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At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Biodiversity of the genus Fusarium in saline soil habitats.

Fusarium species assemblage and diversity were investigated in eight different contrasting extreme saline soil habitats of the hot arid desert environment of Bahrain. Saline habitats are located towards the central-southern part of Bahrain and featured by high electrical conductivity, slightly alkaline sandy soil, poor in nutrient sources and water holding capacity and mainly dominated by a salt-tolerant flora. Quantification of data for the recovery of Fusarium species was based on morphological characters and counts by a series of ten fold dilutions plate method and direct soil plating, using two selective media supplemented with different NaCl concentrations. A total of 68 isolates, fluctuated between 1 and 23 per soil sample, were recovered among all habitats mostly at 0 and 5% NaCl concentrations, while no recovery was achieved at 20 and 25%. Grouping of these isolates has resulted in only five species (F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. chlamydosporum, F. equiseti and F. compactum), all of which were previously reported from the arid terrestrial habitats of Bahrain. F. solani was the most predominant species, based on relative density, frequency of occurrence and dominance values, followed by F. oxysporum, a finding consistent with other similar arid Sahara ecosystems. Evaluation of data, supported by analysis of diversity indices and community coefficients, revealed that desert mountain habitat followed by burial mounds habitat were highly homogeneous coupled with maximum species richness, diversity indices and evenness, whereas soil habitats like cliffs, coastal and Al-Lowzy pit were the poorest. Moreover, in vitro tests showed that among other fusaria, F. solani exhibited the highest tolerance to increase NaCl concentrations (25%) and temperature (28.3 mm linear growth at 35 degrees C). At 10% NaCl concentrations, significant reduction in linear growth extensions suppressed all species accompanied by massive thick-walled, drought-resistant chlamydospores formation, indicating that species are mainly thermo-osmotolerant. Fusarium species recoveries were negatively significantly correlated (p < 0.05), with soil edaphic factors including salinity (r = -0.849) and soil moisture (r = -0.711). It is thus, proposed that inter and intra specific variation in the Fusarium species community, in particular soil niche, is an outcome of the influence of bioclimatic, multi-soil-edaphic and biotic factors.

Bahrain↗
PubMed2005

Synaptic thermoprotection in a desert-dwelling Drosophila species.

Synaptic transmission is a critical mechanism for transferring information from the nervous system to the body. Environmental stress, such as extreme temperature, can disrupt synaptic transmission and result in death. Previous work on larval Drosophila has shown that prior heat-shock exposure protects synaptic transmission against failure during subsequent thermal stress. This induced thermoprotection has been ascribed to an up-regulation of the inducible heat-shock protein, Hsp70. However, the mechanisms mediating natural thermoprotection in the wild are unknown. We compared synaptic thermosensitivity between D. melanogaster and a desert species, D. arizonae. Synaptic thermosensitivity and the functional limits of the related locomotor behavior differed significantly between closely related, albeit ecologically distinct species. Locomotory behavior of wandering third instar D. arizonae larvae was less thermosensitive and the upper temperature limit of locomotory function exceeded that of D. melanogaster by 6 degrees C. Behavioral results corresponded with significantly lower synaptic thermosensitivity at the neuromuscular junction in D. arizonae. Prior heat-shock protected only D. melanogaster by increasing relative excitatory junctional potential (EJP) duration, the time required for EJP failure at 40 degrees C, and the incidence of EJP recovery following heat-induced failure. Hsp70 induction profiles following heat-shock demonstrate up-regulation of inducible Hsp70 in D. melanogaster but not in D. arizonae. However, expression of Hsp70 under control conditions is greater in D. arizonae. These results suggest that the mechanisms of natural thermoprotection involve an increase in baseline Hsp70 expression.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

An index technique to monitor broadcast calibration and bait pick up, plus rodent and avian sign under arid conditions.

