Does insular adaptation to subtropical conditions promote loss of plasticity over time?

Phenotypic plasticity (i.e. the ability to express different phenotypes under changing environmental conditions) is thought to play a key role in habitat adaptation, but little is known about how trait plasticity evolves following dispersal into novel island habitats. We hypothesize that shifts from seasonal Mediterranean climates to more stable (subtropical) island conditions would promote a net reduction in trait plasticity over time. To test this hypothesis, we set two common gardens with contrasting environmental (low resource vs. mesic) conditions, where we grew seedlings of wild olive (Olea europaea var. sylvestris) populations that represented two Canary Island lineages with different colonization times (old vs. young) and their Mediterranean ancestral lineage (N = 275 individuals). Plasticity was assessed for 12 morphological, photosynthetic and chemical traits by (i) subjecting half of the seedlings to simulated herbivore browsing (50% of aerial biomass removal) and (ii) comparing phenotypic values between both common garden settings. Simulated herbivore browsing induced few plastic responses, mostly restricted to photosynthetic traits, but these were similarly displayed by all lineages. Comparisons between common gardens revealed a contrasting response between the Mediterranean and both subtropical island lineages in leaf phenotypes. Furthermore, the older island lineage showed an overall lack of plasticity (i.e. environmental canalization) in morphological and chemical traits. These results suggest that, unlike photosynthetic traits that are fundamental for fast acclimation to environmental shifts, some developmental traits may lose plasticity over time as a result of phenotypic adjustment to subtropical insular conditions.Vincenc Mut fellowship (Conselleria d'Innovacio, Recerca i Turisme, Govern de les Illes Balears) Vincenc Mut fellowship (European Social Fund)Spanish Government RTI2018-099322-B-I00 RYC-2013-13230Universidad de Granada / CBU

Multiple introductions, polyploidy and mixed reproductive strategies are linked to genetic diversity and structure in the most widespread invasive plant across Southern Ocean archipelagos

This work received support from the Swiss Polar Institute and Ferring Pharmaceuticals through the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition (“ACE”). Additional fi- nancial and logistical support was provided by the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) and by the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP). MM and CH were also supported by the National Research Foundation (grant 89967). We thank Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service for granting ac- cess and collection permits for Macquarie Island and the Australian Antarctic Program for logistical support. We thank Institut polaire français Paul- Émile Victor for logistical support for sampling on Iles Kerguelen and Ile de la Possession. We thank wintering staff for sam- ple collection on Ile de la Possession. We thank the Department of Conservation for granting access and collection permits for the New Zealand islands. We thank Heritage Expeditions for providing logis- tics and voyage support. Collections were undertaken on the ACE expedition under permits granted to the expedition and its research- ers. Collections at the Prince Edward Islands, and at the Tristan da Cunha and Gough islands were permitted through the South African National Antarctic Program, notably via the Prince Edward Islands Management Committee for the former and the Tristan da Cunha Conservation Department for the latter.Biological invasions in remote areas that experience low human activity provide unique opportunities to elucidate processes responsible for invasion success. Here we study the most widespread invasive plant species across the isolated islands of the Southern Ocean, the annual bluegrass, Poa annua. To analyse geographical variation in genome size, genetic diversity and reproductive strategies, we sampled all major sub-Antarctic archipelagos in this region and generated microsatellite data for 470 individual plants representing 31 populations. We also estimated genome sizes for a subset of individuals using flow cytometry. Occasional events of island colonization are expected to result in high genetic structure among islands, overall low genetic diversity and increased self-fertilization, but we show that this is not the case for P. annua. Microsatellite data indicated low population genetic structure and lack of isolation by distance among the sub-Antarctic archipelagos we sampled, but high population structure within each archipelago. We identified high levels of genetic diversity, low clonality and low selfing rates in sub-Antarctic P. annua populations (contrary to rates typical of continental populations). In turn, estimates of selfing declined in populations as genetic diversity increased. Additionally, we found that most P. annua individuals are probably tetraploid and that only slight variation exists in genome size across the Southern Ocean. Our findings suggest multiple independent introductions of P. annua into the sub-Antarctic, which promoted the establishment of genetically diverse populations. Despite multiple introductions, the adoption of convergent reproductive strategies (outcrossing) happened independently in each major archipelago. The combination of polyploidy and a mixed reproductive strategy probably benefited P. annua in the Southern Ocean by increasing genetic diversity and its ability to cope with the novel environmental conditions.National Research Foundation 89967Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition “ACE”South African National Research Foundation (NRF)South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP

Biogeografía numérica en Pteridología

En el presente trabajo se realiza un profundo análisis de los objetivos y métodos de la biogeografía numérica en su aplicación a la pteridología. Se describen tanto los pasos previos (definición de OGU y ficha pteridológica) como los correspondientes al procesado de datos. Con respecto a éste, se desarrollan dos vertientes posibles: por un lado, la caracterización de OGUs, en la cual se detallan distintos tipos de análisis aplicables, como la riqueza florística, los índices slg y mit, el ISRP y los análisis ecológicos y corológicos en todas sus facetas y, por otro, la ordenación y jerarquización de dichas OGUs, con el cálculo de distancias biogeográficas y sus posibles derivaciones, como la delimitación de fronteras, los cálculos de heterogeneidad total, etc. Asimismo, se hace especial hincapié en la aplicación de las modernas técnicas informáticas a la biogeografía, definiendo las características y parámetros deseables para una gestión adecuada de bases de datos, y se presenta por primera vez el proyecto AXIS, una base de datos abierta y multirrelacional que pondría los datos disponibles sobre pteridoflora del Mediterráneo occidental e islas macaronésicas, al alcance de todos los investigadores interesados.In the present work a deep analysis of the aims and methods in the numerical biogeography in its application on pteridology is made. The previous steps (OGU definition and pteridological files are described) as well as the correspondent data management. Refering to this, the two possibilities are developped: on one side, the OGUs characterization, in which differents kinds of applicable analysis are detailed, like floristic richness, s!g and mit indexes, the ISRP and the ecological and corological analysis in every one of their sides; on the other side, the ordering and hierarchization of the mentioned OGUs, with the calculation of total heterogeneous, etc. In the same way, a special strength is made in the application of the modem computerized technics to biogeography, defming the characteristics and parameters desiderable for an adecuate management of data base, and it is introduces for the ñrst time in the AXIS project; it is an open and multirelational data base which would set the available data on pteridoñora from west mediterranean and macaronesic island, at the reach of all interested researchers

Alquimia y atomismo en el Quijote

When the Quixote was published, the scientific and humanist languages were not split yet. In this work, passages in the novel have been studied that enable to relate both fields of knowledge. This allows us to understand the ideas that an educated person of that time had on what, in a wide sense, we know as science. Moreover, some scientific ideas are used in a creative way from a literary point of view. Understanding these ideas involves knowing more extensively purely artistic aspects of the novel. That symbiotic relation is limited in this work to the alchemical area in its diverse manifestations. It is also possible to find traces of atomism.En la época de publicación del Quijote aún no se han escindido los lenguajes humanista y científico. En el presente trabajo se han indagado pasajes de la novela que hacen posible relacionar ambos ámbitos del conocimiento. Ello permite entender las ideas que una persona culta de la época posee sobre lo que, en un sentido amplio, conocemos como ciencia. Además, ciertas ideas científicas se utilizan de manera creativa desde el punto de vista literario. Entender dichas ideas conlleva el conocer con mayor riqueza aspectos puramente artísticos de la obra. Esa relación simbiótica se circunscribe en este trabajo al ámbito alquímico en sus diversas manifestaciones. También es posible encontrar rastros de atomismo

Dealing with paradox -historical tourism in a non- touristic city: the case of Santiponce vs. Italica (Spain)

In this ongoing research, we focus our attention in the origin and state of art in the analysis of local tourist sector potentialities4 in the municipality of Santiponce (Sevilla). This research is a consequence of the obtained results in this village in a previous investigation about the relationship between tourist development and community satisfaction in order to design methodological frameworks able to develop research which results will allow to plan patrimony tourist strategies. These strategies have to consider the relationships between resident’s perceptions of the tourist impact and their satisfaction These aspects directly influence in the tourist policies intended to design and execute. In general, Santiponce’s resident live apart from tourism. As it happens in Europe, is normal to find small cities and villages, more or less close to big cities that form standardised tourist circuits, with one or several tourist resources of great interest, but, paradoxically, never have developed a relevant tourist activity and where tourism is a marginal proportion of its common economic activity. Our research tries to analyse the paradox of this type of municipalities that, even having relevant patrimonial resources, do not develop an important tourist activity and, even, where tourism is not perceived as a development and welfare opportunity for the actual residents and, which is more important, for the future ones. This paradox exits in Santiponce, where we are developing an analysis model based on four sources of information: residents, experts’ opinions, businessmen and tourists

