Antonio L. Crespí

Microbiological and physicochemical characterization of olive mill wastewaters from a continuous olive mill in Northeastern Portugal

The microbiological and physicochemical characterization of samples from the different wastewaters generated during oil extraction in a continuous olive mill was performed. The main aim was to determine which of the physicochemical parameters were the best fitted to correctly characterize these residual waters. High correlations were obtained for COD, DOC, K, P and N contents with the sampling points, allowing the distinction of olive washing waters (OWW) from olive centrifuge waters (OCW) and olive mill wastewaters (OMW). These parameters were sufficient for a rapid and less costly chemical characterization of these waters. Phenols and oil and grease contents, together with low pH and dissolved oxygen contents, and high organic loads, were the most toxic for microbial populations. Microbial characterization showed that fungi were well adapted to these stressing environmental characteristics and the reuse of OMW after aerobic treatment with microbial species isolated from the effluent is considered.

Predicting trends of invasive plants richness using local socio-economic data: An application in North Portugal

This study assesses the potential of an integrated methodology for predicting local trends in invasive exotic plant species (invasive richness) using indirect, regional information on human disturbance. The distribution of invasive plants was assessed in North Portugal using herbarium collections and local environmental, geophysical and socio-economic characteristics. Invasive richness response to anthropogenic disturbance was predicted using a dynamic model based on a sequential modeling process (stochastic dynamic methodology-StDM). Derived scenarios showed that invasive richness trends were clearly associated with ongoing socio-economic change. Simulations including scenarios of growing urbanization showed an increase in invasive richness while simulations in municipalities with decreasing populations showed stable or decreasing levels of invasive richness. The model simulations demonstrate the interest and feasibility of using this methodology in disturbance ecology.

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium) growth is mostly affected by rootstock and much less by budding height

Abstract The effects of several rootstocks and budding heights upon the growth of three cherry (Prunus avium) cultivars were investigated during the first 4 years of growth. The trial was established in 1998 in north‐east Portugal using ‘Burlat’, ‘Summit’, and ‘Van’ cultivars grafted onto Edabriz, Gisela 5, and Maxma 14 at 10, 20, and 30 cm above soil level, and onto Cab and Prunus avium (Mazzard) at 10, 30, and 60 cm above soil level. Total shoot length and trunk diameter were recorded at transplantation from the nursery and at the end of the 3rd leaf stage in the orchard. As early as at transplantation, the effects of budding height, rootstock, rootstock × budding height interaction, and cultivar were significant in the trunk cross‐sectional area (TCSA), being responsible for 11.6%, 9.6%, 9.3%, and 7.8% of the total variance, respectively. At the 3rd leaf stage, 79.2% of the expected variance was attributable to rootstock, and 4.1 % to budding height. TCSAs of the trees on Edabriz, Gisela 5, Cab 1 1E, and Maxma 14 were, respectively, 30%, 32%, 62%, and 74% of those on Mazzard. Increasing budding height decreased tree vigour for all the rootstocks. In the nursery, it was already noticeable that vigour reductions between extreme budding levels were evident, first on the rootstock Cab 11E (44%) and then in Gisela 5 (35%), Edabriz (22%), and P. avium (20%). In the 3rd year in the orchard, tree TCSA reduction on Edabriz and Gisela 5 was 30% and on Maxma 14 it was 15%, when comparing buddings made at 10 and 30 cm. The reduction for the trees on Cab 11E and P. avium was 24%, when comparing buddings made at 10 and 60 cm. In our trial conditions the rootstock was the main influencing factor on plant growth and budding height was revealed to be the second most determinant factor on tree growth, irrespective of rootstock vigour. Consequently, budding height, although not so decisive in dwarfing as with apple and pear trees, can contribute to cherry tree growth and can also control and help to manage canopy size and crop rentability.

Taxonomic composition and ecological characteristics of the endemic flora of the lower Duero Basin (Iberian Peninsula)

Abstract The taxonomical composition and an analysis of four ecological characteristics of the 46 endemic species occurring in the lower Duero Basin (CW Iberian Peninsula) have been made. A comparative analysis of the results reveals that this endemic flora does not comply with the general patterns previously observed in other floras. Predominant life forms are hemicryptophytes (43%) and chamaephytes (22%). As far seed-dispersal is concerned, 54% of the endemic species lack any noteworthy adaptative feature. 89% of the endemic species are pollinated by animals (mostly by insects) and only 1 species is dioecious. Following binary classification of the above characteristics have been used to plot statistically significant associations.

The plant communities of the Rumici indurati-Dianthion lusitani alliance in the Lusitan Duriensean biogeographical sector (NE Portugal and CW Spain).

Abstract The rupicolous vegetation of the alliance Rumici indurati-Dianthion lusitani in the central-western Iberian Peninsula is analysed using the methods of the Zürich-Montpellier school. This paper provides phytosociological tables and biogeographical, ecological and floristic data for this alliance. Two new syntaxa are also described: Rumici indurati-Anarrhinetum durimini and Phagnalo saxatilis-Antirrhinetum lopesianii. These Lusitan Duriensean phytocenoses are compared with those of other biogeographical sectors of the Iberian Peninsula using numerical analysis.

Evaluation of native plant flower characteristics for conservation biological control of Prays oleae.

