Aquatic Hyphomycetes from streams on Madeira Island (Portugal)

Aquatic hyphomycetes are a phylogenetically heterogeneous group of fungi living preferentially in fast flowing, well-aerated forest streams. These fungi have worldwide distribution, but with the exception of Articulospora tetracladia, no aquatic hyphomycete taxon was previously recorded on Madeira Island. Aquatic hyphomycetes were sampled from 40 sites, distributed by 27 permanent streams in 2015, to provide the distribution of aquatic hyphomycetes in Madeira Island streams. In this study, a total of 21 species of aquatic hyphomycetes were recorded belonging to three classes of Ascomycota. All taxa are new records for Madeira Archipelago, except Articulospora tetracladia and four are reported for the first time in Macaronesian biogeographic region.

Flowing wells: history and role as a root of groundwater hydrology

The spewing of groundwater in flowing wells is a phenomenon of interest to the public, but little attention has been paid to the role of flowing wells on the science of groundwater. This study reviews that answering to problems related to flowing wells since the early 19th century led to the birth of many fundamental concepts and principles of groundwater hydrology. The concepts stemmed from flowing wells in confined aquifers include permeability and compressibility, while the principles include Darcy's law, role of aquitards on flowing well conditions and the piston flow pattern, steady-state well hydraulics in confined aquifers, and transient well hydraulics towards constant-head wells in confined or leaky aquifers, all of which are applicable even if flowing well conditions have disappeared. Due to the widespread occurrence of aquitards, there is a long-lasting misconception that flowing wells must be geologically-controlled. The occurrence of flowing wells in topographic lows of unconfined aquifers was anticipated in 1940 and later verified in the 1960s, accompanying with the birth of the theory of topographically-driven groundwater flow, which has been considered as a paradigm shift in groundwater hydrology. Based on studies following this new paradigm, several preconditions of flowing wells given in the 19th century have been found to be not necessary at all. This historical perspective of the causes of flowing well conditions and the role of flowing wells on the science of groundwater could lead to a deeper understanding of the evolution of groundwater hydrology.

Poetry and Natural History in the Peak

This chapter examines Hobbes’s Latin poem De mirabilibus pecci: an account of a tour of the ‘Wonders’ of the Derbyshire Peak. The chapter argues that in its concern with Derbyshire mining practices and hydrology, based on the study of such local phenomena as the underground river flowing out of the Peak Cavern (Devil’s Arse) and the ebbing and flowing well, the poem demonstrates Hobbes’s conversance with neo-Aristotelian meteorology and Renaissance naturalism. It shows also his commitment to the Baconian project of natural history, as it gathers information about areas of knowledge Bacon had marked as deficient: regional marvels and the practices of mechanical artists.