In this study we examine the occurrence of plants and their symbolic, economic, and intrinsic values in Slovenian folk songs. We have analyzed songs published by the ethnologist Karel Štrekelj ...between 1895 and 1912. Of the 8686 songs studied, plants occur in 1246 (14%) of them. A total of 93 plant taxa were found, belonging to 48 plant families. Grapevine is the most frequently mentioned species, followed by rosemary, wheat, carnation, and lily. About half of the taxa belong to cultivated plants (52%), followed by wild plants (42%). Exotic plants (i.e., not growing in the area) are mentioned only occasionally (6%). Half of all citations (49.3%) refer to the symbolic values, such as religion, love, death, economic status, or human qualities. More than a third of the citations (36.7%) are associated with plant's usefulness, especially consumption, while only a small percentage of citations (14.0%), relate to environmental representation. Several verses show how our appreciation of some plants, especially those used as food, has changed over the centuries. Folk songs have turned out to be interesting sources of information, and although they cannot be fully trusted as historical documents, they can still be used as sources for understanding the relationship between people and plants.
Traditionally, taxonomic identification has relied upon morphological characters. In the last two decades, molecular tools based on DNA sequences of short standardised gene fragments, termed DNA ...barcodes, have been developed for species discrimination. The most common DNA barcode used in animals is a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase (COI) mitochondrial gene, while for plants, two chloroplast gene fragments from the RuBisCo large subunit (rbcL) and maturase K (matK) genes are widely used. Information gathered from DNA barcodes can be used beyond taxonomic studies and will have far-reaching implications across many fields of biology, including ecology (rapid biodiversity assessment and food chain analysis), conservation biology (monitoring of protected species), biosecurity (early identification of invasive pest species), medicine (identification of medically important pathogens and their vectors) and pharmacology (identification of active compounds). However, it is important that the limitations of DNA barcoding are understood and techniques continually adapted and improved as this young science matures.
Za uspešno pridobivanje teoretičnega znanja in globlje razumevanje zgradbe in delovanja bioloških struktur ter pojavov je teoretični pouk bioloških predmetov na vseh stopnjah izobraževanja podprt s ...praktičnimi vajami. Na visokošolski stopnji so praktične vaje pri posameznih predmetih celo bolj ali manj enakovreden del predavanjem. Na študenta osredinjeni pristopi učenja in poučevanja, podprti z orodji informacijsko-komunikacijske tehnologije (IKT), lahko pripomorejo k učinkovitejšemu razvoju znanja, izjemnega pomena pa so lahko tudi z vidika pridobivanja digitalnih kompetenc pri študentih. Na Fakulteti za matematiko, naravoslovje in informacijske tehnologije Univerze na Primorskem (UP FAMNIT) smo izvedli anketno raziskavo, v kateri smo želeli ugotoviti, kakšne metode poučevanja uporabljajo izvajalci praktičnega pouka bioloških predmetov. Rezultati so pokazali, da le slaba polovica anketiranih izvajalcev v praktični pouk vključuje inovativne metode učenja in poučevanja. Med orodji IKT, po katerih smo spraševali v anketi, več kot 80 % vprašanih pozna in uporablja prosto dostopno virtualno učno okolje Moodle. Mnogi poznajo tudi druge spletne aplikacije, vendar jih ne vključujejo v pedagoški proces. Večina vprašanih je naklonjena uporabi orodij IKT, a jih največkrat ne uporabljajo zaradi stiske s časom ali zaradi njihovega slabega poznavanja.
