Temperature Responses of Photosynthesis and Respiration of Maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis>) Plants to Experimental Warming

Understanding the key processes and mechanisms of photosynthetic and respiratory acclimation of maize (Zea mays L.) plants in response to experimental warming may further shed lights on the changes in the carbon exchange and Net Primary Production (NPP) of agricultural ecosystem in a warmer climate regime. In the current study, we examined the temperature responses and sensitivity of foliar photosynthesis and respiration for exploring the mechanisms of thermal acclimation associated with physiological and biochemical processes in the North China Plain (NCP) with a field manipulative warming experiment. We found that thermal acclimation of A_n as evidenced by the upward shift of A_n-T was determined by the maximum velocity of Rubisco carboxylation (V_cmax), the maximum rate of electron transport (J_max), and the stomatal- regulated CO₂ diffusion process (g_s), while the balance between respiration and photosynthesis (R_d/A_g), and/or regeneration of RuBP and the Rubisco carboxylation (J_max/V_cmax) barely affected the thermal acclimation of A_n. We also found that the temperature response and sensitivity of R_d was closely associated with the changes in foliar N concentration induced by warming. These results suggest that the leaf-level thermal acclimation of photosynthesis and respiration may mitigate or even offset the negative impacts on maize from future climate warming, which should be considered to improve the accuracy of process-based ecosystem models under future climate warming.     

Responses of Soil,Heterotrophic, and Autotrophic Respiration to Experimental Open-Field Soil Warming in a Cool-Temperate Deciduous Forest

How global warming will affect soil respiration (R _S) and its source components is poorly understood despite its importance for accurate prediction of global carbon (C) cycles. We examined the responses of R _S, heterotrophic respiration (R _H), autotrophic respiration (R _A), nitrogen (N) availability, and fine-root biomass to increased temperature in an open-field soil warming experiment. The experiment was conducted in a cool-temperate deciduous forest ecosystem in northern Japan. As this forest is subjected to strong temporal variation in temperature, on scales ranging from daily to seasonal, we also investigated the temporal variation in the effects of soil warming on R _S, R _H, and R _A. Soil temperature was continuously elevated by about 4.0°C from 2007 to 2014 using heating wires buried in the soil, and we measured soil respiratory processes in all four seasons from 2012 to 2014. Soil warming increased annual R _S by 32–45%, but the magnitude of the increase was different between the components: R _H and R _A were also stimulated, and increased by 39–41 and 17–18%, respectively. Soil N availability during the growing season and fine-root biomass were not remarkably affected by the warming treatment. We found that the warming effects varied seasonally. R _H increased significantly throughout the year, but the warming effect showed remarkable seasonal differences, with the maximum stimulation in the spring. This suggests that warmer spring temperature will produce a greater increase in CO₂ release than warmer summer temperatures. In addition, we found that soil warming reduced the temperature sensitivity (Q ₁₀) of R _S. Although the Q ₁₀ of both R _H and R _A tended to be reduced, the decrease in the Q ₁₀ of R _S was caused mainly by a decrease in the response of R _A to warming. These long-term results indicate that a balance between the rapid and large response of soil microbes and the acclimation of plant roots both play important roles in determining the response of R _S to soil warming, and must be carefully considered to predict the responses of soil C dynamics under future temperature conditions.     

Interactions Among Abiotic Drivers,Disturbance and Gross Ecosystem Carbon Exchange on Soil Respiration from Subtropical Pine Savannas

Globally, soil CO₂ efflux rates (F_s) have been linked to changes in soil water content (SWC), rainfall and temperature and/or productivity. However, within an ecosystem, F_s can vary based on site structure and function, which can be affected by a combination of abiotic and biotic factors. This becomes particularly important when an ecosystem is faced with disturbances, such as drought or fire. Site-specific compensatory responses to disturbances may therefore alter C mineralization, as well as root respiration. Hence, single location F_s estimates may not be a representative for ecosystems across their distributional ranges. We conducted a 6-year study along an edaphic moisture gradient of longleaf pine ecosystems that were maintained with prescribed fire, using eddy covariance and soil respiration measurements to address how F_s varies with changes in ecosystem structure and function, as well as disturbances. Lower air temperatures (T_air) decreased F_s at all sites, but that response was also affected by productivity and SWC. Productivity significantly altered F_s rates at all sites, especially when we accounted for changes in temperature and SWC. Plant regrowth post-fire temporarily increased F_s (10–40%), whereas drought reduced F_s at all sites. Our results show that site productivity, F_s and the degree to which ecosystems adapt to climate variations and disturbance can be site specific. Hence, model forecasting of carbon dynamics would strongly benefit from multi-location measurements of F_s across the distributional range of an ecosystem.     

Effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on plant physiology and growth on the Tibetan Plateau: a meta-analysis

Uncertainties about the response of plant physiology and growth to enhanced UV-B radiation cause uncertainty to predict how plant production will vary under future radiation change on the Tibetan Plateau. Here, we used a meta-analysis approach to test the influence of UV-B radiation on plant physiology and growth. This hypothesis was tested by investigating the response of plants, which was expressed by some measurable variables. Enhanced UV-B radiation decreased plant biomass, plant height, basal diameter, leaf area index, maximal PSII efficiency, and Chl a+b, but increased intercellular CO₂ concentration, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion radical, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, proline and UV-B absorbing compounds. The effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on net photosynthesis rate (P _n ) increased with mean annual precipitation and experimental duration. The effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on MDA decreased with experimental duration. The effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased with the magnitude of enhanced UV-B radiation. Forests rather than grasslands exhibited a positive response of SOD and a negative response of P _n to enhanced UV-B radiation. Therefore, the effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on alpine plants varied with ecosystem types. Local climate conditions may regulate effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on alpine plants.     

The necromass of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Posidonia oceanica</Emphasis> seagrass meadow: fate,role, ecosystem services and vulnerability

Posidonia oceanica is a seagrass endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the primary production of the P. oceanica meadow is not directly consumed by herbivores and plays a role as dead rhizomes and roots, dead leaves and drift epibionts (hereafter necromass). The fate of this necromass is (i) sequestration within the matte, (ii) consumption by detritus-feeders within the meadow, (iii) export towards other marine ecosystems, where it constitutes a source for food webs, (iv) export towards beaches, where it constitutes banquettes, reduces the impact of waves and contributes to the beach ecosystem, and (v) export towards the terrestrial dune ecosystem. These five stocks can exchange necromass. The ecosystem services of the P. oceanica necromass are pivotal. For example, the role of P. oceanica banquettes is fundamental in protecting beaches from erosion, and the carbon sequestration within the matte contributes to the mitigation of emissions of CO₂. Human impact on each of these stocks can affect the other stocks and their ecosystem services. The removal of banquettes from beaches can have a dramatic negative impact on P. oceanica ecosystem services, including the sustaining of beaches. The erosion of matte due to trawling and anchoring can remobilize the sequestrated carbon stock.     

Temperature sensitivity of soil respiration in a low-latitude forest ecosystem varies by season and habitat but is unaffected by experimental warming

Experimental warming of forest ecosystems typically stimulates soil respiration (CO₂ efflux), but most warming experiments have been conducted in northern latitudes (>?40°N) with relatively young soils. We quantified the influence of experimental warming on soil respiration (R_T) in two adjacent forest habitats—a mature, closed canopy forest and a gap where trees were manually removed— on highly-weathered Ultisols of the southeastern U.S. (33°N). Using temperature variation, both natural and induced by experimental warming, we also quantified the temperature sensitivity of R_T, defined as the activation energy, E_A in the Arrhenius equation. Experimental warming (either + 3 °C or + 5 °C above ambient) did not significantly increase soil respiration rate or cumulative CO₂ loss over the 3 years of the experiment, and did not influence the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration, once the influence of natural temperature variation was taken into consideration. Despite the absence of an experimental warming effect, we observed that E_A varied on monthly time scales, and varied differently in each habitat. Soil moisture and habitat also influenced R_T, but the effects were not consistent, and varied by month. Our results suggest that although R_T does depend on temperature, the sensitivity of R_T to temperature variation is influenced primarily by factors like microclimate and plant phenology that can change on relatively short (<?monthly) time scales. Thus, using the temperature sensitivity of R_T to predict future CO₂ losses due to warming is only reasonable if monthly variation in E_A is incorporated into models for lower-latitude subtropical ecosystems with highly weathered soils, such as those in this study. Finally, our results suggest that higher temperatures may not enhance R_T in highly-weathered, C-poor soils to the extent that has been reported in prior studies of high-latitude soils, which may constrain ecosystem-atmosphere carbon exchanges and feedbacks to the climate system.     

