Metabolism of homoacetogens

Homoacetogenic bacteria are strictly anaerobic microorganisms that catalyze the formation of acetate from C₁ units in their energy metabolism. Most of these organisms are able to grow at the expense of hydrogen plus CO₂ as the sole energy source. Hydrogen then serves as the electron donor for CO₂ reduction to acetate. The methyl group of acetate is formed from CO₂ via formate and reduced C₁ intermediates bound to tetrahydrofolate. The carboxyl group is derived from carbon monoxide, which is synthesized from CO₂ by carbon monoxide dehydrogenase. The latter enzyme also catalyzes the formation of acetyl-CoA from the methyl group plus CO. Acetyl-CoA is then converted either to acetate in the catabolism or to cell carbon in the anabolism of the bacteria. The homoacetogens are very versatile anaerobes, which convert a variety of different substrates to acetate as the major end product.     

Indirect partitioning of soil respiration in a series of evergreen forest ecosystems

A simple estimation of heterotrophic respiration can be obtained analytically as the y-intercept of the linear regression between soil-surface CO₂ efflux and root biomass. In the present study, a development of this indirect methodology is presented by taking into consideration both the temporal variation and the spatial heterogeneity of heterotrophic respiration. For this purpose, soil CO₂ efflux, soil carbon content and main stand characteristics were estimated in seven evergreen forest ecosystems along an elevation gradient ranging from 250 to 1740 m. For each site and for each sampling date the measured soil CO₂ efflux (R _S) was predicted with the model R _S = a × S _C + b × R _D ± ε, where S _C is soil carbon content per unit area to a depth of 30 cm and R _D is the root density of the 2–5 mm root class. Regressions with statistically significant a and b coefficients allowed the indirect separation of the two components of soil CO₂ efflux. Considering that the different sampling dates were characterized by different soil temperature, it was possible to investigate the temporal and thermal dependency of autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration. It was estimated that annual autotrophic respiration accounts for 16–58% of total soil CO₂ efflux in the seven different evergreen ecosystems. In addition, our observations show a decrease of annual autotrophic respiration at increasing availability of soil nitrogen. Section Editor: A. Hodge     

Macroinvertebrates associated with Chara in a tropical coastal lagoon (Imboassica lagoon,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil)

Imboassica lagoon is an urban coastal lagoon located in the municipality of Macaé (RJ), which has been exposed to a process of artificial eutrophication through the inflow of untreated sewage, as well as artificial openings of the sandbar that separates it from the ocean, provoking drastic modifications in this ecosystem. The sampling for the analysis of the community of macroinvertebrates associated with Charopyceae (Chara angolensis e C. fibrosa) were performed between October 1995 and October 1997, with a total of 9 samplings at two sampling stations: one located in the innermost area of the lagoon and another at the mouth of the main sewage channel, close to the sandbar. Throughout this period, four artificial sandbar-opening events were recorded, resulting in changes in the biomass of the macroalgae and in the densities of the macroinvertebrate populations. Through the analysis of the density of organisms per square meter, and density of organisms per 100 g dry weight of Chara, it was established that the biomass of the macroalgae has a direct influence on the density of the associated macrofauna. The greater development of the periphytic community in the area close to the inflow of sewage allows for the development of a community of macroinvertebrates with high densities, composed mainly of scraping organisms, such as the mollusc Heleobia australis (Hidrobiidae).     

Environmental heterogeneity patterns and predictive models of chlorophyll a in a Brazilian coastal lagoon

The spatial and temporal patterns of environmental heterogeneity in a Brazilian coastal lagoon were described by means of principal component analysis. Carapebus Lagoon has been subject to eutrophication, due to increased nutrient loading from domestic and industrial sewage. Spatial variations in the trophic state and temporal variations in the degree of marine influence are the major sources of environmental heterogeneity in this lagoon. The close and significant relation between total phosphorus and chlorophyll a (r² = 60, p <0.05), and the high TN:TP ratios (up to 50:1) suggest that phosphorus might be the major nutrient controlling phytoplankton biomass in this lagoon. However, nitrogen might be more important as a growth-limiting nutrient in the eutrophic site of the lagoon, where high total phosphorus concentration (up to 338 μg l-1) and low TN:TP mass ratios (<10:1) were found. In a multiple regression model, total phosphorus and electric conductivity explained together a high and significant (R²=0.86, p < 0.001) amount of variance in chlorophyll yields. This predictive model of chlorophyll a is important as a tool for Carapebus lagoon management because it allows one to predict the algal biomass development of the lagoon in response to nutrients and marine water inputs resulting from man's activities. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Leaf carbon isotope ratios of plants from a subtropical monsoon forest

