Potential application of catalase-peroxidase from Comamonas terrigena N3H in the biodegradation of phenolic compounds

Comamonas terrigena N3H is a gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium that was isolated from contaminated soil in Slovakia. This bacterium showed remarkable biodegradation properties. We investigated the expression and functioning of two catalase isozymes in this bacterium. The typical catalase could be induced by cadmium ions, whereas the catalase-peroxidase enzyme was constitutively expressed. Since C. terrigena lacks the key enzyme for complete degradation of phenols (phenolhydroxylase), we analysed the possible removal of phenol by the two catalases of this bacterium. Addition of phenol to the culture medium led to increased expression of the catalase-peroxidase. Applying oxidative stress prior to phenol administration markedly induced the expression of the typical catalase, irrespective of the nature of the added agent. Thus, the rate of phenol degradation is rather reduced under these conditions, while growth of the cells is not impaired. We concluded that phenol peroxidation in C. terrigena can be largely attributed to the action of a catalase-peroxidase. The potential application of this enzyme in the removal of phenol from the environment is discussed.     

A comparison of soil quality in adjacent cultivated,forest and native grassland soils

Changes in soil quality after 45 years of continuous production of corn (Zea mays L.) by the conventional tillage method (C) compared with adjacent poplar forest (F) and native grassland (G) sites were examined. The investigated parameters were: total and humified organic C, total N, light fraction content and composition, water-soluble organic C (WSOC), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), phenolic substances, biomass C, cumulative CO₂-C (soil respiration) (C _m), enzyme activities (alkaline phosphatase, protease, -glucosidase, urease, catalase and dehydrogenase). Empirical indexes of soil quality were also calculated: biomass C/organic C, specific respiration of biomass C (qCO₂), death rate quotient (qD), metabolic potential (MP), biological index of fertility (BIF), enzyme activity number (EAN) and hydrolysing coefficient (HC). Results indicate that long-term corn production at an intensive level caused a marked decline in all examined parameters. Between the undisturbed systems, native grassland showed higher values of soil quality parameters than forest site. The indexes most responsive to management practices that may provide indications of the effects of soil cultivation, as well as of the differently undisturbed ecosystems were: organic C, WSC, C _m, protease, -glucosidase, urease and HC. Soil enzyme activities were well related with, and not more sensitive than organic carbon.     

Methane emissions from wet grasslands on peat soil in a nature preserve

The area of wet grasslands on peat soil in the Netherlands is slowly increasing at the expense of drained, agriculturally used grasslands. This study aimed (i) to assess the contribution of wet grasslands on peat soil to methane (CH₄) emissions, and (ii) to explain differences among sites and between years in order to improve our understanding of controlling factors. For these purposes, a field study was conducted in the period 1994–1996 in the nature preserve Nieuwkoopse Plassen, which is a former peat mining and agricultural area. Net CH₄ emissions were measured weekly to monthly with vented closed flux chambers at three representative sites, and at ditches near these sites. Three-years average of CH₄ emissions was 7.9 g CH₄ m^–2 yr^–1 for Drie Berken Zudde, 13.3 for Koole, and 20.4 for Brampjesgat. Ditches near the sites emitted 4.2–22.5 g CH₄ m^–2 yr^–1. The time-course of CH₄ emissions for all experimental sites and years was fit with a multiple linear regression model with ground water level and soil temperature as independent variables. Lowering or raising the ground water level by 5 cm could decrease or increase CH₄ emissions by 30–50%. Therefore, ground water level management of these grasslands should be done with care.     

Long-term behaviour of 15N in an alpine grassland ecosystem

Nitrogen dynamics in semi-natural environments is crucial for the development and ecological stability of these systems. The present paper shows the results of the reinvestigation of a ¹⁵N-tracer experiment, which was established in the Grossglockner massif in Austria at 2300ma.s.l. in 1974/1975. We show that large quantities of nitrogen introduced by a single pulse labelling (amounting to approximately 1.7% of the nitrogen in the system) into an alpine grassland remain in the soil–plant system, with only 55% being lost during 27–28 years. In the first 10cm of the four investigated soil profiles 40% of ¹⁵N was recovered, being mainly bound in organic forms. A simple site specific model was established on the basis of the results considering a biological, residual and labile N-pool, the latter being the source for N-losses. By the model a long mean residence time close to 100 years was derived for the remaining ¹⁵N.     