Abstract
This paper aims to shed light on distribution patterns and the relationship between species diversity and environmental heterogeneity of 17 Edraianthus taxa. We examined present and past ...distributions (Last Glacial Maximum) by applying ecological niche modelling. The environmental space occupied by the taxa was analysed using niche comparison methods. The results support the idea that the central and southern Dinaric Alps represent a centre of diversity and endemism in the western Balkan Peninsula. Diversity in Edraianthus is best explained by topographic (slope) and bioclimatic predictors (maximum temperature of warmest month, precipitation seasonality, precipitation of warmest quarter, precipitation of coldest quarter), suggesting that mountain areas with the most diversified relief have higher diversity. Niche modelling results suggest considerable range dynamics during the climatically unstable Quaternary. Thermophilic and lowland taxa responded with longitudinal shifts to ecologically suitable areas farther south, whereas high-mountain taxa responded mainly with elevational shifts. The greatest niche similarity is found among phylogenetically closely related taxa and among ecologically similar and often sympatric taxa. The least similarity was observed in species with marked differences in habitat elevation and in more geographically isolated species. Our results suggest that the extent of range and niche overlap varied among some taxa throughout their evolutionary history, which may have led to diversification at both allopatric and sympatric levels. The correlation between the genetic diversity of the most widespread taxon and the richness of taxa could be a consequence of past and present contacts. On the other hand, alternate periods of isolation may have favoured the emergence of taxa that are reproductively isolated and ecologically specialized.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In order to successfully acquire theoretical knowledge and to gain a deeper understanding of the structure and functioning of biological structures and phenomena, theoretical lessons in biological ...subjects are supported by practical exercises at all levels of education. At the higher education level, the importance of practical lessons can even equal that of lectures. Student-centred learning and teaching approaches, supported by ICT, can help improve knowledge acquisition as well as provide students with digital competencies. In order to understand which teaching methods are currently being used in practical biological courses, we conducted a survey among UP FAMNIT’s teaching assistants. Only half of the respondents incorporate innovative teaching and learning methods in their lessons. Among the ICT tools we surveyed, the majority know and use the freely available virtual learning environment, Moodle. Many are familiar with other web applications but do not incorporate them into the teaching process. Most respondents are in favour of using ICT tools but do not use them due to time constraints or poor knowledge of them.
Range contraction and habitat fragmentation can cause biodiversity loss by creating conditions that directly or indirectly affect the survival of plant populations. Fragmented habitats can alter ...pollinator guilds and impact their behavior, which may result in pollen/pollinator limitation and selection for increased selfing as a mechanism for reproductive assurance. We used Salvia brachyodon, a narrowly distributed and endangered sage from eastern Adriatic, to test the consequences of range contraction and habitat fragmentation. Molecular data indicate a severe and relatively recent species range reduction. While one population is reproductively almost completely isolated, moderate gene flow has been detected between the remaining two populations. The high pollen-to-ovule ratio and the results of controlled hand pollination indicate that S. brachyodon has a mixed mating system. Quantitative and qualitative differences in the community and behaviour of flower visitors resulted in limited pollination services in one population where no effective pollinator other than pollen and nectar robbers were observed. In this population, self-pollination predominated over cross-pollination. Various environmental factors, in which plant-pollinator interactions play a pivotal role, have likely created selection pressures that have led to genetic and phenotypic differentiation and different resource allocation strategies among populations.
Long term survival of plant populations relies on successful reproductive cycle to obtain generation turnover. Focusing on plant species of conservation concern, we brought together a group of plant ...conservationists from different countries to assess whether the already available information on plant reproductive biology and autecology is adequate for identifying which phases of single species life cycle might act as bottleneck.
We compiled a list of 80 plant species of conservation concern living on European cliffs and rocky slopes, for which biological and autecological information was collected from scientific literature, technical reports, and expert knowledge.
Results have shown that the available information on species reproductive biology and autecology is inadequate to identify bottlenecks in the life cycle of many species and to provide insights for the practical conservation of many more. Available knowledge is mainly referred to the flowering phase, less on seed production and much less on seedling establishment and on cloning. Meanwhile and noteworthy, flowering resulted to be the less critical phase for the fulfilment of the species life cycle.
Overall, with this perspective article we aim to encourage a constructive debate among the scientific community members and policymakers to set up novel concerted strategies for the conservation of plant species of conservation concern. The challenge of the discussion is the implementation of the current approach with new biological and ecological information to be exclusively targeted at identifying the constraints that limit the generation turnover and furnishing specific indications for active management.
