Molecular evidence and phylogenetic delineation of spotted fever group Rickettsia species in Amblyomma ticks from cattle in Gauteng and Limpopo Provinces,South Africa

Objective:To determine the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens with a particular focus on Rickettsia spp.in ticks collected from cattle in Gauteng and Limpopo Provinces,South Africa.Methods:A total of 200 ticks were collected from cattle within the Madala livestock,Pretoria,Gauteng Province and in Mankweng Township,Polokwane,Limpopo Province in 2019.The ticks were morphologically identified and processed individually for a total genomic DNA extraction.Specific primers targetting ompA,ompB,and the 17KDa genes were used for a molecular screening and delineation of Rickettsia from the extracted genetic materials using polymerase chain reaction(PCR)technique.PCR amplicons of positive samples were sequenced bidirectionally using the Sanger sequencing method.Sequences generated were processed and analysed using appropriate bioinformatics software.Results:The ticks were morphologically identified as Amblyomma spp.PCR profiling of the genomic DNA samples revealed the presence of the Rickettsia pathogen in 42(21%)of the ticks collected from both Provinces.Out of the genes profiled,14(7%)were positive for 17KDa,42(21%)for ompA and 32(16%)were positive for ompB genes respectively.The nucleotide blast of the sequenced genomes showed high similarity,as high as 100% with other reference Rickettsia(R.)africae in the GenBank.The phylogenetic analysis of the sequences further validated them as R.africae with their characteristic clustering pattern with related reference sequences.Conclusions:There is an abundance of R.africae in Amblyomma ticks collected from cattle in the study areas.This has serious public health implications as individuals who accidentally get infested with the ticks could acquire R.africae.Hence,adequate precautions in terms of sensitization of farmers about the risk and mass mobilization drive to control the vectors in the areas are highly recommended to safeguard public health.

Phylogeography and diversification of Oriental weaverbirds(Ploceus spp.):A gradual increase of eurytopy

Weaverbirds are a speciose group of colorful passerines inhabiting the Old World Tropics.Nevertheless,the Oriental weaverbirds(Ploceus spp.),widespread across southern Asia,are much less diverse and restricted to a few ecological niches compared to their African counterpart.To investigate their phylogeography,we retrieved 101 samples of Baya Weaver(P.philippinus),Streaked Weaver(P.manyar),Black-Throated Weaver(P.benghalensis)and Asian Golden Weaver(P.hypoxanthus)along with GenBank sequences of Finn's Weaver(P.megarhynchus).We reconstructed the first molecular phylogeny based on a dataset consisting of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes,dating the most recent common ancestor of Oriental Ploceus to~11 mya.Subsequent speciation appears to have been a combination of divergence within the Indian subcontinent and dispersal across a barrier situated between the Indian subcontinent and the Indochinese region,which provided habitats with a varying degree of isolations and ultimately promoted divergences in allopatry.Two descendants of the earliest nodes,P.megarhynchus and P.hypoxanthus,are both rare and local,often found near large river systems,which perhaps reflects niche conservatism and a lack of adaptive potential.The three smaller species are all widespread,common and less habitat specific.The most recent divergence,between western and eastern P.philippinus populations,is supported by both phylogenetic and morphological evidence,pointing toward limited gene flow between them.However,a zone of intergradation may exist in Myanmar and Brahmaputra flood plains,thus preventing a recommendation for species level recognition without further study.