Different Response Patterns of Soil Respiration to a Nitrogen Addition Gradient in Four Types of Land-Use on an Alluvial Island in China

It has been well documented that nitrogen (N) additions significantly affect soil respiration (R _s) and its components [that is, autotrophic (R _a) and heterotrophic respiration (R _h)] in terrestrial ecosystems. These N-induced effects largely result from changes in plant growth, soil properties (for example, pH), and/ or microbial community. However, how R _s and its components respond to N addition gradients from low to high fertilizer application rates and what the differences are in diverse land-use types remain unclear. In our study, a field experiment was conducted to examine response patterns of R _s to a N addition gradient at four levels (0, 15, 30, and 45 g N m^?2 y^?1) in four types of land-use (paddy rice–wheat and maize–wheat croplands, an abandoned field grassland, and a Metasequoia plantation) from December 2012 to September 2014 in eastern China. Our results showed that N addition significantly stimulated R _s in all four land-use types and R _h in croplands (paddy rice–wheat and maize–wheat). R _s increased linearly with N addition rates in croplands and the plantation, whereas in grassland, it exhibited a parabolic response to N addition rates with the highest values at the moderate N level in spite of the homogeneous matrix for all four land-use types. This suggested higher response thresholds of R _s to the N addition gradient in croplands and the plantation. During the wheat-growing season in the two croplands, R _h also displayed linear increases with rising N addition rates. Interestingly, N addition significantly decreased the apparent temperature sensitivity of R _s and increased basal R _s. The different response patterns of R _s to the N addition gradient in diverse land-use types with a similar soil matrix indicate that vegetation type is very important in regulating terrestrial C cycle feedback to climate change under N deposition.     

Electronic structure,rovibrational, and dipole moment calculations for the AsCl molecule

The potential energy curves of the 19 lowest-lying singlet and triplet electronic states in the ^2S+1Λ^(+/?) representation of the AsCl molecule have been investigated using the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) with multireference configuration interaction (MRCI+Q) method including single and double excitations and with the Davidson correction. The harmonic frequency ω _e, the internuclear distance R _e, the dipole moment, and the electronic energy with respect to the ground state T _e were calculated for the electronic states considered. By using the canonical functions approach, the eigenvalue E _v, the rotational constant B _v, and the abscissae of the turning points R _min and R _max were calculated for the electronic states up to the vibrational level v?=?60. The values obtained in the present work agree well with corresponding values available in the literature for several electronic states. Fifteen new electronic states were investigated here for the first time.     

Evidences and magnitude of nighttime transpiration derived from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus euphratica</Emphasis> in the extreme arid region of China

Extensive research has found that nighttime transpiration (E _n) is positively correlated to the vapour pressure deficit (VPD), that suggested E _n was highest during the night under high temperatures and low humidity along with high soil water availability, typically for the riparian forest in the extreme arid region of China. This study used the heat ratio method to measure sap velocity (V _s) for mature and saplings Populus euphratica Oliv., and then E _n was conservatively calculated as total nocturnal sap flow (F _s, the product of V _s and sapwood area A _s) between 01:00 to 06:00. A gas exchange system was used to measure the leaf transpiration rate (T _r) and stomatal conductance (g _s) of saplings. For mature trees, nighttime V _s was extensive and logarithmic correlated to VPD (similar to daytime). For saplings, g _s and T _r was extensive in different months, and also a strong logarithmic relationship was found between V _s and VPD for both daytime and nighttime periods. Both of stem sap flow and leaf gas exchange suggusted the occurrence of E _n, whether mature or sapling trees. E _n contribution to daily transpiration (E _d) was high just as expected for P. euphratica, which was confirmed by proportional E _n to E _d (E _n/E _d) means taken in 2012 (24.99%) and 2013 (34.08%). Compared to mature trees, E _n/E _d of saplings in 2013 was lower with means of 12.06%, that supported further by the shorter duration times and less T _r,n (16.64%) and g _s,n (26.45%) of leaf, suggesting that E _n magnitude is associated to individual the tree size, that effect to stored water of individual trees, although this hypothesis requires further research.     

