Floristic composition and edaphic relationships in ferruginous campo rupestre reference ecosystems

Land use change and occupation have led to modifications in the environment causing loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services throughout the planet.Some environments with high economic relevance,such as the ferruginous campo rupestre(rupestrian grassland known as Canga in Brazil),are even more susceptible to severe impacts due to their extreme habitat conditions and low resilience.The determination of reference ecosystems based on the intrinsic characteristics of the ecosystem is essential for conservation as well as to the implementation of ecological restoration.We proposed the reference ecosystem of the three main types of habitats of the ferruginous campo rupestre based on their floristic composition.We described the floristic composition of each habitat and evaluated the physicochemical properties of the soils and the relationship between plants and soils.All three habitats showed high diversity of plant species and many endemic species,such as Chamaecrista choriophylla,Cuphea pseudovaccinium,Lychnophora pinaster,and Vellozia subalata.The distribution of vegetation was strongly related with the edaphic characteristics,with a set of species more adapted to high concentration of base saturation,fine sand,organic carbon,and iron,while another set of species succeeded in more acidic soils with higher S and silt concentration.We provide support for the contention that the ferruginous campo rupestre is a mosaic of different habitats shaped by intrinsic local conditions.Failure to recognize the floristic composition of each particular habitat can lead to inappropriate restoration,increased habitat homogenization and increased loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.This study also advances the knowledge base for building the reference ecosystem for the different types of ferruginous campo rupestre habitats,as well as a key database for highlighting those species contribute most to community assembly in this diverse and threatened tropical mountain ecosystem.

Effect of mini-cutting size on adventitious rooting and morphophysiological quality of Ilex paraguariensis plantlets

As the energizing and therapeutic effects of infusions of mate(Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil)leaves are increasingly recognized,rising global consumption is also increasing the demand for plantlets with high genetic and morphological qualities.Mini-cuttings are an alternative for clonal plantlets;however,more details are needed on factors that affect the success of this technique.Here,toward maximizing production,we evaluated adventitious rooting competence of mini-cuttings of different sizes and the morphophysiological quality of the resultant plantlets.Small(one bud;length up to 2.5 cm),medium(multiple buds;length 2.6–5.0 cm),and large(multiple buds;length 5.1–10.0 cm)mini-cuttings were planted in a mixture of commercial substrate,vermiculite,and coarse sand(1:1:1 v:v:v),grown in a humidity chamber,then evaluated after 45,60,75,and 90 days for survival,percentage of callus and shoot formation,number and length of shoots,percentage of rooted cuttings,and number and length of roots.Any rooted mini-cuttings were then cultivated in commercial substrate and subsurface soil(2:1 v:v)and evaluated after 30,60,90 and 120 days of cultivation for morphophysiology of the plantlets,percentage of survival,number of leaves,shoot height,stem diameter,and ratio of shoot height to stem diameter.After 120 days,the plantlets were evaluated for the ratio of shoot and root dry mass,total length,surface area,total volume,and mean diameter of roots and Dickson quality index.Adventitious rooting of the mini-cuttings and the morphophysiological quality of the plantlets were not influenced by the size of the vegetative propagule.Therefore,single-bud mini-cuttings have similar adventitious rooting competence,and result in plantlets with adequate morphophysiological quality,based upon leaf development,shoot height,stem diameter and length,and surface area,volume and diameter of roots.Single-bud mini-cuttings up to 2.5 cm long can thus be used to maximize production of mate plantlets by mini-cuttings.

Andean orogenic signature in the Quaternary sandy barriers of Southernmost Brazilian Passive Margin – Paradigm as a source area

Multiple source provenance of sediments and submarine fan formation are herein investigated based on Quaternary sandy barriers of the Brazilian Southernmost Coastal Plain.LA-ICP-MS dating on 1625 detrital zircons from marine and aeolian facies sands of four successive lagoon-barrier systems are analyzed.The characterization of Archean to Pleistocene zircons into a younger Andean(22±4 Ma to 1±1 Ma,48 from 1625),Mesozoic to Paleozoic,and Mesoproterozoic(479 from 1622)populations suggest that the main feeding of sediments to the coastal plain occurred through the La Plata River drainage system.The significant contribution of sediments is transported from the mouth of La Plata River northward by longshore circulation(littoral drift).Minor contributions are also recognized as.a farther source associatedwith the Patagonia drainage and nearby source related to the Uruguay/Rio Grande do Sul Shield and the ParanáBasin,drained by the Camaquãand Jacuírivers.The latter one is recognized by the contribution fromNeoproterozoic to Early Paleozoic,and some Paleoproterozoic and Archean zircon grains.The definition of the sources of clastic sediments allows inferences about the origination of Rio Grande Fan where both the cold Falkland and the warm Brazil currents played a major role.

