Terrestrial Herbs Research Articles

Species Composition and Distribution of Terrestrial Herbs in a High Montane Forest in Ecuador

In mountain tropical forests, understory herbs have received little attention compared to trees, and their commonness and rarity are virtually unknown. We studied ground herbs to explore how they are assembled in a full one-hectare plot and to test the influence of light intensity (LI) and topographic habitats in species composition. The plot is a humid montane forest located in the Pasochoa Volcano, at 3300 m. We found 43 genera and 50 perennial species (30 angiosperms in 17 families, and 20 ferns). Interestingly, herbs are 64% richer in species than trees in the same study plot (50 vs. 32). Herbs were mostly obligately terrestrial (70% of the species), while 30% were fallen climbers and epiphytes rooted in the ground. Across the forest, there were 31,119 individuals that covered 8.5% of the ground. We concluded that both LI and topography shaped the species distribution, the floristic composition, and the community structure of ground herbs. For instance, 12% of the species were exclusively found in places with high LI; the rest of species grew in medium- to low-LI environments. Concerning rarity, we found that 39% of the species are rare (judging by botanical collections; <100), which stresses the need of conservation strategies for this group of plants.

Guarea microcarpa C. DC. extract inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome by suppressing its ATPase activity

Ethnopharmacological relevanceGuarea genus comprises tropical and subtropical terrestrial herbs inhabiting Central and South America. These plants, including Guarea guidonia (L.) Sleumer, have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-enhancing properties. Aim of the studyAlthough various species of the Guarea genus are known for their medicinal properties, comprehensive data on their anti-inflammatory effects remain limited. Therefore, we investigated the NLRP3 inflammasome-inhibiting effects of the Guarea genus in this study. Materials and methodsTo evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities of 18 members of the Guarea genus, we treated NLRP3 inflammasome activators with their extracts in LPS-primed J774A.1 and THP-1 cells. Cell viability was determined by water soluble tetrazolium salt (WST) and cytokine production, protein expression, and nuclear fractionation were determined by western blotting. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) oligomerization were measured using confocal microscopic analysis. Inflammation-induced zebrafish was used in the in vivo experiments. ResultsAmong the 18 Guarea members tested, Guarea microcarpa C. DC. extract (GM) exhibited no cytotoxicity and specifically suppressed the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, but not of the AIM2 or NLRC4 inflammasomes, by inhibiting the ATPase activity of NLRP3. This was achieved without affecting NF-κB signaling, potassium efflux, or intracellular ROS production, all of which are involved in NLRP3 activation. The reduced ATPase activity of NLRP3 led to decreased ASC oligomerization. Furthermore, GM exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. Additionally, GM treatment alleviated inflammation at the organismal level in an LPS-induced inflammation model using zebrafish embryos. ConclusionOur results demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effects of GM via suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome. Therefore, GM can be a potential therapeutic candidate for various inflammatory diseases caused by aberrant NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Phytoconstituents profiling of Selaginella willdenowii (Desv.) Baker and Pharmacological Potential

Selaginella willdenowii (Desv.) Bakeris a terrestrial herb with a high source of antioxidants. However, the phytoconstituents of these plants have not been reported. Therefore, we explored the metabolite in the leaves, stems, and roots of S. willdenowii (Desv.) Baker investigated its bioactive compounds' potential. Analysis of the phytoconstituents of S. willdenowii (Desv.) Baker ethanol extract was performed with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS). We identified 69 metabolites that appear to be 16 categories of compound classes. 2,6,10-Trimethyl, 14-Ethylene-14-Pentadecne, Stigmasterol, Hexadecanoic, and acid methyl ester are four compounds consistently present in each part of the S. willdenowii (Desv.) Baker. Known pharmacological properties of phytocompounds found can be used as anticancer drugs, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antimicrobial. The identified phytoconstituents provide the foundation for utilizing S. willdenowii (Desv.) Bakeris a future ethnomedical, nutraceutical, and phytopharmaceutical source.

