Climate‐induced warming imposes a threat to north European spring ecosystems

Interest in climate change effects on groundwater has increased dramatically during the last decade. The mechanisms of climate‐related groundwater depletion have been thoroughly reviewed, but the influence of global warming on groundwater‐dependent ecosystems (GDEs) remains poorly known. Here we report long‐term water temperature trends in 66 northern European cold‐water springs. A vast majority of the springs (82%) exhibited a significant increase in water temperature during 1968–2012. Mean spring water temperatures were closely related to regional air temperature and global radiative forcing of the corresponding year. Based on three alternative climate scenarios representing low (RCP2.6), intermediate (RCP6) and high‐emission scenarios (RCP8.5), we estimate that increase in mean spring water temperature in the region is likely to range from 0.67 °C (RCP2.6) to 5.94 °C (RCP8.5) by 2086. According to the worst‐case scenario, water temperature of these originally cold‐water ecosystems (regional mean in the late 1970s: 4.7 °C) may exceed 12 °C by the end of this century. We used bryophyte and macroinvertebrate species data from Finnish springs and spring‐fed streams to assess ecological impacts of the predicted warming. An increase in spring water temperature by several degrees will likely have substantial biodiversity impacts, causing regional extinction of native, cold‐stenothermal spring specialists, whereas species diversity of headwater generalists is likely to increase. Even a slight (by 1 °C) increase in water temperature may eliminate endemic spring species, thus altering bryophyte and macroinvertebrate assemblages of spring‐fed streams. Climate change‐induced warming of northern regions may thus alter species composition of the spring biota and cause regional homogenization of biodiversity in headwater ecosystems.     

蛋氨酸脑啡肽对疟疾感染鼠一氧化氮产生的研究

探讨蛋氨酸-脑啡肽(M-ENK)对约氏疟原虫感染早期小鼠脾细胞分泌一氧化氮(NO)的免疫调节效应及相关机制。以不同浓度的M-ENK(单独或与LPS合用)与疟原虫感染后第3dBALB/c或DBA/2小鼠的脾细胞共同培养,通过Griess反应和ELISA法分别检测其上清中NO和IFN-γ的水平。脾细胞与浓度为10-10或10-11mol/L的M-ENK培养后,NO的分泌水平明显升高,并且与LPS联合刺激后其NO的产生进一步增强,但IFN-γ水平均未出现有意义的变化。提示浓度为10-10或10-11mol/L的M-ENK能够促进约氏疟原虫感染小鼠脾细胞NO的产生,该作用与IFN-γ活化巨噬细胞路径可能无关,同时M-ENK对LPS的刺激效应也具有强化作用。     

Ubiquitin‐specific protease‐like 1 (USPL1) is a SUMO isopeptidase with essential,non‐catalytic functions

Isopeptidases are essential regulators of protein ubiquitination and sumoylation. However, only two families of SUMO isopeptidases are at present known. Here, we report an activity‐based search with the suicide inhibitor haemagglutinin (HA)‐SUMO‐vinylmethylester that led to the identification of a surprising new SUMO protease, ubiquitin‐specific protease‐like 1 (USPL1). Indeed, USPL1 neither binds nor cleaves ubiquitin, but is a potent SUMO isopeptidase both in vitro and in cells. C13orf22l—an essential but distant zebrafish homologue of USPL1—also acts on SUMO, indicating functional conservation. We have identified invariant USPL1 residues required for SUMO binding and cleavage. USPL1 is a low‐abundance protein that colocalizes with coilin in Cajal bodies. Its depletion does not affect global sumoylation, but causes striking coilin mislocalization and impairs cell proliferation, functions that are not dependent on USPL1 catalytic activity. Thus, USPL1 represents a third type of SUMO protease, with essential functions in Cajal body biology.     

Carbon isotope evidence for recent climate‐related enhancement of CO 2 assimilation and peat accumulation rates in Antarctica

