Jérôme Munzinger

On the origin of the sweet-smelling Parma violet cultivars (Violaceae): wide intraspecific hybridization, sterility, and sexual reproduction.

Parma violets are reputed for their double, fragrant flowers and have been cultivated for centuries in Europe. However, due to a rather atypical morphology their taxonomic affinity has not been clarified. Authors have proposed an origin from three possible species, Viola alba, V. odorata, or V. suavis, or a hybrid origin. Using both ITS sequence variation and allozyme variation in 14 putative loci, we showed that the Parma violet cultivars have their origin within Viola alba and that they are best included in the Mediterranean subsp. dehnhardtii. There is no trace of interspecific hybridization. However, the cultivars appear to have a single origin in a wide hybrid within V. alba, involving parental plants from the eastern and western Mediterranean region; historical literature sources seem to indicate Turkey and Italy, respectively. The Parma violet cultivars possess high levels of allozyme heterozygosity and to some extent also within-individual ITS sequence variation. Losses of heterozygosity and within-individual ITS sequence variation in some of the cultivars indicate subsequent rare events of sexual reproduction, presumably through cleistogamous seed set. We unambiguously identify the closest wild relative of this group of cultivars, allowing growers to develop new selection procedures, and show a peculiar molecular process associated with human selection.

Contribution à la connaissance des Hymenoptera Apoidea de Nouvelle-Calédonie et de leurs relations avec la flore butinée

Résumé Seulement 21 espèces d’Apoidea sont répertoriées de Nouvelle-Calédonie. La pauvreté de cette faune est paradoxale si on la compare à la richesse et l’endémicité de la flore de l’île, mais s’expliquerait par le fait qu’elle a été isolée avant ou peu après l’apparition des Apoidea vers – 130 millions d’années. Les auteurs comparent aussi les données de plusieurs îles des océans Pacifique et Indien. Deux nouvelles espèces de Halictidae sont décrites: Homalictus cocos et Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) delobeli. Une nouvelle synonymie est établie: Homalictus risbeci (Cockerell, 1929) = Homalictus crotalariae (Cockerell, 1929). Deux taxons, Chalicodoma umbripenne et Megachile laticeps, sont signalés pour la première fois en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Les relations entre les Apoidea et les 22 espèces végétales, sur lesquelles ces insectes ont été capturés, sont présentées et commentées.

Wildfire risk for main vegetation units in a biodiversity hotspot: modeling approach in New Caledonia, South Pacific.

Wildfire has been recognized as one of the most ubiquitous disturbance agents to impact on natural environments. In this study, our main objective was to propose a modeling approach to investigate the potential impact of wildfire on biodiversity. The method is illustrated with an application example in New Caledonia where conservation and sustainable biodiversity management represent an important challenge. Firstly, a biodiversity loss index, including the diversity and the vulnerability indexes, was calculated for every vegetation unit in New Caledonia and mapped according to its distribution over the New Caledonian mainland. Then, based on spatially explicit fire behavior simulations (using the FLAMMAP software) and fire ignition probabilities, two original fire risk assessment approaches were proposed: a one-off event model and a multi-event burn probability model. The spatial distribution of fire risk across New Caledonia was similar for both indices with very small localized spots having high risk. The patterns relating to highest risk are all located around the remaining sclerophyll forest fragments and are representing 0.012% of the mainland surface. A small part of maquis and areas adjacent to dense humid forest on ultramafic substrates should also be monitored. Vegetation interfaces between secondary and primary units displayed high risk and should represent priority zones for fire effects mitigation. Low fire ignition probability in anthropogenic-free areas decreases drastically the risk. A one-off event associated risk allowed localizing of the most likely ignition areas with potential for extensive damage. Emergency actions could aim limiting specific fire spread known to have high impact or consist of on targeting high risk areas to limit one-off fire ignitions. Spatially explicit information on burning probability is necessary for setting strategic fire and fuel management planning. Both risk indices provide clues to preserve New Caledonia hot spot of biodiversity facing wildfires.

