The possible source of the causal time arrow in geo-historical explanations

My argument in this article, will be that nature, in general, and human nature in particular, suggests that, in principle, it is possible to derive the causal time arrow from several physical time arrows existing in nature and appearing to be unidirectional and irreversible phenomena. A more concrete argument will be that the assumption of a causal time arrow to which geologists resort in all geo-historical explana- tions, apparently originates in geo-historical time arrows concealed in unidirectional and irreversible physical-geological processes, l will illustrate this claim with a few examples of geo-historical expla- nations in the theory of plate tectonics, most of which are based on irreversible geo-physical processes. My final argument is a broader, of an epistemological nature, according to which the causal time arrow assumption used in logical-causative explanations in everyday life and in science, apparently ＂derives＂ in a way from the geo-historical time arrow. I will base this argument on the causal relationship and mutual influence that occurs in nature between geo-historical and evolutionary processes in animals, including developmental processes of the human brain and mind. From this reductionist argument, nicely integrated in the framework of evolutionary epistemology （EEM）, it is possible to derive a wider naturalistic argument according to which, on principle, the laws of geo-historical physics can be reduced to the laws of logic and causality.

Leveraging Confucian and Daoist Wisdom for Biodiversity Education: A Pathway to Sustainable Decision Making

The vitality of biodiversity,an essential pillar of a thriving biosphere,is currently at risk.This paper investigates the potential of ancient philosophies,specifically Confucianism and Daoism,as pathways to mitigate this issue.We delve into the intricate connections between these philosophies and the natural world,and how they can inform our understanding of biodiversity threats in the context of cultural and technological evolution.Recognizing the inevitable progression of technology and its influence on human evolution and the biosphere,we turn to traditional philosophies to establish guiding principles for sustainable decision-making.We advocate for the principle:"Decisions must not result in the artificial reduction of biodiversity within the framework of evolutionary time."This principle is substantiated by reciprocal arguments that lay the foundation for the essential analyses to protect biodiversity.By adhering to this principle,we can ensure a sustainable biosphere conducive to ongoing human evolution.This study underscores the importance of integrating ancient wisdom with modern decision-making processes to address the pressing issue of biodiversity loss.

Families in Botryosphaeriales:aphylogenetic,morphological and evolutionary perspective

Botryosphaeriales was introduced in 2006 for a single family Botryosphaeriaceae.Since then the number of families has increased as a result of the transfer of one family(Planistromellaceae)into the order,re-instatement of another(Phyllostictaceae),while others resulted from raising genera to family status(Aplosporellaceae,Endomelanconiopsisaceae,Melanopsaceae,Pseudofusicoccumaceae,Saccharataceae and Septorioideaceae).All these decisions were based solely on phylogenetic analyses of several different loci.There has been no consensus on which loci are suitable markers at this taxonomic level and in some cases the datasets used to construct the phylogenies were incomplete.In this paper,the families of Botryosphaeriales were re-assessed in terms of morphology of the sexual morphs,phylogenetic relationships based on ITS and LSU sequence data,and evolutionary divergence times of lineages in relation to major events in the evolution of their hosts on a geological timescale.Six main lineages were resolved in the phylogenetic analyses and these correspond to six groups as defined on morphology of the sexual morphs.These lineages evolved during the Late epoch of the Cretaceous period and survived the catastrophic event that led to the mass extinction of non-avian dinosaurs and a great loss of plant diversity at the end of the Cretaceous period.They then diversified during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs of the Paleogene period.These six lineages are considered to represent families in Botryosphaeriales.Therefore,six families(Aplosporellaceae,Botryosphaeriaceae,Melanopsaceae,Phyllostictaceae,Planistromellaceae and Saccharataceae)are accepted in Botryosphaeriales,while three(Endomelanconiopsisaceae,Pseudofusicoccumaceae and Septorioideaceae)are reduced to synonymy under existing families.

Taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungi associated with the invasive weed Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed)

This article provides morphological descriptions and illustrations of microfungi associated with the invasive weed,Chro-molaena odorata,which were mainly collected in northern Thailand.Seventy-seven taxa distributed in ten orders,23 families(of which Neomassarinaceae is new),12 new genera(Chromolaenicola,Chromolaenomyces,Longiappendispora,Pseudocapulatispora,Murichromolaenicola,Neoophiobolus,Paraleptospora,Pseudoroussoella,Pseudostaurosphaeria,Pseudothyridariella,Setoarthopyrenia,Xenoroussoella),47 new species(Aplosporella chromolaenae,Arthrinium chromolae-nae,Chromolaenicola chiangraiensis,C.lampangensis,C.nanensis,C.thailandensis,Chromolaenomyces appendiculatus,Diaporthe chromolaenae,Didymella chromolaenae,Dyfrolomyces chromolaenae,Leptospora chromolaenae,L.phraeana,Longiappendispora chromolaenae,Memnoniella chromolaenae,Montagnula chiangraiensis,M.chromolaenae,M.chromo-laenicola,M.thailandica,Murichromolaenicola chiangraiensis,M.chromolaenae,Muyocopron chromolaenae,M.chromo-laenicola,Neomassarina chromolaenae,Neoophiobolus chromolaenae,Neopyrenochaeta chiangraiensis,N.chromolaenae,N.thailandica,N.triseptatispora,Nigrograna chromolaenae,Nothophoma chromolaenae,Paraleptospora chromolaenae,P.chromolaenicola,Patellaria chromolaenae,Pseudocapulatispora longiappendiculata,Pseudoroussoella chromolaenae,Pseudostaurosphaeria chromolaenae,P.chromolaenicola,Pseudothyridariella chromolaenae,Pyrenochaetopsis chromolae-nae,Rhytidhysteron chromolaenae,Setoarthopyrenia chromolaenae,Sphaeropsis chromolaenicola,Tremateia chiangraiensis,T.chromolaenae,T.thailandensis,Xenoroussoella triseptata,Yunnanensis chromolaenae),12 new host records,three new taxonomic combinations(Chromolaenicola siamensis,Pseudoroussoella elaeicola,Pseudothyridariella mahakashae),and two reference specimens(Torula chromolaenae,T.fici)are described and illustrated.Unlike some other hosts,e.g.bamboo(Poaceae)and Pandanaceae,the dominant group of fungi on Siam weed were Dothideomycetes.Only 15 species previously recorded from northern Thailand were found in this study.Most of the taxa are likely to have jumped hosts from surrounding plants and are unlikely to be a specialist to Siam weed.Most fungal families found on Siam weed had divergence estimates with stem ages in the Cretaceous,which coincided with the expected origin of the host family(Asteraceae).This further indicates that the species have jumped hosts,as it is unlikely that the taxa on the alien Siam weed came from the Americas with its host.They may,however,have jumped from other Asteraceae hosts.In a preliminary screening 40(65%)of the 62 species tested showed antimicrobial activity and thus,the fungi associated with C.odorata may be promising sources of novel bioactive compound discovery.We provide a checklist of fungi associated with C.odorata based on the USDA Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory(SMML)database,relevant literature and our study.In total,130 taxa(116 identified and 14 unidentified species)are distributed in 20 orders,48 families and 85 genera.Pseudocercospora is the most commonly encountered genus on Siam weed.