Reformulating international pricing: standardization vs. adaptation

We have carried out a deep analysis (using of a meta-analytical approach) of the Literature published in relation to international pricing. We have formulated a series of theoretical propositions that we have contrasted with a company inside the countries of the European Union. We have joined countries of the EU according to the prices of the analysed product. So, the best statistical tool for that is the cluster analysis. The second stage of this process is to contrast the price differences between the countries classified in each cluster. The research reveals the existence of price adaptation of the analysed company to the diverse environments of the European Union members

Reformulating international pricing: standardization vs. adaptation

We have carried out a deep analysis (using of a meta-analytical approach) of the Literature published in relation to international pricing. We have formulated a series of theoretical propositions that we have contrasted with a company inside the countries of the European Union. We have joined countries of the EU according to the prices of the analysed product. So, the best statistical tool for that is the cluster analysis. The second stage of this process is to contrast the price differences between the countries classified in each cluster. The research reveals the existence of price adaptation of the analysed company to the diverse environments of the European Union members

Effects of insularity on insect leaf herbivory and chemical defences in a Mediterranean oak species

Aim Research on plant–herbivore interactions has shown that islands typically have low abundances and diversity of herbivores because of barriers to dispersal, isolation and reduced land area. Islands commonly have lower levels of herbivory relative to mainland regions, and, as a consequence, insular plants should exhibit lower levels of defences than their mainland counterparts. Despite these predictions, there are significant gaps in our understanding of insularity effects on plant–herbivore interactions. For instance, most work addressing the effects of insularity on plant–herbivore interactions have compared one or a few islands with a single mainland site. In addition, studies have measured herbivory or plant defences but not both, and the influence of abiotic factors has been neglected. Location Mediterranean Basin (from Spain to Greece). Taxon Quercus ilex L. Methods We conducted a large‐scale study to investigate whether insect leaf herbivory and plant chemical defences in holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) differ between insular versus mainland populations. We further investigated mechanisms by which insularity effects on herbivory may take place by assessing the influence of defences and climatic variables on herbivory. Results We found that insular populations exhibited lower herbivory and higher defences (condensed tannins) than their mainland counterparts. Our analyses, however, suggest that these concomitant patterns of insect herbivory and plant defences were seemingly unrelated as island versus mainland differences in defences did not account for the observed pattern in herbivory. Furthermore, climatic factors did not explain insularity effects on either herbivory or plant defences. Main conclusions Overall, this study provides one of the most robust assessments to date on insularity effects on herbivory and builds towards a better understanding of the ecology and evolution of plant–insect interactions in insular ecosystems.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Effects of insularity on insect leaf herbivory and chemical defences in a Mediterranean oak species

Aim Research on plant–herbivore interactions has shown that islands typically have low abundances and diversity of herbivores because of barriers to dispersal, isolation and reduced land area. Islands commonly have lower levels of herbivory relative to mainland regions, and, as a consequence, insular plants should exhibit lower levels of defences than their mainland counterparts. Despite these predictions, there are significant gaps in our understanding of insularity effects on plant–herbivore interactions. For instance, most work addressing the effects of insularity on plant–herbivore interactions have compared one or a few islands with a single mainland site. In addition, studies have measured herbivory or plant defences but not both, and the influence of abiotic factors has been neglected. Location Mediterranean Basin (from Spain to Greece). Taxon Quercus ilex L. Methods We conducted a large‐scale study to investigate whether insect leaf herbivory and plant chemical defences in holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) differ between insular versus mainland populations. We further investigated mechanisms by which insularity effects on herbivory may take place by assessing the influence of defences and climatic variables on herbivory. Results We found that insular populations exhibited lower herbivory and higher defences (condensed tannins) than their mainland counterparts. Our analyses, however, suggest that these concomitant patterns of insect herbivory and plant defences were seemingly unrelated as island versus mainland differences in defences did not account for the observed pattern in herbivory. Furthermore, climatic factors did not explain insularity effects on either herbivory or plant defences. Main conclusions Overall, this study provides one of the most robust assessments to date on insularity effects on herbivory and builds towards a better understanding of the ecology and evolution of plant–insect interactions in insular ecosystems.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio