Aim
Alpine ecosystems differ in area, macroenvironment and biogeographical history across the Earth, but the relationship between these factors and plant species richness is still unexplored. Here, ...we assess the global patterns of plant species richness in alpine ecosystems and their association with environmental, geographical and historical factors at regional and community scales.
Location
Global.
Time period
Data collected between 1923 and 2019.
Major taxa studied
Vascular plants.
Methods
We used a dataset representative of global alpine vegetation, consisting of 8,928 plots sampled within 26 ecoregions and six biogeographical realms, to estimate regional richness using sample‐based rarefaction and extrapolation. Then, we evaluated latitudinal patterns of regional and community richness with generalized additive models. Using environmental, geographical and historical predictors from global raster layers, we modelled regional and community richness in a mixed‐effect modelling framework.
Results
The latitudinal pattern of regional richness peaked around the equator and at mid‐latitudes, in response to current and past alpine area, isolation and the variation in soil pH among regions. At the community level, species richness peaked at mid‐latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, despite a considerable within‐region variation. Community richness was related to macroclimate and historical predictors, with strong effects of other spatially structured factors.
Main conclusions
In contrast to the well‐known latitudinal diversity gradient, the alpine plant species richness of some temperate regions in Eurasia was comparable to that of hyperdiverse tropical ecosystems, such as the páramo. The species richness of these putative hotspot regions is explained mainly by the extent of alpine area and their glacial history, whereas community richness depends on local environmental factors. Our results highlight hotspots of species richness at mid‐latitudes, indicating that the diversity of alpine plants is linked to regional idiosyncrasies and to the historical prevalence of alpine ecosystems, rather than current macroclimatic gradients.
Context. Tentative correlations between the presence of dusty circumstellar debris discs and low-mass planets have recently been presented. In parallel, detailed chemical abundance studies have ...reported different trends between samples of planet and non-planet hosts. Whether these chemical differences are indeed related to the presence of planets is still strongly debated. Aims. We aim to test whether solar-type stars with debris discs show any chemical peculiarity that could be related to the planet formation process. Methods. We determine in a homogeneous way the metallicity, Fe/H, and abundances of individual elements of a sample of 251 stars including stars with known debris discs, stars harbouring simultaneously debris discs and planets, stars hosting exclusively planets, and a comparison sample of stars without known discs or planets. High-resolution échelle spectra (R ~ 57 000) from 2−3 m class telescopes are used. Our methodology includes the calculation of the fundamental stellar parameters (Teff, log g, microturbulent velocity, and metallicity) by applying the iron ionisation and equilibrium conditions to several isolated Fe i and Fe ii lines, as well as individual abundances of C, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn. Results. No significant differences have been found in metallicity, individual abundances or abundance-condensation temperature trends between stars with debris discs and stars with neither debris nor planets. Stars with debris discs and planets have the same metallicity behaviour as stars hosting planets, and they also show a similar ⟨ X/Fe ⟩ − TC trend. Different behaviour in the ⟨ X/Fe ⟩ − TC trends is found between the samples of stars without planets and the samples of planet hosts. In particular, when considering only refractory elements, negative slopes are shown in cool giant planet hosts, whilst positive ones are shown in stars hosting low-mass planets. The statistical significance of the derived slopes is low, however, probably because of the wide range of stellar parameters of our samples. Stars hosting exclusively close-in giant planets behave in a different way, showing higher metallicities and positive ⟨ X/Fe ⟩ − TC slope. A search for correlations between the ⟨ X/Fe ⟩ − TC slopes and the stellar properties reveals a moderate but significant correlation with the stellar radius and a weak correlation with the stellar age, which remain even if Galactic chemical evolution effects are considered. No correlation between the ⟨ X/Fe ⟩ − TC slopes and the disc/planet properties are found. Conclusions. The fact that stars with debris discs and stars with low-mass planets do not show either metal enhancement or a different ⟨ X/Fe ⟩ − TC trend might indicate a correlation between the presence of debris discs and the presence of low-mass planets. We extend results from previous works based mainly on solar analogues with reported differences in the ⟨ X/Fe ⟩ − TC trends between planet hosts and non-hosts to a wider range of parameters. However, these differences tend to be present only when the star hosts a cool distant planet and not in stars hosting exclusively low-mass planets. The interpretation of these differences as a signature of planetary formation should be considered with caution since moderate correlations between the TC-slopes with the stellar radius and the stellar age are found, suggesting that an evolutionary effect might be at work.
