Search

The article compares two different methods of defining pollen seasons based on 10 years of birch and grass pollen data from Berlin, Germany, and Vienna, Austria. The study found that the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) definition correlated significantly with allergic rhinitis symptoms reported by users of electronic diaries. The analysis showed differences in the start, end, and duration of pollen seasons between the two cities, highlighting the importance of accurately defining pollen seasons for clinical trials and allergen immunotherapy. The study confirmed the applicability of both the EAACI and percentage analysis (PA) methods in describing pollen season characteristics for different regions. [Extracted from the article]

Large cities are typically characterized by a mosaic of green spaces that hold a remarkable variety of native and "exotic" plants. Urban beekeeping has gained increasing popularity. In order to characterize the "urban" in the honey, pollen diversity in 50 honey samples from 18 apiary locations in Vienna, Austria, was microscopically analyzed. The relative abundances of each plant taxon were determined by counting out 500 individual pollen grains per sample. In total, 202 taxa could be identified, with a median of 46 per sample. Taxa richness and diversity differed significantly across three years but did not so between urban and suburban apiaries. Despite trees comprising only roughly a quarter of all taxa, the amount of tree pollen was disproportionally high. The invasive Ailanthus altissima was predominant in 15 out of 50 samples. Other important non-native and/or ornamental trees included Sophora japonica, Gleditsia triacanthos, Castanea sativa, Koelreuteria paniculata, and Liriodendron tulipifera. Urban honey from Central Europe may typically comprise pollen taxa from Europe, East Asia, and North America alike. The results of this study show that intentionally planted, managed urban green spaces can support stable foraging resources for pollinators in cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benefiting from the rapid development of environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies, sedimentary DNA (sedDNA) emerges as a promising tool for monitoring plant compositions in remote regions. The Tibetan Plateau (TP), renowned for its harsh environment and numerous ponds and lakes, presents a potentially demanding region for the application of sedDNA on vegetation investigations. Here, we used the g and h universal primers for the P6 loop region of the chloroplast trnL (UAA) intron to amplify plant DNA in surface sediments from 59 ponds and small lakes on the southwestern TP. The applicability and limitations of using plant DNA metabarcoding for modern vegetation monitoring and palaeo-vegetation reconstructions have been assessed by comparing sedDNA, pollen, and vegetation survey data. Our results showed that plant DNA metabarcoding recorded 186 terrestrial taxa, of which 30.1% can be identified at the species level. The plant sedDNA approach can effectively disclose the dominant plant taxa (including Asteraceae, Cyperaceae and Poaceae) and significant vegetation assemblages in the vicinity of the investigated sites. The number of taxa and taxonomic resolution of plant sedDNA exceeded that of pollen analysis (75 taxa detected, 5.3% can be identified at species level). Unlike pollen that retains a broad spectrum of regional plant signals (including Pinus and Artemisia), plant sedDNA mirrors very local plants, underscoring its utility in local vegetation monitoring and reconstructions. To conclude, plant DNA metabarcoding of (small) lake sediments warrant increased attention in the future for local vegetation monitoring and reconstructions on the TP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Holocene infill of an intermittently open-closed barrier estuary (Painkalac Creek/Aireys Inlet) was examined on the southern margins of Australia, through aerial LiDAR, coring, sedimentology, radiocarbon dating and pollen analysis. It is found that almost all the accommodation space within the estuary has been occupied, with a thick sequence (>9 m) of sediments being deposited rapidly soon after flooding by the sea. The rate of sedimentation was 4.8 mm/year which closely matches the rate of sea level rise (4.5 mm/year) during the 1200 year period that the estuary infilled, from around 8000–6800 years ago. The evidence of estuarine deposition above the elevation of the modern intertidal zone provides significant further evidence for the presence of the mid-Holocene highstand sea level in this relatively unstudied part of the Australian coast. The pattern of infill departs from the traditional barrier evolution models. The first phase of infill was likely tide dominated with subtidal sand shoals being found landward of a subtidal bedrock sill. Once a beach-barrier sequence formed, the estuary infilled in a more traditional manner, with lateral progradation of a flood tide delta and central mud basin infill. The barrier estuary of Painkalac Creek therefore has undergone a complex evolutionary history, characterised by a change in process dominance from classic tidal to wave-dominated form. Infill occurred in a keep-up (or fast catch-up) mode, with geological control occurring in regard to the presence of an intertidal bedrock sill at the mouth of the estuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study discovers the distribution of vegetation in the Sougna Mountain and its modern pollen representation and investigates the relationships with environment and land use variables. A total of 31 moss polsters were collected between 138 and 1364 m above sea-level from wooded to open areas (e.g. cork oak forest, pine reforestation, and shrubland). At each sampling site land use and environment variables were collected. The vegetation in the Sougna Mountain is scattered in a mosaic along three vegetation belts which are displayed in distinct pollen assemblages dominated by the pollen equivalents of the vegetation types (Quercus suber forest, matorrals of Erica spp. and Cistus spp. and Pinus pinaster reforestation). The variation between the variables and pollen data was performed using CCA analysis. The anthropogenic variables such as grazing, and cultivation, contribute to discrimination of the degraded and grazed areas. High precipitation and altitude have a rather good correlation to wooded communities and consequently a good relation to the tree cover. Our results show that the pollen types of Poaceae, Cannabis, Plantago, Nicotiana, Asteraceae, and Urtica are related mostly to human practice and distinguish the disrupted communities. The presence of those taxa in the pollen diagram must be interpreted carefully. A high taxonomic resolution is recommended to prevent the overestimation of the abundance of some taxa. Our results contribute to the advancement of palynological reconstructions of past vegetation and land use in Sougna Mountain and generally in the Rif landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen morphology and the reproductive biology of Calophyllum brasiliense were investigated in Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga, São Paulo, Brazil. The study encompassed pollen analyses using light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, we collected data on reproductive biology, main visitors/pollinators, fruit set, and seed germination. The species exhibits individuals with perfect flowers (hermaphrodites) as well as male individuals with staminate and perfect flowers. Flowering occurs in October and November, and flowers have diurnal anthesis and pollen as a floral resource. Pollen grains are monads of medium size, isopolar, oblate-spheroidal to prolate-spheroidal, 3-(4)-zonocolporate, with exine fossulate-perforate with supratectal microechini. Hermaphrodite individuals have the highest proportion of malformed pollen due to their reduced grain size. The pollen grains from the hermaphrodite individuals displayed a low viability (0.06%), while those from male individuals had higher viability (66.38% and 55.78% for perfect and staminate flowers, respectively). The stigma was receptive throughout the anthesis period. Cross-pollination between perfect flowers of male and hermaphrodite individuals resulted in 8.80% success in fruit set, but led to the development of one abnormal seedling. Cross-pollination between staminate flowers and perfect flowers of hermaphrodite individuals showed a 7.70% success rate and the control group showed an 8.00% success rate, both groups leading to the development of normal seedlings. This tree species shows relatively low reproductive success and relies on pollinators (mainly Apis mellifera, Paratrigona subnuda, Tetragonisca angustula, and Halictidae sp. 1) for the setting of fruits and seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sampling for describing plant-pollinator interaction networks has been performed using techniques that either focus on the plants (with flowervisit data) or the animals (with analyzing pollen on the body surface of flower visitors). The differences in the structure of the networks obtained using these methods likely influences our understanding of the contribution of nocturnal pollinators, yet this key finding has yet to