Strategies of plant establishment of two Cerrado species: Byrsonima basiloba Juss. (Malpighiaceae) and Eugenia dysenterica Mart. ex DC (Myrtaceae)

This study investigates the initial development of two Cerrado species, Eugenia dysenterica and Byrsonima basiloba. Both species have high ethnobotanical importance and are widely used as a food source as well as in folk medicine. Eugenia dysenterica presented hypogeous cryptocotylar germination and the cotyledons were rich in reserve material. This plant species showed quick root development and after the shoot had produced the first two pairs of eophyls, the seedling went into a latent state for at least 1 year. Byrsonima basiloba had a hard endocarp, which had to be broken to facilitate germination. This species showed epigeous phanerocotylar germination. Similarly to E. dysenterica, B. basiloba roots also developed rapidly; however, the aerial part grew continuously and did not show a latent period. Moreover, within the first 6 months of cultivation B. basiloba developed a xylopodium. The strategies for seed dispersal and breakage of seed dormancy were different between the species, but their initial growth showed several similarities.     

Distribution pattern of air pollution and epiphytic lichens in the Osaka Plain (Japan)

The geographic distributions of two common species of epiphytic lichens,Phaeophyscia limbata (Poelt) Kashiw. andLecanora pulverulenta Müll. Arg., on city park trees in the Osaka Plain and their relation to the distribution of SO₂ and NO₂ was examined. The concentrations of SO₂ and NO₂ are greater in the central area of this plain, and decrease with distance from the center. The frequency ofL. pulverulenta is lowest in the central area, and increases gradually toward the periphery. In contrast, the frequency ofP. limbata is highest in the intermediate area, and lower in the central and peripheral areas, i.e. at intermediate SO₂ and NO₂ concentrations. We conclude thatL. pulverulenta is more useful thanP. limbata as a bioindicator of air pollutants such as SO₂ and NO₂.     

Range-wide genetic differentiation of Eugenia dysenterica (Myrtaceae) populations in Brazilian Cerrado

The analysis of geographic patterns in genetic variation has been one of the most important current tools to understand ecological and evolutionary processes underlying population structure. However, inferring such processes from population data may be misleading if biased geographic samples are analyzed. Here we expand previous analyses of Eugenia dysenterica population structure in Brazilian Cerrado, analyzing a larger number of populations distributed throughout a broader geographic region covering most of species' range. We provide new estimates of genetic diversity and population structure based on SSR markers from both neutral and genic regions, using several cluster and ordination techniques. These analyzes reveal a continuous northwestern-southeastern gradient in population differentiation, and not two distinct clusters of populations as suggested in some previous studies. This more comprehensive analysis also reinforces that a simple process of stochastic differentiation do not explain the observed patterns. Moreover, we conclude that explanations for population differentiation may focus on why genetic diversity decreases toward southeastern populations and not necessarily on barriers and interruption of gene flow creating regional patterns of population differentiation.     

Diversity of some insect fauna in industrial and non-industrial areas of West Bengal, India

The present work is designed to study diversity of five insect orders (viz., Hemiptera, Orthoptera, aculeate Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera) in the industrial region of Haldia (India) and in non-industrial area of the same district and to evaluate the impact of industrialization on the biodiversity of those insect orders. The objective also extended to find out the possibility of existence of bioindicator, if any. Eight study sites were selected from the East part of Midnapur district covering 40 km aerial distance. Out of eight different study sites, five were distributed in and around Haldia industrial complex and three in industry-free area. During this study, a total of 120 species under 98 genera in 37 families of insects were collected. Binary data of 5 orders revealed that the species richness of Hemiptera, Orthoptera and Lepidoptera is higher in non-industrial zone in comparison to that of industrial zone. Aculeate Hymenoptera shows no particular trend whereas Coleoptera shows higher species richness in industrial areas. Results of multivariate analyses are compared with the species richness data for all the eight study sites. It is concluded that even in an apparently homogeneous ecological condition species richness may drastically change with the influence of industries. Total insect fauna decline by at least 23.33% is noticed in industrial areas. It is found that some species of lepidopteran, hemipteran and orthopteran insects are susceptible to industrial pollution and some of the members of these orders may be considered as a bioindicator group.     

The effect of air pollution from nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on epiphytic lichens in Seville, Spain

The effect of air pollution from nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) on the epiphytic lichens of the city of Seville (Spain) has been studied. Indices of air purity (IAP) were calculated, based on the lichen flora ofMelia azedarach L. present at 25 stations distributed through the city. The arrangement and classification of the stations by principal component analysis and cluster analysis, respectively, enabled the study area to be zoned into four zones of air purity. Accordingly, the zonal map of air purity for the city of Seville yields a gradient of air purity that is very steep from the centre to the outskirts. The dependence of 77.6% of IAP variability with NO₂ pollution levels detected with air emission sensors distributed through the city suggests the relationship between NO₂ levels and zones of air purity.     