Human-activity modified vegetation composition at Hangzhou Bay, Zhejiang Province, China over the last 10,000 years

Vegetation composition has been greatly modified by human activity since Neolithic times, providing valuable insights into the evolution of human-landscape relationships. In this paper, we integrated 26 pollen records from the Zhejiang Province of China where a Neolithic culture of rice farming existed at an early date, to examine the dynamics of agricultural development and its impact on vegetation. Firstly, we synthesized the relative abundance of Oryza pollen and charcoal (Cpeak) using generalized additive models, to produce a record of agricultural development and the intensity of human activities. We found that changes in Oryza abundance and Cpeak were positively correlated, and identified three phases as follows: agricultural initiation before 8000 cal yr BP, agricultural development between 8000 and 6000 cal yr BP and the onset of intensive rice farming after 6000 cal yr BP. Pearson correlation between each pollen taxon and Oryza indicates that arboreal taxa exhibit an overall negative correlation with Oryza, but terrestrial herbs and ferns show a positive correlation, indicating that deforestation accompanied agricultural development. Rosaceae, Castanea, Fagus and Typha display positive correlation with Oryza during the earliest stage dominated by hunter-gathering, reflecting the protection and cultivation of food-producing vegetation. During the intensive farming stage, the Liangzhu ancestors reclaimed more farmland and began to pay attention on farmland management including clearing the fields of weeds. This is the main reason for the enhanced negative correlation between Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae, Brassicaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae with Oryza at 6000–5000 cal yr BP. Finally, we confirm the potential of integrated Oryza abundance in pollen records as a human-impact index in the Zhejiang region, and emphasize that temporal dynamics in vegetation and human activities should be critically pre-examined when applying relevant human-impact indices.

Beautiful and wanted – how young people perceive invasive alien plant species and certain options of their management

ABSTRACT The perception of eight invasive alien plant species (IAPS) by 311 children and young people (10–24 years old) and their choice of management options were investigated, either with or without prior information about the IAPS given. In the first questionnaire, photographs of the IAPS (four terrestrial herbs, one tree and three aquatic plants) were presented, but their invasive status was not revealed. Participants characterized each plant by five opposing attributes, e.g. unwanted – wanted. In a consecutive second questionnaire, half of the participants were informed about the invasive character of the plants, the other half not. Both groups then evaluated various management options. Plants with attractive flowers were considered most beautiful and wanted. Moreover, if participants perceived an IAPS as familiar, they considered it native. Participants with information about the IAPS were more likely to choose containment or eradication and were also more able to justify their management decisions in a considerate manner. Participants without information were more likely to choose no intervention, especially in case of flowering forbs. The findings indicate that even a brief information about IAPS might help young people to make informed decisions when dealing with invasive species.

Functional trait diversity of Cyclanthaceae and its convergent evolution with Araceae in Neotropical forests.

The Cyclanthaceae comprise a relatively small family of about 230 species and 12 genera in the Pandanales that is widespread in wet Neotropical forests. The great majority of species can be divided into three growth forms (understory herbs, epiphytes, and root-climbing hemiepiphytes) that share functional traits with similar growth forms present in the Araceae, a member of the Alismatales and not closely related. Our objectives were first to characterize the diversity, functional growth forms, and ecological traits of Cyclanthaceae at the La Selva Biological Station. Specific functional leaf and canopy traits of terrestrial herbs and epiphytes are very similar and associated with ecological success in both families. We further examined the functional traits of root-climbing hemiepiphytes, a specialized growth form that links the two families but rare in other families and argue that their specialized functional traits allow them to be considered as a distinct functional growth form. A key trait in distinguishing hemiepiphytes which are rare outside of the Cyclanthaceae and Araceae is the severance of the main stem hydraulic connection to the soil early in plant development. We used field data to examine the possible evolutionary pathways of developmental and ecological transition from terrestrial to hemiepiphyte growth forms. The broader ecological success of hemiepiphytic Araceae compared to Cyclanthaceae is hypothesized to result from the presence of heteroblasty in developing stems and leaves which allows more efficient utilization of complex canopy light environments of wet tropical forests.

Surviving in a new host: Eight years of monitoring translocated aroids, bromeliads, and orchids in the Andean forests in Colombia