be the focus of study. Methods: In this study, we conducted an intensive diurnal field survey in the subalpine meadows of the Dajiuhu Wetland and supplemented the data with an analysis of diurnal and nocturnal pollen data to examine the changes in pollination networks. Results: We observed 41 plant and 154 pollinator species, corresponding to 665 specific interactions. Visitation and pollen analyses showed significant differences in the composition and interaction between network plants and pollinators, resulting in important structural changes in the network. Given that the diurnal pollen data showed new links that were preferentially attached to highly connected nodes, the level of asymmetric specialization did not decrease; however, nestedness increased 1.3-fold, and mean pollinator connectivity from 3.1 to 5.1. As the behaviors of nocturnal pollinators tended to be more specialized, the inclusion of nocturnal pollen data led to an increase in the number of extreme-specialist pollinator species. Consequently, nestedness decreased 0.8-fold, but mean plant connectivity went from 14.2 to 16.2. Discussion: These findings suggest that the structure of pollination networks is influenced by the sampling methods and the level of detail of the investigation. Our study has strong implications for the development of monitoring schemes for plant-pollinator interactions. Due to the practical difficulties of nocturnal field visitation, when conducting research, combining diurnal field visitation with both diurnal and nocturnal pollen analyses is the most convenient and realistic method to capture the full complexity of these networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backcrossing between Sikitita and its male parent Arbequina, offers the possibility to check the suitability of different self-incompatibility models proposed for olive. To determine Sikitita's response to self- and cross-pollination treatments, including pollination with its father Arbequina, we compared the parameters following pollen–pistil interaction, the resulting initial and final fruit set, and the paternity of the seeds produced under different crosses. The results showed that Sikitita behaves as a self-incompatible cultivar due to the inhibition of pollen tube growth in the pistil of self-pollinated flowers. This incompatibility reaction led to a significant reduction of self-fertilization and fruit set. Seed paternity analyses confirmed the self-incompatibility response of Sikitita. A similar incompatibility response was observed in Sikitita flowers when hand-pollinated with pollen of Arbequina and Koroneiki. On the contrary, cross-pollination with Arbosana gave excellent results, with analyses showing that pollen of Arbosana is largely preferred by Sikitita to father its seeds more than the pollen of other cultivars presented in the orchard. The backcross failure of Sikitita with Arbequina pollen suggests that the self-incompatibility system in olives is not of the gametophytic type. In contrast, pollination tests fit features of previously reported sporophytic self-incompatibility systems. However, some amendments are proposed, among them the incompatibility groups for Sikitita and Koroneiki. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire is the largest natural disturbance factor in the boreal forest and plays a critical role in the composition, structure, and succession of stands and landscapes. The island of Newfoundland, located in eastern Canada, is subjected to a greater maritime influence, which may result in longer fire return intervals. The limited data on the fire regime does not account for interactions between fire, vegetation, and climate throughout the Holocene. We used sediment cores from Arnold's Pond, Terra Nova National Park, which covered the last ~11,800 cal. yr BP, to investigate these interactions. We recognize 4 pollen zones and macroscopic charcoal analysis detected 45 local fire events. The 250-year mean fire return interval associated with the current vegetation is longer than a previous estimate for the park, but significantly shorter than other estimates for the island. Our mean fire return interval is within the range of fire estimates from Quebec with similar vegetation. Our results suggest that the fire regime was primarily influenced by vegetation and climate. The transition to an open forest from a shrub tundra resulted in increased fire activity and fire frequency, which were likely driven by additional fuel on the landscape, but could have also been influenced by unknown climatic factors. We identified several examples of changes in the fire frequencies and/or charcoal accumulation that coincided with regional climate shifts, but we also identified a non-synchronous change. The non-synchronous shift to drier conditions resulted in a ~500-year time lag between peak Pinus strobus abundance and maximum fire frequency. Synchronous shifts in fire activity and/or fire frequency coincided with the 8200 event, Medieval Climate Anomaly and Little Ice Age. We also noted a decrease in fire frequency between 2600-1500 cal. yr BP that coincided with similar changes in the fire frequency from ~3000-1000 cal. yr BP in Que bec. Our study highlights the complex interactions influencing the fire regime in our study area during the Holocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercially cultivated Prunus species are commonly grown in adjacent or mixed orchards and can be infected with unique or commonly shared viruses. Apple (Malus domestica), another member of the Rosacea and distantly related to Prunus, can share the same growing regions and common pathogens. Pollen can be a major route for virus transmission, and analysis of the pollen virome in tree fruit orchards can provide insights into these virus pathogen complexes from mixed production sites. Commercial honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollination is essential for improved fruit sets and yields in tree fruit production systems. To better understand the pollen-associated virome in tree fruits, metagenomics-based detection of plant viruses was employed on bee and pollen samples collected at four time points during the peak bloom period of apricot, cherry, peach, and apple trees at one orchard site. Twenty-one unique viruses were detected in samples collected during tree fruit blooms, including prune dwarf virus (PDV) and prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) (Genus Ilarvirus, family Bromoviridae), Secoviridae family members tomato ringspot virus (genus Nepovirus), tobacco ringspot virus (genus Nepovirus), prunus virus F (genus Fabavirus), and Betaflexiviridae family member cherry virus A (CVA; genus Capillovirus). Viruses were also identified in composite leaf and flower samples to compare the pollen virome with the virome associated with vegetative tissues. At all four time points, a greater diversity of viruses was detected in the bee and pollen samples. Finally, the nucleotide sequence diversity of the coat protein regions of CVA, PDV, and PNRSV was profiled from this site, demonstrating a wide range of sequence diversity in pollen samples from this site. These results demonstrate the benefits of area-wide monitoring through bee pollination activities and provide new insights into the diversity of viruses in tree fruit pollination ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative palynofloral analysis of late Berriasian to early Hauterivian aged sediments from the Vocontian Basin of southeast France has involved fifty-four outcrop samples from Vergol (Montbrun-les-Bains) and twenty-seven from La Charce (Serre de l'Âne). All samples were marls except for two from the early Valanginian Barrande layers, thin black layers rich in organic carbon. Sampling was focused particularly on the Berriasian/Valanginian, early/late Valanginian and Valanginian/Hauterivian boundaries with two of these particularly important as La Charce is the GSSP for base Hauterivian and Vergol is a GSSP candidate for base Valanginian. Although little has been previously published on the palynology of the Vocontian Basin, this study has benefitted from many previous multi-disciplinary studies in the area; the numerous palynofloral events recorded are tied closely to the standard ammonite zonation. Analyses were mainly focused on the dinocysts, but miospores have also been considered in terms of their palaeoenvironmental response, allowing broad assessment of relative sea level changes. Some linkage between peaks in coastal/lowland ratios, the d13C curve through the Weissert carbon isotope excursion (CIE) and the Muderongia group (possible reduced salinity) have been shown. A new dinocyst zonation scheme is proposed, involving twelve zones, eight of which cover the Valanginian; previous schemes are briefly discussed. Two genera, twenty-three species and five subspecies of stratigraphically-significant dinoflagellate cysts are described as new, two genera have been emended and thirteen new combinations have been proposed. The diagnosis of one acritarch genus has been emended and two new combinations effected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation breaks new ground by examining the Raniganj sediments in the Kendudihi section of the Ib‐River Coalfield, Odisha, India. The study identifies a megaflora