Search

• The rare Mediterranean carnation endemic to SW Spain, Dianthus inoxianus mostly relies on a single migrant hawkmoth species for pollination. • Floral traits match behavioral and morphological features of the primary pollinator. • D. inoxianus is self-compatible, and its incomplete protandry would facilitate autonomous selfing, providing reproductive assurance when pollinators become scarce. Plants with specialized pollination systems may be susceptible to reproductive failure when pollinator service is unpredictable. This can influence the selection of floral traits that promote outcrossing in the presence of pollinators and selfing in their absence. Limited evidence exists regarding the association between specialized pollination and reproductive assurance, necessitating further investigation. We studied the reproductive biology of Dianthus inoxianus , a rare Mediterranean carnation endemic to a semi-arid region in SW Spain. D. inoxianus exhibited protandrus flowers and additional phenotypic signs of specialization for nocturnal pollination. Nectar sugar concentration remains relatively constant throughout the day (average 33.4%), while the standing crop varies considerably (average 1.5 μL/flower), peaking in the late afternoon and early evening. Controlled hand pollinations revealed that D. inoxianus is fully self-compatible, with similar reproductive success in autogamous, geitonogamous, and allogamous crosses. However, a small proportion of bagged flowers exhibited autonomous selfing. To assess the impact of presumed nocturnal pollination, we studied reproductive fitness and flower visitors over five years in three populations. Over 210 h of pollinator censuses, the hawkmoth species Hyles livornica and Macroglossum stellatarum , which were mainly dusk-active, accounted for > 95% of flower visits. Fruit and seed set positively correlated with hawkmoth visitation rate across years and populations. Additionally, pollinator exclusion experiments demonstrated that reproduction relies predominantly on nocturnal pollinators. However, under natural conditions, D. inoxianus also showed a non-negligible degree of autonomous self-pollination, with fruit- and seed-set being equivalent in absence of pollinators or under diurnal pollinators. We found evidence of an ecologically specialized pollination system and capacity for autonomous selfing, a combination that may enable the persistence of this taxon in a markedly unpredictable pollination environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Several species of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of pathogens, such as the bluetongue (BTV) and Schmallenberg (SBV) viruses, which cause important diseases in domestic and wild ruminants. As wild ruminants can contribute to overwintering and epizootics of both diseases, knowledge of the host‐feeding behaviour of Culicoides in natural ecosystems is important to better understand their epidemiology. Blood‐engorged Culicoides females trapped in natural areas inhabited by different wild ruminant species were genetically analysed to identify host species. The origin of bloodmeals was identified in 114 females of 14 species of Culicoides. A total of 104 (91.1%) Culicoides fed on mammals and 10 (8.9%) on birds. The most abundant host identified was red deer (66.7%), followed by humans (13%) and fallow deer (6.1%). Eleven of the 14 species of Culicoides fed exclusively on mammalian hosts. Among them, five are mammalophilic species considered to be important BTV and/or SBV vectors. The results of the present study confirm that Culicoides imicola, Culicoides obsoletus, Culicoides scoticus, Culicoides pulicaris and Culicoides punctatus fed on wild ruminants, and therefore support the hypothesis that these species can act as bridge vectors by facilitating the circulation of pathogens between wild and domestic ruminant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Since Schmallenberg disease was discovered in 2011, the disease rapidly spread across Europe. Culicoides biting midges have been implicated as putative Schmallenberg vectors in Europe. The detection of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in field collected Culicoides was evaluated through retrospective (2011–2012) collections and captures performed in 2013. This study represents the first detection of SBV in field collected Culicoides in Spain. Infectious midges were detected at the foothills of Pyrenees, Aramunt, in the summer 2012. All the specimens infected with Schmallenberg were of the species Culicoides obsoletus s.s. confirming its putative vector status in Spain. Experimental infection on field collected Culicoides provided evidence of atypical high efficiency for SBV vector infection and transmission potential in local populations of Culicoides imicola and in Culicoides of the Obsoletus complex. However, captured individuals of C. imicola were more susceptible to SBV infection than C. obsoletus s.l. (p < .001), with an infection ratio of 0.94 and 0.63, respectively. In contrast, a Culicoides nubeculosus colony appeared to be refractory to SBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rift Valley fever ( RVF) is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Rift