Vascular epiphytes are extraordinarily diverse in the tropical Andean region. Compared to trees and terrestrial herbs, epiphytes are more vulnerable to forest alteration due to their structural dependence on trees and environmental requirements. Based on experimental approaches for ecological purposes, monitoring air pollutants, and seeking propagation alternatives, the rescue and translocation of vascular epiphytes (mainly bromeliads and orchids) from a threatened forest to a safer forest has been recently conducted in Colombia. Preliminary assessments indicate that epiphytes benefit from such well-planned measures, and their mortality and survival might be associated with extrinsic and intrinsic factors, which remain to be understood. We evaluated the survival of 16 vascular epiphyte species after translocation into a secondary forest in Antioquia (Colombia) for 8 years. We assessed the role of intrinsic (foliar area, number of leaves, initial pseudobulbs, stems or rosettes, functional group, and epiphyte species) and extrinsic factors (host tree species, bark water-holding capacity, type of substrate, location on the host tree, nutrients, and hormone addition) and the effect of climatic variables on plant survival. The overall mortality rate in this study ranked 1–7% per year, and survival decreased annually, reaching 44% by the end of the 8th year. Host tree species and intrinsic factors such as the functional group and epiphyte species significantly affected the probability of survival. Bromeliads, in particular, exhibited high mortality, which their monocarpic growth form could explain. Another group of species showing high mortality were the miniature orchids, Masdevalia amanda and M. platyglossa, and are associated with short life cycles. Five host tree species appear to affect the survival of translocated epiphytes; however, the factors or characteristics involved remain unclear. A higher seasonality of precipitation was related to the percentage of overall mortality. This result indicates that extreme precipitation events or drought reduce epiphyte longevity. In conclusion, our study suggests that a wide range of epiphytes may be successfully translocated to secondary forests in the Colombian Andes and demonstrates that the effective introduction of epiphyte assemblages may be useful for ecological restoration efforts in Andean forests.

<I>Richardia Scabra</I> L. (Rubiaceae): A New Angiospermic Record For The Flora Of Western Himalaya, India

In present study Richardia scabra L. was found as a new distribution record to the state Jammu and Kashmir, Western Himalaya, India. R. scabra L. is a terrestrial herb commonly known as ‘Rough Mexican clover’, also called ‘Florida pusley’ belongs to the family Rubiaceae.

Rainfall characteristics significantly affect the scavenging of water-soluble ions attached to leaves

Precipitation is considered the most effective way to remove particulate matter from the leaves of plants. Changes in rainfall characteristics can affect the scavenging processes of particulate matter from leaves. In order to better understand the dynamics of PM scavenging during rainfall, especially the water-soluble ions components, leaves from the 11 plant species (trees, shrubs, terrestrial herbs, wetland plants) from the Olympic park were sampled and used in indoor experiments. During the experiments, the rainfall intensity was set at 30 mm/h, 45 mm/h, and 60 mm/h, and the duration was divided into 0–20 min, 20–40 min, and 40–60 min. The sampled plant leaves were set in the experiments at 1 m and 3 m height from the ground. Concentrations and compositions of nine water-soluble ions of rainfall samples were analyzed in this experiment. The results revealed that SO42-, Ca2+, and Na+ were the most abundant ionic species removed from the leaves, and NO3- ranked fourth, followed by Cl-, Mg2+ K+, NH4+, and F-. The ions concentration of rainfall samples decreased when the rain intensity increased from 30 to 45 mm/h and when the rain intensity increased to 60 mm/h. The efficiency of scavenging during different rainfall durations depends on the ionic species. Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and SO42- concentrations increased with the increase in rainfall duration, whereas those of NH4+, K+, and Cl- decreased. The effect of leaf height on ions concentration of rainfall samples was also different among the ionic species: Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, NO3-, and F- concentrations were significantly higher at 1 m compared with 3 m. The principal component analysis of ions in rainfall samples revealed two main sources of particulate matter in our study. One is from vehicle exhaust and industrial and agricultural pollution. The other is agricultural combustion and ground dust sources. The results of the above study can provide a basis and theoretical support for the establishment of urban cleaning systems and the prevention of air pollution.

Climatic and hydrological changes in Gaoyou Lake, eastern China over the last millennium, inferred from pollen and grain size records

