Patterns in leaf traits of woody species and their environmental determinants in a humid karstic forest in southwest China

IntroductionLeaf functional traits constitute a crucial component of plant functionality, providing insights into plants’ adaptability to the environment and their regulatory capacity in complex habitats. The response of leaf traits to environmental factors at the community level has garnered significant attention. Nevertheless, an examination of the environmental factors determining the spatial distribution of leaf traits in the karst region of southwest China remains absent.MethodsIn this study, we established a 25 ha plot within a karst forest and collected leaf samples from 144 woody species. We measured 14 leaf traits, including leaf area (LA), leaf thicknes (LT), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf length to width ratio (LW), leaf tissue density (LTD), leaf carbon concentration (LC), leaf nitrogen concentration (LN), and leaf phosphorus concentration (LP), leaf potassium concentration (LK), leaf calcium concentration (LCa), leaf magnesium Concentration (LMg), leaf carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), leaf carbon to phosphorus ratio (C/P), and leaf nitrogen to phosphorus ratio (N/P), to investigate the spatial distribution of community-level leaf traits and the response of the leaf trait community-weighted mean (CWM) to topographic, soil, and spatial factors.ResultsResults showed that the CWM of leaf traits display different spatial patterns, first, the highest CWM values for LT, LTD, C/N, and C/P at hilltops, second, the highest CWM values for LA, SLA, LW, LC, LN, LP, and LK at depressions, and third, the highest CWM values for LCa, LMg, and N/P at slopes. The correlation analysis showed that topographic factors were more correlated with leaf trait CWM than soil factors, with elevation and slope being the strongest correlations. RDA analysis showed that topographic factors explained higher percentage of leaf trait CWM than soil factors, with the highest percentage of 19.96% being explained by elevation among topographic factors. Variance Partitioning Analysis showed that the spatial distribution of leaf traits is predominantly influenced by the combined effects of topography and spatial factors (37%-47% explained), followed by purely spatial factors (24%-36% explained).DiscussionThe results could improve our understanding of community functional traits and their influencing factors in the karst region, which will contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that shape plant communities

Influences of Different Active Carbons on the Catalytic Performance of Ni/C Catalysts for Vapor-Phase Carbonylation of Ethanol

Different active carbons, i.e. bamboo charcoal, cylindrical coal, fruit carbon. wood charcoal, and coconut charcoal, were used to prepare Ni/C catalysts for vapor-phase carbonylation of ethanol. The results revealed that the Ni/CC catalyst showed the highest catalytic activity for ethanol carbonylation with 96.1% of ethanol conversion and 93.2% of propionic acid selectivity, but the Ni/BC catalyst showed the lowest activity with 63.0% of ethanol conversion and 32.7% of propionic acid selectivity. The Ni/C catalysts were characterized by CO adsorption and temperature-programmed reduction. Meanwhile, N-2 physical adsorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed desorption were used to investigate the structural properties, the species and quantities of surface oxygen functional groups of active carbons. It was found that the catalytic performance of the Ni/C catalysts depended on the nature of active carbons greatly

A new genus and species of primary freshwater crab and a new species of Artopotamon Dai & Chen, 1985 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Potamidae) from western Yunnan, China

Chu, Kelin, Wang, Pengfei, Sun, Hongying (2018): A new genus and species of primary freshwater crab and a new species of Artopotamon Dai & Chen, 1985 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Potamidae) from western Yunnan, China. Zootaxa 4422 (1): 115-131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4422.1.

FIGURE 2. Arquatopotamon jizushanense gen. n in A new genus and new species of freshwater crab (Decapoda: Brachyura: Potamidae Ortmann, 1896) from Yunnan Province, China

FIGURE 2. Arquatopotamon jizushanense gen. n., sp. n. male holotype, 19.4 × 16.4 mm, NNU 160506. A, outer surfaces of right major chela; B, left third maXilliped; C, left G 2; D-G, left G 1 Without G 2: D, ventral vieW; E, mesioventral vieW; F, dorsal vieW; G, dorsolateral vieW. Scales = 1.0 mm

Borneopauropus acutifolius Qian, sp. n.

