Flavonol and phenolic acid composition of sweet cherries (cv. Lapins) produced on six different vegetative rootstocks

The effect of rootstock (‘MaxMa 14’, ‘Weiroot 13’, ‘PiKu 1’, ‘Weiroot 158’, ‘Gisela 5’ and ‘F12/1’) on phenolic acid and flavonol content of “Lapins” sweet cherry was investigated. Phenolic acids and flavonols were isolated from sweet cherries and analyzed by using reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The major phenolic acids in sweet cherries were neochlorogenic acid (18–50 mg kg⁻¹), chlorogenic acid (19–62 mg kg⁻¹) and p-coumaric acid derivatives (15–125 mg kg⁻¹). The amount of flavonol quercetin-3-rutinoside (8–37 mg kg⁻¹) was significant as well. There are significant variations in the phenolic compound content among sweet cherry fruits grown on trees grafted on different vegetative rootstocks. The significantly higher chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, p-coumaric derivative and quercetin-3-rutinoside contents were found in sweet cherry fruits grown on trees grafted on ‘Weiroot 13’ and ‘PiKu 1’ rootstocks. Sweet cherries produced on trees grafted on other rootstocks had significantly lower phenolic compound content.     

Changing landscapes to accommodate for climate change impacts: a call for landscape ecology

Predictions of climate change suggest major changes in temperature, rainfall as well as in frequency and timing of extreme weather, all in varying degrees and patterns around the world. Although the details of these patterns changes are still uncertain, we can be sure of profound effects on ecological processes in and functioning of landscapes. The impact of climate change will affect all types of land use, ecosystem services, as well as the behavior of humans. The core business of Landscape Ecology is the interaction of landscape patterns and processes. Most of these interactions will be affected by changing climate patterns, so clearly within the focus of our science. Nevertheless, climate change received little attention from landscape ecologists. Are we missing the boat? Why is it that our science does not contribute to building a knowledge base to help solving this immense problem? Why is there so little attention paid to adaptation of landscape to climate change? With this editorial article IALE would like to receive inputs from the Landscape Ecology scientific community in related research on adaptation of landscapes to climate change, on tools or approaches to help landscape planners and stakeholders to this new challenge where landscape ecology can play a key role.     

Short‐term variation in the ecological status of a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (NE Iberian Peninsula) after a man‐made change of hydrological regime

• 1. The Ter Vell (NE Iberian Peninsula) is a eutrophic coastal lagoon that has been mostly flooded by excessive irrigation water during recent decades. During 2001 and 2002 the lagoon was subject to several water management actions, the main consequence of which was a change in the hydrological regime due to drastically reduced irrigation water inputs to the lagoon.
• 2. In order to comply with the Water Framework Directive, all the management actions in an ecosystem should be focused on protecting and, where necessary, improving its ecological status.
• 3. The aims of this study were (1) to analyse whether the hydrological change caused by management actions have affected the ecological status of the lagoon, and (2) to discuss the suitability of several physicochemical and biological indicators for the assessment of the ecological status in this kind of coastal ecosystem.
• 4. After the change in the hydrological regime, a general improvement of the ecological status was observed mainly as a result of the significant decrease in the nitrogen Trophic State Index and in the abundance of rotifer indicative of eutrophy, and in turn by the significant increase in the water quality index QAELS, based on crustaceans and insect assemblages.
• 5. Contradictory results emerged with regard to some of the indicators used. After the hydrological change, the increase in the phosphorus Trophic State Index was related with the fact that Mediterranean confined coastal ecosystems are typically P‐enriched. In contrast with general assumptions, low diversity and richness of the zooplankton and the dominance of a few species have been related with an improvement of the ecological status after the hydrological change, when freshwater inputs were reduced and the lagoon became more confined.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.