Are neighboring trees in tune? Wood formation in Pinus pinaster

Neighboring trees growing under identical environmental conditions can exhibit different dynamics and periods of growth. Despite the recent advances in cambial biology, the exogenous and endogenous factors generating asynchronous xylem growths still remain undetermined. This study investigated timings and duration of xylem formation in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) from an even-aged plantation in Portugal growing under Mediterranean climate. Cambial phenology and stem diameter were monitored weekly, from March to December 2010, on two classes of trees divided according to the tree ring widths of the last 15 years, but similar age and size: fast- and slow-growing trees. We tested the hypothesis that differences in tree ring widths result from cell production which in turn affects timings of xylogenesis and that the bimodal growth pattern, typical of the Mediterranean, originates from a double reactivation of the cambium: in spring and autumn. Cambial activity started earlier and ended later in fast-growing trees, confirming that cell production is a key factor determining the duration of xylogenesis. Intra-annual variations in stem diameter recorded by band dendrometers revealed two peaks of increment occurring in spring and late summer. However, the number of cambial cells did not increase in late summer, which suggested that the second peak of increment was caused by stem rehydration, rather than by a reactivation of cell division. These results demonstrated that the variability in the timings of xylem phenology observed among trees of the same age and size and growing under similar environmental conditions was closely related to cell production and not to age or size per se.     

Assessment of a terrestrial protected area for the conservation of freshwater biodiversity

1. Freshwater ecosystems are essential to human well-being and most have high biodiversity. However, this biodiversity has been suffering severe declines owing to the expansion of human activities. Protected areas (PAs) are essential for biodiversity conservation and have proved to be successful in stopping species extirpation if managed properly. Unfortunately, they are usually focused on terrestrial biodiversity, leaving freshwater ecosystems aside.
2. The main goal of this study was to determine the influence of a PA (Montesinho Natural Park (MNP), Portugal) on freshwater biodiversity. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and fishes were surveyed, and biodiversity (richness, abundance, Shannon-Wiener diversity, and Pielou's evenness) and water quality (IASPT) indices were calculated inside, at the periphery and outside the MNP.
3. Results showed that the PA does not affect positively either water quality or the two faunal groups monitored. Macroinvertebrate communities were not influenced by the PA; however, the abundance of pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera was significantly higher and size was significantly lower inside the MNP. The richness and abundance of fish communities were significantly higher outside the MNP, except for trout Salmo trutta abundance which was higher inside the MNP.
4. Given these results, the MNP does not guarantee the safeguard of overall aquatic biodiversity and habitats and we propose an extension of MNP to downstream areas in order to increase the number of species (mostly cyprinids) under legal protection. This work demonstrates that terrestrial PA planning and management should also consider aquatic biodiversity to achieve successful conservation.

     

Body live weight and milk production parameters in the Majorera and Palmera goat breeds from the Canary Islands: influence of weight loss

Seasonal weight loss (SWL), caused by poor quality pastures during the dry season, is the major limitation to animal production in the tropics. One of the ways to counter this problem is to breed animals that show tolerance to SWL. The objective of this study was to understand the effect of feed restriction in milk production and live weight (LW) evolution in two goat breeds, with different levels of adaptation to nutritional stress: the Majorera (considered to be tolerant) and the Palmera (considered to be susceptible). A total of ten animals per breed were used. Animals were divided in four groups (two for each breed): a restricted group (restricted diet) and a control group. LW and milk yield parameters were recorded through a trial that lasted 23 days in total. Overall, there were no significant differences between both restricted groups, regarding neither LW nor milk yield reductions (LW reduction 13 % and milk yield reduction of 87 % for both restricted groups). In what concerns control groups, there were no significant differences between breeds, thought there were different increments at the end of the trial for both breeds regarding LW (6 and 4 %, for Majorera and Palmera, respectively) and milk yield (28 and 8 %, respectively for Majorera and Palmera). The lack of statistically significant differences between Palmera and Majorera LW and milk yields in restricted groups may be due to the fact that the controlled trial does not replicate harsh field conditions, in which Majorera would excel, and the stress induced by those differences.     

Towards functional biodiversity predictions: a hierarchical modelling framework from primary productivity to biomass of upper trophic levels

Context

Current shifts in biodiversity are driven by multiple processes of environmental and landscape change. Particularly, land use/land cover (LU/LC) dynamics are among the major drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide.

Objectives

In this study we aim to explore the applicability of a new modelling framework to predict top predators’ responses to LU/LC changes.

Methods

The framework integrates remote-sensing based predictors, statistical inference, stochastic-dynamic simulations and spatial projections in a common and interactive approach. From an ecological modelling perspective, the main innovation of our approach lies on the integration of (1) biomass of birds of prey as an upper trophic indicator of the community characteristics that emerge from the habitat quality across multiple scales of organization and (2) fine-scale biophysical attributes to add a new level of understanding about the role of local LU/LC drivers influencing those emergent biodiversity patterns.

Results

Based on species data from published atlases this approach allowed transposing species biomass to finer resolutions, overcoming the lack of detailed information for the study area. Our demonstrative case study revealed a disruptive effect of ongoing LU/LC changes in the spatio-temporal distribution of top predators’ biomass, suggesting the possibility of an emergent disturbance pattern in habitat suitability and community stability. Comparative analysis between simulations and independent field data revealed a promising model performance.

Conclusions

Our modelling approach highlights the importance of integrating local LU/LC functional dynamics to predict key trophic’ responses, considered as pertinent ecological indicators for biodiversity management under realistic' future changing regional scenarios.

