Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of the Vegetation Cover from the Bijagual Massif, Boyacá, Colombia, during the 1986-2021 Period.

Landscape changes based on spectral responses allow showing plant cover changes through diversity, composition, and ecological connectivity. The spatial and temporal vegetation dynamics of the Bijagual Massif from 1986 to 2021 were analyzed as a measure of ecological integrity, conservation, and territory. The covers identified were high open forest (Hof), dense grassland of non-wooded mainland (Dgnm), a mosaic of pastures and crops (Mpc), lagoons (Lag), and bare and degraded lands (Bdl). The Bijagual Massif has 8574.1 ha. In 1986, Dgnm occupied 42.6% of the total area, followed by Mpc (32.8%) and Hof (24.5%); by 2000, Mpc and Hof increased (43.7 and 28.1%, respectively), while Dgnm decreased (28%); by 2021, Dgnm was restricted to the northeastern zone and continued to decrease (25.2%), Mpc occupied 52.9%, Hof 21.7% and Bdl 0.1%. Of the three fractions of the connectivity probability index, only dPCintra and dPCflux contribute to ecological connectivity. Hof and Dgnm show patches with biota habitat quality and availability. Between 1986 and 2021, Dgnm lost 1489 ha (41%) and Hof 239.5 ha (11%). Mpc replaced various covers (1722.2 ha; 38%) in 2021. Bijagual has a valuable biodiversity potential limited by Mpc. Territorial planning and sustainable agroecological and ecotourism proposals are required due to the context of the ecosystems.

Application of Phytosociological Information in the Evaluation of the Management of Protected Areas.

The classification system of plant communities using phytosociological methods can be applied to their conservation in protected areas, as well as in establishing adequate protections and granting legal status to such areas. A new integrative index is developed to classify plant communities for the evaluation of the conservation status of protected areas, obtained from the product of three statistical indices of diversity: Syntaxonomic Distinctness, Rarefaction and Areas Prioritisation, which has been named DRA (acronym of the three indices used). The DRA is used to assess whether the status granted to Protected Areas matches the values provided by the plant communities within them and which were the basis for the identification and description of the Habitats of Community Interest (Habitats Directive-92/43/CEE). The proposed method was applied to the network of protected natural areas on the Andalusian coast, including 14 areas with different protection status, where, once the plant communities they contain were identified, the DRA index was applied to each of them and compared with the Legal Protection Index, i.e., the current protection regime; it becomes clear, objectively, that not all the statuses assigned, whether the IUCN criteria or those of the Andalusian government, correspond to the real levels of protection they should have on the basis of their plant communities.

Microbial diversity associated with the anaerobic sediments of a soda lake (Mono Lake, California, USA).

Soda lakes are inhabited by important haloalkaliphilic microbial communities that are well adapted to these extreme characteristics. The surface waters of the haloalkaline Mono Lake (California, USA) are alkaline but, in contrast to its bottom waters, do not present high salinity. We have studied the microbiota present in the shoreline sediments of Mono Lake using next-generation sequencing techniques. The statistical indexes showed that Bacteria had a higher richness, diversity, and evenness than Archaea. Seventeen phyla and 8 "candidate divisions" were identified among the Bacteria, with a predominance of the phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Among the Proteobacteria, there was a notable presence of Rhodoplanes and a high diversity of sulfate-reducing Deltaproteobacteria, in accordance with the high sulfate-reducing activity detected in soda lakes. Numerous families of bacterial fermenters were identified among the Firmicutes. The Bacteroides were represented by several environmental groups that have not yet been isolated. Since final organic matter in anaerobic environments with high sulfate contents is mineralized mainly by sulfate-reducing bacteria, very little methanogenic archaeal biodiversity was detected. Only 2 genera, Methanocalculus and Methanosarcina, were retrieved. The species similarities described indicate that a significant number of the operational taxonomic units identified may represent new species.

