Effect of Spruce Root Constituents on Extracellular Enzymes of Fomes annosus

Fractions of acetone extracts from heartwood, sapwood and wood from the reaction zone in roots of Norway spruce, attacked by Fomes annosus, were tested concerning their effect on the activity of cellulase, polygalacturonase, aryl-β-glucosidase and laccase, obtained from culture filtrates of the same fungus. A specific inhibition of polygalacturonase was recorded with the resinous fractions. The hydrolysing enzymes were more inhibited by the lignans of the reaction zone in the presence of fungal laccase than in the absence of laccase. The pH dependence of the inhibiting effect of phenols varied among the enzymes. The four enzymes were inhibited by partly different lignan fractions, and synergistic effects between minor compounds were indicated. The phenolic fractions inhibited weakly the biosynthesis of the enzymes. It was obvious that results from enzyme inhibition studies in vitro do not reflect the complicated mutual interrelationships between production and activity of the extracellular fungal enzymes and the chemical constituents of the host in vivo.     

Tree growth and soil acidification in response to 30 years of experimental nitrogen loading on boreal forest

Relations among nitrogen load, soil acidification and forest growth have been evaluated based on short‐term (<15 years) experiments, or on surveys across gradients of N deposition that may also include variations in edaphic conditions and other pollutants, which confound the interpretation of effects of N per se. We report effects on trees and soils in a uniquely long‐term (30 years) experiment with annual N loading on an un‐polluted boreal forest. Ammonium nitrate was added to replicated (N=3) 0.09 ha plots at two doses, N1 and N2, 34 and 68 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively. A third treatment, N3, 108 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1, was terminated after 20 years, allowing assessment of recovery during 10 years. Tree growth initially responded positively to all N treatments, but the longer term response was highly rate dependent with no gain in N3, a gain of 50 m³ ha^?1 stemwood in N2 and a gain of 100 m³ ha^?1 stemwood in excess of the control (N0) in N1. High N treatments caused losses of up to 70% of exchangeable base cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺) in the mineral soil, along with decreases in pH and increases in exchangeable Al³⁺. In contrast, the organic mor‐layer (forest floor) in the N‐treated plots had similar amounts per hectare of exchangeable base cations as in the N0 treatment. Magnesium was even higher in the mor of N‐treated plots, providing evidence of up‐lift by the trees from the mineral soil. Tree growth did not correlate with the soil Ca/Al ratio (a suggested predictor of effects of soil acidity on tree growth). A boron deficiency occurred on N‐treated plots, but was corrected at an early stage. Extractable NH₄⁺ and NO₃^?were high in mor and mineral soils of on‐going N treatments, while NH₄+ was elevated in the mor only in N3 plots. Ten years after termination of N addition in the N3 treatment, the pH had increased significantly in the mineral soil; there were also tendencies of higher soil base status and concentrations of base cations in the foliage. Our data suggest the recovery of soil chemical properties, notably pH, may be quicker after removal of the N‐load than predicted. Our long‐term experiment demonstrated the fundamental importance of the rate of N application relative to the total amount of N applied, in particular with regard to tree growth and C sequestration. Hence, experiments adding high doses of N over short periods do not mimic the long‐term effects of N deposition at lower rates.     

The After-Effect of Water Stress on Transpiration Rate and Changes in Abscisic Acid Content of Young Wheat Plants

Young wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Weibulls Starke II) were exposed to water stress for 1, 2 or 3 hours by cooling the roots. The plants were subjected to a constant water stress during the stress periods. By this treatment the leaf water potential was lowered from ?6.5 to ?11.5 bars. Leaf water potential, transpiration rate and abscisic acid content were determined during the stress periods and during the recovery. The water stressed plants showed an after-effect on transpiration rate lasting for between 10 and 24 hours depending on the duration of the stress. The amount of water stress in the stressed plants compared with the controls is defined as the difference in leaf water potential between the controls and the stressed plants during the stress period integrated over time. The amount of after-affect on transpiration is analogously defined as the difference in transpiration rate between the controls and the stressed plants during the recovery period integrated over time. There was a linear relationship between the amount of water stress and the amount of after-effect on transpiration of the leaves. The abscisic acid content of the leaves increased between 3.0 and 4.5 times the original content depending on the duration of the stress. However, during the recovery the abscisic acid content reattained the pre-stress level within 3 hours for all three stress periods. There was thus no direct relationship between the after-effect and the abscisic acid content of the leaf.     

