Kinetics of soil microbial uptake of free amino acids

 Amino acids and proteins typically form the biggest input of organic-N into most soils and provide a readily available source of C and N for soil microorganisms. Amino acids can also be taken up directly by plant roots, providing an alternative source of available soil N. However, the degree to which plants can compete against the soil microbial population for amino acids in soil solution remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to measure the rate of microbial uptake of three contrastingly charged ¹⁴C-labelled amino acids (glutamate^1–, glycine⁰, lysine^0.9+) over a wide concentration range (0.1–5 mM) and in two contrastingly managed soils varying in their degree of erosion, organic-C content and microbial biomass. Amino acid uptake was concentration dependent and conformed to a single Michaelis-Menten equation. The mean maximum amino acid uptake rate (V _max) for the non-eroded (control) soil (high organic-C, high biomass) was 0.13±0.02 mmol kg^–1 h^–1, while half maximal uptake occurred at a concentration (K _m) of 2.63±0.07 mM. Typically, V _max was fourfold lower and K _m twofold lower in the eroded soil (low available organic-C, low biomass) compared to the non-eroded (control) soil. Amino acid substrate concentration had little effect on the proportion of amino acid utilized in catabolic versus anabolic metabolism and was similar for both. While the results obtained here represent the summation of kinetics for a mixed soil population, they indicate that amino acid uptake is saturated at concentrations within the millimolar range. Because the affinity constants also were similar to those described for plant roots, we hypothesized that competition for amino acids between plants and microbes will be strong in soil but highly dependent upon the spatial distribution of roots and microbes in soil. Received: 2 March 2000     

Projecting the suitability of global and local habitats for myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) using model consensus

Myrtle rust (caused by Austropuccinia psidii) affects more than 500 known host species in the Myrtaceae family. Three different modelling approaches (CLIMEX, MaxEnt and Multi-Model Framework) were used to project the habitat suitability for myrtle rust at both global and local scales. Current data on the global occurrence of myrtle rust were collected from online literature and expert solicitation. Long-term averages of climate data (1960–1990) were sourced from WorldClim and CliMond websites. Recent reports of myrtle rust in New Zealand were used for validation of model outputs but not in model training and testing. The model outputs were combined into a consensus model to identify localities projected to be suitable for myrtle rust according to two or three models (hotspots). In addition to the locations where the pathogen is currently present, all models successfully projected independent occurrence data in New Zealand suitable for establishment of the pathogen. Climate suitability for the pathogen was primarily related to temperature followed by rainfall in MaxEnt and the CLIMEX model. The results confirmed the optimum temperature range of this pathogen in the literature (15–25 °C). Additional analysis of the precipitation variables indicated that excessive rain (more than 2000 mm in warmest quarter of the year) combined with high temperatures (>30 °C) constrain pathogen establishment. The results of the current study can be useful for countries such as New Zealand, China, South Africa and Singapore where the pathogen has not fully spread or established.     

Natal homing in a marine fish metapopulation

Identifying natal origins of marine fishes is challenging because of difficulties in conducting mark-recapture studies in marine systems. We used natural geochemical signatures in otoliths (ear bones) to determine natal sources in weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), an estuarine-spawning marine fish, in eastern North America. Spawning site fidelity ranged from 60 to 81%, comparable to estimates of natal homing in birds and anadromous fishes. These data were in contrast to genetic analyses of population structure in weakfish. Our findings highlight the need for consideration of spatial processes in fisheries models and have implications for the design of marine reserves in coastal regions.     

Plasma concentrations of cortisol, testosterone, glucose and blood gases in male goats during anaesthesia with pentobarbitone sodium

Fasting for 24 h had no statistically significant effect on cortisol, glucose or testosterone concentrations. A dose of pentobarbitone sodium which induced light anaesthesia resulted in an immediate decrease in cortisol values from 5.0-11.1 ng/ml to 2.2-3.6 ng/ml until waking-this latter event was accompanied by an excessive release of cortisol (up to 16.6 ng/ml). In two out of three goats testosterone concentrations decreased from 4.0-9.0 ng/ml to less than 0.5 ng/ml after pentobarbitone; low values were maintained for 4.5-6 hours. Glucose concentrations were unaffected. Precise doses of pentobarbitone (20 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg) resulted in similar cortisol profiles as above but with higher concentrations achieved upon waking from the higher dose of pentobarbitone. On two out of nine occasions increased PCO2 values were recorded concurrently with increased cortisol concentrations during the period of anaesthesia, suggesting that a sufficiently strong stressful stimulus can break through the pentobarbitone blockade.     