As part of product-performance and wildlife-hazards studies of 2% zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) steam-rolled-oat baits (11.2 kg ha-1) to reduce vole populations (Microtus spp) in alfalfa (Medicago sativa), we used randomly located, brushed-dirt plots (eight approximately 930-cm2 plots per 0.2-ha enclosure) to monitor bait-broadcast and -removal patterns, as well as to index vole and avian sign. Research was conducted in 18 x 0.2-ha enclosures containing 2.5-year-old stands of alfalfa; a 2-day pre-bait (placebo baits broadcast in all enclosures) period followed by a 14-day test-bait period (placebo and 2% Zn3P2 baits in nine enclosures each) characterized the bait exposures. Baits were broadcast manually by two certified pesticide applicators (CPAs) using Spyker Model-75 spreaders. Baits that fell onto plots were counted < 30 min later to assess the uniformity of bait distribution. The main statistical design was a 2 (placebo or Zn3P2 baits) x 3 (vole-only, vole-pheasant, vole-quail exposures) x 14 (days) factorial, with days considered repeated measurements. In the six vole-only enclosures, baits were removed from the brushed-dirt plots and replaced with four 0% or 2% Zn3P2 baits (one per 232.6-cm2 quadrant; 32 per enclosure); these 'placed' baits were then monitored daily for removal, while the surfaces of all plots were monitored daily for the presence:absence of animal/bird sign. Key results were: (a) 3.51 (+/- 2.66) and 3.39 (+/- 3.52) mean (+/- SD) baits were found on plots after pre-bait and test-bait broadcasts, respectively--less than the predicted 4.52 particles per 930-cm2 plot; (b) baits 'placed' on plots in placebo-baited enclosures were removed earlier than those in Zn3P2-baited enclosures--data in agreement with observed vole mortality; and (c) species x bait interactions occurred for both the vole- and pheasant-sign counts, but not quail-sign counts--data also indirectly confirming Zn3P2-induced mortality effects on voles and pheasants. This technique has utility for a variety of wildlife biology and chemical registration studies; although limited to arid conditions, the technique affords useful indices of broadcast calibration, bait pick-up, as well as target and non-target species mortality.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A natural 15N approach to determine the biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by biological soil crusts of the Negev Desert.

Biological soil crusts are important cryptogamic communities covering the sand dunes of the north-western Negev. The biological crusts contain cyanobacteria and other free-living N(2)-fixing bacteria and are hence able to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N). This is why they are considered to be one of the main N input pathways into the desert ecosystem. However, up to now, in situ determinations of the N(2) fixation in the field are not known to have been carried out. We examined the natural (15)N method to determine the biological N(2) fixation by these soil crusts under field conditions. This novel natural (15)N method uses the lichen Squamarina with symbiotic green algae--which are unable to fix N(2)--as a reference in order to determine N(2) fixation. Depending on the sampling location and year, the relative biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen was estimated at 84-91% of the total N content of the biological soil crust. The cyanobacteria-containing soil lichen Collema had a fixation rate of about 88%. These fixation rates were used to derive an absolute atmospheric N input of 10-41 kg N ha(-1) year(-1). These values are reasonable results for the fixation of atmospheric N(2) by the biological crusts and cyanolichens and are in agreement with other comparable lab investigations. As far as we are aware, the results presented are the first to have been obtained from in situ field measurements, albeit only one location of the Negev with a small number of samples was investigated.

Atmosphere↗
PubMed2001

Purification of a heterodimeric betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase from wild amaranth plants subjected to water deficit.

Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity from wild-type amaranth plants subjected to water deficit. The enzyme has a native molecular mass of 125 kDa; it is formed by two subunits, one of the subunits with a molecular mass of 63 kDa and the second one of 70 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE and double dimension electrophoresis. IEF studies showed two bands with pI values of 4.93 and 4.85, respectively. Possible glycosilation of the 63- and 70-kDa subunits were tested with negative results. Both subunits cross-reacted strongly with polyclonal antibody raised against porcine kidney BADH. Also antiserum rose against HSP70 cross-reacted strongly with the wild amaranth BADH 70-kDa subunit. The enzyme was stable to extreme pH's and temperatures, and high KCl concentrations. Product inhibition of BADH was not observed.

Adaptation, Biological↗
PubMed1994

Angiotensin II induces water absorption behavior in two species of desert anurans.

The octapeptide, angiotensin II (A-II), induces drinking behavior in several vertebrate species; however, relatively little is understood about A-II-induced thirst in amphibians. Scaphiopus couchii and Bufo cognatus were dehydrated to 90% of their ad libitum weight. This level of dehydration was sufficient to induce water absorption response (WR) behavior in both species. Fully hydrated toads injected intraperitoneally with A-II exhibited a significant amount of WR behavior. The minimum effective dose for inducing WR behavior was 10 micrograms/100 g-animal for S. couchii and 100 micrograms/100 g-animal for B. cognatus. When dehydrated toads were treated with the A-II receptor antagonist, Thr8-saralasin, S. couchii, exhibited a significant increase in WR behavior, while B. cognatus did not respond behaviorally. Finally, treatment of dehydrated toads with captopril, a compound that inhibits conversion of angiotensin I to A-II, did not significantly affect WR behavior in either species. These results support other findings that A-II may be involved in WR behavior in amphibians. However, the failure of Thr2-saralasin or captopril to inhibit WR behavior in dehydrated toads suggests that the receptor mechanisms involved in thirst regulation in toads may be different from those in mammals, and the renin-angiotensin system may not be the only potential mediator of WR behavior in these species.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed2002

Rangeland utilisation assessment and modelling for grazing and fire management.