Valley fever virus ( RVFV). Rift Valley fever affects a large number of species, including human, and has severe impact on public health and the economy, especially in African countries. The present study examined the vector competence of three different European mosquito species, Culex pipiens ( Linnaeus, 1758) form molestus (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex pipiens hybrid form and Stegomyia albopicta (= Aedes albopictus) ( Skuse, 1894) (Diptera: Culicidae). Mosquitoes were artificially fed with blood containing RVFV. Infection, disseminated infection and transmission efficiency were evaluated. This is the first study to assess the transmission efficiency of European mosquito species using a virulent RVFV strain. The virus disseminated in Cx. pipiens hybrid form and in S. albopicta. Moreover, infectious viral particles were isolated from saliva of both species, showing their RVFV transmission capacity. The presence of competent Cx. pipiens and S. albopicta in Spain indicates that an autochthonous outbreak of RVF may occur if the virus is introduced. These findings provide information that will help health authorities to set up efficient entomological surveillance and RVFV vector control programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the genus Culicoides ( Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are well known for their importance in the field of medical and veterinary entomology. Culicoides spp. transmit a wide variety of pathogens, primarily viruses that affect animals and humans. In Europe, the most economically important disease transmitted by Culicoides is bluetongue ( BT). Culicoides spp. have been recently involved as primary vectors for Schmallenberg disease. The taxonomy within the subgenus Culicoides has been historically difficult and reorganizations have been proposed regularly. The subgenus Culicoides includes species that are considered to be potential vectors for BT. High morphological intraspecific variability has been attributed to these species. This highlights the apparent presence of previously undetected cryptic species diversity in the subgenus. In the present study, a detailed morphological and molecular study of specimens belonging to Culicoides pulicaris s.l. and specimens resembling a cross between C. pulicaris and Culicoides punctatus revealed the presence of two new species: Culicoides cryptipulicaris and Culicoides quasipulicaris. Females of C. quasipulicaris and males of both species were morphologically distinguished from C. pulicaris ( Linnaeus, 1758), whereas females of C. cryptipulicaris were identified using molecular techniques exclusively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging disease West Nile fever is caused by West Nile virus ( WNV), one of the most widespread arboviruses. This study represents the first test of the vectorial competence of European Culex pipiens Linnaeus 1758 and Stegomyia albopicta (= Aedes albopictus) (both: Diptera: Culicidae) populations for lineage 1 and 2 WNV isolated in Europe. Culex pipiens and S. albopicta populations were susceptible to WNV infection, had disseminated infection, and were capable of transmitting both WNV lineages. This is the first WNV competence assay to maintain mosquito specimens under environmental conditions mimicking the field (day/night) conditions associated with the period of maximum expected WNV activity. The importance of environmental conditions is discussed and the issue of how previous experiments conducted in fixed high temperatures may have overestimated WNV vector competence results with respect to natural environmental conditions is analysed. The information presented should be useful to policymakers and public health authorities for establishing effective WNV surveillance and vector control programmes. This would improve preparedness to prevent future outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade biting midges of the subgenus Avaritia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) have been popular subjects of applied entomological studies in Europe owing to their implication as biological vectors in outbreaks of bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses. This study uses a combination of cytochrome oxidase subunit I barcode sequencing and geometric morphometric analyses to investigate wing shape as a means to infer species identification within this subgenus. In addition the congruence of morphological data with different phylogenetic hypotheses is tested. Five different species of the subgenus Avaritia were considered in the study ( C. obsoletus (Meigen); C. scoticus Kettle and Lawson; C. chiopterus (Meigen); C. dewulfi Goetghebuer and C. imicola (Kieffer)). The study demonstrated that over 90% of individuals could be separated correctly into species by their wing shape and that patterns of morphological differentiation derived from the geometric morphometric analyses were congruent with phylogenies generated from sequencing data. Morphological data produced are congruent with monophyly of the subgenus Avaritia and the exclusion of C. dewulfi from the group containing C. obsoletus, C. scoticus and C. chiopterus. The implications of these results and their importance