Niche Variation in Endemic Lilium pomponium on a Wide Altitudinal Gradient in the Maritime Alps

The relationship between altitudinal and ecological gradients has long been a dominant theme in plant ecology; moreover, how species respond to climate change has renewed this interest. Mediterranean mountains are often hotspots of endemism, and some endemic species have local distributions that span different climatic belts; hence, local variations in topography and fine-scaled niche conditions may play crucial roles in their persistence along such gradients. Studies of the fine-scaled niche are, however, very rare; most studies involve broad-scale variations in climatic parameters. The Turban lily, Lilium pomponium L. is endemic to the Maritime and Ligurian Alps, where it occurs across a wide altitudinal gradient. Previous work has shown no link between climatic marginality and geographic range limits on morphological traits and genetic variability; however, possible variations of local topographic and ecological parameters have not yet been examined. The objective of this paper is to characterise local ecological niche conditions of L. pomponium populations in the different bioclimatic zones it occupies along the altitudinal gradient. The species occurs in four main types of microecological niches. One of these niche types, with a high mineral cover, is the most abundant—type 2: it was detected in 39% of sampled quadrats and occurs across the whole bioclimatic gradient. Other niche types are more limited to subsections of the gradient: type 3 (in 19% of sampled quadrats) is restricted to high-altitude sites (>1070 m.a.s.l.) and is characterised by high vegetation and litter cover; type 4 (26%) corresponds to more forested habitats on substrates with low water retention capacities, in more inland zones close to the centre of L. pomponium distribution and across a range of altitudes; and type 1 (16% of quadrat) only occurs in the Mediterranean part of the gradient, close to distribution limits in pockets of soil among large blocks of rocks, mainly found at mid-altitudes. Despite heterogeneity in the spatial locations of niche types, there is no correspondence between ecological gradients and the distribution limits of this species. Knowledge of the fine-scaled ecological conditions that determine niche types is thus essential for conservation management of the habitats of this species and for the exploration of its possible response to ongoing climate change

Preliminary survey of the nutritional and palynological traits of honey bee-foraged pollen from Liguria (Italy)

It is known that the palynological features, and consequently the nutritional quality, of bee-foraged pollen vary according to several factors such as sampling site and period of year. In our two year study, carried out as part of the COLOSS CSI Pollen study between April and September in the eastern province of Genova (Italy), we explored the relationships between the palynological spectra and the protein content of corbicular pollen. We found that the differences are mainly driven by the collection season rather than by the site. This observation allowed us to employ the sample\u2019s palynological traits for the identification of foraging seasons characterized by different protein content in pollen. The outcome of our study provides a useful tool for beekeepers, helping them to cautiously program certain apiary management practices. This work also provides suggestions for future monitoring programs, regarding the advantages of studying the seasonal pattern not only of the floral origin of pollen but also of its nutritional traits

The Clinical Impact of Methotrexate-Induced Stroke-Like Neurotoxicity in Paediatric Departments: An Italian Multi-Centre Case-Series

IntroductionStroke-like syndrome (SLS) is a rare subacute neurological complication of intrathecal or high-dose (>= 500 mg) Methotrexate (MTX) administration. Its clinical features, evoking acute cerebral ischaemia with fluctuating course symptoms and a possible spontaneous resolution, have elicited interest among the scientific community. However, many issues are still open on the underlying pathogenesis, clinical, and therapeutic management and long-term outcome. Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical, radiological and laboratory records of all patients diagnosed with SLS between 2011 and 2021 at 4 National referral centers for Pediatric Onco-Hematology. Patients with a latency period that was longer than 3 weeks between the last MTX administration of MTX and SLS onset were excluded from the analysis, as were those with unclear etiologies. We assessed symptom severity using a dedicated arbitrary scoring system. Eleven patients were included in the study. ResultsThe underlying disease was acute lymphoblastic leukemia type B in 10/11 patients, while fibroblastic osteosarcoma was present in a single subject. The median age at diagnosis was 11 years (range 4-34), and 64% of the patients were women. Symptoms occurred after a mean of 9.45 days (+/- 0.75) since the last MTX administration and lasted between 1 and 96 h. Clinical features included hemiplegia and/or cranial nerves palsy, paraesthesia, movement or speech disorders, and seizure. All patients underwent neuroimaging studies (CT and/or MRI) and EEG. The scoring system revealed an average of 4.9 points (+/- 2.3), with a median of 5 points (maximum 20 points). We detected a linear correlation between the severity of the disease and age in male patients. ConclusionsSLS is a rare, well-characterized complication of MTX administration. Despite the small sample, we have been able to confirm some of the previous findings in literature. We also identified a linear correlation between age and severity of the disease, which could improve the future clinical management

Conservazione della diversit\ue0 vegetale in Liguria. Attivit\ue0 ed iniziative in Liguria.

