Articles publicats en revistes (Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals)

URI permanent per a aquesta col·leccióhttps://diposit.ub.edu/handle/2445/16743

Estadístiques

Examinar

Mostrant 1 - 20 de 1684

Learning the syntax of plant assemblages
(2025-10-13) Leblanc, César; Bonnet, Pierre; Servajean, Maximilien; Thuiller, Wilfried; Chytrý, Milan; Aćić, Svetlana; Argagnon, Olivier; Biurrun, Idoia; Bonari, Gianmaria; Bruelheide, Helge; Campos, Juan Antonio; Čarni, Andraž; Ćušterevska, Renata; De Sanctis, Michele; Dengler, Jürgen; Dziuba, Tetiana; Garbolino, Emmanuel; Jandt, Ute; Jansen, Florian; Lenoir, Jonathan; Moeslund, Jesper Erenskjold; Pérez Haase, Aaron; Pielech, Remigiusz; Sibik, Jozef; Stančić, Zvjezdana; Uogintas, Domas; Wohlgemuth, Thomas; Joly, Alexis
To address the urgent biodiversity crisis, it is crucial to understand the nature of plant assemblages. The distribution of plant species is shaped not only by their broad environmental requirements but also by micro-environmental conditions, dispersal limitations, and direct and indirect species interactions. While predicting species composition and habitat type is essential for conservation and restoration purposes, it remains challenging. In this study, we propose an approach inspired by advances in large language models to learn the ‘syntax’ of abundance-ordered plant species sequences in communities. Our method, which captures latent associations between species across diverse ecosystems, can be fine-tuned for diverse tasks. In particular, we show that our methodology is able to outperform other approaches to (1) predict species that might occur in an assemblage given the other listed species, despite being originally missing in the species list (16.53% higher accuracy in retrieving a plant species removed from an assemblage than co-occurrence matrices and 6.56% higher than neural networks), and (2) classify habitat types from species assemblages (5.54% higher accuracy in assigning a habitat type to an assemblage than expert system classifiers and 1.14% higher than tabular deep learning). The proposed application has a vocabulary that covers over 10,000 plant species from Europe and adjacent countries and provides a powerful methodology for improving biodiversity mapping, restoration and conservation biology. As ecologists begin to explore the use of artificial intelligence, such approaches open opportunities for rethinking how we model, monitor and understand nature.
Compost from forest cleaning green waste and Trichoderma asperellum strain T34 reduced incidence of Fusarium circinatum in Pinus radiata seedlings
(Elsevier, 2016-04-01) López-López, Noelia; Segarra Braunstein, Guillem; Vergara Díaz, Omar; López-Fabal, Adolfo; Trillas Gay, M. Isabel
Fusarium circinatum is a quarantine pathogen in numerous countries that causes important economic losses in forest nurseries and mature pine trees. Alternatives to chemical control of plant diseases such as suppressive composts and the use of biological control agents in growth media can reduce the incidence and spread of disease. In this work, four gorse composts obtained from forest cleaning green wastes and reference compost prepared from the organic fraction of solid urban waste were studied as environmentally sustainable peat substitutes. Their ability to suppress the effects of mating types M1 and M2 of the pathogen F. circinatum on Pinus radiata was evaluated in the presence or absence of the biocontrol agent Trichoderma asperellum strain T34. One of the gorse composts was more suppressive than the reference compost (15% and 55% of disease incidence, respectively). The former had a low EC, moderate amounts of P, Ca, Mg and K, and high levels of NH4+, as well as moderate levels of Ca, B and oligotrophic actinomycetes, the highest levels of total fungi, moderate levels of Trichoderma spp. and the lowest levels of Fusarium spp. Adding T34 to the moderately suppressive and non-suppressive composts decreased pre- and post-emergence incidence of the disease by up to 50%. In conclusion, one gorse compost decreased the incidence of F. circinatum disease when used as a growth medium for P. radiata seedlings. T. asperellum strain T34 further reduced the incidence of disease and improved the health of pine seedlings grown in moderately non-suppressive composts.
