Both abiotic conditions and management influence the success of forest restoration.Despite growing interest and practical effort in restoring degraded forest landscapes,understanding of how disparate factors,such as t...Both abiotic conditions and management influence the success of forest restoration.Despite growing interest and practical effort in restoring degraded forest landscapes,understanding of how disparate factors,such as terrain,soil conditions,climate and silvicultural treatments,directly or collectively control species performance and shape community recovery remains limited.In this study,we assessed how topography and management intervention affect seedling survival and growth in the early stages of restoration.To do so,we established seven experimental plots,each measuring 20 m×20 m(400 m2)subdivided into 48 subplots,in coarse,anthropogenic grassland on a mid-elevation mountain slope in Hong Kong,and planted a total of 3975 native tree seedlings belonging to 12 tree species within them.To characterise topography,we modelled the elevation,slope,convexity and aspect of each subplot.Two types of tree guard(enclosed blue plastic sleeve and open yellow mesh),two types of fertiliser(organic and inorganic)and cardboard weeding mats were used to assess the impact of management interventions on the establishment of the seedlings.Survivorship,height and basal diameter were measured at 1,2 and 4 years after planting.We used generalised linear models to examine the effect of these factors and their interactions on seedling survival,and we applied linear models and hierarchical partitioning to explore their relative importance in determining the relative growth rate(RGR)of each species.The most parsimonious models were selected using the Akaike Information Criterion.Survivorship was 98.1%,95.2%and 86.4%across all plots in the first,second and fourth year,respectively.On average,topographic and management variables explained 1.48–3.34%of total variation in RGR,respectively,for all species.The models revealed that type of tree guard,aspect and elevation were the most important factors explaining RGR and survival.Results of hierarchical partitioning by species and growth period showed that the key determinants of performance vary by species and shift over the course of early seedling establishment,emphasising the importance of both spatial and temporal scales in the restoration of degraded tropical forests.Our findings support the use of enclosed tree guards and fertiliser to improve survivorship and growth across a range of broadleaved Asiatic species.All potential limiting factors pertaining to both site factors and management,as well as their interactions,should be considered in restoration planning to maximise restoration success.展开更多
In floristic research,the grid mapping method is a crucial and highly effective tool for investigating the flora of specific regions.This methodology aids in the collection of comprehensive data,thereby promoting a th...In floristic research,the grid mapping method is a crucial and highly effective tool for investigating the flora of specific regions.This methodology aids in the collection of comprehensive data,thereby promoting a thorough understanding of regional plant diversity.This paper presents findings from a grid mapping study conducted in the Surkhan-Sherabad botanical-geographic region(SShBGR),acknowledged as one of the major floristic areas in southwestern Uzbekistan.Using an expansive dataset of 14,317 records comprised of herbarium specimens and field diary entries collected from 1897 to 2023,we evaluated the stages and seasonal dynamics of data accumulation,species richness(SR),and collection density(CD)within 5 km×5 km grid cells.We further examined the taxonomic and life form composition of the region's flora.Our analysis revealed that the grid mapping phase(2021–2023)produced a significantly greater volume of specimens and taxonomic diversity compared with other periods(1897–1940,1941–1993,and 1994–2020).Field research spanned 206 grid cells during 2021–2023,resulting in 11,883 samples,including 6469 herbarium specimens and 5414 field records.Overall,fieldwork covered 251 of the 253 grid cells within the SShBGR.Notably,the highest species diversity was documented in the B198 grid cell,recording 160 species.In terms of collection density,the E198 grid cell produced 475 samples.Overall,we identified 1053 species distributed across 439 genera and 78 families in the SShBGR.The flora of this region aligned significantly with the dominant families commonly found in the Holarctic,highlighting vital ecological connections.Among our findings,the Asteraceae family was the most polymorphic,with 147 species,followed by the continually stable and diverse Poaceae,Fabaceae,Brassicaceae,and Amaranthaceae.Besides,our analysis revealed a predominance of therophyte life forms,which constituted 52%(552 species)of the total flora.The findings underscore the necessity for continual data collection efforts to further enhance our understanding of the biodiversity in the SShBGR.The results of this study demonstrated that the application of grid-based mapping in floristic studies proves to be an effective tool for assessing biodiversity and identifying key taxonomic groups.展开更多
Adaptation to different environments can lead to local adaptations that facilitate morphological divergence between closely related taxa,potentially leading to speciation.Quantifying habitat variation can thus provide...Adaptation to different environments can lead to local adaptations that facilitate morphological divergence between closely related taxa,potentially leading to speciation.Quantifying habitat variation can thus provide valuable insights into evolutionary processes.Arboreal dwarf chameleons of the genus Bradypodion exhibit 3 distinct ecomorphological forms:forest,shrub,and“little brown chameleons”(LBCs).It is assumed these ecomorphs are the result of convergence among species that are in similar habitats regardless of ancestry,or in some cases,morphological conservatism and retention of an ancestral form that is adapted to a shared habitat type.If so,then the habitat of different ecomorphs would differ in vegetation structure.Our results show that vegetation structure in fynbos/grassy habitats is characterized by significantly narrower perches than shrubby habitats,but both have a largely vertical perch orientation.In contrast,forests have significantly fewer vertical perches than fynbos/grassy habitats with significantly thicker diameter perches.Accordingly,LBC and shrub species used more vertically oriented perches than forest species,suggesting that perch use corresponds with the most widely available perch angles.Although LBC chameleons used the smallest diameter perches,when corrected for body size,there was no difference in perch diameter among ecomorphs.These results suggest that the body size of LBC chameleons is constrained by the prevalence of small-diameter perches in their habitat.Species in habitats with wider perches attain larger body size.These findings support the notion that variation in perch structure is critical for phenotypic convergence that has resulted in the 3 Bradypodion ecomorphs.展开更多
Grassland shrub encroachment is a phenomenon that is prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide,impacting grassland ecosystems in several ways.In the context of escalating climate change and human activities,ex...Grassland shrub encroachment is a phenomenon that is prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide,impacting grassland ecosystems in several ways.In the context of escalating climate change and human activities,examining the nutrient and stoichiometric characteristics of Spiraea shrubs in grassland ecosystems,along with their relationships with environmental factors,can yield valuable insights into the nutrient utilization and survival strategies of these shrubs.This,in turn,offers a scientific foundation for developing future conservation measures.This study was conducted in July 2023 in the Altay Mountains,Northwest China,where Spiraea shrubs thrive across five grassland types:temperate steppe desert,temperate desert steppe,temperate steppe,temperate meadow steppe,and mountain meadow.Leaf and soil samples were collected from each grassland type to analyze the concentrations of carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P),as well as the stoichiometric characteristics of both the leaves and soil.Subsequently,correlation analysis and redundancy analysis(RDA)were conducted to investigate the variations in leaf C,N,and P concentrations and leaf stoichiometry of Spiraea shrubs as well as their influencing factors.The results indicated the presence of significant or highly significant differences(P<0.050)in the leaf C,N,and P concentrations and leaf stoichiometry(C:N,C:P,and N:P ratios)of Spiraea shrubs across the five grassland types.The N:P ratios of Spiraea shrub leaves in the five grassland types ranged from 7.37 to 11.77,suggesting that N availability generally limits the growth of Spiraea shrubs.Results of RDA revealed that the most significant contributors to the C,N,and P concentrations and stoichiometric characteristics of Spiraea shrub leaves were in the following order:soil total N>mean annual precipitation>elevation>soil pH>soil organic C>mean annual temperature.These factors had contribution rates of 35.32%,13.19%,10.20%,8.82%,8.34%,and 6.48%,respectively.It was determined that soil nutrients have a greater impact on the growth and nutrient accumulation of Spiraea shrubs compared to climatic factors.This study makes an important contribution to the theoretical basis and data support,enabling a deeper understanding of the response mechanisms of shrub species in the grassland ecosystems of the Altay Mountains to climate change.展开更多
Subgenus Melanocrommyum is the second largest subgenus of Allium,with a wide distribution ranging from the Canary Islands to northwestern India.This study investigates the phylogeny,biogeographic patterns,and morpholo...Subgenus Melanocrommyum is the second largest subgenus of Allium,with a wide distribution ranging from the Canary Islands to northwestern India.This study investigates the phylogeny,biogeographic patterns,and morphological character evolution of the subgenus using 117 accessions representing 107taxa across the 19 currently recognized sections within Allium subgenus Melanocrommyum.Although the subgenus is monophyletic,significant incongruence exists between morphological and molecular data.Our plastome-based phylogenetic analysis identified five distinct lineages(A-E),corresponding to the geographic distributions of the species.However,plastome lineages(A-E)and ITS clusters(A-G)were incongruent.Biogeographic and molecular dating analyses suggest that Melanocrommyum evolved in association with tectonic uplift events in Central Asia during the Late Miocene or Oligocene.Our finding that Melanocrommyum plastomes have lost inf A and one copy rps19 gene indicate that the subgenus has undergone a relatively recent diversification.We also found that narrow leaves and fasciculate to semiglobose inflorescences may represent ancestral traits within the subgenus.This study provides new insights into the biogeographic history and trait evolution of Melanocrommyum,suggesting recent diversification influenced by tectonic events and climate change,while highlighting the complexity of molecular and morphological data integration.展开更多
Microcrystalline cellulose(MCC)is one of the cellulose derivatives produced as a result of the depolymerization of a part of cellulose to achieve high crystallinity.When implemented in other polymers,high crystallinit...Microcrystalline cellulose(MCC)is one of the cellulose derivatives produced as a result of the depolymerization of a part of cellulose to achieve high crystallinity.When implemented in other polymers,high crystallinity correlates with greater strength and stiffnes,but it can reduce the water-holding capacity.The acid concentration and hydrolysis time will affect the acquisition of crystallinity and water absorption capacity,both of which have significance as properties of hydrogel filler.The study aimed to evaluate the properties and select the MCC generated from varying the proportion of hydrochloric acid(HCl)and the appropriate hydrolysis time as a filler for film hydrogel.MCC was produced by hydrolyzing cellulose of oil palm empty fruit bunches(OPEFB)with the HCl solution at varied concentrations and periods.The results show that the longer hydrolysis times and higher HCl concentrations increase crystallinity and density while lowering yield and water absorption.The extensive acid hydrolysis reduces the amorphous area significantly,allowing the depolymerization to occur and extend the crystalline area.The morphological properties of the MCC,which are smaller but compact,indicate the presence of disintegrating and diminishing structures.A 2.5 N HCl concentration and a 45-min hydrolysis time succeed in sufficient crystallinity as well as maintaining good water absorption capacity.The treatment produced MCC with absorption capacity of 4.03±0.26 g/g,swelling capacity of 5.03±0.26 g/g,loss on drying of 1.44%±0.36,bulk and tapped density of 0.27±0.031 g/cm^(3) and 0.3±0.006 g/cm^(3),respectively,with a crystallinity index of 88.89%±4.76 and a crystallite size of 4.23±0.70 nm.The MCC generated could potentially be utilized as a hydrogel film filler,since a given proportion will be able to maintain the strength of the hydrogel,not readily dissolve but absorb water significantly.展开更多
Ephedroid macrofossils have been widely documented in Cretaceous deposits,including numerous from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of NE China.However,few ephedroid macrofossils have been reported from South Amer...Ephedroid macrofossils have been widely documented in Cretaceous deposits,including numerous from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of NE China.However,few ephedroid macrofossils have been reported from South America.Herein,we describe a new plant of the family Ephedraceae,Arlenea delicata gen.et sp.nov.,from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of the Araripe Basin,Northeast Brazil,based on the vegetative and reproductive structures.It has the typical morphological characteristics of ephedroid plants,including fertile reproductive branches,opposite phyllotaxy,terminal female cones,a sympodial branching system,longitudinally striated internodes,and swollen nodes.Our new finding is unusual in having inner chlamydosperms subtended by two pairs of bracts,reproductive units connected to branches through swollen receptacles and a smooth seed surface.This new ephedroid taxon from the Crato Formation increases our understanding of plant diversity of this group during the Early Cretaceous.Furthermore,the general morphology(fleshy bracts and enlarged receptacles)of this new fossil discovery indicates that seeds of this plant may have been dispersed by animals such as pterosaurs(mainly the Tapejaridae)and birds(Enantiornithes and Ornituromorpha).If true,this would explain the cosmopolitan distribution of Ephedraceae in the Lower Cretaceous.展开更多
基金The financial support of CLP Holdings Limited is acknowledged for supporting KFBG's ongoing applied forest restoration research.
文摘Both abiotic conditions and management influence the success of forest restoration.Despite growing interest and practical effort in restoring degraded forest landscapes,understanding of how disparate factors,such as terrain,soil conditions,climate and silvicultural treatments,directly or collectively control species performance and shape community recovery remains limited.In this study,we assessed how topography and management intervention affect seedling survival and growth in the early stages of restoration.To do so,we established seven experimental plots,each measuring 20 m×20 m(400 m2)subdivided into 48 subplots,in coarse,anthropogenic grassland on a mid-elevation mountain slope in Hong Kong,and planted a total of 3975 native tree seedlings belonging to 12 tree species within them.To characterise topography,we modelled the elevation,slope,convexity and aspect of each subplot.Two types of tree guard(enclosed blue plastic sleeve and open yellow mesh),two types of fertiliser(organic and inorganic)and cardboard weeding mats were used to assess the impact of management interventions on the establishment of the seedlings.Survivorship,height and basal diameter were measured at 1,2 and 4 years after planting.We used generalised linear models to examine the effect of these factors and their interactions on seedling survival,and we applied linear models and hierarchical partitioning to explore their relative importance in determining the relative growth rate(RGR)of each species.The most parsimonious models were selected using the Akaike Information Criterion.Survivorship was 98.1%,95.2%and 86.4%across all plots in the first,second and fourth year,respectively.On average,topographic and management variables explained 1.48–3.34%of total variation in RGR,respectively,for all species.The models revealed that type of tree guard,aspect and elevation were the most important factors explaining RGR and survival.Results of hierarchical partitioning by species and growth period showed that the key determinants of performance vary by species and shift over the course of early seedling establishment,emphasising the importance of both spatial and temporal scales in the restoration of degraded tropical forests.Our findings support the use of enclosed tree guards and fertiliser to improve survivorship and growth across a range of broadleaved Asiatic species.All potential limiting factors pertaining to both site factors and management,as well as their interactions,should be considered in restoration planning to maximise restoration success.
基金supported by the grant from the State Programs"Grid Mapping of the Flora of Uzbekistan'during 2020–2024"the grant from the State Programs"Creation of the Digital Platform of the Plant World of Central Uzbekistan"during 2025–2029the State Research Project"Taxonomic Revision of Polymorphic Plant Families of the Flora of Uzbekistan"from the Institute of Botany,Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan (A-FA-2021-427)
文摘In floristic research,the grid mapping method is a crucial and highly effective tool for investigating the flora of specific regions.This methodology aids in the collection of comprehensive data,thereby promoting a thorough understanding of regional plant diversity.This paper presents findings from a grid mapping study conducted in the Surkhan-Sherabad botanical-geographic region(SShBGR),acknowledged as one of the major floristic areas in southwestern Uzbekistan.Using an expansive dataset of 14,317 records comprised of herbarium specimens and field diary entries collected from 1897 to 2023,we evaluated the stages and seasonal dynamics of data accumulation,species richness(SR),and collection density(CD)within 5 km×5 km grid cells.We further examined the taxonomic and life form composition of the region's flora.Our analysis revealed that the grid mapping phase(2021–2023)produced a significantly greater volume of specimens and taxonomic diversity compared with other periods(1897–1940,1941–1993,and 1994–2020).Field research spanned 206 grid cells during 2021–2023,resulting in 11,883 samples,including 6469 herbarium specimens and 5414 field records.Overall,fieldwork covered 251 of the 253 grid cells within the SShBGR.Notably,the highest species diversity was documented in the B198 grid cell,recording 160 species.In terms of collection density,the E198 grid cell produced 475 samples.Overall,we identified 1053 species distributed across 439 genera and 78 families in the SShBGR.The flora of this region aligned significantly with the dominant families commonly found in the Holarctic,highlighting vital ecological connections.Among our findings,the Asteraceae family was the most polymorphic,with 147 species,followed by the continually stable and diverse Poaceae,Fabaceae,Brassicaceae,and Amaranthaceae.Besides,our analysis revealed a predominance of therophyte life forms,which constituted 52%(552 species)of the total flora.The findings underscore the necessity for continual data collection efforts to further enhance our understanding of the biodiversity in the SShBGR.The results of this study demonstrated that the application of grid-based mapping in floristic studies proves to be an effective tool for assessing biodiversity and identifying key taxonomic groups.
基金funded by the National Research Foundation of South Africa,Dimensions of Biodiversity Program(Grant no.136381).
文摘Adaptation to different environments can lead to local adaptations that facilitate morphological divergence between closely related taxa,potentially leading to speciation.Quantifying habitat variation can thus provide valuable insights into evolutionary processes.Arboreal dwarf chameleons of the genus Bradypodion exhibit 3 distinct ecomorphological forms:forest,shrub,and“little brown chameleons”(LBCs).It is assumed these ecomorphs are the result of convergence among species that are in similar habitats regardless of ancestry,or in some cases,morphological conservatism and retention of an ancestral form that is adapted to a shared habitat type.If so,then the habitat of different ecomorphs would differ in vegetation structure.Our results show that vegetation structure in fynbos/grassy habitats is characterized by significantly narrower perches than shrubby habitats,but both have a largely vertical perch orientation.In contrast,forests have significantly fewer vertical perches than fynbos/grassy habitats with significantly thicker diameter perches.Accordingly,LBC and shrub species used more vertically oriented perches than forest species,suggesting that perch use corresponds with the most widely available perch angles.Although LBC chameleons used the smallest diameter perches,when corrected for body size,there was no difference in perch diameter among ecomorphs.These results suggest that the body size of LBC chameleons is constrained by the prevalence of small-diameter perches in their habitat.Species in habitats with wider perches attain larger body size.These findings support the notion that variation in perch structure is critical for phenotypic convergence that has resulted in the 3 Bradypodion ecomorphs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(W2412123)the Youth Top Talents Project of"Tianshan Talent"Training Plan of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China(2022TSYCCX0011)+1 种基金the Tianshan Talents Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China(2022TSYCLJ0056)the Self-deployment Program of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography,Chinese Academy of Sciences(E350030401).
文摘Grassland shrub encroachment is a phenomenon that is prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide,impacting grassland ecosystems in several ways.In the context of escalating climate change and human activities,examining the nutrient and stoichiometric characteristics of Spiraea shrubs in grassland ecosystems,along with their relationships with environmental factors,can yield valuable insights into the nutrient utilization and survival strategies of these shrubs.This,in turn,offers a scientific foundation for developing future conservation measures.This study was conducted in July 2023 in the Altay Mountains,Northwest China,where Spiraea shrubs thrive across five grassland types:temperate steppe desert,temperate desert steppe,temperate steppe,temperate meadow steppe,and mountain meadow.Leaf and soil samples were collected from each grassland type to analyze the concentrations of carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P),as well as the stoichiometric characteristics of both the leaves and soil.Subsequently,correlation analysis and redundancy analysis(RDA)were conducted to investigate the variations in leaf C,N,and P concentrations and leaf stoichiometry of Spiraea shrubs as well as their influencing factors.The results indicated the presence of significant or highly significant differences(P<0.050)in the leaf C,N,and P concentrations and leaf stoichiometry(C:N,C:P,and N:P ratios)of Spiraea shrubs across the five grassland types.The N:P ratios of Spiraea shrub leaves in the five grassland types ranged from 7.37 to 11.77,suggesting that N availability generally limits the growth of Spiraea shrubs.Results of RDA revealed that the most significant contributors to the C,N,and P concentrations and stoichiometric characteristics of Spiraea shrub leaves were in the following order:soil total N>mean annual precipitation>elevation>soil pH>soil organic C>mean annual temperature.These factors had contribution rates of 35.32%,13.19%,10.20%,8.82%,8.34%,and 6.48%,respectively.It was determined that soil nutrients have a greater impact on the growth and nutrient accumulation of Spiraea shrubs compared to climatic factors.This study makes an important contribution to the theoretical basis and data support,enabling a deeper understanding of the response mechanisms of shrub species in the grassland ecosystems of the Altay Mountains to climate change.
基金supported by grants from the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP)program(2019QZKK0502)the state research project‘Taxonomic Revision of Polymorphic Plant Families of the Flora of Uzbekistan’(FZ20200929321)+3 种基金the State Programs for 2021-2025‘Grid mapping of the flora of Uzbekistan’and the‘Digital Nature.Development of a digital platform for the flora of Central Uzbekistan’,implemented by the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the period 2025-2029National Natural Science Foundation of China(32322006)the Key Projects of the Joint Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U23A20149)the R&D Program of Yunnan Province(202103AF140005).
