Development and mapping of a public reference set of SSR markers in Lolium perenne L.

We report on the characterization and mapping of 76 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for Lolium perenne. These markers are publicly available or obtained either from genomic libraries enriched for SSR motifs or L. perenne expressed sequence tag (EST) clones. Four L. perenne mapping populations were used to map the SSR markers. A consensus linkage map of the four mapping populations containing 65 of the SSR markers is presented, together with primer information and a quality score indicating the usefulness of the SSR marker in different populations. The SSR markers identified all seven L. perenne linkage groups.     

Characterization of microsatellite loci in the endemic mound spring snail Fonscochlea accepta and cross species amplification in four other hydrobiid snails

We identified and characterized nine microsatellite primer pairs from Fonscochlea accepta, a species of hydrobiid snail endemic to artesian mound springs associated with the Great Artesian Basin in arid South Australia. The loci were highly polymorphic, with five to 30 alleles per locus. Gene diversity, estimated as expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.364 to 0.851, and was generally matched by levels of observed heterozygosity (0.373–0.829). Cross‐species amplification trials with four other hydrobiid species associated with these southern mound springs showed that these primers will be useful for genetic analyses of these other endemic snails.     

Combining a regional climate model with a phytoplankton community model to predict future changes in phytoplankton in lakes

1. Linking a regional climate model (RCM) configured for contemporary atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, with a phytoplankton community model (PROTECH) produced realistic simulations of 20 years of recent phytoplankton data from Bassenthwaite Lake, in the North‐West of England. 2. Meteorological drivers were derived from the RCM to represent a future climate scenario involving a 1% per annum compound increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations until 2100. Using these drivers, PROTECH was run for another 20 year period representing the last two decades of the 21st century. 3. Comparison of these present and future simulations revealed likely impacts on the current seasonal phytoplankton development. Under future climate conditions, the simulated spring bloom showed an increase in cyanobacteria dominance caused by greater success of Planktothrix. Also, the summer cyanobacteria bloom declined earlier because of nutrient limitation caused by the increased spring growth. Overall productivity in the lake did not change. 4. Analysis showed that these predicted changes were driven by changes in water temperature, which were in turn triggered by the higher air temperatures predicted by the RCM.     

Interrelationships and diversification of Argynnis Fabricius and Speyeria Scudder butterflies

Diverse radiations of insects are often associated with adaptations to host plants, and well‐resolved phylogenetic relationships are required to fully understand them. Palearctic Argynnis and related subgenera, together with North American Speyeria butterflies make up a radiation whose species hypotheses are confounded by shared wing colour patterns between sympatric populations of closely related recognized species. Previous studies of this group indicate that Speyeria is a lineage within Argynnis, but sampling in these studies has either involved too few Speyeria species or incomplete sampling of Argynnis species. Thus, no comprehensive phylogenetic analysis exists for all members that answers the question of monophyly of Speyeria, or other subgeneric taxa, and their relationship to Argynnis species. We completed a phylogenetic analysis of all North American Speyeria species and all but one species within Argynnis, using one mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase I, COI) and four nuclear genes [elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1α), wingless (WG), glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and ribosomal protein S5 (RPS5)]. The results indicate three major lineages within Argynnis s.l.: two Palearctic and one containing both Palearctic and Nearctic species. In summary, the phylogenetic analyses suggest the need for reorganization into three natural groups: Argynnis, Fabriciana and Speyeria. Within each of these genera the phylogenetic hypothesis indicates an evolutionary history marked by rapid diversification and potential extinction, followed by ongoing lineage sorting. The position of North American Speyeria is nested within the Palearctic lineages, which indicates that the radiation began in Asia and was fuelled by existing Viola diversity in North America. Dating analyses of Viola and Speyeria corroborate this hypothesis. The current North American Speyeria species are mixed on the tree, indicating a recent and ongoing radiation. These results provide needed clarity on the evolution of this group, which contains species of conservation concern.     

