Human impact on vegetation at the Alpine tree-line ecotone during the last millennium: lessons from high temporal and palynological resolution

Three mires and a small lake in the Swiss and Austrian Alps were studied palynologically at high resolution, covering the last 1,000, 400, 50 and 1,200 years, respectively. Methodological lessons include: (1) Sub-decadal resolution in upper, little-decomposed peat layers reveals recurrent marked fluctuations in both percentages and influx of regional tree-pollen types, reflecting variations in pollen production rather than in plant-population sizes. (2) Intermittent, single-spectrum pollen maxima in samples of sub-decadal resolution indicate pollen transport in clumps. This type of pollen transport may remain unrecognized in sections with lower sampling resolution, which may then lead to inappropriate interpretation in terms of plant-population sizes. (3) The detection of short-lived phases of human impact in decomposed peat requires sampling intervals as close as 0.2 cm. (4) PAR (pollen influx) may reflect vegetation dynamics more faithfully than percentages. Reliable PAR, however, is difficult to achieve in Alpine mires due to past human impact on peat growth, even when complex depth–age modelling techniques are used. Critical comparison of PAR with percentages is therefore essential. (5) Careful consideration of spatial scales in pollen signals (local–regional and subdivisions) is essential for a realistic palaeo-ecological interpretation. Results in terms of past human impact on vegetation are summarized as follows: (1) Trends in pollen types reflecting regional human action are in general agreement with earlier findings for the western Swiss Alps, allowing for regional differences. (2) All mires in the Alps investigated here and in an earlier study experienced human impact during the last millennium. The studied small lake, lying in sub-alpine pasture, records forest dynamics at a lower elevation since a.d. 800.     

Histochemische Untersuchungen an der Leber nach Verbrennung

Zusammenfassung An männlichen weißen Ratten wurde das Verhalten des Enzymmusters der Leber 72 Std nach Verbrühung untersucht. Es fanden sich Veränderungen im Sinne einer Aktivitätsverminderung bei der NAD-Cytochrom-c-Reduktase, Isocitronensäuredehydrogenase, ATPase und den PJS-positiven Substanzen. Eine Zunahme der Aktivität wurde bei der alkalischen Phosphatase und einigen Esterasen beobachtet, ebenso traten auch die scharlachrotfärbbaren Substanzen auf. Uneinheitliche Reaktionen zeigten die Succinodehydrogenase sowie die Leucinaminopeptidase, unverändert blieben Glukose-6-phosphat-dehydrogenase, -Glucuronidase, saure Phosphatase, die o-Diacetylbenzol- und die DDD-Reaktion.     

Enzyme histochemical studies on the pathological changes in human Sertoli cells

Two forms of human Sertoli cell disorders were characterized enzyme histochemically from the testicular biopsy material of infertile and subfertile patients. Sertoli cell asthenia: a slight injury of the Sertoli cell with exfoliation of individual germ cells; marked by the rarefaction of reaction zones of thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase) and a decrease in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Sertoli cell insufficiency: severe Sertoli cell damage with the formation of a "puff" and a heavy exfoliation of germ cells (dislocation of Sertoli cell nucleus and cytoplasm along with the related germ cells into the lumen of seminiferous tubule); marked by a heterogeneous activity pattern of TPPase, the disappearance of LDH, maintenance of a slightly weakened activity of alkaline phosphatase, and an increase of acid phosphatase. In the case of Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, the high prismatic Sertoli cells showed strong acid phosphatase activity with scattered weak TPPase reaction, whereas the flat or cube-like Sertoli cells exhibited weak acid phosphatase activity with only one small round reaction zone of TPPase in each cell. In addition, the frequency of the occurrence of Sertoli cell asthenia, Sertoli cell insufficiency, and Sertoli-cell-only syndrome is reported, and its correlation with the andrological diseases discussed.     