Heavy Metal Levels and Ecological Risk in Crude Oil-Contaminated Soils from Okpare-Olomu, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Crude oil spills have inflicted extensive disruption upon the Niger Delta ecosystem, resulting in crop loss and severe environmental damage. Such spills exacerbate heavy metal concentration within soil due to the presence of metallic ions. The Okpare-Olomu community has borne the brunt of crude oil pollution from illicit bunkering, sabotage, and equipment malfunction. This study targets an evaluation of ecological hazards linked to heavy metals (HMs) in crude oil impacted agriculturally soils within Okpare-Olomu in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State. In this study, 24 topsoil samples were obtained from areas affected by crude oil pollution;the heavy metal content was evaluated through atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentration ranges for HMs (mg/kg) in soil were: 24.1 - 23,174 (Cu);0.54 - 37.1 (Cd);9.05 - 54 (Cr);12 - 174 (Ni);18.5 - 8611 (Pb);and 148 - 9078 (Zn) at a soil depth of 0 - 15 cm. Notably, metal concentrations were recorded to be above permissible World Health Organization limits. Predominantly, Zn and Pb recorded higher heavy metal concentration when compared to other heavy metals analysed, notably at sampling points PT7 through PT24. Zinc and Pb contamination exhibited highly significant contamination factors, and contamination severity was evidenced across all sample points, signifying a grave risk level. Pollution load indices indicated pervasive extreme pollution levels. Geoaccumulation indices signaled moderate to strong pollution, mainly by Pb and Zn. Ecological risk assessments revealed variable levels of heavy metal contamination, from low to very high, with potential ecological risk reflecting markedly elevated levels. This study underscores the imperative for soil remediation to rectify ecological imbalances in agriculturally affected soil constituents.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Exposure in Soils of Ihwrekreka Communities, Delta State, Nigeria

Crude oil pollution in the Niger Delta, perpetrated by both local communities and industrial actors, has brought about soil pollution with its consequent ecological, human health and food challenges. The purpose of this research was to examine the concentration and distribution of heavy metals in soil from communities contaminated by crude oil in Niger Delta, and to evaluate the potential health risks to residents from exposure to these contaminants. To achieve this, soil samples were collected from the Ihwrekreka community and analyzed for heavy metal content using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analytical results in mg/kg revealed a significant metals pollution level derived from the oil spill in the soil ranging from 4.85 - 17,078 (Cu), 1.01 - 16.1 (Cd), 0.22 - 36.8 (Cr), 8.28 - 40.9 (Ni), 7.51 - 6474 (Pb), and 8.84 - 12,851 (Zn) respectively. Most of the metals were above the permissible limits of World Health Organization, with Cu, Zn, and Pb as the most contaminating metals. Lead was found to be the main contributor to the hazard index (HI) values for both children and adults in the study area, with its concentration exceeding the permitted limits set by the WHO and the EC. The hazard index (HI) values of Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, and Cr were significantly higher than 1. These findings suggest that the release of heavy metals from an oil-contaminated site may pose a risk to human health and the environment.

Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some agricultural, industrial and urban areas along Xiamen coastal waters, China

An intensive investigation was conducted to study the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs）, to show firstly the level of pollution in the agricultural areas and analyses specifically the status of soil polluted by these persistent pollutants in some locations of Xiamen region. Soil samples collected from Jiulong agricultural catchment have been analysed for 16 PAH compounds, using gas chromatography flame ionization detection in order to determine the level of selected PAH components and to identify the factors that may control their distribution and persistence in the area. The main PAHs found in soil samples were the low molecular weight. The total PAHs detected in soil samples ranged from 0.50 to 0.95 μg/g soil. The highest values of PAHs were significantly detected in the orange tree leaves, which range from 236.1 to 249.3 μg/g soil showing recent atmospheric inputs of these volatile pollutants. The distribution of PAHs in vegetable were monitored and indicating that the concentration were high and ranged from 8.24 to 58.87 μg/g. Other sediment samples were also collected and analysed from urban sewage （5.26 μg/g dw）, aquacultural （0.52 μg/g dw） and industrial areas （from 0.62 to 2.09 μg/g dw）, during this investigation. The contamination of Jiulong river estuary and Xiamen Western Sea by PAHs has been then widely justified by wastcwatcr discharges and soil runoffs from these areas. The results, therefore, provide important information on the current contamination status caused by the atmospheric transport and point to the need for urgent actions to stop the release of these hydrocarbons to the environment. The necessity of implementing systematic monitoring of PAHs is also emphasized.