Reexamination of structures,stabilities, and electronic properties of holmium-doped silicon clusters HoSi<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 12–20)

The total energies, growth patterns, equilibrium geometries, relative stabilities, hardnesses, intramolecular charge transfer, and magnetic moments of HoSi _n (n?=?12–20) clusters have been reexamined theoretically using two different density functional schemes in combination with relativistic small-core Stuttgart effective core potentials (ECP28MWB) for the Ho atoms. The results show that when n?=?12–15, the most stable structures are predicted to be exohedral frameworks with a quartet ground state, but when n?=?16–20, they are predicted to be endohedral frameworks with a sextuplet ground state. These trend in stability across the clusters (gauged from their dissociation energies) was found to be approximately the same regardless of the DFT scheme used in the calculations, with HoSi₁₃, HoSi₁₆, HoSi₁₈, and HoSi₂₀ calculated to be more stable than the other clusters. The results obtained for cluster hardness indicated that doping the Ho atom into Si₁₃ and Si₁₆ leads to the most stable HoSi _n clusters, while doping Ho into the other Si _n clusters increases the photochemical sensitivity of the cluster. Analyses of intracluster charge transfer and magnetic moments revealed that charge always shifts from the Ho atom to the Si _n cluster during the creation of exohedral HoSi _n (n?=?12–15) structures. However, the direction of charge transfer is reversed during the creation of endohedral HoSi _n (n?=?16–20) structures, which implies that Ho acts as an electron acceptor when it is encapsulated in the Si _n cage. Furthermore, when the most stable exohedral HoSi _n (n?=?12–15) structures are generated, the 4f electrons of Ho are virtually unchanged and barely participate in intracluster bonding. However, in the most stable endohedral HoSi _n (n?=?16–20) frameworks, a 4f electron does participate in bonding. It does this by transferring to the 5d orbital, which hybridizes with the 6s and 6p orbitals and then interacts with Si valence sp orbitals. Meanwhile, the total magnetic moments of the HoSi _n (n?=?16–20) clusters are considerably higher than those of HoSi _n (n?=?12–15). Interestingly, the endohedral HoSi₁₆ and HoSi₂₀ clusters can be viewed as the most suitable building blocks for novel high-density magnetic storage nanomaterials and for novel optical and optoelectronic photosensitive nanomaterials, respectively.     

Molecular mapping of a rust resistance gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">14</Emphasis></Subscript> in cultivated sunflower line PH 3

Sunflower, the fifth largest oilseed crop in the world, plays an important role in human diets. Recently, sunflower production in North America has suffered serious yield losses from newly evolved races of sunflower rust (Puccinia helianthi Schwein.). The rust resistance gene, designated R ₁₄ , in a germplasm line PH 3 originated from a wild Helianthus annuus L. population resistant to 11 rust races. PH 3 has seedling with an extraordinary purple hypocotyl color. The objectives of this study were to map both the R ₁₄ rust resistance gene and the purple hypocotyl gene-designated PHC in PH 3, and to identify molecular markers for marker-assisted breeding for sunflower rust resistance. A set of 517 mapped SSR/InDel and four SNP markers was used to detect polymorphisms between the parents. Fourteen markers covering a genetic distance of 17.0 cM on linkage group (LG) 11 were linked to R ₁₄ . R ₁₄ was mapped to the middle of the LG, with a dominant SNP marker NSA_000064 as the closest marker at a distance of 0.7 cM, and another codominant marker ORS542 linked at 3.5 cM proximally. One dominant marker ZVG53 was linked on the distal side at 6.9 cM. The PHC gene was also linked to R ₁₄ with a distance of 6.2 cM. Chi-squared analysis of the segregation ratios of R ₁₄ , PHC, and ten linked markers indicated a deviation from an expected 1:2:1 or 3:1 ratio. The closely linked molecular or morphological markers could facilitate sunflower rust-resistant breeding and accelerate the development of rust-resistant hybrids.     

