A new subspecies of Peucedanum officinale L. subsp. album (Apiaceae) from the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula

[EN] We describe Peucedanum officinale L. subsp. album Martinez-Fort & Donat-Torres subsp. nov., in which we grouped the thermomediterranean populations scattered along the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The characters that differentiate this new subspecies from other infraspecific taxa in Peucedanum officinale are its canaliculated leaflet, the inflorescences much branched and lack of dominant terminal umbels, the umbels are few rayed, sometimes sessile and lateral, the petals are white and the fruit pedicels short, the same or shorter in length than the fruit. We provide here a full description of the new subspecies based on herbarium specimens and field measurements, as well as providing dichotomous keys to the subspecies within P. officinale. In addition, we provide a comparison of the ITS sequences of nrDNA with the most closely related taxons.Martínez-Fort, J.; León Santana, M.; Donat-Torres, MP. (2019). A new subspecies of Peucedanum officinale L. subsp. album (Apiaceae) from the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula. PhytoKeys (Online). (131):37-55. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.131.321733755131Altschul, S. F., Gish, W., Miller, W., Myers, E. W., & Lipman, D. J. (1990). Basic local alignment search tool. Journal of Molecular Biology, 215(3), 403-410. doi:10.1016/s0022-2836(05)80360-2Darriba, D., Taboada, G. L., Doallo, R., & Posada, D. (2012). jModelTest 2: more models, new heuristics and parallel computing. Nature Methods, 9(8), 772-772. doi:10.1038/nmeth.2109Downie, S. R., Watson, M. F., Spalik, K., & Katz-Downie, D. S. (2000). Molecular systematics of Old World Apioideae (Apiaceae): relationships among some members of tribe Peucedaneae sensu lato, the placement of several island-endemic species, and resolution within the apioid superclade. Canadian Journal of Botany, 78(4), 506-528. doi:10.1139/b00-029Downie, S. R., Spalik, K., Katz-Downie, D. S., & Reduron, J.-P. (2010). Major clades within Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae as inferred by phylogenetic analysis of nrDNA ITS sequences. Plant Diversity and Evolution, 128(1-2), 111-136. doi:10.1127/1869-6155/2010/0128-0005Engler, A., Krause, K., Pilger, R. K. F., & Prantl, K. A. E. (1887). Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien nebst ihren Gattungen und wichtigeren Arten, insbesondere den Nutzpflanzen, unter Mitwirkung zahlreicher hervorragender Fachgelehrten begründet von A. Engler und K. Prantl, fortgesetzt von A. Engler ... doi:10.5962/bhl.title.4635García Martín, F., & Silvestre, S. (1992). Peucedanum officinale L. subsp. brachyradium García-Martín y Silvestre: nuevo taxon de Umbelliferae. Acta Botanica Malacitana, 17, 119-121. doi:10.24310/abm.v17i.9022Kljuykov, E. V., Liu, M., Ostroumova, T. A., Pimenov, M. G., Tilney, P. M., van Wyk, B.-E., & van Staden, J. (2004). Towards a standardised terminology for taxonomically important morphological characters in the Umbelliferae. South African Journal of Botany, 70(3), 488-496. doi:10.1016/s0254-6299(15)30233-7Kumar, S., Stecher, G., Li, M., Knyaz, C., & Tamura, K. (2018). MEGA X: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis across Computing Platforms. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 35(6), 1547-1549. doi:10.1093/molbev/msy096Spalik, K., Reduron, J.-P., & Downie, S. R. (2004). The phylogenetic position of Peucedanum sensu lato and allied genera and their placement in tribe Selineae (Apiaceae, subfamily Apioideae). Plant Systematics and Evolution, 243(3-4), 189-210. doi:10.1007/s00606-003-0066-2White, T. J., Bruns, T., Lee, S., & Taylor, J. (1990). AMPLIFICATION AND DIRECT SEQUENCING OF FUNGAL RIBOSOMAL RNA GENES FOR PHYLOGENETICS. PCR Protocols, 315-322. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-372180-8.50042-1Magee, A. R., Van Wyk, B.-E., Tilney, P. M., & Downie, S. R. (2007). New generic circumscriptions of Cape peucedanoid species (Apiaceae). South African Journal of Botany, 73(2), 298-299. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2007.02.07

