Public Participation During Reactive, Crisis-Driven Drought Planning Versus Proactive, Preparedness Planning

Droughts are occurring globally and should be recognized as a global issue and drought planning should use a proactive approach on the part of the world community. However, much drought planning, even in developed and highly developed countries, is reactive and programs are often poorly coordinated sometimes with unforeseen negative consequences for marginalized and disenfranchised populations. Literature pertaining to planning strategy for existing, drought crises is nominal and often contributes to patterns of reactiveness and resulting inequity. To gain a better understanding of crisis-driven planning and the participatory process, this gap was viewed through the lenses of institutional analysis and development and procedural justice and fairness. Specifically, this study was designed to determine how procedural justice and fairness, and the institutional analysis and development framework delineates participatory roles during reactive, crisis-driven planning versus proactive, preparedness planning. A multi-case/within-case analysis was conducted. Six publicly-available documents were selected using provisional and sequence coding lists; emerging themes were also identified at this time. The within-case analysis showed discernable differences between reactive and proactive participatory processes. These findings were used to conduct a cross-case analysis; this analysis indicated that commitment to the participatory process and to change were the keys elements in producing fair and just policies. Drought events can be widely divergent and dynamic, no two being alike; however, the spirit of procedural justice must be part of governance that brings public participation within the reactive planning process into better alignment with proactive planning

Using reduced representation libraries sequencing methods to identify cpDNA polymorphisms in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L)

Reduced representation genomic libraries (RRLs) are increasingly used to answer diverse questions in evolutionary biology, which remained unresolved otherwise. In the case of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), former applications of nuclear and chloroplast genetic markers indicated that most of the beech populations of Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe have a very homogeneous genetic structure. Thus, determining differentiation among populations of F. sylvatica at regional scale in Central Europe has remained a challenge for evolutionary biologists, mainly due to lack of variable genetic markers. In this study, we used the RAD-seq and GBS approaches to identify novel cpDNA polymorphisms that could be helpful to identify population structure of European beech at geographical scale. Our datasets allowed us to indicate a finer population structure and stronger patterns of spatial genetic structure than previous studies. It is expected that the applications of cpDNA-based phylogenetic approaches using whole-genome sequencing are able to provide even more detailed picture of species phylogeography than ever before

A novel synthesis of two decades of microsatellite studies on European beech reveals decreasing genetic diversity from glacial refugia

Genetic diversity influences the evolutionary potential of forest trees under changing environmental conditions, thus indirectly the ecosystem services that forests provide. European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is a dominant European forest tree species that increasingly suffers from climate change-related die-back. Here, we conducted a systematic literature review of neutral genetic diversity in European beech and created a meta-data set of expected heterozygosity (He) from all past studies providing nuclear microsatellite data. We propose a novel approach, based on population genetic theory and a min–max scaling to make past studies comparable. Using a new microsatellite data set with unprecedented geographic coverage and various re-sampling schemes to mimic common sampling biases, we show the potential and limitations of the scaling approach. The scaled meta-dataset reveals the expected trend of decreasing genetic diversity from glacial refugia across the species range and also supports the hypothesis that different lineages met and admixed north of the European mountain ranges. As a result, we present a map of genetic diversity across the range of European beech which could help to identify seed source populations harboring greater diversity and guide sampling strategies for future genome-wide and functional investigations of genetic variation. Our approach illustrates how to combine information from several nuclear microsatellite data sets to describe patterns of genetic diversity extending beyond the geographic scale or mean number of loci used in each individual study, and thus is a proof-of-concept for synthesizing knowledge from existing studies also in other species

Fusarium and allied fusarioid taxa (FUSA). 1

Seven Fusarium species complexes are treated, namely F. aywerte species complex (FASC) (two species), F. buharicum species complex (FBSC) (five species), F. burgessii species complex (FBURSC) (three species), F. camptoceras species complex (FCAMSC) (three species), F. chlamydosporum species complex (FCSC) (eight species), F. citricola species complex (FCCSC) (five species) and the F. concolor species complex (FCOSC) (four species). New species include Fusicolla elongata from soil (Zimbabwe), and Neocosmospora geoasparagicola from soil associated with Asparagus officinalis (Netherlands). New combinations include Neocosmospora akasia, N. awan, N. drepaniformis, N. duplosperma, N. geoasparagicola, N. mekan, N. papillata, N. variasi and N. warna. Newly validated taxa include Longinectria gen. nov., L. lagenoides, L. verticilliforme, Fusicolla gigas and Fusicolla guangxiensis. Furthermore, Fusarium rosicola is reduced to synonymy under N. brevis. Finally, the genome assemblies of Fusarium secorum (CBS 175.32), Microcera coccophila (CBS 310.34), Rectifusarium robinianum (CBS 430.91), Rugonectria rugulosa (CBS 126565), and Thelonectria blattea (CBS 952.68) are also announced her

