Decomposition Patterns of Foliar Litter and Deadwood in Managed and Unmanaged Stands: A 13-Year Experiment in Boreal Mixedwoods

Litter decomposition is a major driver of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles in forest ecosystems and has major implications for C sequestration and nutrient availability. However, empirical information regarding long-term decomposition rates of foliage and wood remains rare. In this study, we assessed long-term C and N dynamics (12–13 years) during decomposition of foliage and wood for three boreal tree species, under a range of harvesting intensities and slash treatments. We used model selection based on the second-order Akaike’s Information Criterion to determine which decomposition model had the most support. The double-exponential model provided a good fit to C mass loss for foliage of trembling aspen, white spruce, and balsam fir, as well as aspen wood. These litters underwent a rapid initial phase of leaching and mineralisation, followed by a slow decomposition. In contrast, for spruce and fir wood, the single-exponential model had the most support. The long-term average decay rate of wood was faster than that of foliage for aspen, but not of conifers. However, we found no evidence that fir and spruce wood decomposed at slower rates than the recalcitrant fraction of their foliage. The critical C:N ratios, at which net N mineralisation began, were higher for wood than for foliage. Long-term decay rates following clear-cutting were either similar or faster than those observed in control stands, depending on litter material, tree species, and slash treatment. The critical C:N ratios were reached later and decreased for all conifer litters following stem-only clear-cutting, indicating increased N retention in harvested sites with high slash loads. Partial harvesting had weak effects on C and N dynamics of decaying litters. A comprehensive understanding of the long-term patterns and controls of C and N dynamics following forest disturbance would improve our ability to forecast the implications of forest harvesting for C sequestration and nutrient availability.     

Effect of stocking density on the behavior of newly transformed juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii

This study characterized the behavioral activity of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in the early stages of development, under different stocking densities (25 and 40 animals/m²), and during the light and dark phases of a 24-h cycle. Observations of individuals were made in 8 aquariums. Behavioral recording lasted 15 min/aquarium, 4 times/day and 4 days/week, 4 weeks in total. Food was offered twice daily. Observational methods included a combination of behavioral sampling and scan sampling. During the light phase, inactivity, cleaning and remaining in a shelter were the most frequent behaviors. During the dark phase the subjects displayed a higher frequency of feeding, exploration, swimming, and digging. At low density, the animals gained more weight and exhibited greater growth overall. These results indicate a behavioral pattern that is more favorable to animals in the lower density cultivation environment that can also create better living conditions for these shrimp, favor survival rates and therefore improve management success.     

Slow heat rate increases yeast thermotolerance by maintaining plasma membrane integrity.

Thermal resistance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was found to be drastically dependent on the kinetics of heat perturbation. Yeasts were found to be more resistant to a plateau of 1 h at 50 degrees C after a slope of temperature increase (slow and linear temperature increments) than after a shock (sudden temperature change). Thermotolerance was mainly acquired between 40-50 degrees C during a heat slope, i.e., above the maximal temperature of growth. The death of the yeasts subjected to a heat shock might be related to the loss of membrane integrity: intracellular contents extrusion, i.e., membrane permeabilization, was found to precede cell death. However, the permeabilization did not precede cell death during a heat slope and, therefore, membrane permeabilization was a consequence rather than a cause of cell death. During a slow temperature increase, yeasts which remain viable may have time to adapt their plasma membrane and thus maintain membrane integrity.     

Receptor-binding and down-regulatory properties of 22000-Mr human growth hormone and its natural 20000-Mr variant on IM-9 human lymphocytes.

Our earlier binding studies of the 22000- and 20000-Mr variants of human growth hormone (somatotropin) to pregnant-rabbit liver and mammary receptors [Closset, Smal, Gomez & Hennen (1983) Biochem. J. 214, 885-892] suggested that the 20000-Mr variant was a lower-affinity analogue of the 22000-Mr molecule. Since the receptor population in these tissues is not fully characterized, we have now investigated the binding of both variants to the well-characterized and highly specific human-growth-hormone receptor of the human lymphocyte IM-9 cell line. The maximum bindability of radioiodinated 22000- and 22000-Mr to IM-9 cells was 60 and 45% respectively. Both hormone variants have essentially the same binding characteristics: slow association (equilibrium reached in 8-10h at 30 degrees C), poor reversibility ('tight binding'), linear Scatchard plot, same specificity as shown by lack of competition by bovine, porcine or equine growth hormones or human growth hormone-(32-46)-(missing in the 20000-Mr variant),-(1-134)- and -(141-191)-peptides. Both unlabelled hormones inhibit binding of both tracers completely, with the 20000-Mr variant being only half as potent as the 22000-Mr one. The apparent affinity is 2.8 X 10(9)M-1 for the 22000-Mr variant and 1.6 X 10(9)M-1 for the 20000-Mr variant. This decreased affinity of the 20000-Mr variant appears to be due to a lower association rate constant. Concentrations (5 ng/ml) of the two variants that occupy about 15% of the total sites induce a marked down-regulation of the receptors after 18h incubation, but the 20000-Mr variant (50% decrease) has a smaller effect than the 22000-Mr variant (75% decrease). Thus the only consequence of the residues-32-46 deletion in the 20000-Mr variant is a lower association rate and affinity for the IM-9 lymphocyte human-growth-hormone receptor. The close binding characteristics of the two forms suggest that the known differences in their insulin-like effects cannot be explained by differences in the nature of their interaction with the human-growth-hormone receptor.     

A new species of bound ubisemiquinone anion in QH2: cytochrome c oxidoreductase

Using a combination of EPR and low temperature diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, a new species of semiquinone anion has been detected in QH2:cytochrome c oxidoreductase in submitochondrial particles under conditions of oxidant-induced extra reduction of cytochrome b. In contrast to the previously detected semiquinone anion, this new species is insensitive to antimycin but sensitive to treatment with 2,3-dimercaptopropanol and O2. The two species can easily be distinguished on the basis of their respective EPR properties since they differ in g-value, line width, and microwave power saturation behavior. It is concluded that the two species of semiquinone anion are bound to different domains on QH2:cytochrome c oxidoreductase. The existence of two different semiquinone anions in the enzyme strongly supports a mechanism of electron flow as proposed in the Q-cycle.     

The HsdS polypeptide of the Type IC restriction enzyme Eco R124 is a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein

The HsdS and HsdM polypeptides of the type IC restriction enzyme EcoR124 have been purified independently and used in a set of gel retardation experiments to determine the minimum requirements for sequence-specific recognition of DNA by this enzyme. The HsdS polypeptide alone is able to bind to DNA in a sequence-specific manner. In addition, whilst the presence of the HsdM polypeptide gives rise to a stimulation of DNA binding by the HsdS subunit it is not clear whether, under the conditions of the experiments reported here, the HsdS subunit maintains the same interactions with the HsdM subunits observed in the absence of DNA.     

Application of the imidate procedure to α-d-galactosyltion

Using the imidate procedure, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-1-O-(N-methylacetimidoyl)-β-d-galactopyranose was condensed with various monosaccharides to provide, in good yield and with high stereoselectivity, α-linked disaccharides.