Antioxidant responses under salinity and drought in three closely related wild monocots with different ecological optima

[EN] Antioxidant enzymes; antioxidant phenolics; ecological adaptation; Juncus; malondialdehyde (MDA); photosynthetic pigments; salt stress; water deficiency stress.This work was financed by internal funds for research support of the Polytechnic University of Valencia to M.P.D.-T., M.B. and O.V.Al Hassan, M.; Chaura, J.; Donat-Torres, MP.; Boscaiu, M.; Vicente, O. (2017). Antioxidant responses under salinity and drought in three closely related wild monocots with different ecological optima. AoB Plants. 9(2):1-20. https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plx009S12092Abogadallah, G. M. (2010). Insights into the significance of antioxidative defense under salt stress. Plant Signaling & Behavior, 5(4), 369-374. doi:10.4161/psb.5.4.10873Aebi, H. (1984). [13] Catalase in vitro. Oxygen Radicals in Biological Systems, 121-126. doi:10.1016/s0076-6879(84)05016-3Al Hassan, M., López-Gresa, M. del P., Boscaiu, M., & Vicente, O. (2016). 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Responses to Increased Salinity and Severe Drought in the Eastern Iberian Endemic Species Thalictrum maritimum (Ranunculaceae), Threatened by Climate Change

[EN] Thalictrum maritimum is an endangered, endemic species in East Spain, growing in areas of relatively low salinity in littoral salt marshes. A regression of its populations and the number of individuals has been registered in the last decade. This study aimed at establishing the causes of this reduction using a multidisciplinary approach, including climatic, ecological, physiological and biochemical analyses. The climatic data indicated that there was a direct negative correlation between increased drought, especially during autumn, and the number of individuals censused in the area of study. The susceptibility of this species to water deficit was confirmed by the analysis of growth parameters upon a water deficit treatment applied under controlled greenhouse conditions, with the plants withstanding only 23 days of complete absence of irrigation. On the other hand, increased salinity does not seem to be a risk factor for this species, which behaves as a halophyte, tolerating in controlled treatments salinities much higher than those registered in its natural habitat. The most relevant mechanisms of salt tolerance in T. maritimum appear to be based on the control of ion transport, by (i) the active transport of toxic ions to the aerial parts of the plants at high external salinity¿where they are presumably stored in the leaf vacuoles to avoid their deleterious effects in the cytosol, (ii) the maintenance of K+ concentrations in belowground and aboveground organs, despite the increase of Na+ levels, and (iii) the salt-induced accumulation of Ca2+, particularly in stems and leaves. This study provides useful information for the management of the conservation plans of this rare and endangered species.This research was funded by GENERALITAT VALENCIANA, grant number AICO/2017/039, to M. Boscaiu.González-Orenga, S.; Trif, C.; Donat-Torres, MP.; Llinares Palacios, JV.; Collado, F.; Ferrer-Gallego, PP.; Laguna, E.... (2020). Responses to Increased Salinity and Severe Drought in the Eastern Iberian Endemic Species Thalictrum maritimum (Ranunculaceae), Threatened by Climate Change. Plants. 9(10):1-24. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9101251S124910Laguna Lumbreras, E., & Ferrer Gallego, P. P. (2015). Global environmental change in the unique flora: Endangered plant communities in the Valencia region. Mètode Revista de difusió de la investigació, 0(6). doi:10.7203/metode.6.4127Gómez Mercado, F., de Haro Lozano, S., & López-Carrique, E. (2017). Impacts of future climate scenarios on hypersaline habitats and their conservation interest. Biodiversity and Conservation, 26(11), 2717-2734. doi:10.1007/s10531-017-1382-0Dufour, M. L. (1860). Diagnoses Et Observations Critiques Sur Quelques Plantes D’Espagne Mal Connues Ou Nouvelles. 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Insights on Salt Tolerance of Two Endemic Limonium Species from Spain

