Genetic variation in the endangered Rutaceae species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus hongheensis</Emphasis> based on ISSR fingerprinting

Citrus hongheensis is a critically endangered species endemic to the Honghe river region in southeastern Yunnan, China. Its genetic diversity and differentiation were investigated using Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers. One hundred primers were screened, and a total of 245 loci were amplified from seven natural populations by 13 informative and reliable primers. Of these 245 ISSR loci, 233 were polymorphic and the detected variations revealed a relatively high level of intraspecific genetic diversity. At the population level, the mean percentage of polymorphic loci (PPB) was 36.50%, while the average expected heterozygosity (He) and Shannon diversity index (Ho) were 0.1327 and 0.1972, respectively. At the species level (across all populations), PPB was 95.10%, while He and Ho were 0.3520 and 0.5195, respectively. A high Gst value (0.6247) indicated that there is significant differentiation among populations, which was confirmed by AMOVA analysis (Φst = 0.6420). Pairwise genetic identity (I) values among populations ranged from 0.6341 to 0.7675, with a mean of 0.7008. We propose that the high level of genetic differentiation may be the result of habitat fragmentation and limited gene flow (Nm = 0.1502). For effective in situ conservation and population restoration of C. hongheensis it will be important to maintain historical processes, including high outbreeding rates, sufficient gene flow, and large effective population sizes.     

Sorption of Cr(VI) on the wood of Japanese larch treated with concentrated sulfuric acid

A carbonaceous sorbent was prepared from the wood of Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis) by dehydration with concentrated sulfuric acid in a 69% yield. The abilities of the sorbent to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions were investigated. Research parameters included the initial solution pH, temperature, and initial concentration of Cr(VI) in solution. The removal of Cr(VI) was highly solution pH dependent and was mainly governed by physicochemical sorption under weak acidic conditions. The equilibrium data fit well in the Langmuir isotherm model. The Langmuir constants were calculated at different temperatures, and the sorption capacity increased with rising temperature, indicating the endothermic nature of the Cr(VI) sorption onto the sorbent. The desorption experiments suggest that the Cr(VI) sorption is generally irreversible, owing to strong interaction of HCrO ₄ ⁻ with the active sites of the sorbent.     

Climate/growth relationships in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus cembra</Emphasis> high-elevation network in the Southern French Alps

•Introduction  

In the context of climate change, assessing climate–growth relationships is of high importance in order to understand how forest ecosystems evolve and to test climate models at regional scale.     

Effect of Quinoa Seeds (Chenopodium quinoa) in Diet on some Biochemical Parameters and Essential Elements in Blood of High Fructose-Fed Rats

The effect of Chenopodium quinoa seeds on lipid profile, glucose level, protein metabolism and selected essential elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) level was determined in high—fructose fed male Wistar rats. Fructose decreased significantly LDL [42%, p < 0.01] and activity of alkaline phosphatase [20%, p < 0.05], and increased triglycerides level [86%, p < 0.01]. The analysis of blood of rats fed quinoa indicated, that these seeds effectively reduced serum total cholesterol [26%, p < 0.05], LDL [57%, p < 0.008] and triglycerides [11%, p < 0.05] when compared to the control group. Quinoa seeds also significantly reduced the level of glucose [10%, p < 0.01] and plasma total protein level [16%, p < 0.001]. Fructose significantly decreased HDL [15%, p < 0.05] level in control group but when the quinoa seeds were added into the diet the decrease of HDL level was inhibited. Quinoa seeds did not prevent any adverse effect of increasing triglyceride level caused by fructose. It was shown in this study that quinoa seeds can reduce most of the adverse effects exerted by fructose on lipid profile and glucose level.     

