Finding the meeting zone: Where have the northern and southern ranges of Norway spruce overlapped?

The goal of the work was to define where migration routes of Norway spruce running from its Weichselian refuges could have intersected and formed a hybrid zone. Based on available pollen data, we have hypothesized that the central European disjunction, also called the “spruceless zone”, could be an overlapping area of boreal and southern ranges.     

Evolutionary history and phylogeography of Scots pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.) in Europe based on molecular markers

In this review we summarized recent historical records and molecular studies on evolutionary history and phylogeography of Scots pine with focus on the European highly fragmented distribution area of the species. Fossilized pollen, plant micro- and macrofossil records provided evidences on the large-scale species’ range shifts and demographic changes during the Quaternary. Populations of Scots pine were documented both in the glacial (incl. full glaciation) and interglacial periods. Recolonization of Europe after the glaciation originated from the (Sub) Mediterranean areas like the Balkan Peninsula but also from around the Eastern Alps and the surroundings of the Danube plain. Fennoscandia and northern European Baltic regions were most probably colonized from two main directions, from Western Europe and from the Russian Plain. Modern history of Scots pine was hardly affected by anthropogenic activities that started to strengthen in the Bronze and Iron Age. Along with the fossil records, molecular genetic tools were used to infer the origin and putative history including migration, differentiation and demography of the species. In this paper we compiled the major publications (30) of molecular genetic studies of the past 20 years derived from distinctly inherited organelle genomes (mitochondrial, chloroplast, nuclear) revealed by different marker systems (mtDNA-cox1, -nad1, -nad3, -nad7, ISSR, cpSSR, nSSR, B-SAP, SNP). It is important to consider that different phylogeographic patterns can be drawn by the analysis of different DNA marker types. Accordingly the use of more than one marker simultaneously outlines the most sophisticated phylogeographical pattern on the genetic lineages and can reveal high differentiation of the European distribution. Combined marker systems and markers derived from coding sequences have also been used to detect species’ phylogeographic patterns, but these were rarely applied to Scots pine. Although new molecular techniques can provide higher resolution data for populations, the reviewed results can shape the direction of further studies.     

Unexpected disproportion observed in species composition between oak mixed stands and their progeny populations

We used morphological analysis to assess species composition of natural regenerations and progeny plantations established from two mixed oak stands in Jamy and Legnica, Poland. Despite equal proportions of pedunculate (Quercus robur) and sessile oak (Quercus petrea) in seed stands, the species composition differed strikingly. In all progeny populations, pedunculate oak dominated, reaching 89.5% and 96.6% in Legnica and Jamy, respectively. However, sessile oak predominated in natural regenerations. Morphological studies indicated a varied number of phenotypically intermediate or mosaic individuals. Among artificial populations, the highest number of putative hybrids was observed in Legnica (average 2.5%) and the lowest in Jamy (average 0.2%). Hybrids in natural regeneration were 1% in Legnica and 8% in Jamy. The disproportionate species composition could result from either unintentional indirect acorn selection during collection or selection in nursery practice. We discuss the role of ecophysiological differences between species in biased species representation in progeny populations.     

The distribution of sequentially extracted Cu,Pb, and Zn fractions in Podzol profiles under dwarf pine of different stages of degradation in subalpine zone of Karkonosze Mts (central Europe)

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Here, we aimed to assess the contamination of Podzol soils in a subalpine zone of the Karkonosze Mountains. Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the soil and the...     

Occurrence of antimicrobial resistance among bacterial pathogens and indicator bacteria in pigs in different European countries from year 2002 – 2004: the ARBAO-II study

Background

The project "Antibiotic resistance in bacteria of animal origin – II" (ARBAO-II) was funded by the European Union (FAIR5-QLK2-2002-01146) for the period 2003–05. The aim of this project was to establish a program for the continuous monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogenic and indicator bacteria from food animals using validated and harmonised methodologies. In this report the first data on the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance among bacteria causing infections in pigs are reported.