An experimental study to assess resistance and resilience strategies of freshwater diatoms to cope with drying in Mediterranean temporary rivers
(Springer Verlag, 2024-06-01) Quevedo Ortiz, Guillermo; Fernández Calero, José María; Cañedo-Argüelles, Miguel; Schiller Calle, Daniel von; Fortuño Estrada, Pau; Bonada i Caparrós, Núria; Gomà Martínez, Joan
Temporary rivers are aquatic ecosystems that alternate periods of water flow with dry periods. Diatoms are a group of unicellular microalgae with a high colonizing ability, but little is known about their responses to drying. We carried out different resist- ance and resilience experiments to evaluate temporal and spatial dispersal capacity of diatoms during the dry period. The resistance was tested experimen- tally by rehydrating dried biofilms and sediments from temporary rivers, whereas resilience was tested by installing artificial mesocosms along a dry river section. Disconnected pools were also sampled to evaluate their propagule emission capacity. In turn, dogs from the area were sampled to test potential zoochory dispersal capacity. In the resistance experi- ment, we found living diatoms in all the rehydrated sediments but not in biofilms. Diatoms with mobility traits, high ecological plasticity, and resistance spores presented high, along with typical soil diatoms. In the resilience experiment, all mesocosms hosted liv- ing diatoms, which were low-profile, pioneering, and small species. Diatoms found in the mesocosms were also common in the disconnected pools, underscoring the potential role of the latter as a propagule emission zone. Dogs’ paws also had living diatoms, which evi- dences that wild fauna could potentially act as passive diatom vectors.
Annual Vegetation of Saline Seasonal Wetlands (Crypsietea aculeatae) in Europe
(Wiley, 2025-11-07) Iemelianova, Svitlana; Dítě, Daniel; Dítě, Zuzana; Willner, Wolfgang; Bergmeier, Erwin; Pérez Haase, Aaron; Dziuba, Tetiana; Aćić, Svetlana; Ćuk, Mirjana; Ćušterevska, Renata; Dubyna, Dmytro; Vassilev, Kiril; Chytrý, Milan
Aims: The class Crypsietea aculeatae comprises pioneer ephemeral dwarf-graminoid vegetation occurring in periodically flooded saline habitats. Although numerous regional studies have described this vegetation, a unified classification across Europe has been lacking. This study aims to establish a formalized, continent-wide classification at the association level, identify its biogeographical patterns, and assess relationships between species composition and environmental gradients. Location: Europe (except Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia). Methods: We compiled a dataset of 2538 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA), private databases, and literature. A hierarchical expert system was developed using formal definitions of syntaxa based on species cover. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was applied to evaluate compositional differences and reveal biogeographical patterns. Distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA) and unweighted community means of Ellenberg-type indicator values (EIVs) were used to assess environmental drivers. Results: We present a revised syntaxonomic framework for the class Crypsietea aculeatae and propose updates to the EuroVegChecklist. One alliance (Cypero-Spergularion marinae) and four associations (Crypsietum aculeatae, Crypsietum schoenoidis, Cyperetum pannonici, and Oxybasio chenopodioidis-Crypsietum aculeatae) were formally defined, with basic descriptions of their species composition, ecological characteristics, and geographical distribution. The main gradients in vegetation variability within the class Crypsietea aculeatae are driven by climatic gradient and edaphic factors, including soil moisture, soil acidity, salinity, and nutrient availability. Conclusions: We established the first formal classification of annual vegetation in European saline seasonal wetlands. The syntaxonomic nomenclature was revised, and modifications to the EuroVegChecklist were proposed. The resulting classification system, accompanied by an expert system, enables consistent application in nature conservation and ecological research.
Analysing the contribution of intermittent rivers to beta diversity can improve freshwater conservation in Mediterranean rivers
(Springer Verlag, 2024-04-25) Soria Extremera, Maria; Bonada i Caparrós, Núria; Cid Puey, Núria; Ortega, Jean Carlo Gonçalves; Bini, Luis Mauricio; Acosta Rivas, Carlos Raul; Gutiérrez-Cánovas, Cayetano; Rodríguez Lozano, Pablo; Fortuño, Pau; Vinyoles Cartanyà, Dolors; Gallart Gallego, Francesc; Prat i Fornells, Narcís
In Mediterranean climate regions, intermittent rivers (IRs) harbor highly dynamic communities with species and trait composition changing over time and space. Simultaneously considering multiple biodiversity facets and a spatiotemporal perspective is, therefore, key to developing effective conservation strategies for these ecosystems. We studied the spatiotemporal dynamics of aquatic macroinvertebrates in rivers of the western Mediterranean Basin by analysing (1) the taxonomic and functional richness and the local contribution to beta diversity (LCBD; measured considering taxonomic and functional facets) of perennial rivers and IRs over five sampling times, and (2) their relation with flow intermittence, local environmental uniqueness, and the number of anthropogenic impacts. Both analyses were also conducted for the subset of data including only IRs to compare values between their flowing and disconnected pool phases. According to our results, taxonomic and functional richness tended to be higher in perennial rivers than in IRs, while taxonomic and functional LCBD tended to be higher in IRs than in perennial rivers. When comparing IR sites over time, higher values of taxonomic and functional LCBD corresponded mostly to their disconnected pool phase. Flow intermittence, the number of anthropogenic impacts and th environmental uniqueness were significant predictors of taxonomic and functional richness, but only flow intermittence was an important predictor of taxonomic LCBD. For the IR-only data subset, disconnected pool permanence was the main predictor explaining spatiotemporal patterns. Our results highlight the importance of IRs to biodiversity conservation of Mediterranean climate rivers, especially during the disconnected pool phase, suggesting that these ecosystems cannot be ignored in conservation planning strategies.