[EN] We have analysed the salt tolerance of two endemic halophytes of the genus Limonium, with high conservation value. In the present study, seed germination and growth parameters as well as different biomarkers-photosynthetic pigments, mono and divalent ion contents-associated to salt stress were evaluated in response to high levels of NaCl. The study was completed with an untargeted metabolomics analysis of the primary compounds including carbohydrates, phosphoric and organic acids, and amino acids, identified by using a gas chromatography and mass spectrometry platform. Limonium albuferae proved to be more salt-tolerant than L. doufourii, both at the germination stage and during vegetative growth. The degradation of photosynthetic pigments and the increase of Na+/K+ ratio under salt stress were more accentuated in the less tolerant second species. The metabolomics analysis unravelled several differences between the two species. The higher salt tolerance of L. albuferae may rely on its specific accumulation of fructose and glucose under high salinity conditions, the first considered as a major osmolyte in this genus. In addition, L. albuferae showed steady levels of citric and malic acids, whereas the glutamate family pathway was strongly activated under stress in both species, leading to the accumulation of proline (Pro) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).This research was funded by GENERALITAT VALENCIANA, grant number AICO/2017/039, to M. Boscaiu.González-Orenga, S.; Ferrer-Gallego, PP.; Laguna, E.; López-Gresa, MP.; Donat-Torres, MP.; Verdeguer Sancho, MM.; Vicente, O.... (2019). Insights on Salt Tolerance of Two Endemic Limonium Species from Spain. Metabolites. 9(12):1-22. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9120294S12291

Multidisciplinary studies supporting conservation programmes of two rare, endangered Limonium species from Spain

[EN] Background and aims Two local threatened endemics from Valencian salt marshes were analysed from a multidisciplinary perspective combining field studies with experiments performed under greenhouse-controlled conditions. The work aimed to investigate the habitat of the two species but also to explore their limits of tolerance to severe drought and salinity and the mechanisms behind their stress responses. Methods The number of individuals in several populations, climatic conditions, soil characteristics and accompanying vegetation in the natural habitats were analysed in the field study. Plants obtained by seed germination were grown in the greenhouse and subjected to one month of water and salt stress treatments. Growth and biochemical parameters were analysed after the treatments were finalised. Results No correlation between climatic parameters and the number of individuals censed of the two Limonium species could be established. Although L. dufourii was found in more saline soils in the natural habitats, under controlled greenhouse conditions, this species was more severely affected by salt treatment than L. albuferae, which is more susceptible to water stress. A common biochemical response was the increase of proline under all stress treatments, but mostly in water-stressed plants. Oxidative stress markers, MDA and H2O2, did not indicate significant differences between the treatments. The differences in the two species¿ responses to the two kinds of stress were correlated with the activation of the antioxidant enzymes, more pronounced in conditions of salt stress in L. albuferae and of water stress in L. dufourii. Conclusions Although L. albuferae is found in sites with lower salinity in the natural habitats, the greenhouse experiment indicated that it tolerates higher concentrations of salt than L. dufouri, which is more resistant to drought. The two species efficiently mitigate oxidative stress by activation of antioxidant enzymes. The results obtained may be helpful for the conservation management of the two species: whereas salinity is not problematic, as the two species tolerated under controlled conditions salinities far beyond those in their natural environments, water scarcity may be a problem for L. albuferae, which proved to be more susceptible to water deficit.This research was supported by the project AICO/2017/039 from Generalitat Valenciana. We are indebted to Dr Inmaculada Bautista (Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain) for her valuable suggestions for improving the manuscript. Thanks to Inmaculada Ferrando Pardo for helping in the study and conservation of the seeds in the Centre for Forest Research and Experimentation of the Valencian Region (CIEF).González-Orenga, S.; Donat-Torres, MP.; Llinares Palacios, JV.; Navarro, A.; Collado, F.; Ferrer-Gallego, PP.; Laguna Lumbreras, E.... (2021). Multidisciplinary studies supporting conservation programmes of two rare, endangered Limonium species from Spain. Plant and Soil. 466(1-2):505-524. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05059-95055244661-