Water and lipid relations in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seeds and its effect on storage behaviour

Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seeds indicate intermediate storage behaviour. Properties of water in seed tissues were studied to understand their requirements during storage conditions. Water sorption isotherms showed that at the same relative humidity (RH) the water content is significantly higher in embryo axes than cotyledons. This tendency maintains also after recalculating the water content for zero amount of lipids in tissues. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) indicated water crystallization exotherms in the embryo axes at moisture content (MC) higher than 29% and 16% in the cotyledons. In order to examine the occurrence of glassy state in the cytoplasm of beech embryos as a function of water content, isolated embryo axes were examined using electron spin resonance (ESR) of nitroxide TEMPO probe located inside axes cells. TEMPO molecules undergo fast reorientations with correlation time varied from 2 x 10(-9) s at 180 K to 2 x 10(-11) s at 315 K. Although the TEMPO molecules label mainly the lipid bilayers of cell membranes, they are sensitive to the dynamics and phase transformation of the cytoplasmic cell interior. The label motion is clearly affected by a transition between liquid and glassy state of the cytoplasm. The glass transition temperature (T(g)) raises from 253 to 293 K when water content decreases from 18% to 8%. Far from T(g) the motion is described by Arrhenius equation with very small activation energy E(a) in the liquid state and is relatively small in the glassy state where E(a)=1.5 kJ/mol for 28% H(2)O and E(a)=4.7 kJ/mol for 8% H(2)O or less. The optimal storage conditions of beech seeds are proposed in the range from 255 K for 15% H(2)O to 280 K for 9% H(2)O.     

Kritisches zur Erfassung der freien Aminogruppen fixierter Proteine

Zusammenfassung Die Ergebnisse der o-Diacetylbenzol-Reaktion (DAB) auf freie Aminogruppen werden an Hand von Nierenschnitten mit entsprechenden Methoden verglichen : 3-Hydroxy-2-Naphthaldehyd-Echtblausalz B, Ninhydrin-Schiff, Tetrazoniumreaktion, Quecksilber-Bromphenolblau-Färbung und Acrolein-Schiff. Dabei stellt sich ihre hohe Spezifität erneut heraus. Der Wert der Acrolein-Schiff-Methode als Proteinnachweis ist in Frage zu stellen und derjenige der Quecksilber-Bromphenolblaufärbung erheblich einzuschränken.Mit 4 farbigen TextabbildungenHerrn Prof. Dr. med. T. v.Lanz zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Autolysehemmung an Nierengewebe durch den Kallikrein-Inaktivator Trasylol

Zusammenfassung Gleich große Gewebsstücke von Rattennieren wurden einmal in eine sterile physiologische Kochsalzlösung, zum anderen in eine Trasylol-Lösung (400000 i.E. Trasylol in 10 ml 0,9 % physiologische Kochsalzlösung) unter sterilen Bedingungen eingelegt. Nach 3, 6, 12 und 24 Std sowie 5 und 20 Tagen wurden die Stücke histologisch bzw. enzymhistochemisch (NADH-Cytochrom-c-Beduktase, Laktatdehydrogenase, Glukose-6-Phosphatdehydrogenase, Succinodehydrogenase, Cytochromoxydase, alkalische und saure Phosphatasen, unspezifische Esterasen) aufgearbeitet. Es ergab sich, daß die Transylolvorbehandlung in der Zeit von 6–24 Std zu einer deutlichen Autolysehemmung des Gewebes führte. Neben Kern- und Plasmastrukturen sind die Aktivitäten aller geprüften Enzyme wesentlich besser als nach alleiniger Kochsalzeinwirkung erhalten. Andererseits ist jedoch die Schutzwirkung des Trasylol bei den einzelnen Fermenten unterschiedlich: Am geringsten erscheint sie bei der Cytochromoxydase, am besten bei den überprüften Hydrolasen. Die Verwendung von Proteinasen-Inhibitoren als Konservierungsmittel für Gewebe bei der Organtransplantation wird diskutiert.

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Inhibition of the autolysis of renal tissue by the kallikrein inactivator trasylolHistological and histochemical investigations

Summary Pieces of rat kidney tissue of similar size were kept under sterile conditions in sterile physiological saline or in a Trasylol solution (400000 i.u. Trasylol in 10 ml 0.9% physiological saline). At 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours, and at 5 and 20 days, specimens were examined histologically and enzyme-histochemically (NADH-cytochrome-c-reductase, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, succino-dehydrogenase, cytochromoxidase, alkaline and acid phosphatase, non-specific esterases). The pre-treatment with Trasylol resulted in a marked inhibition of the autolysis of the tissue in the period between 6 and 24 hours. In addition to nucleic and plasmatic structures, the activities of all tested enzymes were preserved to an essentially greater extent that after treatment with saline alone. The protective action of Trasylol differs however in its degree between individual enzymes: it appeared to be least for the cytochromoxidase and highest for the examined hydrolases. The utilization of proteinase inhibitors as preservatives for tissue in organ transplantation is being discussed.

