Diversidad liquénica asociada a fenómenos post-incendio en los alcornocales valenciano-castellonenses.

FOS, S., CALATAYUD, A. & BARRENO, E. 2001. Diversidad liquénica asociada a fenómenos post-incendio en los alcornocales valenciano-castellonenses. Bot. Complutensis 25: 103-113. Se estudia la colonización post-incendio de las cortezas quemadas de los alcornoques (Quercus suber L.), por líquenes epífitos,en los diferentes núcleos del alcornocal valenciano-castellonense (Asplenio onopteridis-Querco suberis sigmetum). Estos bosques, afectados por incendios diferentes, se localizan en las Sierras de Espadán y Calderona y en el Desierto de las Palmas y difieren en sus condiciones bioclimáticas, en la estructura del bosque y, consecuentemente, en la composición florística de las comunidades previas a los incendios. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer el estado de la recolonización e identificar que factores podrían estar implicados en el proceso. La riqueza específica y la cobertura de las comunidades epífitas muestra asimetrías importantes entre áreas. Estas diferencias se relacionan con la proximidad de zonas inalteradas, que deben actuar como inóculo, y con las características bioclimáticas de cada territorio. En total, se han identificado 40 especies liquénicas: 18 crustáceas (45%), 18 foliáceas (45%) y 4 fruticulosas (10%). La sucesión secundaria está dominada por especies de amplia tolerancia ecológica que poseen estructuras de multiplicación vegetativa. Hyperphyscia adglutinata, Physcia adscendens, Ph. tenella y Scoliciosporum chloroccocum son las que aparecen más tempranamente y las más ampliamente representadas; otras, como Evernia prunastri, P. tiliacea, P. soredians,P. subrudecta, Ramalina farinacea, etc., aparecen con mayor frecuencia y desarrollo en los alcornocales que sufrieron un incendio menos intenso y con ombroclima subhúmedo.FOS, S., CALATAYUD, A. & BARRENO, E. 2001. Lichen diversity associated with post-fire colonization in the Valenciano-castellonense cork-oak forests. Bot. Complutensis 25: 103113. 103 Simón Fos et al. Diversidad liquénica asociada a fenómenos post-incendio... The post-fire colonization of the burned barks of cork-oaks (Quercus suber L.) by epiphytic lichens affected by fire episodes has been studied in different areas of the Valenciano-castellonense cork-oak forests (Asplenio onopteridis-Querco suberis sigmetum). These forests, which have been affected by fires of different intensity, are located in Espadán and Calderona mountains and in the Desierto de Las Palmas and differ with respect to their bioclimate and forest structure. This facts result in a different floristic composition of the epiphytic communities prior to the occurrence of fires. The aim of this paper is to determine the recolonization state and to identify the factors involved in the process. Specific richness and coverage of the epiphytic communities show differences between areas. These differences are related with the proximity to undisturbed areas and with its bioclimatic characteristics. 40 species have been identified: 18 crustose (45%), foliose (45%) and 4 fruticose lichens (10%). Secondary succession is dominated by species with wide ecological tolerance with soredia or isidia. Hyperphyscia adglutinata, Physcia adscendens, Ph. tenella and Scoliciosporum chloroccocum show the greatest colonization success; others, such as Evernia prunastri, P. tiliacea, P. soredians, P. subrudecta, Ramalina farinacea, etc., show higher frequency and thallus development in forests which were affected by less intense fires and with subhumid ombroclimate

Sobre las comunidades terrícolas de líquenes vagantes (Sphaerothallio-Xanthoparmelion vagantis Al. Nova)

A new alliance of.vangant lichens, living in places which are physiologicaly arid (thermo or crioarid) due to continentality or higrothermic desertization and also strongly windy end euthrophic, is proposed. Within this alliance, we describe a new association (Sphaerotha- llietum jruticuloso-foliaceae) which grows in Spain in the Iberian Paramera vegetation level, in the clearings of the thyme and grassland communities (Festuco-Poion ligulatae), between 1.200 and 1.400 m. above sea level, and which an undoubtedly exceed the Mediterranean area, probably finding an optimum in the Irano-Turanian Region. The bibliographic data allow us to deduce its presence in the mountains of Astrakan and Tauria (URSS). In the alliance the association (Parmelietum vagantis) heavily amended, is also included. Ecologically and floristically related communities are discussed as well.Se propone una nueva alianza Sphaerothallio-Xanthoparmelion vagantis, de líquenes errantes de lugares fisiológicamente áridos (termo o crioáridos), por continentalidad o desertización higrotérmica fuertemente venteados y entrofos. En el seno de esta alianza describimos una nueva asociación Sphaerothallietum fruticulosofoliaceae que se desarrolla, en España, en el piso de vegetación ibérico de paramera en los claros de las comunidades de tomillar-pradera de Festuco-Poion ligulatae, entre 1.200-1.400 m. de altitud y que, sin duda, supera el ámbito de la Región Mediterránea, encontrando tal vez un óptimo en la Irano-Turánica. Datos bibliográficos nos hacen deducir su presencia en las montañas de Astrakan, y Tauria (Rusia). Se incluye también en la alianza la asociación Parmelietum vagantis (Keller 1938) Klement 1955 enmendándola profundamente. Discutimos en el trabajo las comunidades afines a las descritas, en base a conceptos florísticos y ecológicos (Diploschistion terrestris Klement 1955 y Parmelietum vagantis (Keller 1938) Klement 1955

