Reconsidering endemism in the Northeastern Limestone Alps

The restricted distribution of endemic plant species in the Northern Limestone Alps is commonly explained by a severe loss of biotypes and genetic plasticity during Pleistocene glaciation. In the present paper we examine the ecological features of the regional endemic species and plant communities to see if they actually support this interpretation. In particular, we focus on (1) species composition and habitat characteristics of endemic plant communities, (2) the frequency of endemic species in different plant communities and habitat types, (3) the correlation between the frequency of endemic species and the density of the vegetation cover and (4) the altitudinal distribution of endemic species. Concerning endemic plant communities, there is considerable variation in species composition as well as in habitat requirements. Communities of rock, scree and snowbed habitats are characterised by the predominance of endemic or subendemic species, whereas endemic alpine grassland types contain mainly non-endemic plants. Regarding the distribution of endemic plants, no uniform trend could be detected. The endemic species pool contains plants restricted to azonal stands as well as typical species of climax grasslands and widespread generalists. Some endemics distinctly prefer open vegetation types, others predominantly occur in dense grasslands. The bulk of the species considered performs best in the lower alpine zone, some others are especially common in the subalpine zone, whereas only one species showed an occurrence peak in the upper alpine belt. In summary, it may be said that the habitat requirements of endemic plants are rather species-specific and that there are only a few general trends. This fact seems to indicate the complex nature of the phenomenon of regional endemism, which is influenced by a range of factors. The prevailing historical explanation may not be appropriate for every species. Hence, the consideration of current ecological conditions in addition to historical factors may provide a more comprehensive explanation of regional endemism

Small but nice – Insights into working in a One Person Library

Dieser Report gibt anhand eines Beispiels – der Bibliothek des Campus Rudolfinerhaus – einen Einblick in den vielfältigen Arbeitsalltag in einer One Person Library (OPL). Dazu wird zuerst der Begriff One Person Library definiert. Im Anschluss daran widmet sich der vorliegende Report der Beispiel-OPL: Die Trägerorganisation, die Bibliothek selbst sowie die Tätigkeitsbereiche der dort beschäftigten Informationsmanagerin werden vorgestellt. Diese Tätigkeitsbereiche lassen sich grob in sechs Gruppen gliedern: Verwaltung der Bibliothek, Bestandsmanagement, Literaturvermittlung, Vernetzung, Fort- und Weiterbildung sowie zusätzliche nicht-bibliothekarische Tätigkeiten. Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass die Arbeit in einer OPL durch das breite Spektrum an Tätigkeiten herausfordernd (im besten Sinne) und vielseitig ist – wie dieses Beispiel anschaulich zeigt.This report gives an insight into the diverse everyday work in a One Person Library (OPL) by using the library of the Rudolfinerhaus campus as an example. First, the term One Person Library is defined. Following this, the report is devoted to the concrete OPL example: The supporting organization of the OPL, the library itself, and the areas of activity of the information manager employed there are presented in brief. These areas of activity can be roughly divided into six groups: library administration, stock management, information dissemination, networking, further education, and additional non-library activities. In summary, the work in an OPL is challenging (in the best sense), exciting and varied because of the wide range of activities it encompasses – as this example clearly shows

Pathways to polyploidy : indications of a female triploid bridge in the alpine species Ranunculus kuepferi (Ranunculaceae)

Polyploidy is one of the most important evolutionary processes in plants. In natural populations, polyploids usually emerge from unreduced gametes which either fuse with reduced ones, resulting in triploid offspring (triploid bridge), or with other unreduced gametes, resulting in tetraploid embryos. The frequencies of these two pathways, and male versus female gamete contributions, however, are largely unexplored. Ranunculus kuepferi occurs with diploid, triploid and autotetraploid cytotypes in the Alps, whereby diploids are mostly sexual, while tetraploids are facultative apomicts. To test for the occurrence of polyploidization events by triploid bridge, we investigated 551 plants of natural populations via flow cytometric seed screening. We assessed ploidy shifts in the embryo to reconstruct female versus male gamete contributions to polyploid embryo and/or endosperm formation. Seed formation via unreduced egg cells (B-III hybrids) occurred in all three cytotypes, while only in one case both gametes were unreduced. Polyploids further formed seeds with reduced, unfertilized egg cells (polyhaploids and aneuploids). Pollen was highly variable in diameter, but only pollen > 27 mu m was viable, whereby diploids produced higher proportions of well-developed pollen. Pollen size was not informative for the formation of unreduced pollen. These results suggest that a female triploid bridge via unreduced egg cells is the major pathway toward polyploidization in R. kuepferi, maybe as a consequence of constraints of endosperm development. Triploids resulting from unreduced male gametes were not observed, which explains the lack of obligate sexual tetraploid individuals and populations. Unreduced egg cell formation in diploids represents the first step toward apomixis

