Lipid concentration and composition in xylem sap of woody angiosperms from a tropical savanna and a seasonal rainforest

Lipids may play an important role in preventing gas embolisms by coating nanobubbles in xylem sap.Few studies on xylem sap lipids have been reported for temperate plants,and it remain unclear whether sap lipids have adaptational significance in tropical plants.In this study,we quantify the lipid composition of xylem sap for angiosperm species from a tropical savanna(seven species)and a seasonal rainforest(five species)using mass spectrometry.We found that all twelve species studied contained lipids in their xylem sap,including galactolipids,phospholipids and triacylglycerol,with a total lipid concentration ranging from 0.09 to 0.26 nmol/L.There was no difference in lipid concentration or composition between plants from the two sites,and the lipid concentration was negatively related to species’open vessel volume.Furthermore,savanna species showed little variation in lipid composition between the dry and the rainy season.These results support the hypothesis that xylem sap lipids are derived from the cytoplasm of individual conduit cells,remain trapped inside individual conduits,and undergo few changes in composition over consecutive seasons.A xylem sap lipidomic data set,which includes 12 tropical tree species from this study and 11 temperate tree species from literature,revealed no phylogenetic signals in lipid composition for these species.This study fills a knowledge gap in the lipid content of xylem sap in tropical trees and provides additional support for their common distribution in xylem sap of woody angiosperms.It appears that xylem sap lipids have no adaptive significance.

Bugs beneath the surface： the functional significance of soil macroinvertebrates to landscape health in Australia＇s tropical savannas

Soil macroinvertebrates play an important role in sustaining production and biodiversity in Australia＇ s tropical savannas. For example, termites, through their foraging and nesting activities, recycle nutrients and carbon and produce soil pores that facilitate water infiltration. The challenge ahead is to quantitatively understand the relationships and processes that drive this. What roles do different species and functional groups of macroinvertebrates play in various landscape processes？ What are the effects of different land management practices （e.g., domestic cattle grazing, fire） on these relationships, and the consequences for landscape health？ This paper presents preliminary results from studies in northern Australia, that examine the effects of land condition and domestic cattle grazing on soil macroinvertebrates, and the potential for termites to be used as a tool to restore soil function in degraded areas. In northern Australia, increased degradation seems to be associated with declines in the diversity and activity of macroinvertebrates. Termites appear to be one of the most resilient groups, with some species capable of maintaining activity in degraded landscapes.

Using Geotechnology to Estimate Annual Soil Loss Rate in the Brazilian Cerrado

Soil erosion is a serious environmental problem that has adversely affected the world’s food production through the reduction of land productivity and water availability. The present study estimated annual soil loss rate and its spatial distribution in the most important Brazil’s agricultural region, the Brazilian Cerrado, using Revised Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model into Geographic Information System (GIS) framework. For this purpose, the soil erosion annual rate was determined in function of RUSLE model factors: rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), topography (LS), crop management (C) and supporting conservation practice (P). All factors were obtained from literature. They were processed and integrated into a GIS, resulting in a map of annual soil loss rate. The methodology applied showed acceptable precision and it was possible to identify the most susceptible areas to water erosion. The average estimated rate of soil loss for the entire Cerrado was 12.8 t•ha−1•yr−1. Large part of the Cerrado is under low soil loss zone corresponding to 79.91% of total surface area, while 15.70%, 3.74%, and 0.66% are under moderate, high, and very high, respectively. The average estimated rate of soil loss in areas used for silviculture was 52.1 t•ha−1•yr−1. In semi-perennial, perennial, and annual crops cultivation were 29.3, 23.9, and 9.8 t•ha−1•yr−1, respectively, while in the pasture was 13.3 t•ha−1•yr−1. Except for annual crops, all farm and silviculture areas showed average soil loss ranging from moderate to high rate. These results suggest that the implementation of more effective management techniques and conservation practices are necessary for the Cerrado to maintain and to improve land productivity by ensuring national and international food demands.