Flower-Visiting Records of the Native Bees of New Caledonia1

Abstract The flower-visiting records for the 43 species of bees considered to be native to New Caledonia show that females of 21 species visited 116 native species of plants in 69 genera and 41 families, and the bees were documented to carry pollen from 64 species and possibly four more. The plant families with the greatest number of species documented for visits by female bees were, in descending order: Myrtaceae (21), Dilleniaceae (10), Cunoniaceae (nine), Araliaceae (seven), Fabaceae (seven, encompassing the Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, and Papilionoideae), Goodeniaceae (five), Proteaceae (five), Apocynaceae (four), Sapindaceae (four), and remaining families with one to three species. Females of six and possibly one more species carried pollen from each of Dilleniaceae and Myrtaceae, six carried pollen from Araliaceae, five from Goodeniaceae, four and possibly one more from Cunoniaceae, four from each of Fabaceae and Sapindaceae, and none to three from the remaining 34 families observed. For introduced plants, female bees of 12 species visited 54 species in 43 genera among 19 plant families and were documented to carry pollen from 31 and possibly one more species. For introduced plants, families with the highest number of species visited by female bees, in descending order, were: Asteraceae (12); Fabaceae (eight); Verbenaceae (seven); and Euphorbiaceae, Myrtaceae, and Solanaceae each with three. The remaining 13 families had either one or two species visited by bees. Females of seven species of bees carried pollen from Fabaceae, six from Asteraceae, three each from Myrtaceae and Solanaceae, and none to “2 + 1?” (two or possibly three) from remaining families. Only half a dozen species of native bees can be considered to be common, in that they can be expected to be observed reasonably regularly on a range of flowers. The ubiquitous introduced honey bee Apis mellifera L. and its constant foraging for nectar and pollen on a very wide range of flowers may outcompete many species of native bees, potentially reducing their numbers, and consequently obscuring their relationships with the flora.

Microsatellite markers for Amborella (Amborellaceae), a monotypic genus endemic to New Caledonia

UNLABELLED PREMISE OF THE STUDY Informative markers are required for assessing the diversity of Amborella trichopoda, the only species of its order, endemic to New Caledonia and considered to be the sister species to all flowering plants. Therefore, expressed sequence tag (EST)-based microsatellite markers were developed. • METHODS AND RESULTS Fifty-five microsatellite loci were characterized in 14896 putative unigenes, which were generated by assembling A. trichopoda ESTs from the public sequence database. Seventeen markers revealed polymorphism in 80 adult shrubs from three populations. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 12, with a total of 132 alleles scored. The mean expected heterozygosity per population ranged from 0.336 to 0.567. • CONCLUSIONS These markers offer an appropriate amount of variation to investigate genetic diversity structure, gene flow, and other conservation issues.

Five new species and a systematic synopsis of Pycnandra (Sapotaceae), the largest endemic genus in New Caledonia

Abstract. Pycnandra Benth. (Sapotaceae) is the largest endemic genus in New Caledonia and is subdivided into six subgenera. An addition of five species are here described in four subgenera, viz. P. comptonioides Swenson & Munzinger, P. kouakouensis Swenson & Munzinger, P. montana Swenson & Munzinger, P. poindimiensis Swenson & Munzinger and P. versicolor Swenson & Munzinger. Another seven to nine taxa are discussed but remain undescribed owing to the lack of adequate collections (and may remain undescribed pending the interpretation of the Nagoya Protocol). Pycnandra is characterised by a non-areolate higher leaf venation, sepals glabrous on the inner surface, no staminodes, and a single-seeded fruit. The members occur in a wide range of habitats and most species have very specific substrate requirements, growing on ultramafic, non-ultramafic or calcareous substrates. Almost 40 species are restricted to ultramafic substrates and many are now at risk of extinction because of deforestation, deliberately set fires and mining. We provide a systematic synopsis with keys to subgenera and species, phenology, substrate preferences, altitudinal ranges and preliminary IUCN Red List assessments for all described taxa. Four of the five new species are assessed as Critically Endangered. Pycnandra versicolor is in urgent need of conservation management beacuse its entire distribution is inside an active mine on the Koniambo massif.

Mechanism of self-pollination in Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell. and notes on the floral biology of some Rinorea species (Violaceae) in Ivory Coast

Abstract Few studies have examined insects visiting flowers of tropical Violaceae. This study presents results from field work in Ivory Coast and from the examination of cultivated plants of three species in the two largest tropical genera, Rinorea and Hybanthus. Field observations showed that Hybanthus enneaspermus flowers opened only one morning and were visited by a single bee species. In contrast, the two species of Rinorea observed, which have flowers that do not close, were visited by many and various insects. Cultivation showed that self-pollination, with viable seeds production, appears likely in H. enneaspermus, perhaps as a means of compensating for the possible scarcity of pollinators. Floral structures would support allogamy first, and then lead to autogamy.

