Do agrochemicals used during soybean flowering affect the visits of Apis mellifera L.?

In the Pampa region of Argentina, most beehives are situated near to soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] crop and honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) use its floral resources. Soybean is often sprayed with pesticides but very little is known about their repellent action against bees. This study evaluates the visit of honey bees to crop after the application of agrochemicals aiming to check for repellency of them and estimate the possible impact on crop pollination. For this, six treatments were used (glyphosate + cypermethrin; glyphosate; cypermethrin; lambda-cyhalothrin; methoxyfenocide; Bacillus thuringiensis) and developed on plots of 625 m2, located in Oro Verde (Argentina), applying two sprays during the crop flowering. The bees were captured using entomological net every 4 days in three different times from the day after the first spraying and up the end of crop flowering. The results showed very little or no repellent action of pesticides on A. mellifera, noting that it foraged on soybean flowers regardless of the temporal proximity and the type of product used in sprays. Possible causes are discussed and the need for larger studies is evident in field conditions related to pesticides repellency and mixtures. Also, further evaluation of the effects of the different chemical formulations available on the market and used regionally where the subspecies A. mellifera can be found. Simultaneously some management practices that could help minimize the risk of contamination are mentioned; the use of defensive crop products of biological origin is encouraged as well as further research in this topic

Rapid Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization of Monomers Obtained from Biomass-Derived Furfuryl Amines and Maleic Anhydride

Well-controlled and extremely rapid ring-opening metathesis polymerization of unusual oxanorbornene lactam esters by Grubbs third-generation catalyst is used to prepare a range of bio-based homo- and copolymers. Bio-derived oxanorbornene lactam monomers were prepared at room temperature from maleic anhydride and secondary furfuryl amines by using a 100 % atom economical, tandem Diels–Alder lactamization reaction, followed by esterification. Several of the resulting homo- and copolymers show good control over polymer molecular weight and have narrow molecular weight distributions

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits—almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Espectro polínico de mieles del Delta Medio del Río Paraná (Argentina) y su relación medioambiental

The aim of this study was to characterize honeys from the Middle Delta of Paraná River (Argentina) through pollen analysis and basic sensorial analysis, as well as assessing the vegetation contribution of this freshwater wetland as a source of nectar for Apis mellifera. Sixty-five samples were studied, out of which 109 pollen types, belonging to 53 plant families, were identified. The families Asteraceae and Leguminosae provided the greatest diversity of pollen types. Multifloral honeys were predominant (> 70%). Monofloral honeys were from Type Polygonum hydropiperoides (7), Sagittaria montevidensis (5), Eupatorium spp. (3), Pontederiaceae (2) and Salix humboltiana 1. Regional honeys are mistakenly called "Catay honeys" (Polygonum spp.) due to the wide distribution of species of this genus and the intense activity of honey bees observed on them. However, in the samples studied, Type Polygonum hydropiperoides varied from 25% taxa that do not belong to this ecosystem, they differ in their sensorial characteristics, particularly the presence of crystals. Pollen types such as Type Polygonum hydropiperoides, Sagittaria montevidensis, Eupatorium spp., Pontederiaceae, Nymphoides indica, Mimosa vellosiella, Vigna luteola, Cleome sp. and Type Solanum glaucophyllum, are suggested as geographical markers. According to the current knowledge, we propose to characterize these honeys considering their geographical origin instead of their botanical origin.El objetivo del presente trabajo fue caracterizar mieles provenientes del Delta Medio del Río Paraná, mediante análisis polínicos y análisis sensoriales básicos, así como también evaluar la contribución de la vegetación de este humedal de agua dulce como recurso nectarífero para Apis mellifera. Fueron estudiadas 65 muestras, en las cuales se identificaron 109 1. Las mieles regionales son erróneamente denominadas "de Catay" (Polygonum spp.) debido a la amplia distribución de las especies de este género y la intensa actividad de las abejas melíferas observada en ellas. Sin embargo, en las muestras estudiadas, el Tipo Polygonum hydropiperoides varió entre 70%); las monofloras resultaron de Tipo Polygonum hydropiperoides (7), Sagittaria montevidensis (5), Eupatorium spp. (3), Pontederiaceae (2) y Salix humboltian

Pollen spectra of honeys from the Middle Delta of the Paraná River (Argentina) and their environmental relationship