TONINIA TOEPFFERI (B. STEINER) NAVÁS (LlCHENES). MORFOLOGíA, ANATOMíA V ECOLOGíA

Toninia toepfferi (B. Steinerl Navás is a taxon scarcely considered in the Iiterature though it is very frequent in the terricolous Iichen communities in the Canary Islands. In this paper an anatomical and morphological study of this species is made which more relevant characters are: presence of pseudocyphelae in the upper part of squamules; cortex constituted by two stratum. the upper a hyaline epinecral layer and the lower is formed by anticlinally orientated hyphae; apothecia largely stipitate. This is the first time apothecia with a stipe are described in the genus Toninia, thus the status of this species inside the genus need more studies. some relationships with other members of the Lecideaceae are indicated. Its distribution is extended to other islands of the Canaries. except for Gomera. and ecological data are also given.Toninia toepfferi (B. Steinerl Navás es un taxon muy poco tratado en la literatura a pesar de ser bastante frecuente en las comunidades liquénicas terrícolas de las islas Canarias. En este trabajo se realiza un estudio anatómico y morfológico de esta especie cuyos caracteres más destacables son: presencia de pseudocifelas en la cara superior de las verrugas talinas; córtex constituído por dos estratos: el superior una capa epinecral hialina y el inferior formado por hifas dispuestas anticlinalmente; apotecios largamente estipitados. Siendo la primera vez que se denuncian apotecios con estipe en el género Toninia, probablemente el estatus de la especie requerirá un tratamiento más amplio, aquí se esbozan ya algunas de sus posibles relaciones con otras Lecideaceae. Asimismo se amplía su área al resto de las Canarias. excepto Gomera. y se aportan datos sobre su ecología

Photobiont diversity in lichen symbioses from extreme environments

Fungal–algal relationships—both across evolutionary and ecological scales—are finely modulated by the presence of the symbionts in the environments and by the degree of selectivity and specificity that either symbiont develop reciprocally. In lichens, the green algal genus Trebouxia Puymaly is one of the most frequently recovered chlorobionts. Trebouxia species-level lineages have been recognized on the basis of their morphological and phylogenetic diversity, while their ecological preferences and distribution are still only partially unknown. We selected two cosmopolitan species complexes of lichen-forming fungi as reference models, i.e., Rhizoplaca melanophthalma and Tephromela atra, to investigate the diversity of their associated Trebouxia spp. in montane habitats across their distributional range worldwide. The greatest diversity of Trebouxia species-level lineages was recovered in the altitudinal range 1,000–2,500 m a.s.l. A total of 10 distinct Trebouxia species-level lineages were found to associate with either mycobiont, for which new photobionts are reported. One previously unrecognized Trebouxia species-level lineage was identified and is here provisionally named Trebouxia “A52.” Analyses of cell morphology and ultrastructure were performed on axenically isolated strains to fully characterize the new Trebouxia “A52” and three other previously recognized lineages, i.e., Trebouxia “A02,” T. vagua “A04,” and T. vagua “A10,” which were successfully isolated in culture during this study. The species-level diversity of Trebouxia associating with the two lichen-forming fungi in extreme habitats helps elucidate the evolutionary pathways that this lichen photobiont genus traversed to occupy varied climatic and vegetative regimes

Trebouxia lynnae sp. nov. (former Trebouxia sp. TR9): biology and biogeography of an epitome lichen symbiotic microalga

Two microalgal species, Trebouxia jamesii and Trebouxia sp. TR9, were detected as the main photobionts coexisting in the thalli of the lichen Ramalina farinacea. Trebouxia sp. TR9 emerged as anew taxon in lichen symbioses and was successfully isolated and propagated in in vitro culture andthoroughly investigated. Several years of research have confirmed the taxon Trebouxia sp. TR9 tobe a model/reference organism for studying mycobiont–photobiont association patterns in lichensymbioses. Trebouxia sp. TR9 is the first symbiotic, lichen-forming microalga for which an exhaustivecharacterization of cellular ultrastructure, physiological traits, genetic and genomic diversity is available.The cellular ultrastructure was studied by light, electron and confocal microscopy; physiologicaltraits were studied as responses to different abiotic stresses. The genetic diversity was previouslyanalyzed at both the nuclear and organelle levels by using chloroplast, mitochondrial, and nucleargenome data, and a multiplicity of phylogenetic analyses were carried out to study its intraspecificdiversity at a biogeographical level and its specificity association patterns with the mycobiont.Here, Trebouxia sp. TR9 is formally described by applying an integrative taxonomic approach and ispresented to science as Trebouxia lynnae, in honor of Lynn Margulis, who was the primary modernproponent for the significance of symbiosis in evolution. The complete set of analyses that werecarried out for its characterization is provided