Summary Carbon isotope ratios were used to survey the distribution of photosynthetic pathways among taxa, the relationship between photosynthetic pathway and habitat light levels, and the relationship between intercellular CO₂ levels of C₃ plants and habitat light levels within a subtropical monsoon forest in southern China. Of 128 species, most (94) possessed the C₃ photosynthetic pathway; 33 species possessed the C₄ pathway and all of these were restricted to high light locations. There was one epiphytic CAM species. The C₃ species were classified as occurring in open, intermediate, and closed canopy sites. Among C₃ species, carbon isotope ratios tended to become more negative with decreasing light availability in the habitat.C.I.W.D.P.B. Pub no 931     

Photosynthetic Metabolism and Activity of Carboxylating Enzymes in Emergent,Floating, and Submersed Leaves of Hydrophytes

Radioisotope techniques were used to compare photosynthetic CO₂ fixation, activities of carboxylating enzymes, and the composition of photosynthates in 42 species of aquatic plants (emergent, floating, and submersed hydrophytes) collected from rivers Sysert' and Iset' in Sverdlovsk oblast (Russia). The submersed leaves, in comparison with the emergent and floating leaves, featured lower rates of potential photosynthesis (by 2.2 mg CO²/(dm² h) on average), low content of the fraction I protein, and low activity of Rubisco and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC). The averaged activities of Rubisco and PEPC were diminished in submersed leaves by 10 and 1 mg/(dm² h), respectively. Different hydrophyte groups showed similar composition of assimilates accumulated after 5-min photosynthesis and did not differ in this respect from terrestrial plants. However, the incorporation of ¹⁴C into sucrose and starch in submersed leaves (30 and 9% of total labeling, respectively) was lower than in emergent and floating leaves (45 and 15%, respectively). At the same time, the incorporation of ¹⁴C into C₄ acids (malate and aspartate) was 1.5 times higher in submersed leaves than in other leaf types. Analysis of leaf differentiation, the Rubisco/PEPC activity ratio, the PEPC activity, and the composition of primary photosynthates in the pulse–chase experiments revealed no evidence of the C₄ effect in the submersed hydrophytes examined. The adaptation of hydatophytes to specific conditions of an aquatic environment was structurally manifested in the reduction (by a factor of 3–5) in the number of chloroplasts per 1 cm² leaf area. This small number of chloroplasts was responsible for low photosynthetic rates in submersed leaves, although metabolic activities of individual chloroplasts were similar for all three hydrophyte groups.     

中国南亚热带森林不同演替阶段土壤呼吸的分离量化

量化森林土壤呼吸(R_S)及其组分对准确地评估森林土壤碳吸存极其重要。该文以鼎湖山南亚热带季风常绿阔叶林及其演替系列针阔叶混交林和马尾松(Pinus massoniana)林为研究对象, 采用挖壕沟法结合静态气室CO₂测定法对这3种林分类型的R_S进行分离量化。结果表明: 鼎湖山3种森林演替系列上的森林R_S及其组分(自养呼吸R_A、异养呼吸R_H)均呈现出明显的季节动态, 表现为夏季最高、冬季最低的格局。在呼吸总量上, 季风常绿阔叶林显著高于针阔叶混交林和马尾松林, 但混交林与马尾松林之间差异不显著; R_A除季风常绿阔叶林显著大于针阔叶混交林外, 其余林分之间差异不显著; 对于R_H来说, 3个林分之间均无显著差异。随着森林正向演替的进行, 由马尾松林至针阔叶混交林至季风常绿阔叶林, R_A对土壤总呼吸的年平均贡献率分别为(39.48 ± 15.49)%、(33.29 ± 17.19)%和(44.52 ± 10.67)%, 3个林分之间差异不显著。方差分析结果表明, 土壤温度是影响R_S及其组分的主要环境因子, 温度与R_S及其组分呈显著的指数关系; 土壤含水量对R_S的影响不显著, 甚至表现为轻微的抑制现象, 但未达到显著性水平。对温度敏感性指标Q₁₀值的分析表明, 3个林分均为R_A的温度敏感性最大, R_H的温度敏感性最小。     

Scaling of Pelagic Metabolism to Size,Trophy and Forest Cover in Small Danish Lakes