Numerous lakes formed in the area where the Huai River and the Grand Canal converged during the historical period, and it played a substantial role in the evolution of the regional environment. Gaoyou Lake is a vital detention reservoir in the lower reaches of the Huai River. Variations in hydrology and basin-wide environmental changes were analyzed based on pollen assemblages, grain size data, and lithology from sediment cores collected at Gaoyou Lake. This study focused on variations in the hydrodynamic processes of Gaoyou Lake that were responses to changes in climate, regio- nal hydrological events, and human activity. The high percentages of pollen from terrestrial herbs and results of prin- cipal component analysis suggested that the environment of eastern China was arid from AD 900 to 1300 and that this corresponded to the dry conditions of the Medieval Climate Anomaly. The subsequent period between AD 1300 and 1650 was more humid, as revealed by an increase in aquatic pollen and a decrease in grain size. A rise in xerophytic herb taxa (particularly Artemisia and Chenopodioideae) indicated that the climate became arid again from AD 1650 to 1850, during the Little Ice Age. The modern period (AD 1850 onwards) was characterized by another increase in moisture, as reflected by a decrease in herb pollen and grain sizes. The shifts in the course of the Yellow River in AD 1194 and AD 1855 were recorded by abrupt changes in lithology, sediment characteristics, and the percentages of alien pollen taxa. Intense human impacts were demonstrated by cereal-type pollen and an increase in pollen of other cultivated plants such as Cruciferae and Poaceae. This study provides a foundation for further analysis of the dynamic mechanisms between lake development, climate change, and the effects of significant river changes.

Vegetation landscape and paleoenvironment evolution recorded at the late Neolithic Zhumucun site, East China

The paddy field ecosystem and diversified plant food resources in the middle and late Liangzhu Culture were revealed at the Zhumucun site. Based on pollen and phytolith records, this paper presents local vegetation landscape of the site: (1) evergreen-deciduous broad-leaved forests dominated by Quercus, Castanopsis, and Ulmus distributed on the nearby hills, (2) terrestrial herbs represented by Poaceae plants tend to expand on the plain, (3) aquatic plants such as Typha, Trapa, Myriophyllum and Euryale ferox grew in rivers and lakes, and (4) plants such as Phragmites australis, Echinochloa, Polygonum lapathifolium, Haloragidaceae, Rumex, Cyperus, Cyperaceae, and Polygonaceae were distributed in and around the wetland. Water activities tended to be intense, and the climate was generally warm and humid with short-term anomalously cold or wet fluctuations. This is in line with the characteristics of environmental changes revealed by regional natural accumulations. In this conditions, local rice ecosystem was recorded with diachronic changes.

Environmental changes recorded by multiple indices in Erxianyan wetland in the past 1900 years, Central China

The past 2000 years represent an important period of climate change. The Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) and the Little Ice Age (LIA) have attracted much attention, but the start and end times and humidity characteristics of these climate stages are still controversial. Here, we present a lacustrine sediment record from the Erxianyan wetland in central China covering a timespan of 1900 years. The pollen, grain size, total organic carbon (TOC) content, total nitrogen (TN) and carbon-to‑nitrogen ratio (C/N) analyses of the sediments derived from the Erxianyan wetland revealed the vegetation and climate changes that have occurred in central China over the past 1900 years. From 70 to 740 CE, the water level was high, the organic matter content of the lake reached a high level, and many plants surrounded the lake. The climate was warm and humid. From 740 to 1150 CE, the forest coverage increased, the fern coverage decreased, and the lake water volume decreased. The climate gradually changed from humid to dry. From 1150 to 1990 CE, the vegetation coverage around the lake decreased, the tree proportion declined, and the proportions of terrestrial herbs and ferns increased. The climate was cold and dry. The climate change characteristics reflected in the EXY profile roughly correspond to the Qin-Han Warm Period and Sui-Tang Warm Period. The MCA was warm and dry, while the LIA was cold and arid. Based on comparisons with other climate records and modern precipitation records, we found that the Erxianyan climate changes over the past 1900 years may have been affected by the combined effects of solar radiation, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM). These results also confirm the complexity of the climate in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River during the MCA and the LIA. • In the past 1900 years, the climate in this region has shown a trend of becoming colder and drier. • The characteristics of MCA were warm and dry. • LIA was characterized by cold and arid. • Climate change in Erxianyan in the past 1900 years may be affected by the combined effects of solar radiation, ENSO and EASM.

Impacto da Hedychium coronarium J. König (Zingiberaceae) sobre a assembleia de aranhas de solo do Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

ABSTRACT The invasive Hedychium coronarium J. König (Zingiberaceae) is a competitive terrestrial herb. To understand the ecological relationships and verify whether H. coronarium impacts the mounting of spiders in the soil, 45 traps were installed, distributed in three treatments and three replicas. All spiders (292 individuals) collected between January and December 2018 were identified. The Intermediate Areas had the highest number of individuals collected and the highest diversity index, with 107 spiders collected (37% of the total), distributed in 14 species, followed by Dominated Areas with 97 individuals (33%) distributed in 12 species and Free Areas with 88 individuals (30%), distributed in 10 species. The analysis showed that the assembly of spiders in Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga does not present significant differences, these results may not be the result of chance and be related to H. coronarium. Furthermore, two families showed differences in their distribution.

