Terrestrial Biomass-Reconstruction for the Pleniglacial and the Holocene Climatic Optimum Around 7000 cal yr BP in Europe

The aim of this research was to estimate the former below- and aboveground biomass during the Last Pleniglacial (22,000 cal yr BP) and during the Holocene climatic optimum, the Atlantic Period (7,000 cal yr BP). Vegetation distributions and soil conditions during these periods were reconstructed according to published literature. Using the present-day bio-masses of similar (but not identical) vegetation and soil types as analogues, estimates of the terrestrial biomass were made for 22,000 and 7,000 cal yr BP. Biomass was low during the Pleniglacial, representing only 5.0 to 12.5 Gt. This reflects weak soil development under cold climatic conditions, combined with soil erosion due to severe frost and strong wind. The results are compared with other biomass reconstructions for the Pleniglacial. The values for terrestrial biomass of the Pleniglacial presented in this paper are much lower than the results of the various studies for this time slice. These differences are likely to be related to the method applied. Biomass was high during the Holocene climatic optimum around 7,000 cal yr BP, representing 261 to 325 Gt compared to 232 to 273 Gt in the present potential situation and 165 to 197 Gt in the present-day real situation. This reflects intensive soil development under warm and moist conditions during the climatic optimum of the Holocene. These results demonstrate the fluctuation of C-content in terrestrial ecosystems since the Last Glacial Maximum on the European continent.     

A little bit is better than nothing: the incomplete parthenogenesis of salamanders,frogs and fish

A re-examination of the mitochondrial genomes of unisexual salamander lineages, published in BMC Evolutionary Biology, shows them to be the oldest unisexual vertebrates known, having been around for 5 million years. This presents a challenge to the prediction that lack of genetic recombination is a fast track to extinction.     

BiP acts as a molecular ratchet during posttranslational transport of prepro-alpha factor across the ER membrane.

We have addressed the mechanism by which proteins are posttranslationally transported across the membrane of the yeast endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We demonstrate that BiP (Kar2p), a member of the Hsp70 family resident in the ER lumen, acts as a molecular ratchet during translocation of the secretory protein prepro-alpha factor through the channel formed by the Sec complex. Multiple BiP molecules associate with each translocation substrate following interaction with the J domain of the Sec63p component of the Sec complex. Bound BiP minimizes passive backward movements of the substrate through the channel, and BiP's subsequent dissociation results in a free polypeptide in the ER lumen. Antibodies against the substrate can replace BiP, indicating that a Brownian ratchet is sufficient to achieve translocation.