Changes in Gene Expression in Needles and Stems of Pinus radiata Rootstock Plants of Different Ontogenic Age

A major problem in forest clonal productivity is the loss of morphogenetic capability with the increasing age of plants. However, despite of the importance of loss of morphogenetic competence, very little research has been done about the underlying mechanisms involved in this process. For this reason, a gene expression analysis using dot blot technique was performed in needles and stems of 1- and 3-year old Pinus radiata rootstock plants with a proved decrease in morphogenetic competence. Needles of one year old rootstock plants showed a higher number of up-regulated in genes mainly corresponding to photosynthesis and protein synthesis, degradation and modification, reflecting a higher number of active pathways in younger hedges, contrary to the older ones. Gene expression profiles found in stems are in agreement with those found in needles, indicating more active pathways in younger rootstock plants than in older ones. Several transcripts regulating transcription and translation were up-regulated in young competent tissues. Three-year-old stems presented an increase in the expression of an ethylene response factor, involved in plant organ senescence, indicating that pathways involved in senescence and ageing might inhibit the adventitious root formation, as in the older cuttings.

Latest Achievements on Climate Change and Forest Interactions in a Polluted Environment

The COST Action FP0903 “Climate Change and Forest Mitigation and Adaptation in a Polluted Environment (MAFor)” involved 29 countries and created a platform for information exchange with experts from different fields, with the following main objectives: 1) to increase understanding of the state and potential of forest mitigation and adaptation to climate change in a polluted environment and 2) to reconcile process-oriented research, long-term monitoring and applied modelling at comprehensive forest research sites. In particular, MAFor translated the existing European knowledge on climate and air pollution dynamics into prospects for forest research and monitoring, with focus on the carbon, ozone, nitrogen and water budgets. The aim of this paper is to summarize scientific activities and achievements of MAFor: the creation of a meta-database for highlighting the available data and integrating the information from European forest research/monitoring networks;the development of a new concept of forest sites for research and monitoring (Supersites);the identification of the main knowledge gaps;and the definition of priorities for forest adaptation to climate change in a polluted environment. The action also increased European capacity building in this sector by organizing five conferences, granting 64 short-term scientific missions, organizing four training schools and publishing more than 100 papers.

人为气溶胶排放导致最近80年东亚夏季风在过去四个世纪以来空前减弱

亚洲夏季风(Asian Summer Monsoon,ASM)对亚洲数十亿人口的生存、亚洲生态系统和生物多样性的分布、以及农业生产(粮食安全)和工业活动影响严重。因此了解ASM过去时空变化及其动力学过程对陆地生态系统、水资源、森林和景观研究至关重要。近几十年,器测记录显示以降水量为代表的ASM强度一直在减弱,但这一减弱趋势的起始时间和动力学过程尚不清楚。为此,第一次集成了ASM西部-中部边缘带10个对降水敏感的树木年轮宽度年表,重建了公元1566年以来反映ASM强度变化的降水序列。重建结果不仅捕捉到了ASM过去4个世纪以来强弱变化历史,也反映出历史上蝗灾与弱季风的关联。特别是发现了最近80年具有过去448年中前所未有的、最为强烈的、显著且持续时间最长的ASM强度减弱趋势。这一减弱趋势与在温室效应影响下ASM本该增强的预期大相庭径。耦合气候模型实验表明,北半球人为硫酸盐气溶胶排放的逐渐增加,对ASM减弱起了决定性作用。

Butterfly-plant interactions and body size patterns along an elevational gradient in the Manang region of central Nepal

Butterflies are widely studied due to their key ecosystem functions.For this reason,they are used in ecosystem assessment,formulating conservation plans and in raising the environmental awareness.Quantification of different factors affecting diversity of butterflies is important for their effective conservation.In this study,we investigated abiotic and biotic factors affecting species richness and community composition of butterflies along an elevational gradient in Manang region,central Nepal.We also tested if butterfly species follow the Bergmann’s rule.A total of 57 butterfly species belonging to 39 genera and 8 families were recorded in the study area.Out of a total of 127 plant species identified in the study region,only 67 plant species were visited by butterflies as nectar sources.Species richness of butterflies increased with increasing elevation.Species richness was significantly higher in places with shrubs compared to other places and also in autumn than in summer.Species richness of butterflies also depended on composition of plant species occurring at the localities.Butterfly species composition varied among sampling localities.It was also determined by habitat type,elevation,sampling time,plant species and interactions of elevation×time.The relationship between butterfly size and elevation was in the opposite direction than expected according to the Bergmann’s rule.In conclusion,protection of butterfly diversity can only be achieved by protecting different habitats across the diverse physiography of the region and different plant species,in particular herbs and shrubs.Our results do not support the Bergmann’s rule for butterflies along an elevational gradient in our region.