Crossing the polar front—Antarctic species discovery in the nudibranch genus Tritoniella (Gastropoda)
(Springer Verlag, 2022-06-01) Schächinger, Peter M.; Schrödl, Michael; Wilson, Nerida G.; Moles, Juan
Tritoniella belli is the only valid species of a nudibranch genus endemic to the Southern Ocean. Recent exhaustive sampling and molecular analyses led to the discovery of several new lineages. A total of 69 specimens were collected from 25 sites across the Weddell and Scotia Seas, from 5 to 751 m depth. In this study, we provide morphological and anatomical characters to describe five new Tritoniella species, namely T. gnocchi n. sp., T. prinzess n. sp., T. gnathodentata n. sp., T. schoriesi n. sp., T. heideae n. sp. Detailed descriptions of colouration, external morphology, digestive and reproductive organs, distribution, and ecology are presented in a systematic context. These are compared to the type material from the Ross Sea of T. belli and its synonym T. sinuata, whose status requires additional sampling to be solved. Discrete differences in external characters, including the shape of dorsal notum ridge and mantle edges, support the species hypotheses delimited by Moles, Berning et al. (2021). Moreover, detailed scanning electron microscopy images of the masticatory border of the jaws, radula teeth, and penial papilla were provided and their differences discussed. The gut content of all species revealed sclerites of Primnoidae gorgonians as their preferred prey. Pseudo-cryptic radiations along the Scotia Arc, explained by the combination of distribution reduction due to glacial cycles and the existence of refugia, and enhanced by their direct development, could explain the allopatric speciation events in Tritoniella species.
Drivers of Alpine Mire Vegetation at Their Range Limit
(MDPI, 2025-10-08) Pérez Haase, Aaron; Ninot i Sugrañes, Josep Maria
Mires are fragile ecosystems in which plant communities are structured by complex interactions among hydrological regimes and groundwater properties. Although extensively studied in boreal and temperate regions, their environmental drivers in southern European mountains remain poorly understood. We investigated five complex mires in the Pyrenees, sampling 156 plots of vascular plants and bryophytes while measuring water table dynamics and groundwater chemistry over two years. Vegetation was classified into six main groups, including acid and alkaline fens, transition mires and Sphagnum hummocks. Ordination analyses (tb-PCA and RDA) revealed that mean water table depth, groundwater calcium and silicon content, and pH were the most important determinants of floristic composition. Bryophytes responded primarily to pH, whereas vascular plants were more influenced by water table variables, reflecting functional trait differences. Despite these environmental effects, spatial structure explained a comparable or greater proportion of variance, especially for vascular plants, underscoring the roles of local species pools, dispersal limitation, and site history in shaping community patterns. Establishing a reliable baseline is crucial for interpreting the distribution patterns of mire vegetation. Our results demonstrate that both environmental gradients and spatial processes are fundamental to understanding mire vegetation and highlight the importance of analyzing plant taxonomic groups separately.
Tracking Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen under Organic Management: A Temporal Perspective
(MDPI, 2025-10-11) Bragg, Daniel; Romanyà i Socoró, Joan; Blanco Moreno, José Manuel; Sans, Xavier (Sans i Serra)
Understanding the long-term impact of agricultural practices on soil parameters is essential for improving soil quality and sustainability. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and total Nitrogen (N) are key indicators due to their influence on crop productivity, nutrient cycling, and microbial activity. This study assesses the effects of tillage intensity (inversion vs. non-inversion) and organic amendments (manure vs. no manure) on SOC and total N dynamics in Mediterranean rain-fed arable systems. Data were collected over a ten-year field trial (2011–2020) in Catalonia, under cereal–legume rotation and organic management, focusing on two soil depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm). Fertilization was the main driver of SOC and N changes. Non-inversion tillage promoted topsoil accumulation and microbial colonization, especially during the first period (2011–2015). The combination of manure and reduced tillage led to faster and greater SOC increases. Moreover, initial SOC levels were negatively related to SOC changes in the topsoil. These results revealed the combination of manure and non-inversion tillage as the more suitable management practice to preserve soil quality in organic arable rain-fed systems, emphasizing the importance of understanding the impact of agricultural management in the long-term under Mediterranean conditions.