To support grazing and fire management of communal semi-arid to sub-humid African rangelands, the assessment of grazing capacity is illustrated for cattle. The forage dry matter intake (DMI) was divided into four components: 1) the mature standing crop, 2) the green part of the standing crop, 3) the regrowth after range fires, and 4) browse. The relationship between the potential DMI and the crude protein (CP) concentration of the forage was modelled. The DMI ranged from 5 to 50% for forage with low to high CP concentrations, respectively. The DMI of browse was fixed at 0 and 10% of the DMI of unburnt vegetation for plain and woodland systems, respectively. The potential DMI of the four forage components combined, based on data of the early- to mid-dry season, was matched with livestock requirements to calculate grazing capacities. Possible combinations of and changes in the forage components, representing grazing capacities for different seasons of the year, were calculated and visualised. Lastly, it was demonstrated how to assess the proportion of the rangeland that should be burnt to make optimal use of the low quality forage available in abundance and the small amount of high quality regrowth.

Africa↗
PubMed2000

Phylogeography and systematics of the Peromyscus eremicus species group and the historical biogeography of North American warm regional deserts.

Phylogeographic relationships among 26 populations from throughout the geographic range of the Peromyscus eremicus species group are described based on sequence data for a 699-bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA COIII gene. Distance, maximum-likelihood, and maximum-parsimony analyses of phylogenetic trees generated under four separate character-weighting strategies and representing five alternative biogeographic hypotheses revealed the existence of a cryptic species (Peromyscus fraterculus, previously included under P. eremicus) on the Baja California Peninsula and adjacent southwestern California and two distinct forms of P. eremicus, one from the Mojave, Sonoran, and northwestern Chihuahuan regional deserts (West) and one from the remainder of the Chihuahuan Desert (East). Distinctiveness of P. fraterculus is supported by previous morphometric and allozyme analyses, including comparisons with neighboring P. eremicus and parapatric P. eva, with which P. fraterculus shares a sister taxon relationship. Divergence of the eva + fraterculus, West + East eremicus, and P. merriami haplotype lineages likely occurred in the late Neogene (3 Ma), in response to northern extension of the Sea of Cortéz and elevation of the Sierra Madre Occidental; divergence of eva from fraterculus is concordant with the existence of a trans-Peninsular seaway during the Pleistocene (1 Ma); and divergence of West from East eremicus occurred during the Pleistocene pluvial-interpluvial cycles, but well before the Wisconsinan glacial interval. The sequence of divergence within the eremicus species group and causal association of geological events of the Neogene and Holocene provide a working hypothesis against which phylogeographic patterns among other arid-adapted species of the warm regional deserts of North America may be compared.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Comparative phylogeography of Baileys' pocket mouse (Chaetodipus baileyi) and the Peromyscus eremicus species group: historical vicariance of the Baja California Peninsular Desert.

Phylogenetic analysis of 699 bp of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) COIII and 450 bp of the cytochrome b genes among 14 species of coarse-haired pocket mice (Heteromyidae: Chaetodipus) corroborated previous indications that genetic divergence between species and species groups within the genus is generally very high, suggesting old times of divergence, and that the nominal species C. baileyi represents a highly divergent lineage within the genus, with no closely related extant sister species. Analysis of phylogeographic structure among 51 individuals from 12 localities throughout the geographic range of C. baileyi revealed three geographically separate mtDNA haplotype lineages. The oldest split separates populations east and west of the Colorado River, a pattern that is congruent with chromosomal and allozyme electrophoretic evidence. We consider the western populations to represent a distinct species, C. rudinoris. Within C. rudinoris, mtDNA haplotypes are further subdivided into northern and southern lineages along the Baja California Peninsula. Comparison of phylogeographic structure in the baileyi species group and the codistributed Peromyscus eremicus species group implies two points of codivergence and thus supports two historical vicariance hypotheses proposed for biotas distributed across the peninsular and continental warm deserts: a late Neogene (3 Ma) northern extension of the Sea of Cortéz and a mid-Pleistocene (1 Ma) midpeninsular seaway across Baja California.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The Coachella valley fringe-toed lizard (Uma inornata): genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of an endangered species.