Proteomic Analysis through Adventitious Rooting of Pinus radiata Stem Cuttings with Different Rooting Capabilities

In forest production systems, vegetative propagation of elite clones through adventitious rooting is a common practice. In Chile, adventitious rooting is the main methodology for vegetative reproduction of Pinus radiata. However, the capability of produce adventitious roots in gymnosperms decreases with aging. While it is true that some efforts have been made to identify markers or/and regulators of the aging process and adventitious rooting, molecular mechanisms that regulate both processes are scarcely known, especially at protein level. This research evaluated qualitative and quantitative changes in protein accumulation during the adventitious rooting process of P. radiata stem cuttings, with different rooting capabilities. Beside, an analysis of morpho-anatomical changes was performed in stem cuttings with high and low rooting capabilities, during the adventitious rooting process. It was observed that juvenile 1-year-old stem cuttings rooted in a 100%, while aged stem cuttings (3-year-old) presented only a 20% of rooting. According to the results of differential protein accumulation, univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that in total, 114 and 89 proteins were differentially accumulated in juvenile and aged cuttings, respectively. Also, identification of such proteins showed the presence of proteins related to cell wall organization and the presence of a protein related with proper distribution of auxin PIN transporter, both key in the new meristem formation process during adventitious rooting.

Ecosystem service availability in view of long-term land-use changes:a regional case study in the Czech Republic

This study aims to analyze how changes in land use influenced the delivery of ecosystem services in Cezava,a South Moravian agricultural region in the Czech Republic,in the period of 1845–2010.An observation of this period covering more than 160 years made it possible to reflect on social forces driving processes of transformation in the country.To capture the landscape multifunctionality and to indicate the environmental quality of the area under study,seven services provided in parallel by arable land,forests,and bodies of water were studied.The quantification of ecosystem services is based primarily on the transfer of values from the existing literature and on chronicle reviews and map analysis.Because looking back to the more distant past is a challenge and reliable information resources are lacking,a simple scoring method defining the functional features of the ecosystems was applied in order to evaluate the change of qualitative characteristics of the observed ecosystems.Besides that,the findings of these integrated assessments were supported by an analysis performed using landscape metrics.A comparison of service provision over the decades revealed that regulating and cultural services were significantly reduced,while provisioning services increased due to the proliferation of arable land,land consolidation,and agricultural intensification.However,a trend of improvement in the delivery of ecosystem services was introduced after 1990.Despite several uncertainties,this study demonstrates that it is possible to analyze long-term land-use trends to generate more meaningful,spatially explicit information,which can form the basis for landscape planning and ecosystem management.

Carbon mitigation potential of different forest ecosystems under climate change and various managements in Italy

This study reviews carbon stocks and carbon dynamics in diferent types of forest land in Italy:ordinary managed forests,forest plantations,old growth forests,and trees outside forests.Forest management,combined with global environmental changes,increases the capacity of carbon uptake of ordinary managed forests.Forest plantations,particularly the ones subject to short-rotation forestry systems,potentially have high soil carbon accumulation,especially in agricultural lands.Old growth forests,recently discovered as a carbon sink,cover a significant surface area in Italy.Moreover,the trees outside forests may represent a sensible carbon stock,especially in the context of urban environments.Our study points out the management actions that can be implemented in Italy to increase the carbon stocks of different forest ecosystems,such as increasing the mean annual increment in managed forests,enhancement of the national network of old growth forests,and expansion of forest plantations in suitable areas.These aspects have important implications after the recent recognition of the Land Use,Land Use Change and Forestry sector in the EU target within the 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework.