Methods

Susceptibility data from 17,642 isolates of pathogens and indicator bacteria including Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Streptococcus suis and Escherichia coli isolated from pigs were collected from fifteen European countries in 2002–2004.

Results

Data for A. pleuropneumoniae from infected pigs were submitted from five countries. Most of the isolates from Denmark were susceptible to all drugs tested with the exceptions of a low frequency of resistance to tetracycline and trimethoprim – sulphonamide.Data for S. suis were obtained from six countries. In general, a high level of resistance to tetracycline (48.0 – 92.0%) and erythromycin (29.1 – 75.0%) was observed in all countries whereas the level of resistance to ciprofloxacin and penicillin differed between the reporting countries. Isolates from England (and Wales), France and The Netherlands were all susceptible to penicillin. In contrast the proportion of strains resistant to ciprofloxacin ranged from 12.6 to 79.0% (2004) and to penicillin from 8.1 – 13.0% (2004) in Poland and Portugal.Data for E. coli from infected and healthy pigs were obtained from eleven countries. The data reveal a high level of resistance to tetracyclines, streptomycin and ampicillin among infected pigs whereas in healthy pigs the frequency of resistance was lower.

Conclusion

Bacterial resistance to some antimicrobials was frequent with different levels of resistance being observed to several antimicrobial agents in different countries. The occurrence of resistance varied distinctly between isolates from healthy and diseased pigs, with the isolates from healthy pigs generally showing a lower level of resistance than those from diseased pigs.The study suggests that the choice of antimicrobials used for the treatment of diseased animals should preferably be based on knowledge of the local pattern of resistance.     

Construction of integrated linkage map of a recombinant inbred line population of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.)

We report the development of a Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) marker panel and its utilisation in the development of an integrated genetic linkage map of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) using an F₈ recombinant inbred line population derived from Kiev Mutant/{"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"P27174","term_id":"14195583","term_text":"P27174"}}P27174. One hundred and thirty-six DArT markers were merged into the first genetic linkage map composed of 220 amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and 105 genic markers. The integrated map consists of 38 linkage groups of 441 markers and spans a total length of 2,169 cM, with an average interval size of 4.6 cM. The DArT markers exhibited good genome coverage and were associated with previously identified genic and AFLP markers linked with quantitative trait loci for anthracnose resistance, flowering time and alkaloid content. The improved genetic linkage map of white lupin will aid in the identification of markers for traits of interest and future syntenic studies.     

Correction to: Differences in C and N release from Alliaria petiolata leaves and stems: consequences for nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems

European Journal of Forest Research -     

Averting co-extinction: Successful mussel translocation rescues an endangered population of the European bitterling,Rhodeus amarus

1. Local extinctions break species interactions and have cascading effects throughout ecosystems; parasites are often severely affected. The European bitterling, Rhodeus amarus, is a cyprinid fish that parasitizes unionid mussels by laying eggs into the mussel gill cavity, where embryos develop and emerge as active juveniles; this relationship is obligatory for the bitterling.
2. This article describes a field experiment aimed at averting the secondary extinction of the European bitterling after a complete die-off of a freshwater mussel community, as a result of habitat destruction.
3. Approximately 5,000 unionid mussels were reintroduced within the short time frame in which the remnant bitterling population was still present at the site. Mussel survival was high, and bitterling resumed reproduction, with vigorous courtship observed within 24 hours of mussel release. Recruitment was successful, as evidenced by increased occupancy, densities, and relative frequencies in the fish assemblage. The frequency of sub-adults and young-of-the-year changed from 0% before mussel reintroduction to 80% a year later, and 50% 2 years later, when young-of-the-year contributed to about half of the young fish. No bitterling were observed at two control sites where mussels were not reintroduced.
4. This study exemplifies how the timely restitution of affiliate species can avert co-extinction. It also shows how the conservation of the bitterling within its historical distribution range can serve mussel conservation, including species that although not legally protected, are important keystone species and ecosystem engineers, shaping the structure and function of a broad range of freshwater habitats.