ABSTRACT We tested whether pelagic light and nutrient availability, metabolism, organic pools and CO₂-supersaturation were related to lake size and surrounding forest cover in late summer–autumn measurements among 64 small (0.02–20 ha), shallow seepage lakes located in nutrient-rich, calcareous moraine soils in North Zealand, Denmark. We found a strong implicit scaling to lake size as light availability increased significantly with lake size while nutrient availability, phytoplankton biomass and dissolved organic matter declined. Forest lakes had significantly stronger net heterotrophic traits than open lakes as higher values were observed for light attenuation above and in the water, dissolved organic matter, pelagic community respiration (R) relative to maximum gross primary production (R/GPP) and CO₂-supersaturation. Total-phosphorus was the main predictor of phytoplankton biomass (Chl) despite a much weaker relationship than observed in previous studies of larger lakes. Maximum gross primary production increased with algal biomass and decreased with dissolved organic matter, whereas community respiration increased with dissolved organic matter and particularly with gross primary production. These results suggest that exogenous organic matter supplements primary production as an energy source to heterotrophs in these small lakes, and particularly so in forest lakes experiencing substantial shading from the forest and dissolved humic material. This suggestion is supported by 20–30-fold CO₂ supersaturation in the surface water of the smallest forest lakes and more than sixfold supersaturation in 75% of all measurements making these lakes among the most supersaturated temperate lakes examined so far.     

Glutaric Acid Administration Impairs Energy Metabolism in Midbrain and Skeletal Muscle of Young Rats

A genetic mice model of glutaric acidemia type I (GAI) has recently been developed, however affected animals do not develop the striatal damage characteristic of patients with this disorder. Therefore, the initial aim of the present work was to induce high glutaric acid (GA) concentrations in rat brain similar to those found in GAI patients through subcutaneous injection of GA. High brain GA concentrations (up to 0.60 μmol/g ≅ 0.60mM) were achieved by a single subcutaneous injection of saline-buffered GA (5 μmol/g body weight) to Wistar rats of 7–22 days of life. GA brain levels were about 10-fold lower than in plasma and 5-fold lower than in skeletal and cardiac muscles, indicating that the permeability of the blood brain barrier to GA is low. We also aimed to use this model to investigate neurochemical parameters in the animals. Thus, we evaluated the effect of this model on energy metabolism parameters in midbrain, in which the striatum is localized, as well as in peripheral tissues (skeletal and cardiac muscles) of 22-day-old rats. Control rats were treated with saline in the same volumes. We verified that CO₂ production from glucose was not altered in midbrain of rats treated with GA, indicating a normal functioning of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Creatine kinase activity was also not changed in midbrain, skeletal and cardiac muscles. In contrast, complex I–III activity of the respiratory chain was inhibited in midbrain (25%), while complexes I–III (25%) and II–III (15%) activities were reduced in skeletal muscle, with no alterations found in cardiac muscle. These data indicate that GA administration moderately impairs cellular energy metabolism in midbrain and skeletal muscle of young rats.     

植被对亚热带城市生态系统CO2通量的影响

城市是陆地生态系统的主要碳源,而城市植被是城市区域缓解人类活动所释放的二氧化碳的主要碳汇,但对城市植被对城市大气二氧化碳的影响方面的研究比较缺乏,尤其是发展中国家。发展中国家多数处于亚热带气候区,且发展中国家城市化进程较快,为推进不同生态系统类型碳循环的研究,该研究以位于中国东南部的上海市奉贤大学城为案例,研究该区域植被对亚热带城市生态系统CO_2通量的影响。使用上海市奉贤大学城的涡动相关通量观测站点所观测和记录的2016年10月1日至2017年9月30日共计12个月的通量,气象数据结合遥感数据分析了该研究区的CO_2通量动态特征及其影响因子,主要结论是:(1)整个生态系统全年CO_2通量总交换量为9664.06μmol m~(-2)a~(-1)即表现为碳源。CO_2通量增长率在2017年5月6日达到最低为-4.48μmol m~(-2)d~(-1)在2017年7月30日的CO_2通量增长率为0,在2017年8月30日达到最高为2.24μmol m~(-2)d~(-1),生长季CO_2通量交换量为2169.58μmol m~(-2)月~(-1)低于非生长季的CO_2通量交换量(7494.48μmol m~(-2)月~(-1));(2)不同风区的CO_2通量特征不同,主要表现为随着植被面积的上升CO_2通量有下降的趋势,生长季CO_2通量均值的最低值出现在西北风区为0.09μmol m~(-2)s~(-1);(3) CO_2通量与叶面积指数呈现负相关关系,即随着叶面积指数的上升CO_2通量有下降的趋势。植物的生长状况和其生理活动影响亚热带城市生态系统的碳循环过程,该研究可以为量化城市植被对大气二氧化碳的影响提供参考,同时为亚热带地区建设绿色低碳城市提供服务。     