Several studies have shown that manipulating flowering weeds within an agroecosystem can have an important role in pest control by natural enemies, by providing them nectar and pollen, which are significant sources of nutrition for adults. The aim of this study was to assess if the olive moth, Prays oleae (Bernard, 1788) (Lepidoptera: Praydidae), and five of its main natural enemies, the parasitoid species Chelonus elaeaphilus Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Apanteles xanthostigma (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Elasmus flabellatus (Fonscolombe) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), as well as the predator Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), can theoretically access the nectar from 21 flowering weeds that naturally occur in olive groves. Thus, the architecture of the flowers as well as the mouthpart structure and/or the head and thorax width of the pest and its enemies were analyzed. The results suggested that all beneficial insects were able to reach nectar of the plant species from Apiaceae family, i.e. Conopodium majus (Gouan) Loret, Daucus carota L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill., as well as Asparagus acutifolius L., Echium plantagineum L., Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik., Raphanus raphanistrum L., Lonicera hispanica Boiss. et Reut., Silene gallica L., Spergula arvensis L., Hypericum perforatum L., Calamintha baetica Boiss. et Reut, Malva neglecta Wallr. and Linaria saxatilis (L.) Chaz. P. oleae was not able to access nectar from five plant species, namely: Andryala integrifolia L., Chondrilla juncea L., Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter, Sonchus asper (L.) Hill and Lavandula stoechas L.

Karyological and taxonomical notes on three species of the genusEpipactis (Neottioideae, Orchidaceae) in the central-western Iberian Peninsula

Studies on the karyotypes and chromosome numbers of species ofEpipactis from the central-western Iberian Peninsula show that the species harbour enormous chromosome variability, have very asymmetric karyotypes and possess extraordinary diversity of aneuploidy. This paper provides the first report of a chromosome number forE. fageticola (2n=36, 40 + 0–2 B), as well as the first counts for Portuguese populations ofE. helleborine (2n=18, 32, 38) and first counts for Iberian populations ofE. tremolsii (n=20, 30, 2n=16, 24, 32, 34, 36, 38 + 1B, 40 + 1B, 52, 60). Among populations ofE. tremolsii there is a significant differentiation in ecology and somatic chromosome number, suggesting that there may be two different taxa in the region studied. Chromosomes are large to small, ranging in length from 10.8 μm to 1.8 μm. Karyotype asymmetry is of type 3C inE. fageticola andE. tremolsii and 2C inE. helleborine andE. tremolsii.

Biostatistical studies of northeastern Portuguese populations of the Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz and E. tremolsii Pau species groups (Orchidaceae)

Abstract Multivariate methods using morphological characteristics, 16 vegetative and 19 floral, were applied to the study of six northeastern Portuguese and two central-western Spanish allogamous Epipactis populations representing one taxon of the E. helleborine group and probably three of the E. tremolsii group. The study mainly focussed on the latter group because of its complexity. Despite earlier confusion in their identification, E. lusitanica and E. tremolsii are well defined and clearly separable in these territories. The results suggest a new member of the latter group should be recognised, though this question has not been completely resolved and further investigation is required before confirmation can be made.

Taxonomy, morphometric circumscription and karyology of the Mediterranean African representatives of Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys (Orchidaceae)

Abstract Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys shows a pronounced morphological variation, especially in Mediterranean Africa, a centre of radiation of this section. In Tunisia, different authors recognize between 9 and 13 species (and 5 subspecies). A multivariate analysis was performed in order to study the polymorphisms of eight critical species of Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys represented in Tunisia (O. africana, O. aspea, O. battandieri, O. eleonorae, O. gazella, O. numida, O. subfusca and O. vallesiana). The variation in 20 floral characters (including 5 ratios) were evaluated in 332 live plants belonging to 20 populations of the mentioned Tunisian representatives of sect. Pseudophrys. Two additional labellum characters were measured for the populations belonging to O. subfusca group (namely O. aspea, O. battandieri, O. numida and O. subfusca). In order to distinguish the different species, and identify characters defining their circumscription, we carried out detailed morphological analyses on two different data sets of sect. Pseudophrys, one consisting of all the currently recognized species, and another consisting of all the populations belonging to the controversial O. subfusca group. In order to summarize the overall morphological variation among Pseudophrys, a principal components analysis (PCA) and a cluster analysis of populations were conducted. To test the separation of population groups resulting from the PCA and cluster analyses, a canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) was conducted. The most discriminating characters are presented in the form of boxplots. Due to extensive overlapping in even the most distinguishing characters, it is not possible to accept O. africana as a distinct species from O. gazella, or O. numida as distinct from O. subfusca. Cytological data and chromosome counts are reported for the first time for eight Tunisian members of sect. Pseudophrys. All of the analysed species are diploids with 2n = 36 chromosomes. Neither polyploids nor aneuploids were detected. A key to the accepted species is provided.

The Iberian Species of Scilla (Subfamily Scilloideae, Family Asparagaceae) under Climatic Change Scenarios in Southwestern Europe

Abstract Six different morphotypes for the Scilla species in western Europe have been distinguished based on leaf width, length of the basal bract, number of flowers per inflorescence, and length of bulbs: (1) S. peruviana; (2) S. hyacinthoides; (3) S. lilio-hyacinthus; (4) S. ramburei + S. beirana; (5) S. verna + S. paui + S. odorata + S. merinoi + S. monophyllos; and (6) S. obtusifolia + S. numidica + S. autumnalis. Two biogeographic trends have been circumscribed in terms of monthly precipitation averages (the most discriminating parameter). One trend, characterized by lower annual regimes of precipitation and distributions around the Mediterranean basin, is represented by S. peruviana, S. hyacinthoides, S. obtusifolia, and S. numidica. The second trend, associated with higher average precipitation along the extreme western coast of Europe, is represented by the S. verna group and S. lilio-hyacinthus. Scilla autumnalis exhibits an intermediate environmental behaviour. Future climate change scenarios point towards an increase in the potential habitat area of species distributed along the Mediterranean basin (S. peruviana, S. hyacinthoides, S. obtusifolia, S. numidica, and S. autumnalis) and a decrease in the potential habitat area for the western-most likely morphotypes (S. ramburei, S. verna, S. monophyllos, and S. lilio-hyacinthus).