Nutrient conservation strategies in native Andean‐Patagonian forests

Abstract. Nutrient conservation in vegetation affects rates of litter decomposition and soil nutrient availability. Although resorption has been traditionally considered one of the most important plant strategies to conserve nutrients in temperate forests, long leaf life‐span and low nutrient requirements have been postulated as better indicators. We aimed at identifying nutrient conservation strategies within characteristic functional groups of NW Patagonian forests on Andisols. We analysed C‐, N‐, P‐, K‐ and lignin‐concentrations in mature and senescent leaves of ten native woody species within the functional groups: broad‐leaved deciduous species, broad‐leaved evergreens and conifers. We also examined mycorrhizal associations in all species. Nutrient concentration in mature leaves and N‐ resorption were higher in broad‐leaved deciduous species than in the other two functional groups. Conifers had low mature leaf nutrient concentrations, low N‐resorption and high lignin/N ratios in senescent leaves. P‐ and K‐resorptions did not differ among functional groups. Broad‐leaved evergreens exhibited a species‐dependent response. Nitrogen in mature leaves was positively correlated with both N resorption and soil N‐fertility. Despite the high P‐retention capacity of Andisols, N appeared to be the more limiting nutrient, with most species being proficient in resorbing N but not P. The presence of endomycorrhizae in all conifers and the broad‐leaved evergreen Maytenus boaria, ectomycorrhizae in all Nothofagus species (four deciduous, one evergreen), and cluster roots in the broad‐leaved evergreen Lomatia hirsuta, would be possibly explaining why P is less limiting than N in these forests.     

Reversible inhibition of osteoclastic activity by bone-bound gallium (III).

Gallium(III) is a new therapeutic agent for hypercalcemia. Ga3+ reduces osteoclast action, but how it inhibits the cell's physiology is unknown. In vivo, 7-12 microM Ga(III) reduces calcium release from bone, but surprisingly, 10-100 microM Ga3+ added to isolated avian osteoclasts did not reduce their degradation of L-(5-3H)-proline bone. 3H-proline labels bone collagen specifically, and collagenolysis is an excellent indicator of bone dissolution because collagen is the least soluble component of bone. Ga(III) greater than 100 microM inhibited osteoclasts in vitro, but also killed the cells. To resolve this apparent conflict, we measured 67Ga distribution between bone, cells, and media. Gallium binds avidly but slowly to bone fragments. One hundred micrograms of bone clears 60% of 1 microM gallium from 500 microliters of tissue culture medium, with steady state at greater than 24 h. Osteoclasts on bone inhibited gallium binding capacity approximately 40%, indicating a difference in available binding area and suggesting that osteoclasts protect their substrate from Ga binding. Less gallium binds to bone in serum-containing medium than in phosphate-buffered saline; 30% reduction of the affinity constant suggests that the serum containing medium competes with bone binding. Consequently, the effect of [Ga] on bone degradation was studied using accurately controlled amounts of Ga(III) pre-bound to the bone. Under these conditions, gallium sensitivity of osteoclasts is striking. At 2 days, 100 micrograms of bone pre-incubated with 1 ml of 1 microM Ga3+, with 10 pmoles Ga3+/micrograms bone, was degraded at 50% the rate of control bone; over 50 pM Ga3+/micrograms bone, resorption was essentially zero. In contrast, pre-treatment of bone with [Ga3+] as high as 15 microM had no significant effect on bone resorption rate beyond 3 days, indicating that gallium below approximately 150 pg/micrograms bone acts for a limited time and does not permanently damage the cells. We conclude that bone-bound Ga(III) from medium concentrations less than 15 microM inhibits osteoclasts reversibly, while irreversible toxicity occurs at solution [Ga3+] greater than 50 microM.     

Inefficient nitrogen resorption in genets of the actinorhizal nitrogen fixing shrubComptonia peregrina: physiological ineptitude or evolutionary tradeoff?

Nutrient resorption was measured in an actinorhizal nitrogen-fixing shrub,Comptonia peregrina, for five years in the understory of a deciduous oak forest in Rhode Island, USA. Mean resorption of nitrogen was extremely inefficient (11%) compared to most deciduous species (50%+), yet resorption of phosphorus was efficient (53%) and comparable to other species. Of the seven additional nutrients studied, only copper (6%) and zinc (10%) were resorbed from senescing leaves. Resorption of nitrogen (5%–20%) and phosphorus (40%–71%) varied significantly among years. Copper was resorbed from leaves in three years and accreted into leaves in two years. Five-year resorption means differed among individual genets by as much as a factor of 2.5 for nitrogen, and 1.3 for phosphorus. Resorption of nitrogen, copper, and zinc were highly correlated, yet resorption of phosphorus remained autonomous from other nutrients. The ecophysiological tradeoffs inComptonia which have resulted in the cooccurence of actinorhizal nitrogen fixation, inefficient nitrogen resorption, and efficient phosphorus resorption suggest that plant nutrient status does have an impact on resorption efficiency and that the evolution of nutrient conservation strategies is nutrient-specific.     

