Reasons for arboreality in wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus and Bank voles Myodes glareolus

Although it is broadly accepted that small mammals often climb trees, only few studies explore arboreality in woodland rodents systematically. Here, we investigate the three-dimensional habitat use of wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus and bank voles Myodes glareolus at three different sites in Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire, under varying environmental conditions. A total of 12 trapping sessions was carried out between March and September 2003 and 2004. During each session, 100 Longworth live-traps with shrew escape holes were set in a 25-point-grid for 3 succeeding nights. Each time, 50 traps were placed on the ground, and 50 in surrounding trees at heights of 30–250 cm. Wood mice were significantly more arboreal than bank voles, and male wood mice spent significantly more time in trees than did females. Arboreality in bank voles occurred only under high population densities and food shortage, and both species were significantly more arboreal in woodland with dense understorey. Thus we conclude that while arboreality is predominantly a result of inter- and intra-specific competition, of the two species we studied, only wood mice, being more agile, can afford to utilize trees without getting caught by predators, and that sex differences are due to male territoriality. Estimates of population sizes and distribution, as well as studies of inter-specific interactions and socio-spatial behaviour are presumed to be affected by these results, and are currently likely to underestimate rodent numbers considerably.     

Glycation of wood frog (Rana sylvatica) hemoglobin and blood proteins: In vivo and in vitro studies

The effects of in vivo freezing and glucose cryoprotectant on protein glycation were investigated in the wood frog, Rana sylvatica. Our studies revealed no difference in the fructoselysine content of blood plasma sampled from control, 27 h frozen and 18 h thawed wood frogs. Glycated hemoglobin (GHb) decreased slightly with 48 h freezing exposure and was below control levels after 7 d recovery, while glycated serum albumin was unchanged by 48 h freezing but did increase after 7 d of recovery. In vitro exposure of blood lysates to glucose revealed that the GHb production in wood frogs was similar to that of the rat but was lower than in leopard frogs. We conclude that wood frog hemoglobin was glycated in vitro; however, GHb production was not apparent during freezing and recovery when in vivo glucose is highly elevated. It is possible that wood frog blood proteins have different in vivo susceptibilities to glycation.     

植物根际益生细菌代表性菌株贝莱斯芽孢杆菌FZB42对松材线虫的抑杀性

[目的]由松材线虫导致的松树萎蔫病是松树的毁灭性病害,也是我国最主要的林业病害之一.本研究测评了在农业上广泛使用的、我国微生物肥料行业主要菌种资源之一——贝莱斯芽孢杆菌,对松材线虫的潜在抑杀性能.[方法]选用贝莱斯芽孢杆菌的代表性菌株FZB42为材料,测定对不同条件下的菌液上清、不同菌株的菌液上清、细菌素plantaz...     

In vivo anti-osteoporotic activity of isotaxiresinol, a lignan from wood of Taxus yunnanensis

Isotaxiresinol, the main lignan isolated from the water extract of wood of Taxus yunnanensis, was investigated for its effect on bone loss, on serum biochemical markers for bone remodeling and on uterine tissue, using ovariectomized (OVX) rats as the model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. After oral administration of isotaxiresinol (50 and 100mg/kg/d) for 6 weeks, bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in total and cortical bones were increased as compared to those of OVX control rats, and decreases of three bone strength indexes induced by OVX surgery were prevented. Serum biochemical markers for bone remodeling revealed that isotaxiresinol slightly increased bone formation and significantly inhibited bone resorption without side effect on uterine tissue. These results suggest that isotaxiresinol may be useful for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, especially for prevention of bone fracture induced by estrogen deficiency.     

Production of ethanol from wood and agricultural residues by Neurospora crassa

The feasibility of utilizing the rapidly growing tropical woods for ethanol production by Neurospora crassa has been studied. Hydrolysis of cold alkali pretreated wood gave a saccharification of 68% based on the available carbohydrate. The direct fermentation of pretreated wood (20 g l^?1) by Neurospora crassa gave quantitative conversion of available hemicellulose/cellulose to ethanol in 5 days. Increasing the substrate concentration to 50 g l^?1lowered the conversion to 40–60% yielding 12 g l^?1of ethanol. Fermentation of wood (50 g l^?1) pretreated with hot 1 m NaOH followed by neutralization with HCl gave only 6 g l^?1of ethanol.     