consisting of 25 species of Glossopteris, Vertebraria indica, stem casts and equisetaceous stems. The microflora is predominantly composed of Striatopodocarpites spp., with a secondary presence of Densipollenites spp. The lithological signatures, including off‐white fine‐grained sandstone with thin bands of silty shale and grey shale, indicate that these sediments belong to the Late Permian succession of the Lower Gondwana sequence, specifically the Raniganj Formation. The macrofloral assemblage found in the lowermost grey shale can be attributed to the Wordian–Capitanian age, while the microfloral assemblage in the upper silty shale resembles that of the Wuchiapingian‐Changhsingian age. Well‐preserved palynomorphs and megafossils, along with the abundant occurrence of lath‐shaped translucent phytoclasts in the grey and silty shale of the Raniganj sediments exposed in the Kendudihi section, explicitly suggest that the sediments were deposited in proximal, low‐energy swampy settings. Additionally, the moderate occurrence of charcoal (20%), along with the existence of degraded organic matter (DOM: 7.6%) and amorphous organic matter (AOM: 16.4%), indicates that the sediments might have been deposited in oxic–dysoxic conditions. The palynological and megafloral studies reveal a warm‐temperate climate with low humidity and intermittent spells of hot and cold seasons, associated with abundant rainfall. The occurrence of phosphorite in the form of nodules and thin lenses, as well as biogenic structures at the juncture of the Raniganj and Barren Measures formations, suggests a marine incursion in the area during the deposition of the late Barren Measures and early Raniganj sediments. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis identified fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F) as the predominant phosphatic mineral phase in the phosphatic nodule, siltstone and claystone. The Post‐Archean Australian Shale composition, normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns of samples from this area, reveals slight positive La (average La anomaly: 1.02) and Gd (average Gd anomaly: 1.05) anomalies and heavy REE enrichment compared to light REE, explicitly indicating a marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turbidites, deposited by sub‐aqueous gravity flows, are common in sedimentary archives worldwide and present a unique challenge and opportunity when reconstructing past vegetation through pollen analysis. When sampling pollen from a sediment core for palaeovegetation records, it is common practice to target background sediments (i.e. pelagic sediment) and avoid sampling turbidites, as they are presumed to portray a misleading picture of past vegetation. This assumption stems from our limited understanding of pollen abundance and distribution through turbidites, meaning that palynologists overlook deposits that could potentially be used to reconstruct past vegetation and climate. We present pollen assemblage and sedimentological data from four recent (<150 years) deep marine turbidite deposits from the Hikurangi Subduction Margin, Aotearoa‐New Zealand, with the aim of understanding the abundance and distribution of pollen in fine‐grained turbidites. We find that pollen is diluted in the bases of turbidites, but despite this dilution, the proportions of different pollen taxa remain consistent through each turbidite. These results confirm that pollen can be sampled from turbidites for palaeovegetation reconstructions and that sampling the fine‐grained upper parts of turbidites will provide the best pollen recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of the Last Interglacial (ca. 129 to 116 ka BP) provide an opportunity to study the impact of high‐latitude warm temperatures on the Earth system. To build an accurate spatio‐temporal picture of climate and environmental variability during the Last Interglacial, building robust chronologies, through which the patchwork of terrestrial, marine, and ice core archives can be correlated, is paramount. In this review, we briefly evaluate the most common approaches used to date climate and environmental archives from the Last Interglacial, as well as the chronostratigraphic tools available for direct correlation between sequences, with a focus on terrestrial archives. We then present a case study on the use of pollen biostratigraphy for correlating sequences in NW Europe, highlighting its strength as a local correlation tool, and the challenges this approach presents in comparing sequences to global records of climate and environmental change. A move towards consistently dated sequences will improve our understanding of environmental responses to Last Interglacial climate variability across different elements of the global climate system and the rates at which different elements of the climate system respond to changes in global temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adulteration of food products is a serious problem in the current economy. Honey has become the third most counterfeit food product in the world and requires effective authentication methods. This article presents a new approach to the differentiation of bee pollen, which can support the development of a methodology to test honey quality based on the analysis of bee pollen. The proposed method is built on applying the Hjorth descriptors—Activity, Mobility, and Complexity—known from electroencephalography (EEG) analysis, for 2D bee pollen images. The sources for extracting the bee pollen images were the photos of honey samples, which were taken using a digital camera with a resolution of 5 megapixels connected to the tube of an optical microscope. The honey samples used were prepared according to the Polish standard PN-88/A-77626 (related to the European standard CELEX-32001L0110-PL-TXT). The effectiveness of the proposed method was positively verified for three selected groups of bee pollen—Brassica napus, Helianthus, and Phacelia—containing 35 images. Statistical analysis confirms the ability of the Hjorth descriptors to differentiate the indicated bee pollen groups. Based on the results obtained, there is a significant difference between the bee pollen groups under consideration regarding Activity p < 0.00001 , Mobility p < 0.0001 , and Complexity p < 0.00001 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacial periods have been considered as inhospitable environments that consist of treeless vegetation at higher latitudes. The fossil record suggests many species survived the Last Glacial Maximum within refugia, usually at lower latitudes. However, phylogeographic studies have given support to the existence of previously unknown high-latitude refugia that were not detected in the fossil record. Here, we test the hypothesis that cold-tolerant trees of Patagonia survived cold periods in microclimatically favourable locales where hybridization occurred between sister taxa. To study local presence through glacial periods in multiple refugia, we used pollen records and genetic information (isozymes, microsatellites, and combined nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequences) of population pairs of Nothofagus antarctica and N. pumilio that belong to the ancient subgenus Nothofagus which can potentially hybridize in nature, along their entire latitudinal range in Patagonia. Studied species share the N. dombeyi type pollen, which was abundant at >20% in the northernmost latitudinal bands (35–43°S), even during the Last Glacial Maximum. Mid- and southern latitudinal records (44–55°S) yielded lower abundances of ~10% that increased after c. 15.0 cal. ka BP. Therefore, fossil pollen evidence suggests a long-lasting local presence of Nothofagus throughout glacial–interglacial cycles but mostly as small populations between 44°S and 51°S. We found species-specific and shared genetic variants, the latter of which attained relatively high frequencies, thus providing evidence of ancestral polymorphisms. Populations of each species were similarly diverse, suggesting survival throughout the latitudinal range. Estimates of coalescent divergence times were broadly synchronous across latitudes, suggesting that regional climates similarly affected populations and species that hybridized through climate cycles, fostering local persistence. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene flow affects the genetic diversity and structure of tree species and can be influenced by stress related to changing climatic conditions. The study of tree species planted in locations outside their natural range, such as arboreta or botanical gardens, allows us to analyse the effect of severe fragmentation on patterns and distances of gene flow. Paternity analysis based on microsatellite marker genotyping was used to analyse how fragmentation affects gene flow among individuals of Quercus rubra L. distributed in a small isolated group of trees (15 trees) planted in the arboretum on the North Campus of the University of Göttingen. For paternity analysis, 365 seedlings from four seed parents were selected and genotyped using 16 microsatellites. The analysis revealed the majority of pollen (84.89%) originated from trees within the site and identified three large full-sib families consisting of 145, 63 and 51 full-sibs. The average pollen dispersal distance for the four seed parents ranged from 17.3 to 103.6 meters. We observed substantial genetic differentiation among effective pollen clouds of the four seed parents (G"ST = 0.407) as a result of cross pollination between neighboring trees. No self-fertilization was observed. Gene dispersal via pollen followed the expected distance-dependent pattern, and we observed a significant influx of external pollen (15.11%, ranging from 8.64 to 26.26% for individual seed parents) from a diverse set of donors (30). Long-distance pollen dispersal could explain the presence of significant genetic variation even in isolated natural Q. rubra populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Poaceae family, one of the most diverse and widespread angiosperms, is prevalent in various natural and urban environments and is a major cause of allergies, affecting over 20% of the population in Europe, specifically in Ireland. With extensive grasslands, Ireland supports numerous grass species, though pollen release varies due to the family's complexity. The Hirst spore-trap is commonly used to sample airborne pollen, but the area of influence is debated and may differ by pollen type. This study compares grass pollen seasons between rural Carlow and urban Dublin, aiming to create forecast models for airborne pollen and identify key grass areas influencing the main pollen season (MPS). Two Hirst samplers were analyzed, using data up to 2020, and two threshold models (based on Swedish and Danish studies) were tested to find the best fit for Ireland. Airmass footprints were calculated using Hysplit and combined with grassland data to pinpoint major pollen sources. The results showed that Carlow had higher pollen concentrations but shorter seasons than Dublin. The Swedish threshold method was the most accurate for Ireland, with the Wicklow Mountains identified as a significant pollen source. These findings improve the understanding of pollen dynamics and support better public health and allergy management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The value of deep‐water sedimentary successions as reliable records of environmental change has been questioned due to their long response times and sediment pathways leading to complex responses to climatic change and tectonic signals over differing timescales. We studied the Gulf of Corinth, Greece, to test the value of deep‐water stratigraphic successions as records of external controls on sediment flux in a setting with short response times and transport distances. The confinement of the rift basin allows for a near‐complete accounting of clastic sediment volumes. The recent acquisition of high‐resolution seismic reflection data, utilisation of International Ocean Discovery Programme Expedition 381 cores and a robust chronological framework, enable evaluation of the stratigraphy at a high temporal resolution. Combining borehole and high‐resolution seismic reflection data, distinct seismic units can be correlated to multiple paleoenvironmental proxies, permitting quantification of sediment flux variation across successive glacial–interglacial cycles at ca. 10 kyr temporal resolution. Trends in average sediment flux since ca. 242 ka show ca. 2–9 times greater sediment flux in cooler glacials compared to warmer interglacial conditions. The Holocene is an exception to low sediment flux for the interglacials, with ca. 5 times higher rates than previous interglacials. The short and steep configuration of the Sythas canyon and its fan at the base of an active submarine normal fault results in deep‐sea deposition at all sea‐level stands. In contrast, adjacent canyon systems shut down during warm intervals. When combined with palynology, results show that periods of distinct vegetation re‐organisation correlate to sediment flux changes. The temporal correlation of sediment flux to palynology in the Gulf of Corinth over the last ca. 242 kyr is evidence that variability of sediment supply is largely governed by climate‐related changes in hinterland catchments, with sea‐level and tectonics being second‐order controls on sediment flux variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was intended to determine the melissopalynological characteristics, LAB color, browning index, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, phenolic profile, and their correlations within Iranian honeys. Ten honey samples were collected from beekeepers in various floristic regions of Iran, along with two commercial multi-floral samples. To determine the antioxidant activity, three methods of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, β-carotene bleaching, and Ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) were used. Phenolic compounds were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC–DAD). Pollen analysis revealed that bees primarily fed on the Fabaceae and Asteraceae families in the Iranian flora. The local samples were taxonomically categorized as multi-floral honey. Besides, the commercial samples demonstrated the lowest levels of total phenolics and relatively poor antioxidant activity across all three methods. Syringic acid and luteolin were the predominant phenolic compounds in all samples. A strong correlation (p < 0.01) was found between color, melanoidin content and antioxidant activity, while no significant correlation existed between phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Overall, the results confirmed that examined multi-floral honeys exhibited inferior antioxidant activity compared to studies conducted in other regions worldwide, possibly due to sugar-fed bees, insufficient levels of potent phenolic constituents, and post-harvest thermal treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sedimentary environment of the Upper Triassic in the southeastern Sichuan Basin is obviously controlled by Luzhou paleo-uplift (LPU). However, the influence of paleo-uplift on the sedimentary patterns of the initial stages of this period in the southeastern Sichuan Basin has not yet been clear, which has plagued oil and gas exploration and development. This study shows that there is a marine sedimentary sequence, which is considered to be the first member of Xujiahe Formation (T3X¹ ) in the southeastern Sichuan Basin. The development of LPU resulted in the sedimentary differences between the eastern and western Sichuan Basin recording T3X¹ and controlled the regional sedimentary pattern. The western part is dominated by marine sediments, but the eastern paleo-uplift area is dominated by continental sedimentation in the early stage of T3X¹, and it begins to transform into a marine sedimentary environment consistent with the whole basin in the late stage of the period recorded by the Xujiahe Formation. The evidences are as follows: (1) time series: based on the cyclostratigraphy analysis of Xindianzi section and Well D2, in the southeastern Sichuan Basin, the period of sedimentation of the Xujiahe Formation is about 5.9 Ma, which is basically consistent with the Qilixia section, eastern Sichuan basin, where the Xujiahe Formation is widely considered to be relatively complete; (2) distribution and evolution of palaeobiology: based on analysis of abundance evolution of major spore-pollen, many land plant fossils are preserved in the lower part of T3X¹, indicates the sedimentary environment of continental facies. In the upper part of T3X¹, the fossil of terrestrial plants decreased, while the fossil of marine and tidal environment appeared, this means that it was affected by the sea water in the late stages of T3X¹ ; (3) geochemistry: calculate the salinity of water from element indicates that the uplift area is continental sedimentary environment in the early stage of T3X¹, while the central and western areas of the basin are marine sedimentary environment. Until the late stage of T3X¹, the southeast of the basin gradually turns into marine sedimentary environment, consisting with the whole basin; (4) types of kerogen: type III kerogen representing continental facies was developed in the early stage of T3X¹ in the uplift area, and type II kerogen, representing marine facies, was developed in the late stage; while type II kerogen was developed in the central and western regions of the basin as a whole in T3X¹ . This study is of great significance for understanding of both stratigraphic division and sedimentary evolution providing theoretical support for the exploration and development of oil and gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Boletín de la Sociedad Argentina de Botánica is the property of Sociedad Argentina de Botanica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Two graves, initially discovered in the 1930s, were reopened and examined in 2017 and 2018 at the Early Medieval cemetery of Toppolanmäki, Finland. Soil samples taken from the graves were sampled for macrofossils, pollen and microfauna. Pollen and spore analysis provided possible evidence for the use of mosses and juniper branches in the graves. Also, moss-indicating microfauna (Euglypha spp.) was detected. At Toppolanmäki, mosses were used in both coffins and earth burials. The clubmoss found in the latter could even indicate the presence of a woven carpet or mattress in the grave pit. The use of juniper, on the other hand, could indicate ritual continuation from the