Harvesting Increases Reproductive Activity in Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel (Apocynaceae), a Non‐Timber Forest Product of the Brazilian Savanna

The harvesting of non‐timber forest products (NTFP) can influence the pattern of resource allocation in plants, affecting their growth, survival, and reproduction. However, only a small number of studies have addressed the impacts of NTFP harvesting on the reproductive phenology of the exploited species. The aim of this observational study was to assess the effects of harvesting and climatic variables on the reproductive phenology of Himatanthus drasticus, a highly exploited medicinal tree from the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado). We evaluated the effects of two different debarking levels (50 and 100%) in comparison to a control (no harvesting). We performed monthly counts of the number of buds, flowers in anthesis, unripe and ripe fruits in each sampled tree (intensity index), as well as the number of trees in each phenophase (activity index), over 2 yr. We used circular statistics tools to compare the effects of each treatment on flower and fruit production and to test whether the reproductive peaks were related to climatic variables. Both the activity and intensity indexes exhibited the same patterns; flower and fruit production were lower in the control, intermediate in the 50 percent debarking group and higher in the 100 percent debarking group. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of NTFP to demonstrate an increase in reproductive activity after several years of harvesting. All phenophases were positively correlated with higher temperature and precipitation, as it is common in the Cerrado.     

苔藓植物对西南部分地区大气污染(包括酸雨)的指示意义的初步研究

本文在对我国西南部分酸雨污染重区的树附生苔藓的种类、分布、盖度和频度的野外调查基础上,计算了各样点的大气净度指数(IAP)。据此,可将样区划分为:1)严重污染区,树附生苔藓0～2种,IAP值10以下,降水pH值3—3.5;2)污染区,树附生苔藓4—13种,IAP值10—30,降水pH值4—5;3)基本纯净区,树附生苔藓19种以上,IAP值40—90,降水pH值5.5—6.5。人工模拟酸雨对苔藓植物生长的影响的实验表明,pH3.0以下酸雨可使大部分苔藓种类在半年内死亡;pH4.5酸雨使80％苔藓植物在1年时间内死亡,但少数抗酸性种类,在pH3.0酸雨下仍生长良好。     

Genetic differentiation among three neighboring Brazil-cherry (Eugenia uniflora L.) populations within the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest

Eugenia uniflora L. (pitanga) is widely distributed in tropical areas. It is present in coastal vegetation from Ceara, in northeastern Brazil, to Rio Grande do Sul, at the southern tip of the country. Eugenia uniflora is of ecological importance, both as colonizing species on disturbed land and as food supplier for a wide variety of insects, birds and mammals. Pitanga plays a role in the maintenance of shrubby coastal ecosystems, especially at disturbed sites, and in 'restinga' ecosystems, at the interface between low forest and strand vegetation. To investigate the genetic diversity residing within the species, three neighboring populations at a distance of less than 24 km from each other, with varying degrees of human impact, were studied. The level of genetic diversity within and between populations was assessed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) methodology. A total of 532 AFLP markers were analyzed in 66 individual trees. The polymorphism level varied from 61.2 to 96% depending on the primer combination used. Intra- and inter-population genetic diversity analysis showed that more than 88% of the variation resided within the populations, with a G_st of 0.123. Nevertheless, using neighbor joining (NJ) and principal component analysis (PCA), on the genetic distance (GD) data, permitted the three analyzed populations to be differentiated.     

园林绿化植物对大气二氧化硫和氟化物污染的净化能力及修复功能

研究32种盆栽于佛山市污染区的城市园林绿化植物对大气二氧化硫(SO2)和氟化物的净化能力及其对大气污染的修复功能。结果显示,竹节树、傅园榕等14种植物对SO2、氟化物等污染气体不但具有较强的抗性,而且具有较高的吸收净化能力,叶片平均含硫量达17442(11754—27658mg kg^-1 DW),是清洁区(5988mg kg^-1 DW)的2．9倍;平均含氟量达3725．9(1954．9—5331.7mg kg^-1 DW),是清洁区(1703：mg kg^-1DW)的21倍。表明这些植物对大气SO2、HF复合污染具有很好的净化能力和修复功能。是值得推广的城市园林绿化树种。     

大气SO2、氟化物对植物生理生态指标的影响

运用多元回归分析方法研究不同污染区生长的植物叶片的生理生态指标的变化与大气硫酸盐化速率及氟化物浓度的关系.结果表明,植物的叶面积(LA)、叶绿素总量(Chl)、细胞液pH值(pH)和细胞质膜透性(CML电导率)等生理生态指标的变化幅度与大气污染物含量呈显著相关.与大气硫酸盐化速率关系式为Ys=0.034XLA-0.011XChl+0.017XpH+40.0003XCML+0.034(r=0.99,p＜0.001);与大气氟化物含量的关系式为YF=0.362XLA+0.329XChl+0.814XpH+0.024XCML-4.596(r=0.947,p＜0.03).利用这些生理生态指标的变化幅度作为生物监测的指标来评价不同污染区的大气硫氧化物、氟化物的污染状况,与大气监测结果有很高的一致性,并且与实际环境污染状况相符.     

Atmospheric element deposit on tree barks: The opposite effects of rain and transpiration

The elemental composition of the deposit formed on the bark of ash-trees was studied over several months on stems ranging from 3 months to 10 years. For this purpose (1) the total elemental composition of the deposit, (2) the structure and composition of the solid particles and (3) the deposit dry weight per dm² were studied. Concurrently the part of this superficial deposit washed out by rain during 3.5 months was sampled at each rain event and its elemental composition analyzed. This study shows that the deposit was submitted to an intense turnover, with an average leaching-out flux reaching approximately 27 mg dm⁻² month⁻¹ and a very low increase of the deposit weight per dm² during the first five years and almost null afterwards. The origin of this superficial deposit was investigated. The main part (78 ± 10%) was organic matter originating from the atmospheric deposition or from the tree. The inorganic content originated partly from the atmosphere, with geogenic and anthropogenic particles, and also from the tree, in which it was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy - energy dispersive X-ray that a non-negligible part was obtained from bark transpiration, inducing a superficial deposit, mainly of Ca or K in the area surrounding the lenticels. All those results demonstrate that this bark superficial deposit is a complex matrix which must not be considered as a simple cumulative archive but which seems to be the source of interesting information targeting mostly recent atmospheric pollution pressures, when compared to the bulk of suber integrated particles.     

模拟硫酸型、硝酸型及其混合型酸雨对油菜生理特性、生长和产量的影响

为了了解我国酸雨污染由硫酸型向硫-硝酸复合型转变所引起的环境效应,以油菜(Brassicanapus)为供试材料,在大田试验条件下,系统研究了模拟硫酸型(SAR)、硝酸型(NAR)及其混合型(MAR)酸雨对农作物生理特性、生长和产量的影响。结果表明,3种酸雨胁迫均能抑制油菜生理、生长和产量形成,但不同类型的酸雨间的抑制效应存在差异。当pH≤4.1时,SAR、NAR、MAR能破坏油菜叶质膜系统、降低光合色素含量及光合速率,从而抑制作物的光合作用;当pH≤3.1时,油菜叶面积减小,叶受害百分率明显增加。pH=4.1可作为酸雨对油菜产量的影响阈值。在pH=7.0–1.5的酸度范围内,油菜叶片膜透性、丙二醛含量、叶受害百分率表现为NARMARSAR,光合速率、光合色素含量、叶面积及产量则表现出SARMARNAR的变化特征。当pH4.1时,3种酸雨处理间差异均不明显,pH≤3.1时,3种酸雨间的胁迫效应差异显著增加(p0.05),且酸度越强,差异越大,其变化趋势为NARMARSAR。说明NAR和MAR胁迫对油菜生理、生长及产量的抑制较大。     

Genotoxic effects of Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. Ex DC.) Standl. (Lamiales, Bignoniaceae) extract in Wistar rats

Tabebuia sp. is native to tropical rain forests throughout Central and South America. Although the biological and pharmacological effects of bark extracts have been intensely studied, little is known on the extract obtained from the flower. Herein, the genotoxic potential of a flower extract from T. impetiginosa ("ipê roxo") on the blood and liver cells of Wistar rats was evaluated. Experimental procedures involved only male animals. Graduated concentrations of the extract, viz., 100, 300 and 500 mg kg(-1) of body weight, were gavage-administered and 24 h latter cells were collected and processed for analysis. With the exception of the 100 mg kg(-1) dose, a significant increase in DNA damage was noted, when compared with a negative control group. Although the genotoxic potential of this extract was higher in liver cells, the response in both tissues was related to dose-dependency. Even though DNA damage can be corrected before conversion into mutations, further study is recommended to arrive at a better understanding of incurred biological effects.     

Effects of simulated acid rain on the physiology of carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduvals) (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract:  The physiological effect of simulated acid rain sprayed on carmine spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduvals) and host plant, were measured in a series of laboratory trials. We examined potential changes in three kinds of protective enzymes [peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] and three hydrolases [acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and carboxylesterase (CarE)] in response to changes in pH values of simulated acid rain at different time of exposure. POD, SOD and CAT activities increased significantly with the increase in the acidity of the acid rain, reaching the highest levels at pH 4.0 or 3.0, and then declined. Changes in ACP activity were similar to those observed in the protective enzymes. The increasing extent of the activities of these four enzymes after 30 and 45 days treatment became smaller than that after 15 days treatment . ALP activities decreased as pH value declined. There were no significant changes in CarE activities after 15 and 45 days, but that in pH 4.0 and 3.0 decreased after 30 days. The enhanced anti-oxidation enzyme levels (POD, SOD and CAT) and ACP activities in pH 4.0 and 3.0 reduced the effects of these toxic products on mites, resulting in the strengthening of the defensive power, and increase in survival and reproductive power of the mites, thus leading to an increase in the density of mites on host plant. From these results, we inferred that POD, SOD, CAT and ACP might be relevant to population changes of mites under acid rain pressure.     