Biological control of wood decay in an open tropical environment with Penicillium sp. and Trichoderma viride

The ability of Penicillium sp. and Trichoderma viride to retard the decay of obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon) wood in the field for 11 months (January–November) covering dry and wet seasons in a tropical environment was investigated using the ‘graveyard’ method. Inoculation of stakes with Gloeophyllum sp. or G. sepiarium (decay fungi) 24 h after treatment with T. viride or Penicillium sp. in January (dry season) did not increase decay after 11 months. Total inhibition of the decay fungi was indicated since the low weight losses of stakes was not markedly different from losses in control stakes biologically treated but not exposed to decay fungi. Inhibition of the activities of other unidentified field fungi was also indicated because weight losses were greater in uninoculated and untreated stakes. However, decay occurred in stakes biologically treated in January but later exposed to decay fungi in May, after the dry season. A repeat application of T. viride treatment in May, to stakes earlier treated in January, markedly reduced decay following exposure to decay fungi in September (wet season). A similar Penicillium sp. application was not as effective as T. viride application because unlike the T. viride protected stakes, decay was greater in stakes twice protected with Penicillium sp. but not exposed to decay fungi. The results indicate that repeated application of biocontrol agents may be important for controlling wood decay following the adverse effect of the dry season.     

A new genomic resource dedicated to wood formation in Eucalyptus

Background  

Renowned for their fast growth, valuable wood properties and wide adaptability, Eucalyptus species are amongst the most planted hardwoods in the world, yet they are still at the early stages of domestication because conventional breeding is slow and costly. Thus, there is huge potential for marker-assisted breeding programs to improve traits such as wood properties. To this end, the sequencing, analysis and annotation of a large collection of expressed sequences tags (ESTs) from genes involved in wood formation in Eucalyptus would provide a valuable resource.     

False phylogenies on wood mice due to cryptic cytochrome-b pseudogene

The phylogeny and phylogeography of the Old World wood mice (subgenus Sylvaemus, genus Apodemus, Muridae) are well-documented. Nevertheless, the distributions of species, such as A. fulvipectus and A. ponticus remain dubious, as well as their phylogenetic relationships with A. sylvaticus. We analysed samples of Apodemus spp. across Europe using the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene (cyt-b) and compared the DNA and amino-acid compositions of previously published sequences. The main result stemming from this study is the presence of a well-differentiated lineage of Sylvaemus including samples of various species (A. sylvaticus, A. fulvipectus, A. ponticus) from distant locations, which were revealed to be nuclear copies of the mitochondrial cyt-b. The presence of this cryptic pseudogene in published sequences is supported by different pathways. This has led to important errors in previous molecular trees and hence to partial misinterpretations in the phylogeny of Apodemus.     

Comparison of whole wood and cellulose carbon and oxygen isotope series from Pinus nigra ssp. laricio (Corsica/France)

Stable isotopes in tree rings have widely been used for palaeoclimate reconstructions since tree rings record climatic information at annual resolution. However, various wood components or different parts of an annual tree-ring may differ in their isotopic compositions. Thus, sample preparation and subsequent laboratory analysis are crucial for the isotopic signal retained in the final tree-ring isotope series used for climate reconstruction and must therefore be considered for the interpretation of isotope–climate relationships. This study focuses on wood of Corsican Pine trees (Pinus nigra ssp. laricio) as this tree species allows to reconstruct the long-term climate evolution in the western Mediterranean. In a pilot study, we concentrated on methodological issues of sample preparation techniques in order to evaluate isotope records measured on pooled whole tree-ring cellulose and whole tree-ring bulk wood samples. We analysed 80-year long carbon and oxygen chronologies of Corsican Pine trees growing near the upper tree line on Corsica. Carbon and oxygen isotope records of whole tree-ring bulk wood and whole tree-ring cellulose from a pooled sample of 5 trees were correlated with the climate parameters monthly precipitation, temperature and the self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (sc-PDSI). Results show that the offsets in carbon and oxygen isotopes of bulk wood and cellulose are not constant over time. Both isotopes correlate with climate parameters from late winter and summer. The carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of cellulose are more sensitive to climatic variables than those of bulk wood. The results of this study imply that extraction of cellulose is a pre-requisite for the reconstruction of high-resolution climate records from stable isotope series of P. nigra ssp. laricio.     