The effects of Roundup on gametes and early development of common carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis> L)

To determine the effects of Roundup, a commercial formulation of glyphosate, gametes, and embryos of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L) was exposed to wide range of herbicide concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 0.5, 2.0, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0, and 50.0 mg/l). The obtained results showed different effects of Roundup on common carp gametes. Herbicide reduced swelling of eggs (but the effect was not concentration-related), while sperm showed low sensitivity to Roundup (time of spermatozoa motility was reduced in a significant way only at 20 mg/l, and at remaining concentrations, only a slight tendency was observed). During the embryonic development, Roundup caused a decrease of common carp embryonic survival (and the effect was concentration-related); however, it had no effect on development rate. During the embryogenesis, three types of embryo body malformation were observed: yolk sac edema, spine curvature, and shortening of body, but their frequencies were not associated with the presence or concentration of herbicide. However, Roundup affected quality of newly hatched larvae of common carp by increasing their mortality. No effect of herbicide on percentage of deformed larvae was observed but larvae hatched in water with Roundup tended to show more complex anomalies compared to those from the control. Obtained data showed that even low concentrations of this herbicide in waters can significantly reduce egg swelling, survival of embryos, and quality of fish larvae.     

Development of an in vitro culture system for producing eel larvae from immature ovarian follicles in Japanese eel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anguilla japonica</Emphasis>

To standardize conditions during the final maturation and ovulation of ovarian follicles from Japanese eel, we have developed a culture system for the production of fertilizable eggs from post-vitellogenic ovarian follicles in vitro. Post-vitellogenic ovarian follicles were incubated in culture medium supplemented with 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) with or without bovine serum albumin (BSA) to assess the effects of protein concentration. Eggs that ovulated during incubation were fertilized, and the remaining follicles were incubated in prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) for a further 3 or 6 h before fertilization. Male eels were injected repeatedly with human chorionic gonadotropin. The quality of eggs obtained under the different culture conditions was evaluated after artificial fertilization in terms of hatching success. Hatching rates tended to decrease with increasing concentrations of BSA in the incubation medium in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of PGF_2α drastically increased the number of eggs that ovulated, but the rate of hatching was greatly decreased compared with eggs obtained earlier by DHP incubation alone. The larvae obtained from artificially fertilized eggs produced in vitro survived for 14 days without feeding. We conclude that in vitro culture systems thus have a great potential for the acquisition of good quality eggs under tightly controlled artificial conditions, culminating in the production of eel larvae.     

Characterization of suspended particulate matter in the Moselle River (Lorraine,France): evolution along the course of the river and in different hydrologic regimes

Purpose

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) plays an important role in the transport and fate of contaminants in the environment. To better understand the relationships between contaminants and SPM, SPM properties, and their variations with flow regime, river size, land use, and season should be considered.

Materials and methods

The grain size distribution, elemental composition, and mineralogy of SPM from different stations along the Moselle River (Lorraine, France) were investigated at the particle scale during different flow regimes. The resulting data were compared with the elemental composition of the dissolved compartment to understand the role of particles in element transport.

Results and discussion

The grain size distribution, elemental composition, and mineralogy of SPM along the Moselle River and during different flow regimes showed only slight variations, except for the Fensch and Orne tributaries, two rivers that were impacted by inherited steel-making industrialization and different land use. In the Moselle River, SPM mainly consisted of clay minerals, while in Fensch and Orne Rivers, SPM mainly consisted of multiple types of anthropogenic particles. The diffuse urbanization gradient was hardly recognized based on the Trace Metal Element (TMEs) content in the river SPM, while the rivers impacted by the steel industries had greater TME contents. Finally, the TME content in the Moselle SPM was more strongly influenced by water flow than by the position of sampling on the linear reach of the Moselle River. The partitioning of TMEs in the particles and water at the main Moselle station (Frouard) revealed that SPM predominantly contributed to TMEs transport.

Conclusions

This study confirmed that catchment geology greatly contributed to the SPM composition in the mean-sized rivers. In addition, the high anthropogenic pressure could be deciphered for small tributaries. Furthermore, this study allowed us to observe the high contribution of particles to TMEs and Rare Earth Element (REEs) transportation.

