica persica being the most frequent species in the first year after establishment of the ley, while Stellaria media and the two perennials Ranunculus repens and Taraxacum officinale dominated the weed spectrum in the second year. Our study shows that organic leys constitute an important element of farm biodiversity. In both replicated and on-farm trials, weed cover and species richness were significantly lower in the second year than in the first, owing to lower presence of annual weeds in year two. In monocultures, meadow pea ( Lathyrus pratensis ) was a poor competitor against weeds, and a significant increase in the proportion of weed biomass was observed over time, due to poor recovery of meadow pea after mowing. For red clover ( Trifolium pratense ), we observed the lowest proportion of weed biomass in total biomass among the tested legume species. Crop biomass and weed biomass were negatively correlated across species. Residuals from the linear regression between crop biomass and weed biomass indicated that at similar levels of crop biomass, grasses had lower weed levels than legumes. We conclude that choice of crop species is an important tool for weed management in leys.

Vascular plant flora in the Cytadela cemeteries in Poznań (Poland)

&lt;p&gt;The paper presents the spontaneous vascular flora and the flora originating from old or contemporary plantations found in all six currently existing cemeteries located in immediate vicinity on the slopes of the Cytadela Park in Poznań. These studies were carried out in the years 2011–2014. Over this period, 255 species of vascular plants were found. The most interesting species include: &lt;em&gt;Chionodoxa luciliae&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Rumex rugosus&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Aegopodium podagraria&lt;/em&gt; ‘Variegatum’, &lt;em&gt;Ficaria verna&lt;/em&gt; f. &lt;em&gt;plenifolia&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Galanthus nivalis&lt;/em&gt; f. &lt;em&gt;pleniflora&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Ornithogalum boucheanum&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Ranunculus repens&lt;/em&gt; ‘Plena’, and hybrids: &lt;em&gt;Dactylis ×intercedens&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Gagea ×pomeranica&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Ornithogalum boucheanum × O. nutans&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Viola cyanea × V. odorata&lt;/em&gt;. A great number of spring geophytes, namely 31 species, was also found.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Among species occurring spontaneously outside the graves, some were new for Poland, e.g., &lt;em&gt;Chionodoxa luciliae&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Ornithogalum boucheanum × O. nutans&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Viola cyanea × V. odorata&lt;/em&gt;, while others were new for the Wielkopolska region: &lt;em&gt;Rumex rugosus&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Dactylis ×intercedens&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Gagea ×pomeranica&lt;/em&gt;, as well as new for Poznań: &lt;em&gt;Erigeron ramosus&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Lilium bulbiferum&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Muscari armeniacus&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;M. neglectum&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Pimpinella nigra&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Poa subcaerulea&lt;/em&gt;, and &lt;em&gt;Veronica hederifolia&lt;/em&gt; s. s.&lt;/p&gt;

Phylogeny and taxonomy of grass rusts with aecia on Ranunculus and Ficaria

This study is focused on macrocyclic, heteroecious grass rusts (Pucciniales) with the aecial stage on Ranunculus spp. and Ficaria verna. Our aim is to study their phylogeny and host range, and evaluate differentiating morphological and molecular markers. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS-LSU rDNA recognised Puccinia perplexans, P. magnusiana, Uromyces dactylidis, U. poae, and three other lineages of uncertain taxonomic classification (U. cf. festucae and Uromyces species having aecia on Ranunculus). We showed that U. poae complex is a sister to U. dactylidis and belongs to the single clade with P. perplexans, phylogenetically distant from P. magnusiana. Of the PCR fingerprinting methods tested for species differentiation, only ISSR-PCR was found to be suitable. The analysis supported classical morphology-based taxonomic concepts of the species. Ficaria verna and Ranunculus acris were found to be the exclusive hosts of U. poae and P. perplexans, respectively. Ranunculus repens hosted U. dactylidis, P. magnusiana and an unidentified taxon from the U. poae clade. No specific differential features were found in aeciospore ornamentation, and only Uromyces cf. festucae can be distinguished based on specific aecial morphology. Based on aeciospore dimensions, only two species, U. dactylidis and P. perplexans, cannot be distinguished. All other species, including sister species U. poae and U. dactylidis, showed statistically significant differences. Because of overlapping morphological features of aecia and aeciospores, the molecular characters are necessary for their determination.

Translocation of the generative cell towards the centre of the pollen grain due to changes in the vacuolar system in Ranunculus repens L.

On the basis of observations performed under the light microscope on the development of the male gametophyte of &lt;i&gt;Ranunculus repens&lt;/i&gt; L., the hypothesis is advanced that the translocation of the generative cell from a position adjacent to the wall towards the centre of the pollen grain, associated with change in the shape of this cell, is the result of vacuolization of the generative and vegetative cells and the interaction of these two vacuole systems.