Iron Age as it is a common find in older cemeteries. It is also possible that the early medieval environment around the site was characterised by dry meadows and juniper bushes at the time of the burial, and even that one of the burials took place in early summer. The study highlights the research potential of graves that have been excavated decades ago and presents a new biological indicator of the use of moss in burials: the testate amoeba Euglypha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out at the Trans-Himalayan Herbal Garden, located at the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa-Leh, from 2021 to 2023. An assessment of pollen viability was conducted using seven significant medicinal and aromatic plants from the Ladakh region. Analysis of pollen vitality was conducted using the acetocarmine staining technique. The pollen viability of Inula racemosa Hook. f. ranged from 91.08 ± 1.39 % to 82.44 ± 1.48 % in Ephedra gerardiana Wall. Among the genus Inula racemosa, the highest percentage (91.08%) of viable pollens indicates a normal meiosis, whereas Ephedra gerardiana recorded the lowest percentage. Among the chosen species, Inula racemosa, Verbascumthapsus, Hyoscyamus niger, and Dracocephalum heterophyllum stand out for their exceptional pollen viability. These species can be effectively utilized for conservation purposes and as male parents in hybridization. The result for the average pollen density varied from 1533.07 ± 106.32 in Capparis spinosa L. to 276.00 ± 10.20 in Dracocephalum heterophyllum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfossil classification is an important discipline in subsurface exploration, for both oil & gas and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The abundance and distribution of species found in sedimentary rocks provide valuable information about the age and depositional environment. However, the analysis is difficult and timeconsuming, as it is based on manual work by human experts. Attempts to automate this process face two key challenges: (1) the input data are very large - our dataset is projected to grow to 3 billion microfossils, and (2) there are not enough labeled data to use the standard procedure of training a deep learning classifier. We propose an efficient pipeline for processing and grouping fossils by genus, or even species, from microscope slides using self-supervised learning. First we show how to efficiently extract crops from whole slide images by adapting previously trained object detection algorithms. Second, we provide a comparison of a range of self-supervised learning methods to classify and identify microfossils from very few labels. We obtain excellent results with both convolutional neural networks and vision transformers fine-tuned by self-supervision. Our approach is fast and computationally light, providing a handy tool for geologists working with microfossils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a new section of the late Palaeocene‐early Eocene, palynological assemblages and stable carbon isotopes from the Lakadong sandstone member of the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya (India). The Palaeocene‐Eocene transition (PET) is marked by stratigraphic markers of dinoflagellate cysts (taxa of Apectodinium augustum, now Axiodinium augustum) and negative carbon isotope excursion. The palynofloral assemblage indicates the sequence represents warm, humid tropical to subtropical conditions with heavy rainfall. The depositional environment of the Lakadong Sandstone Member is interpreted to be neritic. The new insights of this study in this section suggest the PET with the occurrence of Apectodinium acme consisting of A. augustum at CS5‐15a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate characterization of crops or fruits leads to successful improvements in breeding programs. Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is the second most common fruit in Egypt. It is a heterozygous plant; consequently, the possibility of incorrect characterization is significant. Therefore, this study used six accessions of two M. indica cultivars, 'Keitt' and 'Ewais', to produce precise molecular characterization and prove their genetic relatedness using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and start codon targeted (SCoT) markers. Pollen morphology was studied for the first time for these two Egyptian cultivars to determine their correlation. Morphological traits were quantitatively and qualitatively investigated. In addition, phytochemical analyses were performed to correlate the six mango accessions. One of these accessions (accession 3) was commercially identified as 'Ewais' cv., but the obtained result revealed that it does not belong to 'Ewais' cv. This finding was proved molecularly using ISSR and SCoT markers and morphologically. Similarly, phytochemical analyses revealed a difference between accession 3 and the other accessions under investigation. Polymorphic information content (PIC) and resolving power (RP) data revealed that the SCoT technique was more informative than ISSR for studying these genotypes of mango. Accordingly, the present findings prove the necessity for molecular, morphological, palynological, and biochemical investigations for accurate characterization of mango genotypes and genetic relatedness for improving breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study described the systematic classification of Rubiaceous species by investigating morpho pollinic traits, providing a comprehensive analysis of their diversity and relationships. The implications of this taxonomic approach extend to conservation efforts, offering valuable insights for the preservation and sustainable management. This research aimed to explored palynological attributes of selected Rubiaceous species from the diverse phytogeographic regions of Pakistan. A total of 14 species categorized into five genera of Rubiaceae (Galium species, Hamelia Himalrandia, Plocama and Rubia) were analyzed using light and scanning microscopy techniques to observed both qualitative and quantitative parameters. The qualitative traits; pollen shape and diameter, polar to equatorial distance ratio, and exine sculpturing shows significant variability. The pollen aperture of predominant type were Stephanocolpate-8 and Stephanocolpate-6 and pollen shapes were lobate and circular. The average, minimum, maximum, and standard error statistics of quantitative pollen measurements were calculated using SPSS 16.0 software. The polar axis diameter was observed maximum for Plocama rosea (28.75 μm) and minimum for Rubia cordifolia (15.75 μm). Exine stratification was examined showing taxonomic diversity aids to Rubiaceous species identification. The exine peculiarities were observed; scabrate micro-echinate, micro-echinate foveolate, scabrate echinate, scabrate punctate, rugulate scabrate, scabrate psilate, micro-echinate, and rugulate reticulate. Exine thickness was noted highest for Galium spurium (3.35 μm) and lowest for Rubia infundibularis (1.1.5 μm). The integration of palyno-morphological features proves to be a powerful tool for refining the systematic classification of Rubiaceous species, enhancing our understanding of their evolutionary relationships. The conservation implications underscore the importance of incorporating detailed palyno-taxonomic insights for the preservation of ecologically significant Rubiaceous species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the molecular mechanisms underlying pollen tube growth in pear trees. The researchers focused on the role of flavonoids, a group of plant secondary metabolites, in regulating pollen development and growth. They identified a specific gene, PbrF3H, that is involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and found that it is regulated by a transcription factor called PbrMYB186. Knockdown experiments showed that both PbrF3H and PbrMYB186 are essential for flavonoid production and pollen tube growth. The study provides insights into the regulatory network of flavonoids in pear pollen tubes. [Extracted from the article]

