Identification of current ecosystem functional types in the Iberian Peninsula

Aim To examine the geographical patterns of the interception of photosynthetically active radiation by vegetation and to describe its spatial heterogeneity through the definition of ecosystem functional types (EFTs) based on the annual dynamics of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a spectral index related to carbon gains. Location The Iberian Peninsula. Methods EFTs were derived from three attributes of the NDVI obtained from NOAA/AVHRR sensors: the annual integral (NDVI‐I), as a surrogate of primary production, an integrative indicator of ecosystem functioning; and the intra‐annual relative range (RREL) and month of maximum NDVI (MMAX), which represent key features of seasonality. Results NDVI‐I decreased south‐eastwards. The highest values were observed in the Eurosiberian Region and in the highest Mediterranean ranges. Low values occurred in inner plains, river basins and in the southeast. The Eurosiberian Region and Mediterranean mountains presented the lowest RREL, while Eurosiberian peaks, river basins, inner‐agricultural plains, wetlands and the southeastern part of Iberia presented the highest. Eurosiberian ecosystems showed a summer maximum of NDVI, as did high mountains, wetlands and irrigated areas in the Mediterranean Region. Mediterranean mountains had autumn–early‐winter maxima, while semi‐arid zones, river basins and continental plains had spring maxima. Based on the behaviour in the functional traits, 49 EFTs were defined. Main conclusions The classification, based on only the NDVI dynamics, represents the spatial heterogeneity in ecosystem functioning by means of the interception of radiation by vegetation in the Iberian Peninsula. The patterns of the NDVI attributes may be used as a reference in evaluating the impacts of environmental changes. Iberia had a high spatial variability: except for biophysically impossible combinations (high NDVI‐I and high seasonality), almost any pattern of seasonal dynamics of radiation interception was represented in the Peninsula. The approach used to define EFTs opens the possibility of monitoring and comparing ecosystem functioning through time.     

Exploring anaerobic environments for cyanide and cyano-derivatives microbial degradation

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Cyanide is one of the most toxic chemicals for living organisms described so far. Its toxicity is mainly based on the high affinity that cyanide presents...     

The effect of feeding frequency on some population parameters of Rhodnius neivai

After changing feeding frequency to a weekly and biweekly basis, a statistical evaluation of the variation of some population and reproductive parameters was conducted. It was based on four cohorts experiments of Rhodnius neivai fed on hen or rabbit. We found a direct relationship between blood feeding frequency and the parameters adult average longevity, maximum longevity and life expectancy in the animals fed on hen. On the other hand, in the insect fed biweekly on rabbit, these three values were higher than the registered in the cohorts fed weekly. Reproductive output got bigger and age-specific fertility showed a small decrease when feeding frequency was weekly. Every population parameter, except generation time, was greater in the individuals fed weekly.     

Arabidopsis and sunflower plants with increased xylem area show enhanced seed yield

Plant architecture plasticity determines the efficiency at harvesting and plays a major role defining biomass and seed yield. We observed that several previously described transgenic genotypes exhibiting increased seed yield also show wider stems and more vascular bundles than wild‐type plants. Here, the relationship between these characteristics and seed yield was investigated. Hanging weight on the main stem of Arabidopsis plants provoked significant stem widening. Such widening was accompanied by an increase in the number of vascular bundles and about 100% of yield increase. In parallel, lignin deposition diminished. Vascular bundle formation started in the upper internode and continued downstream. AUX/LAX carriers were essential for this response. The increase of vascular bundles was reverted 3 weeks after the treatment leading to an enlarged xylem area. Aux1, lax1, and lax3 mutant plants were also able to enlarge their stems after the treatment, whereas lax2 plants did not. However, none of these mutants exhibited more vascular bundles or seed yield compared with untreated plants. Weight‐induced xylem area enhancement and increased seed yield were also observed in sunflower plants. Altogether these results showed a strong correlation between the number of vascular bundles and enhanced seed yield under a long‐day photoperiod. Furthermore, changes in the levels of auxin carriers affected both these processes in the same manner, suggesting that there may be an underlying causality.     

