ABSTRACT
An illustrated catalogue of the Palaearctic types of species and subspecies described by Walter Linsenmaier in Omalus Panzer, 1801 is given. Linsenmaier described 16 species and subspecies of Omalus; most of the primary types are deposited in the collection at the Natur-Museum in Luzern, Switzerland, with the exception of four holotypes which are deposited at the Natural History Museum in London, UK; Nationalparkzentrum in Zernez, Switzerland; Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule in Zurich, Switzerland; and Museo de Naturaleza y Arqueologia in St. Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. A list of the species described and pictures of 13 primary and secondary types are presented. A synthesis of his classification is given, with comments and comparison to modern classification.
ABSTRACT
Over the last 20 years, researchers in the field of digital plant pathology have chased the goal to implement sensors, machine learning and new technologies into knowledge-based methods for plant phenotyping and plant protection. However, the application of swiftly developing technologies has posed many challenges. Greenhouse and field applications are complex and differ in their study design requirements. Selecting a sensor type (e.g., thermography or hyperspectral imaging), sensor platform (e.g., rovers, unmanned aerial vehicles, or satellites), and the problem-specific spatial and temporal scale adds to the challenge as all pathosystems are unique and differ in their interactions and symptoms, or lack thereof. Adding host-pathogen-environment interactions across time and space increases the complexity even further. Large data sets are necessary to enable a deeper understanding of these interactions. Therefore, modern machine learning methods are developed to realize the fast data analysis of such complex data sets. This reduces not only human effort but also enables an objective data perusal. Especially deep learning approaches show a high potential to identify probable cohesive parameters during plant-pathogen-environment interactions. Unfortunately, the performance and reliability of developed methods are often doubted by the potential user. Gaining their trust is thus needed for real field applications. Linking biological causes to machine learning features and a clear communication, even for non-experts of such results, is a crucial task that will bridge the gap between theory and praxis of a newly developed application. Therefore, we suggest a global connection of experts and data as the basis for defining a common and goal-oriented research roadmap. Such high interconnectivity will likely increase the chances of swift, successful progress in research and practice. A coordination within international excellence clusters will be useful to reduce redundancy of research while supporting the creation and progress of complementary research. With this review, we would like to discuss past research, achievements, as well as recurring and new challenges. Having such a retrospect available, we will attempt to reveal future challenges and provide a possible direction elevating the next decade of research in digital plant pathology.
ABSTRACT
In this work, the presence of species of the slug family Milacidae in Switzerland was investigated by using the barcoding marker cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) as well as traits of the body and the genital organs. Currently, three species of Tandonia living in Switzerland in established populations could be reported, i.e., T.rustica, T.budapestensis, and T.nigra. The three records of Milaxgagates were re-investigated, but only for one of these records could the identification be reconfirmed. This species has currently no established and thriving population in Switzerland. For all species recorded, detailed descriptions of body morphology, genital anatomy, and distribution data are provided based on the investigated Swiss animals. An unknown pale colour morph of a Tandonia sp. from Canton Ticino could be identified as T.nigra, and the barcodes of T.nigra specimens were submitted to GenBank for the first time. The identity of the Italian and Austrian populations of T.nigra from the Bergamasque Alps and north Tirol is evaluated. Observations on details of the morphology of the genital organs in T.rustica vs. T.kusceri are discussed.
ABSTRACT
An illustrated catalogue of the Palaearctic types of species and subspecies described by Walter Linsenmaier in the genus Hedychrum Latreille, 1802 is given. Linsenmaier described 14 taxa of Hedychrum; almost all primary types are deposited in the collection, at the Natur Museum (Luzern, Switzerland), with the exception of two holotypes which are deposited at the Natural History Museum (London), and Naturalis (Leiden). Hedychrum mithras Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1967 spec. resurr. is revalidated from the previous synonymy with Hedychrum luculentum bytinskii Linsenmaier, 1959. A list of the species described and pictures of the holotypes and allotypes deposited in the collection are given.
