Vertical partitioning between sister species of Rhizopogon fungi on mesic and xeric sites in an interior Douglas‐fir forest

Understanding ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) community structure is limited by a lack of taxonomic resolution and autecological information. Rhizopogon vesiculosus and Rhizopogon vinicolor (Basidiomycota) are morphologically and genetically related species. They are dominant members of interior Douglas‐fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) EMF communities, but mechanisms leading to their coexistence are unknown. We investigated the microsite associations and foraging strategy of individual R. vesiculosus and R. vinicolor genets. Mycelia spatial patterns, pervasiveness and root colonization patterns of fungal genets were compared between Rhizopogon species and between xeric and mesic soil moisture regimes. Rhizopogon spp. mycelia were systematically excavated from the soil and identified using microsatellite DNA markers. Rhizopogon vesiculosus mycelia occurred at greater depth, were more spatially pervasive, and colonized more tree roots than R. vinicolor mycelia. Both species were frequently encountered in organic layers and between the interface of organic and mineral horizons. They were particularly abundant within microsites associated with soil moisture retention. The occurrence of R. vesiculosus shifted in the presence of R. vinicolor towards mineral soil horizons, where R. vinicolor was mostly absent. This suggests that competition and foraging strategy may contribute towards the vertical partitioning observed between these species. Rhizopogon vesiculosus and R. vinicolor mycelia systems occurred at greater mean depths and were more pervasive in mesic plots compared with xeric plots. The spatial continuity and number of trees colonized by genets of each species did not significantly differ between soil moisture regimes.     

Effect of carbamate herbicides on VA mycorrhizal infection and plant growth

Summary The effect of the carbamate herbicides Chlorpropham, Sulfallate and Phenmedipham, which are believed to inhibit photosynthesis, on VA mycorrhizal infection and on plant growth, were examined. Foliar spraying of Phenmedipham decreased the root concentration of total and reducing sugars and the fungal metabolism (using a staining reaction for succinate dehydrogenase as indicator) 48 h after application. However, all three carbamate herbicides tested, whether applied by foliar spray or directly to soil, did not affect the amount of VA mycorrhizal infection present at the end of the experiment. These herbicides decreased plant growth when they were applied to soil. But when the herbicides were sprayed only Phenmedipham, applied at high concentrations, decreased plant growth. Moreover, our results show that VA mycorrhizas may help plants recover from the deleterious effect of Phenmedipham.     

Influence of Nutrient Concentrations on MPN Quantification and Enrichment of Nitrate-Reducing Fe(II)-Oxidizing and Fe(III)-Reducing Bacteria from Littoral Freshwater Lake Sediments

The application of culture-dependent studies to quantify Fe-metabolizing microorganisms from the environment is a necessity, as there are so far no universal functional marker genes for application in culture-independent studies. Media composition can vary between studies, therefore, we determined the effects of three different growth media on the quantification (MPNs) and identity (via cloning and sequencing of dominant DGGE bands) of nitrate-reducing Fe(II)-oxidizers and lactate- or acetate-oxidizing Fe(III)-reducers from a lacustrine sediment: low sulphate freshwater medium (FWM), sterile filtered bicarbonate-buffered lake water (BLW) and a mixture of both (MIX). We consistently found fewer cells in the BLW than in the FWM and the MIX. The DGGE banding patterns of the microbial communities enriched in different media types clustered together according to the e^? donor and acceptor couples and not according to the medium used. Thus, although the medium composition significantly influenced the quantification and thereby conclusions on the abundance and potential significance of the targeted group within the ecosystem, biodiversity assessments through enrichment cultures were less influenced by the medium, but instead were affected by the type and concentration of the e^? donor/acceptor.     

Algal Population Growth Model Integrated with Toxicokinetics for Ecological Risk Assessment under Time-Varying Pesticide Exposure

An algal population growth model integrated with toxicokinetics was developed for assessing the effect of pesticides on population dynamics. This model is a simple one-compartment, first-order kinetic model in which toxicity (growth inhibition and mortality) depends on the intracellular effective concentration of a pesticide at a target site. The model's parameters were derived using an experimental study that investigated the effects of pretilachlor, bensulfuron-methyl, pentoxazone, and quinoclamine on the growth, mortality, and subsequent population recovery of the green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Modeled and measured trajectories of algal population dynamics agreed well. The effect on population recovery was underestimated by the model that ignored the toxicokinetics. The four tested herbicides had a variety of toxicity characteristics and physicochemical properties, indicating the wide range of the model's applicability. Moreover, the developed model and the obtained model's parameters were extrapolated to predict long-term algal population dynamics under time-varying herbicide exposure. The calculated integral biomass lost compared with the control was considered a quantitative index of the population-level ecological risk. The model's prediction showed that the same exposure level (peak concentration is equivalent to EC50) indicated much different population-level effect depending on the herbicide.     

Bacterial ecology, antibiotics and selection for virulence

The evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is well known. Here I describe possible mechanisms by which an increased rate of re-colonization of vertebrate guts by microbes caused by antibiotic use could lead to selection for increased virulence in currently mutualistic or benign microbes. The importance of understanding both the source and the frequency of colonization in such mutualisms is stressed and the possible importance of pseudo-vertical transmission in the evolution of these systems is discussed. A number of areas requiring experimental investigation are identified.     