Assessing sapwood depth and wood properties in Eucalyptus and Corymbia spp. using visual methods and near infrared spectroscopy (NIR)

Accurate measurement of sapwood depth (D _S) is essential for calculating volumetric water use of individual trees and stands. Various methods are available to measure D _S but their accuracy is rarely cross-validated. We sampled 15 Eucalyptus and 1 Corymbia species along a gradient of aridity and obtained reference values of D _S in fresh wood cores using light microscopy, which represents our reference method. We compared this method to the simpler and widely used macroscopic method: visual assessment of natural or induced colour change from sapwood to heartwood. In a third method, estimation of D _S was based on species-specific models that rely on wood properties measured using near infrared spectroscopy (NIR). Microscopy allowed clear identification of D _S based on the presence of blocked vessels. Measurement of D _S using microscopic methods was possible for 78 of a total of 80 cores and ranged from 3.6 mm (E. loxophleba) to 43.8 mm (E. viminalis). Macroscopic assessment clearly differentiated sapwood and heartwood in 60 cores. Results from microscopic and macroscopic methods agreed closely (<10% deviation between estimates) in 35 of 78 cores. After elimination of clearly erroneous measurements (>50% deviation between estimates), macroscopic measurement across all species agreed well with microscopic assessment of D _S (R ² = 0.92). Models developed for differentiation between sapwood and heartwood using NIR spectroscopy were very robust (high coefficient of determination) for four species, but D _S could only be predicted well for one (E. obliqua) of the four species. Even after elimination of apparent false estimates, prediction of D _S by NIR across species was not as strong as for macroscopic assessment (R ² = 0.88). D _S can accurately be measured using microscopy if vessel occlusion is clearly visible. Although slightly overestimated, D _S from macroscopic assessment was generally similar to that measured by microscopy. NIR spectroscopy was unable to predict D _S with acceptable accuracy for the majority of species. Further improvements in the prediction of D _S using NIR will require more intensive model calibration and validation, and may not be applicable to all species.     

The occurrence of the alkaloid oricine in the wood of Oricia suaveolens

Oricine, an alkaloid related structurally to Flindersine, was isolated from the heart-wood of Oricia suaveolens. The MS, IR and NMR spectra were shown to agree with those of the synthesized compound.     

三株芽胞杆菌菌株对松材线虫低温存活与繁殖的影响

为明确细菌在松材线虫生态适应性中的作用,本研究选择与致病相关的松材线虫伴生细菌GD1、马尾松内生细菌GD2以及具有杀松材线虫活性的湿地松内生细菌NJSZ-13为试验对象,测定经这3株芽胞杆菌菌株3个浓度低温驯化10、15和20 d后,在冷冻条件下松材线虫强毒虫株AMA3、中毒虫株AA3和弱毒虫株YW4的存活率和繁殖量。结果表明：低温驯化15 d和20 d后3株菌株对不同毒力线虫的活力影响较驯化10 d后的更显著。在低温驯化15 d、-20℃冷冻处理1 h后,5×10⁶ CFU/mL浓度菌株GD1处理下,虫株AMA3、AA3和YW4的存活率分别为77.22%、83.68%和84.26%,与对照差异显著;5×10⁵ CFU/mL浓度菌株GD1处理下,虫株AMA3、AA3和YW4的存活率分别为75.76%、80.67%和81.50%,与对照差异显著。5×10⁶ CFU/mL和5×10⁵ CFU/mL浓度菌株GD2处理下,与GD1处理组结果相似,菌株NJSZ-13处理组则与菌株GD1和GD2的结果相反。低温驯化15 d、-20℃冷冻处理1 h后,5×10⁶ CFU/mL浓度菌株GD1处理下,虫株AMA3、AA3和YW4的繁殖量分别为7 530、9 317和12 793条/皿,与对照（3 192、3 840和5 823条/皿）差异显著;5×10⁵ CFU/mL浓度菌株GD1处理时,3个虫株的繁殖量均与对照差异显著。而菌株GD2和NJSZ-13处理后,3个虫株的繁殖量均无显著变化。表明不同芽胞杆菌对松材线虫的低温适应性影响存在差异,松材线虫伴生细菌GD1和马尾松内生细菌GD2能增强其低温适应性,而湿地松内生细菌NJSZ-13菌株则相反。     