The widespread use of pollen analysis in various fields in Indonesia is hampered mainly by the application of pro-analyst chemicals in standard pollen preparation. To solve this problem, a new pollen preparation technique using technical chemicals was developed. The results of comparison between this new technique with the standard technique used before showed that the pollen-spore yields, the quality of pollen slides, and the slide visibility resulted from both techniques is comparable. Furthermore, the new technique reduced the chemical cost of the standard technique by IDR. 87,125.00 per sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen, fruit, and seed morphology of the Cistus species (Cistaceae) from Turkey were investigated by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to describe their characteristics and to clarify the diagnostic importance of these properties for taxonomical purposes. The pollen grains are oblate-spheroidal, with the polar axis ranging from 32 to 55 μm, and the equatorial axis ranging from 34.25 to 57 μm. Microreticulate-rugulate, striato-reticulate, microechinate, and microreticulate with smooth supratectal elements were found on exine sculpturing. The fruits are ovoid, oblong-globose, or ovoid-globose, and their size ranges between 3–11.2 mm in length and 2.9–10.3 mm in width. Capsule surface patterns can be divided into three types, namely irregularly reticulate, striate, and reticulate-areolate. The hairs on the capsule show variation in type: pilose, bifurcate, and stellate. The seeds are polyhedral, ovoid, rhomboid, oblong, or tetrahedral, and their color varies between dark brown, reddish-brown, yellowish-brown, and black. Four seed coat ornamentation types were observed: reticulate-ruminate, reticulate-rugose, colliculate-ruminate, and alveolate-rugose. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis revealed that the pollen dimension, exine sculpturing, capsule size, capsule indumentum type, capsule surface pattern, seed color, and seed coat ornamentation are the most significant variables to differentiate the Cistus species studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen is becoming an increasingly important subject for molecular researchers in genetic engineering, plant breeding, and environmental monitoring. To broaden the scope of these studies, it is essential to develop accessible methods for scientists who are not specialized in palynology. The article presents a simplified technical procedure for preparing pollen grains for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The protocol is convenient for any molecular laboratory due to its small set of reagents, ease of execution, low cost, does not require special equipment, and takes only one hour to complete. The high penetrating ability of formaldehyde and the final delicate dehydration using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) instead of critical point drying allow for sufficient preservation of the architecture of the aperture, which is considered a gateway for the passage of biomolecules. The method was successfully applied to pollen grains of representatives of dicotyledons (beetroot, petunia, radish, tomato and tobacco) and monocotyledons (lily, onion, corn, rye and wheat). Species studied included insect-pollinated (entomophilous) and wind-pollinated (anemophilous) species. A comparative analysis of the sizes of fresh living pollen grains under a light microscope and those prepared for SEM showed some shrinkage. Quantitative analysis of the degree of pollen grain shrinkage showed that this process depends on the initial shape of dry pollen grains, and the number and structure of apertures. The results support the theoretical model of the folding/unfolding pathways of pollen grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong aggradational tendencies during the late Pleni-Weichselian have been noted in river valleys in central Europe. Thick series of mineral deposits were laid down, but also organic or mineral-organic horizons were formed under favourable conditions. The study area is located in the central section of the valley of the River Warta within an extraglacial area of the last glaciation. At the Warenka site alluvia, that attain thicknesses of 16 m, were analysed. Lithofacies analysis, OSL dating of mineral sediments and radiocarbon dating of organic and mineral-organic strata were performed. Organic and mineral-organic deposits were also subjected to pollen and Cladocera analyses. Together this set of analyses was used to determine fluvial processes and environmental conditions during the late Pleni-Weichselian. The results obtained allow the conclusion that these levels were deposited in the sedimentary environment of a low-energy, sand-bed braided river, which operated in the period from approximately 30 to 24 cal kBP – the late Pleni-Weichselian. During this time, there were periods when shallow water bodies were formed on the valley bottom, where deposition of organic material was possible. The presence of this type of sediment made it possible to reconstruct the vegetation cover; this had the character of a steppe-tundra, periodically shrubby steppe-tundra. Short-lived reservoirs were characterised by shallow-water settings with weakly developed vegetation and temporary influence of floodwaters as indicated by changes in cladoceran assemblages. Pollen spectra, low concentration of cladocerans, as well as the presence of the cold-tolerant Cladocera taxa are indicative of cold climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbaria are vital resources of biodiversity education and conservation. They contain significant dried collections and botanical data of plant species that are useful for taxonomy, systematics, and plant-based applied research applications. Verbascum L. is the largest genus within the Scrophulariaceae family globally. However, the high morphological diversity within the genus poses significant challenges for accurate species delimitation. This study investigated the pollen and seed morphology of seven distinct Verbascum groups (comprising 10 taxa, including three endemics) from southeastern Anatolia using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM analyses revealed that all examined taxa possessed tricolporate pollen apertures, with pollen shapes varying between prolate spheroidal and oblate spheroidal. Seeds exhibited a light brown to dark brown color, with a prismatic oblong shape and alveolate surface. The seed coat ornamentation consisted of irregular polygonal cells, densely covered with distinct vesicles. Findings demonstrate significant morphological distinctions in both pollen and seed characteristics, suggesting their utility in taxonomic discrimination within Verbascum groups. Notably, the detailed micromorphology revealed by SEM proved to be particularly valuable for classifying these taxa. These results contribute the understanding of the taxonomic diversity within Verbascum and highlight the crucial role of SEM in uncovering microstructural details for accurate species identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a multiproxy analysis of a sediment core from Freshwater Pond, Barbuda, one of just a few inland paleoenvironmental records from the Lesser Antilles. Our results shed light on the relative contributions of climate variability and Pre- and Post-Columbian human activities to vegetation and fire dynamics on Barbuda. The presence of macroscopic charcoal and pollen of ethnobotanically-useful and disturbance-indicator plant taxa in the sediment record suggests that Pre-Columbian subsistence activities occurred within a few kilometers of the pond between ~150 BCE and ~1250 CE. Our record extends anthropogenic fires back into the early Ceramic (500 BCE–1500 CE) and possibly late Archaic Ages (3000–500 BCE) adding evidence to the timing of arrival of the island's earliest inhabitants. The history of island-wide biomass burning inferred from microscopic charcoal fragments showed heightened fire activity between ~540 and ~1610 CE followed by a period of quiescence that reflected the transition from Pre- to Post-Columbian land-use practices associated with European colonization of the region. The British established a permanent settlement on Barbuda in the 1660s, but given Barbuda's unsuitability for large-scale agriculture, timber harvesting, small-scale farming, and livestock rearing, activities that left no detectable charcoal footprints likely dominated post-colonial land use. The lack of any clear correspondence between the reconstructed histories of fire and effective moisture at Freshwater Pond supports the idea that Late-Holocene fire activity on Barbuda was driven primarily by human activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changing climatic conditions is a perpetual circumstance for mankind. In this study, we investigate local environmental and climatic changes near Kangerlussuaq, west Greenland. Our reconstruction is based on a lake sediment core and methods include chemical proxies and a palynological analysis. The investigated site is located 15 km from the Aasivissuit Inuit summer hunting ground, which has been in use for caribou hunting for more than 2000 years. The presented climatic reconstruction covers the time from c. 560 CE to present time. We identify three distinct periods of climate regimes: From c. 560–1100 CE conditions were stable, warm and humid, and summer temperatures were 1.5–2°C warmer than today. 