Bioindication and modelling of atmospheric deposition in forests enable exposure and effect monitoring at high spatial density across scales

Key message

Moss surveys provide spatially dense data on environmental concentrations of heavy metals and nitrogen which, together with other biomonitoring and modelling data, can be used for indicating deposition to terrestrial ecosystems and related effects across time and areas of different spatial extension.

Context

For enhancing the spatial resolution of measuring and mapping atmospheric deposition by technical devices and by modelling, moss is used complementarily as bio-monitor.

Aims

This paper investigated whether nitrogen and heavy metal concentrations derived by biomonitoring of atmospheric deposition are statistically meaningful in terms of compliance with minimum sample size across several spatial levels (objective 1), whether this is also true in terms of geostatistical criteria such as spatial auto-correlation and, by this, estimated values for unsampled locations (objective 2) and whether moss indicates atmospheric deposition in a similar way as modelled deposition, tree foliage and natural surface soil at the European and country level, and whether they indicate site-specific variance due to canopy drip (objective 3).

Methods

Data from modelling and biomonitoring atmospheric deposition were statistically analysed by means of minimum sample size calculation, by geostatistics as well as by bivariate correlation analyses and by multivariate correlation analyses using the Classification and Regression Tree approach and the Random Forests method.

Results

It was found that the compliance of measurements with the minimum sample size varies by spatial scale and element measured. For unsampled locations, estimation could be derived. Statistically significant correlations between concentrations of heavy metals and nitrogen in moss and modelled atmospheric deposition, and concentrations in leaves, needles and soil were found. Significant influence of canopy drip on nitrogen concentration in moss was proven.

Conclusion

Moss surveys should complement modelled atmospheric deposition data as well as other biomonitoring approaches and offer a great potential for various terrestrial monitoring programmes dealing with exposure and effects.

     

Nutritional evaluation of tender pods of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Canavalia maritima</Emphasis> of coastal sand dunes

This study has been performed to evaluate the nutritional, antinutritional and protein qualities of tender pods of Canavalia maritima, the coastal sand dune wild legume of southwest India. The proximal features, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, antinutritional and protein qualities of fresh and pressure-cooked tender pods have been assessed. The crude protein was comparable to seeds of many edible legumes. Cooking significantly elevated the carbohydrates and calorific value of tender pods (P < 0.05), while crude fiber was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Minerals of fresh pods did not drain too much on cooking and K, Mg, Zn and Mn in fresh as well as cooked pods were comparable or higher than the NRC-NAS recommended pattern. Although cooking decreased the essential amino acids, threonine, valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and lysine in cooked pods were equivalent or higher than the FAO-WHO-UNU recommended pattern. The palmitoleic acid in fresh pods and eicosenoic acid in cooked pods were relatively high. Similarly, the essential fatty acids, linolenic acid and linoleic acid were confined to fresh and cooked pods respectively. The fresh pods were devoid of tannins and trypsin inhibitors. The total phenolics and hemagglutinin activity decreased substantially in cooked pods. The diet of pressure-cooked pods showed improvement of in vivo protein quality, elevation of growth parameters and positive nitrogen balance in rats. Overall, the pressurecooking of tender pods of C. maritima improved the nutritional qualities by lowering the hemagglutinin activity.     

Genetic studies for seed size and grain yield traits in kabuli chickpea

Seed size, determined by 100-seed weight, is an important yield component and trade value trait in kabuli chickpea. In the present investigation, the small seeded kabuli genotype ICC 16644 was crossed with four genotypes (JGK 2, KAK 2, KRIPA and ICC 17109) and F₁, F₂ and F₃ populations were developed to study the gene action involved in seed size and other yield attributing traits. Scaling test and joint scaling test revealed the presence of epistasis for days to first flower, days to maturity, plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of seeds per pod, biological yield per plant, grain yield per plant and 100-seed weight. Additive, additive?×?additive and dominance?×?dominance effects were found to govern days to first flower. Days to maturity and plant height were under the control of both the main as well as interaction effects. Number of seeds per pod was predominantly under the control of additive and additive?×?additive effects. For grain yield per plant, additive and dominance?×?dominance effects were significant in the cross ICC 16644?×?KAK 2, whereas, additive?×?additive effects were important in the cross ICC 16644?×?JGK 2. Additive, dominance and epistatic effects influenced seed size. The study emphasized the existence of duplicate epistasis for most of the traits. To explore both additive and non-additive gene actions for phenological traits and yield traits, selection in later generations would be more effective.     

Phase II-Inducing,Polyphenols Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Corn (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) from Phenotypes of White,Blue, Red and Purple Colors Processed into Masa and Tortillas

White, blue, red and purple corns (Zea mays L.) were lime-cooked to obtain masa for tortillas. The total phenolics and anthocyanins content, antioxidant activity expressed as total reducing power (TRP), peroxyl radical bleaching (PRAC), total antioxidant activity (TAA) and quinone reductase (QR) induction in the murine hepatoma (Hepa 1 c1c7 cell line) as a biological marker for phase II detoxification enzymes were investigated. Among the extracts prepared from raw corn varieties the highest concentration of total phenolics, anthocyanins, antioxidant index and induction of QR-inducing activity were found in the Veracruz 42 (Ver 42) genotype. The nixtamalization process (masa) reduced total phenolics, anthocyanins and antioxidant activities and the ability for QR induction when was compared to raw grain. Processing masa into tortillas also negatively affected total phenolics, anthocyanin concentration, antioxidant activities, and QR induction in the colored corn varieties. The blue variety and its corresponding masa and tortillas did not induce QR. Ver 42 genotype and their products (masa and tortilla) showed the greatest antioxidant activity and capacity to induce QR     

Winter nitrate uptake by the temperate deciduous tree <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus serrata</Emphasis>