Restoring High Mountain Sphagnum Communities in the Central Pyrenees
(MDPI, 2025-10-07) Pladevall Izard, Eulàlia; Pérez Haase, Aaron; Carrillo, Empar; Escolà Lamora, Nil; Ninot i Sugrañes, Josep Maria
A handful of Sphagnum species and their ecosystems find their southernmost occurrence in the Pyrenees, and these small, relict units are endangered through anthropic activities and climatic change. A number of hydropower reservoirs covered former mire systems with water or let them ashore. These infrastructures will eventually become useless and abandoned, and the mires could possibly be restored, but there have been no known experiments in the Pyrenees in this field. The removal of the dam of a small reservoir in the Central Pyrenees in 2012 uncovered bare ground that was appropriate for testing mire restoration. In 2017, we started the restoration of two Habitats of Community Interest (HCIs), i.e., transition mires and quaking bogs (HCI 7140) and active raised bogs (HCI 7110*). To restore HCI 7140, we set a Carex rostrata population by planting cuttings and then small tufts of two Sphagnum species within the sedge sward. In parallel, we set small clumps of two other Sphagnum species intended to grow into hummocks (HCI 7110*). After seven growing seasons, HCI 7140 reached a good progression level, with a prosperous C. rostrata sward and progressive expansion of the Sphagnum populations. HCI 7110* turfs had varying performance, exhibiting moderate survivorship and positive expansion of the remaining turfs. The varying performance of the restored populations illustrates the possibilities of restoring mire communities in suboptimal environments. Interestingly, such restorative actions are appropriate for enhancing populations of species under threat, such as Sphagnum divinum.
Intraindividual variability as a large source of trait variation in clonal tundra dwarf shrubs along elevation and latitude gradients
(John Wiley & Sons, 2025-09-23) Anadon Rosell, Alba; Casanovas, Amanda; Bog, Manuela; Illa Bachs, Estela; Kreyling, Jürgen; Martínez Vilalta, Jordi, 1975-; Ninot i Sugrañes, Josep Maria; Pérez Haase, Aaron; Wilmking, Martin
Aim: Intraindividual trait variability (iITV), which is the variability among repeated architectural units within an individual, may represent a crucial dimension of functional diversity in plant eco-evolutionary dynamics. Although inter- and intraspecific trait variability have been widely studied, the extent of iITV remains largely overlooked. Since iITV might be especially relevant in long-lived clonal plants, we investigated sources of trait variability (species, site, clone, ramet, leaf) in tundra clonal dwarf shrubs, particularly focusing on iITV and its potential drivers. Location: Europe. Time Period: July 2019 to September 2020. Major Taxa Studied: Clonal dwarf shrubs. Methods: We sampled four widespread boreo-alpine clonal dwarf shrub species (Dryas octopetala, Empetrum hermaphroditum, Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium uliginosum) along elevation gradients in the Pyrenees and along a latitude gradient in Europe. At each site, we selected four clones per species and sampled five ramets per clone. We measured size-architectural traits in each ramet and leaf traits in five leaves per ramet. We quantified interspecific, intraspecific and iITV, investigated the relationship between iITV and both climate and clone structural variables, and compared sampling protocols either accounting for or ignoring iITV. Results: Although interspecific trait variability was substantial, we found large proportions of iITV within species. Size-architectural traits showed larger iITV (up to 100% of ITV), but leaf traits also showed remarkable values (up to 77%). Our results showed that iITV increased with mean annual temperature for specific leaf area. However, climate and clone structural variables were not predictive for iITV for any other trait. Conclusions: Our quantification of iITV in clonal dwarf shrubs evidences the importance of this source of variability and its potential ecological implications and emphasises the need to integrate it in sampling protocols, both to avoid bias in comparative studies and improve the predictive capacity of trait-based approaches in population and community ecology.
