Bioactive compounds from Stuhlmannia moavi from the Madagascar dry forest

Bioassay-directed fractionation of the leaf and root extracts of the antiproliferative Madagascar plant Stuhlmannia moavi afforded 6-acetyl-5,8-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-7-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (stuhlmoavin, 1) as the most active compound, with an IC₅₀ value of 8.1 μM against the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line, as well as the known homoisoflavonoid bonducellin (2) and the stilbenoids 3,4,5′-trihydroxy-3′-methoxy-trans-stilbene (3), piceatannol (4), resveratrol (5), rhapontigenin (6), and isorhapontigenin (7). The structure elucidation of all compounds was based on NMR and mass spectroscopic data, and the structure of 1 was confirmed by a single crystal X-ray analysis. Compounds 2?5 showed weak A2780 activities, with IC₅₀ values of 10.6, 54.0, 41.0, and 74.0 μM, respectively. Compounds 1?3 also showed weak antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with IC₅₀ values of 23, 26, and 27 μM, respectively.     

Litterflow chemistry and nutrient uptake from the forest floor in northwest Amazonian forest ecosystems

Samples of the fraction of net rainfall passing through the forest floor collected at monthly intervals in four pristine forests in Colombian Amazonia, during the period between 1995–1997 were analysed for solute concentrations to estimate the element fluxes from the forest floor into the mineral soil and root nutrient uptake from these forest floors. Results were compared with inputs by throughfall, stemflow, litterfall and fine root decay. Element concentrations were tested for their relationship with litterflow amounts, rainfall intensity and length of the antecedent dry period and differences in element fluxes between ecosystems were assessed. Concentrations of elements in litterflow followed a similar pattern as those in throughfall, which indicates that element outputs from the forest floor are strongly related to those inputs in throughfall. In the forests studied, the average concentrations of elements as K, Mg, orthoP and the pH of the litterflow decreased relative to that in throughfall in most events, while the concentration of elements such as dissolved organic carbon, H, SO₄ and Si increased in litterflow from these forests. Element concentrations in litterflow showed a poor correlation with variables such as litterflow amounts, rainfall intensity and antecedent dry period, except for K which showed a significant correlation (p>0.95) with analysed variables in all forests. Outputs were significantly different between forests (p>0.95); these fluxes, which particularly concerned cations, being the largest in the flood plain, while for anions outputs increased from the flood plain to the sedimentary plain. After adding the nutrient contributed by litter decomposition and fine root decay, the net outputs of main elements from the forest floors were still smaller than inputs by net precipitation (throughfall+stemflow) indicating that the litter layers clearly acted as a sink for most nutrients. Accordingly, the element balances confirm that the forest floors acted as a sink for nutrients coming in by throughfall, stemflow, litterfall and fine root decomposition. P, Mg and N appeared to be the most limiting nutrients and the forests studied efficiently recycled these nutrients.     

Polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers from forest biomass

The potential for the use of woody biomass in poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis is reviewed. Based on previously cited work indicating incorporation of xylose or levulinic acid (LA) into PHAs by several bacterial strains, we have initiated a study for exploring bioconversion of forest resources to technically relevant copolymers. Initially, PHA was synthesized in shake-flask cultures of Burkholderia cepacia grown on 2.2% (w/v) xylose, periodically amended with varying concentrations of levulinic acid [0.07–0.67% (w/v)]. Yields of poly(β-hydroxybutyrate-co-β-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)] from 1.3 to 4.2 g/l were obtained and could be modulated to contain from 1.0 to 61 mol% 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV), as determined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR analyses. No evidence for either the 3HB or 4HV monomers was found. Characterization of these P(3HB-co-3HV) samples, which ranged in molecular mass (viscometric, M _v) from 511–919 kDa, by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) provided data which were in agreement for previously reported P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymers. For these samples, it was noted that melting temperature (T _m) and glass transition temperature (T _g) decreased as a function of 3HVcontent, with T _m demonstrating a pseudoeutectic profile as a function of mol% 3HV content. In order to extend these findings to the use of hemicellulosic process streams as an inexpensive carbon source, a detoxification procedure involving sequential overliming and activated charcoal treatments was developed. Two such detoxified process hydrolysates (NREL CF: aspen and CESF: maple) were each fermented with appropriate LA supplementation. For the NREL CF hydrolysate-based cultures amended with 0.25–0.5% LA, P(3HB-co-3HV) yields, PHA contents (PHA as percent of dry biomass), and mol% 3HV compositions of 2.0 g/l, 40% (w/w), and 16–52 mol% were obtained, respectively. Similarly, the CESF hydrolysate-based shake-flask cultures yielded 1.6 g/l PHA, 39% (w/w) PHA contents, and 4–67 mol% 3HV compositions. These data are comparable to copolymer yields and cellular contents reported for hexose plus levulinic acid-based shake-flask cultures, as reported using Alcaligenes eutrophus and Pseudomonas putida. However, our findings presage a conceivable alternative, forestry-based biorefinery approach for the production of value-added biodegradable PHA polymers. Specifically, this review describes the current and potential utilization of lignocellulosic process streams as platform precursors to PHA polymers including hemicellulosic hydrolysates, residual cellulose-derived levulinic acid, tall oil fatty acids (Kraft pulping residual), and lignin-derived aromatics.     

