BMC ecology image competition 2017: the winning images

For the fifth year, BMC Ecology is proud to present the winning images from our annual image competition. The 2017 edition received entries by talented shutterbug-ecologists from across the world, showcasing research that is increasing our understanding of ecosystems worldwide and the beauty and diversity of life on our planet. In this editorial we showcase the winning images, as chosen by our Editorial Board and guest judge Chris Darimont, as well as our selection of highly commended images. Enjoy!     

Understanding the relationship between volunteers’ motivations and learning outcomes of Citizen Science in rice ecosystems in the Northern Philippines

This study relies on the Flying Beauties Citizen Science project conducted in the Philippines to assess personal motivations and learning outcomes of volunteers who were involved in documenting butterflies and dragonflies in rice ecosystems. While evaluation of motivations of volunteers in Citizen Science is not new, at least in affluent western countries, little is done in investigating volunteers’ motivations and learning outcomes of Citizen Science projects in low-income countries. Using surveys, we collected data from volunteers that were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. We adopted a two stages evaluation format—before and after volunteers finished the project exercise. We compared pre-motivations to motivations attained and changes in level of knowledge before and after the project ended. We use Spearman’s Rho, Kendall’s Tau—nonparametric tests to draw correlations between variables. The results showed that key determinants that drove people to volunteer in the project were (a) learning about species and (b) being part of scientific research and the principal learning outcome was improved awareness about ecosystem functions of the species.     

Earthworms can modify effects of hydrochar on growth of Plantago lanceolata and performance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a method to produce carbonized material at relatively low temperatures (180–250 °C) under pressure and aqueous conditions. The product is called hydrochar and can be used as a soil amendment. However, applied in high dosages it may have detrimental effects on plants or soil biota. The potential impact of hydrochar amendment on beneficial soil organisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and earthworms and their interactions are not well understood. The goal of the present study was to determine effects of hydrochar on plant growth and soil biota and to evaluate interactions of earthworms and hydrochar on plant and AMF performance and to identify underlying mechanisms. In a greenhouse experiment, we investigated the effect of hydrochar at different addition rates (control, 1% and 10%, v/v) with or without the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa on the growth of Plantago lanceolata L. and the performance of its AMF. We observed a positive interaction between earthworms and 10% hydrochar on shoot and root biomass: added as a single treatment hydrochar had a negative effect on plant growth at this dosage, but plant biomass increased significantly when hydrochar was added together with earthworms. Root colonization by AMF increased significantly with increasing concentration of hydrochar, but was not affected by earthworms. Contrastingly, extraradical hyphal length of AMF was reduced by earthworms, but not affected by hydrochar. Thus, hydrochar and earthworms affected the performance of AMF, albeit of different AMF structures and in different directions. Our results indicate that earthworms may play an important role in alleviating the negative impacts of high dosages of hydrochar on plant growth; such interactions should move into focus of future research on potential effects of HTC materials.     

Characterization of Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) incidence and new variants from ornamentals

We analyzed the spreading and persistence of PSTVd variants in several ornamentals in the territory of the Czech Republic. The pool of PSTVd variants detected in Solanum jasminoides, S. muricatum, Datura sp. and Brugmansia sp. was biolistically transferred to Matricaria chamomilla, Argyranthemum frutescens and Diascia sp., species which we found as sensitive hosts for PSTVd from ornamentals. The PSTVd pool showed sequence changes and increased variation after its transfer to potato, suggesting a wide adaptation potential of PSTVd in this crop. Potato exhibited genotype-dependent leaf and spindle tuber symptoms, when inoculated with the sap from S. jasminoides infected with the predominant and sequence-stable PSTVd-S1.     

Effect of terbutryn at environmental concentrations on early life stages of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

The aim of this study was to assess the toxicity of terbutryn to early developmental stages of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Based on accumulated mortality in the experimental groups, lethal concentrations of terbutryn were estimated at 36 day LC50 = 3.06 mg l⁻¹ terbutryn. Based on inhibition of growth in the experimental groups, lowest observed-effect concentration (LOEC) = 0.005 mg l⁻¹ terbutryn; and no observed-effect concentration (NOEC) = 0.0007 mg l⁻¹ terbutryn. Fulton’s condition factors were significantly lower in fish exposed to 2 mg l⁻¹ compared with controls. By day 30, fish exposed to 0.00002 mg l⁻¹ - real environmental concentration in Czech rivers - 0.02, 0.2, and 2 mg l⁻¹ terbutryn showed significantly lower mass and total length compared with controls. No significant negative effects on hatching or embryo viability were demonstrated at the concentrations tested, but significant differences in early ontogeny among groups were noted. Fish from the two highest tested concentrations (0.2 and 2 mg l⁻¹) showed a dose-related delay in development compared with the controls. At concentrations of 0.02, 0.2, and 2 mg l⁻¹ damage to caudal kidney tubules when compared to control fish was found.     

Resolving the Parentage of the Apple Cultivar ‘Meran’

In the mid-1970s, a new apple variety named ‘Meran’ was discovered in South Tyrol (northern Italy), which harbours the largest continuous apple growing area in Europe. The cultivar was registered for varietal protection and patented in several countries, and was declared to be a cross of the varieties ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Morgenduft’ (synonym ‘Rome Beauty’). The parentage of ‘Meran’ has, however, been questioned, and the present study aimed to assess the descent of this cultivar by the combined use of molecular genetic and bioinformatic tools. Five accessions of ‘Meran’ were collected from three different European germplasm collections and analysed at 14 variable microsatellite DNA loci. Subsequently, computer software was used to allocate the most likely parent pair from a set of cultivars representative for the apple growing area of South Tyrol in 1975. The molecular genetic data clearly excluded ‘Morgenduft’ as a gene donor to ‘Meran’ and provided strong evidence that ‘Meran’ is a cross of the cultivars ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Jonathan’, confirming previous assumptions based on morphological traits of the tree and fruit.     