Exocomets: A spectroscopic survey Rebollido, I.; Eiroa, C.; Montesinos, B. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
07/2020, Volume:
639
Journal Article, Web Resource
Peer reviewed
Open access
Context.
While exoplanets are now routinely detected, the detection of small bodies in extrasolar systems remains challenging. Since the discovery of sporadic events, which are interpreted to be ...exocomets (falling evaporating bodies) around
β
Pic in the early 1980s, only ∼20 stars have been reported to host exocomet-like events.
Aims.
We aim to expand the sample of known exocomet-host stars, as well as to monitor the hot-gas environment around stars with previously known exocometary activity.
Methods.
We have obtained high-resolution optical spectra of a heterogeneous sample of 117 main-sequence stars in the spectral type range from B8 to G8. The data were collected in 14 observing campaigns over the course of two years from both hemispheres. We analysed the Ca
II
K&H and Na
I
D lines in order to search for non-photospheric absorptions that originated in the circumstellar environment and for variable events that could be caused by the outgassing of exocomet-like bodies.
Results.
We detected non-photospheric absorptions towards 50% of the sample, thus attributing a circumstellar origin to half of the detections (i.e. 26% of the sample). Hot circumstellar gas was detected in the metallic lines inspected via narrow stable absorptions and/or variable blue- and red-shifted absorption events. Such variable events were found in 18 stars in the Ca
II
and/or Na
I
lines; six of them are reported in the context of this work for the first time. In some cases, the variations we report in the Ca
II
K line are similar to those observed in
β
Pic. While we do not find a significant trend in the age or location of the stars, we do find that the probability of finding CS gas in stars with larger
v
sin
i
is higher. We also find a weak trend with the presence of near-infrared excess and with anomalous (
λ
Boo-like) abundances, but this would require confirmation by expanding the sample.
Context. Studying gas chemistry in protoplanetary disks is key to understanding the process of planet formation. Sulfur chemistry in particular is poorly understood in interstellar environments, and ...the location of the main reservoirs remains unknown. Protoplanetary disks in Taurus are ideal targets for studying the evolution of the composition of planet forming systems. Aims. We aim to elucidate the chemical origin of sulfur-bearing molecular emission in protoplanetary disks, with a special focus on H2S emission, and to identify candidate species that could become the main molecular sulfur reservoirs in protoplanetary systems. Methods. We used IRAM 30 m observations of nine gas-rich young stellar objects (YSOs) in Taurus to perform a survey of sulfur-bearing and oxygen-bearing molecular species. In this paper we present our results for the CS 3–2 (ν0 = 146.969 GHz), H2CO 21,1−11,0 (ν0 = 150.498 GHz), and H2S 11,0−10,1 (ν0 = 168.763 GHz) emission lines. Results. We detected H2S emission in four sources out of the nine observed, significantly increasing the number of detections toward YSOs. We also detected H2CO and CS in six out of the nine. We identify a tentative correlation between H2S 11,0−10,1 and H2CO 21,1−11,0 as well as a tentative correlation between H2S 11,0−10,1 and H2O 818−707. By assuming local thermodynamical equilibrium, we computed column densities for the sources in the sample, with N(o-H2S) values ranging between 2.6 × 1012 cm−2 and 1.5 × 1013 cm−2.
Context. Around 16% of the solar-like stars in our neighbourhood show IR-excesses due to dusty debris discs and a fraction of them are known to host planets. Determining whether these stars follow ...any special trend in their properties is important to understand debris disc and planet formation. Aims. We aim to determine in a homogeneous way the metallicity of a sample of stars with known debris discs and planets. We attempt to identify trends related to debris discs and planets around solar-type stars. Methods. Our analysis includes the calculation of the fundamental stellar parameters Teff, log g, microturbulent velocity, and metallicity by applying the iron ionisation equilibrium conditions to several isolated Fe i and Fe ii lines. High-resolution échelle spectra (R ~ 57 000) from 2, 3 m class telescopes are used. Our derived metallicities are compared with other results in the literature, which finally allows us to extend the stellar samples in a consistent way. Results. The metallicity distributions of the different stellar samples suggest that there is a transition toward higher metallicities from stars with neither debris discs nor planets to stars hosting giant planets. Stars with debris discs and stars with neither debris nor planets follow a similar metallicity distribution, although the distribution of the first ones might be shifted towards higher metallicities. Stars with debris discs and planets have the same metallicity behaviour as stars hosting planets, irrespective of whether the planets are low-mass or gas giants. In the case of debris discs and giant planets, the planets are usually cool, – semimajor axis larger than 0.1 AU (20 out of 22 planets), even ≈65% have semimajor axis larger than 0.5 AU. The data also suggest that stars with debris discs and cool giant planets tend to have a low dust luminosity, and are among the less luminous debris discs known. We also find evidence of an anticorrelation between the luminosity of the dust and the planet eccentricity. Conclusions. Our data show that the presence of planets, not the debris disc, correlates with the stellar metallicity. The results confirm that core-accretion models represent suitable scenarios for debris disc and planet formation. These conclusions are based on a number of stars with discs and planets considerably larger than in previous works, in particular stars hosting low-mass planets and debris discs. Dynamical instabilities produced by eccentric giant planets could explain the suggested dust luminosity trends observed for stars with debris discs and planets.
