pH track of expanding bacterial populations

A method of pH distribution measurements in agar nutrient media containing expanding bacterial populations is described. It is based on measuring pH microsamples taken at different points of the media. The sample volume was 10 microliters. A pH sensitive field effect transistor was used as a measuring electrode. Acidification was found to occur in glucose media, while alkalization occurred in the media containing peptone.     

Neutral processes forming large clones during colonization of new areas

In species reproducing both sexually and asexually clones are often more common in recently established populations. Earlier studies have suggested that this pattern arises due to natural selection favouring generally or locally successful genotypes in new environments. Alternatively, as we show here, this pattern may result from neutral processes during species’ range expansions. We model a dioecious species expanding into a new area in which all individuals are capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction, and all individuals have equal survival rates and dispersal distances. Even under conditions that favour sexual recruitment in the long run, colonization starts with an asexual wave. After colonization is completed, a sexual wave erodes clonal dominance. If individuals reproduce more than one season, and with only local dispersal, a few large clones typically dominate for thousands of reproductive seasons. Adding occasional long‐distance dispersal, more dominant clones emerge, but they persist for a shorter period of time. The general mechanism involved is simple: edge effects at the expansion front favour asexual (uniparental) recruitment where potential mates are rare. Specifically, our model shows that neutral processes (with respect to genotype fitness) during the population expansion, such as random dispersal and demographic stochasticity, produce genotype patterns that differ from the patterns arising in a selection model. The comparison with empirical data from a post‐glacially established seaweed species (Fucus radicans) shows that in this case, a neutral mechanism is strongly supported.     

Occlusal pattern of cheek teeth in extant Spermophilus: A new approach to the identification of species

Discrete characters of the occlusal surface (additional cusps) have been studied to elaborate a new approach to the identification of the Ground Squirrel species Spermophilus odessanus, S. suslicus, S. pygmaeus, S. citellus, and S. xanthoprymnus. Data on the presence/absence of the additional cusps have been represented as star plots and, in addition, have been studied using discriminant function analysis. The species‐specific sets of the characters (patterns of bunodonty) have been revealed and are of high diagnostic value. The Citellus‐set is defined by the presence of mesostyles and the rareness of the metastylids, paraconules and metaconules, hypostyles and protostyles. The Pygmaeus‐set is characterized by the presence of additional cusps in the lower cheek teeth. The Odessanus‐oriented set is found in the Spermophilus pygmaeus, S. odessanus, and S. suslicus. The relatively high frequency of additional cusps of the metaloph and the paraloph is characteristic for this set. The Plesiomorphic‐set (characters shared by all the studied species and for this reason regarded herein as ancestral) is found in S. xanthoprymnus. The patterns of bunodonty serve as diagnostic criteria only as a whole: the shape of a star plot (relations among the character frequencies), rather than certain character values, is indicative. An optimal level of identification of species is possible based on the combination of the discrete characters mentioned and on the size parameters of the third upper molar. The occlusal sets are intended to remain stable during the time of species existence and seem to correspond to trends in specialization. The functional meaning of the sets can be explained by the dependence between the presence/absence of the discrete characters and the shape of the crown and its main lophs. Each pattern is likely to correspond to a trophic niche, and this niche corresponds to the species. J. Morphol. 277:814–825, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Facilitation between woody and herbaceous plants that associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in temperate European forests

In late‐successional environments, low in available nutrient such as the forest understory, herbaceous plant individuals depend strongly on their mycorrhizal associates for survival. We tested whether in temperate European forests arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) woody plants might facilitate the establishment of AM herbaceous plants in agreement with the mycorrhizal mediation hypothesis. We used a dataset spanning over 400 vegetation plots in the Weser‐Elbe region (northwest Germany). Mycorrhizal status information was obtained from published resources, and Ellenberg indicator values were used to infer environmental data. We carried out tests for both relative richness and relative abundance of herbaceous plants. We found that the subset of herbaceous individuals that associated with AM profited when there was a high cover of AM woody plants. These relationships were retained when we accounted for environmental filtering effects using path analysis. Our findings build on the existing literature highlighting the prominent role of mycorrhiza as a coexistence mechanism in plant communities. From a nature conservation point of view, it may be possible to promote functional diversity in the forest understory through introducing AM woody trees in stands when absent.     