Streptosporangium isolated from forest litter in the Netherlands

Summary The organism described byCouch asStreptosporangium was isolated from forest litter in the Netherlands and Denmark. The development of this organism is followed in detail. Tevens verschenen als Mededeling Nr.36 I.T.B.O.N.     

Urban forest fragments as unexpected sanctuaries for the rare endemic ghost butterfly from the Atlantic forest

Anthropogenic land expansion, particularly urbanization, is pervasive, dramatically modifies the environment and is a major threat to wildlife with its associated environmental stressors. Urban remnant vegetation can help mitigate these impacts and could be vital for species unable to survive in harsh urban environments. Although resembling nonurban habitats, urban vegetation remnants are subject to additional environmental stresses. Here, we evaluate the occurrence and density of the endemic ghost butterfly (Morpho epistrophus nikolajewna) that was once common, in the highly fragmented Atlantic forest of NE Brazil. We tested whether this butterfly would be found at lower densities in urban forest fragments of contrasting sizes as opposed to rural ones, given the number of environmental stressors found in urban areas. We surveyed 14 forest fragments (range 2.8 to over 3,000 ha) of semideciduous Atlantic forest in rural and urban locations using transect based distance sampling. The ghost butterflies showed strong seasonality; flying only from April to June. They were only identified in an urban fragment (515 ha), with an estimate of 720 individuals and a density 1.4 ind/ha. All forest fragments had experienced some level of logging in the past, which might have had an effect in the butterfly population. Nevertheless, rural forest fragments were subject to increased particulate matter concentrations, associated to biomass burning that we suggest might have had a more influential role driving the collapse of rural populations. Our findings show the importance of urban forest remnants to sustain population of this endangered species.     

Cardenolides of Leptadenia madagascariensis from the Madagascar dry forest

Investigation of the endemic Madagascar plant Leptadenia madagascariensis Decne. (Apocynaceae) for antiproliferative activity against the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line led to the isolation of the four new cardenolides 1-4. The structure elucidations of these compounds were based on analyzes of their 1D and 2D NMR spectra and mass spectrometric data. The cardenolides were strongly antiproliferative to the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line, with IC₅₀ values of 0.18, 0.21, 0.17, and 0.29 ??M line, and to the H460 human lung cancer cell line, with IC₅₀ values of 0.16, 0.68, 0.37, and 0.48 ??M, respectively.     