Presentazione di attivit\ue0 ed iniziative di conservazione vegetale in Ligurua finanziate dalla Regione e dalla Comunit\ue0 Europea

New seed morphological features in Moehringia L. (Caryophyllaceae) and their taxonomic and ecological significance

Seeds of 27 species of Moehringia and four related representatives of Arenaria (old M. sect. Pseudomoehringia) were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Novel morphological features were observed in addition to those found in a previous similar study. The new information thus obtained provided new insight into the taxonomic value of discrete morphological characters considered in a recent phylogenetic context. Main Moehringia sections are undoubtedly defined by different types of strophioles, and by the corresponding testa cell features. This study also shows the different ontogenesis of hilar appendages previously attributed to Iberian taxa, now belonging to Arenaria. In addition to phylogenetic differences, ecology seems to play a role in the differentiation of seed morphological features with clear convergences among plants living on cliffs

Ecological characteristics and rarity of endemic plants of the Italian Maritime Alps.

This overview of endemic plants of the Italian Maritime Alps (107 taxa representing 3.44% of the flora) is the completion of an earlier study carried out on the French side of the same alpine sector. Similar ecological preferences and plant life strategies were detected in both countries, with a particular ability on the part of endemics to colonize habitats with low competition and disturbance characteristics. The comparison with other areas of the Mediterranean basin appears to show that: (1) the Maritime Alps as a whole actually constitute a hot spot owing to the high total number of vascular plants; (2) the number of endemic plants is quite high, even without considering rare plants. Although numerous endemics are protected by law and part of the territory and biotopes are nominally under habitat conservation measures, new practical measures should be enforced as quickly as possible. Because of the high ecological specialization and the lack of competitiveness of endemics, in situ conservation appears to be adequate. In depth, cooperative and joint conservation strategies should be planned and implemented by both Italy and France and particular stress should be placed on achieving broader, more effective results

A Web interfaced database for biogeographical and ecological analyses

The Maritime Alps were identified by M\ue9dail and Qu\ue9zel as one of the ten maximum biodiversity Mediterranean areas, and following studies have confirmed their significance and major characteristics. This southern parte of the Alpine chain is distributed both on the Italian and French territory. With the development of European community policies the need for sharing knowledge and data is today an important priority for the elaboration of common environmental management strategies. The purpose of this project is to create a database for a georeferenced collection of flora recordings. Such recordings form the basis for a decision support system which settles in an objective way the importance of the relatioships between a particular area and a taxon or a group of taxa. The conceptual model of the database contains both information on the different plants, such as taxonomical and ecological features (habitat, altitudinal belt, soil and moisture requirement, etc.), and data about the territory where they live or not, such as the environmental features of each OGU (bioclimate, glacial events, lithological composition). An interface with Web architecture was developed in order to permit the consultation, modification and update of the database also in long distance collaboration among institutions. Two user typologies have been implemented with distinct access modalities and permissions: administrator and external user. The users throughout a guided procedure may upload some files: taxa description, ecological matrix of the geographical area of interest and matrix based on presence/absence of plants in the grid cells. Such guided procedure will end with the analyses necessary for the identification of the areas of endemism and will supply information about the species and their biogeographical relationships

Reproductive efficiency of Primula allionii: is this endemic plant really threatened?

Primula allionii is a primrose endemic to Maritime Alps. The plant was studied in three different plots representing the different structures of cliffs where the species usually lives. The reproductive success of the plant was analyzed in order to evaluate its conservation status. Mean plant dimensions and distribution within the plots were evaluated. The species resulted low morph biased (0.13), very fertile (83.53%) and with a quite good sexual organs efficiency of flowers (both in pin and thrum morphs) as demonstrated by the high rate of fruit (52.18%) and seed production (20-50% ovules developed in seeds). However, the populations remain in a demographic balance ( % = 0.38) and very few seedlings (0.21% of available seeds) were recorded in populations. The particular habitat of the plant does not favour a consistent population renewal. Primula allionii populations are not under a real threat at present: but the species and its loci deserve much more consideration in the future in order to preserve this possibly fragile habitat

Polyploid evolution and Pleistocene glacial cycles: a case study from the alpine primrose Primula marginata (Primulaceae)

Background Recent studies highlighted the role of Pleistocene climatic cycles in polyploid speciation and of southern Alpine refugia as reservoirs of diversity during glacial maxima. The polyploid Primula marginata, endemic to the southwestern Alps, includes both hexaploid and dodecaploid cytotypes that show no ecological or morphological differences. We used flow cytometry to determine variation and geographic distribution of cytotypes within and between populations and analyses of chloroplast (cp) and nuclear ribosomal (nr) DNA sequences from the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region to infer the evolutionary history of the two cytotypes and the auto- vs. allopolyploid origin of dodecaploid populations. Results We did not detect any intermediate cytotypes or variation of ploidy levels within populations. Hexaploids occur in the western and dodecaploids in the eastern part of the distributional range, respectively. The cpDNA and nrDNA topologies are in conflict, for the former supports shared ancestry between P. marginata and P. latifolia, while the latter implies common origins between at least some ITS clones of P. marginata and P. allionii. Conclusions Our results suggest an initial episode of chloroplast capture involving ancestral lineages of P. latifolia and P. marginata, followed by polyploidization between P. marginata-like and P. allionii-like lineages in a southern refugium of the Maritime Alps. The higher proportion of ITS polymorphisms in dodecaploid than in hexaploid accessions of P. marginata and higher total nucleotide diversity of ITS clones in dodecaploid vs. hexaploid individuals sequences are congruent with the allopolyploid hypothesis of dodecaploid origin