in a wider context of integrating multiple data types to interpret both phylogeny and species characterization is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the interaction between the ant Goniomma kugleri and Cistaceae in a Cistus ladanifer-dominated scrubland, in southwestern Spain. We monitored seed harvesting, and studied ant preferences among Cistaceae seeds and their capture efficiencies for preferred seeds. For the stand of C. ladanifer, we estimated seed losses due to the ants. Harvesting was restricted to two seasons: mid-autumn to late winter, and late spring. Ant diet relied on Cistaceae seeds: during autumn and winter 90% of seeds returned to nests were of C. ladanifer, and the remaining fraction also comprised Cistaceae seeds. At this time, the ants harvested seeds directly from the plants. In late spring, the ant diet consisted of Tuberaria guttata s.l. seeds. Goniomma kugleri selectively collected Cistaceae seeds. For preferred species, seed removal rates at the colony level and seed capture times invested by individual workers were correlated with seed size. Because of shorter capture time and higher success frequency, capture efficiency in terms of number of seeds captured per unit time was higher for small-seeded species. Although each ant colony collected large numbers (up to 105) of C. ladanifer seeds over the autumn–winter season, the impact of ant removal on the annual seed output was moderate, at around 20%. It is likely that, in C. ladanifer, the staggered seed release period, and the pulsed exposure of seed clumps in capsules through progressive locule dehiscence, effectively minimise seed losses to the ants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic control of self-incompatibility (SI) was studied in the Mediterranean short-lived perennial species Anagallis monelli (Primulaceae: Myrsinaceae). Arrays of siblings, including families derived from reciprocal crosses, were cross-pollinated in full diallels, and compatibility groups were assesssed from a census of fruit-set. Two, three and four intercompatible and intraincompatible groups were found. These crossing relationships fit the model for gametophytic SI controlled by a single polymorphic gene locus in families derived from parents with one or no S alleles in common (two vs. four compatibility groups), whilst one genotype was presumed to be missing in the small families that showed only three compatibility groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies pollen flow and reproductive success in two different-density stands of Cistus libanotis L. Pollen dispersal; Spectrum of insect visitors to flowers; Effects of stand density and time of flowering season on variety of mates among plant individuals.

Variety J-112 rice seeds were irradiated with Co-60, at different doses, within a range of 0-800 Gy, and were planted in laboratory conditions and in the field. The height of the plantules-measured fifteen days after they were planted, in laboratory conditions-, survival, the number of filled grains per panicle, and germination of seeds from such panicles in the field were taken as a criterion of radiosensitiveness. Starting with the plantule dose-height equation, it was determined that the irradiation dose that reduces the growth of plantules by a 50% (GR-50) for this variety is of 368 Gy. Lower doses (150, 250, and 350 Gy) permitted survival values over 67%, and fertility of the plants, expressed by the filled grains per panicle, and germination of seeds from such panicles, over 66% and 72% respectively. The use of these doses in a genetic improvement program to develop a tolerance for salinity permitted an increase in genetic variability; from which some mutants that combine stress tolerance with good agronomic characteristics were isolated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is not considered a tropical species but the variety Cuba C-204 was well grown in Cuba since more than 40 years ago. Thus its radiosensibility was studied to use radiomutagenesis with in a program to obtain new varieties. Survival, height of plant and root, green and dry mass, pollen formation and fertility, percentage of florest carrying seeds and M1 seed features were considered as indexes. Original seeds with 12-14% humidity was irradiated to 300-800 Gy seeded and cultivated together control at underset laboratory and fields conditions. The GR50 (growth reduction) was determinate at 695 Gy; its was higher than report for Triticum aestivum L in International Atomic Energy Agency. The 300 Gy doses induced reparable affectation during ontogenesis development; at 400 Gy injuries in some index is were reparaid even provoking stimulus. The 500 Gy doses induced unrecovered damage; 600 Gy induced total sterility and lethality was 100% at 800 Gy, so that sterility is then index limiting the doses increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of four Cuban varieties of garlic was made so as to optimize the use of ionizing radiations in Cuba to breed vegetatively propagated crops such as garlic. The dose-effect regresion equation characterizing the radioinhibition zone of each crop was presented. We used a criteria to select the irradiation dose to be used in mutation