Non-phototrophic CO 2 fixation by soil microorganisms

Although soils are generally known to be a net source of CO₂ due to microbial respiration, CO₂ fixation may also be an important process. The non-phototrophic fixation of CO₂ was investigated in a tracer experiment with ¹⁴CO₂ in order to obtain information about the extent and the mechanisms of this process. Soils were incubated for up to 91 days in the dark. In three independent incubation experiments, a significant transfer of radioactivity from ¹⁴CO₂ to soil organic matter was observed. The process was related to microbial activity and could be enhanced by the addition of readily available substrates such as acetate. CO₂ fixation exhibited biphasic kinetics and was linearly related to respiration during the first phase of incubation (about 20–40 days). The fixation amounted to 3–5% of the net respiration. After this phase, the CO₂ fixation decreased to 1–2% of the respiration. The amount of carbon fixed by an agricultural soil corresponded to 0.05% of the organic carbon present in the soil at the beginning of the experiment, and virtually all of the fixed CO₂ was converted to organic compounds. Many autotrophic and heterotrophic biochemical processes result in the fixation of CO₂. However, the enhancement of the fixation by addition of readily available substrates and the linear correlation with respiration suggested that the process is mainly driven by aerobic heterotrophic microorganisms. We conclude that heterotrophic CO₂ fixation represents a significant factor of microbial activity in soils.     

Winter microbial activity in Lake Tuusulanjärvi

Microbial heterotrophic activity, dark CO₂ assimilation, primary productivity and microbial ATP were measured monthly in the extremely eutrophic Lake Tuusulanjärvi during the winter of 1979–1980. Because of continuous water circulation caused by low temperature and artificial aeration of the lake, no winter stratification developed. Very low summertime ³H-glucose turnover times of 5 h increased to a level of 10–20 h from August to January. Winter maximum of 110 h was measured in March, and turnover times returned to 10–20 h in April, before the vernal bloom of algae occured. Oxygen saturation remained over 46% during the winter.High primary productivity was observed in November (400–500 mg C m^–3 day^–1), and measurable productivity was detected under ice in January (80 mg C m^–3 day^–1). Dark CO₂ assimilation increased to 14% of primary productivity in March. No correlation was found between ³H-glucose turnover rate and dark CO₂ assimilation. ATP correlated slightly better with primary productivity than with turnover rate. The single concentration method proved to be sensitive for winter heterotrophic activity measurement.     

岩溶区土壤微生物驱动的自养固碳过程与机制研究进展

自养微生物能够利用无机碳作为碳源合成自身营养物质,具有很强的环境适应能力,在富钙偏碱的岩溶区土壤的碳固定过程中扮演重要角色.本文综述了土壤微生物驱动的自养固碳过程、岩溶区土壤固碳功能微生物、自养固碳的分子机制及其产生的生态环境效应,并提出了亟待解决的关键科学问题.为深入研究和认识岩溶区土壤生态系统自养微生物驱动的固碳过...     

Seasonal and areal features of the lagoonal environment in Lake Nakanoumi,a shallow coastal lagoon in Japan

Lake Nakanoumi is a shallow coastal lagoon connected with the Japan Sea by a narrow channel. Over the past decade, land reclamation resulted in a 33% reduction of the lagoon's surface area. The remaining water basin of Lake Nakanoumi is scheduled to be artificially freshened to supply irrigation water for the newly reclaimed lands. This paper deals with the seasonal and areal features of the lagoonal environment prior to the beginning of the artificial desalinization.     

The genus Synchaeta (rotifers) in a north-western Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Etang de Thau, France): taxonomical and ecological remarks

During a survey of a north-western Mediterranean coastal lagoon, (the Etang de Thau, and at a nearby marine station, 1994–1998), six species of the genus Synchaetawere identified. The systematics of this illoricate genus is difficult and identification is virtually impossible in preserved material, although some indication may be obtained from an examination of the trophi after treatment with sodium hypochlorite. In this study, taxonomic characters (mastax, body morphology and egg size) were obtained from living material prior to preservation. We add some ecological observations: distribution of species (neither temperature nor salinity were found to be determining factors), co-existence (up to five species can co-occur) and consideration of trophic links (competition with tintinnids, copepod nauplii and cirripedes).     