Winter nitrogen use in deciduous species is largely uncharacterized. We investigated nitrate uptake in the fine roots of a deciduous oak (Quercus serrata Thunb. ex. Murray). We conducted a ¹⁵N-labeling experiment using saplings of Q. serrata in the winter. During three weeks of labeled nitrate application, the concentration of ¹⁵N in the fine roots increased significantly. The amount of nitrogen absorbed, as nitrate, was 1.16 ± 1.02 mg N g DW⁻¹, equivalent to 7.6 ± 5.8% of the total nitrogen content. Our results indicate that Q. serrata saplings have significant potential for nitrate uptake in the fine roots in midwinter (i.e., in the absence of leaves). Although a significant amount of nitrogen applied as nitrate was accumulated, nitrate concentration in the fine roots remained low during the labeling period. Furthermore, significant nitrate reductase activity was detected. These data suggest that Q. serrata saplings can assimilate nitrate in the fine roots in midwinter.     

Berberine attenuates oxidative stress and hepatocytes apoptosis via protecting mitochondria in blunt snout bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Megalobrama amblycephala</Emphasis> fed high-fat diets

High-fat diets may have favorable effects on growth and cost, but high-fat diets often induce excessive fat deposition, resulting in liver damage. This study aimed to identify the hepatoprotective of a Chinese herb (berberine) for blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). Fish were fed with a normal diet (LFD, 5 % fat), high-fat diet (HFD, 15 % fat) or berberine-supplemented diets (BSD, 15 % fat with berberine 50 or 100 mg/kg level) for 8 weeks. After the feeding, histology, oxidative status and mitochondrial function of liver were assessed. The results showed that HFD caused fat accumulation, oxidative stress and apoptosis in hepatocytes of fish. Hepatocytes in HFD group appeared to be hypertrophied, with larger liver cells diameter than these of LFD group. Berberine-supplemented diets could attenuate oxidative stress and hepatocytes apoptosis. HFD induced the decreasing mitochondrial complexes activities and bulk density and surface area density. Berberine improved function of mitochondrial respiratory chain via increasing the complex activities. Moreover, the histological results showed that berberine has the potential to repair mitochondrial ultrastructural damage and elevate the density in cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that berberine has attenuated liver damage induced by the high fat mainly via the protection for mitochondria.     

Psychoacoustical evaluation of floor-impact sounds from wood-framed structures

Floor-impact sounds may introduce noise problems in dwelling-type environments. In particular, floor-impact sounds from lightweight structures like wood-framed buildings should be paid significant attention. In this study, such floor-impact sounds were investigated from the viewpoint of residents. The floor specifications of wood-framed structures were improved by using high-density underlay, and heavy floor-impact sounds were evaluated by using both psychoacoustical and conventional methods. The results showed that the floor-impact sound insulation grades specified in the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) did not correspond to the floor specifications of wood-framed structures. The nonstationary loudness, which is a psychoacoustical index for nonstationary sounds, changed with the specifications of wood-framed structures in a wider range of floor-impact sound levels in comparison with the maximum A-weighted sound pressure level, which is a single-number index of the JIS.     

Molecular analysis of the major capsid genes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">g23</Emphasis>) of T4-type bacteriophages in an upland black soil in Northeast China

Bacteriophages (phages) are the most abundant biological entities on the planet and are important as the greatest genomic reservoirs in both marine and terrestrial environments. In this study, we analysed T4-type phage communities in an upland black soil by monitoring g23 clones in DNA extracted from seasonal soil samples with no fertilizer, chemical fertilizers, chemical fertilizers plus manure, and natural restoration treatments. PCR products with degenerate primers MZIA1bis and MZIA6 were subjected to denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. In total, 46 clones with different g23 sequences were obtained. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that T4-type phage communities in the upland black soil were distinctly different from those in marine environments and in an Antarctic lake, which strongly suggested that T4-type phage communities in soil differed from those in aquatic environments. Among 46 clones, 18 clones formed clusters with the clones from rice field soils, 14 clones formed three new clusters, and 13 clones were left as ungrouped, which indicated that T4-type phage communities in the upland black soil were relatively similar to those in rice field soils but that specific communities also inhabit in the upland black soil exclusively.     

A laboratory investigation of microbe-inducing CdCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> precipitate treatment in Cd<Superscript>2+</Superscript> contaminated soil

Background, aim and scope  

This paper discusses a method investigating the reduction of free heavy metal cation contents in soil through the use of microbe-inducing precipitate (MIP).     

Effects of inter-varietal diversity,biotic stresses and environmental productivity on grain yield of spring barley variety mixtures

Varietal seed mixtures tend to increase and stabilize crop yields, yet their application is sparse. Large-scale cultivation of variety mixtures may require a better understanding of how inter-varietal interactions and their interaction with the environment may influence the grain yield of variety mixtures relative to their component varieties. For this purpose, six variety mixtures of spring barley and 14 component varieties were grown in each of 17 trial environments. A total of 28 observed and a priori plant characteristics, including grain yield, disease severity and weed competitiveness, were derived for each component variety in each trial. The relationship between inter-varietal diversity of each characteristic and the mixing effect on grain yield was analysed. Additionally, various types of yield stability were estimated and compared among mixtures and component varieties. One mixture out-yielded all of its component varieties in almost half of the trial environments. Inter-varietal diversity in grain yield potential correlated significantly with mixing effect, as did straw length diversity when weighted with weed pressure. The grain yields of most mixtures were more stable across environments than their component varieties when accounting also for the general response to environmental productivity. Hence, most mixtures adapted slightly better to environmental productivity and were less sensitive to environmental stress than their component varieties. We conclude that the efficacy of variety mixtures may be enhanced by mixing relatively high-yielding varieties differing in responsiveness to environmental productivity.