•Most of the knowledge on plant life cycle does not focus on the critical phases.•Goals of biological studies are often independent from conservation purposes.•Available knowledge is insufficient to guide plant conservation practices.
Mating system is one of the major determinants of intra- and interspecific genetic structure, but may vary within and between plant populations. Our study model included all known populations of ...Moehringia tommasinii (Caryophyllaceae), a narrow endemic plant inhabiting rock crevices in the northwestern Adriatic, and some populations of co-occurring and widespread M. muscosa, an ecologically divergent relative with an overlapping flowering period. We performed reciprocal crosses within and between taxa and used molecular markers to assess the extent of gene flow within and between populations and taxa. Using coefficient of inbreeding, population size, seed weight, pollen-to-ovule ratio, and flower display size, we also looked for evidence of a selfing syndrome.
A surprisingly high variation in mating systems was observed among populations of M. tommasinii. These populations exhibited genetic structuring, with their size positively correlated with both seed weight and pollen production. Although a selfing syndrome could not be confirmed as the majority of selfing resulted from allogamous treatments, the occurrence of selfing was notable. In the presence of M. muscosa, at a site where both species coexist closely, a distinct pattern of fruit production was observed in M. tommasinii following various pollination treatments. Molecular and morphometric data provided evidence of hybridization followed by local extinction at this site.
Population size proved to be the most important factor affecting the mating system in genetically structured populations of M. tommasinii. Lighter seeds and lower pollen production observed in populations with pronounced selfing do not provide enough evidence for the selfing syndrome. Detected gene flow between M. tommasinii and the sympatric M. muscosa suggested weak reproductive barriers between the taxa, which could pose a conservation problems for the former species. Hybridization leading to local extinction may also resulted in floral polymorphism and disruption of mating patterns of M. tommasinii.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The diversity of vascular plant taxa in Europe is threatened. National red lists are valuable biodiversity conservation tools that provide us with information on the proximity of a taxon to ...extinction. However, there are still differences in the methods and implementation of these assessments across European countries, indicating gaps in conservation efforts at national and regional levels. To address these disparities, we conducted a study in which we compiled data from the most recent national red lists of vascular plants in European countries, including some countries from the eastern part of the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot. Our results confirm concerns that the conservation status of European vascular flora is not fully mapped. We also found that this knowledge is not evenly distributed across European regions. There were differences in the availability of red lists, the regularity of updates, and the implementation of assessment methods. Countries that assessed their entire flora had a higher proportion of threatened taxa than countries that assessed only a portion of the flora. This highlights the risk of overlooking the conservation status of less known taxa when assessments are limited to specific taxa. Financial capacity was found to be a critical factor influencing the extent of these shortcomings. Our study has shown that countries that assess their entire flora have, on average, higher national spending on environmental protection within their overall economies. This information is critical for developing effective biodiversity conservation strategies across Europe and for addressing the threats faced by vascular plants in the region.
Plant life history and functional characteristics play an important role in determining the invasive potential of plant species and have implications for management approaches. We studied the ...distribution of 24 alien plant taxa in a protected area in relation to different land-uses by applying ordination analyses and generalized linear models. Taxa richness is best explained by the presence of built-up areas, followed by residential areas, marshlands, and agricultural lands with semi-natural formations. The diversity of land-use within the grid cell proved to be an important explanatory factor, being the only significant variable explaining the richness of wood perennials and vines. The richness of annual herbs and seed-dispersed taxa is explained by a similar set of variables, with the exception of residential areas. The richness of invasive species is explained only by agricultural land and the diversity of land-use. The richness of taxa with predominant vegetative dispersal is best explained by built-up, marshland, and seminatural areas along with land-use diversity. When we consider only the presence of plant groups within grid cells, the results are similar. The results of similar studies may provide an important tool for defining sustainable practices and overall conservation management in protected areas.
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