Carbon dioxide exchange and biomass productivity of the herbaceous layer of a managed tropical humid savanna ecosystem in western Kenya

Aims Humid savannas,as a result of high precipitation amounts,are highly productive.they are also hotspots for land use change and potential sources of carbon dioxide(CO_(2))due to the large soil carbon(C)stocks.understanding how ecosystem CO_(2) exchange is influenced by changes arising from agricultural land use is vital in future management of these ecosystems and in responding to the ongoing shifts in manage-ment and climate.the aim of this study was to identify how ecosystem CO_(2) exchange and biomass productivity of the herbaceous layer of a humid savanna in Kenya respond to current management practices.Methods We used flux chambers to quantify CO_(2) fluxes,while monthly harvests were undertaken to determine biomass development of the herba-ceous layer of three sites that were(i)fenced to exclude livestock graz-ing,(ii)subjected to grazing by livestock and(iii)abandoned after being cultivated for maize production and also open to grazing by livestock.Important findingsthe peak aboveground biomass ranged between 380 and 1449 g m−2 and biomass production was significantly(P<0.05)lower in the grazed and abandoned plots.the maximum gross primary production(gPP)and net ecosystem CO_(2) exchange(NEE)ranged between 21.8±1.3 to 32.5±2.7 and−9.6±0.7 to−17.9±4.8μmol m−2 s−1,respectively.seasonal NEE fluctuations ranged between 10 and 21μmol m−2s−1,while spatial(among sites)differences ranged between 2 and 10μmol m−2 s−1.Ecosystem respiration(Reco)fluc-tuated between 5 and 10μmol m−2 s−1 during the growing sea-son.Reco was,however,not significantly different among the sites.unlike in other similar ecosystems where ecosystem respiration is determined by the ambient temperature,we did not find any rela-tionship between Reco and temperature in this savanna.Instead,soil moisture accounted for 38-88%of the spatial and seasonal fluc-tuations in ecosystem CO_(2) fluxes and aboveground biomass pro-duction.management influenced the maximum gPP and NEE rates through modification of soil moisture,plant species composition and aboveground biomass.We concluded that soil moisture is the key determinant of ecosystem CO_(2) exchange and productivity in this tropical savanna.management,however,significantly modifies C fluxes and productivity through its influence on soil moisture,plant species composition and aboveground green biomass and should be taken into consideration in future similar studies.

Diversity and biogeography of a species-rich ant fauna of the Australian seasonal tropics

Although ants are an ecologically dominant and extensively studied faunal group throughout the tropics, there is a poor understanding of tropical ant diversity and distribution at large spatial scales. Here we use a collection developed from 3 decades of ant surveys to present the first analysis of ant diversity and biogeography of a large tropical region. Our objective was to document the species richness, composition, and biogeographic distributions of the ant fauna of the 400 000 km^2 ＂Top End＂ of Australia＇s Northern Territory. The known Top End ant fauna comprises 901 native species from 59 genera. The richest genera are Pheidole （90 species）, Melophorus （83）, Monomorium （83）, Camponotus （71）, Meranoplus （63）, Polyrhachis （57）, Rhytidoponera （50）, Tetramorium （43）, Cerapachys （32）, and Iridomyrmex （31）. The fauna is the center of diverse radiations within species-groups of genera such as Meranoplus, Rhytidoponera, and Leptogenys. It also includes IndoMalayan species that have likely bypassed the normal dispersal route into Australia through Cape York Peninsula in North Queensland. Faunistic similarity with other regions of far northern Australia is associated more with rainfall than with geographic proximity. Most （60%） of Top End ant species have not been recorded elsewhere, and, despite uncertainties relating to species delimitation and sampling intensity, this appears to be a credible estimate of the level of endemism. Such exceptionally high endemism can be attributed to the Top End＇s geographic isolation from other regions of northern Australia with comparably high rainfall.