Integrative taxonomy of the Russet Bush Warbler Locustella mandelli complex reveals a new species from central China

Background: The Russet Bush Warbler Locustella(previously Bradypterus) mandelli complex occurs in mountains in the eastern Himalayas, southern China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The taxonomy has been debated,with one(L. seebohmi) to four(L. seebohmi, L. mandelli, L. montis and L. timorensis) species having been recognised.Methods: We used an integrative approach, incorporating analyses of morphology, vocalizations and a molecular marker, to re-evaluate species limits in the L. mandelli complex.Results: We found that central Chinese L. mandelli differed from those from India through northern Southeast Asia to southeast China in plumage, morphometrics and song. All were easily classified by song, and(wing + culmen)/tail ratio overlapped only marginally. Both groups were reciprocally monophyletic in a mitochondrial cytochrome b(cytb) gene tree, with a mean divergence of 1.0 ± 0.2%. They were sympatric and mostly altitudinally segregated in the breeding season in southern Sichuan province. We found that the Mt Victoria(western Myanmar) population differed vocally from other L. mandelli, but no specimens are available. Taiwan Bush Warbler L. alishanensis was sister to the L. mandelli complex, with the most divergent song. Plumage, vocal and cytb evidence supported the distinctness of the south Vietnamese L. mandelli idonea. The Timor Bush Warbler L. timorensis, Javan Bush Warbler L.montis and Benguet Bush Warbler L. seebohmi differed distinctly in plumage, but among-population song variation in L. montis exceeded the differences between some populations of these taxa, and mean pairwise cytb divergences were only 0.5–0.9%. We also found that some L. montis populations differed morphologically.Conclusions: We conclude that the central Chinese population of Russet Bush Warbler represents a new species,which we describe herein, breeding at mid elevations in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan and Guizhou provinces.The taxonomic status of the other allopatric populations is less clear. However, as they differ to a degree comparable with that of the sympatric L. mandelli and the new species, we elevate L. idonea to species status, and retain L. seebohmi and L. montis as separate species, the latter with timorensis as a subspecies. Further research should focus on different populations of L. montis and the Mt Victoria population of L. mandelli.

Impacts of silicon on biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nutrients in croplands

Crop harvesting and residue removal from croplands often result in imbalanced biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nutrients in croplands, putting forward an austere challenge to sustainable agricultural production. As a beneficial element, silicon（Si） has multiple eco-physiological functions, which could help crops to acclimatize their unfavorable habitats. Although many studies have reported that the application of Si can alleviate multiple abiotic and biotic stresses and increase biomass accumulation, the effects of Si on carbon immobilization and nutrients uptake into plants in croplands have not yet been explored. This review focused on Si-associated regulation of plant carbon accumulation, lignin biosynthesis, and nutrients uptake, which are important for biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nutrients in croplands. The tradeoff analysis indicates that the supply of bioavailable Si can enhance plant net photosynthetic rate and biomass carbon production（especially root biomass input to soil organic carbon pool）, but reduce shoot lignin biosynthesis. Besides, the application of Si could improve uptake of most nutrients under deficient conditions, but restricts excess uptake when they are supplied in surplus amounts. Nevertheless, Si application to crops may enhance the uptake of nitrogen and iron when they are supplied in deficient to luxurious amounts, while potassium uptake enhanced by Si application is often involved in alleviating salt stress and inhibiting excess sodium uptake in plants. More importantly, the amount of Si accumulated in plant positively correlates with nutrients release during the decay of crop biomass, but negatively correlates with straw decomposability due to the reduced lignin synthesis. The Si-mediated plant growth and litter decomposition collectively suggest that Si cycling in croplands plays important roles in biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nutrients. Hence, scientific Si management in croplands will be helpful for maintaining sustainable development of agriculture.

Taxonomy of the White-browed Shortwing(Brachypteryx montana)complex on mainland Asia and Taiwan:an integrative approach supports recognition of three instead of one species

