New insights into the population biology of endoparasitic Rafflesiaceae

Parasitic plants demonstrate a diversity of growth strategies, life histories, and developmental and physiological characteristics. Most research to date has focused on a narrow range of parasitic taxa, particularly in the Orobanchaceae, while the other independent origins of parasitism have largely gone unstudied. One type of parasite that has received relatively little attention are the endophytic parasites, which have a fascinating growth strategy where the parasite is embedded within the host tissue, with the flower the only externally visibly plant part. Endophytic growth makes it challenging to understand basic aspects of species biology, such as the size of a given parasite, the number of parasites per host, and the genetic diversity of populations. Recent studies by Barkman et al. (2017) and Pelser et al. (2017) have used microsatellite genotyping to investigate the population biology of endoparasitic Rafflesiaceae species in Asia. They show the potential for extensive parasite spread within a host vine and the strong partitioning of genetic diversity by host. These species are also shown to have an outcrossing mating system. However, these studies suggest different reproductive strategies, one supporting monoecy and one suggesting dioecy. Overall, these studies partly “lift the lid” on the cryptic biology of Rafflesia and the Rafflesiaceae and open the door for future comparative studies between endophytic and free-living parasitic plants.     

Peroxisomal Degradation of 2-Oxoisocaproate. Evidence for Free Acid Intermediates

Peroxisomes from mung bean hypocotyl (Vigna radiata L.) degrade 2-oxoisocaproate, the transamination product of leucine, via isobutyryl-CoA and propionyl-CoA to acetyl-CoA. The methyl group at the C-3 position forms a barrier to β-oxidation. This barrier is overcome in the peroxisomes by several enzymatic steps. Senecioate (3-methylcrotonate), 2-hydroxyisovalerate, and 2-oxoisovalerate were detected as free acid intermediates. Senecioate, formed from 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA, is transformed by enzymatic hydrolysis to 2-hydroxyisovalerate. 2-Hydroxyisovalerate is then oxidized to 2-oxoisovalerate in an H₂O₂-producing reaction, exhibiting 1:1 stoichiometry of the products, by a 2-hydroxyacid oxidase which is different from the peroxisomal marker enzyme glycollate oxidase. 2-oxoisovalerate is activated by an NAD-dependent oxidative decarboxylation to isobutyryl-CoA. Accumulation of 2-oxoisovalerate in the presence of arsenite, an inhibitor of oxidative decarboxylations, is a feature of this latter pathway of degradation of isovaleryl-CoA or senecioate. It is concluded that the barrier caused by the methyl group of 2-oxoisocaproate is surmounted in higher plant peroxisomes in a manner different to that in mammalian mitochondria.     

Plant–animal interactions between carnivorous plants,sheet‐web spiders,and ground‐running spiders as guild predators in a wet meadow community

1. Plant–animal interactions are diverse and widespread shaping ecology, evolution, and biodiversity of most ecological communities. Carnivorous plants are unusual in that they can be simultaneously engaged with animals in multiple mutualistic and antagonistic interactions including reversed plant–animal interactions where they are the predator. Competition with animals is a potential antagonistic plant–animal interaction unique to carnivorous plants when they and animal predators consume the same prey.
2. The goal of this field study was to test the hypothesis that under natural conditions, sundews and spiders are predators consuming the same prey thus creating an environment where interkingdom competition can occur.
3. Over 12 months, we collected data on 15 dates in the only protected Highland Rim Wet Meadow Ecosystem in Kentucky where sundews, sheet‐web spiders, and ground‐running spiders co‐exist. One each sampling day, we attempted to locate fifteen sites with: (a) both sheet‐web spiders and sundews; (b) sundews only; and (c) where neither occurred. Sticky traps were set at each of these sites to determine prey (springtails) activity–density. Ground‐running spiders were collected on sampling days. DNA extraction was performed on all spiders to determine which individuals had eaten springtails and comparing this to the density of sundews where the spiders were captured.
4. Sundews and spiders consumed springtails. Springtail activity–densities were lower, the higher the density of sundews. Both sheet‐web and ground‐running spiders were found less often where sundew densities were high. Sheet‐web size was smaller where sundew densities were high.
5. The results of this study suggest that asymmetrical exploitative competition occurs between sundews and spiders. Sundews appear to have a greater negative impact on spiders, where spiders probably have little impact on sundews. In this example of interkingdom competition where the asymmetry should be most extreme, amensalism where one competitor experiences no cost of interaction may be occurring.

