Morphology, geometric morphometrics, and taxonomy in relict deciduous oaks woods in northern Italy

Abstract: The Euganean Hills are a well-known refugee site for thermophilous woody flora in northern Italy. Among the species recorded here, there is Quercus dalechampii. The Euganean Hills are the only northern Italy site where the occurrence of this oak species is considered. The aim of this paper was to verify the presence of Q. dalechampii in the study area and to select possible diagnostic morphological traits that are usable to distinguish it from Q. petraea and Q. pubescens. Forest stands dominated by Q. petraea, Q. pubescens, and the presumed Q. dalechampii were sampled using the phytosociological approach to highlight their ecological features. Leaf and fruit material from 104 oak individuals was analysed from a macro-morphological and micro-morphological point of view. Leaf shape was also analysed using the geometric morphometric approach. All multivariate analysis procedures applied on the matrices of leaf and fruit traits highlighted two main clusters of morphological diversity. One was restricted to Q. pubescens individuals, and the other one was a mix of Q. petraea and presumed Q. dalechampii individuals. According to the twig and leaf trichome traits, all presumed Q. dalechampii individuals were classified as belonging to the Q. petraea collective group. Morphological differences between Q. petraea and presumed Q. dalechampii were considered not significant. In conclusion, the occurrence of a third oak species, in addition to Q. petraea and Q. pubescens, was not confirmed for the study area by the results of this paper. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Low energy inelastic electron scattering from carbon monoxide: I. Excitation of the a³ Π, a'³ Σ ⁺ and A¹ Π electronic states

Differential scattering cross sections for electron excitation of the three lowest excited electron states of carbon monoxide are obtained experimentally using low-energy electron energy-loss spectroscopy and theoretically using the R-matrix method. The incident electron energies range from near-threshold of 6.3 eV to 20 eV. Experimental scattering angles range from 20° to 120°. The normalization of the experimental cross sections is made to available experimental elastic scattering data (Gibson et al 1996 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 29 3197). The R-matrix calculations use three distinct close-coupling models and their results are compared to available experimental and theoretical cross sections. The overall comparison leads to significantly improved description of the excitation cross sections for this target

Increasing the germination percentage of a declining native orchid (Himantoglossum adriaticum) by pollen transfer and outbreeding between populations

The declining native orchid Himantoglossum adriaticum H. Baumann is a European endemic of priority interest (92/43/ EEC, Annex II). Northern Italian populations of H. adriaticum are small and isolated, with depressed seed set. Given the important implications for plant population conservation, we tested the hypothesis that artificial pollen transfer (hand-pollination) and outbreeding between populations increases fruit set and seed germination percentage. The background fruit set and in vitro germination rates were determined for ten reference populations. An artificial cross-pollination experiment included (a) pollen transfer from one large population to two small and isolated populations; (b) pollen transfer between two small but not isolated populations; (c) within-population pollen transfer (control). All seeds were sown on a modified Malmgren's medium and cultured in a controlled environment. Germination percentage was compared using a Kruskal-Wallis anova. The background fruit set (mean = 18%) and germination (<5%) rates were consistently low across populations. Fruit set after hand-pollination was consistently 100%. Pollen transfer from the largest population to smaller populations resulted in an increase in total germination ranging from 0.9% to 2.9%. The largest increase in germination occurred between small-sized and less isolated populations (from 1.7% to 5.1%). The results of pollen transfer between the small populations are particularly encouraging, as the mean increase in germination was almost four times that of the control. Outbreeding can be considered a valuable tool to increase genetic flow and germination in natural populations, limit the accumulation of detrimental effects on fitness driven by repeated breeding with closely-related individuals, thereby increasing the possibility of conservation of rare or endangered species

Richness of earthworms in an Argiudol soil under soybean (Colonia Ensayo, Entre Ríos)

En las últimas décadas la producción agrícola experimentó una creciente demanda de insumos agroquímicos, en especial plaguicidas, con aplicación de siembra directa y reducción de rotaciones con tendencia al monocultivo soja. En este contexto, las prácticas de manejo aplicadas generan efectos en la biodiversidad del suelo. En particular, las lombrices cumplen un rol clave en las funciones ecosistémicas y responden a los cambios producidos por estas prácticas. Por lo cual constituyen un grupo muy apropiado para evaluar la calidad del suelo que habitan. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar la densidad y riqueza de la oligoquetofauna en un suelo bajo sistema de producción soja: rastrojo-suelo. El estudio se realizó en el campo experimental ?Dr. Ramón J. Roldan? de la FCA-UNER (Diamante, Entre Ríos) con producción de soja mediante siembra directa y aplicación de plaguicidas (tratamientos: Glifosato/barbecho, Glifosato/barbecho-postemergencia y Glifosato/barbecho-postemergencia-Cipermetrina). Se determinaron características físicas y químicas del suelo y residualidad de plaguicidas en las tres zonas: baja, media y alta, determinadas en base a la topografía del lugar. La oligoquetofauna fue muestreada antes del inicio de los tratamientos (otoño y primavera 2013) y al finalizar los mismos (otoño 2014). En los muestreos de 2013 tanto la densidad como la riqueza mostraron diferencias por estación (p<0,05), registrándose dos especies: Aporrectodea rosea y Micros-colex dubius. En otoño 2014 la densidad no mostró diferencias con la registrada en 2013, pero varió por tratamientos (p<0,05) destacándose Glifosato/barbecho con el mayor valor (140 ind.m-2). Si bien la riqueza coincidió con la de 2013, la abundancia de A. rosea fue notable-mente mayor, dominando las endogeas. Respecto a los residuos de glifosato y su metabolito AMPA hallados en este estudio, estarían afectando la abundancia y dinámica poblacional de oligoquetos.Agricultural production with the incorporation of non-tillage, developed a very important increase of agrochemical application (specially plaguicides). Earthworms play a crucial function in the soil ecosystem and are an appropiate indicator of soils quality. The aim of this work was to evaluate density and diversity of earthworms in soybean production fields. Tests were done in the experimental field “Dr. Ramón J. Roldán” of the FCA-UNER (Diamante-Entre Ríos) and consisted of the following treatments: Glyphosate/fallow; Gliphosate/fallow-postemergence and Glyphosate/fallow-postemergenceCipermetrine. In coincidence with the field topography, the physical and chemical characteristics of the samples were determined at three levels: low, medial and high. Plaguicide residues were also determined. Earthworms were determined before the beginning and end of treatments (autumn and spring 2013, autumn 2014) respectively. Samples obtained during 2013 showed significant differences (p<0.05) in density and diversity between seasons, with two species: Aporrectodea rosea and Microscolex dubius being identified. No differences in density were observed between autumn 2013 and 2014. Significant differences (p<0.05) were obtained between treatments, principally Glyphosate/fallow with the highest value (140 ind.m-2 ). A. rosea was the most abundant specie. Glyphosate residues and AMPA metabolite were found, the results suggest that play an important role in the dynamics and abundance of earthworms.Fil: Masin, Carolina Elisabet. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico Para la Industria Química (i); ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Alba R.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química (i); ArgentinaFil: Maitre, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico Para la Industria Química (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias; ArgentinaFil: Cerana, Jorge. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Hernandez, Juan. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Anglada, Marta. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Elizalde, José. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Lallana, Maria del Carmen. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentin