Notes on Potentilla (Rosaceae) of Altai. 9. A new species from Kuraisky Ridge

Based on morphological characters, a new species Potentilla friesenii collected from alpine belt of Kuraisky Ridge (Altai Mts.) is described. The novelty belongs to Potentilla sect. Chrysanthae; it is most closely related to P. asiatica but differs from the latter by styles not or somewhat widened and smooth to slightly verrucose (vs. always somewhat widened and strongly verrucose) at base as well as the presence of numerous violet glands on sepals. Stability of these differences are confirmed by several years of observation in the wild and in introduction. Illustration of the new species, image of its type specimen, and distribution map are adduced; the area of P. asiatica within Altai Mts. is also presented. A novel morphological feature separating P. asiatica and P. chrysantha is found: staminal ring in P. asiatica (as well as in the new species) is dark violet while it is pale in P. chrysantha. The name P. asiatica is lectotypified.

The water, food, energy, and ecosystem nexus in the Asian Alpine Belt: Research progress and future directions for achieving sustainable development goals

The Asian Alpine Belt (AAB) region extends from the Tibetan Plateau to the Caucasus. Rapid climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressures in the ecologically sensitive alpine area are making the achievement of sustainable development goals in the AAB more challenging. The water–food–energy–ecosystem (WFEE) nexus describes the trade-offs and synergies among the various elements of water, food, energy resources, and natural ecosystems relevant for sustainable development. The optimization of the WFEE nexus in the AAB region has become a vital issue for reaching sustainability in this ecologically fragile Eurasian region and its developing countries. In this paper, we broadly classify research into four types based on a compilation of recent research on the WFEE nexus in the AAB region: ecohydrological processes, agriculture and livestock, clean energy, and local social adaptation. We use the classification–coordination–collaboration approach to build an optimized conceptual framework to indicate a future research path. The outlook includes enhanced identification of the WFEE nexus, scientifically rational decision-making, and attention to cross-sector and transnational collaboration to support the realization of sustainable development goals in the AAB region.

Introduction studies of European species of the genus Primula L. in the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute

The paper presents the results of introduction studies of 20 European species and 2 taxa of the genus Primula L. in N.A. Avrorin Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute of Kola Scientific Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences. Currently, the collection contains 13 species and 1 taxon ( P . auricula L., P . carpathica Fuss, P . clusiana Tausch, P . daonensis (Leyb.) Leyb., P . elatior (L.) Hill, P . glaucescens Moretti, P . kitaibeliana Schott, P . latifolia Lapeyr, P . minima L., P . poloninensis Fed., P . veris L., P . veris subp. macrocalyx (Bunge) Ldi, P . vulgaris Huds., P . wulfeniana Schott). It has been shown that the species inhabiting the alpine belt of mountains are best adapted to the conditions of the Arctic ( Primula auricula , P . carpathica , P . clusiana , P . halleri , P . minima , P . pedemontana , P . scandinavica , P . vulgaris ssp. rubra , P . tyrolensis , P . wulfeniana - IC (introduction coefficient) = 8,3, as well as P . elatior (IC = 8,1) and P . veris subsp. macrocalyx , P . vulgaris (IС = 7,6). The rest of the studied species are less adapted. It has been established that species of the genus Primula can serve as a source of replenishment of the landscaping assortment for the Murmansk Region. For this purpose 2 new ornamental and resistant species were recommended ( Primula carpathica , P . clusiana ).

Vegetation of alpine screes on Bjelašnica Mt. — syntaxonomy and ecology

We analised vegetation of calcareous screes in the alpine belt of Bjelašnica Mt. (Western Balkan) by the Central European phytosociological method. In total, 69 relevés were submitted to numerical analysis in R ver. 3.5.2. (UPGMA clustering with chord distance). The obtained cluster dendrogram showed differentiation in nine associations, of which Festuco xanthinae—Valerianetum montanae Trakić et al. ass. nov. and Drypido spinosae—Seslerietum wettsteinii Trakić et al. ass. nov. are new ones. In lower section of the alpine belt we described new subassociation Pseudofumarietum leiospermae helictochloetosum Trakić et al. subass. nov. which raises questions about ecological preferences of the alliance Corydalion ochroleucae. We also neotypified the association Drypidi—Heracleetum orsinii Redžić et al. ex Trakić et al. and made correction for Pseudofumarietum leiospermae Lakušić et Redžić 1991 nom. corr. The observed high diversification of the alpine screes on Bjelašnica Mt. is based upon its ecological heterogeneity and tranzitional position in the Dinarides.

Checklist of the lichens and lichenicolous fungi of Sierra Nevada (Spain)

A checklist of lichens and lichenicolous fungi of Sierra Nevada (Granada, southeast Spain) is presented, fruit of the collecting field trip carried out by the Spanish Lichen Society (SEL), complemented with literature references. The authors identified 194 taxa (171 lichens and 23 lichenicolous fungi). As a result of these identifications, 46 lichens and nine lichenicolous fungi are reported for the first time in Sierra Nevada. To date, the catalogue includes 551 taxa (528 lichens and 23 lichenicolous fungi). We confirm both the scarce presence of terricolous lichens in the cryoromediterranean belt and the absence of alpine belt terricolous lichens.