Recent and recurrent polyploidy in Tragopogon (Asteraceae): cytogenetic, genomic and genetic comparisons

Tragopogon mirus Ownbey and T. miscellus Ownbey are allopolyploids that formed repeatedly during the past 80 years following the introduction of three diploids (T. dubius Scop., T. pratensis L. and T. porrifolius L.) from Europe to western North America. These polyploid species of known parentage are useful for studying the consequences of recent and recurrent polyploidization. We summarize recent analyses of the cytogenetic, genomic and genetic consequences of polyploidy in Tragopogon. Analyses of rDNA ITS (internal transcribed spacer) + ETS (external transcribed spacer) sequence data indicate that the parental diploids are phylogenetically well separated within Tragopogon (a genus of perhaps 150 species), in agreement with isozymic and cpDNA data. Using Southern blot and cloning experiments on tissue from early herbarium collections of T. mirus and T. miscellus (from 1949) to represent the rDNA repeat condition closer to the time of polyploidization than samples collected today, we have demonstrated concerted evolution of rDNA. Concerted evolution is ongoing, but has not proceeded to completion in any polyploid population examined; rDNA repeats of the diploid T. dubius are typically lost or converted in both allopolyploids, including populations of independent origin. Molecular cytogenetic studies employing rDNA probes, as well as centromeric and subtelomeric repeats isolated from Tragopogon, distinguished all chromosomes among the diploid progenitors (2n = 12). The diploid chromosome complements are additive in both allopolyploids (2n = 24); there is no evidence of major chromosomal rearrangements in populations of either T. mirus or T. miscellus. cDNA‐AFLP display revealed differences in gene expression between T. miscellus and its diploid parents, as well as between populations of T. miscellus of reciprocal origin. Approximately 5% of the genes examined in the allopolyploid populations have been silenced, and an additional 4% exhibit novel gene expression relative to their diploid parents. Some of the differences in gene expression represent maternal or paternal effects. Multiple origins of a polyploid species not only affect patterns of genetic variation in natural populations, but also contribute to differential patterns of gene expression and may therefore play a major role in the long‐term evolution of polyploids. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 82 , 485–501.     

Displacement of Mountain Caribou From Winter Habitat by Snowmobiles

Abstract: Mountain caribou are an ecotype of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) that live in subalpine forests in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, extending into northern Idaho and Washington, USA. These caribou are listed as Threatened in Canada, Endangered in the United States, and are the subject of recovery planning efforts in both countries. Many areas of mountain caribou winter habitat experience intensive use by recreational snowmobilers. During 4 surveys, we recorded caribou on all 4 census blocks with little or no snowmobile activity (x̄ density = 0.41 caribou/km²), but during 3 of 4 years, we observed no caribou on the census block with intensive snowmobile activity. The year we observed caribou on the snowmobile block, most were using areas inaccessible to snowmobiles. We used a Resource Selection Function (RSF) based on radiotelemetry data for the area to compare habitat quality among the different census blocks. The absence of caribou from the intensive snowmobile area during most years could not be explained by differences in habitat quality. The RSF predicted that the intensive snowmobile area could support 53-96 caribou (95% CI). We conclude that intensive snowmobiling has displaced caribou from an area of suitable habitat. We recommend that snowmobile activity be restricted from all or most high-quality mountain caribou habitat as part of the recovery planning process.     