Characterizing decision-making and reward processing in bipolar disorder: A cluster analysis
(Elsevier B.V., 2018-07) Jiménez Martínez, Ester; Solé Cabezuelo, Brisa; Arias Sampériz, Bárbara; Mitjans Niubó, Marina; Varo, Cristina; Reinares, María; Bonnín Roig, Caterina del Mar; Salagre Muñoz, Estela; Ruíz, Victoria; Torres, Imma; Tomioka, Yoko; Sáiz Martínez, Pilar Alejandra; García-Portilla González, María Paz, 1962-; Burón, Patricia; Bobes García, Julio; Martínez-Arán, Anabel, 1971-; Torrent Font, Carla; Vieta i Pascual, Eduard, 1963-; Benabarre, Antonio
The presence of abnormalities in emotional decision-making and reward processing among bipolar patients (BP) has been well rehearsed. These disturbances are not limited to acute phases and are common even during remission. In recent years, the existence of discrete cognitive profiles in this psychiatric population has been replicated. However, emotional decision making and reward processing domains have barely been studied. Therefore, our aim was to explore the existence of different profiles on the aforementioned cognitive dimensions in BP. The sample consisted of 126 euthymic BP. Main sociodemographic, clinical, functioning, and neurocognitive variables were gathered. A hierarchical-clustering technique was used to identify discrete neurocognitive profiles based on the performance in the Iowa Gambling Task. Afterward, the resulting clusters were compared using ANOVA or Chi-squared Test, as appropriate. Evidence for the existence of three different profiles was provided. Cluster 1 was mainly characterized by poor decision ability. Cluster 2 presented the lowest sensitivity to punishment. Finally, cluster 3 presented the best decision-making ability and the highest levels of punishment sensitivity. Comparison between the three clusters indicated that cluster 2 was the most functionally impaired group. The poorest outcomes in attention, executive function domains, and social cognition were also observed within the same group. In conclusion, similarly to that observed in "cold cognitive" domains, our results suggest the existence of three discrete cognitive profiles concerning emotional decision making and reward processing. Amongst all the indexes explored, low punishment sensitivity emerge as a potential correlate of poorer cognitive and functional outcomes in bipolar disorder.
From marine sand to land and rivers: A combined phylogenomic strategy unveils the evolution of minute Acochlidimorpha slugs (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia)
(Elsevier, 2025-12-01) Fernández-Simón, Jose; Jörger, Katharina M.; Brenzinger, Bastian; Schrödl, Michael; Wilson, Nerida G.; Neusser, Timea P.; Moles, Juan
The repeated colonisation of non-marine environments in panpulmonate molluscs represents a major evolutionary transition, yet many lineages remain poorly understood. Among gastropods, Acochlidimorpha stands out for its ecological and morphological diversity, originating in marine interstitial habitats before independently invading freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we present the most complete phylogeny of Acochlidimorpha to date based on a global taxon sampling collected over several decades. We integrate ultra-conserved element (UCE) data from 58 museum-preserved specimens—comprising over 1,700 nuclear loci—with all publicly available Sanger-sequencing markers, totalling more than 150 specimens. This pioneering approach sets a new benchmark for phylogenomic studies in minute molluscan lineages. Our results resolve long-standing systematic ambiguities, reinstating Pontohedylidae stat. rest. and Strubelliidae stat. rest. and establishing Helicohedylidae fam. nov. Within Acochlidioidea, Strubelliidae is recovered as the sister to Pseudunelidae + (Tantulidae + Acochlidiidae). At the species level, we clarify the position of key taxa, including Asperspina loricata and two unidentified species of Hedylopsis. Ancestral habitat reconstruction analyses reveal at least four independent transitions to freshwater and terrestrial environments, highlighting the anatomical innovations facilitating these shifts. Altogether, our study provides a robust evolutionary framework for Acochlidimorpha, offering new insights into the processes underlying terrestrialisation, morphological evolution, and ecological diversification in a lineage characterised by both extreme miniaturisation and evolutionary dynamism.