Late Carboniferous Schlingen in the Gotthard nappe (Central Alps) and their relation to the Variscan evolution

<p>Many pre‐Mesozoic basements of the Alpine belt contain kilometre‐scaled folds with steeply inclined axial planes and fold axes. Those structures are referred to as Schlingen folds. They deform polymetamorphic gneisses, often Late‐Ordovician metagranitoids and are cross‐cut themselves by Permian intrusions. However, the structural evolution of such Schlingen is still not completely understood and their geodynamic significance for the Variscan evolution is not clear. To close this gap, this study investigates in detail a well-preserved Schlingen structure in the Gotthard nappe (Central Swiss Alps). This Schlingen fold evolved by a combination of shearing and folding under amphibolite facies conditions. Detailed digital field mapping coupled with petrological and structural investigations reveal local synkinematic migmatisation in the fold hinges parallel to axial planes. U‐Pb dating of zircons separated from associated leucosomes reveal cores that record a detrital country rock age of 450 ± 3 Ma, and rims with a range of dates from 270 to 330 Ma. The main cluster defines an age of 316 ± 4 Ma. We ascribe this Late‐Carboniferous age to peak metamorphic conditions of the late‐Variscan Schlingen phase.</p><p>The pre-Schlingen structures are subdivided into three older deformation events, which are connected to the Cenerian and post-Cenerian deformations. In addition, until now unknown, post Schlingen-, but pre-Alpine transpressional deformation have been detected and described. This superimposed deformation produced locally a low-grade foliation and minor undulation of the Schlingen structures.</p><p>The detail data of the investigated fold structures are linked with already described Schlingen folds in the wider Alpine realm, which all are concentrated in the most southern parts of the Variscides. From a geodynamic point of view and based on the new tectono-metamorphic constraints, we propose Schlingen formation preceded and concurred the crustal-scale transpressional tectonics of the East Variscan Shear Zone. This scenario separates, at least in a structural sense, the Southern Variscides from more northern parts (also Gondwana derived) inside Pangea, where Schlingen folds are absent.</p>

Structural inversion of the North Ligurian margin: results from the SEFASILS experiment

<p>The north Ligurian margin is a stretched continental margin located at the junction of the Western Mediterranean Sea and the Alpine belt. This region underwent several phases of contrasting deformation styles. The Ligurian basin opened from late Oligocene to early Miocene times, as a result of a back-arc extension induced by the rollback of the subducted Apulian plate. Since then, it has been evolving in the immediate vicinity of the active Alpine orogen, in a regional compressional setting between the Corsica-Sardinia continental block and mainland Europe.</p><p>Nowadays, continuous seismic activity, with mainly reverse focal mechanisms, is recorded in the northeastern part of the Ligurian Basin. It is attributed to the compressional phase at work in the Gulf of Genoa since about 5 Myrs, which led to a significant uplift of the north margin documented by a vertical offset of the Messinian stratigraphic markers by more than 1000 m offshore Imperia. Although active seismogenic faults are still poorly known, a fault system outcropping at the foot of the continental slope, offshore Liguria and the French Riviera, is suspected from previous joint high-resolution seismic reflection data interpretation and sismotectonic studies.</p><p>The SEFASILS project (Seismic Exploration of Faults And Structures In the Ligurian Sea) aims to better understand the mechanisms of the ongoing tectonic inversion of the margin and the crustal-scale tectonic structures –active or not– marking its evolution.  We also aim to better characterize the sharp transition from the South Alpine belt to the Ligurian basin. Acquiring quality deep seismic data in the Ligurian Sea is challenging due to the complexity of structures beneath the margin and to the screening effect of the thick Messinian evaporitic series interlayered in the sedimentary cover farther seaward. To this end, joint acquisitions of deep, long-streamer multichannel seismic (MSC) reflection data and dense sea-bottom wide angle refraction data (WAS) have been carried out along a 150 km long profile offshore Nice, perpendicularly to the basin’s axis.</p><p>The MCS data, thanks to pre- and post-stack migration, highlight faults at the foot of the continental slope rooting deeper than the salt decollement level. A first arrival travel time tomographic inversion of the wide angle data allowed us to build a velocity model of the study area reaching down to the uppermost mantle. Here, we present the results obtained from the joint analysis of MCS and WAS data. On the southern part of our profile some deep reflectivity, closely mirrored by the 7 km/s tomographic isovelocity, likely corresponds to the Moho. It is lost to the north, where shallower reflectivity, which could be interpreted as the base the thick sedimentary cover, coincides with the 5 km/s isovelocity. These two features are separately observed on both sides of what appears to be a major structural discontinuity between two contrasting basement domains, coinciding with an anomalously large salt diapiric complex in the sedimentary cover, also observed farther east in the basin. Such observations and their potential consequences will be discussed, in the light of previous regional studies.</p>