     

Das histochemische Verhalten der Azolesterasen sowie weiterer Oxydoreduktasen bei der Follikelatresie im Ovarium einiger Nager

Zusammenfassung Histochemische Untersuchungen am Ratten-, Mäuse- und Meerschweinchenovarium ergaben ein unterschiedliches Verhalten der Azolesterasen (= Cholinesterase und Acetylcholinesterase) in Granulosa, Theca und Thecaorgan. Die Differenzierung der genannten Fermente wurde mit Hilfe von DFP, iso-OMPA und 284 C 51 durchgeführt. Die -Hydroxybuttersäuredehydrogenase gleicht in der Verteilung weitgehend der NADH-Cytochrom-c-Reduktase, zeigt aber quantitative Speziesunterschiede. Bei der -Ketoglutaratoxydase ist im Ratten- und Mäuseovarium erst beim atresierenden Follikel eine deutliche Aktivität der Granulosa und eine Zunahme in der Theca externa feststellbar, während im Meerschweinchenovarium die Theca interna immer, die Granulosa aber nur beim Abbau reagiert.

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The histochemical behaviour of the azolesterases and other oxydoreductases during atresia of follicles in the ovaries of some rodents

Summary Histochemical investigations on the ovaries of rats, mice and guinea pigs revealed a variable behaviour of the azolesterases (= cholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase) in granulosa, theca and theca organ. The differentiation of these enzymes was carried out with DFP, iso-OMPA and 284 C 51. The distribution of -hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase closely parallels that of NADH-cytochrome-c-reductase but shows quantitative variations in the different species. In the ovaries of rats and mice -ketoglutarate oxidase shows a marked activity only in atretic follicles and an increased activity in the theca externa. In guinea pig ovaries, however, the theca interna always reacts, but the granulosa only does so in process of decomposing.

     

Some problems of forest transformation at the transition to the oligocratic/<Emphasis Type="Italic">Homo sapiens</Emphasis> phase of the Holocene interglacial in northern lowlands of central Europe

The paper discusses the main changes in the composition of mixed deciduous forests which occurred mostly between 5,000 and 2,000 b.p., based on selected pollen diagrams from the lowlands of Germany, Denmark and Poland, and including two pollen diagrams from varved sediments, used as reference sites, and on isopollen maps for Poland. The Ulmus retreat is shown on maps, and additional data for its pathogenic origin are presented. Corylus declines at ca. 3,500 b.p. at both reference sites, and its connection with Fagus expansion in the west and Carpinus expansion in the east is discussed. The nature of post-Atlantic transitory shrub–forest communities with dominant Corylus and Quercus is presented. Relationships between the history of Fagus and Carpinus and the development of human settlements are shown. Human impact has been admitted as one of the most important driving forces determining vegetational development since the time of fully developed Neolithic cultures. Other very important abiotic factors were the climate (particularly after 2,500 b.p.), and soil degradation.     

Postglacial history of vegetation,human activity and lake-level changes at Jezioro Linówek in northeast Poland,based on multi-proxy data

We present the postglacial history of vegetation, human activities and changes in lake level in the context of climate change in northeast Poland from ~14,000 cal. b.p. to the present day. The palaeoecological reconstruction is based on the results of high-resolution plant macrofossil analyses as well as records from pollen, Cladocera and radiocarbon dating. Climate fluctuations and human activity have caused many changes in vegetation development in Jezioro Linówek and in the vicinity of this lake. The Early Holocene warming that occurred at ~9500 b.c. caused an increase in Betula and the colonisation of Linówek by Potamogeton lucens, Nymphaea alba and Chara sp. At ~2300 b.c., climate cooling was accompanied by the spread of Picea abies and the appearance of Potamogeton alpinus and Nuphar pumila in the lake. The first traces of farming in the form of Cerealia pollen have been dated back to ~2100 b.c. The cultivation of Triticum began at ~250 b.c., Secale at ~a.d. 550, and Fagopyrum at ~a.d. 1720. The rapid increase in human activity at ~a.d. 1700 and the simultaneous loss of woodland is associated with the establishment of villages in the area and is expressed by the decline of tree curves. In Linówek, which was formed ~14,000 cal. b.p., three periods of high water level occurred (12000–9400, 7000–4000 and 1450 b.c.–a.d. 650), and two periods of low water level (9400–7100 and 3700–1700 b.c.). The changes of water level correspond well with other sites in central and northern Europe.