Two Trebouxia algae with different physiological performances are ever-present in lichen thalli of Ramalina farinacea. Coexistence versus Competition

Ramalina farinacea is an epiphytic fruticose lichen that is relatively abundant in areas with Mediterranean, subtropical or temperate climates. Little is known about photobiont diversity in different lichen populations. The present study examines the phycobiont composition of several geographically distant populations of R. farinacea from the Iberian Peninsula, Canary Islands and California as well as the physiological performance of isolated phycobionts. Based on anatomical observations and molecular analyses, the coexistence of two different taxa of Trebouxia (working names, TR1 and TR9) was determined within each thallus of R. farinacea in all of the analysed populations. Examination of the effects of temperature and light on growth and photosynthesis indicated a superior performance of TR9 under relatively high temperatures and irradiances while TR1 thrived at moderate temperature and irradiance. Ramalina farinacea thalli apparently represent a specific and selective form of symbiotic association involving the same two Trebouxia phycobionts. Strict preservation of this pattern of algal coexistence is likely favoured by the different and probably complementary ecophysiological responses of each phycobiont, thus facilitating the proliferation of this lichen in a wide range of habitats and geographic areas. © 2010 Society for Applied Microbiology and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (CGL2006-12917-C02-01/02), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CGL2009-13429-C02-01/02), the AECID (PCI_A/024755/09) and the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO 174/2008 GVA). We are grateful to Dr J. Gimeno-Romeu (University of California, Davis, USA) and to Dr P. J. G. de Nova (IREC, Ciudad Real, Spain), who were the first to isolate DNA from Ramalina farinacea thalli in our group. 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Novel Method for using Hand Recognition as Computer Remote Control with Computer Vision Techniques

Today, interaction between man-computer (HCI) is one of the most prominent goals. One of the important goals is to develop an independent control of external devices or static controls over a computer for simplified system and userfriendly interface. Detection and recognition of gestural parts of a person's hand plays a crucial role because it is used to perform almost all of the daily activities. This work is aimed at facilitating the way of exercising control over the PC using C++ programming language via machine vision libraries like OpenCV. The segmentation of the hand was performed in two stages: the first stage used a range of color with the HSV model, accompanied by morphological operations to minimize noise. The second stage, which was conducted after binarization, continued to seek the contour of the hand focusing on the most important features of its geometry. A convex hull and convexity defects were set to determine the type of gesture and assign a particular function to run on the computer. The center of the mass of the contour of the hand was located to obtain its coordinates (x, y). It was subsequently assigned to the mouse position connected to the PC to emulate the 2D scrolling on the screen, consistent to the movement of the hand. In comparison to the traditional input devices, this approach facilitated a convenient manipulation of computer tools, providing a greater control and user comfort

Updated distribution of an alien frog species, Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw, 1802), in Ecuador: new records of Bullfrog in the semideciduous lowland forest of western Ecuador

We report the occurrence of Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw, 1802), Bullfrog, in a protected semidecidu-ous forest in the city of Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador and in a nearby wildlife management center. Bosqueira Pro-tected Forest is an isolated spot of diversity surrounded by urbanization, quarries, and highways. We found a juvenile Bullfrog in a water canal on the edge of the protected forest, near a private housing complex, and several tadpoles in an artificial pond in a wildlife management center located near the reserve. This is the first sighting of the invasive L. catesbeianus in a native ecosystem in Guayaquil. We also report the this species from, three other provinces of Ecuador, based on observations in iNaturalist. These records reinforce the ability of L. catesbeianus to adapt easily to varied environmental conditions and to disturbed areas. The invasion of L. catesbeianus towards semideciduous forest represents a new threat to biodiversity, particularly the endemic fauna, due to predation or competition. In future studies, it will be important to fully evaluate the Bullfrog diet and population status to esti-mate its impact on remnant forests of Guayaquil

Eliminating a Region of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Attachment Protein Allows Induction of Protective Immunity without Vaccine-enhanced Lung Eosinophilia

In a murine model of respiratory syncytial virus disease, prior sensitization to the attachment glycoprotein (G) leads to pulmonary eosinophilia and enhanced illness. Three different approaches were taken to dissect the region of G responsible for enhanced disease and protection against challenge. First, mutant viruses, containing frameshifts that altered the COOH terminus of the G protein, were used to challenge mice sensitized by scarification with recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV) expressing wild-type G. Second, cDNA expressing these mutated G proteins were expressed by rVV and used to vaccinate mice before challenge with wild-type respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These studies identified residues 193–205 to be responsible for G-induced weight loss and lung eosinophilia and showed that this region was not was not necessary for induction of protective immunity. Third, mice were sensitized using an rVV that expressed only amino acids 124–203 of the G protein. Upon RSV challenge, mice sensitized with this rVV developed enhanced weight loss and eosinophilia. This is the first time that a region within RSV (amino acids 193–203) has been shown to be responsible for induction of lung eosinophilia and disease enhancement. Moreover, we now show that it is possible to induce protective immunity with an altered G protein without inducing a pathological response