A phylogeny was reconstructed for 23 populations of fringe-toed lizards (genus Uma) from the three most northern species of the genus, including the Mojave fringe-toed lizard U. scoparia, the Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard U. notata, and the endangered Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard U. inornata. The outgroup taxa were the zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides; the lesser earless lizard, Holbrookia maculata; and the greater earless lizard, Cophosaurus texanus. Evaluation of 1630 combined nucleotide sequence from the mitochondrial genes ATPase 6 and cytochrome b yielded 10 most parsimonious trees. Reweighting the characters using the rescaled consistency index eliminated eight of these trees. The remaining two trees differ only in the placement of two individuals from the Superstition Mountains which either formed a monophlyetic unit or grouped with one individual from the Anza-Borrego population. The preferred phylogeny, one more consistent with geography, had two primary clades: one consisting of U. scoparia and the other placing U. inornata inside the clade containing U. notata. Uma inornata was most closely related to nearby U. notata notata, as opposed to more distant U. notata rufopunctata.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed2001

Toxicity bioassays for ecological risk assessment in arid and semiarid ecosystems.

Substantial tracts of land in the southwestern and western U.S. are undergoing or will require ERA. Toxicity bioassays employed in baseline ERAs are, for the most part. representative of mesic systems, and highly standardized test species (e.g., lettuce, earthworm) are generally not relevant to arid system toxicity testing. Conversely, relevant test species are often poorly characterized with regard to toxicant sensitivity and culture conditions. The applicability of toxicity bioassays to ecological risk assessment in arid and semiarid ecosystems was reviewed for bacteria and fungi, plants, terrestrial invertebrates, and terrestrial vertebrates. Bacteria and fungi are critical to soil processes, and understanding their ecology is important to understanding the ecological relevance of bioassays targeting either group. Terrestrial bacteria require a water film around soil particles to be active, while soil fungi can remain active in extremely dry soils. It is therefore expected that fungi will be of greater importance to arid and semiarid systems (Whitford 1989). If microbial processes are to be measured in soils of arid environments, it is recommended that bioassays target fungi. Regardless of the taxa studied, problems are associated with the standardization and interpretability of microbial tests, and regulatory acceptance may hinder widespread incorporation of microbial toxicity bioassays in arid system risk assessments. Plant toxicity bioassays are gaining recognition as sensitive indicators of soil conditions because they can provide a cost-effective and relatively rapid assessment of soil quality for both pre- and postremediation efforts. Phytotoxicity evaluations commonly target germination because environmental stressors have the greatest potential for exerting adverse effects in the early stages of growth. In arid systems, seeds respond rapidly to precipitation events, and it is typically after germination has occurred that plants must cope with water stress. Consequently, seedling emergence studies should be conducted under nonlimiting moisture conditions characteristic of mesic plant testing. Further ecological realism can be incorporated into advanced growth stages by creating moisture conditions representative of the arid system study site. Although the choices of suitable plant species for assessing mesic system soils are numerous, the choices for arid system soils are limited. Guidance is provided for evaluating plant species with regard to their suitability for serving as representative arid system flora. Terrestrial invertebrates can survive and flourish in extremely dry conditions. They play key roles in ecosystem functioning in arid environments. Perhaps the biggest drawback to using terrestrial invertebrates for toxicity bioassays involves uncertainties associated with choosing appropriate test species. Several examples of standard species exist for mesic soils (e.g., the earthworm Eisenia foetida and the collembolan Folsomia candida), whereas no analogous organisms are available for testing arid and semiarid soils. The aid of an expert taxonomist and some basic research are prerequisite to using ecologically relevant invertebrates. The use of birds for ecotoxicity testing in arid and semiarid environments is not recommended. On the other hand, mammals, especially rodents, are well represented in arid ecosystems. Much of the ecotoxicity testing performed on rodents is generally applicable to arid-adapted species; few demonstrations of rodent ecotoxicity testing for dry environments exist. Relative to other organisms discussed, such as soil invertebrates, the use of mammals in toxicity bioassays faces several obstacles. Terrestrial plants and soil invertebrates appear to be the most appropriate and feasible organisms for ecotoxicity testing in arid and semiarid environments. Potentially relevant test species for arid system testing are often poorly characterized with regard to toxicant sensitivity and culture conditions. Table 6 presents examples of standard and nonstandard species with these considerations in mind, and the best estimate of regulatory acceptance for each of the organisms is suggested. If currently accepted bioassays are not appropriate for evaluating risks in arid and semiarid ecosystems, their use in conducting ERAs in such environments may result in inadequate expenditure of time and money to develop data that accurately characterize risks. The inapplicability of this technical tool will thus hamper the risk management decision-making process and result in flawed decisions.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Non shivering thermogenesis and implication of the thyroid in cold labile and cold resistant populations of the golden spiny mouse (Acomys russatus).

