Tracing the origin and fate of NOx in the Arctic atmosphere using stable isotopes in nitrate

Atmospheric nitrogen oxides (NOx =NO+ NO2) play a pivotal role in the cycling of reactive nitrogen (ultimately deposited as nitrate) and the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere. Combined measurements of nitrogen and oxygen stable isotope ratios of nitrate collected in the Arctic atmosphere were used to infer the origin and fate of NOx and nitrate on a seasonal basis. In spring, photochemically driven emissions of reactive nitrogen from the snowpack into the atmosphere make local oxidation of NOx by bromine oxide the major contributor to the nitrate budget. The comprehensive isotopic composition of nitrate provides strong constraints on the relative importance of the key atmospheric oxidants in the present atmosphere, with the potential for extension into the past using ice cores.     

Stable carbon cycle-climate relationship during the Late Pleistocene

A record of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations measured on the EPICA (European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica) Dome Concordia ice core extends the Vostok CO2 record back to 650,000 years before the present (yr B.P.). Before 430,000 yr B.P., partial pressure of atmospheric CO2 lies within the range of 260 and 180 parts per million by volume. This range is almost 30% smaller than that of the last four glacial cycles; however, the apparent sensitivity between deuterium and CO2 remains stable throughout the six glacial cycles, suggesting that the relationship between CO2 and Antarctic climate remained rather constant over this interval.     

The ecoresponsive genome of Daphnia pulex

We describe the draft genome of the microcrustacean Daphnia pulex, which is only 200 megabases and contains at least 30,907 genes. The high gene count is a consequence of an elevated rate of gene duplication resulting in tandem gene clusters. More than a third of Daphnia's genes have no detectable homologs in any other available proteome, and the most amplified gene families are specific to the Daphnia lineage. The coexpansion of gene families interacting within metabolic pathways suggests that the maintenance of duplicated genes is not random, and the analysis of gene expression under different environmental conditions reveals that numerous paralogs acquire divergent expression patterns soon after duplication. Daphnia-specific genes, including many additional loci within sequenced regions that are otherwise devoid of annotations, are the most responsive genes to ecological challenges.     

Improving sooty blotch and flyspeck severity estimation on apple fruit with the aid of standard area diagrams

Sooty blotch and flyspeck is caused by numerous species of fungi that colonize the surface of apple fruit and thereby lower its market value. Although this disease poses a substantial threat to apple growers’ profitability in some regions, reliable and cost-effective methods for epidemiological and disease control studies have not been validated, nor are they widely available. We modified a standard area diagram to aid sooty blotch and flyspeck severity assessments and quantified its impact on accuracy and precision of visual estimates. Samples of ‘Fuji’ and ‘Mutsu’ fruit were photographed both from the top and laterally. Severity was assessed from a sub-sample of 160 images using image analysis software. Validation of the diagram was performed by eight raters who independently assessed severity in two series of selected images representing the lateral view and the top view, initially unaided and subsequently with the aid of the scale. Severity estimates ranged from 0.4% to 98% (most fruit had <10% severity). Accuracy and precision of the estimates were significantly improved when using the diagrammatic scale; concordance correlation coefficient values increased from 0.81 to 0.95. A strong tendency to underestimate severity for the mid-range to high levels was minimized when using the aid, which also improved reproducibility of the estimates among raters. In addition to strengthening evidence that a standard area diagram can be used reliably in sooty blotch and flyspeck studies, we expanded its application to disease assessment in the peduncle region, which enhances the usefulness of the method for evaluating efficacy of management practices.     

Hydrological structure and erosion damage caused by concentrated flow in cultivated catchments

This study analyses the between-catchment variability of rill volumes produced by concentrated flow erosion during winter in the northern part of the Paris Basin. The working hypotheses were that (i) runoff concentrates along channels determined by topography or by agricultural practices; (ii) rill length is a major component of rill volume variability on a catchment scale; (iii) rill cross-sectional areas are controlled by the size of upslope runoff-contributing areas connected to the corresponding channels. Two samples, one of 20 zero order catchments and the other of 15 catchments, were surveyed. For each catchment, the runoff collector network was modelled from topographical and agricultural information, and split into homogeneous segments. Each segment was characterized by its slope gradient (SL), the soil susceptibility to rill erosion (SSE) and the size of the upslope runoff-contributing areas (RCA) connected to it. These areas were identified by the structural state of their soil surface. The frequency of rill occurrence was highly correlated with RCA and SL. The rill cross-sectional areas of eroded channels were correlated with RCA, SL and SSE. Catchment erosion rates were estimated by adding together the predicted rill volumes for each segment within the catchment. These estimations were closely correlated with observed rill erosion rates. The relative spatial position of runoff collectors must be taken into account when examining the damage caused by concentrated flow erosion.     

Biodegradation of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A novel enzymatic dehalogenating activity of 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) is reported. All bioconversion assays were carried out under aerobic conditions, at 28 degrees C, and the kinetics were monitored. The biodegradation was performed at different pH values (6.2, 7.0, and 8.2), in the presence and absence of glucose, using racemic 3-MCPD at two different concentrations (7.3 micromol/L and 27 mmol/L). Optimal conversion (68%) of racemic (R,S)-3-MCPD at a concentration of 27 mmol/L was achieved after 48 h of reaction time, at pH 8.2, and in the presence of glucose. At a concentration of 7.3 micromol/L, 73% degradation was observed after 72 h, at pH 8.2 and in the absence of glucose. Under the same experimental conditions, the conversion of pure (S)-3-MCPD (85%) was higher than that of the (R)-enantiomer (60%).     

Increased N availability in grassland soils modifies their microbial communities and decreases the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Two complementary studies were performed to examine (1) the effect of 18 years of nitrogen (N) fertilization, and (2) the effects of N fertilization during one growing season on soil microbial community composition and soil resource availability in a grassland ecosystem. N was added at three different rates: 0, 5.44, and 27.2 g N m⁻² y⁻¹. In both studies, Schizachyrium scoparium was the dominant plant species before N treatments were applied. Soil microbial communities from each experiment were characterized using fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis. Discriminant analysis of the FAMEs separated the three N fertilizer treatments in both experiments, indicating shifts in the composition of the microbial communities. In general, plots that received N fertilizer at low or high application rates for 18 years showed increased proportions of bacterial FAMEs and decreased fungal FAMEs. In particular, control plots contained a significantly higher proportion of fungal FAMEs C18:1(cis9) and C18:2(cis9,12) and of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) FAME, C16:1(cis11), than both of the N addition treatment plots. A significant negative effect of N fertilization on the AMF FAME, C16:1(cis11), was measured in the short-term experiment. Our results indicate that high rates of anthropogenic N deposition can lead to significant changes in the composition of soil microbial communities over short periods and can even disrupt the relationship between AMF and plants.