Comparison of the vascular exotic flora in continental islands: Sardinia (Italy) and Balearic Islands (Spain)

[EN] This paper provides a comparison of the vascular exotic flora of Sardinia and that of the Balearic Islands, both territories belonging to the Western Mediterranean biogeographic subregion. The study has recorded 531 exotic taxa in Sardinia (18.8% of the total flora) while 360(19%) in the Balearic Islands; 10 are new to Sardinia (3 of which for Italy) and 29 to the Balearic Islands. The alien flora of Sardinia is included in 99 families; Fabaceae is the richest (49 taxa), followed by Poaceae (33) and Asteraceae (31) while in the Balearic Islands in 90 families, with a predominance of Fabaceae (32), Asteraceae (31) and Poaceae (27). The comparison of the biological spectra reveals that in Sardinia phanerophytes are the most represented in Sardinia and therophytes in the Balearic Islands. A detailed analysis shows that most of the exotic taxa (246) are shared by both territories with a clear dominance of neophytes rather than archaeophytes. A study of the geographical origin shows supremacy of the American element over the Mediterranean. The majority of introduced exotic taxa are a result of intentional human introductions (76% SA, 77% BL), mainly for ornamental use (43% SA, 45% BL). The most occupied habitats are the semi-natural, agricultural and synanthropic for both territories, but attending to invasive plants, coastal habitats in Sardinia and wetlands in the Balearic Islands are the most sensitive. A part of the work deals with the causes of fragility and low resilience of the different habitats.[ES] Se presenta un estudio comparativo de la flora vascular exótica de Cerdeña y de las Baleares, dos sistemas insulares pertenecientes a la subregión biogeográfica Mediterránea Occidental. En Cerdeña se han contabilizado 531 táxones exóticos (18,8% del total de su flora), mientras que en las Baleares 360 (19%), siendo 10 citas nuevas para Cerdeña (3 de las cuales para Italia) y 29 para Baleares. La flora exótica de Cerdeña está incluida en 99 familias, y Fabaceae es la más rica (49 táxones), seguida por Poaceae (33) y Asteraceae (31), frente a 90 familias para las Baleares, con predominio de Fabaceae (32), Asteraceae (31) y Poaceae (27). Se han encontrado diferencias respecto a los tipos biológicos, con un predominio de los fanerófitos en Cerdeña y de los terófitos en las Baleares. Un análisis detallado muestra que buena parte de estos táxones (246) son compartidos por ambos territorios, así como una dominancia de los neófitos frente a los arqueófitos. Respecto al origen geográfico, ambos territorios presentan una preeminencia del elemento americano sobre el mediterráneo. En referencia a las vías de introducción, la mayor parte de los táxones ha sido introducida por parte del hombre de forma intencionada (76% SA, 77% BL) en particular para uso ornamental (43% SA, 45% BL). Los hábitats más afectados son los seminaturales, agrícolas y sinantrópicos en ambos territorios, aunque atendiendo a la flora invasora, son los litorales los más sensibles en Cerdeña y los humedales en Baleares. Una parte del trabajo aborda las causas de la fragilidad y baja resiliencia de los diferentes hábitats.Podda, L.; Fraga Arguimbau, P.; Mayoral García-Berlanga, O.; Mascia, F.; Bacchetta, G. (2010). Comparación de la flora exótica vascular en sistemas de islas continentales: Cerdeña (Italia) y Baleares (España). Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid. 67(2):157-176. doi:10.3989/ajbm.2251S157176672Mack, R. N., Simberloff, D., Mark Lonsdale, W., Evans, H., Clout, M., & Bazzaz, F. A. (2000). BIOTIC INVASIONS: CAUSES, EPIDEMIOLOGY, GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES, AND CONTROL. Ecological Applications, 10(3), 689-710. doi:10.1890/1051-0761(2000)010[0689:bicegc]2.0.co;2Madon*, O., & Médail, F. (1997). 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Species-specific differences and similarities in the behavior of hand-raised dog and wolf pups in social situations with humans