Components of spatial patterning in a serpentine grassland

We analyzed the components of spatial patterning in species abundance in a diverse grassland dominated by early season, annual forbs. Species abundance, soil depth and gopher disturbances were measured by means of a nested spatial design on two 8m×20m plots that differed in the amount of larger scale variability in soil depth. Species distributions at the scale of the 10cm×10cm quadrat were highly clumped, with a decline in clumping with mean abundance. Even with the effect of abundance on clumping removed, species showed differences in the degree of clumping and these differences were consistent between the two plots. The abundance of the species and the frequency of disturbance correlated weakly to moderately with soil depth. Semivariance analyses indicated that the most common species all showed complex spatial patterning at a range of scales. Some of this variation corresponded to patterns of soil depth variation and patterns of gopher disturbance; however, a large amount of the spatial patterning in species abundance remains unexplained.     

RAPD variation in relation to population size and plant fitness in the rare Gentianella germanica (Gentianaceae)

We investigated the distribution of genetic variation and the relationship between population size and genetic variation in the rare plant Gentianella germanica using RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) profiles. Plants for the analysis were grown from seeds sampled from 72 parent plants in 11 G. germanica populations of different size (40-5000 fruiting individuals). In large populations, seeds were sampled from parents in two spatially distinct subpopulations comparable in area to the total area covered by small populations. Analysis of molecular variance revealed significant genetic variation among populations (P <0.001), while genetic variation among subpopulations was marginally significant (P <0.06). Average molecular variance within subpopulations in large populations did not differ significantly from whole-population values. There was a positive correlation between genetic variation and population size (P <0.01). Genetic variation was also positively correlated with the number of seeds per plant in the field (P <0.02) and the number of flowers per planted seed in a common garden experiment (P <0.051). We conclude that gene flow among natural populations is very limited and that reduced plant fitness in small populations of G. germanica most likely has genetic causes. Management should aim to increase the size of small populations to minimize further loss of genetic variation. Because a large proportion of genetic variation is among populations, even small populations are worth preserving.     

Spatial pattern changes in aboveground plant biomass in a grazing pasture

Using gamma distribution and spatial autocorrelation, it was demonstrated that plant biomass per unit area of a pasture grazed by cattle exhibited two kinds of spatial heterogeneity: small-scale heterogeneity caused by grazing and large-scale heterogeneity caused by topography, land aspect, etc. For each of the 10 measurement times from May to August, 100 quadrats 50cm × 50cm were arranged along a straight line 50m long in a pasture, and the plants within the quadrats were harvested at the height of 3cm above the ground surface to measure the dry weight. The data were aggregated into frequency distributions, and gamma distribution and the parameter values were estimated. This analysis showed that with the progression of grazing the amount of biomass decreased and the degree of spatial heterogeneity in biomass, measured per 0.25m², increased, and due to plant regrowth the trends were reversed. By rearranging the 100 biomass data in order of weight, it was suggested that plots with an extremely large biomass were not grazed by cattle and remained in the pasture. For the same data, variations of biomass along the straight line were divided into two parts based on the moving average: the spatial trend and the residuals which cannot be explained by the trend. In this analysis, 48–75% of the total spatial variation was explained by the trend along the straight line. Analysis using spatial autocorrelation for the actual biomass changes showed that the biomass changes within a range of about 10m on the straight line gave a positive correlation, which indicates a topographical trend in biomass. Spatial autocorrelation for residuals suggested that the spatial changes in biomass along the straight line followed a wave-like or checker-board pattern. Small-scale spatial heterogeneity in plant biomass may be caused by the uneven deposition of excreta by grazing animals, uneven use of the grassland by grazing animals, and uneven dispersal of plant seeds through faeces over the grassland. The possibility that such unevenness might accelerate energy flow in the grassland ecosystem and contribute to grassland sustainability is discussed.     

羊草草原土壤动物群落多样性的研究

对东北羊草草原不同生境土壤动物群落多样性研究表明 ,生境条件愈优越 ,土壤动物的多样性指数愈高 ,种类则愈丰富 .土壤动物群落的多样性与土壤有机质和全N含量呈正相关 ,与 pH呈负相关 ,与土壤自然含水量和全P含量关系不明显 .土壤动物群落多样性随土层深度的增加而减少 ,且表聚性明显 .     

Effect of climate change on mast-seeding species: frequency of mass flowering and escape from specialist insect seed predators

Global surface temperatures are expected to increase by several degrees in the next century, with potentially large but poorly understood impacts on ecological interactions. Here we propose potential effects of increased temperatures on ecologically dominant New Zealand grasses (Chionochloa spp.) that mass flower and mast seed. Twenty-two years’ data from five masting Chionochloa species in New Zealand showed that the cue for heavy flowering was unusually high temperature in the summer of the year before flowering. Attack by predispersal insect seed predators was much reduced in mast years, apparently because predator populations were satiated. Increased temperatures would greatly decrease interannual variation in Chionochloa flowering, allowing seed predator populations to increase and potentially to devastate the seed crop annually. Similar responses are likely in masting species worldwide. This previously unrecognized effect of global warming could have widespread impacts on temperate ecosystems.