Photosynthesis and wood structure in Pinus radiata D. Don during dehydration and immediately after rewatering

Abstract. Experiments were carried out on Pinus radiata (D. Don) trees grown as cuttings from clonal parent stock. Some of these trees were about 0.4 m high while others were about 5 m high; all were grown in containers. The stem diameters at the tops and at the bottoms of the large trees, rates of photosynthesis, and needle water potentials were measured both when the trees were well watered and as they dehydrated after water was withheld. The water potentials of well-watered plants was highest in the small trees and lowest at the top of the large trees. When water was withheld, photosynthesis was in most cases unaffected by a small reduction in water potential, but the rate of photosynthesis fell as water potentials declined further. The stems of the large trees expanded at a constant rate when the trees were well watered and for part of the dehydration period, while subsequent stem shrinkage and the fall in photosynthesis both occurred at approximately the same time.
Water potentials increased little in the 24 h after rewatering, and significant rates of photosynthesis were not measured until 2 or 3 d later while renewed stem expansion was not measured until 2 d after rewatering.
Water deficits reduced the lumen diameter of newly matured stem tracheids, but increased the thickness of their walls. After 1 month of water potentials of about −2.4 MPa, tracheid lumen diameter and wall thickness were both much reduced, and this reduction continued in tracheids maturing shortly after rewatering.     

Increase in lipid microviscosity of unilamellar vesicles upon the creation of transmembrane potential

Summary Diffusion potential of potassium ions was formed in unilamellar vesicles of phosphatidyl choline. The vesicles, which included potassium sulfate buffered with potassium phosphate, were diluted into an analogous salt solution made of sodium sulfate and sodium phosphate. The diffusion potential was created by the addition of the potassium-ionophore, valinomycin. The change in lipid microviscosity, ensuing the formation of membrane potential, was measured by the conventional method of fluorescence depolarization with 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene as a probe. Lipid microviscosity was found to increase with membrane potential in a nonlinear manner, irrespective of the potential direction. Two tentative interpretations are proposed for this observation. The first assumes that the membrane potential imposes an energy barrier on the lipid flow which can be treated in terms of Boltzmann-distribution. The other interpretation assumes a decrease in lipid-free volume due to the pressure induced by the electrical potential. Since increase in lipid viscosity can reduce lateral and rotational motions, as well as increase exposure of functional membrane proteins, physiological effects induced by transmembrane potential could be associated with such dynamic changes.     

Emerging infectious diseases and animal social systems

Emerging infectious diseases threaten a wide diversity of animals, and important questions remain concerning disease emergence in socially structured populations. We developed a spatially explicit simulation model to investigate whether—and under what conditions—disease-related mortality can impact rates of pathogen spread in populations of polygynous groups. Specifically, we investigated whether pathogen-mediated dispersal (PMD) can occur when females disperse after the resident male dies from disease, thus carrying infections to new groups. We also examined the effects of incubation period and virulence, host mortality and rates of background dispersal, and we used the model to investigate the spread of the virus responsible for Ebola hemorrhagic fever, which currently is devastating African ape populations. Output was analyzed using regression trees, which enable exploration of hierarchical and non-linear relationships. Analyses revealed that the incidence of disease in single-male (polygynous) groups was significantly greater for those groups containing an average of more than six females, while the total number of infected hosts in the population was most sensitive to the number of females per group. Thus, as expected, PMD occurs in polygynous groups and its effects increase as harem size (the number of females) increases. Simulation output further indicated that population-level effects of Ebola are likely to differ among multi-male–multi-female chimpanzees and polygynous gorillas, with larger overall numbers of chimpanzees infected, but more gorilla groups becoming infected due to increased dispersal when the resident male dies. Collectively, our results highlight the importance of social system on the spread of disease in wild mammals.     