Effect on aflatoxin production of competition between wild-type and mutant strains of Aspergillus parasiticus

Co-cultivation of a strain of Aspergillus parasiticus, capable of making aflatoxins, with blocked mutant strains, capable of producing none or only a low level of aflatoxins, reduced the net yield of aflatoxins more than that expected based on spore recovery. Yields of aflatoxins were 8-fold less for a norsolorinic acid-producing strain, 14-fold less for an averantin-producing strain, 6-fold less for an averufin-producing strain, and 21-fold less for a versicolorin A-producing strain when co-cultured in equal amounts with a wild-type strain of Aspergillus parasiticus. Even when the wild-type strain was initially present in 100-fold excess, with two of the mutant strains, reduced aflatoxin production was still observed.     

Is the ‘microbial loop’ an early warning indicator of anthropogenic stress?

Various components of the Microbial loop such as bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellates and autotrophic picoplankton were analyzed, for the first time across the Great Lakes, during a cruise in the summer of 1988. In addition, the size fractionated primary productivity using carbon-14 techniques was also determined. The statistical analysis indicated that bacteria, autotrophic picoplankton and ultraplankton/picoplankton productivity were significantly higher in Lakes Ontario and Erie than Lakes Huron and Michigan. The autotrophic picoplankton and ultraplankton/picoplankton productivity was higher in Lake Erie compared to Lake Ontario.The autotrophic picoplankton showed sensitivity to nutrients and contaminants in various types of environments. A dramatic decrease of autotrophic picoplankton in eutrophic-contaminated areas, such as Ashbridges Bay, Hamilton Harbour and western Lake Erie was observed. Conversely, in Saginaw Bay, another eutrophic environment, the autotrophic picoplankton were significantly higher than in Lake Huron. The sensitivity of autotrophic picoplankton to nutrients/contaminants might have implications to trophic interactions. Our results suggest that structural and functional characteristics of the microbial loop may be operating differently in stressed versus unstressed ecosystems. The possibility of using autotrophic picoplankton as an early warning indicator of environmental perturbation is proposed.     

Sensitive bioassays for determining residues of sulfonylurea herbicides in soil and their availability to crop plants

Sulfonylurea herbicides are potent inhibitors of plant growth and are extremely active against a wide spectrum of weeds. They are used at very low rates (10–50 g ai/ha) and cause rapid inhibition of root and shoot growth of young plants. Routine chemical assays for detecting low levels of these compounds are difficult and there is need to develop sensitive bioassay methods for detecting their extremely low residue levels in the soil.This paper describes a simple pot bioassay method with a self watering system using turnip (Brassica rapa) seedlings as test plants for quantitative determination of sulfonylurea herbicides. Results are presented with six of these compounds whose activity was investigated in widely differing substrates. The potential availability to plants was calculated from the dose-response curves in different substrates. The dose-response relationship has been described by a specifically developed computer model. Details are also given of a direct seeded bioassay method with controlled watering system using several test species for detection of sulfonylurea herbicides. The potential uses and practical applications of both techniques are discussed.     

Relative importance of the effect of 2,4-D,glyphosate, and environmental variables on the soil microbial biomass

Two post-emergence herbicides (glyphosate and 2,4-D) were applied at field application levels to tilled field plots in a mixed cropping area in south-central Alberta. The effects of these chemicals on certain variables associated with microbial biomass and activity were monitored in these plots (as well as corresponding control plots) for 45 days. Glyphosate did not influence any of the microbial variables tested. Addition of 2,4-D significantly influenced all microbial variables investigated but these effects were transient, being detectable only within the first 1–5 days of herbicide addition. The effects of 2,4-D addition on the microbial variables tested, even when significant, were typically small and probably of little ecological consequence especially when spatial and temporal variation in these variables is taken into account.     

Spatial patterns and feeding of meiobenthic harpacticoid copepods in relation to resident microbial flora

Distributional and feeding relationships of harpacticoid copepods and their microbial prey were examined in a tidal channel at Great Sippewissett Marsh. A horizontal zonation of photosynthetic microorganisms was composed of: 1) a diatom area; 2) a purple sulfur bacterial (Thiocapsa sp.) area; and 3) a clear area. Four species of harpacticoid copepods were associated with given areas. Leptocaris brevicornis occurred in very high densities in the diatom area but in relatively low densities in other areas. Mesochra lilljeborgi occurred in significantly higher densities in the purple and clear areas.Feeding experiments, using resident microbial flora labelled with NaH¹⁴CO₃ and ³H-thymidine, were conducted to determine which foods are 1) ingested but simply pass through the gut and 2) ingested, and retained. These experiments indicated that L. brevicornis ingested diatoms and the heterotrophs associated with the diatoms, but only retained the heterotrophic portion. Microscopic examination indicated that diatoms were passed out intact in feces. Oscillatoria sp. (cyanobacterium) was not ingested. Mesochra lilljeborgi ingested Spirulina sp. (cyanobacterium), Thiocapsa sp., and the heterotrophs associated with Thiocapsa but only retained the Thiocapsa label.These data for harpacticoids suggest that spatial distributions of meiofauna may be closely coupled with microbial food organisms which they consume. Also, that while several microbial foods may be ingested, only certain microbes are digested and assimilated as a food resource, further indicating the complexity of feeding relationships among the meiofauna.