1100–1600 was a period of cooler and very arid conditions with more sea ice, corresponding to the Neoglacial cooling. In this period, we detect two wildfire events and subsequent temporary caribou abandonment of the area. From 1600 to present we find increasingly warmer conditions with more precipitation and less extensive sea ice cover, gradually approaching today's climate regime in Kangerlussuaq. We review the existing literature regarding the Aasivissuit summer hunting ground, which was first used concurrently with the detected cooling. Despite climatic deterioration, the hunting ground was regularly in use throughout the Neoglacial and onwards, with peak hunting intensity in the early 1700s. The detected wildfires and reindeer abandonment are interpreted to be localized events at the coring site and did not affect the hunting ground. Our findings highlight the resilience of the Inuit hunters to climatic changes as well as the advantages and limitations of local environmental reconstructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passifloreae is the largest tribe of the family Passifloraceae sensu stricto. Within the tribe, palynological studies are mostly restricted to the largest genus, Passiflora, given its large number of species, ca. 500 taxa. Consequently, other genera within the tribe are frequently underexplored, particularly in terms of pollen characters. Given the importance of pollen morphology for the taxonomic classification of Passifloraceae s.s., it is necessary to describe the pollen characters of Basananthe Peyr., Deidamia Noronha ex Thouars, and Efulensia C.H.Wright. The characters analyzed here include dispersion unit, polarity, size, shape, aperture number, aperture type, operculum type, and sexine ornamentation. Subsequently, 10 metric variables were subjected to principal component analysis. The results show that the studied genera could be easily distinguished based on pollen characters, confirming the importance of palynology. The pollen of all studied species, regardless of the genus, had the same aperture number and type, namely 3-colporate. Sexine ornamentation ranged from microreticulate to reticulate, without spines. Here, pollen characters of Basananthe, Deidamia, and Efulensia are compared with those of closely related genera and Passiflora, contributing to a more comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the group. The results confirm the importance of analyzing pollen attributes for the taxonomy of Passiflora s.s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed scanning electron microscopy to investigate the pollen morphology of Taiwanese Asparagaceae species, revealing that their pollen morphology closely aligns with that of other monocotyledonous plant taxa such as Asparagales, Commelinales, and Bromeliales. Despite the overall similarity, variations in pollen morphology across different genera were noted, highlighting its potential utility in classification. Unlike the wide diversity observed in flower morphology, Asparagaceae pollen morphology appears conservative, rendering it less effective as a taxonomic marker at the species level. The study also delved into the effects of pollenkitt and harmomegathy on pollen morphology, discovering that pollenkitt partially or completely coats the pollen surface, potentially complicating the identification of exine sculpture. Furthermore, the harmomegathic effect was observed to influence aperture dynamics. Consequently, observing both hydrated and dried pollen is advisable, as it can more accurately depict the pollen's aperture morphology and offer additional insights for pollen grain analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huberia DC. is a genus belonging to the family Melastomataceae, which comprises 37 species distributed in vegetation formations of the Amazon Forest and Andes complex and the Atlantic Forest biome. Recent phylogenetic studies have modified the circumscription of the genus to include the genera Behuria Cham. and Dolichoura Brade. Furthermore, the genus was placed in the new tribe Cambessedesieae, together with the genera Cambessedesia DC. and Merianthera Kuhlm. In view of the relevant contribution of palynology to taxonomic and phylogenetic studies, this study aimed to expand the palynological knowledge of Huberia. Samples from 22 species were obtained from specimens deposited in the herbaria of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (RB), National Museum/UFRJ (R), Municipal Botanical Museum of Curitiba (MBM), and Federal University of Paraná (UPCB). Flower buds were acetolysed and used to prepare pollen sediment slides. Slides were mounted with glycerinated gelatin and analyzed and photographed under a light microscope. The results showed pollen grains in monads, small, varying in shape from prolate-spheroidal to subprolate; heteroaperturate (colporate and pseudocolpate), tricolporate, with a small, very small, or non-existent polar area in syncolporate pollen; colpi long or very long and narrow, endoaperture lalongate with median constriction in most species and lolongate in others; exine perforate, rugulate, or striate microreticulate and the sexine thicker than the nexine. Based on the findings of this study, it is concluded that palynological characters provide information for the taxonomy of the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present the palynological composition of a single sample of the elusive purple honey collected in southern North Carolina and discuss how it fits within a nearby statewide South Carolina melissopalynological study. 302 samples were collected by nineteen beekeepers participating in this year-long project, submitting honey samples while honeybees were actively collecting nectar. The absence of pollen of Pueraria (kudzu) in the purple honey dismisses the often-suggested link between the unique tint of the purple honey and kudzu's purple pollen. A second hypothesis hinting that the tint could be linked to ripened berries is not reinforced by our investigation as pollen of Ericaceae (eg blueberries) and Rosaceae (eg blackberries) were not found in the purple honey sample but were commonly found in classic golden honey analyzed. The presence of Vitis pollen supports the possibility that bees forage on wild muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) which was available in the foraging area. This study cannot discredit the possibility that bees were foraging on berry juices or other sugar sources containing purple pigments because these sources contain little or no pollen. A third hypothesis proposes a link between purple honey and the sourwood tree, Oxydendrum arboretum. This hypothesis is supported by this investigation as the dominant pollen type recovered in the purple honey was sourwood, with 19% in relative abundance, a significant percentage for this plant. We suggest chemical analysis of purple honey samples be conducted to determine if berry juice or sourwood is the more likely source of the pigmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core samples from four boreholes (SAV-1, SAV-117, SAV-124, SAV-125) within the Vaddugudem block of the Godavari Valley Coalfield, Southern India have been palynologically investigated to understand the stratigraphic setting of that area. Only 60 out of the 172 samples yielded identifiable palynoassemblages. From the observed palynofloral composition, five distinct palynoassemblages (Scheuringipollenites Assemblage: PA-I, Striatopodocarpites + Faunipollenites Assemblage: PA-II, Striates + Striasulcites Assemblage: PA-III, Striates + Guttulapollenites Assemblage: PA-IV, Lundbladispora + Verrucosisporites Assemblage: PA-V) were identified. Furthermore, five distinct palynozones (Scheuringipollenites barakarensis Zone = PZ-1, Striatopodocarpites + Faunipollenites Zone = PZ-2, Gondisporites raniganjensis Zone = PZ-3, Guttulapollenites gondwanensis-Striatopodocatpites tiwarii Zone = PZ-4 and Playfordiaspora cancellosa Zone = PZ-5) were identified. These correspond to the Artinskian (PZ-1), Wordian–Capitanian (PZ-2 and PZ-3), Wuchiapingian–Changhsingian (PZ-4) and Induan–Olenekian (PZ-5), respectively. The study site is situated within a geologically active region within the basin, primarily attributed to the exposure of elevated basement rocks on the eastern side of the borehole locations. Notably, the palynozones appear as relatively narrow layers in the boreholes investigated within this tectonically disturbed basin. The repetition of palynoassemblages and palynozones at small intervals suggests that the boreholes are located in a fault zone with multiple fault planes and that palynomorphs were reworked along these fault planes. Fault slices of different lithological units containing palynoassemblages may have intersected the boreholes. Specifically, the recurrence of thin marker palynoassemblages and palynozones, which show similarities in age to the Barakar and Lower Kamthi/Raniganj formations, is likely attributable to tectonic disturbances, such as faulting. This disturbance may have induced the reworking or migration of palynomorphs along the fault plane. As a result, it is concluded that variations in the stratigraphic abundance of these reworked palynomorphs can serve as indicators of tectonic settings, even when these settings are not readily discernible in the geological record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the food sources used by bees in agricultural landscapes is crucial to promote pollinator conservation measures in and around cultivated areas. This investigation aims to identify and quantify the pollen resources exploited by Schwarziana quadripunctata (Lepeletier 1836), assessing the trophic niche of this bee in agricultural areas with coffee plantations. Pollen analysis was conducted based on the pollen load of the corbiculae of 70 bees, sampled during the flowering period of two species of coffee trees in commercial plantations located in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states, Brazil, in 2019 and 2021. A total of 78 pollen types from 23 botanical families were identified, with Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora comprising 92% of the samples. Cestrum sp. (2.3% – Solanaceae), Fabaceae sp. 1 (0.9%), Solanum sp. (0.75% – Solanaceae) and Chamaecrista sp. (0.71% – Fabaceae) were the next most