Seasonal ecophysiology of an endangered coastal species, the yellow-horned poppy (Glaucium flavum Crantz)

Glaucium flavum Crantz. is a short-lived perennial herb distributed in coastal zones from the Black Sea to southern, western and north-western Europe. Despite its diminishing area of distribution and potential pharmacological value, little is known about the ecophysiological features of this coastal species. We investigated the photosynthetic performance of G. flavum by measuring gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic pigment concentration and leaf water content over the space of a year in a coastal habitat of SW Spain. We also measured the variation in total concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, potassium, calcium and magnesium, in the leaves and soil, throughout the study period. G. flavum showed a high resistance to summer drought conditions which appeared to be due to the high degree of stomatal control. The potential photochemical efficiency of photosystem II showed minimum values during the winter, indicating that low temperatures can produce negative effects within the photosynthetic apparatus. However, the marked decline in net photosynthesis during the winter seems to be mainly related to a loss of metabolic activity. Although leaf nutrient concentrations were, in general, within the normal ranges, phosphorus availability seems to be limited by the high calcium concentrations detected in the soil of the study site. Our study points out the efficiency of the different physiological adaptations of this rare and endangered coastal species in coping with the strong seasonal variability of the Mediterranean climate.Ministerio de Educación AP2007–04420Junta de Andalucía RMN– 22

Carry-over of differential salt tolerance in plants grown from dimorphic seeds of Suaeda splendens

Background and Aims: Halophytic species often show seed dimorphism, where seed morphs produced by a single individual may differ in germination characteristics. Particular morphs are adapted to different windows of opportunity for germination in the seasonally fluctuating and heterogeneous salt-marsh environment. The possibility that plants derived from the two morphs may also differ physiologically has not been investigated previously. • Methods: Experiments were designed to investigate the germination characteristics of black and brown seed morphs of Suaeda splendens, an annual, C4 shrub of non-tidal, saline steppes. The resulting seedlings were transferred to hydroponic culture to investigate their growth and photosynthetic (PSII photochemistry and gas exchange) responses to salinity. • Key Results: Black seeds germinated at low salinity but were particularly sensitive to increasing salt concentrations, and strongly inhibited by light. Brown seeds were unaffected by light, able to germinate at higher salinities and generally germinated more rapidly. Ungerminated black seeds maintained viability for longer than brown ones, particularly at high salinity. Seedlings derived from both seed morphs grew well at high salinity (400 mol m-3 NaCl). However, seedlings derived from brown seeds performed poorly at low salinity, as reflected in relative growth rate, numbers of branches produced, F v/Fm and net rate of CO2 assimilation. • Conclusions: The seeds most likely to germinate at high salinity in the Mediterranean summer (brown ones) retain a requirement for higher salinity as seedlings that might be of adaptive value. On the other hand, black seeds, which are likely to delay germination until lower salinity prevails, produce seedlings that are less sensitive to salinity. It is not clear why performance at low salinity, later in the life cycle, might have been sacrificed by the brown seeds, to achieve higher fitness at the germination stage under high salinity. Analyses of adaptive syndromes associated with seed dimorphism may need to take account of differences over the entire life cycle, rather than just at the germination stage.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología CTM2005-05011Junta de Andalucía P06-RNM-0189

Estudio cariológico de Boragináceas españolas. I. Anchusa L

Se estudian cariológicamente los taxones españoles del género Anchusa L., a excepción de A. subglara Caballero y A. officinalis L., encontrándose los números cromosómicos siguientes: A. undulata L. subsp. undulata, 2n = 16; A. undulata subsp. granatensis (Boiss.)Valdés, 2n = 16; A. undulata subsp. viciosoi Valdés ex Lainz, 2n = 16; A. ca/carca Boiss. var. cal-carea, 2n = 16; A. ca/carea var. scaberrima Boiss., 2n = 16; A. azurea Miller, 2n = 32; A. pue- chii Valdés, 2n = 22; A. stylosa Bieb., 2n = 16; A. arvensis (L.) Bieb. subsp. arvensis, 2n = 48; A. arvensis subsp. orientalls (L.) Nordh., 2n = 16. Se incluyen cariogramas y fórmulas idiogramáti- cas, así cómo tamaños aparentes de los cromosomas y asimetría del cariotipo de cada uno de los taxones estudiados. Se establece como número básico primario del género, x = 8In this paper, the caryology of the Spanish taxa of the genus Anchusa L. are studied, with the exception of A. subglabra Caballero and A. officinalis L. The following chromosome numbers are reported: A. undulata L. subsp. undulata, 2n = 16; A. undulata subsp.granatensis (Boiss.) Valdés, 2n = 16; A. undulata subsp. viciosoi Valdés ex LaInz, 2n = 16; A.calcarea Boiss. var. ca/carca,2n =16; A. ca/carca var. scaberrima Boiss., 2n = 16; A. azurea Miller,2n = 32; A.puechii Valdés, 2n = 22; A. stylasa Bieb., 2n = 16; A. arvensis (L.) Bieb. subsp. arvensis,2n= 48; A. arvensis subsp. orientalis (L.) Nordh., 2n = 16. Karyograms, idiogramatic formulas, as well as apparent size of the chromosomes arad the kayrotype asymmetry are included for each taxon studied. The basic chromosome number x = 8 is proposed as the primary one for the genus