Effect of intensity and duration of anthropic noises on European mink locomotor activity and fecal cortisol metabolite levels

Human activities involving noise emission can affect wild animals.European mink was exposed to road noise and human voice playbacks to analyze how sound intensity level and duration of both noises altered the time that individuals were active and if their fecal cortisol metabolite(FCM)levels varied.A Hierarchical Analysis Cluster was performed to establish 2 mink groups with respect to both noise source type:short duration/low intensity(SL)and long duration/high intensity(LH).We performed general linear mixed models to evaluate the variation in locomotor activity duration(s)and FCM(nanogram per gram)levels,respectively.The results showed both road noise and human voices decreased locomotor activity duration in SL more sharply compared with LH,and human voices were the triggers that induced the most pronounced response to both exposure conditions.FCM(ng/g)levels increased in SL compared with LH during road noise while the opposite happened during human voices.Differences based on sex and age of individuals were observed.In conclusion,noise characteristics given by the sound type determined the variations in locomotor activity duration while noise exposure level determined the variations in FCM(ng/g)levels.Attention should be paid to noisy activities(e.g.,recreational activities for visitors in protected natural areas)and loud groups of people to conserve wildlife,especially noise sensitive species.

Immune challenge of mating effort:steroid hormone profile,dark ventral patch and parasite burden in relation to intrasexual competition in male Iberian red deer

Testosterone secretion may regulate the reproductive effort and the development of sexual traits,but it may also involve costs at the immunological and metabolic levels.However,the evidence for this trade-off in wild populations is scarce.Cortisol also plays an important role in mediating the reproductive and immune functions.In this study,we analyzed whether the endoparasite burden relates to hormonal levels(fecal testosterone and cortisol metabolites)and/or morphological sexual traits(size of the dark ventral patch,a trait that indicates reproductive effort in males)in male Iberian red deer.For this purpose,we sampled male red deer harvested during hunting actions in 2 types of populations in south western Spain that differed in structure,affecting the level of male–male competition for mates.We used coprological analyses to estimate the parasite burden mainly of gastrointestinal and bronchopulmonary nematodes and of protozoa,and assessed testosterone and cortisol metabolite levels from fecal pellets.We found a positive relationship of host parasitation with both testosterone levels and the size of the dark ventral patch,but these relationships depended on the intensity of male–male competition in the population,being only found under the high-competition scenario.These results are discussed under the hypothesis of the testosterone immunocompetence handicap,suggesting a cost at the immunological level,and,therefore,higher susceptibility to parasite infection in males that make a greater reproductive effort.However,this effect seems to be modulated by the social environment(male–male competition)that might lead to different optima in testosterone production and sexual trait development.

A Rapid Phytohormone and Phytoalexin Screening Method for Physiological Phenotyping

Dear Editor, Phytohormones have been described as essential regula- tors of various processes throughout plant life, forming a strong interactive network. Because of this important func- tion, they are central and integrative modulators form- ing a physiological key interface between plant responses and primary parameters such as genotype, environmental conditions, and developmental status. Consequently, the determination of the phytohormone signature as a key physiological parameter is necessary to understand the correlations between genotype and phenotype, as well as the influence of exogenous modulations on the phenotype （Yin et al., 2004）. Thus, evaluation of the phytohormone signature has to be considered for physiological phenotyp- ing, especially for the improvement of crops or developing strategies for plant protection. This includes the important trait plant immunity, which is determined also by distinct and fine-tuned modulations of phytohormones （Robert- Seilaniantz et al., 2011）.

从木材解剖学视角看公元6世纪中期晚古小冰期的开始时间

公元536~540年间的大规模火山喷发使得晚古小冰期成为过去两千年最为寒冷的时期.然而,受限于现有气候代用资料的时间分辨率和空间覆盖度,晚古小冰期的开始时间和空间范围仍存有争议.本文分析了全球23个森林样点、20个树种的106个树轮样本资料,从细胞尺度揭示了公元530~550年间北半球发生的短暂夏季冷却现象.经过交叉定年和染色处理后,在北半球的树轮样品中共识别出89个蓝轮(缺失细胞壁木质化过程)、9个霜轮(细胞分裂受阻)和93个浅轮(细胞壁增厚减弱).研究结果表明,公元536年7月中旬至8月初期间整个北美和欧亚大陆均发生了最剧烈的温度下降,而更多的区域性“冷夏”出现于公元532年、540~543年和548年.然而,本研究在南半球的树轮资料中并未发现异常的解剖结构,其原因可能与南半球的海洋热惯性减缓了火山降温效应有关,也或与南半球其时正值非生长季有关.相较于传统的树轮年代学方法,本研究的木材解剖学的方法能为地球系统模式提供更为精细的参考标准,有望服务于气候与人类历史交叉学科研究,同时对“全球气候平均”概念的使用提出质疑.