Advance in the use of gold nanoparticles in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases:new perspectives

Various conditions affecting nerve cells and the nervous system due to the loss of neurons and their connecting networks are described under the superordinate phrase“Neurodegenerative diseases”.Such diseases lead to disability due to gradual neuronal death in both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.While many of these diseases have unknown causes,sometimes these are due to medical conditions such as alcoholism,a tumor,or a stroke,or other causes which may include genetic mutations,toxins,chemicals,and viruses.

Cyathus tenuicorticalis(Agaricales,Basidiomycota),a new species from La Selva Biological Station,Costa Rica

Cyathus tenuicorticalis was found growing on decaying wood from La Selva Biological Station,Costa Rica.Specimens were analyzed using the methodology proposed for the group and specific literature for the genus.The fundamental diagnostic features for this new species are the very thin double-layered cortex in peridioles,exoperidium strongly hirsute,and a platinum bright endoperidium.Description,discussion and photographs of this new species are provided.

Morphological description and new record of Panaeolus acuminatus(Agaricales)in Brazil

Panaeolus acuminatus is described and illustrated based on fresh specimens collected from Northeast Brazil.This is the second known report of this species for the country,since it was already reported in 1930 by Rick.The species is characterized by the acuminate,pileus with hygrophanous surface,basidiospores measuring 11.5-16×5.5-11μm and slender,non-capitate cheilocystidia.A full description accompanies photographs,line drawings and taxonomic discussion.

Phallus fluminensis(Phallaceae,Basidiomycota),a new species of stinkhorn from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

Basidiomata of a Phallus species were found near bamboo trees in the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden.This species was described as new to science and was named as Phallus fluminensis based on morphological characteristics.A detailed description,color images of microstructures and basidiomata of P.fluminensis,a comparison of P.fluminensis with its morphologically closely related taxa and a key to the genus Phallus in Brazil are given.A comparative analysis of P.glutinolens collections from the type locality was also made.

镧系离子间无辐射能量传递速率的教程综述

在本教程综述中,我们重新阐述和表达了镧系离子间无辐射能量传递(ET)速率的理论形式,并且强调了考虑镧系离子本身特异性所引发的与Förster和Dexter理论不同之处。所给出的表达式遵循了Judd-Ofelt的4f-4f跃迁理论框架之下的Kushida方法,并计入了如下电多极机制:偶极-偶极(W_(d-d))、偶极-四极(W_(d-q))和四极-四极(W_(q-q))。更为重要的是,当前的机制也扩展包括了交换(W_(ex))和磁偶极子-磁偶极子(W_(md-md))作用,并经过改进进一步包含了屏蔽效应以及给出了F因子(费米黄金规则中的态密度)的解析表达式。与Kushida的原始方法类似,我们只考虑了强制电偶极子(FED)对Judd-Ofelt强度参数的贡献,并细节性地讨论了磁偶极-磁偶极相互作用的选择定则以及相关矩阵元的计算。此外,我们还以Tb(Ⅲ)-Eu(Ⅲ)和Yb(Ⅲ)-Er(Ⅲ)的能量传递速率计算为例,逐步展示了计算过程、主要的计算支撑信息以及所使用的计算脚本。

Prevalence of pelvic floor disorders and the associated quality of life among institutionalized and noninstitutionalized elderly women:A cross-sectional study

Background:An increase in life expectancy has led to an increased elderly population.In turn,this aging population is more likely to develop health conditions,such as pelvic floor disorders(PFDs).This study aimed to assess the prevalence of these disorders and the associated quality of life in institutionalized and noninstitutionalized elderly women.Materials and methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted with 80 female participants older than 60 years,divided into 2 groups:institutionalized and noninstitutionalized participants.The Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory Short-Form and a sociodemographic questionnaire were used.A chi-squared test was used to assess the differences in prevalence between groups.Results:There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the prevalence of PFDs or quality of life.In this study,the prevalence of PFDs was higher than that reported previously.In institutionalized women,a higher prevalence of PFDs and impaired quality of life were expected,although not observed.Conclusions:There was a higher prevalence of pelvic disorders and impaired quality of life due to these disorders in elderly women.

