Phylogenetic dimension of tree communities reveals high conservation value of disturbed tropical rain forests

Aim

The conversion of old‐growth tropical forests into human‐modified landscapes threatens biodiversity worldwide, but its impact on the phylogenetic dimension of remaining communities is still poorly known. Negative and neutral responses of tree phylogenetic diversity to land use change have been reported at local and landscape scales. Here, we hypothesized that such variable responses to disturbance depend on the regional context, being stronger in more degraded rain forest regions with a longer history of land use.

Location

Six regions in Mexico and Brazil.

Methods

We used a large vegetation database (6,923 trees from 686 species) recorded in 98 50‐ha landscapes distributed across two Brazilian and four Mexican regions, which exhibit different degrees of disturbance. In each region, we assessed whether phylogenetic alpha and beta diversities were related to landscape‐scale forest loss, the percentage of shade‐intolerant species (a proxy of local disturbance) and/or the relatedness of decreasing (losers) and increasing (winners) taxa.

Results

Contrary to our expectations, the percentage of forest cover and shade‐intolerant species were weakly related to phylogenetic alpha and beta diversities in all but one region. Loser species were generally as dispersed across the phylogeny as winner species, allowing more degraded, deforested and species‐poorer forests to sustain relatively high levels of evolutionary (phylogenetic) diversity.

Main conclusion

Our findings support previous evidence indicating that traits related to high susceptibility to forest disturbances are convergent or have low phylogenetic signal. More importantly, they reveal that the evolutionary value of disturbed forests is (at least in a phylogenetic sense) much greater than previously thought.

     

How disturbance,competition, and dispersal interact to prevent tree range boundaries from keeping pace with climate change

Climate change is expected to cause geographic shifts in tree species' ranges, but such shifts may not keep pace with climate changes because seed dispersal distances are often limited and competition‐induced changes in community composition can be relatively slow. Disturbances may speed changes in community composition, but the interactions among climate change, disturbance and competitive interactions to produce range shifts are poorly understood. We used a physiologically based mechanistic landscape model to study these interactions in the northeastern United States. We designed a series of disturbance scenarios to represent varied disturbance regimes in terms of both disturbance extent and intensity. We simulated forest succession by incorporating climate change under a high‐emissions future, disturbances, seed dispersal, and competition using the landscape model parameterized with forest inventory data. Tree species range boundary shifts in the next century were quantified as the change in the location of the 5th (the trailing edge) and 95th (the leading edge) percentiles of the spatial distribution of simulated species. Simulated tree species range boundary shifts in New England over the next century were far below (usually <20 km) that required to track the velocity of temperature change (usually more than 110 km over 100 years) under a high‐emissions scenario. Simulated species` ranges shifted northward at both the leading edge (northern boundary) and trailing edge (southern boundary). Disturbances may expedite species' recruitment into new sites, but they had little effect on the velocity of simulated range boundary shifts. Range shifts at the trailing edge tended to be associated with photosynthetic capacity, competitive ability for light and seed dispersal ability, whereas shifts at the leading edge were associated only with photosynthetic capacity and competition for light. This study underscores the importance of understanding the role of interspecific competition and disturbance when studying tree range shifts.     

On the causes of trends in the seasonal amplitude of atmospheric CO2

No consensus has yet been reached on the major factors driving the observed increase in the seasonal amplitude of atmospheric CO₂ in the northern latitudes. In this study, we used atmospheric CO₂ records from 26 northern hemisphere stations with a temporal coverage longer than 15 years, and an atmospheric transport model prescribed with net biome productivity (NBP) from an ensemble of nine terrestrial ecosystem models, to attribute change in the seasonal amplitude of atmospheric CO₂. We found significant (p < .05) increases in seasonal peak‐to‐trough CO₂ amplitude (AMP_P‐T) at nine stations, and in trough‐to‐peak amplitude (AMP_T‐P) at eight stations over the last three decades. Most of the stations that recorded increasing amplitudes are in Arctic and boreal regions (>50°N), consistent with previous observations that the amplitude increased faster at Barrow (Arctic) than at Mauna Loa (subtropics). The multi‐model ensemble mean (MMEM) shows that the response of ecosystem carbon cycling to rising CO₂ concentration (eCO₂) and climate change are dominant drivers of the increase in AMP_P‐T and AMP_T‐P in the high latitudes. At the Barrow station, the observed increase of AMP_P‐T and AMP_T‐P over the last 33 years is explained by eCO₂ (39% and 42%) almost equally than by climate change (32% and 35%). The increased carbon losses during the months with a net carbon release in response to eCO₂ are associated with higher ecosystem respiration due to the increase in carbon storage caused by eCO₂ during carbon uptake period. Air‐sea CO₂ fluxes (10% for AMP_P‐T and 11% for AMP_T‐P) and the impacts of land‐use change (marginally significant 3% for AMP_P‐T and 4% for AMP_T‐P) also contributed to the CO₂ measured at Barrow, highlighting the role of these factors in regulating seasonal changes in the global carbon cycle.     

