Calcium in the synergid cells and other regions of pearl millet ovaries

Summary The synergids and other cells of mature, unpollinated pearl millet ovaries were investigated using: (1) freeze-substitution fixation in conjunction with scanning electron microscope observations and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis to localize total calcium (Ca) and other elements, and (2) antimonate precipitation to selectively localize loosely sequestered, exchangeable calcium (Ca⁺⁺). In freeze-fixed ovaries, the synergid cells, ovary wall, nucellus, and other regions of the ovary displayed, respectively and relatively, extremely high, high, moderate, and low levels of Ca. In antimonate-fixed ovaries, Ca-containing antimonate precipitates exhibited similar distribution patterns. In ovaries fixed using the conventional 2% (w/v) antimonate in fixatives, the synergids were disrupted due to precipitate overload. In the ovary wall, precipitates were mainly located in the intercellular spaces. Some precipitates were observed at the micropyle and along the outer ovule integument, associated with diffuse extracellular material, and in the cell walls of nucellar cells proximal to the micropyle. Examination of precipitate distribution inside the synergids was possible in ovaries fixed using 0.5% (w/v) antimonate in the fixatives. Cytoplasmic organelles of all synergids examined exhibited variable states of disintegration. The amount of precipitates associated with the degenerated organelles appeared to be proportional to the degree of their degeneration. Distinct precipitates were localized in contiguous regions of the nucellar cells fused with the embryo sac, the micropylar half of the embryo sac wall, and the filiform apparatus. The results are discussed in relation to the involvement of Ca⁺⁺ in mediating the functions of synergid cells during fertilization in angiosperms.On Specific Cooperative Agreement 58-43YK-8-0026 with the Department of Biochemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA     

A preliminary study of aquatic insect communities and leaf decomposition in acid streams near Dorset,Ontario

Some streams near Dorset in south-central Ontario suffer from acid precipitation via run-off and seepage from thin soils with little buffering capacity. A spring-summer survey of eight headwater streams revealed some characteristics of their insect communities which could be correlated with pH. The streams could be divided into three groups according to pH and community structure. In the most acid group (annual pH range 4.3–4.8), Ephemeroptera were absent from two streams although mature Leptophlebia were collected just after spring thaw from the most acid one (pH 4.3–4.5). One of these three streams also lacked Plecoptera but the others had two or three genera, all shredders. The second group of three streams (pH 5.0–6.3), with one exception, did support Ephemeroptera (3–4 genera) and Plecoptera (1–4 genera), most of the latter being shredders. In all six of these acid streams, Trichoptera were more diverse and more dense than Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera; again, shredders were clearly dominant, especially the limnephilid caddisfly, Frenesia difficilis (Walker). These six streams also had similar chironomid communities (densities were an order of magnitude higher than other insects). Dominance by Chironomini and abundant Tanypodinae typified the most acid streams. In contrast, the two streams in the third group (pH 5.3–6.7) had richer and more balanced communities in general with relatively fewer shredders (no Frenesia), more collectors, and fewer Chironomini and Tanypodinae. As a field experiment showed that autumn-shed leaves decomposed more slowly in acid than in non-acid streams, summer-growing shredders may benefit from the pulse of acidity at snowmelt.     

Nitrification,denitrification, and related functional genes under elevated CO2: A meta-analysis in terrestrial ecosystems

