Breakdown of Introduced and Native Leaves in Two Indian Streams

The decomposition of leaves of Ficus benghalensis. Anacardium occidentale. Acacia auriculiformis and Eucalyptus globulus was followed during 16 weeks in two streams in the Western Ghat forest region of Karnataka, India. The concentration of nitrogen increased during decay; the levels of phosphorus, soluble phenolics and calcium decreased. Fungal colonization of the leaves was followed by counting the numbers of conidia released during aeration. Highest conidium production was found on leaves of Ficus: benghalensis. Daily exponential decay coefficients κ where not significantly different between leaf species or streams and varied between −0.0063 and −0,0090. Correlation analyses between κ and initial leaf parameters (N, P, Ca, and phenolics) did not yield any significant values, but there was a significant linear correlation between κ values and log (maximum sporulation rate).     

The Role of Early Fungal Colonizers in Leaf‐Litter Decomposition in Portuguese Streams Impacted by Agricultural Runoff

We conducted a transplant experiment between two streams in NW Portugal impacted by agricultural runoff, mainly differing in phosphate concentration, to determine whether fungi on decomposing leaves would adapt to the new environment or would be replaced by fungi of the recipient stream. The most nutrient enriched stream had lower fungal diversity but faster leaf decomposition. Leaf transplantation did not alter fungal activity or species dominance. Multidimensional scaling ordination of fungal communities, from DNA fingerprint or conidial production, revealed that transplanted communities resembled more those of the original stream than the recipient stream. Results suggest that early fungal colonizers will determine the development and activity of fungal communities on decomposing leaves in streams impacted by agricultural practices. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Biomass and Decay Rates of Roots and Detritus in Sediments of Intermittent Coastal Plain Streams

Biomass and breakdown of tree roots within streambed sediments were compared with leaf and wood detritus in three Coastal Plain headwater intermittent streams. Three separate riparian forest treatments were applied: thinned, clearcut, and reference. Biomass of roots (live and dead) and leaf/wood was significantly higher in stream banks than in the channel and declined with depth strata (0–10 > 10–20 > 20–30 cm). Riparian roots (live and dead combined) contributed on average 24 and 42% of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) biomass within the top 30 cm of channel and streambank sediments, respectively. Estimated mean surface area of live riparian roots within sediments was 1084 cm² m⁻³. Streambed temperatures showed greater fluctuation at the clearcut site compared to thinned and reference treatments. However, breakdown rates among buried substrate types or riparian treatments did not differ after 1 y. Slow decay rates were associated initially with anaerobic conditions within sandy sediments and later with dry sediment conditions. Riparian roots represent a direct conduit between streamside vegetation and the hyporheic zone. In addition to contributing to organic matter storage, the abundance of riparian roots within streambed sediments suggests that roots play an important role in biogeochemical cycling within intermittent headwater streams of the Coastal Plain.     

Leachates of Eucalyptus globulus in Intermittent Streams Affect Water Parameters and Invertebrates

Low order streams running through Eucalyptus globulus plantations in Central Portugal are frequently reduced to isolated permanent or temporary summer pools with darkly stained water due to leaf leachates. Here we assess the toxicity of such leachates to the shredder Sericostoma vittatum. Leachates resulted in deoxygenated and more acid water, and increased its phenolic content and conductivity. S. vittatum exposed to high concentrations of leachates failed to grow and died within 30 days even in the presence of high quality food. Larvae in water with half the leachate concentration, consumed less leaf material, had lower growth rates, did not pupate and died within 100 days. Eucalypt leachates per se may affect the viability and ecology of macroinvertebrates in Portuguese streams. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Leaf litter decomposition and microbial activity in nutrient-enriched and unaltered reaches of a headwater stream

SUMMARY 1. Decomposition of red maple ( Acer rubrum ) and rhododendron ( Rhododendron maximum ) leaves and activity of associated microorganisms were compared in two reaches of a headwater stream in Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, NC, U.S.A. The downstream reach was enriched with ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate whereas the upstream reach was not altered.
2. Decomposition rate, microbial respiration, fungal and bacterial biomass, and the sporulation rate of aquatic hyphomycetes associated with decomposing leaf material were significantly higher for both leaf types in the nutrient-enriched reach. Species richness and community structure of aquatic hyphomycetes also exhibited considerable changes with an increase in the number of fungal codominants in the nutrient-enriched reach.
3. Fungal biomass was one to two orders of magnitude greater than bacterial biomass in both reaches. Changes in microbial respiration rate corresponded to those in fungal biomass and sporulation, suggesting a primary role of fungi in leaf decomposition.
4. Nutrient enrichment increased microbial activity, the proportion of leaf carbon channelled through the microbial compartment and the decomposition rate of leaf litter.     