     

Detection of pine needle diseases caused by Dothistroma septosporum,Dothistroma pini and Lecanosticta acicola using different methodologies

Dothistroma and Lecanosticta needle blight are among the most damaging foliage diseases in plantations and natural pine stands worldwide, and are therefore listed as quarantine organisms in numerous countries. The aim of this study was to validate different methodologies used for the detection of both diseases. Based on multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR), simultaneous detection and discrimination of the three pathogens Dothistroma septosporum, Dothistroma pini and Lecanosticta acicola were possible in symptomatic needles. Additionally, the same set of needles was analysed for the presence of all three pathogens using novel end‐point PCR assays followed by enzymatic digestion of PCR products. Results were compared with the qPCR data, and for validation, collected needles were screened morphologically for the presence of typical fruiting bodies and spores. Differences in detection sensitivity were found between the detection tools. The qPCR‐based detection allowed for specific and efficient identification and quantification of all three pathogens simultaneously. At the same time, conventional PCR assays, which target the multicopy ITS region, showed increased detection sensitivity and can be conducted without the use of expensive infrastructure and reagents.     

Biodegradation of biodiesel and toluene under nitrate-reducing conditions and the impact on bacterial community structure

Purpose

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that can be mixed with toluene and be accidentally released into anoxic ecosystems and impact soil microbial communities. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to examine, under nitrate-reduction conditions, the biodegradation of toluene in the presence of two different types of biodiesel (sunflower and rapeseed), and their impact on the bacterial community structure.

Materials and methods

Sediment samples were spiked individually with toluene, biodiesel, and their blends in laboratory-designed microcosms. Sunflower oil biodiesel was produced in the laboratory, while rapeseed oil biodiesel was a commercial product. Degradation of biodiesels and blends was monitored by directly measuring the substrate or indirectly by determining nitrate removal during the course of the experiment. Denitrification rates were estimated with the acetylene inhibition technique. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was used to assess impacts on the bacterial community structure exposed to biodiesels, blends, and toluene.

Results and discussion

The results of this study showed that toluene and biodiesel were completely degraded within 10 days. Biodiesel significantly affected the bacterial community structure at a similar magnitude, independently of its origin. Additionally, toluene impacted the bacterial community and denitrification process to a lower extent than biodiesel and a clear decrease in the relative bacterial richness and diversity was shown in samples with biodiesel and blends. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first reports describing degradation of biodiesel alone and blends under nitrate-reducing conditions, and also the effects of these compounds on the denitrification process. In addition, due to the recently discovered “oxygenic denitrification” process, the acetylene inhibition technique and nitrous oxide quantification may not be the most adequate tool to estimate denitrification rates. Further detailed studies are advised to understand whether the identified bacterial community shift impacts ecosystem functions.

Conclusions

Our results help to understand the biodegradation of toluene, biodiesel, and their blends in sediments under nitrate-reducing conditions and might be important in implementing bioremediation strategies in anoxic environments.

     

Ethanol Extraction of Polar Lipids from Nannochloropsis oceanica for Food,Feed, and Biotechnology Applications Evaluated Using Lipidomic Approaches

Nannochloropsis oceanica can accumulate lipids and is a good source of polar lipids, which are emerging as new value-added compounds with high commercial value for the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Some applications may limit the extraction solvents, such as food applications that require safe food-grade solvents, such as ethanol. However, the effect of using ethanol as an extraction solvent on the quality of the extracted polar lipidome, compared to other more traditional methods, is not yet well established. In this study, the polar lipid profile of N. oceanica extracts was obtained using different solvents, including chloroform/methanol (CM), dichloromethane/methanol (DM), dichloromethane/ethanol (DE), and ethanol (E), and evaluated by modern lipidomic methods using LC-MS/MS. Ultrasonic bath (E + USB)- and ultrasonic probe (E + USP)-assisted methodologies were implemented to increase the lipid extraction yields using ethanol. The polar lipid signature and antioxidant activity of DM, E + USB, and E + USP resemble conventional CM, demonstrating a similar extraction efficiency, while the DE and ethanol extracts were significantly different. Our results showed the impact of different extraction solvents in the polar lipid composition of the final extracts and demonstrated the feasibility of E + USB and E + USP as safe and food-grade sources of polar lipids, with the potential for high-added-value biotechnological applications.     

Landscape and local correlates with anuran taxonomic,functional and phylogenetic diversity in rice crops

Context

Deforestation is a major driver of biodiversity loss, mainly due to agriculture. As rice is among the world’s most important crops, determining how agricultural communities are shaped is imperative. However, few studies have addressed the factors that alter community assembly in human-modified landscapes. We aim to quantify taxonomic, functional, trait and phylogenetic diversity of an anuran community from rice crops on a biodiversity hotspot.

Objectives

Identify local and landscape characteristics responsible for variations in multiple dimensions of anuran diversity in rice crops.

Methods

This study was performed in Tocantins, Brazil. We chose 36 lentic waterbodies on rice fields for anuran sampling. We quantified taxonomic diversity (TD), functional diversity (FD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) for each waterbody. We also estimated the mean functional differences among species for each trait separately. To evaluate how local and landscape scale features affect anurans, we performed generalized linear mixed models in 500, 1000 and 1500 m buffers around each waterbody.

Results

We found increased PD and FD in waterbodies closer to many other waterbodies and large forest patches. Anuran biomass decreased with increasing distance to the closest waterbody. Trait diversity varied with waterbody abundance and closeness, percentage of bare ground and marginal vegetation.

Conclusions

Our study emphasizes the importance of waterbody and forest patch networks for maintaining high anuran FD and PD in agricultural landscapes. As both metrics are known to be related to ecosystem resilience, understanding these patterns is pivotal for biodiversity management, especially in the tropics, where agricultural expansion is unrelenting and biodiversity is especially unique.