breeding techniques based on obtaining height variability in the productive indicators, a survival and a number of garlic cloves high enough to allow an adequate reproduction of M1 plants. It was verified that this small inhibitor doses of radiations produced a higher percentage of good variability than the medium and high doses. With the use of small inhibitor doses (GR10-GR20) on the Guadalupe-15 garlic variety, 65 variety plants were obtained., 93.7% out of this number is higher than the control in the indicators considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma radioinduced effects on different growth indicators and the destination of storage substances of cloves were investigated in garlic cv. "Martínez". To this purpose, the doses interval of its radiosensitivity curve was considered. Within the GR10-20 (growth reduction) interval there was no damage or if was small in growth indicators and also leaves width was stimulated, enabling to each leave areas similar to those of testing plants. In addition significant increases of storage compounds use in cloves were observed. This result may be interpreted as an additional energetic consumption to repair radiational damage. Behavior starting at GR30 may be critical because plants undergo severe damage in most of the analyzed indicators principally those that depend of leaves area. This result, from a physiological point of view, complement the recommendation of selecting doses in GR10-20 interval for the radiomutagenesis works, recommendation made in base of small lethality and sterility, and high percentage of useful mutation reported. for this doses interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Lieu de soins, l’hôpital public doit devenir aussi celui de la prévention. La prévention vaccinale, 2 e priorité de santé publique pour le ministère de la santé, doit se développer à l’hôpital public et les vaccinations recommandées doivent pouvoir être administrées aux patients. Mais le remboursement des vaccins achetés par l’hôpital et administrés aux patients hospitalisés ou consultants n’existe pas. Matériels et méthodes Une convention tripartite entre le CHU, la CPAM et la Communauté médicale, a été signée fin octobre 2017 pour permettre une offre vaccinale aux patients hospitalisés et consultants. Cette convention a reçu le soutien de la CNAM comme projet innovant. Les patients du régime général peuvent être vaccinés au CHU, selon les recommandations en vigueur en France, à condition de renseigner pour chaque acte vaccinal : l’identité complète du patient (IPP), la date de vaccination, le vaccin et le lot, le nom du médecin vaccinateur (RPPS). Une information par courriel a été adressée aux chefs de service, responsables d’UFs, cadres et cadres supérieur(e)s en privilégiant les services de médecine adulte et pédiatrique et d’obstétrique. Les pharmaciens, très impliqués dans le projet, se sont déplacés dans les services pour préciser la démarche auprès des acteurs et livrer les fiches à renseigner. Des affiches de la CPAM ont été disposées dans les salles d’attente, les lieux d’accueil des secrétariats, les couloirs à grand passage, les entrées de l’hôpital. Les services ont reçu, à partir du 12 novembre 2017, une dotation initiale en vaccin grippal (20 doses) et anti-pneumococcique (Prévenar13) (10 doses), renouvelable sur simple demande à la pharmacie et des doses de vaccins dTP et dTaCoqPolio et des vaccins hépatite A et B. Résultats Au terme des deux premiers mois de cette démarche institutionnelle, impliquant médecins, soignants et pharmaciens, en pleine campagne de vaccination antigrippale, les premiers retours à la PUI du CHU ont comptabilisé l’administration de 531 vaccins antigrippal (y compris en obstétrique), 124 vaccins pneumococciques conjugués 13 V, 30 vaccins pneumococciques 23 V, 41 dTaCoqPolio et 14 dTPolio. Aucun secondaire grave n’a été rapporté. Globalement, la disponibilité immédiate des vaccins a contribué à convaincre des patients. Conclusion L’hôpital public est un lieu d’offre vaccinale à promouvoir. Ces résultats préliminaires encourageants sont à confirmer sur une période plus longue. La CPAM en attend une élévation significative des taux de vaccinations chez les patients âgés et en ALD. L’implication des médecins et pharmaciens hospitaliers en sera la clé de la réussite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Andromonoecy ( i.e. the occurrence on individual plants of hermaphroditic and male flowers) is a rare sexual system among the angiosperms, regarded by some authors as a transitional stage from hermaphroditism to monoecy. Having discovered the occurrence of andromonoecy in Erophaca baetica (a Mediterranean shrubby legume with two subspecies), a novelty for Old World papilionoid legumes, we investigated the morpho-functional correlates and the geographical distribution of this phenomenon in the species. The relative frequencies of hermaphrodite and male flowers were determined in two field and 111 herbarium populations. Biomass allocation within flowers, pollen production and viability, pollen tube growth, nectar production and the temporal pattern of male flower production were also studied in two nearby southern Spanish populations. Virtually all of