Herbivory and plant growth rate determine the success of El Niño Southern Oscillation-driven tree establishment in semiarid South America

While climatic extremes are predicted to increase with global warming, we know little about the effect of climatic variability on biome distribution. Here, we show that rainy El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events can enhance tree recruitment in the arid and semiarid ecosystems of north‐central Chile and northwest Peru. Tree‐ring studies in natural populations revealed that rainy El Niño episodes have triggered forest regeneration in Peru. Field experiments indicate that tree seedling recruitment in Chile is much less successful than in Peru due mostly to larger mortality caused by herbivores. The dramatic impact of herbivores in Chile was derived from the combined result of slower plant growth and the presence of exotic herbivores (European rabbits and hares). The interplay of herbivory and climatic effects we demonstrated implies that rainy ENSO events may represent ‘windows of opportunity’ for forest recovery if herbivore pressure is minimized at the right moment.     

Effect of host plant resistance and chemical control of the head bug, Calocoris angustatus Leth., on grain quality and seedling establishment in sorghum

The sorghum head bug, Calocoris angustatus Lethiery (Hemiptera: Miridae), is one of the most important pests of grain sorghum in India. Studies were conducted to quantify the effect of head bug damage on grain quality and seedling establishment on head bug-resistant cultivars (IS 17610 and IS 21443), a moderately susceptible cultivar (IS 9692), and a susceptible commercial cultivar (CSH 11). Differences in 1000-grain mass, seed germination and percentage of floaters were significant between protected and unprotected plots in CSH 11 and IS 9692, but not in IS 17610 and IS 21443. Grain damage ratings were significantly lower in IS 17610 than in IS 9692 and CSH 11 across different protection levels. Head bug-damaged grain had greater protein content than the undamaged grain, possibly because of depletion in starch, and a marginal increase in soluble sugars. Amounts of proline and tyrosine were greater in the bug-damaged grain than in the undamaged grain, while the reverse was true for aspartic acid, methionine, leucine and lysine. Head bug damage also increased the tannin content in IS 9692 (which is a high-tannin genotype). Moisture regimes and insecticide protection levels significantly affected seedling emergence. Seedling emergence of CSH 11 was lower than that in IS 17610. In the latter genotype, the differences between protected and unprotected plots were not significant. Head bug damage thus not only leads to quantitative loss in grain yield, but also spoils the grain quality and renders the grain unfit for seed purposes. These qualitative effects should be taken into account while estimating losses due to bug damage and determining economic thresholds.     

Seed size and chemical composition: the allocation of minerals to seeds and their use in early seedling growth

Summary

The seed size that is characteristic of each plant species is of central importance for their regeneration because of its effect on dispersability and seedling establishment. The chemical composition of the stored nutrients is also important in the early stages of growth. The factors that influence individual seed size and nutrient allocation during development on the parent plant are examined, and allocation strategies are compared in different plants. Experiments to determine the effective supply of different elements in seeds are reviewed. The apparent imbalance in the seed nutrient allocation is discussed. Mineral use in early seedling growth is described and the exhaustion of internal nutrient reserves is considered as a means of defining the end of seedling growth phase.     

The functioning of ectomycorrhizal fungi in the field: linkages in space and time

Individual trees, either of the same or different species, can be linked spatially and temporally by the hyphae of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi that allow carbon and nutrients to pass among them and promote forest establishment following disturbance. Spatial and temporal linkages between plants influence the function of ECM fungi in the field. Studies indicate that ECM linkages can reduce plant competition for resources, promote forest recovery, and influence the pattern of plant succession. The degree of influence depends on many factors, including the composition and arrangement of the vegetative community and soil and climatic conditions. Management practices that create intense disturbance and loss of organic matter or promote the introduction of non-ectomycorrhizal host species can decrease the ability of plants to form linkages with ECM fungi. Management practices that retain living trees and shrubs and input of organic matter provide the energy source and substrate necessary for ECM linkages. More research is needed to determine the degree to which ECM fungal linkages occur in the field and their role in ecosystem function and long-term health.     

