Morphological descriptions and DNA barcodes of Oziella viscida n. sp. (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae) and two infrequently reported Trisetacus species (Nalepellidae) from Crimea

We report on a new phytoptid mite species, Oziella viscida n. sp., collected in Western Crimea from sea rush, Juncus maritimus (Juncaceae), and give supplementary descriptions of two rarely encountered nalepellid species of the genus Trisetacus from pines: T. confusus Livshits & Vasilieva, 1982 (in Vasilieva et al. 1982) from needle sheaths of Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana (Pinaceae), an endemic subspecies restricted to Crimea, and T. brevisetus Livshits & Sekerskaya, 1982 (in Vasilieva et al. 1982) from needle sheaths of Pinus brutia ssp. pityusa (Steven) Silba, a relatively isolated subspecies of Turkish pine (P. brutia Tenore) growing in Georgia, Caucasus and Crimea. Oziella viscida n. sp. is remarkable in that most specimens were found inhabiting the basal part of leaves and stems of J. maritimus, an area covered by a transparent, sticky exudate apparently secreted by the plant epidermis. The mites were completely embedded in this substance and, rather than crawling with their legs, were observed moving through the viscous material while bending their opisthosoma in a serpentine or wormlike manner—an adaptation that appears to be currently unreported in eriophyoids and possibly reminiscent of locomotion of ancestral “protoeriophyoids” associated with soil. In comparison to females, males of O. viscida n. sp. and T. confusus have a more distinct prodorsal shield pattern consisting of a larger number of longer lines. Three new barcode gene sequences were obtained: MZ220550 (Cox1, O. viscida n. sp., 1159 bp), MZ224497 (18S, 2012 bp, T. brevisetus), and MZ224498 (18S, 2013 bp T. confusus). A BLAST search of the 18S sequences of T. brevisetus and T. confusus shows them as slightly closer to other 18S sequences of Trisetacus from Pinaceae (95.5%–96.3% identity) than to Trisetacus from Cupressaceae (93.6%–94.0% identity). Comparison of sequences of nalepellids currently present in GenBank suggest that a complete 18S sequence KJ841938.1 (2252 bp) from China belongs to an identified Trisetacus from Pinaceae rather than to Setoptus koraiensis as labelled, highlighting the necessity to review carefully the sequences of Eriophyoidea prior to using them in phylogenetic analyses, as well as the need to recollect and resequence S. koraiensis to clarify the nature of the problematic data from GenBank assigned to this species.

Juncaceae Species as Promising Sources of Phenanthrenes: Antiproliferative Compounds from Juncus maritimus Lam

Juncaceae family represents an abundant source of phenanthrenes. In continuation of our work aiming at the isolation of biologically active compounds from Juncaceae species, Juncus maritimus Lam. was subjected to phytochemical and pharmacological investigations. The isolation process was carried out by using combined extraction and chromatographic methods. The structures of the obtained chemical compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS, 1D (1H, 13C-JMOD), and 2D (1H-1H-COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY) NMR spectra. Four new [maritins A–D (1–4)] and seven known phenanthrenes (5–11) were isolated from the plant, of which two (4 and 11) are phenanthrene dimers composed of effusol monomers. Maritin C (3) has an unusual 4,5-ethanophenanthrene skeleton most likely produced by biosynthetic incorporation of a vinyl group into a cyclohexadiene ring. Compounds 1–11 were tested for their antiproliferative activity on seven human tumor cell lines (HeLa, HTM-26, T-47D, A2780, A2780cis, MCF-7, KCR) and one normal cell line (MRC-5) using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The dimeric phenanthrenes showed strong antiproliferative activity against T-47D cells with IC50 values of 9.1 and 6.2 µM, respectively.

Domestic Wastewater Treatment by Vertical-Flow Filter Grown with Juncus Maritimus in Arid Region

This study aims to experimentally investigate the performance of Juncus maritimus species in removing pollutants from domestic wastewater under arid conditions. The experiment was carried out for three month and several physicochemical and organic parameters were monitored. Results showed a good quality of filtered waters reflecting the high efficiency of vertical-flow filters. The presence of Juncus maritimus species promotes significantly the nitrogen elimination and augments the dissolved oxygen content at the outlet.It was also found that the planted filter provides small improvements in removing BOD5, TSS and TP removal for the three pollutants. The mean removal rate obtained with Juncus maritimus filter was 91.05 % for BOD5, 86.67 % for TSS, 78.45 % for Ntot, and 95.14 % for TP. Microbial activity, uptake by plants, adsorption and physical sedimentation are the main mechanisms of limiting the contaminants rates in the vegetated vertical-flow filter.

Biota from the coastal wetlands of Praia da Vitória (Terceira, Azores, Portugal): Part 4 – Vascular plants

The data presented here come from field observations, carried out between 2014 and 2017, as part of a LIFE research project aiming to preserve and restore three coastal wetlands of Praia da Vitória (Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal) (LIFE-CWR). A total of 23 vascular plant species surveys were carried out in three sites: one for each semester in Paul da Praia da Vitória (PPV) and Paul da Pedreira do Cabo da Praia (PPCP); one for each semester (except in 2014) in Paul do Belo Jardim (PBJ). The main objectives were to determine the plant richness of the three sites and to monitor yearly variation on species composition. A total of 107 taxa, belonging to 50 families, were observed, many of which are new records for the area, especially in PBJ and PPCP, where 78 and 92% of species records were new. A few very rare species in the Azores were recorded in these coastal wetlands, namely Lotus creticus, Bolboschoenus maritimus, Juncus maritimus and Polygonum maritimum.

Effect of two management techniques applied to the reduction of Juncus maritimus (Lam.) abundance in a selected temporary wetland

Moderate management of temporary wetlands is one of the most proper methods for their restoration and conservation. The cessation of use may lead to high biomass domination by macrophytes as Juncus maritimus (Lam.) that changes plant community structure, threatens species biodiversity, and becomes a danger for their conservation. The experiment was carried out in Sidi Boughaba coastal reserve in Morocco. Two management techniques of wetlands were tested, cutting and uprooting of the rush. Four experimental plots (4.2 × 2.9 m) within the rush belt were set up, with intact plots as a control. Vegetation structure and water levels were monitored on 96 quadrats over two years. The six visits dates, three visits per year (February, April, June), were monitored over two years. The abundance and richness of species were studied, simultaneously with the density of the seed stock in each plot. Results showed that both techniques allowed the opening of the habitat with a significant increase of richness and abundance of species, particularly the restoration of characteristic species of the temporary wetland from the seed bank. The cut technique seems to have less of an effect on the seed stock, total seeds median value was 6.5 in cut plots versus 5 in uprooting plots, being regularly applied given the rapid encroachment of the rush.

Thermal Properties of New Insulating Juncus Maritimus Fibrous Mortar Composites/Experimental Results and Analytical Laws

This study aims to study the thermal properties and the microstructure of composite materials based on mortar combined with Juncus maritimus fibers. Effective thermophysical properties of the composite materials containing Juncus maritimus fibers are experimentally and theoretically investigated. To better understand the morphology of these new composites, the corresponding microstructures were characterized in 2D by scanning electron microscope and in 3D using micro computed tomography. The local thermal conductivity of the Juncus maritimus fibers was identified using theoretical models and experimental measurement of the effective thermal conductivity of packed bed of crushed fibers. The thermal conductivity of the mortar matrix at given porosity was also determined using experimental measurement data and a theoretical model. The most appropriate analytical laws to predict effective thermal conductivity of mortar composites containing fibers are deduced from experimental thermal conductivity results.