Signalling mechanisms that regulate metabolic profile and autophagy of acute myeloid leukaemia cells

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) comprises a heterogeneous group of hematologic neoplasms characterized by diverse combinations of genetic, phenotypic and clinical features representing a major challenge for the development of targeted therapies. Metabolic reprogramming, mainly driven by deregulation of the nutrient‐sensing pathways as AMPK, mTOR and PI3K/AKT, has been associated with cancer cells, including AML cells, survival and proliferation. Nevertheless, the role of these metabolic adaptations on the AML pathogenesis is still controversial. In this work, the metabolic status and the respective metabolic networks operating in different AML cells (NB‐4, HL‐60 and KG‐1) and their impact on autophagy and survival was characterized. Data show that whereas KG‐1 cells exhibited preferential mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation metabolism with constitutive co‐activation of AMPK and mTORC1 associated with increased autophagy, NB‐4 and HL‐60 cells displayed a dependent glycolytic profile mainly associated with AKT/mTORC1 activation and low autophagy flux. Inhibition of AKT is disclosed as a promising therapeutical target in some scenarios while inhibition of AMPK and mTORC1 has no major impact on KG‐1 cells’ survival. The results highlight an exclusive metabolic profile for each tested AML cells and its impact on determination of the anti‐leukaemia efficacy and on personalized combinatory therapy with conventional and targeted agents.     

Seasonal occurrence of amaranth Lepidopteran defoliators and effect of attractants and amaranth lines in their management

Lepidopteran defoliators are the most important pests of cultivated amaranths causing severe losses in cultivated fields worldwide. Leaf‐webbers, whose larvae fold, web or glue amaranth leaves using their silken webs as they feed and leaf‐worms which cause windowing but do not glue or fold leaves are mainly reported. Sustainable management strategies for these pests are still lacking given the adverse effects of synthetic pesticides. Field experiments were conducted during two seasons at two different sites in Central Kenya, to assess amaranth lepidopteran pests and their natural enemies’ population dynamics, evaluate the efficacy of phenylacetaldehyde (PAA) floral lure as attractant and the effects of three amaranth lines (Abuk1, Abuk2 and Abuk8) on the pests’ abundance and damage. Abundance of leaf‐webbers (p = .537), leaf‐worms (p = 1) and their associated parasitoids (p = .083) did not differ between the dry and wet seasons. The parasitoids Atropha tricolor and Apanteles sp. caused parasitism of 6.2% and 33.3% on Spoladea recurvalis and Choristoneura sp., respectively. PAA incorporated traps attracted moths that were largely unrelated to the damaging larvae observed on the crops with only 0.5% of total trap catches being S. recurvalis. Sub‐sites in which PAA were incorporated had significantly higher number of leaf‐webber larvae on the crops compared to control sub‐sites (p = .014). Amaranth lines studied had significant (p = .007) effect on lepidopteran defoliators’ abundance and damage, with fewer leaf‐webbers and lower severity of damage recorded on Abuk2 compared to Abuk8. The implication of these findings for the control of lepidopteran defoliators in East Africa is discussed.     

High‐Throughput DNA sequencing of ancient wood

Reconstructing the colonization and demographic dynamics that gave rise to extant forests is essential to forecasts of forest responses to environmental changes. Classical approaches to map how population of trees changed through space and time largely rely on pollen distribution patterns, with only a limited number of studies exploiting DNA molecules preserved in wooden tree archaeological and subfossil remains. Here, we advance such analyses by applying high‐throughput (HTS) DNA sequencing to wood archaeological and subfossil material for the first time, using a comprehensive sample of 167 European white oak waterlogged remains spanning a large temporal (from 550 to 9,800 years) and geographical range across Europe. The successful characterization of the endogenous DNA and exogenous microbial DNA of 140 (~83%) samples helped the identification of environmental conditions favouring long‐term DNA preservation in wood remains, and started to unveil the first trends in the DNA decay process in wood material. Additionally, the maternally inherited chloroplast haplotypes of 21 samples from three periods of forest human‐induced use (Neolithic, Bronze Age and Middle Ages) were found to be consistent with those of modern populations growing in the same geographic areas. Our work paves the way for further studies aiming at using ancient DNA preserved in wood to reconstruct the micro‐evolutionary response of trees to climate change and human forest management.     