Vegetación del entorno del Balneario de Villavieja / The vegetation of Villavieja spa environment

Se resume el conjunto de la vegetación natural más importante reconocido en el entorno geográfico del Balneario de Villavieja, localizado en La Vilavella (Castellón, Comunidad Valenciana). Destaca en el entorno, fuertemente antropizado, el Parque Natural de la Sierra de Espadán, como lugar emblemático en la comarca y con un importante valor ecológico y naturalístico. Los factores edáficos, bioclimáticos y biogeográficos son los principales condicionantes del desarrollo de las diferentes comunidades vegetales (tanto etapas maduras, de carácter forestal, como etapas seriales) estructuradas en las respectivas series de vegetación que pueden ser delimitadas en el entorno de este importante y singular espacio protegido. El Balneario de Villavieja es un pórtico excepcional para la visita obligada al entorno protegido de la Sierra de Espadán (AU)

The main natural vegetation units recognized within the geographic area of Villavieja spa (Castellón) are summarized. We focuse our study on the ‘Sierra de Espadán’ Natural Park, as protected area with an important ecological and naturalistic value within this territory. The edaphic, bioclimatic and biogeographic factors are the main drivers for the different plant communities development ‐both mature (with a forestal character) and seral stands‐ structured within the respective vegetation series we can delimite in this important and great protected area. The Villavieja spa is a magnificent door for the obliged visit to the ‘Sierra de Espadán’ Natural Park (AU)

Vegetación del entorno del balneario / The vegetation of Olmedo spa environment

Se estudia la vegetación del entorno del balneario de Olmedo, en función de factores edáficos, bioclimáticos, biogeográficos y florísticos. Ello nos permite identificar y delimitar las comunidades vegetales climácicas y sus etapas seriales más representativas. La ordenación del trabajo se estructura en torno a las series de vegetación reconocidas en el territorio comenzando con las cabezas de serie climatófilas y edafohigrófilas. Con el fin de facilitar la comprensión de la descripción de las distintas comunidades vegetales estudiadas en el texto y de las plantas medicinales más representativas, incluímos una serie de fotografías en color tanto de los distintos biotopos, como de algunas de las plantas medicinales espontáneas encontradas en el territorio. En esta contribución intentamos poner de manifiesto el alto valor ecológico y paisajístico que atesora el territorio estudiado. Destacamos la ayuda que para nosotros ha representado la memoria doctoral realizada por el farmacéutico D. Daniel Gutiérrez Martín sobre la flora del partido judicial de Olmedo en 1908. Además, reseñamos la colaboración realizada por el Dr. Gutiérrez Martín en la recogida en el término municipal de de Valladolid del interesante taxon Rhaponticoides alpina (= Rhaponticoides linaresii (Lázaro Ibiza) M.V. Agab. & Greuter; = Centaurea linaresii Lázaro Ibiza = Centaurea alpina L.), descrita por D. Blas Lázaro Ibiza en el género Centaurea. Finalmente se incluyen algunas rutas botánicas con el fin de visitar ciertos ecosistemas vegetales de alto valor ecológico de la comarca de Tierra de Pinares

The vegetation is studied in the area around the Olmedo spa, in terms of its soil, bioclimatic, biogeographical and floristic factors. This allows us to identify and delimit the climactic plant communities and their most representative serial stages. The ordination of the work is structured around the recognised plant series in the territory, starting with the climatophilous and edaphohygrophilous heads of series. A selection of diverse graphic material is provided to document the statements in the text. The work highlights the important ecological and scenic value of the territory in the study. Particular emphasis is given to the contribution of the 1908 doctoral thesis of the pharmacist Daniel Gutiérrez Martín on the flora of the district of Olmedo, of which one noteworthy feature is his herborisation of the interesting taxon Rhaponticoides alpina (= Rhaponticoides linaresii (Lázaro Ibiza) M.V. Agab. & Greuter; = Centaurea linaresii Lázaro Ibiza; = Centaurea alpina L.) described by Blas Lázaro Ibiza in the genus Centaurea. Finally, the work also includes a number of commentaries on medicinal plants in the study area and some botanical routes for the purpose of visiting certain plant ecosystems of high ecological value in the Tierra de Pinares region. The syntaxonomical checklist of the vegetation in the territory is also provided

Localization of nickel in tissues of Streptanthus polygaloides Gray (Cruciferae) and endemic nickel hyperaccumulators from California.

The genus Streptanthus Nutt. is one of the most important indicators of ultramafic floras in western North America. This genus contains taxa that are endemic or tolerant of ultramafic soils. Streptanthus polygaloides is an annual nickel hyperaccumulator strictly confined to ultramafic soils throughout the Californian Sierra Nevada foothills. Nickel concentration in S. polygaloides populations was evaluated by elemental microanalysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Representative samples of S. polygaloides roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled to an energy-dispersive X-ray probe (SEM-EDX). Results show Ni accumulation values between 0.09 and 1.18 %, and a distribution pattern similar to that observed in other Ni hyperaccumulator taxa, with the leaf epidermis accumulating the largest concentrations.