Possibilities of Speciation in the Central Sandy Steppe, Woody Steppe Area of the Carpathian Basin through the Example of <i>Festuca</i> Taxa

oleh: Károly Penksza, Attila Csík, Anna Fruzsina Filep, Dénes Saláta, Gergely Pápay, László Kovács, Kristina Varga, János Pauk, Csaba Lantos, Zsuzsa Lisztes-Szabó

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2020-12-01

Deskripsi

Research Highlights: We examined the vegetation appearing in forest-steppes in the Pannon region. In the present survey taxonomical relations of the dominant <i>Festuca</i> species were examined. Background and Objectives: After deforestation and shrubcutting bare soil patches exposed to anthropogenous effects provided an opportunity for new vegetation to form. Materials and Methods: Inflorescence parameters and micromorphological characters of the leaves were examined in a new taxon and compared with two, presumably closely related, species of the genus <i>Festuca</i> L. <i>Festuca tomanii</i> Korneck & T.Gregor, with silvery leaf surface, <i>Festuca vaginata</i> W. K. and <i>Festuca pseudovaginata</i> Penksza were compared based on 24 traits of the inflorescence and their leaf anatomy studied on leaf cross-sections. Moreover, leaf micromorphological features were compared using a stereomicroscope, a scanning electron microscope completed with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy measurements and phytolith analysis method to establish the taxonomic applications of the micromorphological characters of the epidermis. Results: The awns of the lemma of <i>Festuca tomanii</i> were shown to be longer than those of the two other species. <i>Festuca vaginata</i> and <i>Festuca pseudovaginata</i> specimen showed low variability in inflorescence parameters but inflorescence characters were not uniform because the panicle of <i>Festuca tomanii</i> individuals was found to be bigger in the northern part than the panicles originating from the southern part of the sampled area. The phytolith assemblages of the <i>Festuca pseudovaginata</i> and <i>Festuca tomanii</i> differ from the <i>Festuca vaginata</i> in the abundance of ELONGATE SINUATE phytolith morphotype. Conclusions: we confirmed the appearance of <i>F. vaginata</i> in natural grasslands and discovered new occurrences of <i>F. pseudovaginata</i> and <i>F. tomanii</i>. <i>F. pseudovaginata</i> inhabits only the Pannon region, we found endemic and natural stands of it, but in its secondary habitats it was confirmed as a completely new species. Furthermore, taxa of disturbed vegetations are currently being examined. These habitats are potential hotspots of speciation.