The mechanism of SO2‐induced stomatal closure differs from O3 and CO2 responses and is mediated by nonapoptotic cell death in guard cells

Plants closing stomata in the presence of harmful gases is believed to be a stress avoidance mechanism. SO₂, one of the major airborne pollutants, has long been reported to induce stomatal closure, yet the mechanism remains unknown. Little is known about the stomatal response to airborne pollutants besides O₃. SLOW ANION CHANNEL‐ASSOCIATED 1 (SLAC1) and OPEN STOMATA 1 (OST1) were identified as genes mediating O₃‐induced closure. SLAC1 and OST1 are also known to mediate stomatal closure in response to CO₂, together with RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOGs (RBOHs). The overlaying roles of these genes in response to O₃ and CO₂ suggested that plants share their molecular regulators for airborne stimuli. Here, we investigated and compared stomatal closure event induced by a wide concentration range of SO₂ in Arabidopsis through molecular genetic approaches. O₃‐ and CO₂‐insensitive stomata mutants did not show significant differences from the wild type in stomatal sensitivity, guard cell viability, and chlorophyll content revealing that SO₂‐induced closure is not regulated by the same molecular mechanisms as for O₃ and CO₂. Nonapoptotic cell death is shown as the reason for SO₂‐induced closure, which proposed the closure as a physicochemical process resulted from SO₂ distress, instead of a biological protection mechanism.     

Bacterial type III effector–induced plant C8 volatiles elicit antibacterial immunity in heterospecific neighbouring plants via airborne signalling

Upon sensing attack by pathogens and insect herbivores, plants release complex mixtures of volatile compounds. Here, we show that the infection of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) plants with the non-host bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato led to the production of microbe-induced plant volatiles (MIPVs). Surprisingly, the bacterial type III secretion system, which injects effector proteins directly into the plant cytosol to subvert host functions, was found to prime both intra- and inter-specific defense responses in neighbouring wild tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) plants. Screening of each of 16 effectors using the Pseudomonas fluorescens effector-to-host analyser revealed that an effector, HopP1, was responsible for immune activation in receiver tobacco plants. Further study demonstrated that 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone and 3-octanol are novel MIPVs emitted by the lima bean plant in a HopP1-dependent manner. Exposure to synthetic 1-octen-3-ol activated immunity in tobacco plants against a virulent pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci. Our results show for the first time that a bacterial type III effector can trigger the emission of C8 plant volatiles that mediate defense priming via plant–plant interactions. These results provide novel insights into the role of airborne chemicals in bacterial pathogen-induced inter-specific plant–plant interactions.     

Twenty‐first century remote sensing technologies are revolutionizing the study of tropical forests

The fields of tropical biology and conservation face significant transformations due to rapid technological developments in remote sensing. Other fields (e.g. Archeology) are experiencing this momentous change even more rapidly. In this article, we review some of the challenges that the fields of tropical biology and conservation face during the first quarter of the twenty‐first century from the perspective of various remote sensing technologies, and discuss the transformations that they may bring to these disciplines. In addition, we review two emerging technologies driving paradigm changes in the nexus of ecology, remote sensing, and analytics: near‐surface remote sensing and Wireless Sensor Networks. These two technologies, arising from the eScience paradigm, offer unique opportunities to integrate field observations at hyper‐temporal and spatial resolutions that were not possible as recently as 5 years ago.     

基于机载激光雷达的小兴安岭温带森林组分生物量反演

使用小兴安岭温带森林机载遥感-地面观测同步试验获取的机载激光雷达(light detection and ranging, Lidar)点云数据和地面实测样地数据, 估测了典型森林类型的树叶、树枝、树干、地上、树根和总生物量等组分的生物量。从激光雷达数据中提取了两组变量(树冠高度变量组和植被密度变量组)作为自变量, 并采用逐步回归方法进行自变量选择。结果表明: 激光雷达数据得到的变量与森林各组分生物量有很强的相关性; 对于针叶林、阔叶林和针阔叶混交林三种不同森林类型生物量的估测结果是: 针叶林优于阔叶林, 阔叶林优于针阔叶混交林; 不区分森林类型的各组分生物量估测与地面实测值显著相关, 模型决定系数在0.6以上; 区分森林类型进行建模可以进一步提高生物量的估测精度。     

Structure and receptor-binding properties of an airborne transmissible avian influenza A virus hemagglutinin H5 (VN1203mut)