prevalent. The dominance of the coffee tree pollen confirms the floral constancy of S. quadripunctata during periods of intense flowering. Excluding coffee pollen, the most represented families were Solanaceae (46.6% of the samples), Fabaceae (27.5%), Rubiaceae (8.51%), and Meliaceae (2.53%). The findings reveal that S. quadripunctata actively forages from sources other than coffee, even during the intense flowering of these plants, highlighting the importance of floral resources in the proximity of plantations. The use of pollen sources beyond the coffee tree highlights the importance of conserving nearby forest fragments and maintaining a diverse array of plants surrounding coffee trees even during coffee flowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands belong to the most endangered habitats in the world, and animals and plants occurring there are subjects of nature conservation efforts worldwide. Several species of bees and wasps have been comprehensively studied in recent years, but the biology and ecology of wetland-associated species remain largely enigmatic. The results showed that some of these species can be good bioindicators, useful in nature conservation. Hylaeus pectoralis is a small wetland-associated bee that is dependent on the presence of its nesting resource, cigar galls formed by the frit fly Lipara lucens on stems of common reed. We studied the presence of this bee species between 2011 and 2023, both in near-natural and anthropogenic habitats. This bee requires the presence of terrestrial reed with reed galls and occurs nearly exclusively in long-lasting localities of near-natural character with wet meadows rich in flowering plants. Our results showed that H. pectoralis requires mosaic sites with reed beds combined with wet meadows. The proportion of wet meadows in the H. pectoralis localities is more prominent than in localities where H. pectoralis was absent. The bee is polylectic, and we enlarged the number of pollen sources to plants of 22 families—the collected pollen was from plants of many habitats, including plants of wet meadows and aquatic plants. Though recording of H. pectoralis in the locality is simple using the rearing from collected reed galls, this ecologically sensitive species can be used as an essential bioindicator for the quality of wetland habitats and the studies of the continuity of the habitats. Implications for insect conservation: The presence of the mosaic of wet meadows with flowering plants, small reed beds, reed margins, and small water reservoirs is necessary not only for Hylaeus pectoralis but also for other biota of wetlands. Mowing of reed margins should be implemented to only a part of the habitat. This mosaic management allows the preservation of old Lipara-induced galls needed for nesting of ecologically sensitive bees and wasps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Türkiye Jeoloji Bülteni is the property of TMMOB JEOLOJI MUHENDISLERI ODASI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The systematic status of sect. Tuberculata and its taxonomy have recently attracted considerable attention. However, the different bases for defining the characteristics of sect. Tuberculata has led to many disagreements among the plants in this group. Camellia neriifolia and Camellia ilicifolia have been the subject of taxonomic controversy and have been treated as different species or varieties of the same species. Therefore, it is important to use multiple methods, i.e., integrative taxonomy, to determine the taxonomic status of C. neriifolia and C. ilicifolia. This is the first study to systematically explore the taxonomic position of these two plants on the basis of Morphology, Anatomy, Palynology and Molecular Systematics. Results: Extensive specimen reviews and field surveys showed that many differences exist in C. neriifolia and C. ilicifolia, such as the number of trunk (heavily debarked vs. slightly peeling), leaf type (smooth thin leathery, shiny vs. smooth leathery, obscure or slightly shiny), leaf margin (entire vs. serrate), flower type (subsessile vs. sessile), number of styles (3–4 vs. 3), and sepal (ovate vs. round). Moreover, C. neriifolia has a more distinctive faint yellow flower color, and trunk molting was more severe in C. neriifolia than that in C. ilicifolia. In addition, micromorphological analysis of the leaf epidermis showed that the two species differed in the anticlinal wall, stomatal apparatus, and stomatal cluster, and pollen morphology analyses based on pollen size, germination furrow, and polar and equatorial axes showed that they are both distinct from each other. The results of the phylogenetic tree constructed based on the whole chloroplast genome, protein-coding genes, and ITS2 showed that both C. ilicifolia and C. neriifolia were clustered in different branches and gained high support. Conclusions: The results combine morphology, anatomy, palynology, and molecular systematics to treat both C. neriifolia and C. ilicifolia as separate species in the sect. Tuberculata, and the species names continue to be used as they were previously. In conclusion, clarifying the taxonomic status of C. neriifolia and C. ilicifolia deepens our understanding of the systematic classification of sect. Tuberculata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bee pollen's nutritional and beneficial health properties depend on the botanical origin and storage conditions. Palynological analysis determines the botanical composition of the multiflora and colour fractions. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of Tuscan bee pollen stored at freezing temperature for 2 years to verify the preservation of nutraceutical properties of the multiflora and colour fractions. Polyphenols, flavonoids content, antioxidant activity and volatile compounds profiles were measured. Non-terpene derivatives (acids and aldehydes) represented the main class of volatile compounds in most analysed samples. Among the colour fractions, coral showed significant differences in the antioxidant compounds. In the multiflora were also determined the soluble sugar content (128.33 mg/g of fresh weight) and mineral content, with the prevalence of K, organic N and Ca. The results suggest that the freezing storage of bee pollen for a long period can be still used as food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarizes a study conducted in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest on the pollen carried by Neotropical hawkmoths on their proboscises. The study found that hawkmoths do not show high specificity in their choice of flowers, as individuals with both short and long proboscises visited the same flower species. The most abundant pollen type was Pera from the Peraceae family. The study also emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary research in informing preservation policies for the Atlantic Forest. [Extracted from the article]

Interpretation of past vegetation using pollen analysis depends on our understanding about the relationship between the modern vegetation and surface pollen assemblages. In the present study, we sampled the modern pollen-rain in a mixed environment of cultivated land and dry and wet tropical forests in central India. We established to which extent modern vegetation types are reflected in the pollen-rain and explained biases in the modern pollen spectra. Our study revealed that the modern pollen assemblages do not fully represent the extant regional vegetation, as many of the forest components, especially trees and shrubs, are either under-represented or remained palynologically silent in the pollen records. Low pollen productivity of most of the tropical deciduous taxa, owing to entomophily, as well as low preservation potential of some tree pollen are primarily responsible for this irregularity in their representation in the pollen spectra. Moreover, Shorea robusta and Tectona grandis pollen, despite being high pollen producers, are not encountered in any sample, which could be further attributed to their poor preservation in surface soil samples, as well as to their low (pollen) dispersal efficiency. Cerealia, Amaranthaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Brassicaceae, Cannabis sativa, Artemisia spp. and Alternanthera spp. indicate agricultural practices and other human activities around the respective study areas. Moreover, the consistent presence of Asteroideae pollen indicates pastoral activities, whereas Sporormiella spp., Sordaria spp., Podosora spp., Delitschia spp., and Cercophora spp. indicate local grazing and herbivory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new species Rosa aharbalensis is described and illustrated from Tehsil Damhal Hanjipura of Jammu and Kashmir. It is morphologically similar to Rosa canina, but characterized by having velvety leaves, leaves with up to 9 leaflets, hairy stipules with glandular margins, hairy and eglandular pedicels, one bract and two bracteoles, sepal margins with numerous pinnae, emarginate and obcordate petals, hairy style, larger number of hips per inflorescence, more numerous stamens per flower, hips (pseudo fruits) sub‐globose to ovoid, achenes with sparse hairs, thin pollen exine and indistinct striae and narrow grooves on the exine surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]