The Database of European Forest Insect and Disease Disturbances: DEFID2

Insect and disease outbreaks in forests are biotic disturbances that can profoundly alter ecosystem dynamics. In many parts of the world, these disturbance regimes are intensifying as the climate changes and shifts the distribution of species and biomes. As a result, key forest ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, regulation of water flows, wood production, protection of soils, and the conservation of biodiversity, could be increasingly compromised. Despite the relevance of these detrimental effects, there are currently no spatially detailed databases that record insect and disease disturbances on forests at the pan-European scale. Here, we present the new Database of European Forest Insect and Disease Disturbances (DEFID2). It comprises over 650,000 harmonized georeferenced records, mapped as polygons or points, of insects and disease disturbances that occurred between 1963 and 2021 in European forests. The records currently span eight different countries and were acquired through diverse methods (e.g., ground surveys, remote sensing techniques). The records in DEFID2 are described by a set of qualitative attributes, including severity and patterns of damage symptoms, agents, host tree species, climate-driven trigger factors, silvicultural practices, and eventual sanitary interventions. They are further complemented with a satellite-based quantitative characterization of the affected forest areas based on Landsat Normalized Burn Ratio time series, and damage metrics derived from them using the LandTrendr spectral–temporal segmentation algorithm (including onset, duration, magnitude, and rate of the disturbance), and possible interactions with windthrow and wildfire events. The DEFID2 database is a novel resource for many large-scale applications dealing with biotic disturbances. It offers a unique contribution to design networks of experiments, improve our understanding of ecological processes underlying biotic forest disturbances, monitor their dynamics, and enhance their representation in land-climate models. Further data sharing is encouraged to extend and improve the DEFID2 database continuously. The database is freely available at https://jeodpp.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ftp/jrc-opendata/FOREST/DISTURBANCES/DEFID2/ .     

Biotechnology of ergot alkaloids

The ergot alkaloids are a group of pharmacologically active compounds produced primarily by species of Claviceps, a fungal parasite of grasses and cereals.

Ergot is of historical interest: medieval midwives collected the fungus from naturally infected plants and used it in the induction of childbirth and in the control of postpartum bleeding. Many additional uses of the ergot alkaloids have been discovered since then, and yet the method of production has persisted to this day basically unchanged.

However, submerged culture of Claviceps is starting to supersede the use of systematically infected rye and a number of new opportunities, including the development of high yielding fungal strains and the production of semi-synthetic alkaloids, have become apparent.     

Phosphate transport system inParacoccus denitrificans

P_i uptake in cells or spheroplasts ofParacoccus denitrificans is biphasic; only the first rapid phase represents net P_i transport. The second phase is limited by the rate of P_i utilization inside the cell, i.e., mainly by its esterification, and as such it was inhibited by DCCD. The P_i/dicarboxylate antiporter does not seem to be operative, and its inhibitorn-butylmalonate did not exert specific inhibition. P_i transport is inhibited by SH reagents; the most potent inhibitor is PCMB, and mersalyl is much less effective. However, neither inhibitor affects efflux of accumulated P_i. The gradient of potassium ions may be involved in the P_i uptake, which is lowered in the presence of valinomycin. FCCP alone does not release accumulated P_i from spheroplasts unless they are preincubated with SCN^?. The results indicate that P_i enters the cell by symport with protons.     

Three New Ichnogenera of Biting and Gnawing Traces on Reptilian and Mammalian Bones: A Case Study from the Miocene of the Czech Republic

The Ahníkov (Miocene, Czech Republic) site represents a concentration of vertebrate skeletal remains in a swamp setting. Autochthonous bone deposits were strongly altered by sedimentary processes and early diagenesis. Biting and gnawing traces recognized on hard animal tissues (bones, teeth, antlers, turtle thoraces) represent seven recurring morphotypes. The following ichnotaxa are erected: Nihilichnus nihilicus n. igen. et n. isp., Nihilichnus mortalis n. isp., Machichnus regularis n. igen. et n. isp., Machichnus multilineatus n. isp., Machichnus bohemicus n. isp., and Brutalichnus brutalis n. igen. et n. isp. Each kind of bones or similar substrates bears a specific proportion of various bite traces but no observed morphotype is specific for a single substrate. Ethologically, traces of sharpening of teeth are principally different from predation traces. The beavers Steneofiber eseri and Steneofiber depereti, the carnivore Amphicyon sp. and the crocodiles are presumed as the tracemakers.     

Disease specific substrates in cancer cachexia – Reality and anticipation

In recent years, the concept of nutrition in patients with tumour diseases has been changing very significantly. The article discusses the pathogenesis of tumour cachexia and sarcopenia, which have been intensively studied, particularly in the last ten years. The possibilities and modern approaches in nutritional support in oncology are reviewed with a special emphasis on the group of elderly patients. Also, a detailed list of the most frequently used pharmaconutrients in oncology is presented. The recommendations for nutritional care of elderly oncological patients are given and discussed.