A seed bank inside a clonal plant: the case of the sedge Carex cespitosa on an unmowed grassland

This study examined a non-soil seed bank deposited inside the tussock cores of Carex cespitosa, a perennial plant with a tussock growth form. Based on the vertical structure of the seed bank in 20 tussock cores, the history of changes in plant species composition during succession in an unmowed grassland in the Bialowieza National Park was reconstructed. Three horizontal layers were distinguished in each tussock core: upper (corresponding to the initial forest stage), middle (transitory stage—forb and swamp communities) and bottom (early successional stage—grassland). The results showed that seeds of both the parental species and other species were stored inside the C. cespitosa tussock cores. More than 50,000 seedlings were found, representing 42 vascular plant species. The highest number of seedlings was recorded in the middle layer. Seedlings of swamp species were dominant in the upper layer, whereas seedlings of grassland species were dominant in the other layers. The highest number of C. cespitosa seedlings was observed in the upper layer. The most common seedlings in the middle layer belonged to the species Epilobium palustre, Lythrum salicaria and Cirsium palustre. In the bottom layer, the most common species of seedlings were grassland species, e.g. Lychnis flos-cuculi and Ranunculus repens. The protected seed bank inside this tussock species reflected recorded changes in species composition of these grasslands through time. Seed banks in this and other tussock-forming species represent a potentially useful tool for reconstructing recent developmental history of plant communities.

How generalists coexist: the role of floral phenotype and spatial factors in the pollination systems of two Ranunculus species

Aims Competition for pollinators between phenotypically similar flowers is believed to play an important role in floral trait diversification in the angiosperms. However, in many plant communities, species with apparently similar floral phenotypes and generalist pollination systems co-flower. Here, the pollination systems of Ranunculus acris L. and Ranunculus repens L. were investigated to determine the factors enabling the species to coexist within apparently over lapping pollination niches. Methods Sympatrically flowering populations of R. acris and R. repens were investigated at three study sites in West Wales. The floral phenotypes of the two species were compared using measurements of floral morphology and spectral analyses of petal reflectance, using principal component analysis and bee and fly colour-space models. Evidence of inter-specific discrimination by foraging insects was tested for in the field and using floral arrays. The relative roles of behavioural constancy and spatial patchiness in maintaining pollinator fidelity were estimated. Important Findings The floral phenotypes of R. acris and R. repens differed significantly. Social bees were highly constant when foraging at flowers of the two species and patchy floral distribution explained some of the observed fidelity. Dipterans visiting mixed floral arrays appeared to discriminate between the species, visiting more R. acris than R. repens flowers, but there was no difference in the number of visits to single-species arrays. Social bees were more likely to display constancy to flowers of R. repens in the field. Patchiness in floral distribution, subtle differences in floral phenotype, pollinator preferences and behavioural constancy are all likely to contribute to the continued coexistence of R. acris and R. repens, despite apparent overlap in their pollination niches. Such differences have the potential to facilitate the maintenance of species diversity in plant communities, even where plants appear to share similar floral phenotypes.

Effect of silage botanical composition on ruminal biohydrogenation and transfer of fatty acids to milk in dairy cows

Ruminal biohydrogenation and transfer of fatty acids (FA) to milk were determined for 4 silages with different botanical compositions using 4 multiparous Norwegian Red dairy cows [(mean ± SD) 118±40.9d in milk, 22.5±2.72kg of milk/d, 631±3.3kg of body weight, 3.3±0.40 points on body condition score at the start of the experiment] fitted with rumen cannulas. Treatments consisted of 4 experimental silages: a mix of the first and third cut of organically managed short-term grassland with timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.; 2 yr old; ORG-SG); organically managed long-term grassland with a high proportion of unsown species (6 yr old; ORG-LG); conventionally managed ley with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; CON-PR); and conventionally managed ley with timothy (CON-TI). The herbages were cut, wilted, and preserved with additive in round bales and fed at 0.90 of ad libitum intake. A barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) concentrate constituted 300g/kg of dry matter of the total feed offered. A Latin square design (4×4) with 3-wk periods and the last week in each period used for sampling was implemented. Omasal flows of FA were measured using Yb acetate, Cr-EDTA, and the indigestible neutral detergent fiber fraction as indigestible markers. The composition of FA was analyzed in feed, omasal digesta, and milk. Compared with ORG-LG, ORG-SG had a higher herbage proportion of red clover (0.36 vs. 0.01) and lower proportions of timothy (0.42 vs. 0.18), smooth meadowgrass (Poa pratensis L.), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), dandelion (Taraxacum spp.), and creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens L.). The silages were well preserved. The concentration of neutral detergent fiber was higher and the concentration of Kjeldahl-N was lower for CON-TI than for the other silages. Silage type had no effect on dry matter intake, but milk yield was lower for CON-TI than for the other silages. Apparent biohydrogenation of C18:3n-3 was lower for ORG-SG (932g/kg) than for ORG-LG (956g/kg), CON-PR (959g/kg), and CON-TI (958g/kg). Compared with the grass-based silages, ORG-SG and ORG-LG resulted in higher omasal flows of C18:1 trans FA and higher milk fat proportions of C18:1 trans FA and C18:2 cis-9,trans-11. Apparent recovery of C18:3n-3 in milk was higher for ORG-SG (61g/kg) than for ORG-LG (33g/kg), CON-PR (34g/kg), and CON-TI (38g/kg), and milk fat proportion of C18:3n-3 was higher for ORG-SG than for CON-TI. Milk fat proportions of C16:0 were lower for ORG-SG and ORG-LG compared with those for CON-PR and CON-TI. It was concluded that high proportions of red clover and other dicotyledons in the silages affected ruminal biohydrogenation and increased milk fat proportions of beneficial FA.