Global change may have profound effects on soil nitrogen (N) cycling that can induce positive feedback to climate change through increased nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions mediated by nitrification and denitrification. We conducted a meta-analysis of the effects of elevated CO₂ on nitrification and denitrification based on 879 observations from 58 publications and 46 independent elevated CO₂ experiments in terrestrial ecosystems. We investigated the effects of elevated CO₂ alone or combined with elevated temperature, increased precipitation, drought, and N addition. We assessed the response to elevated CO₂ of gross and potential nitrification, potential denitrification, and abundances of related functional genes (archaeal amoA, bacterial amoA, nirK, nirS, and nosZ). Elevated CO₂ increased potential nitrification (+28%) and the abundance of bacterial amoA functional gene (+62%) in cropland ecosystems. Elevated CO₂ increased potential denitrification when combined with N addition and higher precipitation (+116%). Elevated CO₂ also increased the abundance of nirK (+25%) and nirS (+27%) functional genes in terrestrial ecosystems and of nosZ (+32%) functional gene in cropland ecosystems. The increase in the abundance of nosZ under elevated CO₂ was larger at elevated temperature and high N (+62%). Four out of 14 two-way interactions tested between elevated CO₂ and elevated temperature, elevated CO₂ and increased precipitation, and elevated CO₂ and N addition were marginally significant and mostly synergistic. The effects of elevated CO₂ on potential nitrification and abundances of bacterial amoA and nirS functional genes increased with mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation. Our meta-analysis thus suggests that warming and increased precipitation in large areas of the world could reinforce positive responses of nitrification and denitrification to elevated CO₂ and urges the need for more investigations in the tropical zone and on interactive effects among multiple global change factors, as we may largely underestimate the effects of global change on soil N₂O emissions.     

Precipitation of collagens by polyethylene glycols

Types I, II, and III collagens are readily precipitated at neutral pH by polyethylene glycols (PEG). As the molecular weight fraction of the polyethylene glycols increases, they become more effective as precipitants on a weight basis. The amount of PEG required for precipitation depends on the pH, the ionic strength, and the nature of the buffer or salts present. In tissue culture media, low concentrations of collagens and procollagens may be quantitatively precipitated and readily collected by low-speed centrifugation. Polyethylene glycol precipitation can be used to obtain collagens and procollagens from tissue culture media at either analytical or preparative scale, and since the polyethylene glycols do not bind to collagens, the precipitates may be further analyzed directly by chromatographic or electrophoretic methods.     

Purification of recombinant protein A by aqueous two-phase extraction integrated with affinity precipitation

Aqueous two-phase extraction incorporated affinity precipitation was examined as a technique for protein purification. An enteric coating polymer, Eudragit S100, was employed as a ligand carrier. Eudragit was specifically partitioned to the top phase in the aqueous two-phase systems. For application of this method to purification of recombinant protein A using human IgG coupled to Eudragit in an aqueous two-phase system, 80% of protein A added was recovered with 81% purity. The purity was enhanced 26-fold by thid method. The IgG-Eudragit could be used repeatedly for the purification process. This seperation method should be applicable to industrial-scale purification as a new purification procedure combining the advantages and compensating for the disadvantages of the aqueous two-phase method and affinity precipitation method. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The evolution of saline lake waters: gradual and rapid biogeochemical pathways in the Basotu Lake District,Tanzania

The biogeochemical evolution of solutes markedly alters the chemistry in the closed-basin maar lakes that comprise the Basotu Lake District (Tanzania, East Africa). Examination of 11 (out of 13) lakes in the Basotu Lake District identified two distinct evolutionary pathways: a gradual path and a rapid path. During the course of biogeochemical evolution these waters follow either the gradual path alone or a combination of the gradual and rapid paths. Solute evolution along the gradual path is determined by all of the biogeochemical processes that for these waters appear to be tightly coupled to evaporative concentration (e.g. mineral precipitation, sorption and ion exchange, C0₂ degassing, and sulfate reduction). Rapid evolution occurs when mixing events suddenly permit H₂S to be lost to the atmosphere. The chemistry of waters undergoing rapid evolution is changed abruptly because loss of every equivalent of sulfide produces an equivalent permanent alkalinity.The Basotu Lake District in north central Tanzania is comprised of 13 maar lakes. They range in surface water conductivity from 592 to 24 000 µ S cm ^–1 (at 20°). Within these lake basins only a few of the variety of geo- and biogeochemical processes known to occur in lakes of this type are actually responsible for the gain and/or loss of individual solutes. For example, potassium appears to be taken up in the formation of illite. Calcium is precipitated as calcite. Magnesium interacts with alumino-silicate precursors to form a variety of clay minerals that contain magnesium (e.g. stevensite). This process is also known as reverse weathering. Sulfate is reduced to sulfide and subsequently lost as H₂S and/or metal sulfides. Alkalinity is lost owing to calcite precipitation and as a consequence of reverse weathering. Alkalinity is gained in the form of extra permanent alkalinity when sulfide is lost from these waters (via metal sulfide precipitation or gaseous emission to the atmosphere). Rapid (punctuated) evolution can occur in any lake containing anoxic waters providing that mixing events take place which cause H₂S to be lost to the atmosphere.Peter Kilham died on March 20, 1989, in Kisumu, Kenya, while working as part of a research team on Lake Victoria.     