EPR Monitored Redox Titration of the Cofactors of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nar1

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) monitored redox titrations are a powerful method to determine the midpoint potential of cofactors in proteins and to identify and quantify the cofactors in their detectable redox state.The technique is complementary to direct electrochemistry (voltammetry) approaches, as it does not offer information on electron transfer rates, but does establish the identity and redox state of the cofactors in the protein under study. The technique is widely applicable to any protein containing an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) detectable cofactor.A typical titration requires 2 ml protein with a cofactor concentration in the range of 1-100 µM. The protein is titrated with a chemical reductant (sodium dithionite) or oxidant (potassium ferricyanide) in order to poise the sample at a certain potential. A platinum wire and a Ag/AgCl reference electrode are connected to a voltmeter to measure the potential of the protein solution. A set of 13 different redox mediators is used to equilibrate between the redox cofactors of the protein and the electrodes. Samples are drawn at different potentials and the Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectra, characteristic for the different redox cofactors in the protein, are measured. The plot of the signal intensity versus the sample potential is analyzed using the Nernst equation in order to determine the midpoint potential of the cofactor.     

Localization of electrical current flow across the chorionated unfertilized egg of the locust,Locusta migratoria.

Summary

Extracellular currents near the surface of the electrically excitable egg of Locusta migratoria have been studied through the combined use of the 2-dimensional vibrating probe and an intracellular microelectrode. Intracellular current injection increased extracellular current densities to levels readily detectable by the vibrating probe, and it has been possible to show that injected current traverses the egg in the posterior end containing the micropylar zone. Extracellular currents could not be detected during the rising, plateau or falling phases of the long duration (>100s) action potential in the egg. Increases in current density during the hyperpolarizing after potential which lasts for 6–10 min after termination of the action potential were also restricted to the posterior end of the egg. The results suggest that the primary region at which current traverses the chorionated egg is near or at the micropylar zone.     

Effects of nitrogen limitation on water relations of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings

The water relations of shoots of young jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings were examined 6 and 15 weeks after the initiation of four different dynamic nitrogen (N) treatments using a pressure-volume analysis. The N treatments produced a wide range of needle N concentrations from 12 to 32 mg g^?1 dry mass and a 10-fold difference in total dry mass at 15 weeks. Osmotic potential at full turgor did not change over the range of needle N concentrations observed. Osmotic potential at turgor-loss point, however, declined as N concentrations decreased, indicating an increased ability of N-deficient jack pine plants to maintain turgor. The increase could be attributed largely to an increase in cell wall elasticity, suggesting that elasticity changes may be a common, significant adaptation of plants to environmental stresses. Dry mass per unit saturated water almost doubled as needle N level dropped from 32 to 12 mg g^?1 and was inversely correlated to the bulk modulus of elasticity. This suggests that cell wall elasticity is determined more by the nature of its cross-linking matrix than by the total amount of cell wall material present. Developmental change was evident in the response of some water relation variables to N limitation.     

Spatial evaluation of the ecological importance based on GIS for environmental management: A case study in Xingguo county of China

How to assort with the relationship between the urban construction and the maintenance of ecological security is a hot issue during the process of urbanization. The purpose of this study is to identify the key ecological land maintaining ecological security and to put forward some measures for environmental management. Based on the GIS technology, from the view of water security, biodiversity conservation, disaster protection, natural recreation security, and human disturbance, an integrated index is put forward to evaluate the ecological importance of regional space. Then, a GIS-based approach for evaluating ecological importance was created, with Xingguo county of China as a case study. The results show that the area of core eco-space in the study area accounts for 30% of the total area. These areas mainly consist of the core areas of regional river systems, wetlands, nature reserves, forest parks, and scenic spots and the endangered and protected zone of geological hazards. According to the spatial characteristics of ecological importance for different regions, this study proposes some zoning regulations and measures for environmental management.     

Parallel evolution evidenced by molecular data in the banded-tetra (Astyanax fasciatus)

Astyanax is well known as a model for developmental biology studies, particularly with regard to Mexico's cave populations. More than 130 species of Astyanax are already known, most of which live in South America. The occurrence of cryptic species and species complexes elucidated by chromosomal and genetic studies demonstrates that the relationship between morphology and molecular evolution is quite complex within this group. In this work, we demonstrate that morphology does not follow the path of vicariant processes observed in Astyanax fasciatus populations, which separated about three million years ago, although molecular data suggests its separation in two species.