Fear of the dark: decline in plant diversity and invasion of alien species due to increased tree canopy density and eutrophication in lowland woodlands

The abandonment of traditional forest management and the conversion of lowland woodlands from coppices to high forests may lead to a reduction in plant diversity. We studied long-term changes in semi-natural lowland woodland vegetation in the Czech Republic (Central Europe) by resampling 29 vegetation plots (relevés) first sampled in the 1950s. The results indicated a shift to shady plant communities (i.e. loss of heliophilous species and expansion of shade-tolerant species), caused by an increase in the tree and shrub layer canopy due to the expansion of deciduous tree species. At the same time, species richness (alpha diversity) had declined significantly, though we noted no signs of homogenisation in the vegetation cover. Species typical of nutrient-rich habitats and alien and/or invasive species had expanded. We confirmed the shift in vegetation composition, which was probably caused by changes in lowland woodland forest management (decline in coppicing), eutrophication (deposition of atmospheric nitrogen, agricultural runoff) and disturbance effects of game, especially wild boar (Sus scrofa).     

A simple and efficient method for analysis of plant growth regulators: a new tool in the chest to combat recalcitrance in plant tissue culture

This report presents a simple, rapid and accessible validated method for quantification of eight major plant growth regulators (PGR): cytokinins (6-(γ,γ-dimethylallylamino)purine (2-iP), benzylaminopurine (BA) and zeatin), auxin (indole-3-acetic acid; IAA), jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), gibberellic acid (GA3) and abscisic acid (ABA) by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. This method was tested in eight species including agricultural, ornamental and medicinal species: St. John’s wort, African violet, banana, American elm, tobacco, potato, sweet wormwood, and fennel. The method has good reproducibility and good sensitivity with %RSD (percent relative standard deviation) between 1 and 10% for all matrices and recovery values of 89 to 118% for all analytes. Method detection limits were 50.65 ng/g, 203.4 ng/g, 50.65, ng/g, 50.65 ng/g, 203.4 ng/g, 12.7 ng/g, 193 pg/g and 3.08 ng/g, for SA, IAA, zeatin, JA, GA3, ABA, 2-iP, and BA, respectively. Our results with a range of plant species show that this method represents a simple, low-cost method for analysis of PGRs, and may also serve as an useful starting point for the analysis of other related PGRs, as demonstrated by inclusion of the SA derivative, acetylsalicylic acid, and the JA derivatives: 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid and JA-isoleucine. The efficiency of this method will enable its incorporation into the plant tissue culture work flow and through characterization of endogenous PGR levels, will allow for improved method development for recalcitrant species facilitating fundamental and applied studies in plant morphogenesis, propagation and conservation.     

A climate change context for the decline of a foundation tree species in south-western Australia: insights from phylogeography and species distribution modelling

Background and Aims A worldwide increase in tree decline and mortality has been linked to climate change and, where these represent foundation species, this can have important implications for ecosystem functions. This study tests a combined approach of phylogeographic analysis and species distribution modelling to provide a climate change context for an observed decline in crown health and an increase in mortality in Eucalyptus wandoo, an endemic tree of south-western Australia.Methods Phylogeographic analyses were undertaken using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of chloroplast DNA in 26 populations across the species distribution. Parsimony analysis of haplotype relationships was conducted, a haplotype network was prepared, and haplotype and nucleotide diversity were calculated. Species distribution modelling was undertaken using Maxent models based on extant species occurrences and projected to climate models of the last glacial maximum (LGM).Key Results A structured pattern of diversity was identified, with the presence of two groups that followed a climatic gradient from mesic to semi-arid regions. Most populations were represented by a single haplotype, but many haplotypes were shared among populations, with some having widespread distributions. A putative refugial area with high haplotype diversity was identified at the centre of the species distribution. Species distribution modelling showed high climatic suitability at the LGM and high climatic stability in the central region where higher genetic diversity was found, and low suitability elsewhere, consistent with a pattern of range contraction.Conclusions Combination of phylogeography and paleo-distribution modelling can provide an evolutionary context for climate-driven tree decline, as both can be used to cross-validate evidence for refugia and contraction under harsh climatic conditions. This approach identified a central refugial area in the test species E. wandoo, with more recent expansion into peripheral areas from where it had contracted at the LGM. This signature of contraction from lower rainfall areas is consistent with current observations of decline on the semi-arid margin of the range, and indicates low capacity to tolerate forecast climatic change. Identification of a paleo-historical context for current tree decline enables conservation interventions to focus on maintaining genetic diversity, which provides the evolutionary potential for adaptation to climate change.     

Early establishment and dispersal of the weevil, Mogulones cruciger (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for biological control of houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale) in British Columbia, Canada

First released in Canada in 1997 to control the invasive rangeland weed, houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale), the European root weevil, Mogulones cruciger, is showing early potential as a successful biocontrol agent. Out of 22 experimental releases in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, 100% established, regardless of initial release size (range 100-400). These founding populations persisted beyond 2 years, and quickly dispersed through a treed and variable landscape to colonise new houndstongue patches surrounding the original release patches. Within 3 years, the weevil had moved 1.42 km. Both initial, within-patch and later, between-patch dispersal followed a similar pattern, with M. cruciger adults and/or their feeding/oviposition damage being more concentrated nearest the original points of release and declining with distance. Within-patch, this pattern of distribution and also the rate of spread of weevils were similar regardless of initial release size; suggesting density-independence in dispersal behaviour at this scale. Closer investigation of the sequence of invasion at a larger spatial scale suggested that the weevil arrived at, colonized and increased in number on the closest host patches first. Three years post release, both distance from release patch and the number of M. cruciger released, were significant predictors of the amount of feeding/oviposition damage, and presumably weevil population size, within newly colonized houndstongue patches surrounding the original releases. These data, and the finding that more weevils were retrieved from patches where higher numbers of weevils were released in the previous year (i.e., 300 or 400 vs 100 or 200), suggest that release number and placement of releases within a landscape can be manipulated for effective houndstongue control.     

Behavioral and Endocrine Responses in Male Marmosets to the Establishment of Multimale Breeding Groups: Evidence for Non-monopolizing Facultative Polyandry

Studies of wild callitrichids provide conflicting evidence regarding polyandrous groups. One perspective supports a monopolizing breeding strategy on the part of one male, while the alternative perspective suggests that polyandry does not lead to a breeding monopoly. We tested the hypotheses in male marmosets (Callithrix kuhlii) with 5 polyandrous groups composed of related/familiar males as our attempts to establish polyandrous groups of unrelated/familiar males failed. We monitored male social and sexual behavior and urinary testosterone (T) and cortisol (CORT) across the first 80 days of group formation and contrasted them with similar measures in males housed in monogamous groups. We also examined the same measures across the females' ovulatory cycles for polyandrous males. We found little evidence that males in polyandrous groups exercised a mating monopoly over the female and no evidence for overt competition between polyandrous males. We found 2 behavioral differences: polyandrous males were less often in proximity and copulated more often with the female than monogamous males did. Our findings suggest that the males in newly-formed groups of marmosets do not monopolize breeding and social behavior with the female. This appears to be the case for 3 reasons. First, males may use sperm competition rather than overt competition. Secondly, it may take longer for relationships to develop between the female and the males in polyandrous groups versus in monogamous groups. Thirdly, the cost of infant care is sufficiently high to demand that group members get along when groups are small and reproductive benefits are shared.     

A simple and accurate method for generating co-dominant markers: an application of conformation-sensitive gel electrophoresis to linkage analysis in the silkworm

A simple and sensitive method for linkage analysis is described, which is based on conformation-sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE). Using urea-containing agarose gels or a commercially available polyacrylamide-derived matrix, 13 polymorphic markers were newly identified for known genes of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, which had been scored as monomorphic by PCR-RFLP analysis. This method for detecting polymorphisms is quite sensitive, and can be performed with inexpensive reagents and apparatus that is available in most molecular biology laboratories. Received: 19 November 1998 / Accepted: 2 March 1999     

AFLP and SSR diversity in the African fruit tree Allanblackia: implications for management of a genus newly subject to domestication for the edible oil industry

Allanblackia, a dioecious fruit tree native to sub-Saharan Africa, is the subject of increased international interest for oil production for the global food market. Until recently, however, Allanblackia has been an overlooked wild tree, with very little known about its biology that could guide domestication. Here, we applied amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) to assess the genetic composition of populations of five important Allanblackia species. Data indicated significant differentiation between certain species and occasional misidentification of taxa during collection. Misclassification suggested that care is required when sampling germplasm, especially when domesticating single species in areas where related taxa are sympatric. Genetic relatedness between species and the geographic proximity of distributions sometimes but did not always correspond. This likely reflects complex evolutionary processes related to migration and dispersal in the genus and indicated that a simple ‘sampling-by-distance’ model for assessing variation is not always appropriate. High AFLP variation suggested that Cameroon presents particular opportunities for domestication. In a comparison with AFLPs, we tested the value of de novo simple sequence repeats (SSRs) for detecting genetic variation in the same populations of Allanblackia, with a view to later applying these markers to determine optimal tree-planting ratios (female to male trees) and configurations during on-farm planting. Four primer pairs from a genomic library of one member of the genus—Allanblackia stuhlmannii—appeared suitable for research in this taxon (revealing 4.75 alleles per locus on average). However, cross-species application appeared limited (occurrence of null alleles?), suggesting either generic expressed sequence tag SSRs or specific suites of primers for each taxon are required.     