Effects of xylazine on the stress response to transport in male goats.

A 20-min van journey increased plasma cortisol concentrations to 15-25 ng/ml in male goats, blood glucose concentrations were not affected, but respiratory rates and heart rates were increased, the latter by 40 beats per min. A 2-h van journey increased plasma cortisol to greater than 25 ng/ml and blood glucose to greater than 5 mmol/l. Respiratory rates were increased to greater than 40 breaths per min and heart rates by greater than 100 beats per min. Xylazine alone (0.01 mg/kg) suppressed resting plasma cortisol concentrations, increased blood glucose concentrations to 4.5 +/- 0.8 mmol/l and suppressed respiratory rates by 5-10 breaths per min and heart rates by 20 beats per min. Cortisol concentrations were suppressed by xylazine treatment if given before a 20-min van journey, and for approximately 60 min if given 20 min after the start of a 2-h journey. When combined with transport, xylazine caused an additive effect on glucose concentrations, but suppressed respiratory and heart rates. However, for the latter criteria the timing of suppression was different depending on the time of onset and duration of the stressor. Injection of 50 micrograms ovine corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) caused an immediate elevation of cortisol concentrations (but not glucose) which lasted for at least 6 h compared with the return to baseline within 60 min after either length of journey. Xylazine pretreatment did not alter the cortisol response to CRF, suggesting that xylazine must act centrally above pituitary level when blocking the cortisol response to transport. It is proposed that under resting conditions the hypothalamus is under alpha 2-adrenergic suppression. Stimulation of cortisol secretion in response to a stressor can be inhibited by an alpha 2-adrenergic agonist.     

Probabilistic risk assessment of agrochemicals in the environment

Concern for the environment has resulted in greater scrutiny of both old and new plant protection products and increased efforts have been directed to developing more rigorous but more realistic procedures for the ecotoxicological risk characterization of these agrochemicals. These techniques include probabilistic analysis of toxicity and exposure data and better understanding of the relationship between structure and function in populations of wildlife and the role of keystone species in maintaining ecosystem functioning. The ecological risk assessment method described here is centered on the use of probabilistic distribution functions that independently describe exposure concentrations and toxicological responses of organisms to the chemical of concern. The distributions are transformed to permit calculation of linear regression parameters. The regression parameters for the two distributions are then used to determine joint probabilities which interrelate the exposure and toxicology data. For ease of presentation the results are presented as an exceedence plot which depicts, based on the exposure data the percent of species likely to be affected and the percent of observations likely to cause this level of effect. In this paper, the use of the method is illustrated using data for chlorpyrifos in North American aquatic environments. These probabilistic risk assessment methods are being assessed for incorporation into assessment procedures in a number of regulatory jurisdictions.     

STUDIES ON THE MAGNESIUM CONTENT OF MIXED HERBAGE AND SOME INDIVIDUAL GRASS AND CLOVER SPECIES

The magnesium contents of mixed herbage and four individual grass and clover species were studied under four treatments—control, magnesium sulphate, magnesian limestone and carboniferous limestone.
The magnesium values were lowest in the spring and early summer and then increased to maximum values by the autumn. The seasonal variations, however, differed appreciably from year to year.
The effect of magnesian limestone on the magnesium content of mixed herbage was relatively small in the year of application, but increased during the following years and reached a maximum in the fourth year after application. The increase in magnesium uptake from the magnesium sulphate treatment was small after the first year, whilst carboniferous limestone slightly depressed the magnesium content. This depression, however, was very small and probably of no practical significance.
The magnesium content of red clover was about 50% higher than that of Italian ryegrass, cocksfoot and white clover. In the second year after application magnesian limestone had a much greater effect on the magnesium content of the clovers than on that of the grasses.