Signy Island, maritime Antarctic, lies within the region of the Southern Hemisphere that is currently experiencing the most rapid rates of environmental change. In this study, peat cores up to 2 m in depth from four moss banks on Signy Island were used to reconstruct changes in moss growth and climatic characteristics over the late Holocene. Measurements included radiocarbon dating (to determine peat accumulation rates) and stable carbon isotope composition of moss cellulose (to estimate photosynthetic limitation by CO ₂ supply and model CO ₂ assimilation rate). For at least one intensively ¹⁴C‐dated Chorisodontium aciphyllum moss peat bank, the vertical accumulation rate of peat was 3.9 mm yr^?1 over the last 30 years. Before the industrial revolution, rates of peat accumulation in all cores were much lower, at around 0.6–1 mm yr^?1. Carbon‐13 discrimination (Δ), corrected for background and anthropogenic source inputs, was used to develop a predictive model for CO ₂ assimilation. Between 1680 and 1900, there had been a gradual increase in Δ, and hence assimilation rate. Since 1800, assimilation has also been stimulated by the changes in atmospheric CO ₂ concentration, but a recent decline in Δ (over the past 50–100 years) can perhaps be attributed to documented changes in temperature and/or precipitation. The overall increase in CO ₂ assimilation rate (¹³C proxy) and enhanced C accumulation (¹⁴C proxy) are consistent with warmer and wetter conditions currently generating higher growth rates than at any time in the past three millennia, with the decline in Δ perhaps compensated by a longer growing season.     

武夷山不同海拔高度土壤活性有机碳变化

采用连续熏蒸 培养法,测定了福建武夷山自然保护区不同海拔高度具有代表性的中亚热带常绿阔叶林、针叶林、亚高山矮林以及高山草甸土壤中有效碳含量,分析了土壤有效碳（LOC）与微生物量碳（MBC）、土壤总有机碳（TOC）、细根生物量（FRB）和土壤全氮（TN）之间的关系.结果表明：土壤有效碳占总有机碳的3.40%～7.46%;微生物量碳只是土壤有效碳中的一部分,占土壤有效碳26.87%～80.38%; 不同林分土壤有效碳含量随海拔增高而显著增大,随土层深度的增加而降低;土壤有效碳与微生物量碳、土壤总有机碳、细根生物量、土壤全氮之间呈极显著的相关关系.高海拔土壤有效碳含量显著高于低海拔土壤.     

Cloudwater Inputs of Nitrogen to Forest Ecosystems in Southern Chile: Forms, Fluxes, and Sources

Nitrogen (N) has been considered a limiting nutrient to many aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. However, human activity has resulted in increased atmospheric N deposition worldwide such that N pollution is now altering ecosystem function in many locations. Research on atmospheric deposition has focused primarily on inorganic nitrogen (DIN; NH₄ ⁺-N + NO₃ ⁻-N) via rainwater and dry deposition as the main N input to ecosystems. Recently, organic N (ON) has been shown to be an important constituent in rainwater or dry deposition. Here we show that ON dominated (66%) total N in cloudwater from a remote site in southern Chile. Cloudwater from more human-impacted sites in northeastern USA had lower ON concentrations and DIN was dominant. We estimate that cloudwater delivers up to 2 kg ha⁻¹ DIN and 9 kg ha⁻¹ ON annually, compared to less than 1 kg ha⁻¹ of DIN deposition via rainwater, thus it may contribute substantially to the N-economy of Chilean coastal forests. We also suggest that the adjacent ocean, where biologic productivity is high, may be a major source of N in Chilean cloudwater. This proposed marine-terrestrial flux via cloud deposition has not previously been identified and may be an example of the ocean feeding the forest. We suggest that this type of cross boundary flux may be common in other upwelling zones, such as along the west coasts of Africa, North and South America and east India, and warrants further substantiation and investigation. Received 30 June 2000; accepted 18 October 2000     

Effects of increased atmospheric CO2 on nutritional contents in poplar (Populus pseudo-simonii [Kitag.]) tissues and larval growth of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar)

Changes in the concentrations of phytochemical compounds usually occur when plants are grown under elevated atmospheric CO₂. CO₂-induced changes in foliar chemistry tend to reduce leaf quality and may further affect insect herbivores. Increased atmospheric CO₂ also has a potential influence on decomposition because it causes variations in chemical components of plant tissues. To investigate the effects of increased atmospheric CO₂ on the nutritional contents of tree tissues and the activities of leaf-chewing forest insects, samples of Populus pseudo-simonii [Kitag.] grown in open-top chambers under ambient and elevated CO₂ (650 μmol mol^-1) conditions were collected for measuring concentrations of carbon, nitrogen, C : N ratio, soluble sugar and starch in leaves, barks, coarse roots (>2 mm in diameter) and fine roots (<2 mm in diameter). Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larvae were reared on a single branch of experimental trees in a nylon bag with 1 mm 1 mm grid. The response of larval growth was observed in situ. Elevated CO₂ resulted in significant reduction in nitrogen concentration and increase in C : N ratio of all poplar tissues. In all tissues, total carbon contents were not affected by CO₂ treatments. Soluble sugar and nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) in the poplar leaves significantly increased with CO₂ enrichment, whereas starch concentration increased only on partial sampling dates. Carbohydrate concentration in roots and barks was generally not affected by elevated CO₂, whereas soluble sugar contents in fine roots decreased in response to elevated CO₂. When second instar gypsy moth larvae consuming poplars grew under elevated CO₂ for the first 13 days, their body weight was 30.95% lower than that of larvae grown at ambient CO₂, but no significant difference was found when larvae were fed in the same treatment for the next 11 days. Elevated atmospheric CO₂ had adverse effects on the nutritional quality of Populus pseudo-simonii [Kitag.] tissues and the resultant variations in foliar chemical components had a significant but negative effect on the growth of early instar gypsy moth larvae.     