Flow intermittency alters longitudinal patterns of invertebrate diversity and assemblage composition in an arid‐land stream network

1. Temporary streams comprise a large proportion of the total length of most stream networks, and the great majority of arid‐land stream networks, so it is important to understand their contribution to biotic diversity at both local and landscape scales. 2. In late winter 2010, we sampled invertebrate assemblages in 12 reaches of a large arid‐land stream network (including perennial and intermittent headwaters, intermittent middle reaches and perennial rivers) in south‐east Arizona, U.S.A. Intermittent reaches had then been flowing for c. 60 days, following a dry period of more than 450 days. We sampled a subset of the perennial study reaches three more times between 2009 and 2011. Since intermittent reaches were dry during these additional sampling periods, we used assemblage data from two other intermittent streams in the study network (sampled in 2004–05 and 2010) to explore interannual variability in intermittent stream assemblage composition. 3. Invertebrate richness was lowest in intermittent reaches, despite their often being connected to species‐rich perennial reaches. The assemblages of these intermittent reaches were not simply a subset of the species in perennial streams, but rather were dominated by a suite of stoneflies, blackflies and midges with adaptations to intermittency (e.g. egg and/or larval diapause). On average, 86% of individuals in these samples were specialists or exclusive to intermittent streams. Predators were 7–14 times more abundant in perennial than in intermittent reaches. 4. Despite being separated by long distances (12–25 km) and having very different physical characteristics, the assemblages of perennial headwaters and rivers were more similar to one another than to intervening intermittent reaches, emphasising the prime importance of local hydrology in this system. 5. The duration and recurrence intervals of dry periods, and the relative importance of dispersal from perennial refuges, probably influence the magnitude of biological differences between neighbouring perennial and temporary streams. Although perennial headwaters supported the highest diversity of invertebrates, intermittent reaches supported a number of unique or locally rare species and as such contribute to regional species diversity and should be included in conservation planning.     

Effect of Drought Frequency and Other Reach Characteristics on Invertebrate Communities and Litter Breakdown in the Intermittent Mediterranean River Pula (Sardinia,Italy)

Benthic invertebrate communities were sampled in spring and fall, and breakdown of reed litter was measured in winter, spring, summer and fall, at 23 sites in an intermittent Mediterranean river basin (Pula, Sardinia, Italy), and their variations were related to drought frequency and other reach characteristics (altitude, order, stream channel width and depth, vegetation cover, sediment type, organic content, and water quality). 78% of the sites were affected by drought events, mainly in summer and fall. Benthic taxonomic richness was higher and most taxa were more widely distributed in spring than in fall. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that measured environmental variables accounted for 72% of the variance in invertebrate community structure. Reed decay rates varied among seasons, and during the dry season among stream orders as well. Drought events slowed down breakdown and explained 44% of spatial variability in decay rates (Stepwise multiple regression analysis), an additional 8% being explained by water chemistry. Results suggest that drought events affect ecosystem functioning (litter breakdown) more than structure (invertebrate communities). (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The Antibiotic-Aided Distinguishing of Fungal and Bacterial Substrate-Induced Respiration in Various Soil Ecosystems

Fungal and bacterial substrate-induced respiration have been distinguished in gray forest and chestnut soils in various ecosystems (forest, grassland, arable soil, fallow land, and shelterbelt) using the antibiotics cycloheximide and streptomycin. The optimal inhibitory concentrations of the antibiotics, added separately and in combination; the preincubation time of the antibiotics with the soil before glucose addition; and the mass of added inert material (talc) have been determined. The inhibitor additivity ratio (IAR) has been calculated for the antibiotics. With the IAR differing from 1.0 by a value of more than 5%, the fungal and bacterial substrate-induced respiration cannot be distinguished reliably. Respiration measurements show that the microbial communities of natural ecosystems are dominated by fungi (81–95% on average). The smallest amount of fungi (54–59%) is found in the arable soil ecosystem.__________Translated from Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 74, No. 3, 2005, pp. 394–400.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Susyan, Ananyeva, Blagodatskaya.     