Effect of Forest Fire Suppression on Buff-Breasted Flycatchers

ABSTRACT Buff-breasted flycatchers (Empidonax fulvifrons) are rare in the United States due to a >90% reduction in breeding distribution. Previous authors have implicated fire suppression in montane woodlands as the underlying cause of population declines and range contraction. We examined the effect of fire suppression on population declines of buff-breasted flycatchers by comparing both presence and abundance of flycatchers in areas with and without evidence of recent fire in 9 mountain ranges in southern Arizona, USA. We also replicated previous survey efforts conducted in 1980–1983 and 1995–1996 to determine population trajectory. Twenty-two (63%) of 35 survey routes had negative trends, and the average slope of the declines was −0.105 (10.5% annual decline). The number of buff-breasted flycatchers detected at a survey point was positively associated with severity of recent fires, and flycatchers were particularly associated with areas that had evidence of high-severity surface fire. However, we failed to detect flycatchers in 5 canyons that recently burned, which suggests one or more of the following: 1) fire suppression is not the cause (or is not the main cause) of population decline and range contraction, 2) flycatchers do not colonize burned areas until >10 years postfire, 3) low- or medium-severity fires are insufficient to make fire-suppressed areas suitable for breeding flycatchers, or 4) local recruitment and immigration are insufficient to allow buff-breasted flycatchers to expand into recent firerestored areas. Continued suppression of high-severity forest fires in the southwestern United States may eventually result in the extirpation of buff-breasted flycatchers. A landscape that includes a mosaic of recently burned and unburned forest patches appears to be most suitable for buff-breasted flycatchers. Prescribed burning is unlikely to help restore flycatcher populations unless burns are of high severity, conditions typically avoided during prescribed burns for safety reasons.     

Variable microsatellite loci isolated from the azure damselfly,Coenagrion puella (L.) (Zygoptera; Coenagrionidae)

We isolated and characterized 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci from the azure damselfly Coenagrion puella (Zygoptera; Coenagrionidae) as part of a study assessing reproductive success and genetic structure in an isolated population of this species. Levels of genetic diversity were assessed in 50 individuals collected from Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Hampshire, UK. The number of alleles per microsatellite loci ranged from three to 22 and the observed and expected heterozygosities varied between 0.26 and 0.84 and between 0.23 and 0.91, respectively. Two loci showed significant (P < 0.05) heterozygote deficits, likely because of null (non‐amplifying) alleles; one pair of loci was in linkage disequilibrium.     

Catchment land-use, macroinvertebrates and detritus processing in headwater streams: taxonomic richness versus function

1. We used a litter bag technique to assess the effect of catchment land-use (forest, wetland, agriculture, urban) on the processing of red maple ( Acer rubrum L.) litter in 17 streams in Maine, U.S.A. Litter processing by fungi was predicted to increase with nutrient concentrations along a gradient of land use, from relatively unmodified to highly modified. Litter processing by litter-shredding macroinvertebrates was predicted to decline along this gradient because of a decline in their taxonomic richness and biomass.
2. Land use was associated with the anticipated gradient in nutrient and macroinvertebrate attributes, and a significant relationship was found between land use and nitrate concentration. There was, however, no significant relationship between land use and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentration. Similarly, shredder taxonomic richness was significantly related to land use type, whereas shredder biomass showed no significant relationship to land use.
3. Attributes of the shredder assemblage structure and nutrient concentrations were both strong determinants of litter processing. Increasing biomass and taxonomic richness of shredders was significantly related to increasing rates of litter mass loss. Increasing concentrations of nitrate and SRP were significantly related to increasing rates of litter softening below threshold concentrations (approximately 0.20 mg NO₃-N L^–1 and 5 μg SRP L^–1).
4. The potentially additive effects of nitrate and SRP concentrations or shredder richness and biomass on litter processing rates were confounded by the lack of significant correlation between these pairs of variables. Consequently, rates of litter processing (as rates of softening or mass loss) did not vary systematically among different land use regimes.     

Deforestation causes increased dissolved silicate losses in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest

Globally significant increases in the riverine delivery of nutrients and suspended particulate matter have occurred with deforestation. We report here significant increases in streamwater transport of dissolved silicate (DSi) following experimental forest harvesting at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, NH, USA. The magnitude of the streamwater response varied with the type of disturbance with the highest DSi export fluxes occurring in the manipulations that left the most plant materials on the soil surface and disturbed the soil surface least. No measurable loss of amorphous silica (ASi) was detected from the soil profile; however, ASi was redistributed within the soil profile after forest disturbance. Mass‐balance calculations demonstrate that some fraction of the DSi exported must come from dissolution of ASi and export as DSi. Land clearance and the development of agriculture may result in an enhanced flux of DSi coupled with enhanced erosion losses of ASi contained in phytoliths.