Taxonomy, phylogeny, and ecology of the heliobacteria

Heliobacteria are a recently discovered group of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria, first described in 1983. Heliobacteria contain bacteriochlorophyll g, a pigment unique to species of this group, and synthesize the simplest photosynthetic complexes of all known phototrophs. Also, unlike all other phototrophs, heliobacteria lack a mechanism for autotrophy and produce endospores. Four genera of heliobacteria containing a total of 10 species are known. Species of the genera Heliobacterium, Heliobacillus, and Heliophilum grow best at neutral pH, whereas species of Heliorestis are alkaliphilic. Heliobacterium, Heliobacillus, and Heliophilum species form one phylogenetic clade of heliobacteria, while Heliorestis species form a second within the phylum Firmicutes of the domain Bacteria. Heliobacteria have a unique ecology, being primarily terrestrial rather than aquatic phototrophs, and may have evolved a mutualistic relationship with plants, in particular, rice plants. The genome sequence of the thermophile Heliobacterium modesticaldum supports the hypothesis that heliobacteria are “minimalist phototrophs” and that they may have played a key role in the evolution of phototrophic bacteria.     

Aechmea itapoana,a new species from Bahia (Brazil): Taxonomy and ecology

Aechmea itapoana is a new, conspicuous and distinct species from the coastal sand dune scrub of N.E. Brazil. Its possible relationships within subgenusChevaliera, toA. multiflora andA. rodriguesia are discussed.     

木霉菌及其系统分类学研究回顾

从木霉菌(Trichodermaspp.)的分类历史、主要分类系统、分子生物学在木霉菌分类研究中的应用、我国木霉菌分类研究状况等几个方面,对木霉菌的分类研究进展进行了简要回顾。近些年来国际上对木霉菌的分类研究取得了显著进展,陆续发表了许多新种,目前木霉属已报道有3组60种和2个变型。另外,对木霉分类研究中存在的问题也进行了讨论。     

Freshwater diatom ecology: developing an experimental approach as an aid to interpreting field data

The observational and experimental approaches to ecological studies are outlined and contrasted. Most studies involving benthic diatoms are still at the observational stage. Community analyses are interpreted in relation to physico-chemical variables, but without reference to the intrinsic growth characteristics of the species or to biological interactions. By allowing separate investigation of the effects of chosen variables under controlled conditions, culture studies permit field predictions to be tested and our understanding of the constraints on growth of particular species to be improved.Results of culture experiments on four benthic diatom species grown under contrasting light, temperature, and pH regimes are presented and discussed in relation to their field distributions. Synedra ulna showed a positive response to both light and temperature; Meridion circulare was more sensitive to raised water temperature at higher light intensity; Pinnularia viridis and Eunotia exigua grew over wider ranges of temperature and pH than recorded from published data. The experimental results indicate that distribution data provide only partial information on ecological range; growth in the field may be constrained by one or more factors and their interactions.Whereas analysis of field data is a correlative exercise, an experimental approach allows investigation of the physiological responses contributing to the survival of species and the demonstration of causal relationships.     

Interactions between aquatic bacteria and an aquatic hyphomycete on decomposing maple leaves

Processing of leaf litter is an important function in many environments and is influenced strongly by microorganisms. We investigated interactions between an aquatic hyphomycete, Tetrachaetum elegans, and two bacteria from the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides group, that were isolated from decaying leaves in a stream. Laboratory experiments were used to examine interactions, as indicated by growth, between bacteria and fungi on sugar maple (Acer saccharum) leaves. Responses to amendments with labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were also examined. Fungal biomass was not affected by glucose amendment or bacterial presence. Likewise, bacterial biomass did not respond consistently to the glucose amendment, nor did the fungus affect bacterial biomass. In general, we found little evidence of resource competition or facilitation, in contrast to other studies. Our experiments suggest that fungal–bacterial interactions are not always significant and may depend on environmental conditions and the types of microorganisms examined.     

Elasticity analysis as an important tool in evolutionary and population ecology

Elasticity analysis estimates the proportional change in the population growth rate for a proportional change in a vital rate (i.e. survival, growth or reproduction). It can be used to pinpoint those parts of an organism’s life history that should be the focus of management effort, or those that contribute most to fitness. Recent theoretical work has emphasized some limitations of the technique, has overcome other problems, and has shown that it is robust to some violations of its underlying assumptions. Thus, although care is needed, elasticity analysis is a simple first step in answering important questions in evolutionary and population ecology.     

Niche conservatism as an emerging principle in ecology and conservation biology

The diversity of life is ultimately generated by evolution, and much attention has focused on the rapid evolution of ecological traits. Yet, the tendency for many ecological traits to instead remain similar over time [niche conservatism (NC)] has many consequences for the fundamental patterns and processes studied in ecology and conservation biology. Here, we describe the mounting evidence for the importance of NC to major topics in ecology (e.g. species richness, ecosystem function) and conservation (e.g. climate change, invasive species). We also review other areas where it may be important but has generally been overlooked, in both ecology (e.g. food webs, disease ecology, mutualistic interactions) and conservation (e.g. habitat modification). We summarize methods for testing for NC, and suggest that a commonly used and advocated method (involving a test for phylogenetic signal) is potentially problematic, and describe alternative approaches. We suggest that considering NC: (1) focuses attention on the within‐species processes that cause traits to be conserved over time, (2) emphasizes connections between questions and research areas that are not obviously related (e.g. invasives, global warming, tropical richness), and (3) suggests new areas for research (e.g. why are some clades largely nocturnal? why do related species share diseases?).