Background: The White-browed Shortwing(Brachypteryx montana) is widespread from the central Himalayas to the southeast Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan, the Philippines and Indonesia. Multiple subspecies are recognised, and several of these have recently been suggested to be treated as separate species based on differences in morphology and songs.Methods: We here analyse plumage, morphometrics, songs, two mitochondrial and two nuclear markers, and geographical distributions of the two mainland Asian taxa B. m. cruralis and B. m. sinensis and the Taiwan Residents B. m. goodfellowi.Results: We conclude that these differ congruently in morphology, songs and DNA. Male B. m. goodfellowi is the most divergent in plumage(sexually monomorphic, unlike the two others; male similar to female), and B. m. cruralis and B. m. sinensis differ in male plumage maturation. The song of B. m. cruralis is strongly divergent from the others, whereas the songs of B. m. sinensis and B. m. goodfellowi are more similar to each other. Brachypteryx m. sinensis and B. m. goodfellowi are sisters, with an estimated divergence time 4.1 million years ago(mya; 95% highest posterior distribution [HPD] 2.8–5.5 mya), and B. m. cruralis separated from these two 5.8 mya(95% HPD 4.1–7.5 mya). We also report notable range extensions of B. m. sinensis as well as sympatry between this taxon and B. m. cruralis in Sichuan Province, China. Brachypteryx m. montana from Java is found to be more closely related to Lesser Shortwing(B. leucophris) and Rusty-bellied Shortwing(B. hyperythra) than to the mainland Asian and Taiwan Residents taxa.Conclusion: Our data support a recent proposal to treat the three mainland Asian and Taiwan Residents taxa as three species, separate from B. montana sensu stricto: B. cruralis(central Himalayas to south central China and south Vietnam), B. sinensis(north central to southeastern part of China's Mainland) and B. goodfellowi(Taiwan Island).

Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in main aquacultural areas in Guangdong, China

The environmental quality status of Daya Bay (22.56–22.77°N, 114.51–114.73°E), a main aquaculture area in Guangdong of China, was investigated using 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) sediment samples of the bay. The total concentrations of 16 PAHs varied from 115 to 1 134 ng/g dry weight. The PAH composition pattern in sediments suggest dominance of 4-ring PAHs in Sites 2 and 4, and the ratio of certain related PAHs indicated important pyrolytic and petrogenic sources. The results enhance the understanding of current contamination levels and make a better assessment of likely impacts of organic contamination on ecosystems and the sustainability of local aquaculture in the area especially after the establishment of the Nuclear Power Station by the bay.

Biological Synthesis of Nanoparticles and Their Applications in Sustainable Agriculture Production

Nanotechnology is a developing field in biotechnology. The synthesis of nanoparticles is an important step in the field of nanotechnology. Overcoming the limitations of traditional methods, a green scheme for synthesizing nanoparticles has emerged. Plants and microorganisms are mainly used for the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Some of the nanoparticles showed strong antimicrobial effects against different plant pathogens. Compared with microorganisms, the use of plants to synthesize nanoparticles is on the rise, and has advantages compared with microorganisms, because plants have a wide range of bio-molecular variability, which can act as blocking/stabilizing agents and reducing agents, thereby increasing reduction rate and stability of synthetic nanoparticles. Of all living things, plants seem to have the best potential for nanoparticle biosynthesis and are suitable for large-scale biosynthesis. Compared with microorganisms, the synthesis of plant-derived nanoparticles is faster and more stable. Therefore, this review focuses on the use of microbial and plant sources to synthesize nanoparticles and their applications in agriculture.

Factor-Cluster Analysis and Effect of Particle Size on Total Recoverable Metal Concentration in Sediments of the Lower Tennessee River Basin

Total recoverable concentration of five elements of concern: Aluminum, Iron, Manganese, Arsenic and Lead (Al, Fe, Mn, As, Pb) were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and mass spectrometry. The results show that sediment texture plays a controlling role in the concentrations and their spatial distribution. Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis were used to analyze the grain sizes of the sediments. Result of texture analysis classified the samples into three main components in percentages: sand, silt, and clay. Significant differences among the element concentrations in the three groups were observed, and the concentrations of the elements in each group are reported in this study. Most of the elements have their highest concentrations in the fine-grained samples with clay playing an important role, in comparison with the sand component of the soil/sediment samples. There appears to be a strong correlation between samples with high silt, and clay content with the areas of elevated concentrations for Al, Fe, and Mn. There was a strong correlation between aluminum and lead with clay;lead with silt;and sand with manganese, aluminum, and lead. However, there was no strong relationship between the soil textures and iron or arsenic. All elements measured were statistically significant (at P ≤ 0.05) by watershed. The upland areas, and depositional areas’ spatial variation of element concentrations in the sediments were also observed, which was in line with the spatial distribution of the grain size and was thought to be related to the watersheds hydrological dynamics.