the studied populations were andromonoecious. Male flowers tended to appear at apical positions within the inflorescence, and became more abundant by the end of the flowering season. Male flowers were externally similar to hermaphroditic flowers (although with less biomass and smaller parts) and released equivalent amounts of pollen and nectar; however, their pollen germinated significantly better. Erophaca is the first example of an andromonecious Papilionoid in the Old World. Since the main difference among floral morphs in this species is functional ( i.e. pollen germination rate) rather than morphological, andromonoecy is not readily noticeable, and very careful inspection may be required to reveal it. The potential effect of andromonoecy in enhancing outcrossing rate in this species is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of important diseases affecting wild and domestic animals. During the last decade they have played a major role in the epidemiology of the largest bluetongue epizootic ever recorded in Europe, the disease is transmitted between hosts almost exclusively by bites of Culicoides midges and affects both domestic and wild ruminants however severe disease usually occurs in certain breeds of sheep and some species of deer. An accurate vector identification is of major importance in arthropod borne diseases surveillance, as great differences in vectorial capacity are found even between close species. Unfortunately, specialized taxonomic knowledge of Culicoides identification is rarely available in routine surveillance, mainly based on wing morphology. Recently, some European species of Culicoides belonging to the subgenus Avaritia Fox, 1955 and Culicoides Latreille, 1809 have been described as new bluetongue virus vectors. In the present study, by using a fragment of the barcode region (COI gene) we report the presence of up to 11 species within the subgenus Culicoides in Catalonia (NE Spain), a region recently affected by a bluetongue epizootic. The molecular analysis revealed new non-described cryptic species which were grouped in three complexes of morphologically similar species, two in the Pulicaris complex resembling Culicoides pulicaris, two in the Fagineus complex resembling Culicoides fagineus and three in the Newsteadi complex resembling Culicoides newsteadi. The phylogenetic relationships among them showed that cryptic species detected in both Pulicaris and Fagineus complexes were closely related, whereas those in the Newsteadi complex were more distant. Accurate analysis of all species using morphological and molecular approaches resulted in the detection of diagnostic metric traits for cryptic species and the design of several new species-specific single and multiplex PCR assays to identify unambiguously all the species, most of them still lacking a specific molecular diagnosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To detect potential Pleistocene refugia and colonization routes along the Atlantic coast, we analysed amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) in 140 individuals from 14 populations of Hypochaeris salzmanniana (Asteraceae), an annual species endemic to the southwestern European and northwestern African coastal areas. Samples covered the total distributional range of the species, with eight populations in southwestern Spain and six populations in northwestern Morocco. Using nine primer combinations, we obtained 546 fragments in H. salzmanniana and its sister species H. arachnoidea of which 487 (89.2%) were polymorphic. The neighbour-joining tree shows that the populations south of the Loukos river in Morocco are clearly differentiated, having more polymorphic, private, and rare fragments, and higher genetic diversity, than all the other populations. The southernmost populations in Morocco, south of the river Sebou, form a large panmictic population. They are probably the oldest populations that have been relatively unaffected by stochastic processes resulting from Pleistocene glaciations. Northward migration of populations during this period may have resulted in loss of genetic diversity in specific regions, perhaps due to bottlenecks caused by rise in sea level during interglacial periods, and, in some cases, by changes in the breeding system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tolerance for salinity, agroindustrial efficiency, and resistance to diseases were appraised in a group of rice mutants obtained by means of mutation radioinduction, starting from the J-112 variety. Results show significant differences in the analized characteristics of radiomutants, and differences between those radomutants and the donating variety. Radiomutants RM-12. RM-41. and RM-42. besides standing out for their high tolerance for salinity, boasted the highest agroindustrial efficiency and a good behavior against the main plagues and diseases, which makes of them likely candidates for new varieties in the production from areas affected by salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue virus (DENV) has re‐emerged in Europe driven by the geographic expansion of the mosquito species Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and the introduction of the virus by viraemic