Water- and nutrient-use efficiency of a deciduous species, Vaccinium myrtillus, and an evergreen species, V. vitis-idaea, in a subalpine dwarf shrub heath in the southern Alps, Italy

Periodic measurements of gas‐exchange rates and determinations of foliar N and P concentrations were used for evaluating instantaneous water‐use efficiency and photosynthetic nutrient‐use efficiency in two co‐existing dwarf shrubs of different growth form (V. myrtillus, deciduous, and V. vitis‐idaea, evergreen) in a subalpine heath in the southern Alps of Italy. Those data were compared with cumulative assessments of water‐use efficiency and photosynthetic nutrient‐use efficiency obtained by measuring leaf carbon isotope discrimination in leaf tissues and by estimating nutrient resorption from senescing leaves. V. myrtillus presented higher dry‐weight based rates of net photosynthesis (A_weight) compared to V. vitis‐idaea. A_weight was positively correlated with foliar‐nutrient status and intercellular‐to‐ambient gradient in CO₂ concentrations. A_weight was, furthermore, negatively correlated with leaf specific mass. Instantaneous photosynthetic nutrient‐use efficiency did not differ between the two species but the percentages of N and P pools resorbed from senescing leaves were somewhat higher in the deciduous species. The evergreen species showed lower P concentrations in senescing leaves which indicated a higher proficiency in resorbing phosphorus compared to the deciduous species. In addition, the evergreen species achieved a higher carbon gain per unit foliar N and P, due to a longer mean residence time of both nutrients. The two species did not differ from each other with respect to both instantaneous and long‐term water‐use efficiency. This was consistent with the climatic pattern, showing no sign of water deficiency through the growing season. Current‐year V. vitis‐idaea leaves had a significantly higher Δ¹³C compared to previous‐year leaves, possibly mirroring a long term acclimation of evergreen leaves, as far as they age, to the habitat conditions in the understory where evergreen species are usually confined within mixed dwarf‐shrub communities.     

Photosynthetic performance of cold-sensitive mutants of maize at low temperature

The virescent character is a genetic variant in pigmentation characterized by a delay in greening. Seedlings of the virescent mutants v1, v2, v3, v4, v13, v16, v18, v19 and v26 of maize exhibit chlorosis when grown at low temperature. Chlorotic leaves contain plastids that appear to have been arrested at an early stage of development. The results indicated that V16, V2, V3 and V4 loci control early stages of chloroplast development while V1, V13 and V19 may play a role at the end of development. The mutations in the V18 and V26 loci may control an intermediate step. At the pigment level, the virescent mutants of maize differ widely from analogous mutations existing in other plants. The mutations were characterized by a reduced amount of chlorophyll a and b (up to 100 times in v16) and chlorophyll a/b ratio above normal (up to 13.7 in v16). Lutein content was reduced in all mutants (less than 3% in v16 compared to wild type) but v13, while pigments of the xanthophyll cycle were found at higher levels in v1 and v13 (more than 10 and 90%, respectively). The v2, v3, v4, v16 and v18 mutants that are most depleted in β-carotene (36 times less in average than wild type) are also deprived in D1 and D2 polypeptides. Moreover, the v2, v3, v4, v16 and v18 mutants characterized by a lower accumulation in lutein are most depleted of light-harvesting complex II. All mutants possess a functioning, fully reversible, non-photochemical quenching mechanism. This is most developed in the v13 and v19 mutants (φ_n = 0.48 and 0.44, respectively). These two mutants also have a relatively high primary photochemical yield for photosystem II and a functioning photosystem I (φ_p = 0.23 and 0.39, respectively). The most interesting mutant is v13 that shows severe chlorosis and possesses the most effective non-photochemical quenching mechanism(s), which is thought to provide protection against excess photon absorption by photosystem II.     

The present conservation status of Juniperus forests in the South Ethiopian Endemic Bird Area

Field survey data and Landsat satellite imagery were used to evaluate the conservation status of two Juniperus forests (Mankubsa and Arero) in the south Ethiopian Endemic Bird Area. Forest cover and dense woodland decreased in both areas between 1986 and 2002, but rates of habitat change and human impact were greater at Mankubsa than at Arero. We suggest that at Mankubsa increased grazing pressure, agricultural expansion, commercial fuelwood and timber exploitation are threatening forest persistence, while most of the degradation at Arero is because of the grazing of domestic animals. Conservation efforts should focus on creating tree plantations and improving forest resource use efficiency at Mankubsa, while at Arero better results could be obtained by improving pasture quality in the habitats surrounding the forest.     