Biological Flora of the British Isles: Sorbus torminalis

1.This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz (Wild Service-tree) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of the British Isles: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, and conservation.2.Sorbus torminalis is an uncommon, mostly small tree (but can reach 33 m) native to lowland England and Wales, and temperate and Mediterranean regions of mainland Europe. It is the most shade-tolerant member of the genus in the British Isles and as a result it is more closely associated with woodland than any other British species. Like other British Sorbus species, however, it grows best where competition for space and sunlight is limited. Seedlings are shade tolerant but adults are only moderately so. This, combined with its low competitive ability, restricts the best growth to open areas. In shade, saplings and young adults form a sapling bank, showing reproduction and extensive growth only when released. Sorbus torminalis tolerates a wide range of soil reaction (pH 3.5-8.0) but grows best on calcareous clays and thin soils over limestone.3.Sorbus torminalis is a sexual, diploid, non-apomictic species that has hybridised with a number of other Sorbus species to form microspecies. The hermaphrodite flowers are primarily insect pollinated. Seed production is reliable only in warm years, especially at the edge of its range, although even then seed viability is low. The fruits are primarily dispersed by carnivorous mammals. Seeds display embryo dormancy but most will germinate the first spring after falling.4.This tree is very tolerant of short droughts but only moderately tolerant of frost, hence its southerly and lowland distribution. It faces no particular individual threats although the small size of most populations makes it susceptible to habitat loss and fragmentation, particularly through the loss of open coppiced areas. As a consequence it appears to be declining throughout Britain and Europe despite its wide range of historical uses and the high value of its timber. The extent to which these losses will be offset by increases due to climate change is unknown.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Brief Note: The Influence of Habitat Characteristics on Nestbox Selection by Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and Four Competitors

Author Institution: Department of Biology, Hiram CollegeDuring the breeding seasons of 1990-1992 and 1994, we examined how habitat characteristics surrounding nestboxes influenced nesting success of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis} and nesting attempts by tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), house wrens (Troglodytes aedon), bluebirds, house sparrows (Passer domesticus), and deer mice (Peromyscus spp.). Using linear regression analyses, significant positive correlations were detected between both the number of nesting attempts and nesting success of eastern bluebirds and the distance to the nearest tree >3.0 m tall. The number of house sparrow nesting attempts was positively associated with the distance to the nearest tree 3.0m and <3-0 m tall and the number of nesting attempts by mice. Although the habitat requirements of these cavity-nesting species overlap, specific nest-site characteristics may influence both the number of nesting attempts and the nesting success of each species

Recovery of 2R.2Sk Triticale-Aegilops kotschyi Robertsonian Chromosome Translocations

Robertsonian translocations (RobTs) in the progeny of triticale (&times;Triticosecale Wittmack) plants with monosomic substitution of Aegilops kotschyi chromosome 2Sk (2R) were investigated by fluorescence in-situ hybridization. Chromosome 2Sk of Ae. kotschyi is reported to possess many valuable loci, such as Lr54 + Yr37 leaf and stripe (yellow) rust resistance genes. We used a standard procedure to produce RobTs, which consisted of self-pollination of monosomic triticale plants, carrying 2R and 2Sk chromosomes in monosomic condition. This approach did not result in RobTs. Simultaneously, we succeeded in producing 11 plants carrying 2R.2Sk compensatory RobTs using an alternative approach that utilized ditelosomic lines of triticale carrying 2RS (short arm) and 2RL (long arm) telosomic chromosomes. Identification of molecular markers linked to Lr54 + Yr37 genes in the translocation plants confirmed that these resources can be exploited in current triticale breeding programmes