Genetic consequences of anthropogenic disturbances and population fragmentation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia senegal</Emphasis>

Acacia senegal is endemic to dry forest and woodland ecosystems of Sub-Saharan Africa and provides both ecological and socio-economic benefits. However, these ecosystems are threatened by escalating human disturbances and fragmentation. To investigate the human impacts on genetic diversity and structure of A. senegal, we studied genetic variability and differentiation of 330 individual trees from 11 natural A. senegal populations, grouped into lightly and heavily disturbed, using 12 polymorphic nuclear microsatellite markers. Gene diversity (H _E ) ranged from H _E = 0.570 to H _E = 0.632. Significant differences (P < 0.05) between the levels of disturbances are reported for mean gene diversity, number of alleles and allelic richness with lightly disturbed populations showing higher values. Overall, the indirect estimates of average outcrossing rates ranged from 0.794 (Kiserian) to 0.999 (Kampi ya Moto) with a mean of 0.997 suggesting a predominantly outcrossing species. There was no significant relationship (P > 0.05) detected between genetic and geographic distances, showing lack of isolation by distance. Analysis of population structure using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean and Bayesian model suggests presence of three gene pools as most probable, although most individuals showed mixed ancestry. The diversity and genetic structure reported in this study revealed negative impacts of human disturbance on A. senegal within this ecosystem. We recommend in-situ conservation strategies to safeguard the woodland ecosystem from further deforestation.     

Occurrence and distribution of multiple antibiotic-resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterococcus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus</Emphasis> spp. from Indian poultry: in vivo transferability of their erythromycin,tetracycline and vancomycin resistance

The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistant (AR) lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in Indian poultry. LAB from poultry farm feces (n = 21) and samples from slaughter houses comprising chicken intestine (n = 46), raw meat (n = 23), and sanitary water (n = 4) were evaluated and compared with those from organic chicken (OC) collected from nearby villages. Screening studies showed 5–7 log units higher erythromycin (ER), tetracycline (TC) and vancomycin (VAN) resistant LAB from conventional poultry chicken (CC) compared to OC. Molecular characterization of isolated cultures (n = 32) with repetitive-PCR profiling and 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed their taxonomical status as Enterococcus faecium (n = 16), Enterococcus durans (n = 2), Lactobacillus plantarum (n = 10), Lactobacillus pentosus (n = 1) and Lactobacillus salivarius (n = 3). The isolates were found to harbor erm(B), msr(C), msr(A/B), tet(M), tet(L) and tet(K) genes associated with Tn916 and Tn917 family transposons. Expression studies through real-time PCR revealed antibiotic-induced expression of the identified AR genes. In vitro and in vivo conjugational studies revealed transfer of ER and TC resistant (ER^R and TC^R) genes with transfer frequencies of 10^?7 and 10^?4 transconjugants recipient^?1, respectively. Although no known VAN resistance (VAN^R) genes were detected, high phenotypic resistance was observed and was transferable to the recipient. From a public health point of view, this study reports Indian poultry as a major source of high levels of AR bacteria contaminating the food chain and the environment. Thus, urgent and determined strategies are needed to control the spread of multiple AR bacteria.     

How are anatomical and hydraulic features of the mangroves <Emphasis Type="Italic">Avicennia marina</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizophora mucronata</Emphasis> influenced by siltation?

Key message

This article provides significant data in the debate on whether siltation might have a negative impact on the hydraulic functioning of two widespread mangrove tree species Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata.

Abstract

Elevated sediment addition, or siltation, within mangrove ecosystems is considered as being negative for trees and saplings, resulting in stress and higher mortality rates. However, little is known about how siltation influences the hydraulic functioning of mangrove trees. Comparing two mangrove tree species (Avicennia marina Vierh. Forsk. and Rhizophora mucronata Lam.) from low and high-siltation plots led to the detection of anatomical and morphological differences and tendencies. Adaptations to high siltation were found to be either mutual among both species, e.g., significant smaller single leaf area (p _A.marina  = 0.058, F1.38 = 3.8; p _R.mucronata  = 0.005, F1.38 = 8.7; n = 20 × 20) and a tendency towards smaller stomatal areas (p _A.marina  = 0.131, F1.8 = 2.8; p _R.mucronata  = 0.185, F1.8 = 2.1, n = 5 × 60), or species-specific trends for A. marina, such as higher phloem band/growth layer ratios (p = 0.101, F1.8 = 3.4, n = 5 × 3) and stomatal density (p = 0.052, F1.8 = 5.2, n = 5 × 4). All adaptations seemingly contributed to a comparable hydraulic conductivity independent of the degree of siltation. These findings indicate that silted trees level off fluctuations in their hydraulic performance as a survival mechanism to cope with this less favourable environment. Most of the trees’ structural adaptations to cope with siltation are similar to known drought stress-imposed adaptations.