Integrative taxonomy of the Plain-backed Thrush(Zoothera mollissima)complex(Aves,Turdidae)reveals cryptic species,including a new species

Background: The Plain-backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima breeds in the Himalayas and mountains of central China. It was long considered conspecific with the Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni, until these were shown to be broadly sympatric.Methods: We revise the Z. mollissima–Z. dixoni complex by integrating morphological, acoustic, genetic(two mitochondrial and two nuclear markers), ecological and distributional datasets.Results: In earlier field observations, we noted two very different song types of "Plain-backed" Thrush segregated by breeding habitat and elevation. Further integrative analyses congruently identify three groups: an alpine breeder in the Himalayas and Sichuan, China("Alpine Thrush"); a forest breeder in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan(at least), China("Himalayan Forest Thrush"); and a forest breeder in central Sichuan("Sichuan Forest Thrush"). Alpine and Himalayan Forest Thrushes are broadly sympatric, but segregated by habitat and altitude, and the same is probably true also for Alpine and Sichuan Forest Thrushes. These three groups differ markedly in morphology and songs. In addition, DNA sequence data from three non-breeding specimens from Yunnan indicate that yet another lineage exists("Yunnan Thrush"). However, we find no consistent morphological differences from Alpine Thrush, and its breeding range is unknown. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that all four groups diverged at least a few million years ago, and identify Alpine Thrush and the putative "Yunnan Thrush" as sisters, and the two forest taxa as sisters. Cytochrome b divergences among the four Z. mollissima sensu lato(s.l.) clades are similar to those between any of them and Z. dixoni, and exceed that between the two congeneric outgroup species. We lectotypify the name Oreocincla rostrata Hodgson, 1845 with the Z. mollissima sensu stricto(s.s.) specimen long considered its type. No available name unambiguously pertains to the Himalayan Forest Thrush.Conclusions: The Plain-backed Thrush Z. mollissima s.l. comprises at least three species: Alpine Thrush Z. mollissima s.s., with a widespread alpine breeding distribution; Sichuan Forest Thrush Z. griseiceps, breeding in central Sichuan forests; and Himalayan Forest Thrush, breeding in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan(at least), which is described herein as a new species. "Yunnan Thrush" requires further study.

Taxonomic status of grey-headed Yellow Wagtails breeding in western China

Background:Field studies from 2011 onwards have demonstrated the presence of a breeding population of Yellow Wagtails(Motacilla flava)in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China that is phenotypically distinct from known subspecies occurring in Asia.Here we describe the plumages and vocalisations of this population and discuss its taxonomic status.Methods:The analysis of plumage is based on field studies and photos available online.Recordings of vocalisations are compared with recordings from other Yellow Wagtail populations,and differences are analysed based on sonograms.Mitochondrial DNA from one individual is compared to other Yellow Wagtail taxa.Results:Unlike M.flava subspecies breeding in or near Xinjiang,males in the studied population show a blue-grey head without prominent white supercilium,being most similar to the widely disjunct M.f.cinereocapilla.They differ from the similarly widely allopatric M.f.thunbergi,which might occur as a migrant or vagrant in Xinjiang,by on average cleaner yellow breast and more extensive white on the throat,and from the widely disjunct M.f.plexa and M.f.macronyx,which might also occur on migration in that area,by softer contact calls and slower pace of song.Females are similar to female M.f.feldegg in plumage.The mitochondrial ND2 tree shows the single sample from Xinjiang to be nested in the clade of western Yellow Wagtail taxa.Conclusion:We discuss whether the Xinjiang breeding population could represent an intergrade between subspecies breeding nearby,or whether it is better regarded as a separate as yet unrecognized subspecies.We argue that the localization of its apparent range in relation to other subspecies along with fairly consistent male and female plumages suggest that it is more likely to represent an undescribed taxon,but conclude that more research is needed to firmly establish its status.