Current and emerging commercial optical biosensors.

The field of commercial optical biosensors is rapidly evolving, with new systems and detection methods being developed each year. This review outlines the currently available biosensor hardware and highlights unique features of each platform. Affinity-based biosensor technology, with its high sensitivity, wide versatility and high throughput, is playing a significant role in basic research, pharmaceutical development, and the food and environmental sciences. Likewise, the increasing popularity of biosensors is prompting manufacturers to develop new instrumentation for dedicated applications. We provide a preview of some of the emerging commercial systems that are dedicated to drug discovery, proteomics, clinical diagnostics and routine biomolecular interaction analysis.     

The effect of antibiotics on the photocycle and protoncycle of purple membrane suspensions

The interrelation was studied between the phototransient absorbing maximally at 412 nm (M₄₁₂) and light-induced proton release under steady-state conditions in aqueous suspensions of ‘purple membrane’ derived from Halobacterium halobium. The decay of M₄₁₂ was slowed down by the simultaneous application of the ionophoric antibiotics valinomycin and beauvericin. The former had only slight activity alone and the latter was effective only in conjunction with valinomycin. The steady-state concentration of M₄₁₂ which was formed on illumination was a direct function of the concentration of valinomycin. Maximum stabilization of M₄₁₂ was obtained when the valinomycin was approximately equimolar with the bacteriorhodopsin. Addition of salts to the medium increased the number of protons released per molecule of M₄₁₂ without affecting the level of M₄₁₂ which was produced by continuous illumination. The effectiveness of the salts in this respect depended on the nature of the cation. Ca²⁺ and their antagonists La³⁺ and ruthenium red were found to have especially high affinity for the system. The extent of light-induced acidification could not be enhanced by increasing the pH of the medium from 6.5 to 7.8. The possible mechanism of action of the ionophores and of the cations on the photocycle and on the proton cycle is discussed.     

Relationships between soil seed bank,vegetation and soil fertility along an urbanisation gradient

Questions: How does urbanisation influence soil mineral nitrogen stocks (nitrate and ammonium stocks) and what are the consequences of these modifications on the functional diversity of the herbaceous vegetation (vascular plants) and the seed bank? Location: Nine study sites were located on an urbanisation gradient in the city of Rennes, France. Methods: Three urbanisation levels were defined: urban areas (high grey/green ratio), suburban (medium grey/green ratio) and periurban (low grey/green ratio). For each urbanisation level, nitrates and ammonium stocks were quantified; the herbaceous vegetation was surveyed as well as the soil seed bank (using the seedling emergence method). Results: Nitrate concentration increased with urbanisation (the nitrate level in urban plots was twice the concentration in periurban ones) whereas the ammonium level was higher in periurban areas than in urban areas. In urban plots, the vegetation and the seed bank were more nitrophilous, whereas the nitrogen requirement was lower for periurban species. The relationship between the seed bank and the above‐ground vegetation was not significant. Conclusions: The higher nitrate concentration in the urban area appeared to be related to higher concentrations of atmospheric pollutants found in this area and lower ammonium levels may be related to the higher temperature in urban areas (leading to higher nitrification rates). The shift in the composition of the seed bank and vegetation appeared to be a consequence of higher nitrate stocks. The dissimilarity between the seed bank and vegetation may be caused by enhanced emergence of nitrophilous species in urban areas.     

Midsummer heat wave effects on lacustrine plankton: Variation of assemblage structure and fatty acid composition

The effects of the 2003 European heat wave on a freshwater plankton assemblage and its fatty acid (FA) composition were investigated. Composition and FA profiles of four size categories of planktonic organisms collected in 2003 were compared to those of the colder year 2002.