A review on phytochemicals, pharmacological activities, drug interactions, and associated toxicities of licorice (Glycyrrhizasp.)

AbstractSince the beginning, human beings have consistently been using plants and their components for the prevention and treatment of various ailments. However, in the last few decades, plant‐based medicines and health supplements are gaining more acceptability and rapid popularity. Licorice (Glycyrrhizasp.) is a terrestrial herb belonging to the family Fabaceae and primarily cultivated in European, Middle Eastern, and South Asian countries. Ethnomedicinal uses of licorice have frequently been described in the world's renowned medical systems, including Ayurveda, Unani, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, African, and European traditional medical systems. To date, 30 species of licorice are known, and among them,G.glabra,G.inflata, andG.uralensisare significantly explored for nutritional and pharmacological benefits. The wide range of commercially available products, including herbal preparations, health supplements, cosmetics, and food and feeds preparations use licorice as active ingredient. Glabridin, licochalcone A, glycyrrhizin, and 18‐glycyrrhetinic acid are the notable phytochemicals isolated from licorice and immensely explored for biological and pharmacological activities. Nevertheless, the excessive intake of licorice has also been associated with a wide spectrum of adverse effects on human health. Among them, several are reported to be mediated by modulation of drug‐metabolizing cytochrome P‐450 enzymes. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive description of the current knowledge of licorice, including historical development, phytoconstituents, species‐specific marker metabolites, herb–drug interaction, pharmacological uses, food additive application, and toxicities. We believe this review will provide excellent information to physicians, researchers, and personnel of different scientific regulatory bodies.

Synopsis of EcuadorianPterichis(Orchidaceae)

A taxonomic synopsis of the orchid genus Pterichis in Ecuador is presented. All national representatives of this genus are characterized and their floral segments are illustrated. Four new species and two new varieties are described. An updated key to Ecuadorian Pterichis is provided. Plants of the genus are growing mostly as terrestrial herbs at the altitude of 2,300–4,110 m. Often two or more species co-occur in the area of 25 × 25 km. Their occurrence was reported from three ecoregions—the Eastern Cordillera real montane forests, the Northern Andean páramo and the Northwestern Andean montane forests. Seven Ecuadorian Pterichis are endemic.

Variation and potential influence factors of foliar pH in land-water ecozones of three small plateau lakes

Abstract Aims Foliar pH of terrestrial plants, a trait tightly associated with plant physiology and nutrient utilization, varies with plant functional types (PFTs) and environmental changes. However, it is yet unclear about the variation in foliar pH of aquatic plants, and the difference between aquatic and terrestrial plants. Methods Foliar pH, leaf carbon, nitrogen content of plants along the lakeshore zones and the environmental conditions (water or soil pH, water status) of the corresponding vegetation of three small plateau lakes were investigated, to determine the variation and potential influence factors of foliar pH at both PFT and community levels. Important Findings Foliar pH varied largely among aquatic plants, and across aquatic, helophytic and terrestrial plants. Floating-leaved macrophytes had more acidic foliage (pH = 4.21 ± 0.05) than emergent (5.71 ± 0.07) and submerged macrophytes (5.82 ± 0.06). Foliar pH of aquatic herbs (5.43 ± 0.10) was lower than that of helophytic (6.12 ± 0.07) and terrestrial herbs (5.74 ± 0.05). Terrestrial herbs had significantly higher foliar pH than woody plants. The variation in foliar pH across PFTs may be mainly ascribed to leaf structure, light utilization and nutrient characteristics. Consistent with the pattern on PFT level, aquatic communities had more acidic foliage than terrestrial communities, which was mainly shaped by species composition, water status and environmental pH. This study documented the first-time foliar pH of aquatic plants, and comparison of foliar pH among various plant types at a landscape scale. Our results provide bases for further exploration of the underlying mechanism and its ecological significance for wetland ecosystems.

Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of n-butanol extract of Piper sarmentosum Roxb. In the intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2)

Ethnopharmacological relevancePiper sarmentosum Roxb. (PS) is a terrestrial herb primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. It is widely used in folk medicine in certain countries of Southeast Asia for the treatment of fever, toothache, coughing and pleurisy, which showed the anti-inflammatory activity of PS. Aim of the studyThis study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents and the molecular mechanism and related metabolic pathway by which n-butanol extract of PS (PSE-NB) exerts its anti-inflammatory effects. Materials and methodsChemical constituents of PSE-NB was analyzed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) technique. Anti-inflammatory effects of PSE-NB were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IPEC-J2 cells. ResultsIn total, 218 compounds, including 94 alkaloids and 26 phenolics were tentatively identified, which indicating alkaloids and phenolics were the main constituents of PSE-NB. In addition, the current cell experiment in vitro showed that PSE-NB (10–500 μg/mL) pre-treatment before LPS stimulation significantly decreased mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in IPEC-J2 cells compared with LPS treatment (p < 0.05). PSE-NB improved mRNA expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and Occludin) and NHE3, which were reduced by LPS stimulation (p < 0.05). Moreover, PSE-NB (10 μg/mL) alleviated LPS-induced protein expression of p65 and p-p65 (p < 0.05), and reduced p65 translocation into the nucleus induced by LPS. At the same time, metabolic pathway analysis indicated that PSE-NB exerts anti-inflammatory effects mainly via augmentation of methionine metabolism in IPEC-J2 cells. ConclusionsTaken together, the results suggested that alkaloids and phenolics were the main constituents in PSE-NB. PSE-NB might attenuate LPS-induced inflammatory responses in IPEC-J2 cells by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway and intracellular metabolic pattern.

First Observation of Vervet Monkeys Chlorocebus pygerythrus Feeding on Seagrass Thalassodendron ciliatum along the Tanzanian Coast

The vervet monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus (F. Cuvier, 1821), is among the most abundant and widely distributed primates in eastern and southern Africa (Butynski et al., 2013). In Tanzania, it is found throughout most of the country, and in some places, forages in human settlement areas (Foley et al., 2014). Chlorocebus pygerythrus is an opportunistic omnivore, with flowers, leaves, seeds and invertebrates contributing a major part of its diet (Struhsaker, 1967; Wrangham & Waterman, 1981; Lee & Hauser, 1998; Butynski et al., 2013; Foley et al., 2014). Vervet monkeys are known to feed on terrestrial grasses e.g. Panicum spp, Sporobolus spp, Cynodon spp and Cenchrus mezianus (Leeke) Morrone (Struhsaker, 1967; Butynski et al., 2013), but there are no records of seagrasses as part of their diet. This note reports the first observation of C. pygerythrus feeding on the seagrass Thalassodendron ciliatum (Forssk.) Hartog (Cymodoceaceae) at Saadani National Park, on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Saadani National Park is one of 22 national parks in mainland Tanzania, and the only one bordering the Indian Ocean (TANAPA, 2020). It comprises the former Mkwaja ranch area, former Saadani game reserve and the Zaraninge forest (Treydte et al., 2005) and is located within the Zanzibar-Inhambane phytochorion (White, 1983). The mean annual temperature in the park is 25°C (Treydte et al., 2005) with the annual rainfall considerably variable between years (Tobler et al., 2003), generally averaging to 900 mm per annum (Treydte et al., 2005). Rainfall in the park is bimodal with a short rainy season from October to December and a long rainy season from March to early June (Treydte et al., 2005; Cochard & Edwards, 2011). Like most of the Western Indian Ocean, the hydrography of Saadani coast is shaped by northeast and southeast monsoon winds which occur between November to March and May to September respectively (Richmond, 2002; Lymo, 2011; Semba et al., 2019). The surface water temperature ranges from 20 to 30°C and is higher during northeast monsoon winds (Richmond, 2002; Lymo, 2011; Peter et al., 2018). At least 10 seagrass species are known along the Western Indian Ocean (Richmond, 2002; Gullstrom et al., 2002) with Thalassodendron ciliatum being among the most common (Gullstrom et al., 2002). A group of 22 vervet monkeys were observed on 31 August 2019 foraging along the shores of the Saadani National Park (6°01'42S, 38°46'44E ) for two hours from 10:00 h to 12:00 h during the low tide. The monkeys spent almost half of the time feeding on the terrestrial herbs Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Sporobolus sp, Panicum sp and Anthericum sp on the supralittoral zone, before entering the littoral zone where they foraged on drift patches of the seagrass Thalassodendron ciliatum (figures 1 & 2). Identification of the seagrass followed Richmond (2002). The monkeys were observed eating rhizomes and shoots of T. ciliatum while avoiding the roots and leaves. Both direct mouth scrape and hand-to-mouth movements were used when the monkeys were feeding on the terrestrial grasses but only hand-to-mouth movements were used when feeding on T. ciliatum. A number of studies on non-human primates utilizing marine foods exist, in which marine animals dominate as food items (Son, 2003; Stewart et al., 2008; Lewis & O’Riain, 2017), especially invertebrates (Son, 2003).These reports indicate that marine resources contribute only small proportions of the primate’s food and that the animals invest little of their time on these feeding grounds (Lewis & O’Riain, 2017). However, detailed studies on feeding behaviour of vervet monkeys in Saadani National park will shed more light on feeding habits of primates along the Tanzanian coast. This observation supports the opportunistic nature of vervet monkeys as they are known to take advantage of available food resources (Struhsaker, 1967; Butynski et al., 2013). This is the first reported record of the seagrass T. ciliatum constituting a food item in the diet of vervet monkeys despite the occurrence of this seagrasses along parts of the distribution range of vervet monkeys.