     

Biological methods for speciation of heavy metals: different approaches

Heavy metals are found in their different forms in the environment. The distribution, mobility, and toxicity of metals are strongly related to these different forms. This necessitates the exploration of different methods for the remediation and speciation of heavy metals. Some direct and indirect physico-chemical methods such as filtration, chemical precipitation, ion-exchange, electro deposition, and membrane systems have been used for the last four decades. However, it is only in last few years that reliable biological methods have also been used. The biological methods include the use of microorganisms (fungi, algae, bacteria), plants (live or dead) and biopolymers. The use of these methods for the speciation of heavy metals is reviewed here.     

A new species of Callispa Baly (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae,Callispini) infesting coconut?palm ( Cocos nucifera L.) in India

Callispa keram sp. n. infesting coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) in Kerala, India is described and illustrated. Livistona chinensis R.Br. and Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman are reported as additional host plants.     

华南地区22种园林植物耐旱性分级筛选

以华南地区22种常见园林植物为研究对象，研究人工模拟干旱胁迫环境对植物叶片叶绿素、丙二醛、过氧化物酶、相对电导率等生理指标的影响，通过主成分分析、聚类分析对22种植物耐旱性进行综合分析评价和耐旱等级划分。结果表明：(1) 在干旱梯度胁迫期间，植物叶片的叶绿素含量总体上呈不同程度的下降趋势，少数呈上升趋势，丙二醛含量和相对电导率均呈不同程度的上升趋势，多数植物过氧化物酶活性呈不同程度先升后降趋势，少数呈持续上升趋势。(2) 22种植物耐旱性分为3个等级：A级强耐旱植物4种，包括灰莉(Fagraea ceilanica)、鸭脚木(Schefflera octophylla)、桂花(Osmanthus fragrans var. fragrans)、鸢尾(Iris tectorum)；B级中耐旱植物6种，包括翠芦莉(Ruellia simplex)、栀子花(Gardenia jasminoides)、变叶木(Codiaeum variegatum)、红车(Syzygium hancei)、红背桂(Excoecaria cochinchinen)、茉莉花(Jasminum sambac)；C级不耐旱植物12种，包括福建茶(Carmona microphylla)、米仔兰(Aglaia odorata)、大红花(Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)、琴叶珊瑚(Jatropha integerrima)、龙船花(Ixora chinensis)、黄蝉(Allamanda schottii)、假连翘(Duranta erecta)、红檵木(Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum)、紫薇(Lagerstroemia indica)、风车草(Cyperus involucratus)、小花月季(Rosa chinensis var. minim)、铜钱草(Hydrocotyle chinensis)。     

Tuning of color contrast signals to visual sensitivity maxima of tree shrews by three Bornean highland Nepenthes species

Three species of Nepenthes pitcher plants (Nepenthes rajah, Nepenthes lowii and Nepenthes macrophylla) specialize in harvesting nutrients from tree shrew excreta in their pitchers. In all three species, nectaries on the underside of the pitcher lid are the focus of the tree shrews' attention. Tree shrews are dichromats, with visual sensitivity in the blue and green wavebands. All three Nepenthes species were shown to produce visual signals, in which the underside of the pitcher lid (the area of highest nectar production) stood out in high contrast to the adjacent area on the pitcher (i.e., was brighter), in the blue and green wavebands visible to the tree shrews. N. rajah showed the tightest degree of “tuning,” notably in the green waveband. Conversely, pitchers of Nepenthes burbidgeae, a typical insectivorous species sympatric with N. rajah, did not produce a color pattern tuned to tree shrew sensitivity maxima.     