     

Effect of suspended mineral matter on production characteristics of bacterio- and phytoplankton

The effect was determined of organo-mineral detritus (OMD), one of the components of suspended mineral matter in aquatic ecosystems, on the production characteristics of bacterioplankton (bacterial production P _b and destruction of organic matter R _b, as well as bacterial growth efficiency BGE). The relation was determined between these parameters and the ratio of the content of suspended mineral matter M to the total organic carbon content (M/TOC). More active utilization of organic matter by bacterioplankton in the presence of OMD resulted in its positive effect on specific production characteristics of the phytoplankton.     

Influence of Daily Short-Term Temperature Drops on Respiration to Photosynthesis Ratio in Chilling-Sensitive Plants

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants were subjected daily over 13 days to short-term (2 h) temperature drops to 12, 8, 4, and 1°C (DROP treatments) at the end of night periods, and effects of these chilling treatments on the ratio of dark respiration in leaves (R_d) to gross photosynthesis (A_g) were examined. The results showed that DROP treatments affected the R_d/A_g ratio in leaves: this ratio increased significantly in cucumber and tomato plants and was slightly affected in pepper plants. When the temperature drops to 12°C were applied, the increase in R_d/A_g ratio in cucumber and tomato plants was entirely due to the rise in R_d. In the case of temperature drops to 8°C and below, the increase in R_d/A_g was determined by both elevation of R_d and the concurrent decrease in Ag. In cucumber plants, the extent of Ag and R_d changes increased with the DROP severity, i.e., with lowering the temperature of DROP treatment. The inhibition of photosynthesis by DROP treatment in cucumber plants was accompanied by the diminished efficiency of light energy use for photosynthesis and by the increase in the light compensation point. The elevation in R_d/A_g ratio in cucumber plants was accompanied by the decline in growth characteristics, such as accumulation of aboveground biomass, plant height, and leaf area. It was concluded that the R/A ratio is an important indicator characterizing the adaptive potential of chilling-sensitive plant species and their response to daily short-term temperature drops.     

Surviving in isolation: genetic variation,bottlenecks and reproductive strategies in the Canarian endemic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Limonium macrophyllum</Emphasis> (Plumbaginaceae)

Oceanic archipelagos are typically rich in endemic taxa, because they offer ideal conditions for diversification and speciation in isolation. One of the most remarkable evolutionary radiations on the Canary Islands comprises the 16 species included in Limonium subsection Nobiles, all of which are subject to diverse threats, and legally protected. Since many of them are single-island endemics limited to one or a few populations, there exists a risk that a loss of genetic variation might limit their long-term survival. In this study, we used eight newly developed microsatellite markers to characterize the levels of genetic variation and inbreeding in L. macrophyllum, a species endemic to the North-east of Tenerife that belongs to Limonium subsection Nobiles. We detected generally low levels of genetic variation over all populations (H _T = 0.363), and substantial differentiation among populations (F _ST = 0.188; R _ST = 0.186) coupled with a negligible degree of inbreeding (F?=?0.042). Obligate outcrossing may have maintained L. macrophyllum relatively unaffected by inbreeding despite the species’ limited dispersal ability and the genetic bottlenecks likely caused by a prolonged history of grazing. Although several factors still constitute a risk for the conservation of L. macrophyllum, the lack of inbreeding and the recent positive demographic trends observed in the populations of this species are factors that favour its future persistence.     