Sphagnum lindbergii: a new peat moss species to the Iberian Flora
(Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 2025-09-12) Pérez Haase, Aaron; Escolà Lamora, Nil; Pladevall Izard, Eulàlia; Martínez-Amigo, Violeta; Blanco Moreno, José Manuel
Sphagnum lindbergii Schimp., a moss species of circumpolar distribution, is reported for the first time in Spain and in the Iberian Peninsula. This discovery, made in the chalybeate springs in the Chistau Valley (Central Pyrenees), adds to the only Pyrenean population currently known, limited to the French Rioumajou Valley. The Spanish population comprises four small patches occupying an estimated 5 m2. We describe its morphology, emphasizing diagnostic traits, and its habitat, characterized by iron-rich flushes in acidic, sub-alpine environments. The population faces significant threats, including livestock trampling and climate change, prompting its classification as Critically Endangered (CR) following IUCN criteria. Conservation measures are urgently recommended given its extreme rarity in the Pyrenees. Sphagnum lindbergii Schimp.: une nouvelle espèce de sphaigne pour la flore ibérique. Sphagnum lindbergii Schimp., une espèce de mousse à distribution circumpolaire, est recensée pour la première fois en Espagne et dans la péninsule ibérique. Cette découverte, réalisée dans les sources d'eau ferrugineuse de la vallée de Chistau (Pyrénées centrales), s'ajoute à la seule population pyrénéenne actuellement connue, limitée à la vallée française du Rioumajou. La population espagnole comprend quatre petites parcelles couvrant une surface estimée à 5 m2. Nous décrivons sa morphologie, en mettant l'accent sur les caractères diagnostiques, et son habitat, caractérisé par des eaux riches en fer dans des environnements subalpins acides. La population est confrontée à des menaces importantes, notamment le piétinement du bétail et le changement climatique, ce qui a conduit à la classer dans la catégorie « en danger critique d'extinction» (CR) selon les critères de l'UICN. La mise en place de mesures de conservation sont fortement recommandées étant donné son extrême rareté dans les Pyrénées.
Intricate Spatial Soil Carbon Distribution in Four Pyrenean Mires
(International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society, 2025-09-19) Ninot i Sugrañes, Josep Maria; Miyasiro-López, María G.; Martínez-Amigo, Violeta; Carrillo, Empar; Pladevall Izard, Eulàlia; Pérez Haase, Aaron
Alpine mires in the Pyrenees are remarkable ecosystems for the singularity of their plant communities and for their occurrence at a southern distribution limit. However, the structure of their organic soils and their contribution to carbon (C) dynamics are largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to map and quantify organic C stocks and peat thickness in Pyrenean mires for the first time. In four mire sites located on the Iberian side of the central Pyrenees, we took more than a hundred soil core samples encompassing the vegetation mosaics found at each site and analysed their organic matter content along the soil profile. We then mapped overall C stock and peat thickness in the sites using interpolation techniques and analysed the relationship between soil properties and vegetation units. Peat thickness and organic C stocks varied greatly within and amongst mires, with average values increasing with elevation from 31.1 to 43.2 cm and from 14 to 21.3 kg m-2, respectively. Only part of the peat layer in each mire was thicker than 30 cm, and this part increased with elevation. Our results showed that the variation within and among sites is related to the complexity of the alpine physiography, where some drivers (like topoclimatic variables) operate at larger scale and others (such as topography and hydrology) at smaller scales coupled with complex vegetation mosaics. The complexity of the spatial patterns in C stocks observed, along with their relationship to vegetation, highlights the need for future research in mountain peatlands focused on disentangling the distinct factors that contribute to peat formation.
Aportaciones al conocimiento de las ciperáceas, con especial referencia a los taxones ibéricos
(Flora Montiberica / Jolube Consultor y Editor Botánico, 2024-08-07) Luceño Garcés, Modesto; Martín Bravo, Santiago; Sánchez Villegas, Rogelio; Algarra, José Antonio; Casimiro Soriguer, Federico; Hidalgo Triana, Noelia; Fabado Alós, Javier; Jiménez Alfaro, Borja; Pérez Haase, Aaron; Román Hernández, Ramón; Jiménez Mejías, Pedro
En el presente artículo damos a conocer varias novedades corológicas, cariológicas y no-menclaturales de la familia Cyperaceae, con especial énfasis en los táxones ibéricos y baleáricos. En cuanto a las primeras, destacamos la tercera y cuarta citas ibero-baleáricas de Bolboschoenus planiculmis (F. Schmidt) T.V. Egorova, el primer hallazgo de Carex lachenalii Schkuhr en la Península Ibérica sensu stricto, la primera cita de Carex oedipostyla Duval-Jouve para la isla de Ibiza y de Carex liparocarpos Gaudin para la Comunidad Valenciana, así como el descubrimiento de la primera población de Eriophorum angustifolium Honck en el tramo español del Sistema Central. Varias de estas citas tienen interés conservacionista, ya que se refieren a especies catalogadas en distintas categorías de amenaza. Respecto a las novedades cariológicas presentamos recuentos cromosomáticos en Metafase I meiótica de Carex lainzii Luceño, E. Rico & T. Romero, Carex microcarpa Bertol. ex Moris y Carex pseudocyperus L. Finalmente, lectotipificamos el nombre Carex dyrrachiensis Nelmes (=Carex castroviejoi Luceño & Jim.-Mejías × Carex oederi Retz.) y reivindicamos el nombre Carex × emmanuelis Luceño como el que debe aplicarse al híbrido entre Carex depressa Link y Carex caryophyllea Latourr.