ATP and Ergosterol as Indicators of Fungal Biomass during Leaf Decomposition in Streams: a Comparative Study

Ergosterol and ATP concentrations, microbial respiration and sporulation rates of aquatic hyphomycetes associated with leaves of Castanea sativa decomposing in a 5^th order stream were determined periodically over a period of 102 days in order to compare ergosterol and ATP as indicators of fungal biomass. ATP and ergosterol concentrations exhibited a significant positive correlation (F = 4.459, DF = 28, P < 0.001) during the first stages of leaf breakdown (until day 39), i.e., during periods of increasing fungal biomass. No correlation was found between ATP and ergosterol concentrations during later stages of decomposition (days 39 to 102). Respiration rates increased rapidly up to 0.525 mg O₂ h^–1 g^–1 AFDM during the first month and remained high until the end of the experiment. Sporulation rates peaked at day 9 (1069 conidia day^–1 mg^–1 AFDM) and decreased during later stages of decomposition. ATP‐to‐biomass conversion factors were determined for both fungi (0.59 μmol ATP g^–1 dry mass) and bacteria (1.30 μmol ATP g^–1 dry mass) collected from the stream and grown in the laboratory. Estimates of fungal biomass based on ATP concentrations were similar to those calculated from ergosterol concentrations during the first 39 days of breakdown. The results here presented suggest that ATP is a reliable method to quantify microbial biomass in streams and that the relative importance of bacteria increases at later stages of decomposition. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effects of Nutrient Enrichment on Decomposition and Fungal Colonization of Sweet Chestnut Leaves in an Iberian Stream (Central Portugal)

This study assessed the effect of nutrient enrichment on rates of decomposition, ergosterol concentrations (as a measure of fungal biomass), and rates of fungal sporulation of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Miller) leaves in a 3rd order stream (Central Portugal), with medium to high background values of nutrients. Coarse and fine mesh leaf bags were attached to nutrient diffusing substrata containing NaNO₃, KH₂PO₄, both nutrients, or no additions. Leaf breakdown rates were similar in the four treatments and in the two mesh sizes (k=−0.0155 to −0.0219 day⁻¹). Phosphorus content of P or N + P enriched leaves was higher than in the other treatments after 28 days, but there were no differences in N concentrations. Ergosterol concentrations associated with decomposing leaves were similar among treatments. The peak sporulation rates of aquatic hyphomycetes were stimulated by the addition of N + P and N but not by P alone. Results from the experiment provide evidence that leaf breakdown in the study stream, as a model for streams with naturally medium to high level of nutrients, was not nutrient-limited, and that fungal reproductive activity was limited by dissolved N but not by dissolved P in stream water.     

毛乌素沙地旱柳生长和生理特征对遮荫的反应

在一个控制试验中,旱柳经历了全不遮荫、部分遮荫和全部遮荫处理．比较了全不遮荫枝、全部遮荫枝、部分遮荫阳生枝(阳生枝)和部分遮荫阴生枝(阴生枝)的生长和生理特征,结果表明：阳生枝和全部遮荫枝的叶出生率和死亡率分别大于全不遮荫枝和阴生枝;遮荫处理明显影响净光合速率和夜间呼吸速率;阳生枝的分枝生物量、总校长度、枝叶生物量和枝叶重比显著大于全不遮荫枝,而阴生枝的分枝数、分枝生物量、叶面积、叶生物量、基茎、总校长度、枝叶生物量和枝叶重比都显著小于全部遮荫枝．     

Despite Long-Term Compost Amendment Seasonal Changes are Main Drivers of Soil Fungal and Bacterial Population Dynamics in a Tuscan Vineyard

The effect of long-term (8 years) compost treatments (compost or compost plus mineral fertilizer) on genetic structure of bacterial and fungal populations in both bulk soil and rhizosphere of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) was analyzed in respect to a control constituted by the soil treated with mineral fertilization. Soils were sampled in early summer (July), mid-summer (August), and before harvest (October). Bacterial and fungal populations were characterized by genetic fingerprints generated by the application of 16S rDNA and ITS rDNA Multiplex Terminal Fragment Length Polymorphism (M-TRFLP) technique. Compost induced no significant differences at any time on microbial communities from bulk soil samples, whereas seasonal variations significantly affected both bacterial and fungal populations as indicated by the Multi Dimensional Scaling (MDS) ordination method of the M-TRFLPs results. MDS analysis of grapevine rhizosphere M-TRFLPs showed that temporal separation was significant for the bacterial population only. Results suggested that soil microbial populations in vineyard productive ecosystems may be sensitive to environmental changes induced by seasonal variations and show a certain degree of resilience to different agricultural practices.     