Borneopauropus acutifolius Qian sp. n. (Figure 1) Type material. Holotype. ad. 9 (female), Sanqingshan, Jiangxi, 5 July 2012, leg. Qian & Chu. Paratypes. ad. 9 (female), Sanqingshan, Jiangxi, 7 July 2012, leg. Qian & Chu. Etymology. From Latin acutus = pointed and folium = leaf (referring to the shape of the anal plate). Diagnosis. Borneopauropus acutifolius sp. n. is a small, short-legged species closely related to the six species previously described in the genus: B. penanorum Scheller 1994 from East Malaysia, Sabah; B. prolatus Scheller 2001 from East Malaysia, Sabah; B. curtipes Scheller 2009 from Indonesia, Sulawesi, Selatan, Rantepao; B. dingus Scheller 2009 from Savage River Pipeline Road, Australia; B. platylopas Scheller 2011 from Chiang Mai province, Thailand and B. neozelandicus Scheller 2012 from South Island, Central Otago, New Zealand. The new species can be distinguished from them by comparing the shape of the temporal organs and the shape of the anal plate. Temporal organs with two tube-like appendages and one small bulge are present in B. penanorum; with three uplifted tube-like appendages in B. prolatus; partly visible from the tergal side but running along from the mouth to the posterior part of the head in B. curtipes; longish, running along from mouth to the posterior part of the head in B. dingus; small, with at least two short uplifted extensions in B. platylopas; partly visible from the tergal side, longish, from the lateral centre behind the antenna running ventrally in the direction of the mouth in B. neozelandicus. In contrast, the temporal organs are small with one short uplifted extension in B. acutifolius sp. n. Regarding the shape of the anal plate, the distal part blunt ended, with sparse oblique pubescence in B. penanorum; anal plate glabrous, appendages striate in B. prolatus; anal plate faintly granular, appendages glabrous in B. curtipes; distal part narrow with parallel lateral margins and cut squarely at the end; two thin cylindrical appendages with globular distal enlargements protrude backwards from the middle of the sternal side in B. dingus; anal plate narrowest anteriorly, triangular, posterolateral corner turned anteriorly and posterior margin with small median process, two cylindrical blunt faintly pubescent appendages protruding backward from sternal side just nearby the posteromedian process in B. platylopas; narrowest anteriorly, broadest in the middle, with rounded lateral lobes pointing backward, posterior part forming a triangular lobe with a median cylindrical narrow lengthening, two subcylindrical appendages protrude backward from outer part of triangular lobe, appendages curved inward, striate in B. neozelandicus. The distal part is pointed, the plate and appendages glabrous in B.acutifolius sp. n. Description. Length. (0.46 -) 0.50 mm Head. Tergal and lateral sides with one anterior unpaired clavate seta most anteriorly and 26 other setae, 24 bladder-shaped ones and one thin cylindrical lateral ones. Setae arranged in transversal rows indistinct laterally. Setae longest in posteromedian part; most setae clavate, shortly pubescent, lateral group setae cylindrical, glabrous. Temporal organs small with one short uplifted extensions. Tergal side of head faintly granular, temporal organs glabrous. Antennae. Segment 4 with 4 cylindrical annulate setae; relative lengths: p = 10, p ’ = 7.7 (- 8.1), p ” = 4.0 (- 6.1), r = 3.8 (- 4.0). Tergal seta p 0.7 of the length of tergal branch t. The latter subcylindrical, 2.7 (- 2.9) times as long as wide, as long as sterna branch s. s (2.1 -) 2.2 times as long as greatest diameter, its seta q cylindrical striate, (0.6 -) 0.8 of the length of s. Relative lengths of flagella (base segments included) and base segments: F 1 = 100, bs 1 = 8; F 2 = (65 -) 66, bs 2 = 6; F 3 = 72 (- 74), bs 3 = 8 (- 9). F 1 3.1 times as long as t, F 2 and F 3 (2.9 -) 3.0 and (2.5 -) 2.9 times as long as s respectively. Distal calyces helmet-shaped, glabrous. Globulus g with slender stalk, (1.3 -) 1.5 times as long as greatest diameter, the latter 0.7 (- 0.8) as long as greatest diameter of t. Antenna glabrous. Trunk. Setae of collum segment furcate, primary branch subcylindrical, annulated; secondary branch rudimentary, glabrous; sublateral seta somewhat thinner than submedian seta, the former 1.3 as long as submedian seta. Sternite process blunt; process and appendages glabrous. Tergites. I and VI entire, II–V transversely and weakly two-parted. Setae bladder-shaped or clavate with distinct oblique-erect pubescence. Setae on tergite I irregularly inserted, on II–V in an anterior and a posterior double-row, on VI in two single rows only. Number of setae on tergites (if two values anterior and posterior groups respectively): I (26 -) 30 (- 32), II (14 -) 16 (- 18) + 24 (- 26) = (38 -) 40 (- 44), III (18 -) 25 + 20 (- 22) = (40 -) 45, IV 21 (- 22) + (16 -) 18 = (37 -) 39, V (14 -) 15 (- 16) + 12 = (26 -) 27 (- 28), VI 4 + 4 = 8. Cuticle of tergites almost glabrous. FIGURE 1. Borneopauropus acutifolius Qian sp. n. holotype (female). A, right antenna, sterna view. B, head, median and right part, tergal view. C, tergites I–II. D, T 5. E, T 3. F, tarsus of leg 9. G, collum segment, sternal view. H, pygidium, posteriomedian and left part, sternal view. Bothriotricha. Relative lengths: T 1 = 100, T 2 = (89 -) 92 (- 112), T 3 = 59 (- 66), T 4 = (101 -) 108, T 5 = (111 -) 113. Axes simple, most proximally glabrous; proximal half of T 3 strongly clavate, distal half very thin; other bothriotricha with thin and curled axes; pubescence short oblique on proximal halves, erect distally; clavate part of T 3 with pubescence arranged in whorls. Legs. All legs 5 -segmented. Setae on coxa and trochanter of leg 9 similar, simple, cylindrical, densely annulated, blunt, without traces of secondary branches. More anteriorly these setae of the same shape but with short cylindrical glabrous rudiments of secondary branches. Tarsus of leg 9 short, subcylindrical, (2.1 -) 2.3 times as long as greatest diameter. Setae curved, tapering, pointed, with oblique pubescence; proximal seta 0.3 of the length of tarsus and as long as the distal seta. Cuticle of tarsus glabrous. Pygidium. Tergum. Hind margin rounded between st. Relative lengths of setae: a 1 = 10, a 2 = 16.5, st very short, a 1 subspherical, diverging, a 2 and a 3 clavate; distance a 1 – a 1 (2.1 -) 2.5 times as long as a 1, distance a 1 – a 2 1.2 times as long as distance a 2 – a 3; distance st–st (8.0 -) 11.5 times as long as st and 1.1 (- 1.3) times as long as distance a 1 – a 1. Sternum. Relative lengths of setae (pygidial a 1 = 10): b 1 = 59 (- 65), b 2 = (23 -) 27, b 3 = (12 -) 15. Setae tapering, pointed, glabrous; b 1 as long as (1.2 -) 1.3 times as long as distance b 1 – b 1, b 2 0.9 of distance b 1 – b 2 and b 3 0.4 of interdistance. Anal plate. lobiform, (1.8 -) 2.2 times as long as greatest width, broadest near the middle, lateral margins convex, distal part narrowing into a short triangular process; two thin cylindrical bow-shaped appendages protruding backward of distal part, length of appendages 0.6 (- 0.7) of the length of plate; anal plate and appendages glabrous.Published as part of Qian, Changyuan, Chu, Kelin, Liu, Xiaorui & Sun, Hongying, 2014, Four new species of Pauropoda (Brachypauropodidae, Eurypauropodidae, Pauropodidae) from the Sanqingshan Mountains, Jiangxi Province, China, pp. 81-91 in Zootaxa 3764 (1) on pages 82-84, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3764.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/28555