吉林省主要林型森林火灾的碳量释放

火是森林生态系统主要的干扰因子,森林火灾的频繁发生不仅使森林生态系统遭到破坏,同时也造成了含碳温室气体的大量释放。国际上对森林火灾释放温室气体的研究越来越多,中国学者也对我国森林火灾释放的温室气体进行了研究。当前,对森林火灾释放碳量的估算主要应用平均生物量数据,而不是应用每次森林火灾实际燃烧的生物量,另外对林型森林火灾碳释放的差异研究不够深入。根据每次森林火灾实际燃烧的生物量来研究吉林省主要林型森林火灾碳释放。根据吉林省1969—2004年的森林火灾统计数据,计算出了吉林省主要林型森林火灾释放碳量。其中,白桦林、阔叶混交林、针阔混交林、落叶松林、柞树林、杨树林和红松林森林火灾直接释放的碳量占1969—2004年吉林省森林火灾碳释放总量的99.7%。白桦林、阔叶混交林、针阔混交林、落叶松林、柞树林、杨树林和红松林森林火灾年均释放的碳量分别为6593.75-8791.66、5650.28-7533.71、3906.57-5208.76、2110.75-2814.33、1613.71-2151.61、295.49-393.98、234.37-312.50 t。用排放比法得出了吉林省主要林型森林火灾释放的CO2、CO、CH4量。白桦林、阔叶混交林、针阔混交林、落叶松林、柞树林、杨树林和红松林森林火灾年均释放的CO2量分别为21759.36-29012.48、18645.93-24861.24、12891.69-17188.92、6965.46-9287.29、5325.25-7100.33、975.11-1300.14、773.43-1031.24 t,年均释放的CO量分别为1583.09-2110.78、1356.57-1808.76、937.93-1250.57、506.77-675.69、387.43-516.58、70.94-94.59、56.27-75.03 t,年均释放的CH4量分别为534.71-712.94、458.20-610.93、316.80-422.39、171.17-228.22、130.86-174.48、23.96-31.95、19.01-25.34 t。通过时间系列分析,白桦林自1980年以后、针阔混交林自1984年以后和红松林自1983年以后已经不是主要森林火灾碳释放林型。目前主要森林火灾碳释放林型为阔叶混交林、落叶松林、柞树林和杨树林,特别是柞树林,年均碳释放为237.12-316.16 t。     

Oligotrophic bacteria from rendzina forest soil

Oligotrophic bacteria were shown to exist abundantly in all layers of a rendzina forest soil throughout the year. Two-hundred-three oligotrophic bacteria were isolated from forest soil (Aoba, Sendai) at different layers (L, F, H and A layers) throughout the year, and their morphological and physiological characteristics were examined. A high proportion (95%) of the isolated oligotrophs were Gram-negative, non-spore forming bacteria. Based on the cell shape, the isolates were divided into four groups: regular rods, curved/spiral bacteria, irregular rods, and buddin and/or prosthecate bacteria. Each group of bacteria is discussed in relation to the physiological characteristics. Notably oligotrophic bacteria of different cell types showed a marked zonal distribution in respect to profile depth.     

High-throughput DNA extraction from forest trees

It is difficult to extract pure high-quality DNA from trees, which may not be amenable to advances in extraction methods suitable for other plants. A new commercial high-throughput DNA extraction system, using a silica binding matrix for purification and a multisample mixer mill for tissue disruption, was evaluated for its suitability withEucalyptus spp.,Pinus spp., andAraucaria cunninghamii (hoop pine). DNA suitable for a range of molecular biology applications was successfully extracted from all genera. The method was highly reliable when tested in more than 500 preparations and could be adapted to different tree species with relatively minor modifications.     

Conservation of temperate forest birds in Chile: implications from the study of an isolated forest relict

We characterize the bird assemblage of an isolated relict temperaterainforest (Santa Inés) in terms of its structure, composition anddynamics. The relict character and long-term isolation of this forest remnant,immersed in a matrix of semiarid scrub, provide a natural experiment to assessthe consequences of long-term isolation and forest area reduction for temperatebird species. Bird surveys were conducted in a forest fragment and thesurrounding scrub matrix between April 1999 (austral autumn) and October 2000(austral spring) on a seasonal basis. Within the forest fragment wedistinguished two microhabitat types: creeks and areas far from creeks (i.e.slopes). A total of 36 species were recorded in the study site, of which 21were inside the relict forest. Highest bird abundance and richness wererecorded during winter and spring, and these were always higher in creek plotsrather than slope plots. Comparisons between this assemblage and thosedistributed in the continuous temperate forest (located more than 900km southwards) indicate that this bird assemblage shares moresimilarities, with regard to bird species composition, to southern temperateforest localities and to other relict forests, than to nearer scrub habitats.However, there are eight species, endemic to temperate forests in southern SouthAmerica, missing from our system. In this regard, our analyses indicate thatthese eight endemic species should be of great conservation concern and willlikely be the ones that will go extinct first if the fragmentation of thetemperate forest continues.     