The golden spiny mouse is dependent on non shivering thermogenesis (N.S.T.) for thermoregulation at cool ambient temperatures. Mice from the shores of the Dead Sea (Ein-Gedi, EG-mice) lose body heat when exposed to 6 degrees C. Their rate of cooling is linearly correlated to the magnitude of N.S.T. This is true for mice acclimated to 28 degrees C, born in the laboratory or freshly captured. Mice from the high mountains of South Sinai (S-mice) resist cooling under the same conditions and their N.S.T. is about twice that of EG-mice. EG-mice did not acclimate to cold. However thyroxine injections made them cold resistant and their N.S.T. rose to values close to that of S-mice. Light and electronmicroscopy of the thyroids in mice acclimated to 28 degrees C and exposed to 6 degrees C, or injected with TRH suggested intense activity in S-mice and little activity in EG-mice.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1975

The structural organization of the kidney of the desert rodent Psammomys obesus.

The architecture of the desert rodent Psammomys obesus has been studied by means of standard histologic procedures and by single nephron injections. As other rodent kidneys (rat, mouse), the Psammomys kidney consists of two types of nephrons, 66% short looped and 34% long looped nephrons. The cortex is composed of 4 to 5 layers of glomeruli, which lie closely put together, the glomeruli often touch each other. The superficial and the midcortical glomeruli give rise to short looped neophrons, the juxtamedullary to long looped nephrons. In the strongly developed medulla the inner stripe shows the most striking pattern. It consists of two distinct compartments, that of the giant vascular bundles and that of the interbundle regions. The giant vascular bundles consist of about 8 to 14% arterial vasa recta and 39 to 47% venous vasa recta; furthermore they include the thin descending limbs of the short loops of Henle which amount to 44 to 51% of the bundle structures. The tubules of the interbundle regions surround the bundles in a regular pattern. The inner zone is almost completely surrounded by the renal pelvis; the long broad papilla protrudes into the ureter. The thin descending limbs of short looped nephrons traverse the inner stripe inside the giant vascular bundles. Leaving the bundles they turn back within the inner stripe; their ascending limbs lie in the interbundle region. Both limbs of the long loops of Henle run in the interbundle region, together with the ascending limbs of the short loops and the collecting ducts. The long loops penetrate deeply the inner zone. Many bends are found near the tip of the papilla. The renal pelvis has a very specialized form. It penetrates the inner stripe with many complexely shaped extensions, which surround the giant vascular bundles. Large parts of the bundles with their thin walled structures are thus separated from the pelvic urine only by a single layer of cuboidal epithelium. The possible functional importance of the described specializations of the Psammomys kidney (giant vascular bundles, large inner zone, special shape of the renal pelvis) for the urine concentrating and urea recyclng mechanisms is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Mammalian renal modifications in dry environments.

The literature on the role of the kidney and renal morphological modifications in places of limited water supply is reviewed. The anatomical structures for urine concentration found in animals living in desert or arid environments, although not all occurring in one particular animal, are wide medullae, long loops of Henle, long proximal tubules, long collecting tubules, small renal corpuscles, extension of the renal pelvis, well developed elongated papillae, occurrence of giant vascular bundles, specialized ultrastructure of Henle's loops, epithelial changes in the collecting tubule, zonation of the vasa recta and peculiarity of the arterial supply to the kidney. The renal renin content is moderately high in these species. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is very active, retaining Na+ with water. The urine is concentrated at the expense of other electrolytes. Both the renal blood and urinary flow rates are lower than in species with access to unlimited water supply. The juxtaglomerular apparatus components are topographically intimate for effective tubuloglomerular autoregulation of renal blood flow.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1990

Distribution of keratinophilic fungi in animal folds in Kuwait.

Soil samples from seventeen animal herds (camels, goats, sheep, cows) were surveyed for the occurrence of keratinophilic fungi. Twenty four species related to eleven genera were recovered on defatted wool baits. Eleven Chrysosporium species were reported in the following order of dominance: C. keratinophilum, C. tropicum, C. indicum, C. queenslandicum, C. pannicola, C. carmichaelii, C. state of Arthroderma curreyi, C. zonatum, C. state of A. cuniculi and Chrysosporium state of Renispora flavissima. The Aphanoascus teleomorph of C. keratinophilum, C. indicum and C. tropicum were frequently reported in soils from cow and sheep folds. Scopulariopsis, Cephaliophora and Sepedonium, although not keratinolytic, were also recorded on wool baits of soils from cow herds which are slightly acidic. The frequency and distribution of these fungi are discussed in relation to animal species and the general ecological conditions of desert soils.

Animals↗