travellers. In the present study, the vector competence (VC) of Ae. albopictus collected in Catalonia (northeast Spain) was evaluated for two different DENV strains, DENV‐1 and DENV‐2, the serotypes responsible for all outbreaks of dengue that have occurred in Europe. Mosquitoes were reared under environmental conditions mimicking the mean temperature and humidity recorded in July on the Mediterranean coast of Catalonia. Mosquitoes were fed on an artificial infectious bloodmeal and, at 14 days post‐exposure, infection, disseminated infection and transmission rates (IR, DIR, TR) and transmission efficiency (TE) were determined by testing the virus in the body, legs and saliva. The tested Ae. albopictus strain was found to be susceptible to both DENV‐1 and DENV‐2 and to be able to transmit DENV‐1. This is the first time that the VC of Ae. albopictus for DENV has been tested in Europe in this specific context (i.e. mimicking the Mediterranean temperature and humidity recorded in Catalonia in July). This study confirms the potential of Ae. albopictus to start autochthonous DENV transmission cycles in the Mediterranean basin. The vector competence of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) for dengue virus (DENV) was carried out in conditions mimicking the Mediterranean temperature and humidity recorded in Catalonia (northeast Spain) in July.Aedes albopictus was susceptible to DENV serotypes 1 and 2 and was able to transmit DENV‐1, showing that vector susceptibility is dependent on the serotype of DENV.Viral RNA can be detected in the saliva of infected mosquitoes using FTA™ cards without the need to sacrifice the mosquitoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Baldellia Parl. has always been a complex taxon. Three species and three subspecies have been proposed for the Iberian Peninsula. The morphological variation of this genus in the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic islands and northern Morocco, and its thermo-pluviometric and altitudinal correlation are the focus of this contribution. Twenty-eight morphological variables were examined and subjected to a multivariate statistical analysis. The three morphotypes observed (Form 1, which includes B. ranunculoides subsp. repens and B. alpestris; Form 2, which includes B. ranunculoides and Form 3 – for the new combination B. ranunculoides subsp. ranunculoides var. tangerina (Pau) J. Rocha, A. Crespí, M. García-Barriuso, R. Almeida, J. Honrado, comb. nova proposed here for the first time) seem to represent different reproductive strategies. Morphological variables related with the presence or absence of stolons and the architecture of the inflorescence; the size and number of fruits are the most discriminating variables. Form 1 represents the asexual morphotype; Forms 2 and 3 correspond to morphotypes for which sexual reproduction is preferential. The environmental approach revealed that the asexual form (Form 1) grows in temperate, in more humid conditions, and within a broad altitudinal range. In contrast, the two sexual forms are more common in warmer and drier conditions, and occur over a narrower interval of altitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rumex bucephalophorus is a very polymorphic species that has been subjected to various taxonomic studies in which diverse infraspecific taxa have been recognised on the basis of diaspore traits. In this study we used molecular markers (ITS and AFLP) to explore this remarkable diversity, to test previous hypotheses of classification, and attempt to explain biogeographic patterns. Results show that R. bucephalophorus forms a monophyletic group in which diversification began around 4.2Mya, at the end of Messinian Salinity Crisis. The two molecular markers clearly show a deep divergence separating subsp. bucephalophorus from all other subspecific taxa, among which subsp. canariensis also constitutes a separate and well distinguishable unit. In contrast, subspecies hispanicus and subsp. gallicus constitute a monophyletic group in which three subgroups can be recognised: subsp. hispanicus, subsp. gallicus var. gallicus and subsp. gallicus var. subaegeus. However, these three subgroups are not clearly distinguished genetically or morphologically, so that in formal classification it would be preferable to treat them at the varietal level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Low fruit set is common in many plant species and may be caused by a variety of factors, such as predation, resource limitation or deficient pollination, or it may be an evolutionary strategy. In this paper, we investigate factors that affect fruit set in Aristolochia baetica (Aristolochiaceae), a Mediterranean pipevine found in southwest Spain. Fruit production was monitored in two populations over 4 years (2002-2005), and the causes of flower or fruit loss were determined. Experimental hand-pollinations were performed, and germinated pollen grains on the stigmas of open-pollinated flowers were quantified. Fruit set was always very low (4-14%). Floral abscission initially reduced reproductive output by more than 50%; then herbivory (6-12%) and fruit abortion (8-26%) caused further reductions. Given that the number of efficiently pollinated