The Wnt Pathway Controls Cell Death Engulfment,Spindle Orientation,and Migration through CED-10/Rac

Wnt signalling pathways have extremely diverse functions in animals, including induction of cell fates or tumours, guidance of cell movements during gastrulation, and the induction of cell polarity. Wnt can induce polar changes in cellular morphology by a remodelling of the cytoskeleton. However, how activation of the Frizzled receptor induces cytoskeleton rearrangement is not well understood. We show, by an in depth 4-D microscopy analysis, that the Caenorhabditis elegans Wnt pathway signals to CED-10/Rac via two separate branches to regulate modulation of the cytoskeleton in different cellular situations. Apoptotic cell clearance and migration of the distal tip cell require the MOM-5/Fz receptor, GSK-3 kinase, and APC/APR-1, which activate the CED-2/5/12 branch of the engulfment machinery. MOM-5 (Frizzled) thus can function as an engulfment receptor in C. elegans. Our epistatic analyses also suggest that the two partially redundant signalling pathways defined earlier for engulfment may act in a single pathway in early embryos. By contrast, rearrangement of mitotic spindles requires the MOM-5/Fz receptor, GSK-3 kinase, and β-catenins, but not the downstream factors LIT-1/NLK or POP-1/Tcf. Taken together, our results indicate that in multiple developmental processes, CED-10/Rac can link polar signals mediated by the Wnt pathway to rearrangements of the cytoskeleton.     

西藏冷杉原始林林隙对草本植物和灌木树种多样性的影响

研究了西藏东南部亚高山原始冷杉林林隙对草本植物和灌木树种多样性的影响．结果表明,西藏东南部亚高山原始冷杉林林隙与非林隙林分内草本植物和灌木树种的种类组成、数量、密度和物种多样性均存在较大的差异．由于林隙内光照条件的改善,草本植物和灌木树种更加丰富;林隙内有喜光的草本植物和灌木,也有耐荫性较强的草本植物和灌木,而非林隙林分内仅有耐荫和较耐荫的草本植物和灌木;大部分林隙内的草本植物和灌木树种的物种多样性和均匀度大于非林隙林分;林隙内与非林隙林分的群落相似系数较小,表明林隙与非林隙林分草本植物和灌木群落组成存在差异．林隙大小在174．2～562．2m^2之间,群落相似系数与林隙大小无明显关联．林隙促进了草本植物和灌木树种的繁衍,在维持藏东南亚高山原始冷杉林的物种多样性方面起着重要作用．     

Solid substrate fermentation of leached beet pulp withTrichoderma aureoviride

Optimum production of cellulases on leached beet pulp by native and mutant strains ofTrichoderma aureoviride in column-type, solid-substrate fermenters, at controlled temperature and aeration rate, was with a mutant strain, that produced 11 and 29 filter paper units of activity/g solids on raw and acid pre-treated leached beet pulp, respectively. The former value was 40% higher than in the native strain and 70% higher than in the reference strain. protein enrichment of residual solid was significant in all cases, with values up to 40% of total dry weight. Results are suitable for scale-up to pilot level.     

Remineralization of mechanical loaded resin–dentin interface: a transitional and synchronized multistep process

This study evaluated the ability of different in vitro mechanical loading tests to promote new mineral formation at bonded dentin interfaces. This research demonstrated a sequential transition in the dentin remineralizing procedure through the analysis of the mineral and matrix gradients. Mechanical loading in phosphoric acid (PA)-treated samples promoted a generalized increases in relative presence of minerals, crystallinity, ratio of phosphate peaks and a decrease in the gradient of mineral content. The organic component showed, in general terms, an increase in crosslinking. \(\upalpha \) -helices incremented in sine and square waveform loading. In EDTA + SB specimens, the relative mineral concentration incremented when loading in hold, in general. Nonuniform parameters of Bis-GMA and adhesive penetration were encountered in both groups. PA + SB promoted the highest dentin mineralization degree when loading in square, based on the increase in the relative presence of minerals and crystallinity. EDTA + SB produced any advance crystallographic maturity at the interface. High crosslinking parameters and conformational changes in proteins in PA-treated specimens indicated, indirectly, that the first remineralization is intrafibrillar.