Urban health, bikes and trees

Urban health depends on the environmental matrix of the different streets of the city through which urban bicycle users circulate through the bike lane. Our results show that the circulation of the bike lane in cities takes place in an urban atmospheric layer that shows pollution, mainly due to motorized traffic, which can affect the health of bicycle users. It is essential to clean the air exerted by the green infrastructure in relation to air quality. An evaluation of the situation of the city’s bike lane in relation to urban pollution and the presence of green infrastructure is necessary. A correct choice of plant species is essential as well as an adequate alignment of the specimens and a subsequent management of the trees that allow the function of air purification. The issue of urban radiative and thermal balance is a momentous issue especially in the predicted scenarios of climate change. We have shown that the presence of trees in the bike lane favors conditions of less incidence of solar radiation which minimizes the possibility of heat stroke, suffocation and heat waves. Green infrastructure, especially woodland, has an important value in facilitating a healthy urban matrix for users of active mobility and especially for urban cyclists developing a healthy bike laneEl aporte a la salud urbana de la movilidad en bicicleta depende de la matriz ambiental y la infraestructura verde de los carriles. Nuestros resultados muestran que la circulación por el carril bici en las ciudades transcurre en una capa atmosférica urbana que muestra contaminación, fundamentalmente debida al tráfico motorizado, que puede afectar a la salud de los usuarios de la bicicleta. Es necesaria una evaluación de la situación del carril bici de la ciudad en relación con la contaminación urbana y la presencia de infraestructura verde. Es fundamental la limpieza del aire que ejerce la infraestructura verde en relación con la calidad del aire. Una correcta elección de las especies vegetales es imprescindible, así como un adecuado alineamiento de los ejemplares y una gestión posterior del arbolado que permita la función de purificación del aire. La cuestión del balance radiativo y térmico urbano es una cuestión trascendental, especialmente en los escenarios previstos de cambio climático. Hemos puesto de manifiesto que la presencia del arbolado en el carril bici favorece condiciones de menos incidencia de la radiación solar, lo cual minimiza la posibilidad de insolación, sofocamiento y olas de calor. La infraestructura verde, muy especialmente el arbolado, tiene un importante valor en la facilitación de una matriz urbana saludable para los usuarios de la movilidad activa y especialmente para los ciclistas urbanos desarrollando un carril bici saludabl

Contribución al estudio citotaxonómico del género lavatera (malvaceae) en España

Se estudian cariológicamente 9 taxones del género Lavatera representados en la Península Ibérica, (indicándose para cada uno de ellos, número cromosómico, tamaño aparente de los cromosomas, asimetría cariotípica y, cuando ha sido posible, fórmula idiogramática). Los caracteres cromosómicos encontrados refuerzan la separación de Lavatera trimestris respecto a los restantes taxones del género, lo que unido a sus peculiaridades morfológicas, induce a considerar este taxon como género independiente, Stegia, efectuándose dos nuevas combinaciones: Stegia trimestris (L.) Luque & Devesa y Stegia trimestris var. branchypoda (Pérez Lara) Luque y Devesa

La amenaza del desconocimiento en la conservación de la diversidad vegetal europea: El caso de la adormidera marítima

La industrialización y los cambios en el uso del territorio han originado que la flora europea esté considerada entre las más amenazadas del planeta. A pesar de los esfuerzos realizados, los datos que se manejan actualmente en relación a un gran número de especies son insuficientes para realizar una evaluación de su estado de conservación. Un ejemplo interesante lo encontramos en la “adormidera marítima” (Glaucium flavum). Aunque diferentes estudios indican que la sobreexplotación, transformación y eliminación de ecosistemas costeros durante las últimas décadas han afectado en gran medida a la conservación de esta especie, los datos que se manejan actualmente son insuficientes para realizar su evaluación a gran escala. Es necesario realizar un esfuerzo adicional para ampliar la información existente sobre el estado de conservación de ciertas especies que, a pesar de no encontrarse reconocidas como amenazadas, podrían estar experimentando importantes disminuciones en su área de distribución.Due to the effects of industrialization and land use change, the European flora is now considered among the most threatened worldwide. Despite all efforts, currently available data are insufficient to evaluate the conservation status of a great number of species. One interesting example is the “yellow horned poppy” (Glaucium flavum). Various studies indicate that the overexploitation, transformation and elimination of coastal ecosystems over recent decades have affected the conservation of this species to a large extent. However, the paucity of relevant data precludes a large-scale evaluation. An additional effort is therefore necessary to expand the existing information regarding the conservation status of certain species that, while not recognized as threatened, could be undergoing significant reductions in their areas of distribution