Sphagnum fuscum (Sphagnaceae: Bryophyta) a la Vall de Ribes
(Institució Catalana d'Història Natural, 2023-12-30) Pladevall Izard, Eulàlia; Escolà Lamora, Nil; Domènech, Gemma; Pallàs, Roger; Pérez Haase, Aaron
Sphagnum fuscum (Schimp.) H. Klinggr.: Pirineus, Ripollès, Vall de Ribes, Parc Natural de les Capçaleres del Ter i del Freser, la coma de Vaca, ETRS89 UTM 434437 4694369, 2185 m, 10-VII-2021, leg. & det. E. Pladevall Izard & N. Escolà Lamora (BCN-bryo 4022). Aquesta és la primera localitat documentada de S. fuscum al Ripollès i la primera població d’aquesta espècie que s’ha trobat al vessant sud dels Pirineus catalans. Ja es coneixien algunes poblacions repartides al llarg de la serralada pirinenca, majoritàriament al vessant atlàntic, on es troben sis poblacions franceses i dues d’araneses (Corriol, 2005; Gauthier, 1992, Pérez-Haase et al., 2010). Tanmateix, fins a l’actualitat només es coneixien quatre poblacions al vessant sud, totes elles andorranes (Lazare et al., 2005).
Genetic structure of the Sphagnum magellanicum (Sphagnaceae) complex in Europe
(The American Bryological and Lichenological Society, 2025-07-18) Shaw, A. Jonathan (Arthur Jonathan); Nieto-Lugilde, Marta; Aguero, Blanka; Duffy, Aaron M.; Robinson, Sean; Hassel, Kristian; Flatberg, Kjell Ivar; Ingerpuu, Nele; Vellak, Kai; Pérez Haase, Aaron; Jiroušek, Martin; Krebs, Mathias; Juselius-Rajamäki, Teemu; Piilo, Sanna; Bjorn Robroek; Lamkowski, Paul; Granath, Gustaf
Sphagnum magellanicum has historically been interpreted as a widespread species across both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Recent research, however, indicates that it comprises at least seven phylogenetic species, and that S. magellanicum s.str. is restricted to southern Argentina and Chile. Four species are recorded from North America and two of them, S. divinum and S. medium, are known to occur in Europe (and are typified by European collections). Here we assess European plants of this complex to test if two apparent North American endemics, S. diabolicum and S. magniae, occur in Europe, and document the genetic structure of European species of the complex, including gametophyte sex ratios and patterns of genetic diversity. We further assess evidence for gene flow between the species in Europe, and between North American and European plants of species that occur on both continents. Molecular data, especially ddRADseq, were used to assess genetic and phylogenetic patterns, and additional plants were identified with barcode markers to document European geographic distributions. The results indicate that S. diabolicum and S. magniae are endemic to North America. In Europe, S. divinum is more genetically diverse than S. medium. Sex ratios in both species did not depart from 50:50. Low levels of interspecific gene flow between the two species occur in Europe, as well as higher levels of gene flow between North American and European plants within S. divinum and S. medium. Overall, our results corroborate evidence that S. divinum and S. medium are phylogenetically distinct species and represent separate gene pools despite low levels of introgression.