Parasitic fauna of the muskrat from the Upper Ob' pine forest

The gamasid mites Laelaps multispinosus and Hirstionyssus isabellinus, flea Ceratophyllus (Megabotris) rectangulatus, trematodes Plagiorchis proximus, P. eutamiatis, P. obensis, P. multiglandularis, Quinqueserialis quinqueserialis and Opisthorchis felineus, cestodes Aprostotandria macrocephala and Alveococcus multilocularis, larvae, were found in 78 specimens of Ondatra zibethica from water bodies of the Upper Ob pine forest. The mite L. multispinosus is reported as the most abundant ectoparasite of this population of the muskrat. As to helminths most abundant and frequently encountered are Q. Quinqueserialis and A. macrocephala which at high infection intensity can cause decrease in the muskrat abundance.     

Managing the pattern of forest harvest: lessons from wildfire

Managing forests for sustainable use requires that both the biological diversity of the forests and a viable forest industry be maintained. A current approach towards maintaining biological diversity is to pattern forest management practices after those of natural disturbance events. This paradigm hypothesizes that ecological processes will be maintained best where active management approximates natural disturbance events. The forest management model now used in most sub-boreal and boreal forests calls for regularly dispersed clearcuts no greater than 60–100 ha in size. However, the spatial characteristics of the landscape produced by this model are distinctly different from the historic pattern generated by wildfire, which was heretofore the dominant stand-replacing process in these forests. Wildfire creates a more complex landscape spatial pattern with greater range in patch size and more irregular disturbance boundaries. Individual wildfires are often over 500 ha but leave patches of unburned forest within them. The combination of these attributes is not present in recent clearcuts. Allowing a proportion of larger (i.e.>500ha) harvest units may provide distinct economic advantages that could outweight the opportunity costs of leaving some patches of forest behind. For the forest type examined, further evaluation of modelling forest harvest patterns more closely after the patterns created by wildfire is required as it may achieve a good balance and strike a suitable compromise between certain ecological and economic objectives of sustainable development.     

Dermatoglyphics of the nganasans and the forest entsy from the Taimir Peninsula

Dermatoglyphic data on 17 traits (digital arches, ulnar loops, whorls, patterns on the hypothenar and thenar/I,II,III, and IV interdigital areas, main line C absence and its incompleteness, mean digital ridge-count, a–b, b–c, and c–d ridge–counts, atd angle, pattern intensity index, and main line index) are presented in this paper for 194 males and 224 females from the Taimir Peninsula. Also presented is a population analysis of the Taimir aborigines based on quantitative traits, and comparisons of this population with some Siberian and North American populations.     

The forest Gribskov, Denmark: lessons from the past qualify contemporary conservation, restoration and forest management

Knowledge of forest history is crucial for understanding the processes, structures, functions and current status of forest ecosystems. An enhanced understanding of the long history of disturbance factors affecting forest development and thereby the present state of the forest is particularly valuable when working with forest management, conservation and restoration. Integrating the legacies of past disturbances—natural as well as anthropogenic—into conservation and management strategies is likely to favour natural values and ecosystem services. A case-study in Gribskov, Denmark, using palaeoecological data and historical source materials explores the lessons learned from the past and leads to the suggestion of a conceptual model of how information from the past can increase understanding of long-term ecological processes.     

森林生物挥发性有机物释放速率研究进展

森林是生态系统中主要的BVOC(生物挥发性有机物)来源.BVOC对于大气环境质量、对流层化学以及全球碳循环平衡都具有十分重要的作用.综述了森林BVOC释放的季节性和日变化特征,并对其影响因子(生境差异、环境变化、树木发育阶段、生理状况和外来干扰等)进行了分析,同时还进一步阐述了森林BVOC释放的生态学意义,并在树种选择和植物配置等方面,为生态保健型森林旅游资源的开发和城市森林建设提出了几点建议.