Genetic variation of tetrazolium oxidase in the fat-tailed dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata Gould (Marsupialia)

Electrophoretic variation in red blood cell tetrazolium oxidase has been detected in a laboratory colony of the fat-tailed dunnart, Sminthopsis crassicaudata. Evidence from family data suggest that this variation is determined by a pair of co-dominant autosomal alleles, To ^A and To ^B, heterozygotes possessing enzymatically active hybrid protein.     

Does soil determine the boundaries of monodominant rain forest with adjacent mixed rain forest and maquis on ultramafic soils in New Caledonia?

Aim To determine the soil characteristics of Nothofagus‐dominated rain forests in an ultramafic region (i.e. soils having high concentrations of metals including Mg, Fe and Ni), and whether soil characteristics may explain the location of monodominant rain forest in relation to adjacent mixed rain forest and maquis (shrub‐dominated vegetation). Location New Caledonia. Methods Soil characteristics were compared among six Nothofagus‐dominated rain forests from a range of altitudes and topographic positions. At four of these sites, comparisons were made with soils of adjacent mixed rain forest and maquis. Results Soil characteristics varied among the monodominant Nothofagus forests, largely due to differences between ultramafic soils and soils influenced by non‐ultramafic intrusions. The soils of all vegetation types had low concentrations of nutrients, particularly P, K and Ca (both total and extractable/exchangeable), and high total concentrations of Ni, Fe, Cr and Mn. There were significant differences between the rain forests and adjacent maquis in soil concentrations of several elements (N, P, Ca, Mg and Mn), more so in surface soils than at depth, but much of this pattern may be caused by effects of vegetation on the soil, rather than of soil on the vegetation. However, there were no significant differences in soil concentrations of any mineral elements between Nothofagus forest and adjacent mixed rain forest. Main conclusions We found no evidence for soil mediation of boundaries of Nothofagus rain forest with mixed rain forest, and little evidence for the boundaries of either forest type with maquis. We suggest that the local abrupt boundaries of these monodominant Nothofagus forests are directly related to temporal factors, such as time since the last wildfire and frequency of wildfire, and that disturbance is therefore a major causal factor in the occurrence of these forests.     

ACC oxidase from Carica papaya: Isolation and characterization

Most of the studies done on 1‐aminocyclopropane 1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase were done in vivo. It is only recently that in vitro studies have been carried out successfully on the enzyme. Here we report on in vitro studies of the enzyme that was isolated from Carica papaya . The enzyme had a K_m of 37 µ M and was inhibited by n ‐propyl gallate (0.240 m M ), sodium dithionite (0.022 m M ), sodium metabisulphite (0.021 m M ) and cobalt sulphate (0.100 m M ). The activity of the enzyme increased with ripening, the enzyme was somewhat labile and activity was lost after 4 days at 14°C; activity was prolonged when the crude homogenate was kept at −15°C. Isolation and purification were achieved with ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by gel‐filtration (Sephadex G 100‐120) and ion‐exchange chromatography (DEAE‐Sephadex). Gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme gave a single band which corresponded to a molecular mass of 27.5 kDa. The amino acid content of the enzyme showed a relatively high percentage of valine (10.4%). Enzyme activity was enhanced when dithiothreitol (3 m M ) and bicarbonate ion (30 m M ) were added to the assay medium. The production of ethylene from Carica papaya did not require pretreatment of the fruit with ethylene.     

Methanogenesis in Eocene Arctic soils inferred from δC of tree fossil carbonates

We report on the carbon and oxygen stable isotope composition of fossil tree material collected at the White Mountain locality of the Buchanan Lake Formation on Axel Heiberg Island in the High Arctic of Canada. The fossils are Middle Eocene in age and have been permineralized with carbonate. Microscopic examination of fossils revealed them to be the remains of Metasequoia stems, composed of secondary carbonate (calcite) and original wood intermingled at the cellular level. Because the specimens show little compression, crushing, or tissue degradation, we believe that carbonate permineralization occurred soon after burial, and therefore provides insight into Eocene carbon cycling at the locality. The carbon isotope signature of the carbonate suggests that methanogenesis resulted in a ¹³C-enriched CO₂ pool that equilibrated with soil water and gave rise to unusually ¹³C-enriched CaCO₃. Tree fossil carbonate exhibited strikingly high δ¹³C values (+4.0 to +7.4‰) compared to published Phanerozoic pedogenic carbonate δ¹³C values. These δ¹³C values, in conjunction with fractionation factors (α) previously determined for carbonate precipitation and methanogenic pathways, indicate an Eocene soil CO₂ pool containing 80-95% CO₂ produced as a by-product of acetate-fermentation methanogenesis. Because methane in the atmosphere is a powerful greenhouse gas, we suggest that methane emissions from Axel Heiberg soils contributed to the relatively warm Arctic climate during the Middle Eocene.     

Restoring planted ancient woodland sites — Assessment,silviculture and monitoring

Summary

This paper deals with three aspects of the process of restoring planted ancient woodland sites(PAWS) to semi-natural conditions. Firstly, we describe a baseline assessment of botanical interest within a PAWS. This survey has been undertaken to determine the impact of clearfelling, particularly on lower plants and the subsequent colonisation of ground vegetation into areas currently dominated by needle litter. Secondly, we discuss some of the main considerations when undertaking restoration through alternative silvicultural systems to clearfell. Finally, we describe the main requirement for successful site monitoring for management purposes.

The last decade has seen considerable attention given to the benefits of restoring plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) to semi-natural conditions. The survival of species and communities associated with ancient woodland through the process of conversion will be a critical measure of success for restoration practice. It is generally assumed that a gradual approach will improve the chances of such success.

Glencripesdale National Nature Reserve (NNR) is a heterogeneous area of semi-natural open ground, ancient woodland and Sitka spruce plantation. The plantation blocks contain occasional discrete elements of semi-natural vegetation, including some veteran trees. Because of difficult access and poor stability, silvicultural options are limited and clear felling is the only practical option. We describe a simple method of monitoring changes to cryptogamic communities and ground layer vegetation prior to and following clearfelling of the plantation matrix. Baseline data are presented.

In more stable and accessible stands, there are a number of alternative silvicultural approaches to consider when gradually restoring a PAWS. This paper addresses the question of how to secure ancient woodland remnants. We outline some of the initial silvicultural considerations such as stability, thinning/felling pattern and light requirements of native tree species. An approach to site monitoring is presented to allow managers to assess whether conditions are improving or declining and whether they are delivering objectives.     

Generation of multilamellar and unilamellar phospholipid vesicles

Multilamellar and unilamellar vesicles can be generated by a variety of techniques which lead to systems with differing lamellarity, size, trapped volume and solute distribution. The straight-forward hydration of lipid to produce multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) results in systems which exhibit low trapped volumes and where solutes contained in the aqueous buffer are partially excluded from the MLV interior. Large trapped volumes and equilibrium solute distributions can be achieved by freeze-thawing or by ‘reverse phase’ procedures where the lipid is hydrated after being solubilized in organic solvent. Unilamellar vesicles can be produced directly from MLVs by extrusion or sonication or, alternatively, can be obtained by reverse phase or detergent removal procedures. The advantages and limitations of these techniques are discussed.