Late Pleistocene-Holocene vegetation history and anthropogenic activities deduced from pollen spectra and archaeological data at Guxu Lake, eastern China

This study presents high-resolution pollen and charcoal records from Guxu Lake in the Taihu Lake Basin, eastern China, spanning the last 23,000 years. The sedimentary sequences revealed dynamic terrestrial and lacustrine environments during 23.0-11.7 cal ka BP, the climate was relatively cold and dry, and the vegetation was dominated by evergreen-deciduous broadleaf and coniferous mixed forest. During 11.7-4.4 cal ka BP, the Quercus- and Castanopsis-dominated evergreen-deciduous broadleaf mixed forest expanded, while the Poaceae and Artemisia were still the major terrestrial herbs under warmer and more humid conditions. After this period, the climate became relatively cool and dry again, and the vegetation landscape was comparatively stable, as it remains today. Wild rice likely grew before Neolithic humans occupied this area. The variations in Oryza-type Poaceae pollen spectra and distributions of Neolithic archaeological sites indicate rice agriculture may have first appeared and developed with human occupation in ca. 7.0-4.4 ka BP. During the historical period, beginning approximately 4 ka BP, a clear signal of intensified anthropogenic disturbance is evident from the clearing of forests, high charcoal concentrations and the presence of rice pollen in large quantities. These results suggest more intensified rice farming was widespread, with increasing human impact on the environment.

Hyssopus officinalis exerts hypoglycemic effects on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats via modulating GSK-3β, C-fos, NF-κB, ABCA1 and ABGA1 gene expression.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMT2) is contributed to dual interactions between environmental factors and certain genetic factors. This impressed a great need for novel treatment strategy. Nevertheless, Hyssopus officinalis (H. officinalis) as a terrestrial herb is considered to be an important source of natural antioxidants, it could be assessed as an anti-hyperglycemic agent. In the current study, HPLC identified the active constitutes of H. officinalis, including total polyphenols, and flavonoids. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced in male Wistar albino rats via a single ip dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg BW). One week post diabetes induction, rats were administrated H. officinalis (500 mg/ kg BW) orally for one month. Molecular analysis was assessed to investigate the efficiency of H. officinalis on modulating ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and G1 (ABCG1) genes, in addition to apoptotic biomarkers, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and cellular oncogene-fos (C-fos) genes. Furthermore, inflammatory biomarkers, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression were also assessed. H. officinalis alcoholic extract declared the presence of polyphenols as gallic acid and flavonoids as quercetin in addition to many active constituents. Apigenin-7-glucoside and Chlorgenic acid were the most common constituents in the extract. RT-PCR results declared a significant up-regulation in mRNA gene expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 upon H. officinalis treatment. Meanwhile, C-fos gene expression recorded a slight down-regulation. Gene expression of apoptotic biomarker GSK-3β demonstrated a significant down regulation as well as inflammatory biomarkers NF-κB and TNF-α. From the data recorded, it could be concluded that H. officinalis exerts a great hypoglycemic potential via modulating C-fos, GSK-3β, NF-κB, TNF-α, ABCA1 and ABCG1 gene expression and signaling pathways and could be considered as an effective candidate for DMT2 treatment.