Effects of Kinetin on Transpiration Rate and Abscisic Acid Content of Water Stressed Young Wheat Plants

Effects of kinetin on transpiration rate and abscisic acid content were determined. Leaves from 9-day-old wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Weibull's Starke II) were used. —Transpiration rate decreased in excised leaves put in water, but it was maintained at a higher rate when kinetin was supplied. When excised leaves were water stressed by air-drying for 1 h, addition of kinetin resulted in a considerable stimulation of transpiration rate. The effect reached its maximum after 15 h and this level remained relatively unchanged for at least 10 h. Intact seedlings which were stressed before leaf excision, showed only a slight stimulation of kinetin on transpiration rate. — Abscisic acid content slowly increased up to three-fold in 2 days in excised leaves put in water. In excised and water-stressed leaves the abscisic acid content was reduced during the first 24 h and then increased. As the leaves were fully turgid, the increase could not have been caused by water stress. However, both in stressed and unstressed leaves kinetin addition reduced the increase in abscisic acid content. — It is suggested that the stimulation by kinetin on transpiration rate in excised and water stressed leaves was mainly due to the combined effect of (1) a reduction in the activity of endogenous cytokinins, (2) kinetin acting as a ‘substitute’ for the inactivated cytokinins but exerting a stronger effect on transpiration than the endogenous cytokinins, and (3) the ‘extra’ reduction in abscisic acid content caused by the kinetin treatment. Furthermore, the results indicate that changes in cytokinins might be partly responsible for the aftereffect on transpiration.     

Trade-offs in nest site selection in coastal populations of Lapwings Vanellus vanellus

In coastal populations of Lapwings Vanellus vanellus in southwestern Sweden, arable fields predominated as foraging habitat before laying. Females caught more large prey items on arable fields and shores than on pastures. Close to egg laying, females foraged mainly near their future nest sites. Arable land and pastures were used to a similar extent for nesting. We found no difference in nest predation between habitats. Egg volume varied among females and was correlated with wing-length, body mass and condition. Mean egg volume also was positively correlated with feeding time on arable land before laying. Pairs nesting on arable fields therefore generally produced larger eggs than those on pastures. The distances between nests and chick foraging areas, however, were significantly longer for birds nesting on arable land than for those on pastures. Moreover, in 2 of 3 years, the proportion of hatched chicks that survived until fledging was negatively correlated with this distance. There was no difference in chick survival between broods hatched on arable fields and pastures. We suggest that nest site selection and offspring production involve a trade-off between the benefits of nesting close to rich feeding grounds for adults and the costs of moving long distances between nest sites and chick-rearing areas.     

Salinity as a constraint affecting food and habitat choice of mussel-feeding diving ducks

Observations of freshwater drinking in Eiders feeding primarily on mussels led us to hypothesize that the highly saline sea water enclosed in mussels could cause salt-related dehydration problems in the ducks, since they consume entire mussels. The proportion of sea water increases with increasing mussel size. Smaller duck species are more sensitive to the higher salt content of larger mussels than are larger ducks; however, salt stress may be avoided by feeding in habitats with lower salinity, by feeding on less salty food items, by utilizing smaller mussels, by drinking fresh water, or by employing low energy foraging techniques. A possible evolutionary strategy for solving the salt problem might be to increase body mass, enabling ducks to utilize larger mussels without passing an upper salt consumption limit. At the same time, foraging on larger mussels is more economical. Although large size facilitates the utilization of brackish and marine environments, it may be selected against in ducks breeding in fresh water, where fish competition may reduce optimal food item size. In conclusion, salinity is an important habitat barrier in both breeding and overwintering diving ducks, but there are various ways of crossing this barrier. To understand better how ducks utilize their habitats, however, it is necessary to measure habitat salinity levels and the size of both ducks and their preferred and less-preferred food types.     

Crayfish in lakes and streams: individual and population responses to predation, productivity and substratum availability

1. In a correlative study, we investigated the relative importance of fish predation, refuge availability and resource supply in determining the abundance and size distributions of the introduced and omnivorous signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in lakes and streams. Moreover, the biomass and food selection of predatory fish was estimated in each habitat type and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were measured in perch (Perca fluviatilis), the dominant predator in the lakes, and in its potential food sources (crayfish, juvenile roach and isopods). 2. In lakes, crayfish were the most frequent prey in large perch (46%), followed by other macroinvertebrates (26%, including the isopod Asellus aquaticus) and small fish (25%). Crayfish and fish dominated the gut contents of large perch with respect to biomass. Nitrogen signatures showed that perch were one trophic level above crayfish (approx. 3.4‰) and a two‐source mixing model using nitrogen isotope values indicated that crayfish (81%) contributed significantly more to perch isotope values than did juvenile roach (19%). A positive correlation was found between the abundance of crayfish and the biomass of large perch. Crayfish abundance in lakes was also positively correlated with the proportion of cobbles in the littoral zone. Lake productivity (chlorophyll a) was positively correlated with crayfish size, but not with crayfish abundance. 3. In streams, brown trout (Salmo trutta) were the most abundant predatory fish. Gut contents of large trout in a forested stream showed that terrestrial insects were the most frequently found prey (60%), followed by small crayfish (27%) and isopods (27%). In contrast to lakes, the relative abundance of crayfish was negatively correlated with the total biomass of predatory fish and with total biomass of trout. However, abundance of crayfish at sites with a low biomass of predatory fish varied considerably and was related to substratum grain size, with fewer crayfish being caught when the substratum was sandy or dominated by large boulders. The mean size of crayfish was greater at stream sites with a high standing stock of periphyton, but neither predator biomass nor substratum grain size was correlated with crayfish size. 4. Our results suggest that bottom‐up processes influence crayfish size in lakes and streams independent of predator biomass and substratum availability. However, bottom‐up processes do not influence crayfish abundance. Instead, substratum availability (lakes) and interactions between predation and substratum grain size (streams) need to be considered in order to predict crayfish abundance.     