The Molecular Mechanisms of Protective Role of Se on the G<Subscript>2</Subscript>/M Phase Arrest of Jejunum Caused by AFB<Subscript>1</Subscript>

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) is the most toxic among the mycotoxins and causes detrimental health effects on human and animals. Selenium (Se) plays an important role in chemopreventive, antioxidant, anticarcinogen, and detoxification and involved in cell cycle regulation. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanisms of selenium involved in inhibition of G₂/M cell cycle arrest of broiler’s jejunum. A total of 240 one-day-old healthy Cobb broilers were randomly divided into four groups and fed with basal diet (control group), 0.6 mg/kg AFB₁ (AFB₁ group), 0.4 mg/kg Se (+Se group), and 0.6 mg/kg AFB₁ + 0.4 mg/kg Se (AFB₁ + Se group) for 21 days, respectively. The histological observation and morphological analysis revealed that 0.4 mg/kg Se prevented the AFB₁-associated lesions of jejunum including the shedding of the apical region of villi, the decreased villus height, and villus height/crypt ratio. The cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry showed that 0.4 mg/kg Se ameliorated the AFB₁-induced G₂/M phase arrest in jejunal cells. Moreover, the expressions of ATM, Chk2, p53, Mdm2, p21, PCNA, Cdc25, cyclin B, and Cdc2 analyzed by immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR demonstrated that 0.4 mg/kg Se restored these parameters to be close to those in the control group. In conclusion, Se promoted cell cycle recovery from the AFB₁-induced G₂/M phase arrest by the molecular regulation of ATM pathway in the jejunum of broilers. The outcomes from the present study may lead to a better understanding of the nature of selenium’s essentiality and its protective roles against AFB₁.     

儿童肺炎肺实变住院患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液病原分析

本研究分析肺炎肺实变患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液病原谱构成,旨在为临床经验性抗感染治疗提供指导。收集2019年1月-2020年1月复旦大学附属儿科医院纤维支气管镜室诊治的住院肺炎病例临床资料,其中肺实变的诊断基于影像学证据,依托国家儿童医学中心病原学检测平台,并参考感染传染科医生解读,本研究对肺炎伴肺实变患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液标本的病原学检测结果进行回顾性分析。结果显示,286例肺炎患儿的286份支气管肺泡灌洗液标本被纳入研究,平均年龄5.5(5.8±3.1)岁,其中195例(68.2%)存在肺炎伴肺实变。总病原体检出率为76.6%(219/286),肺实变和无肺实变肺炎患儿病原体检出率分别为77.9%(152/195)和73.6%(67/91),差异无统计学意义;检出的前5种病原体均为肺炎支原体、腺病毒、鼻病毒、呼吸道合胞病毒和副流感病毒3型。5周岁及以上患儿肺炎支原体检出率达最高77.0%(127/165),肺实变病例和无肺实变病例肺炎支原体检出率分别为67.2%(131/195)和61.5%(56/91),差异无统计学意义。本研究结果提示,肺炎支原体、腺病毒、鼻病毒、呼吸道合胞病毒和副流感病毒3型是导致本研究目标人群患病的主要病原体;病原体检出率高低与是否肺实变无关。     

基于Illumina HiSeq测序技术研究吡虫啉对意大利蜜蜂雄蜂的影响

[目的]雄蜂对蜂群繁衍有着非常重要的作用.本研究旨在探究吡虫啉对意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera Ligustica雄蜂生长发育和基因表达产生的影响.[方法]以意大利蜜蜂雄蜂为研究对象,分别以0.00001、0.0001和0.001 μg/μL浓度的吡虫啉对雄蜂幼虫进行连续饲喂处理.每天观察并记录幼虫的发育形态及死亡率,在雄蜂幼虫后期(移虫后6d)测量幼虫体重.利用Illumina HiSeq测序技术对经吡虫啉处理的雄蜂进行转录组测序,进而对差异表达基因进行深入分析.[结果]取食吡虫啉后的雄蜂幼虫,体重低于正常雄蜂,当浓度高于0.0001μg/μL时差异显著;雄蜂幼虫取食吡虫啉后出现死亡现象,且死亡率随吡虫啉浓度的升高而增大;差异表达基因分析结果上调与下调基因数量分别为390个和130个.GO富集分析结果上调基因共分布于55个GO条目,富集基因数量最多的是细胞进程、细胞、细胞组件、细胞膜、细胞膜组件、结合,下调基因共分布于48个GO条目,富集基因数量最多的是细胞进程、细胞、细胞组件.富集在有关生殖功能的差异表达基因中,上调基因数量为21个,下调基因数量为5个.KEGG代谢通路富集分析结果上调基因富集在159个通路上,其中富集基因数最多的是蛋白质消化吸收和神经活性配体-受体相互作用通路.下调基因富集在71个通路上,其中富集基因数最多的是溶酶体、胰液分泌、神经活性配体-受体相互作用通路.[结论]吡虫啉能抑制意大利蜜蜂雄蜂的生长发育,甚至造成幼虫死亡,同时,可以影响雄蜂的神经系统、代谢系统和生殖系统等.本研究结果为蜜蜂资源保护提供理论依据.