flowers was always higher than that of ripe fruits, and that xenogamous hand-pollination did not increase fruit set in relation to open-pollination, the final fruit production of A. baetica seems not to be pollen-limited. Fruit abortion of effectively pollinated flowers supports the idea that resource availability limits fruit set. In A. baetica, fruit abortion could lead to mate selection of the best quality fruits. Moreover, the initiated fruits that finally abort could also satiate predators, contributing to increase progeny fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanisms affecting patterns of vector distribution among host individuals may influence the population and evolutionary dynamics of vectors, hosts and the parasites transmitted. We studied the role of different factors affecting the species composition and abundance of Culicoides found in nests of the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). We identified 1531 females and 2 males of 7 different Culicoides species in nests, with C. simulator being the most abundant species, followed by C. kibunensis, C. festivipennis, C. segnis, C. truncorum, C. pictipennis and C. circumscriptus. We conducted a medication × fumigation experiment randomly assigning bird's nests to different treatments, thereby generating groups of medicated and control pairs breeding in fumigated and control nests. Medicated pairs were injected with the anti-malarial drug Primaquine diluted in saline solution while control pairs were injected with saline solution. The fumigation treatment was carried out using insecticide solution or water for fumigated and control nests respectively. Brood size was the main factor associated with the abundance of biting midges probably because more nestlings may produce higher quantities of vector attractants. In addition, birds medicated against haemoparasites breeding in non-fumigated nests supported a higher abundance of C. festivipennis than the rest of the groups. Also, we found that the fumigation treatment reduced the abundance of engorged Culicoides in both medicated and control nests, thus indicating a reduction of feeding success produced by the insecticide. These results represent the first evidence for the role of different factors in affecting the Culicoides infracommunity in wild avian nests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollination of Aristolochia involves the temporary confinement of visitors inside the flower. A literature review has shown that some species are visited by one or a few dipteran families, while others are visited by a wider variety of dipterans, but only some of these are effective pollinators. We observed flowering phenology and temporal patterns of pollinator attendance in diverse populations of Aristolochia baetica and A. paucinervis, two species that grow in SW Spain, frequently in mixed populations. The two species had overlapping floral phenologies, extended flowering periods and long-lived flowers. A. baetica attracted a higher number of visitors than A. paucinervis. Drosophilids and, to a lesser extent, phorids, were the main pollinators of A. baetica, whereas in A. paucinervis, phorids were the only pollinators. Attendance to A. paucinervis flowers by phorids in mixed populations was markedly lower than in pure populations. This effect was more evident in years with lower pollinator density. Our results suggest that A. baetica and A. paucinervis may compete for pollinators in mixed populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to delineate the area of origin and migratory expansion of the highly successful invasive weedy species Hypochaeris radicata, we analysed amplified fragment length polymorphisms from samples taken from 44 populations. Population sampling focused on the central and western Mediterranean area, but also included sites from Northern Spain, Western and Central Europe, Southeast Asia and South America. The six primer combinations applied to 213 individuals generated a total of 517 fragments of which 513 (99.2%) were polymorphic. The neighbour-joining tree presented five clusters and these divisions were supported by the results of Bayesian analyses: plants in the Moroccan, Betic Sierras (Southern Spain), and central Mediterranean clusters are all heterocarpic. The north and central Spanish, southwestern Sierra Morena, and Central European, Asian and South American cluster contain both heterocarpic (southwestern Sierra Morena) and homocarpic populations (all other populations). The Doñana cluster includes two homocarpic populations. Analyses of fragment parameters indicate that the oldest populations of H. radicata are located in Morocco and that the species expanded from this area in the Late Quaternary via at least three migratory routes, the earliest of which seems to have been to the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, with subsequent colonizations to the central Mediterranean area and the Betic Sierras. Homocarpic populations originated in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula and subsequently spread across north and central Spain, Central Europe and worldwide, where they became a highly successful weed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]