Study of biological communities subject to imperfect detection: bias and precision of community <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-mixture abundance models in small-sample situations

Community N-mixture abundance models for replicated counts provide a powerful and novel framework for drawing inferences related to species abundance within communities subject to imperfect detection. To assess the performance of these models, and to compare them to related community occupancy models in situations with marginal information, we used simulation to examine the effects of mean abundance \((\bar{\lambda }\): 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5), detection probability \((\bar{p}\): 0.1, 0.2, 0.5), and number of sampling sites (n _site : 10, 20, 40) and visits (n _visit : 2, 3, 4) on the bias and precision of species-level parameters (mean abundance and covariate effect) and a community-level parameter (species richness). Bias and imprecision of estimates decreased when any of the four variables \((\bar{\lambda }\), \(\bar{p}\), n _site , n _visit ) increased. Detection probability \(\bar{p}\) was most important for the estimates of mean abundance, while \(\bar{\lambda }\) was most influential for covariate effect and species richness estimates. For all parameters, increasing n _site was more beneficial than increasing n _visit . Minimal conditions for obtaining adequate performance of community abundance models were n _site  ≥ 20, \(\bar{p}\) ≥ 0.2, and \(\bar{\lambda }\) ≥ 0.5. At lower abundance, the performance of community abundance and community occupancy models as species richness estimators were comparable. We then used additive partitioning analysis to reveal that raw species counts can overestimate β diversity both of species richness and the Shannon index, while community abundance models yielded better estimates. Community N-mixture abundance models thus have great potential for use with community ecology or conservation applications provided that replicated counts are available.     

Enantioconvergent hydrolysis of racemic styrene oxide at high concentration by a pair of novel epoxide hydrolases into (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol

Objectives

To prepare (R)-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol ((R)-PED) with high enantiomeric excess (ee _p) and yield from racemic styrene oxide (rac-SO) at high concentration by bi-enzymatic catalysis.

Results

The bi-enzymatic catalysis was designed for enantioconvergent hydrolysis of rac-SO by a pair of novel epoxide hydrolases (EHs), a Vigna radiata EH3 (VrEH3) and a variant (AuEH2^A250I) of Aspergillus usamii EH2. The simultaneous addition mode of VrEH3 and AuEH2^A250I, exhibiting the highest average turnover frequency (aTOF) of 0.12 g h^?1 g^?1, was selected, by which rac-SO (10 mM) was converted into (R)-PED with 92.6% ee _p and 96.3% yield. Under the optimized reaction conditions: dry weight ratio 14:1 of VrEH3-expressing E. coli/vreh3 to AuEH2^A250I-expressing E. coli/Aueh2 ^A250I and reaction at 20 °C, rac-SO (10 mM) was completely hydrolyzed in 2.3 h, affording (R)-PED with 98% ee _p. At the weight ratio 0.8:1 of rac-SO to two mixed dry cells, (R)-PED with 97.4% ee _p and 98.7% yield was produced from 200 mM (24 mg/ml) rac-SO in 10.5 h.

Conclusions

Enantioconvergent hydrolysis of rac-SO at high concentration catalyzed by both VrEH3 and AuEH2^A250I is an effective method for preparing (R)-PED with high ee _p and yield.

     

Rapid Recovery of Gross Production and Respiration in a Mesic Mountain Big Sagebrush Ecosystem Following Prescribed Fire

The impact of land management actions such as prescribed fire remains a key uncertainty in understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of carbon cycling in the Western USA. We therefore quantified carbon exchange and aboveground carbon stocks following a prescribed fire in a mountain big sagebrush ecosystem located in the northern Great Basin, USA. Specifically, we examined the changes in plant functional type, leaf area index, standing aboveground carbon stocks, net ecosystem production (NEP), gross ecosystem production (GEP), and ecosystem-level respiration (R_eco) for 2 years before and 7 of 9 years after a prescribed fire. Post-burn GEP and R_eco exceeded pre-burn GEP and R_eco within 2 years and remained elevated. The variation in GEP and R_eco provided no evidence of a large and prolonged net efflux of carbon in the 9 years after the fire. Rather, NEP indicated the site was a sink before and after the fire, with little change in sink strength associated with the burn. Re-sprouting and recruitment of grasses and forbs drove the post-burn increase in GEP. Woody shrub growth was the dominant control on aboveground biomass accumulation after fire, with shrub aboveground biomass reaching ~ 11% of pre-burn biomass after 5 years. The rapid recovery of GEP and the growth of mid-successional shrubs suggest ecosystem-level carbon fluxes and stocks can recover rapidly after fire in mesic mountain big sagebrush ecosystems.