We examined the floristic composition and stand structure of tropical mountain forests containing two pine species, Pinus krempfii Lecomte and Pinus dalatensis Ferré, on the Da Lat Plateau in southern Vietnam. A total of 92 tree species were identified, and the greatest species richness at the family level was found in Lauraceae and Fagaceae. Both pine species grew to more than 25 m in height and spread their crowns over the continuous canopy layer. Under crowns of P. krempfii, Castanopsis chinensis, Trigonobalanus verticillata, Engelhardia roxburghiana, and Dendropanax hainanensis constituted the continuous canopy layer. Under crowns of P. dalatensis, pioneer species such as Schima wallichii, Exbucklandia populnea, and Pentaphylax euryoides along with gymnosperms such as Dacrycarpus imbricatus and Dacrydium elatum constituted the continuous canopy layer. Juveniles of P. krempfii were prevalent on the forest floor, but juveniles of P. dalatensis were scarce. We suggest that two pine species have different regeneration requirements related to disturbance and soil condition.

Lecanora sorediomarginata Rodrigues, Terrón & Elix sp. nov., described as new to science from Portugal, is characterized morphologically by a crustose whitish-grey to greenish thallus developing soralia from small, marginal warts and chemically by the presence of 3,5-dichloro-2′-O-methylnorstenosporic acid [major], 3,5-dichloro-2′-O-methylanziaic acid [minor], 3,5-dichloro-2′-O-methylnordivaricatic acid [minor], 5-chloro-2′-O-methylanziaic acid [trace], atranorin [minor], chloroatranorin [minor], and usnic acid [trace]. It is chemically similar to L. lividocinerea, to which it shows phylogenetic affinities based on ITS rDNA sequence analysis, and to L. sulphurella. Lecanora sorediomarginata is epiphytic on Pinus pinaster and P. pinea, in pine forests on sand dunes along the Portuguese coast.

Populations of European polecat Mustela putorius have suffered a significant decline over the last few decades, although this trend may be reversing in some regions. In Mediterranean areas, which are generally at the edge of the species' range, there is little information on the distribution and conservation requirements of this species. This study analyses the relationship between habitat types and polecat distribution in the Valencia region of eastern Spain. Validated responses to questionnaires sent to naturalists, forestry agents, hunters and other groups likely to have seen polecats were used to record the presence of polecats in 10 * 10 km squares. Polecats were recorded only in areas of low human population density located at high altitudes, in contrast to the more well-studied populations of polecats elsewhere in Europe, where the species is associated more with human-modified environments. Montane pine forests appear to be the preferred habitat type for polecats in eastern Spain, and their absence from the extensive areas of low-lying scrubland, which are produced by a continuous history of fire disturbance, may be due to the relatively low diversity and abundance of potential prey in this habitat.