The aim of this study was to characterize honeys from the Middle Delta of Paraná River (Argentina) through pollen analysis and basic sensorial analysis, as well as assessing the vegetation contribution of this freshwater wetland as a source of nectar for Apis mellifera. Sixty-five samples were studied, out of which 109 pollen types, belonging to 53 plant families, were identified. The families Asteraceae and Leguminosae provided the greatest diversity of pollen types. Multifloral honeys were predominant (> 70%). Monofloral honeys were from Type Polygonum hydropiperoides (7), Sagittaria montevidensis (5), Eupatorium spp. (3), Pontederiaceae (2) and Salix humboltiana (1). Regional honeys are mistakenly called «Catay honeys» (Polygonum spp.) due to the wide distribution of species of this genus and the intense activity of honey bees observed on them. However, in the samples studied, Type Polygonum hydropiperoides varied from < 1% to 81% showing similar sensorial characteristics, among which the absence of crystals stands out. Pollen spectra of the «Catay honeys» reflect the surrounding freshwater wetland vegetation; when they present a value of > 25% taxa that do not belong to this ecosystem, they differ in their sensorial characteristics, particularly the presence of crystals. Pollen types such as Type Polygonum hydropiperoides, Sagittaria montevidensis, Eupatorium spp., Pontederiaceae, Nymphoides indica, Mimosa vellosiella, Vigna luteola, Cleome sp. and Type Solanum glaucophyllum, are suggested as geographical markers. According to the current knowledge, we propose to characterize these honeys considering their geographical origin instead of their botanical origin.El objetivo del presente trabajo fue caracterizar mieles provenientes del Delta Medio del Río Paraná, mediante análisis polínicos y análisis sensoriales básicos, así como también evaluar la contribución de la vegetación de este humedal de agua dulce como recurso nectarífero para Apis mellifera. Fueron estudiadas 65 muestras, en las cuales se identificaron 109 tipos polínicos pertenecientes a 53 familias botánicas. La mayor diversidad de tipos polínicos correspondió a las familias Asteraceae y Leguminosae. Predominaron las mieles multiflorales (> 70%); las monofloras resultaron de Tipo Polygonum hydropiperoides (7), Sagittaria montevidensis (5), Eupatorium spp. (3), Pontederiaceae (2) y Salix humboltiana (1). Las mieles regionales son erróneamente denominadas «de Catay» (Polygonum spp.) debido a la amplia distribución de las especies de este género y la intensa actividad de las abejas melíferas observada en ellas. Sin embargo, en las muestras estudiadas, el Tipo Polygonum hydropiperoides varió entre < 1% y 81%, presentando similares características sensoriales, entre las que se destaca la ausencia de cristales. El espectro polínico de las «mieles de Catay» refleja la vegetación del humedal de agua dulce; cuando presentan un valor > 25% de taxones que no pertenecen a este ecosistema, difieren en sus características sensoriales, especialmente por la presencia de cristales. Tipos polínicos como Tipo Polygonum hydropiperoides Sagittaria montevidensis, Eupatorium spp. Pontederiaceae, Nymphoides indica, Mimosa vellosiella, Vigna luteola, Cleome sp. y Tipo Solanum glaucophyllum, se proponen como marcadores geográficos. En base al conocimiento actual, se propone caracterizar estas mieles considerando su origen geográfico en lugar de su origen botánico

Changes in the potential distribution of invasive plant species in continental Spain in response to climate change

Background: Climate change may increase the risk of biological invasions. However, current knowledge of this interaction is limited. Aims: We aimed to quantify (1) the effect of climate change on the potential distribution of invasive plant species in Spain, (2) the importance of the area of origin of such species and (3) the vulnerability of different biogeographic provinces to future changes in climatic suitability for invaders. Methods: We applied six methods of species distribution modelling to assess the variation of climatically suitable areas for 40 alien plants. We developed a Potential Area Change Index and used it as the response variable in modelling for three future emissions scenarios and three global circulation models over three time periods. The area of origin and biogeographic province in Spain were also considered. Results: We found a highly specific response for each plant species rather than a clear trend for the entire set of species. Predicted climate suitability increased over higher emission scenarios and longer projected time lags. Neotropical species showed the greatest potential climatic range expansion. We detected a strong interaction between the geographic origin of a species and the biogeographic province. Conclusions: Special attention should be given to the areas where aridification of climate is projected and where introduced neotropical species are likely to expand their range. Future work should develop accurate species-specific approaches that allow the management invasive plant species.This work was supported by the Fundación Biodiversidad