Die Entwicklung des Obstbaus in Südtirol: I. Die landwirtschaftliche Aus- und Weiterbildung

South Tyrol (northern Italy) harbours the largest continuous apple producing area in Europe, with an annual fruit harvest of around one million of metric tonnes. Every tenth apple produced in EU-28 originates from South Tyrol and this fruit thus represents the most important export product of this region, which contributes to 55 % of the added value from agriculture. The success of apple production depends on several key factors, one of which is education and professional training in agriculture and fruit production, and this topic is elaborated in greater detail in the present work. In 1874, the ‘Agricultural Institute and Experimental Station’ in S. Michele upon Etsch/Adige was inaugurated as an institution for higher agricultural education and research for the entire territory of the historical Tyrol. The first vocational school for agriculture in South Tyrol was founded in 1909 in Sterzing/Vipiteno (later transferred to Dietenheim/Teodone nearby Bruneck/Brunico), but soon, with World War I, the agricultural education in German language collapsed completely and was re-established only after World War II. The work of the vocational school in Dietenheim/Teodone was pursued, and in 1952 opened the Vocational School for Agriculture and Forestry Fürstenburg, in 1962 the Vocational School for Fruit, Viticulture and Horticulture Laimburg and in 1978 the Vocational School for Agriculture and Domestic Economy Salern. Increasing student numbers demonstrate the success of these schools. In 1980, finally, the High School for Agriculture in Auer/Ora nearby Bozen/Bolzano was founded and in 1999 started the Bachelor’s study programme in Agricu­ltural Technology and Economics at the Free University of Bozen/Bolzano. Nowadays, the agricultural education in South Tyrol is covered by a full range of school types ranging from vocational schools to university level doctoral studies.     

The interaction of folpet with the glutathione-dependent demethylation enzyme system of rat liver

The interaction of folpet with the glutathione-dependent enzyme demethylation of fenitrothion was studied. In a reaction catalyzed by methyltransferase from rat liver in the presence of 0.3 μmol of glutathione, 0.21 μmol of folpet caused a 100% inhibition of the demethylation of 0.2 μmol of fenitrothion. A parallel study was made on the qualitative and quantitative course of the reaction between folpet and glutathione. Phthalimide was formed as the main degradation product of folpet, but the composition of the degradation products of glutathione was dependent on the molar ratio of the reactants. Compounds absorbing at 267 nm (probably derivatives of 2-thiazolidinethiones) were formed when the ratio of glutathione to folpet was 4.5:1. When this ratio was reversed, oxidized glutathione was the main product. From observations on the course of the enzymatic demethylation of fenitrothion and on the degradation of folpet by glutathione, it appears that in the enzyme demethylation system, the reaction between fungicide and glutathione predominates.     

Nitrate deficiency reduces cadmium and nickel accumulation in chamomile plants

The effect of nitrogen (nitrate) deficiency (-N) on the accumulation of cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) in chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla ) plants was studied. Elimination of N from the culture medium led to decreases in N-based compounds (free amino acids and soluble proteins) and increases in C-based compounds (reducing sugars, soluble phenols, coumarins, phenolic acids, and partially flavonoids and lignin), being considerably affected by the metal presence. Proline, a known stress-protective amino acid, decreased in all -N variants. The activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase was stimulated only in -N control plants, whereas the activities of polyphenol oxidase and guaiacol peroxidase were never reduced in -N variants in comparison with respective +N counterparts. Among detected phenolic acids, chlorogenic acid strongly accumulated in all N-deficient variants in the free fraction and caffeic acid in the cell wall-bound fraction. Mineral nutrients were rather affected by a given metal than by N deficiency. Shoot and total root Cd and Ni amounts decreased in -N variants. On the contrary, ammonium-fed plants exposed to N deficiency did not show similar changes in Cd and Ni contents. The present findings are discussed with respect to the role of phenols and mineral nutrition in metal uptake.     

Different flight behaviour of the endangered scarce large blue butterfly Phengaris teleius (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) within and outside its habitat patches

Understanding individual movements in heterogeneous environments is central to predicting how landscape changes affect animal populations. An important but poorly understood phenomenon is behavioural response to habitat boundaries and the way animals cross inhospitable matrix surrounding habitat patches. Here, we analyze movement decisions, flight behaviour, and activity of the endangered scarce large blue Phengaris (Maculinea) teleius, focusing on the differences among the patterns observed in patch interior, at patch boundaries and within matrix. The probability of crossing an external patch boundary, regardless of the land use in the adjacent area, was considerably lower than crossing a ‘control line’ within patch interior. Movement distances, flight durations and net squared displacement were largest in matrix, while similarly smaller at patch boundaries and in patch interior. The distribution of angles between successive movements was clearly clustered around 0° (indicating flight in a straight line) in matrix and at patch boundaries, but not in patch interior. There were no differences in time spent on foraging, resting and ovipositing between patch interior and boundaries, but the first two activities rarely, and oviposition never, happened in matrix. Our results suggest that although P. teleius adults do not avoid using the resources located in the boundaries of habitat patches, they often return to the interior of the patches when crossing their boundaries. However, having entered the matrix the butterflies perform relatively long and straight flights. The estimated probability of emigration and net squared distance implies that the dispersal between local populations is common in this species in the studied area.