Subject(s)
Hymenoptera , Animals , Animal Distribution , MuseumsABSTRACT
An illustrated catalogue of the Palaearctic types of Cleptes species and subspecies described by Walter Linsenmaier is given. All types are currently housed at the Natur-Museum, Luzern, Switzerland. Cleptes laevifacies Linsenmaier, 1999 is confirmed as a member of the nitidulus species group.
Subject(s)
Hymenoptera , Animal Distribution , Animals , MuseumsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In arid environments, plant primary productivity is generally low and highly variable both spatially and temporally. Resources are not evenly distributed in space and time (e.g., soil nutrients, water), and depend on global (El Niño/ Southern Oscillation) and local climate parameters. The launch of the Sentinel2-satellite, part of the European Copernicus program, has led to the provision of freely available data with a high spatial resolution (10 m per pixel). Here, we aimed to test whether Sentinel2-imagery can be used to quantify the spatial variability of a minor tussock grass (Enneapogon spp.) in an Australian arid area and whether we can identify different vegetation cover (e.g., grass from shrubs) along different temporal scenarios. Although short-lasting, the Enneapogon grassland has been identified as a key primary food source to animals in the arid environment. If we are able to identify and monitor the productivity of this species remotely, it will provide an important new tool for examining food resource dynamics and subsequent animal responses to them in arid habitat. METHODS: We combined field vegetation surveys and Sentinel2-imagery to test if satellite spectral data can predict the spatial variability of Enneapogon over time, through GLMMs. Additionally, a cluster analysis ('gower' distance, 'complete' method), based on Enneapogon seed-productivity, and total vegetation cover in October 2016, identified three clusters: bare ground, grass dominated and shrub dominated. We compared the vegetation indices between these different clusters from October 2016 to January 2017. RESULTS: We found that MSAVI2 and NDVI correlated with the proportion of Enneapogon with seeds across the landscape and this relationship changed over time. Both vegetation indices (MSAVI2 and NDVI) were higher in patches with high seed-productivity of Enneapogon than in bare soil, but only in October, a climatically-favorable period during which this dominant grass reached peak seed-productivity. DISCUSSION: MSAVI2 and NDVI provided reliable estimates of the heterogeneity of vegetation type across the landscape only when measured in the Austral spring. This means that grass cover is related to seed-productivity and it is possible to remotely and reliably predict food resource availability in arid habitat, but only in certain conditions. The lack of significant differences between clusters in the summer was likely driven by the short-lasting nature of the vegetation in the study and the sparseness of the grass-dominated vegetation, in contrast to the shrub vegetation cluster that was particularly well measured by the NDVI. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study highlights the potential for Sentinel2-imagery to estimate and monitor the change in grass seed availability remotely in arid environments. However, heterogeneity in grassland cover is not as reliably measured as other types of vegetation and may only be well detected during periods of peak productivity (e.g., October 2016).
ABSTRACT
The outwardly directed cell wall and associated plasma membrane of epidermal cells represent the first layers of plant defense against intruding pathogens. Cell wall modifications and the formation of defense structures at sites of attempted pathogen penetration are decisive for plant defense. A precise isolation of these stress-induced structures would allow a specific analysis of regulatory mechanism and cell wall adaption. However, methods for large-scale epidermal tissue preparation from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, which would allow proteome and cell wall analysis of complete, laser-microdissected epidermal defense structures, have not been provided. We developed the adhesive tape - liquid cover glass technique (ACT) for simple leaf epidermis preparation from A. thaliana, which is also applicable on grass leaves. This method is compatible with subsequent staining techniques to visualize stress-related cell wall structures, which were precisely isolated from the epidermal tissue layer by laser microdissection (LM) coupled to laser pressure catapulting. We successfully demonstrated that these specific epidermal tissue samples could be used for quantitative downstream proteome and cell wall analysis. The development of the ACT for simple leaf epidermis preparation and the compatibility to LM and downstream quantitative analysis opens new possibilities in the precise examination of stress- and pathogen-related cell wall structures in epidermal cells. Because the developed tissue processing is also applicable on A. thaliana, well-established, model pathosystems that include the interaction with powdery mildews can be studied to determine principal regulatory mechanisms in plant-microbe interaction with their potential outreach into crop breeding.