Water availability drives gradients of tree diversity,structure and functional traits in the Atlantic-Cerrado-Caatinga transition,Brazil

Aims Climate and soil are among the most important factors determin-ing variation in tree communities,but their effects have not been thoroughly elucidated to date for many vegetation features.In this study,we evaluate how climate and soil gradients affect gradients of vegetation composition,species diversity and dominance,structure and functional traits(seed mass and wood density)using over 327000 trees in 158 sites distributed along environmental gradients in the transitions among the Atlantic forest,Cerrado and Caatinga in Minas Gerais State(MG),Brazil(nearly 600000 km2).Methods Gradients in species,genus and family abundance in addition to basal area,stem density,species diversity(Fisher’s alpha),domin-ance percentage,seed mass and wood density were correlated using multiple regressions with environmental variables,as summarized in four principal component analysis axes(two climatic-precipi-tation seasonality and temperature range-and two edaphic-soil fertility and soil moisture).Additionally,ordinary kriging maps were used to better illustrate the gradients.Important Findings Multiple regression models indicate that all variables but domin-ance percentage were affected by one or more of the environmental gradients,but the average R2 was low(26.25%).Kriging maps rein-forced the patterns observed in the regression models.Precipitation seasonality and soil moisture gradients were the most important gra-dients affecting vegetation features.This finding suggests that water availability is an important determinant of vegetation features in these vegetation transitions.

Effects of the availability of floral resources and neighboring plants on nectar robbery in a specialized pollination system

Many plants pollinated by nectar-foraging animals have to maintain a balance between legitimate visitor attraction strategies and mechanisms that minimize illegitimate visits.This study investigated how floral display and neighboring species composition influences nectar robbing by hummingbirds in the tropical ornithophilous herb Heliconia spathocircinata.We tested the role of inflorescence display,flower abundance,and neighboring species in the reduction of nectar robbing in H.spathocircinata.Our results indicate that nectar robbing hummingbird activity was higher in moderately large inflorescence displays and that the frequency of nectar robbing in H.spathocircinata decreases with increased flower abundance and the presence of neighboring plant species.Neighboring non-ornithophilous plants decreased the frequency of nectar robbing in H.spathocircinata flowers to a greater extent than ornithophilous ones.These results suggest that nectar robbing hummingbirds are attracted to similar conditions that attract legitimate visitors and that spatial aggregation and mixed-species displays may represent a mechanism to dilute nectar robbing effects at an individual level.

Fungal diversity notes 111-252-taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa

This paper is a compilation of notes on 142 fungal taxa,including five new families,20 new genera,and 100 new species,representing a wide taxonomic and geographic range.The new families,Ascocylindricaceae,Caryosporaceae and Wicklowiaceae(Ascomycota)are introduced based on their distinct lineages and unique morphology.The new Dothideomycete genera Pseudomassariosphaeria(Amniculicolaceae),Heracleicola,Neodidymella and Pseudomicrosphaeriopsis(Didymellaceae),Pseudopithomyces(Didymosphaeriaceae),Brunneoclavispora,Neolophiostoma and Sulcosporium(Halotthiaceae),Lophiohelichrysum(Lophiostomataceae),Galliicola,Populocrescentia and Vagicola(Phaeosphaeriaceae),Ascocylindrica(Ascocylindricaceae),Elongatopedicellata(Roussoellaceae),Pseudoasteromassaria(Latoruaceae)and Pseudomonodictys(Macrodiplodiopsidaceae)are introduced.The newly described species of Dothideomycetes(Ascomycota)are Pseudomassariosphaeria bromicola(Amniculicolaceae),Flammeascoma lignicola(Anteagloniaceae),Ascocylindrica marina(Ascocylindricaceae),Lembosia xyliae(Asterinaceae),Diplodia crataegicola and Diplodia galiicola(Botryosphaeriaceae),Caryospora aquatica(Caryosporaceae),Heracleicola premilcurensis and Neodidymella thailandicum(Didymellaceae),Pseudopithomyces palmicola(Didymosphaeriaceae),Floricola viticola(Floricolaceae),Brunneoclavispora bambusae,Neolophiostoma pigmentatum and Sulcosporium thailandica(Halotthiaceae),Pseudoasteromassaria fagi(Latoruaceae),Keissleriella dactylidicola(Lentitheciaceae),Lophiohelichrysum helichrysi(Lophiostomataceae),Aquasubmersa japonica(Lophiotremataceae),Pseudomonodictys tectonae(Macrodiplodiopsidaceae),Microthyrium buxicola and Tumidispora shoreae(Microthyriaceae),Alloleptosphaeria clematidis,Allophaeosphaeria cytisi,Allophaeosphaeria subcylindrospora,Dematiopleospora luzulae,Entodesmium artemisiae,Galiicola pseudophaeosphaeria,Loratospora luzulae,Nodulosphaeria senecionis,Ophiosphaerella aquaticus,Populocrescentia forlicesenensis and Vagicola vagans(Phaeosphaeriaceae),Elongatopedicellata lignicola,Roussoella magnatum and Roussoella angustior(Roussoellaceae)and Shrungabeeja longiappendiculata(Tetraploasphaeriaceae).The new combinations Pseudomassariosphaeria grandispora,Austropleospora archidendri,Pseudopithomyces chartarum,Pseudopithomyces maydicus,Pseudopithomyces sacchari,Vagicola vagans,Punctulariopsis cremeoalbida and Punctulariopsis efibulata Dothideomycetes.The new genera Dictyosporella(Annulatascaceae),and Tinhaudeus(Halosphaeriaceae)are introduced in Sordariomycetes(Ascomycota)while Dictyosporella aquatica(Annulatascaceae),Chaetosphaeria rivularia(Chaetosphaeriaceae),Beauveria gryllotalpidicola and Beauveria loeiensis(Cordycipitaceae),Seimatosporium sorbi and Seimatosporium pseudorosarum(Discosiaceae),Colletotrichum aciculare,Colletotrichum fusiforme and Colletotrichum hymenocallidicola(Glomerellaceae),Tinhaudeus formosanus(Halosphaeriaceae),Pestalotiopsis subshorea and Pestalotiopsis dracaenea(Pestalotiopsiceae),Phaeoacremonium tectonae(Togniniaceae),Cytospora parasitica and Cytospora tanaitica(Valsaceae),Annulohypoxylon palmicola,Biscogniauxia effusae and Nemania fusoideis(Xylariaceae)are introduced as novel species to order Sordariomycetes.The newly described species of Eurotiomycetes are Mycocalicium hyaloparvicellulum(Mycocaliciaceae).Acarospora septentrionalis and Acarospora castaneocarpa(Acarosporaceae),Chapsa multicarpa and Fissurina carassensis(Graphidaceae),Sticta fuscotomentosa and Sticta subfilicinella(Lobariaceae)are newly introduced in class Lecanoromycetes.In class Pezizomycetes,Helvella pseudolacunosa and Helvella rugosa(Helvellaceae)are introduced as new species.The new families,Dendrominiaceae and Neoantrodiellaceae(Basidiomycota)are introduced together with a new genus Neoantrodiella(Neoantrodiellaceae),here based on both morphology coupled with molecular data.In the class Agaricomycetes,Agaricus pseudolangei,Agaricus haematinus,Agaricus atrodiscus and Agaricus exilissimus(Agaricaceae),Amanita melleialba,Amanita pseudosychnopyramis and Amanita subparvipantherina(Amanitaceae),Entoloma calabrum,Cora barbulata,Dictyonema gomezianum and Inocybe granulosa(Inocybaceae),Xerocomellus sarnarii(Boletaceae),Cantharellus eucalyptorum,Cantharellus nigrescens,Cantharellus tricolor and Cantharellus variabilicolor(Cantharellaceae),Cortinarius alboamarescens,Cortinarius brunneoalbus,Cortinarius ochroamarus,Cortinarius putorius and Cortinarius seidlii(Cortinariaceae),Hymenochaete micropora and Hymenochaete subporioides(Hymenochaetaceae),Xylodon ramicida(Schizoporaceae),Colospora andalasii(Polyporaceae),Russula guangxiensis and Russula hakkae(Russulaceae),Tremella dirinariae,Tremella graphidis and Tremella pyrenulae(Tremellaceae)are introduced.Four new combinations Neoantrodiella gypsea,Neoantrodiella thujae(Neoantrodiellaceae),Punctulariopsis cremeoalbida,Punctulariopsis efibulata(Punctulariaceae)are also introduced here for the division Basidiomycota.Furthermore Absidia caatinguensis,Absidia koreana and Gongronella koreana(Cunninghamellaceae),Mortierella pisiformis and Mortierella formosana(Mortierellaceae)are newly introduced in the Zygomycota,while Neocallimastix cameroonii and Piromyces irregularis(Neocallimastigaceae)are introduced in the Neocallimastigomycota.Reference specimens or changes in classification and notes are provided for Alternaria ethzedia,Cucurbitaria ephedricola,Austropleospora,Austropleospora archidendri,Byssosphaeria rhodomphala,Lophiostoma caulium,Pseudopithomyces maydicus,Massariosphaeria,Neomassariosphaeria and Pestalotiopsis montellica.