Unrevealed roles of polyphosphate-accumulating microorganisms

We first review current knowledge on PAOs, with a focus on bacteria, in terms of their phylogenetic identities, metabolic pathways and detection methods. We further discuss the evidence that suggests the ubiquitous presence of PAOs in nature and point out the unrevealed roles of the PAOs that warrant future investigation.     

Impact of minimum winter temperature on Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) egg mortality

Climate change, especially winter temperature increase, may be a factor the recent occurrence and range expansion of Lycorma delicatula (White) in South Korea. Egg mortality increased as minimum winter temperature decreased. Egg mortality was highest (93.32%) in Chuncheon, where the mean minimum winter temperature was lowest. The temperature that induced complete mortality of fulgorid eggs was estimated to be ?3.44 °C on the basis of mean daily temperatures from December 2009 to February 2010 and ?12.72 °C on the basis of mean daily minimum temperatures in January 2010. Mean winter temperatures during the last 30 years have gradually increased to above the temperature for 100% mortality of the fulgorid egg. This suggests that the winter temperature increase may contribute to the successful settlement of the fulgorid in South Korea and its subsequent outbreak and expansion.