水花生Actin基因片段的克隆及序列分析

肌动蛋白基因编码生物体内一种很重要的组成型表达蛋白质,常被看作看家基因。为分离水花生肌动蛋白基因,根据GenBank上一藜科植物的———Actin基因的EST序列,分别设计引物,提取水花生根的总RNA,对上述的基因片断进行RT—PCR,扩增后测序得到230bp长的核苷酸序列。经同源性比较,这条序列与上述藜科植物Actin的EST序列基本一致,表明获得了水花生肌动蛋白序列。     

Fluoride levels in water and fish from Lake Magadi (Kenya)

Water entering Lake Magadi from a spring contained 73 mg fluoride (F)1^-1, while samples taken 100 and 400 m from the spring were estimated to contain 110 and 140 mg F 1^-1. Evaporation apparently increased the F and salt concentrations to levels at which the common method of F analyses became unreliable, even after dilution. It is recommended to re-examine the very high F levels reported in the saline lakes of Rift Valley. The F levels of Tilapia grahami living in water with about 110 mg F 1^-1 averaged (mg F kg^-1 dry weight): fillet 68, skin 819, gills 1,366 and bones 1,661. The variation was highest in fillet and skin. There was no positive correlation between tissue F levels and fish size (range 3–20 g). It remains uncertain whether the fish bone was saturated at this concentration of F or if some mechanism of elimination hindered higher F accumulation in the skeletal structures.author for correspondenceauthor for correspondence     

The effects of phosphate supply on growth of plants from the Brasilian Cerrado: experiments with seedlings of the annual weed,Bidens gardneri Baker (Compositeae) and the tree,Qualea grandiflora (Mart.) (Vochysiaceae)

Summary Plants of the cerrado tree species Qualea grandiflora and the annual herb Bidens gardneri were grown from seed in controlled environment rooms at 30/20° C and 12 hour photoperiod. Seedlings were grown in pots or small tubes containing sand and provided with various amounts of mineral solutions based on the formulation of Hoagland and Arnon but with the phosphate content modified in some cases. In a long-term experiment lasting 213 days, plants supplied with full strength Hoagland's solution all died but plants of Qualea given 1/10 strength solution survived, although they grew very slowly. Low relative growth rates (0.008–0.036 d^–1) were also a feature of other experiments with Qualea and calculated rates of net assimilation rate gave values of 3–7 mg CO₂ dm^–2 h^–1. Expansion of the photosynthetic surface proceeded slowly and the cotyledons were the main site of photosynthesis for more than 40 days. The low rates of growth occurred despite significant uptake of phosphorus by young plants and in shortterm experiments growth was independent of the amount of phosphate supplied and accumulated. In contrast, the values of R found for plants of Bidens reached 0.24 d^–1. Growth of young plants was dependent on the external supply of phosphorus, being reduced when this was low and also when it was very high. Growth of the photosynthetic surface was also much more rapid than for Qualea and also varied with supply of phosphorus. The results are discussed in the context of the occurrence of these species in the Cerrado.     

The intestinal parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala) interferes with the uptake and accumulation of lead (210Pb) in its fish host chub (Leuciscus cephalus)

Uninfected chub as well as fish experimentally infected with the acanthocephalan parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis were exposed to ²¹⁰Pb²⁺ for up to 38 days and the uptake and distribution of lead within different fish organs and the parasites was determined at various time points. Highest metal concentrations were detected in the acanthocephalans, followed by intestine, bile, liver, gill and muscle of the fish host. Infected chub had significantly lower ²¹⁰Pb levels in the gills on day 17 (P≤0.01), in the bile on day 24 (P≤0.05) and in the gills as well as in the intestine on day 38 compared with uninfected fish. A subsequent polynomial regression revealed that lead levels for the infected fish ranged below the levels determined for uninfected fish during most of the exposure period. This is the first proof that P. laevis reduces lead levels in the bile thereby diminishing or even impeding the hepatic intestinal cycling of lead, which may reduce the amount of metals available for the fish organs. This is especially important for ecotoxicological research. For example, organisms used as accumulation indicators may erroneously indicate low levels of pollution if they are infected with parasites which alter their pollutant uptake mechanisms. Additionally, the results gave further experimental evidence for acanthocephalans as accumulation indicators for metals.