Settling/Sedimentation Followed by Sorption with <i>Pinus sylvestris</i>Sawdust as “Green” Sorbent: On-Site Treatment of a Real Industrial Wastewater

Whereas the pulp and paper industrial sector—considered the second highest consumer of freshwater in Europe—has already been provided with sufficient wastewater characterization and treatment technologies, other wood-based industries (e.g. furniture, floor production), which do not use water for manufacturing processes, generate different wastewater streams after: 1) cleaning/washing of machinery that applies adhesives and coatings onto wood surfaces;2) cleaning/washing of machinery that applies specific products for the curing phase of adhesives;3) cleaning/washing of sharp planar blades used for the sawn process and to prepare wood surfaces for the adhesive application;4) cleaning/washing of the floor;5) cleaning/washing of trucks and vehicles. The dilution of low-volumes of highly polluted wastewater is not acceptable any longer since conventional treatment plants are not designed for these types of industrial wastewater. There is a need for proper characterization, treatability studies, designing and testing alternative small size and cost-effective treatment systems for on-site implementation. Treatment systems based on sorption mechanisms are flexible, easy to operate and generate less sludge and several low-cost sorbents generated by forestry activities have advantageous physico-chemical characteristics. The current paper presents the preliminary results from a pilot treatment system consisting of an equalization tank, settling/sedimentation and two sorption reactors in parallel using Pinus sylvestris sawdust as sorbent implemented as part of an integrated water management plan in a wood-floor industry. The simple to operate and cost-effective pilot treatment system performs satisfactorily during an initial period of operation. The study shows an average 39% - 54% reduction of TPH;17% - 38% reduction of oil;2% - 15% of reduction of COD and;11% - 74% reduction of most toxic metals but for Co, Ni and Zn in the system B. Based on these results, Pinus sylvestris sawdust is a potential low-cost and abundant material to be considered for industrial wastewater treatment plants.

土壤、沉积物和植物样品中多环芳烃(PAHs)不同提取与净化方法比较

系统分析和比较了土壤、沉积物和植物样品中多环芳烃(PAHs)的提取与净化方法,阐述和对比了索氏提取法、超声波提取法、超临界流提取法、固相提取与固相微提取法、固液提取法、微波辅助提取法、快速溶剂提取法等提取方法以及定量浓缩净化法、硅胶柱层析净化法、费罗里土柱层析净化法、氧化铝净化法、固相萃取(SPE)净化法等净化方法。旨在通过比较目前的提取和净化方法,展望将来提取与净化方法发展的新方向。

A case study of the role of climate, humans, and ecological setting in Holocene fire history of northwestern Europe

We present the major results from studies of fire history over the last 11000 years(Holocene) in southern Sweden, on the basis of palaeoecological analyses of peat sequences from three small peat bogs. The main objective is to emphasize the value of multiple, continuous sedimentary records of macroscopic charcoal(macro-C) for the reconstruction of local to regional past changes in fire regimes, the importance of multi-proxy studies, and the advantage of model-based estimates of plant cover from pollen data to assess the role of tree composition and human impact in fire history. The chronologies at the three study sites are based on a large number of 14 C dates from terrestrial plant remains and age-depth models are achieved using Bayesian statistics. Fire history is inferred from continuous records of macro-C and microscopic charcoal counts on pollen slides. The Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm(LRA) for pollen-based quantitative reconstruction of local vegetation cover is applied on the three pollen records for plant cover reconstruction over the entire Holocene. The results are as follows:(1) the long-term trends in fire regimes are similar between sites, i.e., frequent fires during the early Holocene until ca. 9 ka BP, low fire frequency during the mid-Holocene, and higher fire frequency from ca. 2.5 ka BP;(2) this broad trend agrees with the overall fire history of northwestern and western Europe north of the Mediterranean area, and is due to climate forcing in the early and mid-Holocene, and to anthropogenic land-use in the late Holocene;(3) the LRA estimates of plant cover at the three sites demonstrate that the relative abundance of pine played a primordial role in the early and mid-Holocene fire history; and(4) the between-site differences in the charcoal records and inferred fire history are due to local factors(i.e., relative abundance of pine, geomorphological setting, and anthropogenic land-use) and taphonomy of charcoal deposition in the small peat bogs. It is shown that continuous macro-C records are most useful to disentangle local from regional-subcontinental fire history, and climate-induced from human-induced fire regimes, and that pollen-based LRA estimates of local plant cover are more adequate than pollen percentages for the assessment of the role of plant composition on fire history.