Metabolism of trans-ferulic acid by the white-rot fungus sporotrichum pulverulentum

Ferulic acid metabolism was studied in wild-type Sporotrichum pulverulentum and its phenoloxidase-less mutant, Phe 3. High levels of reduced products which included coniferyl aldehyde, dihydroferulic acid and dihydroconiferyl alcohol were detected in culture filtrates. Small amounts of vanillic acid and methoxyhydroquinone were also found. In addition, products which possessed a methylated p-hydroxyl group were identified by mass spectrometry. The phenoloxidase-less mutant gave essentially the same reduced products as the wildtype. These persisted for longer periods in the culture medium. Three fungi known to produce large amounts of phenoloxidases exhibited a markedly different pattern of ferulic acid depletion.Abbreviations BSTFA N,O-bis-(Trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide - Phe 3 phenoloxidase-less mutant     

鸡公山典型落叶阔叶林土壤呼吸对食叶虫灾爆发的响应

土壤呼吸是陆地生态系统碳循环的关键环节之一。随着极端气候事件的频发,森林虫害的发生频率和强度也趋于增加,森林虫害爆发已经是影响森林生态系统碳循环过程的一种重要的自然干扰。气候过渡带典型森林生态系统虫灾的爆发是否会影响土壤的碳排放过程目前仍不清楚。本研究利用鸡公山地区麻栎-枫香混交林大规模爆发食叶性害虫的机会,比较虫灾爆发当年(2014)与正常年份(2015)的土壤碳排放通量,以阐明森林虫灾爆发对土壤碳排放通量的影响。结果表明:虫灾爆发当年7、8、9、10月份土壤平均温度比正常年份相应各月份分别高0.26、0.51、0.83、0.07℃,土壤呼吸分别显著提高了129.9%、77.1%、61.6%和58.9%。虫灾爆发年份生长季的平均土壤呼吸为3.55μmol m~(-2)s~(-1),比正常年份(2.77μmol m~(-2)s~(-1))高36.2%;生长季期间的平均土壤异养呼吸比正常年份增加了29.7%。该研究表明森林食叶虫害的爆发至少在短期内可导致森林土壤碳排放量呈显著的增加趋势,近而对森林生态系统土壤碳库积累产生重要影响。因此,充分认识病虫害对森林生态系统的干扰和影响,将有助于陆地生态系统碳循环的准确估算和模拟。     

中国东部亚热带森林土壤呼吸的时空格局

土壤呼吸是陆地碳循环中仅次于全球总初级生产力的第二大碳通量途径, 揭示土壤呼吸的时空格局对整个陆地碳循环具有重要意义。该文在中国东部亚热带季风气候区, 按纬度梯度由南向北选取深圳梧桐山、杨东山十二度水保护区、宁波天童山3个区域作为研究对象, 于2009年8月至2010年10月测定了不同季节各个区域内代表性植被类型的土壤呼吸速率及地下5 cm处土壤温度, 旨在初步了解中国东部亚热带森林地区土壤呼吸的时空格局及其影响因素。结果显示: 3个区域的土壤呼吸速率均存在显著的季节变化, 其变幅为2.64-6.24 μmol CO₂·m ^-2·s^-1, 总体趋势和地下5 cm处土壤温度的季节变化一致, 均为夏季最高冬季最低; 土壤温度的变化可以解释不同样地土壤呼吸季节变化的58.3%-90.2%; 各样地全年的Q₁₀值从1.56到3.27; 通过离样地最近的气象站点的日平均气温与试验样地地下5 cm处土壤温度之间的线性正相关关系推算出日土壤温度的变化, 利用土壤呼吸速率和地下5 cm处土壤温度之间的指数关系, 估算出各样地全年的土壤CO₂通量为1 077-2 058 g C·m^-2·a^-1, 在全球所有生态系统类型中处于较高水平。     

CO2 exchange under varying light intensities in some under- and overtemperature subtropical tree species

CO₂ exchange, transpiration and stomatal conductance of 39 subtropical tree species were studied under five light intensities at around atmospheric air temperatures found in subtropics during the active growth period of these species. Photosynthesis rates under different light intensities were strongly dependent on leaf to air temperature differences (T). Based on T, 39 species fell in two distinct categories namely, undertemperature and overtemperature. Majority of the species in the former group were found to have relatively higher rate of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration as well as water use efficiency. These species also showed higher light saturation for photosynthesis. The significance of the results is discussed in terms of adaptive potential in the two types of species.     

The Influence of Leaf "Windows" on Crassulacean Acid Metabolism in the South African Succulent Senecio Rowleyanus (Asteraceae)

Net CO₂ exchange rate (P_N) of shoots and diel fluctuations in titratable acidity of leaves of Senecio rowleyanus were measured to determine whether penetration of radiant energy through leaf “windows” (narrow, translucent strips on the leaf epidermis) resulted in increased CAM. Nocturnal P_N and nighttime increases in acidity were compared among plants with windows covered with reflective adhesive tape, transparent adhesive tape (to control for potential effects of the adhesive), and no tape. The windows did not significantly enhance the degree of CAM in S. rowleyanus. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.