Does photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2 increase photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency? A study of three native UK grassland species in open-top chambers

1. The photosynthetic response to elevated CO₂ and nutrient stress was investigated in Agrostis capillaris, Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens grown in an open-top chamber facility for 2 years under two nutrient regimes. Acclimation was evaluated by measuring the response of light-saturated photosynthesis to changes in the substomatal CO₂ concentration.
2. Growth at elevated CO₂ resulted in reductions in apparent Rubisco activity in vivo in all three species, which were associated with reductions of total leaf nitrogen content on a unit area basis for A. capillaris and L. perenne . Despite this acclimation, photosynthesis was significantly higher at elevated CO₂ for T. repens and A. capillaris , the latter exhibiting the greatest increase of carbon uptake at the lowest nutrient supply.
3. The photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (the rate of carbon assimilation per unit leaf nitrogen) increased at elevated CO₂, not purely owing to higher values of photosynthesis at elevated CO₂, but also as a result of lower leaf nitrogen contents.
4. Contrary to most previous studies, this investigation indicates that elevated CO₂ can stimulate photosynthesis under a severely limited nutrient supply. Changes in photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency may be a critical determinant of competition within low nutrient ecosystems and low input agricultural systems.     

Climate and species affect fine root production with long-term fertilization in acidic tussock tundra near Toolik Lake,Alaska

Long-term fertilization of acidic tussock tundra has led to changes in plant species composition, increases in aboveground production and biomass and substantial losses of soil organic carbon (SOC). Root litter is an important input to SOC pools, although little is known about fine root demography in tussock tundra. In this study, we examined the response of fine root production and live standing fine root biomass to short- and long-term fertilization, as changes in fine root demography may contribute to observed declines in SOC. Live standing fine root biomass increased with long-term fertilization, while fine root production declined, reflecting replacement of the annual fine root system of Eriophorum vaginatum, with the long-lived fine roots of Betula nana. Fine root production increased in fertilized plots during an unusually warm growing season, but remained unchanged in control plots, consistent with observations that B. nana shows a positive response to climate warming. Calculations based on a few simple assumptions suggest changes in fine root demography with long-term fertilization and species replacement could account for between 20 and 39% of the observed declines in SOC stocks.     

Microbiotic Crusts and Ecosystem Processes

Microbiotic crusts are biological soil crusts composed of lichens, cyanobacteria, algae, mosses, and fungi. The biodiversity of these crusts is poorly understood; several cosmopolitan species dominate in most areas, but many species are confined to one or a few sites. Nitrogen fixation by organisms within the crust can be the dominant source of nitrogen input into many ecosystems, although rates of nitrogen input are limited by water availability, temperature, and nitrogen loss from the crust. Photosynthetic rates of the microbiotic crust can be 50% of those observed for higher plants, but the contribution of crusts to carbon cycling is not known. The microbiotic crust binds soil particles together, and this significantly increases soil surface stability and resistance to erosion. Greenhouse studies have found that crusts can enhance seed germination, seedling survivorship, and plant nutrient status, but further experiments are needed under field conditions. Crusts are extremely susceptible to surface disturbance and fire, and disruption of crusts can decrease soil fertility and stability resulting in lower nutrient availability for vascular plants and significant soil loss from the ecosystem.     

黄土高原北部草地的恢复与重建对土壤有机碳的影响

草地的恢复与重建是黄土高原生态建设的重要内容,探讨草地恢复过程中土壤有机碳密度（SOCD）的变化规律对于合理评价北方水蚀风蚀交错带地区生态恢复的环境效应及其对土壤碳固存潜力的影响具有重要的理论价值。以黄土高原北部水蚀风蚀交错带地区不同生长年限的紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa）人工草地及其退化后形成的次生草地为主要研究对象,探讨了SOCD的动态变化特征。结果表明,研究区0-100cm土体的SOCD普遍较低,变化范围为1.18-2.81kgCm^-2,略高于地球上荒漠带的水平（1.4kgCm^-2）,显著低于黄土高原中部（4.46-9.95kgCm^-2）与全国（11.52-12.04kgCm^-2）的平均水平。但是当土地利用方式由农田转变为人工草地以后,以及随着人工草地向长芒草（Stipabungeana）次生天然草地的自然演替,SOCD均有不同程度的增加,增加幅度最大可达72%,土壤表现为明显的碳汇。不同土地利用方式0-100cmSOCD的变化顺序为：灌木林地（2.11kgCm^-2）〉次生天然草地（1.95kgCm^-2）〉人工草地（1.91kgCm^-2）〉弃耕地（1.69kgCm^-2）〉农田（1.68kgCm^-2）,但统计差异不显著,意味着植被恢复对土壤碳固存的影响相对较小,该地区土壤固存CO2的潜力并不大,发育较好的次生天然草地0-100cm土体SOCD平均仅为2.20kgCm^-2。对SOCD垂直变化的分析结果表明表层SOC主要固存于表层0-20cm土壤,而且与0-100cm土体的SOCD具有显著的线性相关性,由表层观测值可以有效估计0-100cm土体的SOCD,估计误差为9.9%（0.18kgCm^-2）。     

太行山南麓坡面土壤碳氮空间变异性及其影响因素

太行山南麓是我国华北平原的重要生态屏障,研究该区域土壤养分的空间变异性对土石山区林业生态建设具有重要意义.本研究以太行山南麓典型坡面(人工林坡地和自然荒坡地)为对象,采用网格法布设采样点,运用经典统计学、地统计学和约束性排序相结合的方法对土壤养分的空间变异性进行分析.结果 表明:1)太行山南麓的土壤全碳(TC)含量为6...     