     

Quantifying landscape pattern and ecosystem service value changes in four rapidly urbanizing hill stations of Southeast Asia

Context

Hill stations are known for their favorable cool climate and natural environments which generate valuable ecosystem services that benefit the local population, tourists and visitors. However, rapid urbanization threatens the sustainability of these highly valued fragile landscapes.

Objectives

We aim to characterize and quantify the changes in the landscape patterns and ecosystem service values (ESVs) of Baguio (Philippines), Bogor (Indonesia), Dalat (Vietnam), and Pyin Oo Lwin (Myanmar), and discuss their implications to landscape sustainability.

Methods

We used remote sensing imagery to map land-use/cover (2001 and 2014), and spatial metrics and gradient analysis to characterize the changes in landscape pattern. We employed a benefit transfer method to estimate the changes in ESV and human-to-ESV ratio. A land-change model was used to simulate different scenarios of future built-up expansions (2014–2030).

Results

The landscapes of Dalat and Pyin Oo Lwin are becoming more fragmented, while those of Baguio and Bogor are getting more aggregated. Dalat had the highest decrease (absolute change) in ESV and H-ESV ratio, while Bogor had the highest percentage decrease (2001–2014).

Conclusions

Rapid urbanization has been a major factor in the landscape transformation of Baguio, Bogor, Dalat and Pyin Oo Lwin. If the current built-up expansion rate will speed up, the decline in future ESV and H-ESV ratio (2014–2030) will be higher than if the rate will continue or slow down. Unless the concept of landscape sustainability is taken seriously in landscape and urban planning, the respective ‘values’ of these precious hill stations will become less and less.

     

The importance of integrating landscape ecology in habitat models: isolation-driven occurrence of north island robins in a fragmented landscape

Although the role of habitat fragmentation in species declines is well recognised, the effect of habitat quality on species distributions is often studied using presence–absence models that ignore metapopulation dynamics. We compared three approaches to model the presence–absence of North Island robins in 400 sites among 74 fragments of native forest in a 15,000-ha agricultural landscape in New Zealand. The first approach only considered local habitat characteristics, the second approach only considered metapopulation factors (patch size and isolation), and the third approach combined these two types of factors. The distribution of North Island robins was best predicted by patch isolation, as their probability of occurrence was negatively correlated with isolation from neighbouring patches and from the closest major forests, which probably acted as a source of immigrants. The inclusion of habitat factors gave only a slight increase in predictive power and indicated that robins were more likely to occur in areas with tall canopy, tall understory and low density of young trees. We modelled the effect of isolation using an index of functional patch connectivity based on dispersal behaviour of radio-tracked juveniles, and this functional index greatly improved the models in comparison to classical indices relying on Euclidean distances. This study highlights the need to incorporate functional indices of isolation in presence–absence models in fragmented landscapes, as species occurrence can otherwise be a misleading predictor of habitat quality and lead to wrong interpretations and management recommendations.     

Functional heterogeneity in resources within landscapes and herbivore population dynamics

Large mammalian herbivores are notorious for their propensity towards population irruptions and crashes, yet many herbivore populations remain relatively stable. I explore how resource heterogeneity within landscapes dampens population instability, using a metaphysiological modelling approach considering patch state distributions. Resource heterogeneity is functionally stabilizing through spreading consumption away from preferred resources before these become critically depleted. Lower-quality resources act as a buffer against starvation during critical periods of the seasonal cycle. Enriching resource quality is destabilizing, even if patch diversity is maintained, because food quantity then becomes the limitation. The potential consequences of landscape fragmentation are explored using the Serengeti ecosystem, characterised by broadscale resource gradients, as a hypothetical example. Further insights provided by the model are illustrated with specific examples concerning the effects of patch scales and waterpoint distribution. A metaphysiological modelling approach enables the basic consequences of landscape heterogeneity to be distinguished from further effects that may arise from specific patch scales and configurations, without the distracting detail of spatially explicit models.