Effects of acid irrigation and liming on two clones of Norway spruce

Summary The effect of acid irrigation on the growth of rooted cuttings ofPicea abies (L.) Karst, was investigated in a pot experiment lasting 3 years. It involved two clones of Norway spruce, H 253 Bogstad I and H 254 Bogstad II. Irrigation water of pH 5.4, 4.0, 3.0 and 2.5 was used. Liming was included in the experiment.After the experimental period, the plants of all treatments were growing reasonably well. However, those plants irrigated at pH 2.5 were slightly discoloured. The plant mortality was only 3% throughout the experiment, and was not connected to acid irrigation. The limiting growth factor was N. All other nutrient elements measured in the plants were close to optimal concentration. Plants irrigated at pH 2.5, and to some extent at pH 3, contained excessively high concentrations of Al, t-S and SO₄. The total amount of Ca, Fe and Mn taken up by the plants decreased with increasing soil acidity. The increased growth of clone H 254 relative to H 253, produces a corresponding impression on soil characteristics. Soil acidity is governed by acid irrigation and CaCO₃ application, but the clonal effects are also of importance. Norway spruce appears to be tolerant to Al concentrations as high as 50 mmol/kg in the needles.     

7年穿透雨减少对锐齿槲栎光合固碳及生物量碳储量的影响

气候变化背景下不断加剧的干旱事件对树木的生长及碳积累产生显著影响。然而,树木光合固碳能力及生物量碳储量对相对长期干旱的连续响应机制的研究仍然有限。选择70年生的天然锐齿槲栎(Quercus aliena var.acuteserrata)林,探究长期模拟穿透雨减少对锐齿槲栎光合固碳潜力和生物量碳储量的影响。研究结果表明,连续7年的穿透雨减少处理显著降低了锐齿槲栎的光合固碳能力,其叶片净光合速率(A)、最大羧化速率(V_cmax)、最大电子传递速率(J_max)、最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)均明显降低,且穿透雨减少处理增强了A与气孔导度(g_s)、J_max、F_v/F_m之间的相关性。在适应长期干旱过程中,锐齿槲栎通过增加比叶面积(SLA)、叶片栅栏组织与海绵组织的比值、气孔密度等叶片形态及结构特性变化,降低冠层叶面积(LAI)指数和蒸腾水分散失及提高水分利用效率(WUE)缓解和适应干旱胁迫的不利影响。但是,长期穿透雨减少仍...     

