Change in historic fire disturbance in a Garry oak (Quercus garryana) meadow and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) mosaic,University of Victoria,British Columbia,Canada: A possible link with First Nations and Europeans

We investigated late Holocene vegetation and fire changes on southeast Vancouver Island, British Columbia, through high-resolution analysis of pollen, spores and charcoal contained within a forest soil. Located in the Mystic Vale Endowment lands, University of Victoria campus, the site occurs adjacent to Garry oak (Quercus garryana) meadows within a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forest regionally influenced by First Nations burning. The age of the sequence is estimated from the occurrence of non-native plantain (Plantago spp.) pollen, between the early 19th century and the present. Prior to the 1850s, the Mystic Vale supported a Douglas-fir forest with a sword fern (Polystichum munitum) understory. Low-intensity fires may have burned either at or near the site, but did not destroy the stand. From the time of European settlement (ca. 1850s to 1872) to the early 20th century, Douglas-fir forests with a sword fern understory persisted but with more openings than in the past. Adjacent forests were cleared leading to successional stands of red alder (Alnus rubra). The site may have supported more grasses near or after 1872 because of adjacent cultivation and the introduction of livestock. Local establishment of Garry oaks at the margin of a field adjacent to the deposition site may have occurred at this time. The strong charcoal signal may be attributable to clearing and local fires of European settlers. Exotic weedy species such as plantain arrived during this time. From about the mid 20th century to the present a closed canopy Douglas-fir forest returned. Pre-European charcoal concentrations were significantly greater than modern-day charcoal concentrations. Peak charcoal concentrations coincided with the onset of European settlement in the area, a period in which land-clearing is thought to have been aided by the use of fire. This study suggests that the observed changes in charcoal concentrations in pre- and post-European contact time may be linked with a switch from aboriginal to European ignition sources. The study provides a historical impetus to consider partially restoring parts of southeast Vancouver Island by re-introducing fire via the application of controlled burns.     

乌鲁木齐地区蜘蛛群落特征研究

为查明乌鲁木齐地区蜘蛛群落特征及其变化,2008年4月7月及9月中旬对该区6种不同生境蜘蛛群落特征进行了调查,共获得蜘蛛2195只,分别隶属于28科47属71种。在六种不同生境共有的优势类群为狼蛛科Lycosidae、跳蛛科Salticidae、园蛛科Araneidae和蟹蛛科Thomisidae等四科,占总捕获量的54.94%。常见类群为逍遥蛛科Philodromidae、球腹蛛科Theridiidae、狡蛛科Dolomedidae、妩蛛科Uloboridae、漏斗网蛛科Agelenidae、幽灵蛛科Pholcidae、皿网蛛科Linyphiidae等7科,占总捕获量的34.52%,其余7科为稀有类群,仅占总捕获量的4.54%。不同生境所获得蜘蛛个体数和类群数之间差异均为显著(P<0.05),其个体数顺序为自然榆林>草地>防护林>居民点>果园>菜地,类群数顺序为自然榆林>防护林>草地>果园>居民点>菜地。不同生境蜘蛛组成和数量分布在不同季节之间差异较大,个体数在不同季节之间差异均为显著(P<0.05),其顺序为夏季>春季>秋季。以上结果表明,乌鲁木齐地区蜘蛛资源比较丰富,生境类型影响蜘蛛群落分布格局,植被丰富度和人为干扰是影响蜘蛛群落的重要因素。     

Enhancing Salt Stress Tolerance of Different Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Inbred Line Genotypes by Rootstock with Vigorous Root System

Gesunde Pflanzen - In this study, pepper (Capsicum annuum&nbsp;L.) inbred lines were grafted onto different rootstock genotypes and tested under saline conditions. A&nbsp;hydroponic...     

Proteomic analysis of digestive tract peptidases and lipases from the invasive gastropod Pomacea canaliculata

Background

The invasive gastropod Pomacea canaliculata has received great attention in the last decades as a result of its negative impact on crops agriculture, yet knowledge of their digestive physiology remains incomplete, particularly the enzymatic breakdown of macromolecules such as proteins and lipids.

Results

Discovery proteomics revealed aspartic peptidases, cysteine peptidases, serine peptidases, metallopeptidases and threonine peptidases, as well as acid and neutral lipases and phospholipases along the digestive tract of P. canaliculata. Peptides specific to peptidases (139) and lipases (14) were quantified by targeted mass spectrometry. Digestion begins in the mouth via diverse salivary peptidases (nine serine peptidases; seven cysteine peptidases, one aspartic peptidase and 22 metallopeptidases) and then continues in the oesophagus (crop) via three luminal metallopeptidases (Family M12) and six serine peptidases (Family S1). Downstream, the digestive gland provides a battery of enzymes composed of aspartic peptidase (one), cysteine peptidases (nine), serine peptidases (12) and metallopeptidases (24), including aminopeptidases, carboxypeptidases and dipeptidases). The coiled gut has M1 metallopeptidases that complete the digestion of small peptides. Lipid extracellular digestion is completed by triglyceride lipases.

Conclusion

From an integrative physiological and anatomical perspective, P. canaliculata shows an unexpected abundance and diversity of peptidases, which participate mainly in extracellular digestion. Moreover, the previously unknown occurrence of luminal lipases from the digestive gland is reported for the first time. Salivary and digestive glands were the main tissues involved in the synthesis and secretion of these enzymes, but plausibly the few luminally exclusive peptidases are secreted by ventrolateral pouches or epithelial unicellular glands. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

新疆于田绿洲弃耕地浅层地下水化学特征

在于田绿洲弃耕地典型地段布设两条基本平行的地下水采样带,用GPS定位,共设置13个样点,现场采样并送实验室分析,以研究其化学特征。运用统计分析发现,地下水离子平均含量,阳离子K++Na+Mg2+Ca2+,阴离子Cl-HCO3-SO42-CO32-,就变异系数而言,CO32-和SO42-较大,其余离子均介于30%~65%;地下水埋深、溶解性总固体和电导率的变异系数较大,均大于50%,pH值的变异系数最小,为3.06%,且pH值的变化范围在8.35~9.28之间,呈弱碱性。通过主成分分析发现,影响研究区浅层地下水化学特征的主成分共有3个,第一主成分F1与K++Na+、Cl-和CO32-具有显著的相关性,第二主成分F2与埋深和SO42-具有较显著的相关关系,第三主成分F3与Mg2+相关关系显著,且这3个主成分已涵盖所有8项指标信息的83%以上。线性回归分析显示,溶解性总固体与K++Na+和Cl-的相关关系显著,且拟合方程具有显著的统计学意义。     

Occurrence and incidence of phytoplasmas of the 16SrII-D subgroup on solanaceous and cucurbit crops in Egypt

Symptoms reminiscent of phytoplasma infection were observed in four provinces (governorates) of Egypt in fields of eggplants, tomato plants and squash. Diseased plants exhibited stunting, leaf yellows and flower development abnormalities. PCR amplification of 16SrDNA with phytoplasma-specific primer pairs confirmed the phytoplasma presence. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis indicated that all phytoplasmas had the same partial 16SrDNA sequence, assigning them to the 16SrII-D phytoplasma subgroup. Disease incidence was about 1% among the 20 squash fields surveyed and equally varied from 4% to 15% in the 20 eggplant fields and in the 40 tomato fields inspected. The widespread distribution of this phytoplasma in annual solanaceous and cucurbit crops suggests a wider plant host range including wild plants that could act as reservoir and insist on the need for a insect vector survey. A finer genetic differentiation of Egyptian 16SrII-D phytoplasma strains from different geographical origins and different host plants should help to better trace such epidemics.     

Diversity of genus Passiflora L. in Mexico and a particular study on Passiflora biflora Lam. fruit characteristics

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - In Mexico there is a high diversity of species of the genus Passiflora. Present work resumes the number of Passiflora species listed for Mexico in herbariums...