Context.
Herbig Ae/Be stars (HAeBes) have so far been studied based on relatively small samples that are scattered throughout the sky. Their fundamental stellar and circumstellar parameters and ...statistical properties were derived with heterogeneous approaches before
Gaia
.
Aims.
Our main goal is to contribute to the study of HAeBes from the largest sample of such sources to date, for which stellar and circumstellar properties have been determined homogeneously from the analysis of the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and
Gaia
EDR3 parallaxes and photometry.
Methods.
Multiwavelength photometry was compiled for 209 bona fide HAeBes for which
Gaia
EDR3 distances were estimated. Using the Virtual Observatory SED Analyser (VOSA), photospheric models were fit to the optical SEDs to derive stellar parameters, and the excesses at infrared (IR) and longer wavelengths were characterized to derive several circumstellar properties. A statistical analysis was carried out to show the potential use of such a large dataset.
Results.
The stellar temperature, luminosity, radius, mass, and age were derived for each star based on optical photometry. In addition, their IR SEDs were classified according to two different schemes, and their mass accretion rates, disk masses, and the sizes of the inner dust holes were also estimated uniformly. The initial mass function fits the stellar mass distribution of the sample within 2 <
M
*
∕
M
⊙
< 12. In this aspect, the sample is therefore representative of the HAeBe regime and can be used for statistical purposes when it is taken into account that the boundaries are not well probed. Our statistical study does not reveal any connection between the SED shape from the Meeus et al. (2001, A&A, 365, 476) classification and the presence of transitional disks, which are identified here based on the SEDs that show an IR excess starting at the K band or longer wavelengths. In contrast, only ~28% of the HAeBes have transitional disks, and the related dust disk holes are more frequent in HBes than in HAes (~34% vs. 15%). The relatively small inner disk holes and old stellar ages estimated for most transitional HAes indicate that photoevaporation cannot be the main mechanism driving disk dissipation in these sources. In contrast, the inner disk holes and ages of most transitional HBes are consistent with the photoevaporation scenario, although these results alone do not unambiguously discard other disk dissipation mechanisms.
Conclusions.
The complete dataset is available online through a Virtual Observatory-compliant archive, representing the most recent reference for statistical studies on the HAeBe regime. VOSA is a complementary tool for the future characterization of newly identified HAeBes.
The names Arenaria mattfeldii, A. pallens, A. peruviana, A. pintaudii, and A. stuebelii (Caryophyllaceae, Arenarieae) from Peru and Bolivia were studied and neotypified based on specimens preserved ...at B and P.