Immunogenetics of lithium response and psychiatric phenotypes in patients with bipolar disorder
(Nature Publishing Group, 2024-04-03) Herrera Rivero, Marisol; Gutiérrez Fragoso, Karina; Kurtz, Joachim; Baune, Bernhard T.; Benabarre, Antonio; Jiménez Martínez, Ester; Reininghaus, Eva Z.; Arias Sampériz, Bárbara; Mitjans Niubó, Marina; Richard Lepouriel, Hélène; Vieta i Pascual, Eduard, 1963-; International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLi+Gen)
The link between bipolar disorder (BP) and immune dysfunction remains controversial. While epidemiological studies have long suggested an association, recent research has found only limited evidence of such a relationship. To clarify this, we performed an exploratory study of the contributions of immune-relevant genetic factors to the response to lithium (Li) treatment and the clinical presentation of BP. First, we assessed the association of a large collection of immune-related genes (4925) with Li response, defined by the Retrospective Assessment of the Lithium Response Phenotype Scale (Alda scale), and clinical characteristics in patients with BP from the International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLi+Gen, N = 2374). Second, we calculated here previously published polygenic scores (PGSs) for immune-related traits and evaluated their associations with Li response and clinical features. Overall, we observed relatively weak associations (p < 1 × 10−4) with BP phenotypes within immune-related genes. Network and functional enrichment analyses of the top findings from the association analyses of Li response variables showed an overrepresentation of pathways participating in cell adhesion and intercellular communication. These appeared to converge on the well-known Li-induced inhibition of GSK-3β. Association analyses of age-at-onset, number of mood episodes, and presence of psychosis, substance abuse and/or suicidal ideation suggested modest contributions of genes such as RTN4, XKR4, NRXN1, NRG1/3 and GRK5 to disease characteristics. PGS analyses returned weak associations (p < 0.05) between inflammation markers and the studied BP phenotypes. Our results suggest a modest relationship between immunity and clinical features in BP. More research is needed to assess the potential therapeutic relevance.
Pyrenees as the southernmost European refugium of glacial relict land snails
(Nature Publishing Group, 2025-07-02) Horsák, Michal; Jiménez-Alfaro, Borja; Pladevall Izard, Eulàlia; Pérez Haase, Aaron; Kafimola, Sara; Horsáková, Veronika
Biogeographical relicts, particularly glacial relicts, are species that have survived postglacial climatic shifts in isolated refugia. In temperate Europe, such species are commonly found in high-altitude mountain ranges, including the Alps, Carpathians, and Pyrenees. While glacial relict land snails are well-documented in the Alps and Carpathians, their occurrence in the Pyrenees remains largely unexplored. In this study, we report the first records of Columella columella in the Iberian Peninsula, found in alpine rocky tundra and alkaline spring fen habitats, far south of its known distribution. Additionally, we report the first presence of Pyramidula saxatilis in Spain, a rock-dwelling species with a distinct Pyrenean haplotype, suggesting its long-term isolation. Our findings also challenge previous records of Vertigo genesii in the Pyrenees, which seem to represent Vertigo hoppii (syn. V. arctica). Furthermore, we document Vertigo alpestris for the first time in Spain, revealing a unique haplotype shared with an Icelandic population. These findings highlight the Pyrenees as a potential southern refugium for glacial relict snails and emphasize the need for further research and conservation measures to protect these highly isolated populations from habitat degradation, particularly due to overgrazing.
Environmental and overgrazing effects on diatom communities in high mountain mires
(Elsevier B.V., 2025-03-15) Gonzalez-Saldias, Fernanda; Pérez Haase, Aaron; Pladevall Izard, Eulàlia; Gomà Martínez, Joan
High mountain mires are affected by anthropogenic activities such as livestock, which have changed land use, fragmented habitats, and affected the structure and functioning of aquatic communities such as diatoms. Diatoms in mires exhibit high diversity, with a significant proportion of rare and threatened species, making them vulnerable to livestock pressure. Despite their common use as indicators of ecological status, little is known about how overgrazing and trampling affect diatom communities. To assess the impact of livestock pressure, we conducted experiments in six high-mountain mires in the Pyrenees, where livestock exclusion fences were installed. We identified a total of 370 species belonging to 60 genera, with a maximum diversity per site of 77 species. The variables most influencing diatom composition were pH, elevation, Bryophyta cover, water cover, livestock pressure, and mire area. Our results indicated an impact on diatom composition at the two locations with higher livestock pressure; however, we observed no effects on species richness or the Shannon index, suggesting that diatom communities are resistant to livestock pressure. The pH was the most important environmental variable for diatom community composition, demonstrating a positive relationship with diatom richness. Livestock pressure in high mountain mires causes habitat fragmentation and increased dry density of the soil, making diatom communities more vulnerable to environmental changes. However, these communities exhibit notable resistance to significant pressure, with pH emerging as the most critical factor influencing their structure. Our study showed that high livestock pressure affects diatom communities in mires. Considering that a high percentage of diatom species are red-listed as vulnerable or endangered, it is important to protect mires to avoid loss of diversity.

Examinar

Enviaments recents