基于Meta分析的土壤呼吸对降水改变的非对称响应

气候变暖已经引起全球降水格局改变。土壤呼吸作为陆地生态系统向大气释放CO₂最大的碳库,对降水变化的响应将进一步影响碳循环,从而对全球气候变化产生反馈。尽管以往已有大量关于土壤呼吸与降水变化关系的相关研究,但存在较大争议。因此,亟待进一步深入探究土壤呼吸对降水改变的响应。基于此,研究Meta分析方法,整合了来自Web of Science 英文数据库和中国知网文献数据库(CNKI)的284篇已发表的论文和367组数据,进而分析全球中低纬度地区土壤呼吸对降水改变的响应。研究结果表明,土壤呼吸对降水改变的响应呈现出非对称特征,降水量增加能够提高16.7%的土壤呼吸,而降水量减少则会抑制17.88%的土壤呼吸。研究还发现,不同生态系统和气候区域的土壤呼吸对降水改变的响应存在较大差别。其中,降水量增加能够提高草地生态系统22%的土壤呼吸,比森林生态系统土壤呼吸高出12%;而降水量减少则会削弱草地生态系统28%的土壤呼吸,这要比森林生态系统土壤呼吸还高16%。与湿润地区相比,降水量的增加对干旱地区土壤呼吸的促进作用更加明显。而降水量的减少对干旱地区和湿润地区土壤呼吸的影响均无显著差异。此外,本研究也证实了土壤呼吸对不同降水强度和年限的响应也存在差异。在不同降水强度上,无论增加降水还是减少降水,重度增减雨的土壤呼吸均改变最大,即:重度增减雨(＞75%)＞中度增减雨(25% -75%) ＞轻度增减雨(＜25%);在不同降水年限上,长期增雨对土壤呼吸的促进作用尤为突出,但长期减雨对土壤呼吸影响无显著差异。研究结果可为未来气候情景下陆地生态系统土壤呼吸变化的准确预测以及模型模拟和改进提供重要的科学依据和理论基础。     

2000-2020年青海湖流域植被降水利用效率时空变化

植被降水利用效率(PUE)是评价植被生产力对降水量时空动态响应特征的重要指标。以年净初级生产力(NPP)数据、年降水量数据为基础,利用地理信息系统(GIS)和遥感(RS)技术,计算并研究了2000-2020年青海湖流域植被降水利用效率时空分布格局及其地形效应,结合年均气温、年均地表温湿度、年生长季光合有效辐射吸收系数和年植被覆盖度等数据,探讨了PUE与各因子间的相关关系。结果表明:(1)青海湖流域单位像元(1 km²)PUE平均值在0.4-0.7 gC m^-2 mm^-1间变化,平均为0.54 gC m^-2 mm^-1,且在年际间无显著变化趋势(R²=0.05, P≥0.05)。在空间上,青海湖流域多年PUE平均值环湖呈现不均匀分布,除青海湖东岸外,PUE值随湖面距离增大呈减小趋势;其高值区主要集中分布在青海湖西岸和南岸的半环区;年PUE变化趋势的斜率值为-0.05-0.04 gC m^-2 mm^-1 a^-1,其中显著变化的区域占流域面积的29.63%。(2)青海湖流域多年PUE平均值在海拔效应和坡度坡向两种不同微地形效应下表现出明显的差异。海拔每升高50 m,PUE值将减少0.02 gC m^-2 mm^-1;随坡度增加,PUE值呈降低趋势,平坡至险坡(>45°)的变化范围为0.3-0.61 gC m^-2 mm^-1;不同坡向PUE值表现为由东北坡向西南坡递减,范围为0.52-0.56 gC m^-2 mm^-1。(3)在空间上,青海湖流域PUE值与地表温度、光合有效辐射吸收系数、植被覆盖度和叶面积指数相关性较为明显。沿海拔梯度,空气温度和地表温度与PUE呈极显著正相关(R²=0.94, P<0.01; R²=0.98, P<0.01),光合有效辐射吸收系数、植被覆盖度和叶面积指数与PUE显著正相关(R²=0.89, P<0.05; R²=0.90, P<0.05; R²=0.86, P<0.05),地表土壤湿度与PUE无显著相关性(R²=0.16, P≥0.05)。评估了青海湖流域植被降水利用效率的特征及其与各因子间的相关关系,明确了植被对降水的利用能力及其耗水特性,可为青海湖流域植被保护和国家公园建设提供理论参考。