Context. The scarcity of accretion rate estimates and accretion tracers available for Herbig Ae/Be (HAeBe) stars contrasts with the extensive studies for lower mass objects. Aims. This work aims to ...derive accretion rates from the UV Balmer excess for a sample of 38 HAeBe stars. We look for possible empirical correlations with the strength of the Hα, O i6300, and Brγ emission lines. Methods. Shock modelling within the context of magnetospheric accretion (MA) was applied to each star. We obtained the accretion rates from the excess in the Balmer discontinuity, derived from mean values of multi-epoch Johnson’s UB photometry. The accretion rates were related to both mean Hα luminosities, Hα 10% widths, and O i6300 luminosities from simultaneous spectra, and to Brγ luminosities from the literature. Results. The typical -median- mass accretion rate is 2 × 10-7 M⊙ yr-1 in our sample, 36% of the stars showing values ≤10-7 M⊙ yr-1, 35% between 10-7 and 10-6, and 29% > 10-6 M⊙ yr-1. The model fails to reproduce the large Balmer excesses shown by the four hottest stars (T∗ > 12 000 K). When accretion is related to the stellar masses and luminosities (1 ≤ M∗/M⊙ ≤ 6; 2 ≤ L∗/L⊙ ≤ 103), we derive Ṁacc ∝ M∗5 and Lacc ∝ L∗1.2, with scatter. Empirical calibrations relating the accretion and the Hα, O i6300, and Brγ luminosities are provided. The slopes in our expressions are slightly shallower than those for lower mass stars, but the difference is within the uncertainties, except for the O i6300 line. The Hα 10% width is uncorrelated with Ṁacc, unlike for the lower mass regime. The mean Hα width shows higher values as the projected rotational velocities of HAe stars increase, which agrees with MA. The accretion rate variations in the sample are typically lower than 0.5 dex on timescales of days to months. Our data suggest that the changes in the Balmer excess are uncorrelated to the simultaneous changes of the line luminosities. Conclusions. The Balmer excesses and Hα line widths of HAe stars can be interpreted within the context of MA, which is not the case for several HBes. The steep trend relating Ṁacc and M∗ can be explained from the mass-age distribution characterizing HAeBe stars. The line luminosities used for low-mass objects are also valid to estimate typical accretion rates for the intermediate-mass regime under similar empirical expressions. However, we suggest that several of these calibrations are driven by the stellar luminosity.
Context. This work presents the characterization of 27 young early-type stars, most of them in the age range 1–10 Myr, and three suspected hot companions of post-T Tauri stars belonging to the ...Lindroos binary sample. Most of these objects show IR excesses in their spectral energy distributions, which are indicative of the presence of disks. The work is relevant in the fields of stellar physics, physics of disks and formation of planetary systems. Aims. The aim of the work is the determination of the effective temperature, gravity, metallicity, mass, luminosity and age of these stars. An accurate modelling of their disks requires the knowledge of most of these parameters, since they will determine the energy input received by the disk and hence, its geometry and global properties. Methods. Spectral energy distributions and mid-resolution spectra were used to estimate Teff, the effective temperature. The comparison of the profiles of the Balmer lines with synthetic profiles provides the value of the stellar gravity, $g_*$. High-resolution optical observations and synthetic spectra are used to estimate the metallicity, M/H. Once $T_{\rm eff}$, $g_*$ and M/H are known for each star, evolutionary tracks and isochrones provide estimations of the mass, luminosity, age and distances (or upper limits in some cases). The method is original in the sense that it is distance-independent, i.e. the estimation of the stellar parameters does not require the knowledge of the distance to the object. Results. Stellar parameters (effective temperature, gravity, metallicity, mass, luminosity, age and distances – or upper limits) are obtained for the sample of stars mentioned above. A detailed discussion of some individual objects, in particular VV Ser, RR Tau, 49 Cet and the three suspected hot companions of post-T Tauris, is presented. Conclusions. These results, apart from their intrinsic interest, would be extremely valuable to model the disks surrounding the stars. The paper also shows the difficulty posed by the morphology and behaviour of the system star+disk in the computation of the stellar parameters.
Context. Nearby late-type stars are excellent targets for seeking young objects in stellar associations and moving groups. The origin of these structures is still misunderstood, and lists of moving ...group members often change with time and also from author to author. Most members of these groups have been identified by means of kinematic criteria, leading to an important contamination of previous lists by old field stars. Aims. We attempt to identify unambiguous moving group members among a sample of nearby-late type stars by studying their kinematics, lithium abundance, chromospheric activity, and other age-related properties. Methods. High-resolution echelle spectra (R ~ 57 000) of a sample of nearby late-type stars are used to derive accurate radial velocities that are combined with the precise Hipparcos parallaxes and proper motions to compute galactic-spatial velocity components. Stars are classified as possible members of the classical moving groups according to their kinematics. The spectra are also used to study several age-related properties for young late-type stars, i.e., the equivalent width of the lithium Li i 6707.8 Å line or the R'HK index. Additional information like X-ray fluxes from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey or the presence of debris discs is also taken into account. The different age estimators are compared and the moving group membership of the kinematically selected candidates are discussed. Results. From a total list of 405 nearby stars, 102 have been classified as moving group candidates according to their kinematics. i.e., only ~25.2% of the sample. The number reduces when age estimates are considered, and only 26 moving group candidates (25.5% of the 102 candidates) have ages in agreement with the star having the same age as an MG member.
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