Oxalic acid, Fe-reduction activity and oxidative enzymes detected in culture extracts recovered from Pinus taeda wood chips biotreated by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora

Pinus taeda wood chips were treated with the biopulping fungus, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, under solid-state fermentation for periods varying from 7 to 90 days. Low molecular mass compounds and oxidative enzymes were extracted from biotreated wood samples. Manganese-dependent peroxidase was the main oxidative enzyme on all biodegradation periods. Aqueous extracts from biotreated wood presented decreasing pH values, oxalic acid being the major organic acid secreted by the fungus. Analysis of these extracts by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed small amounts of fatty acids, several short-chain organic acids (C3–C6) and numerous sugar derivatives. 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy benzaldehyde, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy benzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxy benzoic acid and tricarboxy-benzene were also found in the wood extracts. A remarkable characteristic of the wood extracts was a strong Fe³⁺-reducing ability. High Fe³⁺-reducing activity and high catechol concentrations were detected in the wood extracts from the undecayed control. This reducing activity and catechol concentrations decreased during the first 7 days of biodegradation. However, from the seventh day of culturing, catechol derivatives coming from lignin degradation start to accumulate in the cultures and Fe³⁺-reduction activity increased again. The Fe³⁺-reduction activity observed in the wood extracts indicates that Fe²⁺ would be available in solution during the wood decay process. Considering that Fe²⁺ and H₂O₂ (produced by this fungus based on MnP-degradation of oxalate) were present in the wood extracts, at least some extent for degradation reactions based on Fenton-chemistry, similarly to the observed in brown-rot fungi, is supposed to occur during wood decay by C. subvermispora.     

Consumption of wood by artificially isolated colonies of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes bellicosus

Four colonies of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman) (Isoptera: Termitidae: Macrotermitinae) were transferred to concrete isolation tanks for measurement of feeding rates. The colonies were offered wooden baits at densities ranging from 25 to 1000 per tank. Maximum consumption during 4-day trials ranged from 94–149 mg g^-1d^-1. These results compare favourably with field estimates from measurement of food store biomass and turnover, and with estimates from measurements of litter decomposition rates. Consumption of food by Macrotermitinae is high compared with other groups of termites, probably as a result of the energetic requirement and processing ability of the fungus combs.

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Zusammenfassung Vier Kolonien von Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman), einer pilzzüchtenende Termitenart, wurden zwecks Nahrungsverbrauchsmessungen in grossen Betonbehältern isoliert gehalten. Jede Kolonie wurde mit kleinen Holzködern mit einer Dichte zwischen 25 bis 1000 Stück gefüttert. Der maximale tägliche Nahrungsverbrauch während der 4 Tage dauernden Experimente reichte von 94–149 mg pro g Termite. Die Resultate sind vergleichbar mit Feldschätzungen einerseits des Nahrungsvorrates sowie des Nahrungsumsatzes und anderseits mit Messungen der Streuabbauraten. Verglichen mit andern Termitenunterfamilien ist der Nahrungsverbrauch bei den Macrotermitinae hoch, möglicherweise bedingt durch die Energiebedürfnisse und die Umwandlungsprozesse des Pilzgartens.

     

Optimization of solid-state fermentation for selective delignification of aspen wood with Phlebia tremellosa

The white-rot fungus Phlebia tremellosa can delignify aspen wood and increase the accessibility of its polysaccharides to enzymatic hydrolysis, under solid-state fermentation conditions. Fermentations at the 50 g scale were conducted to provide information for the design of larger fermentations. Agitation was not required. Forced aeration was needed for delignification of wood layers more than a few millimeters thick, but air circulation between the particles was not blocked by mycelium. Shavings were the best particles size. Sterilization of the wood was essential, but preadaptation of the inoculum to growth in wood was not. Inoculum levels as low as 2% were adequate.