Seasonal variation of Glycine Betaine in Plants from a Littoral Salt-Marsh in SE Spain

Supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project CGL2008-00438/BOS), with contribution from the European Regional Development Fund.Boscaiu Neagu, MT.; Tifrea, M.; Donat-Torres, MP.; Mayoral García-Berlanga, O.; Llinares Palacios, JV.; Bautista Carrascosa, I.; Lidón Cerezuela, AL.... (2011). Seasonal variation of Glycine Betaine in Plants from a Littoral Salt-Marsh in SE Spain. Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca : Horticulture. 68(1):543-544. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/62931S54354468

Contacts in the last 90,000 years over the Strait of Gibraltar evidenced by genetic analysis of wild boar (Sus scrofa)

[EN] Contacts across the Strait of Gibraltar in the Pleistocene have been studied in different research papers, which have demonstrated that this apparent barrier has been permeable to human and fauna movements in both directions. Our study, based on the genetic analysis of wild boar (Sus scrofa), suggests that there has been contact between Africa and Europe through the Strait of Gibraltar in the Late Pleistocene (at least in the last 90,000 years), as shown by the partial analysis of mitochondrial DNA. Cytochrome b and the control region from North African wild boar indicate a close relationship with European wild boar, and even some specimens belong to a common haplotype in Europe. The analyses suggest the transformation of the wild boar phylogeography in North Africa by the emergence of a natural communication route in times when sea levels fell due to climatic changes, and possibly through human action, since contacts coincide with both the Last Glacial period and the increasing human dispersion via the strait.This study was supported by The Emirates Centre for Wildlife Propagation (Morocco). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Soria-Boix, C.; Donat-Torres, MP.; Urios, V. (2017). Contacts in the last 90,000 years over the Strait of Gibraltar evidenced by genetic analysis of wild boar (Sus scrofa). PLoS ONE. 12(7). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0181929S12

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Evolutionary ecology of hares (Lepus spp.) from northwestern Africa; The problem of cryptic species and the description of a new species (Lepus saharae sp. nov.)

[EN] Objective: We examine the different pressures that lead to the occurrence of new species and thus to their phylogenies. From an evolutionary ecology perspective, we examine the phylogenetic relationships of different lineages, as well as the evolutionary pressures that lead to them and, in some cases, mask them. Organisms and locales: Hares (Lepus spp.) in northwest Africa that are morphologically similar, which, superficially, makes it appear that there is only one species. Methods: We describe different populations of hares in northwest Africa. We describe the morphology of a new species and provide photographs of specimens from across the study area. We analyse five mitochondrial DNA fragments. Results: Mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed the presence of three Lepus species which are different from both Lepus capensis and L. victoriae and which have contiguous, partially overlapping geographical ranges. One of the species, found in the western Sahara (Morocco), is new (Lepus saharae sp. nov.). The other two species (Lepus mediterraneus Wagner, 1841 and Lepus schlumbergeri Remy-St. Loup, 1894) inhabit the northern and central regions of Morocco. The distributions of at least two of the three species extend to countries other than Morocco. Various eco-evolutionary pressures have masked this diversity until now. Certainly, the species have had to adapt to different habitats that include mountains and desert; and isolation of populations by distance, or because of climatic or geographical barriers has led - or at least facilitated - them to appear different. Yet some evolutionary pressures have made them converge morphologically, making it appear that there is only one species.Soria-Boix, C.; Donat-Torres, MP.; Rguibi Idrissi, H.; Urios, V. (2019). Evolutionary ecology of hares (Lepus spp.) from northwestern Africa; The problem of cryptic species and the description of a new species (Lepus saharae sp. nov.). Evolutionary Ecology Research (Online). 20(5):537-555. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/167876S53755520

Median-joining networks based on mtDNA.

<p>(A) The cytochrome b network was constructed with 308 wild boar sequences (1,030 bp). (B) The control region network was constructed with 328 wild boar sequences (534 bp).</p