The Relationship Between the Nariations of Fruit-Bearing Organic Characters in Natural Aneurolepidium chinense Population and the Climatic Factors in the Songnen Plain of China

Based on eight years continuous observation and measurement on the ways and intensity of utilization of three fixed plots of the meadow of natural Aneurolepidium chinense in the Songnen Plain of China at definite stage of annual growth season the quantitative analysis on the relationship between the variations of fruit-bearing organic characters of A. chinense population and the climatic factors was investigated. Change of climate was one of the comprehensive factors which led to the variations of fruit-bearing organic characters of the population in different plots, but variations on the characters of the population among the plots and on the degree of correlation or functional relationships between the character and the climatic factor in different stages were only caused by the ways and intensity utilization. The characters of the spike organ were more affected by climatic factors in the stage of growth and development of the winterness plants of the population. There were universal ecological effects of time lap in the climatic factors.     

The effect of electrochemical regeneration upon the enzymatic catalysis of a thermodynamically unfavorable reaction

The association between enzymatic and electrochemical reactions, enzymatic electrocatalysis, had proven to be a very powerful tooth in both analytical and synthetic fields. However, most of the combinations studied have involved enzymatic catalysis of irreversible or quasi-irreversible reaction. In the present work, we have investigated the possibility of applying enzymatic electrocatalysis to a case where the electrochemical reaction drives a thermodynamically unfavorable reversible reaction. Such thermodynamically unfavorable reactions include most of the oxidations catalyzed by dehydrogenases. Yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.1) was chosen as a model enzyme because the oxidation of ethanol is thermodynamically very unfavorable and because its kinetics are well known. The electrochemical reaction was the oxidation of NADH which is particularly attractive as a method of cofactor regeneration. Both the electrochemical and enzymatic reactions occur in the same batch reactor in such a way that electrical energy is the only external driving force. Two cases were experimentally and theoretically developed with the enzyme either in solution or immobilized onto the electrode's surface. In both cases, the electrochemical reaction could drive the enzymatic reaction by NADH consumption in solution or directly in the enzyme's microenvironment. However even for a high efficiency of NADH consumption, the rate of enzymatic catalysis was limited by product (acetaldedehyde) inhibition. Extending this observation to the subject of organic synthesis catalyzed by dehydrogenases, we concluded that thermodynamically unfavorable reaction and can only be used in a process if efficient NAD regeneration and product elimination are simultaneously carried out within the reactor.     

Solvent-induced lid opening in lipases: A molecular dynamics study

In most lipases, a mobile lid covers the substrate binding site. In this closed structure, the lipase is assumed to be inactive. Upon activation of the lipase by contact with a hydrophobic solvent or at a hydrophobic interface, the lid opens. In its open structure, the substrate binding site is accessible and the lipase is active. The molecular mechanism of this interfacial activation was studied for three lipases (from Candida rugosa, Rhizomucor miehei, and Thermomyces lanuginosa) by multiple molecular dynamics simulations for 25 ns without applying restraints or external forces. As initial structures of the simulations, the closed and open structures of the lipases were used. Both the closed and the open structure were simulated in water and in an organic solvent, toluene. In simulations of the closed lipases in water, no conformational transition was observed. However, in three independent simulations of the closed lipases in toluene the lid gradually opened. Thus, pathways of the conformational transitions were investigated and possible kinetic bottlenecks were suggested. The open structures in toluene were stable, but in water the lid of all three lipases moved towards the closed structure and partially unfolded. Thus, in all three lipases opening and closing was driven by the solvent and independent of a bound substrate molecule.     

Mechanisms of cohesin-mediated gene regulation and lessons learned from cohesinopathies

Cohesins are conserved and essential Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) protein-containing complexes that physically interact with chromatin and modulate higher-order chromatin organization. Cohesins mediate sister chromatid cohesion and cellular long-distance chromatin interactions affecting genome maintenance and gene expression. Discoveries of mutations in cohesin's subunits and its regulator proteins in human developmental disorders, so-called “cohesinopathies,” reveal crucial roles for cohesins in development and cellular growth and differentiation. In this review, we discuss the latest findings concerning cohesin's functions in higher-order chromatin architecture organization and gene regulation and new insight gained from studies of cohesinopathies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Chromatin and epigenetic regulation of animal development.     

Effects of Shortened Alkyl Chains on Solution‐Processable Small Molecules with Oxo‐Alkylated Nitrile End‐Capped Acceptors for High‐Performance Organic Solar Cells

Solution‐processable small molecules are significant for producing high‐performance bulk heterojunction organic solar cells (OSCs). Shortening alkyl chains, while ensuring proper miscibility with fullerene, enables modulation of molecular stacking, which is an effective method for improving device performance. Here, the design and synthesis of two solution‐processable small molecules based on a conjugated backbone with a novel end‐capped acceptor (oxo–alkylated nitrile) using octyl and hexyl chains attached to π–bridge, and octyl and pentyl chains attached to the acceptor is reported. Shortening the length of the widely used octyl chains improves self‐assembly and device performance. Differential scanning calorimetry and grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction results demonstrated that the molecule substituted by shorter chains shows tighter molecular stacking and higher crystallinity in the mixture with 6,6‐phenyl‐C₇₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) and that the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the OSC is as high as 5.6% with an open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.87 V, a current density (J_sc) of 9.94 mA cm^‐2, and an impressive filled factor (FF) of 65% in optimized devices. These findings provide valuable insights into the production of highly efficient solution‐processable small molecules for OSCs.