Isolation and Characterization of Salt-Tolerant Bacterial Strains in Salt-Affected Soils of Erzurum,Turkey

In the current study, 18 salt-tolerant bacteria were isolated from salt-affected soil of Erzurum, Turkey. Forty-five bacterial isolates were identified and characterized by conventional and molecular techniques. These 45 sequenced isolates were identified as 16 different genus including Bacillus (19 isolates), Staphylococcus (3 isolates), Halobacillus (4 isolates), Zhihengliuella (2 isolates), Oceanobacillus (2 isolates), Halomonas (1 isolate), Nesterenkonia (2 isolates), Promicromonospora (2 isolates), Jeotgalibacillus (2 isolates), Planococcus (2 isolates), Virgibacillus (1 isolate), Terribacillus (1 isolate), Thalassobacillus (1 isolate), Marinibacillus (1 isolate), Gracilibacillus (1 isolate) and Microbacterium (1 isolate). According to the results obtained, investigated bacterial strains have high salt tolerance and significant enzyme activities that can improve soil nutrient cycling and soil fertility. The current article provides the evaluation and diversity of the potential halotolerant and halophilic bacterial strains in salt-affected soils of Erzurum, Turkey.     

Bacterial and Archaeal Community Structure in the Surface Diatom Sediments of Deep Freshwater Lake Baikal (Eastern Siberia)

Diatom sediment records of large lakes can be used to decipher the history of ancient phytoplankton. The upper layer of the sediment is an important area of remineralization of the sedimenting phytoplankton biomass. It hosts a bacterial community different from those of both the water column and deeper sediment layers. In this work, we analyzed the structure and diversity of the communities of Bacteria and Archaea in the surface sediment core containing valves of diatoms, the major producers in Lake Baikal. Pyrosequencing of the bacterial V3–V4 region of the 16 S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and archaeal V1–V3 16 S rRNA gene regions yielded 29,168 and 36,997 reads, respectively. In total, we have identified 33 bacterial phyla; uncultured Actinobacteria were the most abundant in the upper layers, while lower sediment was dominated by Firmicutes and Alphaproteobacteria. The composition of the archaeal community changed with depth, but was generally dominated by Crenarchaeota from the classes Marine Group I and Miscellaneous Crenarchaeotic Group, as well as Euryarchaeota from the class Thermoplasmata. These dominant bacterial and archaeal taxa are presumed to participate in the destruction of buried organic matter, which eventually leads to degradation of the diatom valves.     

AFM单分子力谱技术及其在活体细胞和菌体表面生物大分子研究中的最新进展

生命活动过程与生物分子内或生物分子间机械力的作用密不可分.原子力显微镜具有极高的力学分辨率,可以在近生理条件下对生物样品进行力学测量,是研究生物体系力学相互作用的理想工具.基于原子力显微镜的单分子力谱(AFM-SMFS)技术可以在单分子、单细胞水平测量生物分子内或生物分子间的相互作用.本文首先扼要介绍了AFM-SMFS技术,包括AFM-SMFS的基本原理、力谱测量及分析方法(蠕虫链模型、自由连接链模型和自由旋转链模型)以及探针的化学修饰方法(硅/氮化硅探针和镀金探针的修饰);重点介绍了利用AFM-SMFS技术对活体细胞表面蛋白(转化生长因子β1、CD20、热休克蛋白以及蛋白酪氨酸激酶)和糖类分子(葡萄糖和甘露糖)的近期研究进展;随后介绍了利用AFM-SMFS技术对活菌体表面蛋白(肝素结合血凝黏附素和Als5p黏附蛋白)和糖类分子(半乳糖、甘露糖、B族碳水化合物、荚膜多糖、α-甘露聚糖、β-甘露聚糖、β-葡聚糖以及几丁质)的近期研究进展;最后对AFM-SMFS技术的缺点和发展前景进行了总结和展望.     

