ATP synthase: what we know about ATP hydrolysis and what we do not know about ATP synthesis

In ATP synthase, X-ray structures, demonstration of ATP-driven gamma-subunit rotation, and tryptophan fluorescence techniques to determine catalytic site occupancy and nucleotide binding affinities have resulted in pronounced progress in understanding ATP hydrolysis, for which a mechanism is presented here. In contrast, ATP synthesis remains enigmatic. The molecular mechanism by which ADP is bound in presence of a high ATP/ADP concentration ratio is a fundamental unknown; similarly P(i) binding is not understood. Techniques to measure catalytic site occupancy and ligand binding affinity changes during net ATP synthesis are much needed. Relation of these parameters to gamma-rotation is a further goal. A speculative model for ATP synthesis is offered.     

What we know and don't know about Earth's missing biodiversity

Estimates of non-microbial diversity on Earth range from 2 million to over 50 million species, with great uncertainties in numbers of insects, fungi, nematodes, and deep-sea organisms. We summarize estimates for major taxa, the methods used to obtain them, and prospects for further discoveries. Major challenges include frequent synonymy, the difficulty of discriminating certain species by morphology alone, and the fact that many undiscovered species are small, difficult to find, or have small geographic ranges. Cryptic species could be numerous in some taxa. Novel techniques, such as DNA barcoding, new databases, and crowd-sourcing, could greatly accelerate the rate of species discovery. Such advances are timely. Most missing species probably live in biodiversity hotspots, where habitat destruction is rife, and so current estimates of extinction rates from known species are too low.     

Mechanisms of atrial fibrillation in athletes: what we know and what we do not know

Exercise is an emerging cause of atrial fibrillation (AF) in young individuals without coexisting cardiovascular risk factors. The causes of exercise-induced atrial fibrillation remain largely unknown, and conclusions are jeopardised by apparently conflicting data. Some components of the athlete’s heart are known to be arrhythmogenic in other settings. Bradycardia, atrial dilatation and, possibly, atrial premature beats are therefore biologically plausible contributors to exercise-induced AF. Challenging findings in an animal model suggest that exercise might also prompt the development of atrial fibrosis, possibly due to cumulative minor structural damage after each exercise bout. However, there is very limited, indirect data supporting this hypothesis in athletes. Age, sex, the presence of comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors, and genetic individual variability might serve to flag those athletes who are at the higher risk of exercise-induced AF. In this review, we will critically address current knowledge on the mechanisms of exercise-induced AF.     

Effects of surrounding pastureland on Jilmoe Moor vegetation in Mt. Odae National Park, Korea

Jilmoe Moor, a montane peatland found in Mt. Odae National Park, Korea, has been influenced by a surrounding pasture-land for more than 30 years. Here, we used multivariate analyses to study the vegetation structure at that Moor. Four distinct communities were consistently separated (82.2% of the total variance): two wetland communities --Sphagnum palustre (SP) andPersicaria nepalensis-Persicaria thunbergii (PNPT). In addition, we recorded two invaded upland communities:Phleum pratense (PP) andFestuca ovina-Artemisia feddei (FOAF). Of those pasture species, timothy (Phleum pratense) was most dominant in all wetland communities except SP. Our data demonstrate that the pasture has affected the settlement and expansion of two pasture communities on the moor by acting as a propagule source and also through the input of nutrients in the form of fertilizer and waste from cattle. Moreover, this enrichment of the moor habitat may have facilitated replacement of the original wetland community. That is, its unusually high levels of phosphorus and potassium may have resulted in the dominance ofPersicaria nepalensis, andP. thunbergii, which often occur on nutrient-rich sites. Therefore, proper policies should be enacted to restore Jilmoe Moor as a montane peatland by eliminating the effect of the surrounding pasture.     

Ant diversity and distribution in Acadia National Park, Maine

Exotic ant species are a primary threat to ant biological diversity, posing a negative impact to native ant communities. In this study, we examine species richness of ants (family Formicidae) in Acadia National Park, ME, as a fundamental step toward understanding the present impact of the exotic species Myrmica rubra on native ant species. Twelve habitat types were sampled, along six transects, with pitfall traps, visual searching, bait traps, and leaf litter extraction, and the aid of 34 volunteers. We report 42 species of ants in Acadia National Park, comprising five subfamilies (Amblyoponinae, Dolichoderinae, Formicinae, Myrmicinae, and Ponerinae) and 15 genera; the cataloged species represents 75% of the species originally recorded in the area by Procter (1946). Our findings suggest M. rubra is currently not a dominant species throughout the entire island. However, where this species has invaded locally, few competing native species coexist. The species Lasius alienus, Formica subsericea, Myrmica detritinodis, Camponotus herculeanus, Formica argentea, Formica aserva, and Tapinoma sessile occurred most often in our survey. We report the ant species Amblyopone pallipes and Dolichoderus mariae as two new records for the state of Maine.     

Tree growth and competition in a post-logging Quercus mongolica forest on Mt. Sobaek, South Korea

Secondary woodlands in South Korea cover most mountains from low to middle elevations. While general patterns of forest succession are well understood, little is known about mechanisms of stand recovery after disturbance. We examined the spatio-temporal variations in establishment, growth, size inequality, and mode of competition among trees in a 50-year-old post-logging Quercus mongolica-dominated stand. We further compared the growth and stem allometry of single trees, presumably of seed origin, with multi-stemmed trees resprouting from stumps. Q. mongolica formed the upper canopy 16–22 m tall, 88.3% of total stand basal area, and 36.2% of total stem density, with most trees established during the first post-logging decade (51.2% were resprouts). During the first three decades, the Q. mongolica recruits grew exponentially, and disproportionately more in diameter than few older reserved trees left after the last cutting. This substantially decreased size inequality. The reverse trend was observed from 1994 to 2004: larger trees grow more, indicating an increasing asymmetry of competition for light. Neighborhood analysis revealed that when target trees had more or larger neighbors, their exponential phase of growth was reduced and maximum size was decreased. After the 50 years of stand development, more than 70% of Q. mongolica showed growth decline as a result of competitive stress, and mortality was about 30%, concentrated in smaller size classes. Compared to single stems, resprouts within clones do not seem to compete less asymmetric as might be expected based on studies of clonal herbaceous plants and physiological integration within genets. As Q. mongolica was also negatively affected by competition from woody species currently prevailing in the lower tree stratum (Tilia amurensis, Acer mono, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, Acer pseudosieboldianum), we predict the stand will become increasingly dominated by these more shade-tolerant trees.     

云南哀牢山国家级自然保护区附生蕨类植物的多样性与附载植物的关系

为了探讨附生蕨类植物多样性与附载植物的关系,调查了附载植物胸径、树高、枝下高及附载植物种类对附生蕨类植物多样性的影响.按照径级分别对不周径级下的附载植物的附生蕨类植物的多样性进行偏相关分析,并采用方差分析判断附载植物种类对附生蕨类植物多样性的影响.结果表明,附载植物树高和胸径与附生蕨类植物多样性之间存在明显正相关,附载植物的枝下高与附生蕨类植物多样性之间存在着明显的负相关,表明较低的枝下高有利于附生蕨类植物多样性的增加.附载植物种类对附生蕨类植物多样性具有重要的影响.