A trait‐based approach for predicting species responses to environmental change from sparse data: how well might terrestrial mammals track climate change?

Estimating population spread rates across multiple species is vital for projecting biodiversity responses to climate change. A major challenge is to parameterise spread models for many species. We introduce an approach that addresses this challenge, coupling a trait‐based analysis with spatial population modelling to project spread rates for 15 000 virtual mammals with life histories that reflect those seen in the real world. Covariances among life‐history traits are estimated from an extensive terrestrial mammal data set using Bayesian inference. We elucidate the relative roles of different life‐history traits in driving modelled spread rates, demonstrating that any one alone will be a poor predictor. We also estimate that around 30% of mammal species have potential spread rates slower than the global mean velocity of climate change. This novel trait‐space‐demographic modelling approach has broad applicability for tackling many key ecological questions for which we have the models but are hindered by data availability.     

Functional polymorphism in lycopene beta-cyclase gene as a molecular marker to predict bixin production in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bixa orellana</Emphasis> L. (achiote)

Bixin is an apocarotenoid obtained from the seed aril of Bixa orellana L., a tropical plant known as achiote in Mexico. This compound is the second most commonly used natural colouring for food and pharmaceutical industries. B. orellana is an outcrossing species that displays high genetic variability. Recently, the colour traits of sexual organs were associated with the biosynthesis and accumulation of bixin in mature seeds. Herein, we describe a new approach for genotype–phenotype association by surveying lycopene beta-cyclase (Boβ-LCY1) gene variation in sixteen achiote accessions divided into three groups according to contrasting traits, such as flower colour, fruit colour and bixin production. Using a combination of single-strand conformational polymorphism techniques and the sequencing of polymorphic bands, we identified several single-nucleotide polymorphisms that divided the accessions into three haplotypes. Surprisingly, we observed that these three haplotypes were consistent with the same three groups previously characterized by phenotypic traits. We derived a putative sequence for the Boβ-LCY1 gene and surveyed the variations in this sequence. The heterozygosity of Boβ-LCY1 alleles resulted in a higher bixin content, likely associated with heterosis for this metabolite. These findings augment the toolbox available for the selection and genetic improvement of B. orellana and provide a reliable phenotype–genotype association method for commercial varietal selection, contributing to the development of laboratory techniques to identify desirable traits of commercial plant species.     

R4496C RyR2 mutation impairs atrial and ventricular contractility

Ryanodine receptor (RyR2) is the major Ca²⁺ channel of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and plays a crucial role in the generation of myocardial force. Changes in RyR2 gating properties and resulting increases in its open probability (P_o) are associated with Ca²⁺ leakage from the SR and arrhythmias; however, the effects of RyR2 dysfunction on myocardial contractility are unknown. Here, we investigated the possibility that a RyR2 mutation associated with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, R4496C, affects the contractile function of atrial and ventricular myocardium. We measured isometric twitch tension in left ventricular and atrial trabeculae from wild-type mice and heterozygous transgenic mice carrying the R4496C RyR2 mutation and found that twitch force was comparable under baseline conditions (30°C, 2 mM [Ca²⁺]_o, 1 Hz). However, the positive inotropic responses to high stimulation frequency, 0.1 µM isoproterenol, and 5 mM [Ca²⁺]_o were decreased in R4496C trabeculae, as was post-rest potentiation. We investigated the mechanisms underlying inotropic insufficiency in R4496C muscles in single ventricular myocytes. Under baseline conditions, the amplitude of the Ca²⁺ transient was normal, despite the reduced SR Ca²⁺ content. Under inotropic challenge, however, R4496C myocytes were unable to boost the amplitude of Ca²⁺ transients because they are incapable of properly increasing the amount of Ca²⁺ stored in the SR because of a larger SR Ca²⁺ leakage. Recovery of force in response to premature stimuli was faster in R4496C myocardium, despite the unchanged rates of recovery of L-type Ca²⁺ channel current (I_Ca-L) and SR Ca²⁺ content in single myocytes. A faster recovery from inactivation of the mutant R4496C channels could explain this behavior. In conclusion, changes in RyR2 channel gating associated with the R4496C mutation could be directly responsible for the alterations in both ventricular and atrial contractility. The increased RyR2 P_o and fractional Ca²⁺ release from the SR induced by the R4496C mutation preserves baseline contractility despite a slight decrease in SR Ca²⁺ content, but cannot compensate for the inability to increase SR Ca²⁺ content during inotropic challenge.