In order to reveal early species-specific differences, we observed the behavior of dog puppies (n = 11) and wolf pups (n = 13) hand raised and intensively socialized in an identical way. The pups were studied in two object-preference tests at age 3, 4, and 5 weeks. After a short isolation, we observed the subjects' behavior in the presence of a pair of objects, one was always the subject's human foster parent (caregiver) and the other was varied; nursing bottle (3 weeks), unfamiliar adult dog (3 and 5 weeks), unfamiliar experimenter (4 and 5 weeks), and familiar conspecific age mate (4 weeks). Dogs and wolves did not differ in their general activity level during the tests. Wolf pups showed preference for the proximity of the caregiver in two of the tests; Bottle-Caregiver at the age of 3 weeks and Experimenter-Caregiver at the age of 5 weeks, while dogs showed preference to the caregiver in three tests; conspecific Pup-Caregiver and Experimenter-Caregiver at the age of 4 weeks and dog-caregiver at the age of 5. Compared to wolves, dogs tended to display more communicative signals that could potentially facilitate social interactions, such as distress vocalization, tail wagging, and gazing at the humans' face. In contrast to dog puppies, wolf pups showed aggressive behavior toward a familiar experimenter and also seemed to be more prone to avoidance. Our results demonstrate that already at this early age-despite unprecedented intensity of socialization and the comparable social (human) environment during early development-there are specific behavioral differences between wolves and dogs mostly with regard to their interactions with humans

Taxa distribution and RAPD markers indicate different origin and regional differentiation of hybrids in the invasive Fallopia complex in central-western Europe

Interspecific hybridization can be a driving force for evolutionary processes during plant invasions, by increasing genetic variation and creating novel gene combinations, thereby promoting genetic differentiation among populations of invasive species in the introduced range. We examined regional genetic structure in the invasive Fallopia complex, consisting of F. japonica var. japonica, F. sachalinensis and their hybrid F. × bohemica, in seven regions in Germany and Switzerland using RAPD analysis and flow cytometry. All individuals identified as F. japonica var. japonica had the same RAPD phenotype, while F. sachalinensis (11 RAPD phenotypes for 11 sampled individuals) and F. × bohemica (24 RAPD phenotypes for 32 sampled individuals) showed high genotypic diversity. Bayesian cluster analysis revealed three distinct genetic clusters. The majority of F. × bohemica individuals were assigned to a unique genetic cluster that differed from those of the parental species, while the other F. × bohemica individuals had different degrees of admixture to the three genetic clusters. At the regional scale, the occurrence of male-fertile F. sachalinensis coincided with the distribution of F. × bohemica plants showing a high percentage of assignment to both parental species, suggesting that they originated from hybridization between the parental species. In contrast, in regions where male-fertile F. sachalinensis were absent, F. × bohemica belonged to the non-admixed genetic group, indicating multiple introductions of hybrids or sexual reproduction among hybrids. We also found regional differentiation in the gene pool of F. × bohemica, with individuals within the same region more similar to each other than to individuals from different regions

Integrative potential of Central European metropolises with a special focus on the Visegrad countries

One of the characteristic phenomena associated with the current development of civilization is undoubtedly metropolisation. This article focuses on the strategically important problems of the metropolisation of the Central European area with an emphasis on the Visegrad countries. The introductory part is dedicated to the identification of Central European metropolises based on three components: population size, economic profile and investment attractiveness. Designated metropolises are then assessed from the point of view of integrative potential level, including economic interactivity, tourist attractiveness and transport connectivity. Based on the synthesis of these components, the most important axes of supranational importance were identified. It can be said that within the established network of metropolitan axes connecting eastern with western parts of the Central European region the Czech Republic is the best placed, followed by Poland. From a wider geopolitical outlook this network creates favourable conditions for the integration of the Visegrad countries, mainly driven by international trade