Revision of the Micromeria (Labiatae) in tropical to southern Africa and on the Arabian Peninsula

The material of Micromeria s.s. ( M. sect. Micromeria ) from tropical to southern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula is revised. The endemic Ethiopian M. unguentaria Schweinf. is retained as a species, while the other African and Arabian material of Micromeria is included in M. imbricata (Forssk.) C. Chr. M. imbricata is divided into the following three varieties: var. imbricata , which is very polymorphic, widespread in the African highlands, and also occurs in Arabia; var. rhodesiaca (Elly Walther & K.H. Walther) Ryding, which occurs in the highlands of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe; and var. villosa (Elly Walther & K.H. Walther) Ryding, which occurs in montane to alpine areas of Ethiopia and East Africa. Discontinuities in the variation within var. imbricata , observed at some localities, are suggested to be a result of partial autogamy. Problems with delimitation between M. imbricata , the East Asiatic M. biflora (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Benth. and some Mediterranean species are discussed.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 427–446.     

Alate production in an aphid in relation to ant tending and alarm pheromone

1. Winged dispersal is vital for aphids as predation pressure and host plant conditions fluctuate. 2. Ant‐tended aphids also need to disperse, but this may represent a cost for the ants, resulting in an evolutionary conflict of interest over aphid dispersal. 3. The combined effects of aphid alarm pheromone, indicating predation risk, and ant attendance on the production of winged aphids were examined in an experiment with Aphis fabae (Homoptera: Aphididae) (Scopoli 1763) aphids and Lasius niger (Formicidae: Formicinae) (Linné, 1758) ants. 4. This study is the first to investigate the joint effects of alarm pheromone and ant attendance, and also the first to detect an influence of alarm pheromone on the production of winged morphs in A. fabae. 5. After a period of 2 weeks, it was found that aphid colonies exposed to intermittent doses of alarm pheromone produced more winged individuals, whereas ant tending had the opposite effect. The effects were additive on a log scale, and ant attendance had a greater proportional influence than exposure to alarm pheromone. A tentative conclusion is that ants have gained the upper hand in an evolutionary conflict about aphid dispersal.     

Effect of Applied and Endogenous Auxin on Callus and Root Formation of In Vitro Shoots of the Apple: Rootstocks M26 and A2

The influence of exogenous IBA (indol-3yl-butyric acid) on rootand callus formation was studied in shoots of the apple rootstocksA2 and M26. The shoots grown in vitro were derived originallyfrom meristems of both juvenile and adult trees. Endogenousindol-3yl-acetic acid (IAA) concentrations in leaves and stemswere correlated with the responses to applied IAA. After 30 subcultures shoots from A2 and M26 rooted easily, butA2 did so more readily and even without IBA. Treatment withIBA improved percentage rooting and number of roots in bothrootstocks. Ex-adult and ex-juvenile shoots of A2 formed rootsto the same extent. However, ex-adult shoots of A2 showed ahigher IBA optimum for root number than ex-juvenile A2 and werealso less sensitive to supra-optimal IBA concentrations. Incontrast, in M26, there were no differences between ex-adultand ex-juvenile shoots. The results imply that rooting ability is associated more withdifferences between cultivars than with the origin of the explants.The best rooting occurred in ex-adult shoots of A2 which hadthe lowest endogenous IAA concentration, while callus formationwas correlated with high endogenous auxin concentration. Ex-adultA2 produced almost no callus even after exposure to high IBAconcentrations (25µM) whereas ex-adult M26 formed muchmore callus at 1/10 of the IBA concentration. Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. var. domestica Borkh., Malus pumila Mill., apple rootstocks A2 and M26, in vitro culture, root and callus formation, HPLC analyses of IAA