Postglacial range expansion of high‐elevation plants is restricted by dispersal ability and habitat specialization

Aim: Species' ecological traits influence their spatial genetic patterns. Bedrock preference strongly shapes the phylogeography of alpine plants, but its interactions with other ecological traits have rarely been disentangled. Here, we explore whether dispersal ability and degree of habitat specialization account for divergent postglacial expansion patterns of high-elevation plants in spite of similar bedrock preference. Location: The Pyrenees, southwestern Europe. Taxon: Cirsium glabrum (Asteraceae), Salix pyrenaica (Salicaceae) and Silene borderei (Caryophyllaceae). Methods: Phylogenetic, genetic structure and demographic modelling analyses based on restriction-site- associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) data from a range-wide populational sampling were conducted. Occurrence data and environmental variables were used to construct species distribution models, which were projected under current and Last Glacial Maximum conditions, and were combined with RADseq data to reconstruct the postglacial history of the study species. The degree of habitat specialization of each species was estimated based on the plant communities within which they occur, and their climatic niche breadth. Results: Salix pyrenaica, which occupies a broad range of habitats, shows a high level of range filling, a blurred genetic structure and an admixture cline between the two main genetic groups, congruent with rapid postglacial expansion. The microsite specialists C. glabrum and S. borderei exhibit a strong genetic structure and low levels of range filling, indicative of slow postglacial expansion. The good disperser C. glabrum shows higher levels of admixture between genetic groups and weaker population differentiation than the poor disperser S. borderei. Main Conclusions: Factors other than bedrock preference have a strong impact on the postglacial range dynamics of high-elevation species. Habitat specialization plays an important role, allowing species occupying a broad range of habitats to more rapidly expand their ranges after environmental change. The effect of dispersal ability is lower than expected for the study species

Climate warming may increase the frequency of cold-adapted haplotypes in alpine plants

The authors incorporate intraspecific variation into a dynamic range model to predict the consequences of twenty-first century warming on six European alpine plants. As well as overall range loss, their model predicts a decrease in the frequency of warm-adapted haplotypes in five out of six species. Modelling of climate-driven range shifts commonly treats species as ecologically homogeneous units. However, many species show intraspecific variation of climatic niches and theory predicts that such variation may lead to counterintuitive eco-evolutionary dynamics. Here, we incorporate assumed intraspecific niche variation into a dynamic range model and explore possible consequences for six high-mountain plant species of the European Alps under scenarios of twenty-first century climate warming. At the species level, the results indicate massive range loss independent of intraspecific variation. At the intraspecific level, the model predicts a decrease in the frequency of warm-adapted haplotypes in five species. The latter effect is probably driven by a combination of leading-edge colonization and priority effects within the species' elevational range and was weakest when leading-edge expansion was constrained by mountain topography The resulting maladaptation may additionally increase the risk that alpine plants face from shrinkage of their ranges in a warming climate.Peer reviewe

Climate change will increase naturalization risk from garden plants in Europe

Aim: Plant invasions often follow initial introduction with a considerable delay. The current non-native flora of a region may hence contain species that are not yet naturalized but may become so in the future, especially if climate change lifts limitations on species spread. In Europe, non-native garden plants represent a huge pool of potential future invaders. Here, we evaluate the naturalization risk from this species pool and how it may change under a warmer climate. Location Europe. Methods: We selected all species naturalized anywhere in the world but not yet in Europe from the set of non-native European garden plants. For this subset of 783 species, we used species distribution models to assess their potential European ranges under different scenarios of climate change. Moreover, we defined geographical hotspots of naturalization risk from those species by combining projections of climatic suitability with maps of the area available for ornamental plant cultivation. Results: Under current climate, 165 species would already find suitable conditions in > 5% of Europe. Although climate change substantially increases the potential range of many species, there are also some that are predicted to lose climatically suitable area under a changing climate, particularly species native to boreal and Mediterranean biomes. Overall, hotspots of naturalization risk defined by climatic suitability alone, or by a combination of climatic suitability and appropriate land cover, are projected to increase by up to 102% or 64%, respectively. Main conclusions: Our results suggest that the risk of naturalization of European garden plants will increase with warming climate, and thus it is very likely that the risk of negative impacts from invasion by these plants will also grow. It is therefore crucial to increase awareness of the possibility of biological invasions among horticulturalists, particularly in the face of a warming climate