New Species, New Combinations, and Lectotypifications in New Caledonian Eugenia L. (Myrtaceae)

Abstract Snow, N., J.W. Dawson, M.W. Callmander, K. Gandhi & J. Munzinger (2016). New species, new combinations, and lectotypifications in New Caledonian Eugenia L. (Myrtaceae). Candollea 71: 67–81. In English, English and French abstracts. Five new species of Eugenia L. (Myrtaceae) are proposed from New Caledonia: Eugenia amosensis N. Snow, Eugenia homedeboana N. Snow, Eugenia sicifolia J.W. Dawson & N. Snow, Eugenia tchambaensis J.W. Dawson & N. Snow, and Eugenia tiwakaensis J.W. Dawson & N. Snow. The new species are provided with detailed species descriptions, digital images, comments on morphology and ecology, and conservation assessments following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. The following new combinations are proposed: Eugenia gomonenensis (Guillaumin) J.W. Dawson & N. Snow, Eugenia lotoides (Guillaumin) J.W. Dawson & N. Snow, Eugenia styphelioides (Schltr.) J.W. Dawson & N. Snow, and Eugenia poimbailensis (Guillaumin) J.W. Dawson & N. Snow. The new name Eugenia veillonii N. Snow & Callm. is proposed and its basionym is lectotypified. Lectotypes also are designated for Eugenia mendute Guillaumin, Eugenia ovigera Brongn. & Gris, Eugenia horizontalis Pancher ex Brongn. & Gris and its synonym Myrtus aemulans Schltr., as well as for Myrtus gomonenensis Guillaumin, basionym of Eugenia gomonenensis.

A Taxonomic Revision of the Endemic New Caledonian Genus Storthocalyx (Sapindaceae)

Abstract The endemic New Caledonian genus Storthocalyx is only known from two of this South West Pacific archipelagos main vegetation types, maquis and humid evergreen forest, and within the latter it occurs on both ultramafic and volcano-sedimentary substrates. Recent phylogenetic studies confirm its monophyly and indicate that it forms a clade with two other endemic genera, Gongrodiscus and Podonephelium. Storthocalyx is characterized by leaflets with a glaucous lower surface (due to the presence of papillae) and a lack of domatia, actinomorphic flowers, distinct sepals, petals with many long trichomes and lacking appendages, and a three-locular capsule whose inner surface is covered with a dense indument. As part of a collaborative effort to clarify the taxonomy of New Caledonian Sapindaceae, a revision of Storthocalyx is presented. Species delimitation is based on results from a recently published multivariate morphometric analysis, and descriptions were prepared using the resulting data matrix coupled with examination of all available herbarium collections and extensive field observations. Five species are recognized, including one that is newly described (Storthocalyx corymbosus). A key to species is provided, along with descriptions, distribution maps, color photos, a line drawing (for the new species), and risk of extinction assessments following IUCN red list categories and criteria.

Alectryon vitiensis: A New Species of Sapindaceae Endemic to Fiji

Abstract. A new species of Alectryon Gaertn. (Sapindaceae) endemic to the Fijian archipelago is described as A. vitiensis Buerki, Lowry, Munzinger & Callm. based on morphological and molecular evidence. It can easily be distinguished from the two congeners currently known from Fiji by its smaller leaves, subsessile leaflets, apetalous flowers, and crested fruits. A phylogenetic analysis using ITS sequence data shows that the new species is closely related to two Australian endemics, A. diversifolius (F. Muell.) S. T. Reynolds and A. oleifolius (Desf.) S. T. Reynolds, but differs in having compound leaves covered with a golden indument. Moreover, the Australian taxa are associated with dry habitats, whereas the new species from Fiji is confined to evergreen humid forests. Among apetalous species (all of which belong to a well-supported clade), A. vitiensis morphologically most closely resembles the generic type, A. excelsus Gaertn., endemic to New Zealand, but they differ from one another in the type of indument covering their branches and leaves and the arrangement, shape, and nature of the indument on their leaflets; and they belong to different clades. The new species is provisionally assigned a conservation status of “Endangered” according to the IUCN Red List criteria.