Root turnover as determinant of the cycling of C,N, and P in a dry heathland ecosystem

Root production and turnover were studied using sequential core sampling and observations in permanent minirhizotrons in the field in three dry heathland stands dominated by the evergreen dwarfshrub Calluna vulgaris and the grasses Deschampsia flexuosa and Molinia caerulea, respectively. Root biomass production, estimated by core sampling, amounted to 160 (Calluna), 180 (Deschampsia) and 1380 (Molinia) g m^-2 yr^-1, respectively. Root biomass turnover rate in Calluna (0.64 yr^-1) was lower compared with the grasses (Deschampsia: 0.96 yr^-1; Molinia 1.68yr^-1)). Root length turnover rate was 0.75–0.77 yr^-1 (Deschampsia) and 1.17–1.49 yr^-1 (Molinia), respectively. No resorption of N and P from senescing roots was observed in either species. Input of organic N into the soil due to root turnover, estimated using the core sampling data, amounted to 1.8 g N m^-2 yr^-1(^Calluna), 1.7 g N m^-2 yr^-1 (Deschampsia) and 19.7 g N m^-2 yr^-1 (Molinia), respectively. The organic P input was 0.05, 0.07 and 0.55 g P M^-2 yr^-1, respectively. Using the minirhizotron turnover estimates these values were20–22% (Deschampsia) and 11–30% (Molinia) lower.When the biomass turnover data were used, it appeared that in the Molinia stand root turnover contributed 67% to total litter production, 87% to total litter nitrogen loss and 84% to total litter phosphorus loss. For Calluna and Deschampsia these percentages were about three and two times lower, respectively.This study shows that (1) Root turnover is a key factor in ecosystem C, N, and P cycling; and that (2) The relative importance of root turnover differs between species.     

Evidence for an immunological and functional relationship between superoxide dismutase and a high molecular weight osteoclast plasma membrane glycoprotein.

Large multinucleated osteoclasts are the major cells responsible for bone breakdown and have been reported to produce high levels of superoxides which may contribute to the process of bone resorption (Key et al.: J Bone and Mineral Res 4 [suppl. 1]:S206, 1989). Osteoclasts also possess high levels of superoxide dismutase, a protective enzyme capable of converting toxic superoxides to less dtoxic H2O2 (Fridovich: J Biol Chem 264:7761-7764, 1989). The amino acid sequence of manganese and/or iron superoxide dismutase has a conserved region which exhibits substantial homology with a fragment obtained from a high molecular weight osteoclast surface marker glycoprotein which is reactive with monoclonal antibody 121F. In this report, evidence is presented substantiating immunological, biochemical, and functional similarities between the osteoclast membrane antigen recognized by the 121F monoclonal antibody and superoxide dismutase. Western blot and immunoprecipitation studies show that a monospecific polyclonal antibody generated against immunoaffinity purified antigen is cross-reactive with superoxide dismutase. Both the antigen and a high molecular weight superoxide dismutase activity have been detected in osteoclast plasma membrane preparations. The levels of superoxide dismutase activity and the membrane antigen have been found to correlate in antigen depletion studies and in western blots probing osteoclasts and closely related marrow-derived giant cells. Moreover, regions of osteoclast superoxide dismutase activity identified by electrophoretic zymogram analysis have been shown by gel electrophoresis and western blots to contain the high molecular weight antigen, or complexes of the antigen with the 121F monoclonal antibody when these were premixed prior to nondenaturing electrophoresis. It is proposed that the osteoclast plasma membrane possesses a high molecular weight superoxide dismutase activity. Furthermore, it appears that this activity is associated with the osteoclast antigen recognized by the 121F monoclonal antibody.     

Expression of connexin 43 mRNA in microisolated murine osteoclasts and regulation of bone resorption in vitro by gap junction inhibitors

Several studies have demonstrated that connexin 43 (Cx43) mediates signals important for osteoblast function and osteogenesis. The role of gap junctional communication in bone resorption is less clear. We have investigated the expression of Cx43 mRNA in osteoclasts and bone resorption cultures and furthermore, the functional importance of gap junctional communication in bone resorption. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated Cx43 mRNA expression in mouse bone marrow cultures and in osteoclasts microisolated from the marrow cultures. Cx43 mRNA was also expressed in bone resorption cultures with osteoclasts and osteoblasts/stromal cells incubated for 48h on devitalized bone slices. An up-regulation of Cx43 mRNA was detected in parathyroid (PTH)-stimulated (0.1 nM) bone resorption. Two inhibitors of gap junction communication, 18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid (30 microM) and oleamide (100 microM), significantly inhibited PTH- and 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)-stimulated osteoclastic pit formation. In conclusion, our data indicate a functional role for gap junction communication in bone resorption.     

新疆不同棉花品种烟粉虱实验种群

在实验室条件下［温度(26±1) ℃,相对湿度(75±1)%,光照L∶D=16∶8］研究了烟粉虱在新疆棉田主栽品种新陆早8号、新陆早16号、新陆早17号、中棉35号、抗5和岱80棉花品种上的存活率、产卵量和寿命等,组建了实验种群生命表,估测了种群净增殖率(R₀)、内禀增长力(r_m)、平均世代周期(T)和周限增长率(λ)等生殖力参数.结果表明：烟粉虱在不同棉花品种上的形态大小、发育历期、存活率及产卵量均存在显著差异.比较烟粉虱种群在6种棉花品种上的世代存活率和繁殖力,其在新陆早16号上发育速度最快、产卵量最高,而在抗5上各种生命参数相对较低.新陆早16号是烟粉虱种群生长发育最适宜的棉花品种,其次为中棉35号,抗5是烟粉虱种群最不适宜的品种.