Avian influenza A virus continues to pose a global threat with occasional H5N1 human infections, which is emphasized by a recent severe human infection caused by avian-origin H7N9 in China. Luckily these viruses do not transmit efficiently in human populations. With a few amino acid substitutions of the hemagglutinin H5 protein in the laboratory, two H5 mutants have been shown to obtain an air-borne transmission in a mammalian ferret model. Here in this study one of the mutant H5 proteins developed by Kawaoka’s group (VN1203mut) was expressed in a baculovirus system and its receptor-binding properties were assessed. We herein show that the VN1203mut had a dramatically reduced binding affinity for the avian α2,3- linkage receptor compared to wild type but showed no detectable increase in affinity for the human α2,6-linkage receptor, using Surface Plasmon Resonance techonology. Further, the crystal structures of the VN1203mut and its complexes with either human or avian receptors demonstrate that the VN1203mut binds the human receptor in the same binding manner (cis conformation) as seen for the HAs of previously reported 1957 and 1968 pandemic influenza viruses. Our receptor binding and crystallographic data shown here further confirm that the ability to bind the avian receptor has to decrease for a higher human receptor binding affinity. As the Q226L substitution is shown important for obtaining human receptor binding, we suspect that the newly emerged H7N9 binds human receptor as H7 has a Q226L substitution.     

Mini-review of the concentration variations found inthe alfresco atmospheric bacterial populations

Variations in the atmospheric surface layer's culturable, and to a lesser extent, total bacteria-associated atmospheric particlecharacteristics will be discussed in terms of (a)their temporal variation from 2 min resolutionthrough diurnal to annual periods, (b) the effect ofmeteorological conditions on their abundance andsize, (c) total to culturable bacterial ratio, and(d) the total number of bacteria per culturableparticle (e) bacterial survival in droplet/particles, and (f) the general particle size distribution including aerodynamic Count MedianDiameter (CMD).Meteorological and topographic conditions thatcontrol total and culturable bacteria-associatedatmospheric particle concentration will be presentedin terms of (a) precipitation, (b) wind direction,(c) time of day, (d) sky conditions (i.e., cloudy,sunny, rain, etc.), (e) season, and (f) atmosphericinversion conditions.Simulation models will be described that supporthypotheses of diurnal and annual concentrationcycles in the Earth's (and perhaps other planetaryatmospheres) atmospheric surface layer.     

African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) habitat suitability at Lake Ossa,Cameroon, using trophic state models and predictions of submerged aquatic vegetation

The present study aims at investigating the past and current trophic status of Lake Ossa and evaluating its potential impact on African manatee health. Lake Ossa is known as a refuge for the threatened African manatees in Cameroon. Little information exists on the water quality and health of the ecosystem as reflected by its chemical and biological characteristics. Aquatic biotic and abiotic parameters including water clarity, nitrogen, phosphorous, and chlorophyll concentrations were measured monthly during four months at each of 18 water sampling stations evenly distributed across the lake. These parameters were then compared with historical values obtained from the literature to examine the dynamic trophic state of Lake Ossa. Results indicate that Lake Ossa''s trophic state parameters doubled in only three decades (from 1985 to 2016), moving from a mesotrophic to a eutrophic state. The decreasing nutrient gradient moving from the mouth of the lake (in the south) to the north indicates that the flow of the adjacent Sanaga River is the primary source of nutrient input. Further analysis suggests that the poor transparency of the lake is not associated with chlorophyll concentrations but rather with the suspended sediments brought‐in by the Sanaga River. Consequently, our model demonstrated that despite nutrient enrichment, less than 5% of the lake bottom surface sustained submerged aquatic vegetation. Thus, shoreline emergent vegetation is the primary food available for the local manatee population. During the dry season, water recedes drastically and disconnects from the dominant shoreline emergent vegetation, decreasing accessibility for manatees. The current study revealed major environmental concerns (eutrophication and sedimentation) that may negatively impact habitat quality for manatees. The information from the results will be key for the development of the management plan of the lake and its manatee population. Efficient land use and water management across the entire watershed may be necessary to mitigate such issues.     

普洱季风常绿阔叶林乔木物种多样性高分辨率遥感估测

季风常绿阔叶林是我国南亚热带典型的地带性植被,也是云南省普洱地区重要森林类型。季风常绿阔叶林乔木物种多样性遥感估测对研究区域尺度生物多样性格局及其规律具有重要作用。根据光谱异质性假说和环境异质性假说,首先使用1m空间分辨率的机载高光谱数据和激光雷达数据提取了光谱多样性特征和垂直结构特征。然后利用基于随机森林算法的递归特征消除方法选择对研究区森林乔木物种多样性指数具有较好解释能力的遥感特征,并对Shannon-Winner物种多样性指数进行建模、制图。研究结果表明：(1)基于机载LiDAR数据提取的垂直结构特征和机载高光谱数据提取的光谱多样性特征均对研究区森林乔木物种多样性具有较好的解释能力,随机森林模型估测结果分别为R²=0.48,RMSE=0.46和R²=0.5,RMSE=0.45;两种数据源融合可以进一步提高遥感数据的森林乔木物种多样性估测精度,随机森林估测模型R²和RMSE分别为0.69和0.37。(2)机载激光雷达数据对研究区针阔混交林乔木物种多样性的估测能力优于机载高光谱数据。(3)机器学习方法有助于从高维遥感...