Restoring degraded land to combat environmental degradation requires the collection of vast quantities of germplasm (seed). Sourcing this material raises questions related to provenance selection, seed quality and harvest sustainability. Restoration guidelines strongly recommend using local sources to maximize local adaptation and prevent outbreeding depression, but in highly modified landscapes this restricts collection to small remnants where limited, poor quality seed is available, and where harvesting impacts may be high. We review three principles guiding the sourcing of restoration germplasm: (i) the appropriateness of using ‘local’ seed, (ii) sample sizes and population characteristics required to capture sufficient genetic diversity to establish self-sustaining populations and (iii) the impact of over-harvesting source populations. We review these topics by examining current collection guidelines and the evidence supporting these, then we consider if the guidelines can be improved and the consequences of not doing so. We find that the emphasis on local seed sourcing will, in many cases, lead to poor restoration outcomes, particularly at broad geographic scales. We suggest that seed sourcing should concentrate less on local collection and more on capturing high quality and genetically diverse seed to maximize the adaptive potential of restoration efforts to current and future environmental change.

Eucalyptus camaldulensis is one of the most widely utilised eucalypts. It is also the only eucalypt that occurs across the Australian continent, playing a key ecological role as fauna habitat and in riverbank stabilisation. Despite its ecological and economic importance, uncertainty remains regarding the delineation of genetic and morphological variants. Nine hundred and ninety trees from 97 populations, representing the species' geographic range were genotyped using 15 microsatellite loci and patterns of diversity compared with restriction fragment length polymorphisms in 29 of these populations. Both markers showed that despite having a riverine distribution, downstream seed dispersal has had less influence than geographic distance on dispersal patterns. Spatial patterns in the distribution of microsatellite genotypes were compared with environmental parameters and boundaries defined by river systems, drainage basins and proposed subspecies. Significant genetic differences among populations within river systems indicated that rivers should not be treated as a single genetic entity in conservation or breeding programmes. Strong geographic trends were evident with 40% of variation in genetic diversity explained by latitude and moisture index. Isolation by distance and significant correlations between genetic distance and environmental parameters for most loci suggest historical factors have had more influence than selection on current patterns of distribution of genetic diversity. Geographic structuring of molecular variation, together with congruence between genetic and morphological variation indicate that E. camaldulensis should be treated as a number of subspecies rather than a single variable taxon. High levels of genetic diversity and geographic trends in the distribution of variation provide a firm basis for further exploration of the species' genetic resources.

Background: As the proportion of adults aged 85 and older increases, investigations of resources essential for adapting to the challenges of aging are required. Objective: To comprehensively investigate the social resources of cognitively intact centenarians participating in the Georgia Centenarian Study and the association between these resources and residence status. Methods: Two widely used measures of social resources were investigated among participants living in private homes, personal care facilities, and nursing homes. Logistic regression was used to determine significant predictors of nursing home residence. Results: Differences in levels of social resources were found between centenarians and octogenarians, and among centenarians in different living situations. Analyses revealed differential findings between self- and proxy reports. Controlling for education, activities of daily living, and financial ability to meet needs, only one of the two social resources measures significantly reduced the odds of nursing home residence. Conclusion: The findings of this study add to the existing literature on one of the basic adaptive resources (social resources) for centenarians. Whether a more specific assessment of network contact is employed, or a more global assessment is used, differences in these constructs exist between centenarians and octogenarians, among centenarians in differing living conditions, and across types of informants. Researchers examining the different resources that may contribute to extraordinary longevity and positive adaptation may find it essential to differentiate between the oldest old and centenarians, and to account for differences based upon measure, reporter type, and centenarian residence status.

Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. has one of the widest natural distributions of any Australian tree species. It is represented in most climatic zones and the majority of river systems across Australia. Numerous studies have documented morphological and genotypic variation among populations from across its range. Its adaptation to a wide range of environments has contributed to it becoming one of the most widely cultivated eucalypts across a range of arid, temperate and tropical countries. A recent range-wide study of E. camaldulensis with microsatellite markers concluded that its patterns of genetic variation were consistent with it comprising seven infraspecific taxa. As foreshadowed in that study, here we describe these taxa, viz. subsp. acuta, subsp. arida, subsp. camaldulensis, subsp. minima, subsp. obtusa, subsp. refulgens and subsp. simulata. A key to subspecies is presented, with each subspecies being illustrated and the main differences tabulated. Operculum shape, the arrangement of stamens in the bud and the reticulation density of adult leaves are some of the main characters distinguishing taxa. Clustering patterns from further analyses of the microsatellite data were consistent with morphological affinities among subspecies. Typification issues and lignotuber status are among topics discussed.