文摘Subgenus Melanocrommyum is the second largest subgenus of Allium,with a wide distribution ranging from the Canary Islands to northwestern India.This study investigates the phylogeny,biogeographic patterns,and morphological character evolution of the subgenus using 117 accessions representing 107taxa across the 19 currently recognized sections within Allium subgenus Melanocrommyum.Although the subgenus is monophyletic,significant incongruence exists between morphological and molecular data.Our plastome-based phylogenetic analysis identified five distinct lineages(A-E),corresponding to the geographic distributions of the species.However,plastome lineages(A-E)and ITS clusters(A-G)were incongruent.Biogeographic and molecular dating analyses suggest that Melanocrommyum evolved in association with tectonic uplift events in Central Asia during the Late Miocene or Oligocene.Our finding that Melanocrommyum plastomes have lost inf A and one copy rps19 gene indicate that the subgenus has undergone a relatively recent diversification.We also found that narrow leaves and fasciculate to semiglobose inflorescences may represent ancestral traits within the subgenus.This study provides new insights into the biogeographic history and trait evolution of Melanocrommyum,suggesting recent diversification influenced by tectonic events and climate change,while highlighting the complexity of molecular and morphological data integration.
基金the Universitas Gadjah Mada’s financial support for this research.This research was conducted using the Final Project Recognition Grant Universitas Gadjah Mada Indonesia Number of 5075/UN1.P.II/DitLit/PT.01.01/2023.
文摘Microcrystalline cellulose(MCC)is one of the cellulose derivatives produced as a result of the depolymerization of a part of cellulose to achieve high crystallinity.When implemented in other polymers,high crystallinity correlates with greater strength and stiffnes,but it can reduce the water-holding capacity.The acid concentration and hydrolysis time will affect the acquisition of crystallinity and water absorption capacity,both of which have significance as properties of hydrogel filler.The study aimed to evaluate the properties and select the MCC generated from varying the proportion of hydrochloric acid(HCl)and the appropriate hydrolysis time as a filler for film hydrogel.MCC was produced by hydrolyzing cellulose of oil palm empty fruit bunches(OPEFB)with the HCl solution at varied concentrations and periods.The results show that the longer hydrolysis times and higher HCl concentrations increase crystallinity and density while lowering yield and water absorption.The extensive acid hydrolysis reduces the amorphous area significantly,allowing the depolymerization to occur and extend the crystalline area.The morphological properties of the MCC,which are smaller but compact,indicate the presence of disintegrating and diminishing structures.A 2.5 N HCl concentration and a 45-min hydrolysis time succeed in sufficient crystallinity as well as maintaining good water absorption capacity.The treatment produced MCC with absorption capacity of 4.03±0.26 g/g,swelling capacity of 5.03±0.26 g/g,loss on drying of 1.44%±0.36,bulk and tapped density of 0.27±0.031 g/cm^(3) and 0.3±0.006 g/cm^(3),respectively,with a crystallinity index of 88.89%±4.76 and a crystallite size of 4.23±0.70 nm.The MCC generated could potentially be utilized as a hydrogel film filler,since a given proportion will be able to maintain the strength of the hydrogel,not readily dissolve but absorb water significantly.
基金the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnologico CNPq Processo n°406902/2022e4(INCT PALEOVERT)Coordenaçao de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-CAPES for the financial support grant to A.M.N.Ribeiro(88887520216/2020e00)+1 种基金the Fundaçao Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnologico-FUNCAP for the financial support grant to R.A.M.Bantim(#BMD-0124-00302.01.01/19)A.A.F.Saraiva(#BP3-013900202.01.00/18).
文摘Ephedroid macrofossils have been widely documented in Cretaceous deposits,including numerous from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of NE China.However,few ephedroid macrofossils have been reported from South America.Herein,we describe a new plant of the family Ephedraceae,Arlenea delicata gen.et sp.nov.,from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of the Araripe Basin,Northeast Brazil,based on the vegetative and reproductive structures.It has the typical morphological characteristics of ephedroid plants,including fertile reproductive branches,opposite phyllotaxy,terminal female cones,a sympodial branching system,longitudinally striated internodes,and swollen nodes.Our new finding is unusual in having inner chlamydosperms subtended by two pairs of bracts,reproductive units connected to branches through swollen receptacles and a smooth seed surface.This new ephedroid taxon from the Crato Formation increases our understanding of plant diversity of this group during the Early Cretaceous.Furthermore,the general morphology(fleshy bracts and enlarged receptacles)of this new fossil discovery indicates that seeds of this plant may have been dispersed by animals such as pterosaurs(mainly the Tapejaridae)and birds(Enantiornithes and Ornituromorpha).If true,this would explain the cosmopolitan distribution of Ephedraceae in the Lower Cretaceous.