Response of plant species richness and primary productivity in shrublands along a north–south gradient in Europe to seven years of experimental warming and drought: reductions in primary productivity in the heat and drought year of 2003

We used a nonintrusive field experiment carried out at six sites – Wales (UK), Denmark (DK), the Netherlands (NL), Hungary (HU), Sardinia (Italy – IT), and Catalonia (Spain – SP) – along a climatic and latitudinal gradient to examine the response of plant species richness and primary productivity to warming and drought in shrubland ecosystems. The warming treatment raised the plot daily temperature by ca. 1 °C, while the drought treatment led to a reduction in soil moisture at the peak of the growing season that ranged from 26% at the SP site to 82% in the NL site. During the 7 years the experiment lasted (1999–2005), we used the pin‐point method to measure the species composition of plant communities and plant biomass, litterfall, and shoot growth of the dominant plant species at each site. A significantly lower increase in the number of species pin‐pointed per transect was found in the drought plots at the SP site, where the plant community was still in a process of recovering from a forest fire in 1994. No changes in species richness were found at the other sites, which were at a more mature and stable state of succession and, thus less liable to recruitment of new species. The relationship between annual biomass accumulation and temperature of the growing season was positive at the coldest site and negative at the warmest site. The warming treatment tended to increase the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) at the northern sites. The relationship between annual biomass accumulation and soil moisture during the growing season was not significant at the wettest sites, but was positive at the driest sites. The drought treatment tended to reduce the ANPP in the NL, HU, IT, and SP sites. The responses to warming were very strongly related to the Gaussen aridity index (stronger responses the lower the aridity), whereas the responses to drought were not. Changes in the annual aboveground biomass accumulation, litterfall, and, thus, the ANPP, mirrored the interannual variation in climate conditions: the most outstanding change was a decrease in biomass accumulation and an increase in litterfall at most sites during the abnormally hot year of 2003. Species richness also tended to decrease in 2003 at all sites except the cold and wet UK site. Species‐specific responses to warming were found in shoot growth: at the SP site, Globularia alypum was not affected, while the other dominant species, Erica multiflora, grew 30% more; at the UK site, Calluna vulgaris tended to grow more in the warming plots, while Empetrum nigrum tended to grow less. Drought treatment decreased plant growth in several studied species, although there were some species such as Pinus halepensis at the SP site or C. vulgaris at the UK site that were not affected. The magnitude of responses to warming and drought thus depended greatly on the differences between sites, years, and species and these multiple plant responses may be expected to have consequences at ecosystem and community level. Decreases in biodiversity and the increase in E. multiflora growth at the SP site as a response to warming challenge the assumption that sensitivity to warming may be less well developed at more southerly latitudes; likewise, the fact that one of the studied shrublands presented negative ANPP as a response to the 2003 heat wave also challenges the hypothesis that future climate warming will lead to an enhancement of plant growth and carbon sequestration in temperate ecosystems. Extreme events may thus change the general trend of increased productivity in response to warming in the colder sites.     

Immunological evidence for the presence of plant homologues of the actin- related protein Arp3 in tobacco and maize: subcellular localization to actin-enriched pit fields and emerging root hairs

Summary. The actin-nucleating and -organizing Arp2/3 protein complex is well known to be conserved throughout the eukaryotic kingdom. For higher plants, however, only limited evidence is available for the presence of the Arp2/3 complex so far. Using heterologous antibodies against the Dictyostelium discoideum and Schizosaccharomyces pombe proteins and a bovine peptide, we found immunological evidence for the presence of Arp3 homologues in plants. First, proteins with a molecular mass of about 47–50 kDa were clearly recognized in extracts of both a dicotyledonous plant (tobacco) and a monocotyledonous plant (maize) in immunoblots with the anti-Arp3 antibodies. Second, immunolocalization with these Arp3 antibodies was performed on different plant cells, selected for their diverse actin organizations and functions. On isolated plasma membrane ghosts derived from tobacco leaf protoplasts, a putative Arp3 was localized along cortical actin filaments. In the inner cortex of maize roots, Arp3 was localized to actin-rich plasmodesmata and pit fields and to multivesicular bodies in the cytoplasm. During root hair formation, distinct site-specific localization was found at the protruding apical plasma membrane portions of these tip-growing cells.Correspondence and reprints: Department of Biology, Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.Received January 3, 2003; accepted February 7, 2003; published online August 26, 2003