Isolation and Characterization of Salt-Tolerant Bacterial Strains in Salt-Affected Soils of East Anatolian Region

In the current study, 18 salt-tolerant bacteria were isolated from salt-affected soil in the east Anatolian region. The obtained isolates were identified and characterized by conventional (morphology, physiology, and biochemical tests) and molecular techniques 16 rDNA. Among 18 sequenced isolates, 6 Bacillus, 1 Halomonas, 2 Halobacillus, 2 Zhihengliuella, 2 Oceanobacillus, 1 Virgibacillus, 1 Staphylococcus, 1 Thalassobacillus, 1 Exiguobacterium were identified with high similarity to previously identified strains in the literature. According to the results obtained, investigated bacterial strains have high salt tolerance and significant enzyme activities that can improve soil nutrient cycling and fertility. To the best of our knowledge, the current article is the first study in evaluation and diversity of potential halophlic/halotolerant bacterial strains in salt-affected soils of the east Anatolian region.     

好氧反硝化菌的筛选及其脱氮除磷性质的研究

利用富集培养基, 从用生活污水驯化后的活性污泥中筛选得到一株具有好氧反硝化兼具除磷功能的细菌。通过形态学及生理生化指标鉴定其为假单胞菌属。利用此好氧反硝化菌处理模拟废水及生活废水, 通过监测总氮、无机磷及CODcr变化确定在C/N摩尔比为3:1、接种量为10%、pH 6.8、30°C条件下处理2 d, 该菌株脱氮、除磷及去除有机物的效果最佳, 活性污泥经此好氧反硝化菌强化后, 对生活废水的处理能力得到明显提升。     

Isolation and characterisation of phosphate solubilising microorganisms from the cold desert habitat of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salix alba Linn.</Emphasis> in trans Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh

Phosphate solubilising microorganisms (PSM) (bacteria and fungi) associated with Salix alba Linn. from Lahaul and Spiti valleys of Himachal Pradesh were isolated on Pikovskaya (PVK), modified Pikovskaya (MPVK) and National Botanical Research Institute agar (NBRIP) media by spread plating. The viable colony count of P-solubilising bacteria (PSB) and fungi (PSF) was higher in rhizosphere than that of non-rhizosphere. The frequency of PSM was highest on MPVK followed by NBRIP and PVK agar. The maximum proportion of PSM out of total bacterial and fungal count was found in upper Keylong while the least in Rong Tong. The PSB frequently were Gram-positive, endosporeforming, motile rods and belonged to Bacillus sp. The PSF mainly belonged to Penicillium sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, A. spp. and non-sporulating sterile. Amongst the isolates with high efficiency for tricalcium phosphate (TCP) solubilisation, seven bacterial and seven fungal isolates dissolved higher amount of P from North Carolina rock phosphate (NCRP) than Mussoorie rock phosphate (MRP) and Udaipur rock phosphate (URP). However, the organisms solubilised higher-P in NBRIP broth than PVK broth. SBC5 (Bacillus sp.) and SBC7 (Bacillus sp.) bacterial isolates exhibited maximun P solubilisation (40 and 33 μg ml⁻¹ respectively) whereas FC28 (Penicillium sp.) isolate (52.3 μg ml⁻¹) amongst fungi while solubilising URP. The amount of P solubilised was positively correlated with the decrease in pH of medium. SBC5 (Bacillus sp.), SBC7 (Bacillus sp.) and SBC4 (Micrococcus) decreased the pH of medium from 6.8 to 6.08 while FC28 (Penicillium sp.) and FC39 (Penicillium sp.) isolates of fungi recorded maximum decrease in pH of medium from 6.8 to 5.96 in NBRIP broth.     

Transient and Permanent Fusion of Vesicles in Zea mays Coleoptile Protoplasts Measured in the Cell-attached Configuration

Exocytosis in protoplasts from Zea mays L. coleoptiles was studied using patch-clamp techniques. Fusion of individual vesicles with the plasma membrane was monitored as a step increase of the membrane capacitance (C _m ). Vesicle fusion was observed as (i) An irreversible step increase in C _m . (ii) Occasionally, irreversible C _m steps were preceded by transient changes in C _m , suggesting that the electrical connection between the vesicle with the plasma membrane opens and closes reversibly before full connection is achieved. (iii) Most frequently, however, stepwise transient changes in C _m did not lead to an irreversible C _m step. Within one patch of membrane capacitance steps due to transient and irreversible fusions were of similar amplitude. This suggests that the exocytosis events do not result from the fusion of vesicles with different sizes but are due to kinetically different states in a fusion process of the same vesicle type. The dwell time histogram of the transient fusion events peaked at about 100 msec. Fusion can be described with a circular three-state model for the fusion process of two fused states and one nonfused state. It predicts that energy input is required to drive the system into a prevailing direction. Received: 27 August 1999/Revised: 28 October 1999