The elevational gradient of Andean plant endemism: varying influences of taxon-specific traits and topography at different taxonomic levels

Aim Little is known about the elevational gradient of plant endemism. It is mostly assumed that patterns are determined by topographical factors such as area of elevational belts and degree of habitat fragmentation, but comparative studies of different plant taxa along the same elevational gradient are lacking. The aim was to compare the elevational patterns of plant endemism of the entire flora and selected families and genera in a search for commonalities. Methods The elevational patterns of endemism for the entire Ecuadorean vascular plant flora, for twenty‐seven selected families, and for twenty‐four selected genera based on the Catalogue of Vascular Plants of Ecuador were analysed. Results Elevational patterns of endemism were non‐random at all taxonomic levels but there was no common elevational pattern. Rather, the study groups showed a wide variety of independent patterns at all taxonomic levels. Most groups had hump‐shaped patterns with maxima at different elevations and mostly at the same or at higher elevations than the maxima of species richness. The overall flora showed highest endemism in the narrowest and most fragmented elevational belts, presumably because of the consequent fragmentation of species populations. Main conclusions Patterns of endemism appear to be influenced both by taxon‐specific ecological traits (e.g. life form, reproduction, dispersal, demography, spatial population structure, competitive ability) in their specific interaction with historical processes and by environmental factors such as topographical fragmentation. The degree to which these influences become visible along the elevational gradient are determined by which combination of species is analysed: for a given genus or family, taxon‐specific traits dominate the patterns, for the entire flora taxon‐specific patterns are blurred by averaging and the signal of topography emerges. Beyond the elevational gradient as such, this study shows that the frequently stated assumption that given biogeographical settings lead to similar patterns of endemism among different taxa is wrong.     

Withdrawn food rate for larvae of Siberian moth on conifers of Siberia

Experimental evaluation of the mass of food withdrawn by larvae of the Siberian moth during their development on larch, cedar pine, fir, spruce, and common pine was carried out. The obtained dependences between the masses of larvae and food withdrawn by them can be directly used to determine the withdrawn food rate of Siberian moth on each of the Siberian conifer species.     

Influence of host plants on development, fecundity and egg hatchability of the arctiid moth Diacrisia casignetum

Measurements were made of the differences between sunflower and climbing hempweed leaves for development, fecundity and egg hatchability of Diacrisia casignetum Kollar. Developmental time and weight gains of sunflower-fed larvae were respectively longer and greater than those of hempweed-fed ones. The development time and weight gain, attributable to differences in host plants, were statistically heterogeneous (P<0.05-<0.10). Relative fecundity and egg hatchability of sunflower reared insects were greater than those of hempweed reared ones, and these were also statistically heterogeneous (P<0.1 and <0.05, respectively). Hempweed leaves contained relatively high titres of phenols and low ratios of proteins to phenols. Ovaries were heavier in insects reared on sunflower than on hempweed, whereas the level of phenols incorporated into the ovary was higher in insects fed on hempweed than those on sunflower. The differences in these parameters may be due to variations in nutritional quality of these hosts and incorporation of ingested phenolic materials to ovary and insect biomass.

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Résumé L'étude a porté sur l'évaluation de l'influence des feuilles de tournesol (Helianthus annuus) et de Mikana cordata sur le développement, la fécondité et l'éclosion des oeufs de D. casignetum Kollaz. La durée de développement et le gain de poids sur tournesol étaient plus importants que sur M. cordata. La durée de développement était statistiquement hétérogène (P<0.05), ce qui peut être dû à des différences entre plantes. La fécondité et le taux d'éclosion chez les insectes élevés sur tournesol étaient plus élevés que ceux observés sur M. cordata, dont les résultats étaient aussi hétérogènes (P<0.1 et<0.05 respectivement). Les feuilles de M. cordata contenaient des taux relativement élevés de phénols et des rapports protéines sur phénols bas. Tout ceci suggère que les différences observées sont attribuables à des variations dans la qualité nutritive de ces hôtes et dans l'incorporation à la biomasse de l'insecte de matériaux phénologiques ingérés.