不同类型森林石灰土的团聚体组成及其有机碳分布特征

选取中国西南喀斯特石灰土人工林、次生林、原生林3个主要森林类型的6个代表性群落,建立18个20m×20m的样方,按梅花型5点法采集各样方的原状土壤,基于团聚体的干湿筛2种分组方法,研究不同类型森林石灰土机械性、水稳性团聚体组成及全土、各粒级团聚体的有机碳分布特征。结果显示:(1)3类森林石灰土干湿筛团聚体均以>2mm粒径为主,分别为67.93%～81.24%和30.49%～76.81%,1～10mm粒径的干湿筛优势团聚体分别高达78.18%～88.67%和43.41%～84.00%。(2)团聚体的整体稳定性很好,干湿筛平均重量直径(MWD)为4.82～5.77和0.75～2.13,平均几何直径(GMD)为2.87～4.17和1.45～2.85;>0.25mm和>2mm粒径的团聚体破坏率(PAD)分别仅为6.15～20.91和2.04～52.79。(3)石灰土的有机碳含量很高,全土和干、湿筛团聚体的有机碳含量分别为17.28～58.85、19.12～91.47、17.16～78.86g/kg,其中干筛以<2mm粒径团聚体的有机碳含量较高,湿筛反之,但干湿筛均以>2mm粒径团聚体的有机碳贮量最高。研究表明,中国西南喀斯特石灰土林区土壤沿人工林、次生林、原生林土壤扰动递减梯度,石灰土的团聚化作用越来越强,稳定性越来越好,有机碳含量也越来越丰富。     

Prior temperature exposure affects subsequent chilling sensitivity

The chilling sensitivity of small discs or segments of tissue excised from chillingsensitive species was significantly altered by prior temperature exposure subsequent to holding the tissue at chilling temperatures as measured by a number of physiological processes sensitive to chilling. This temperature conditioning was reversible by an additional temperature exposure before chilling, and mature-green and red-ripe tomato tissue exhibit similar chilling sensitivities. Exposing pericarp discs excised from tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Castelmart), a chilling-sensitive species, to temperatures from 0 to 37°C for 6 h before chilling the discs at 2.5°C for 4 days significantly altered the rate of ion leakage from the discs, but had no effect on the rate of ion leakage before chilling and only a minimal effect on discs held at a non-chilling temperature of 12°C. Exposing chillingsensitive tissue to temperatures below that required to induce heat-shock proteins but above 20°C significantly increased chilling sensitivity as compared to tissue exposed to temperatures between 10 and 20°C. Rates of ion leakage after 4 days of chilling at 2.5°C were higher from fruit and vegetative tissue of chilling-sensitive species (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Poinsett 76, and Cucurbita pepo L. cv. Young Beauty) that were previously exposed for 6 h to 32°C than from similar tissue exposed to 12°C. Exposure to 32 and 12°C had no effect on the rate of ion leakage from fruit tissue of chilling tolerant species (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Golden Delicious, Pyrus communis L. cv. Bartlett). Ethylene and CO₂ production were higher and lycopene synthesis was lower in chilled tomato pericarp discs that were previously exposed for 6 h to 32°C than the values from tissue exposed to 12°C for 6 h before chilling. Increased chilling sensitivity induced by a 6 h exposure to 32°C could be reversed by subsequent exposure to 12°C for 6 h.     

Conjugation morphology of Zygogonium ericetorum (Zygnematophyceae,Charophyta) from a high alpine habitat

Reproductive characteristics are important for defining taxonomic groups of filamentous Zygnematophyceae, but they have not been fully observed in the genus Zygogonium. Specimens of Z. ericetorum previously studied and used to clarify the generic concept lacked fertile material, which was obtained recently. This study illustrates for the first time, using color light microscopic and fluorescence images, a consequent conjugation stage in Z. ericetorum, including completely developed zygospores and purple cytoplasmic residue content left outside the zygospores, similar to aplanospore formation. Structures confirmed earlier reports and provided new observation informative regarding phylogenetically relevant reproductive characters of Z. ericetorum.