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Occurrence and distribution of endobacteria in the plant-associated mycelium of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor S238N.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization, associated with confocal laser scanning microscopy or epifluorescence microscopy with deconvolution system, has allowed the detection of a community of intracellular bacteria in non-axenic samples of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor S238N. The endobacteria, mainly alpha-proteobacteria, were present in more than half of the samples, which consisted of ectomycorrhizae, fungal mats and fruit bodies, collected in the glasshouse or in the forest. Acridine orange staining suggests that the endobacteria inhabit both live and dead fungal cells. The role of these endobacteria remains to be clarified.

Acridine Orange↗

Carbohydrate storage in five resprouting Florida scrub plants across a fire chronosequence.

Most research analyzing nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations on resprouter species in fire-controlled ecosystems has concentrated on how NSC concentrations recover immediately after fire. However, we know little of the effect of long periods without fire on NSC concentrations. In order to assess the effect of different periods of time-since-fire on resprouter species, we studied carbohydrate concentrations (total [NSC], soluble sugars [SS] and nonsoluble sugars [NSS]) in five resprouting species with contrasting trends of abundance across a chronosequence of time-since-fire (0.5-40 yr) in Florida. Carbohydrate concentrations were highest in species with specialized reserve organs. [SS] was mainly explained by factors related to plant size, whereas time-since-fire was the main factor explaining [NSS]. Changes in [NSS] and [NSC] were correlated with the time-since-fire abundance patterns. Variation in [NSS] carbohydrates can be related to the structural development of vegetation, with only those species capable of accessing full light able to accumulate carbohydrates, whereas subordinate plants show reductions in the [NSS] carbohydrate fractions. In areas with long intervals between fires, this carbohydrate reduction could affect subsequent postfire resprouting vigour, although this remains to be confirmed.

Asteraceae↗

No evidence of population structure across three isolated subpopulations of Russula brevipes in an oak/pine woodland.

Russula brevipes is common ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungus that is associated with several hosts across temperate forest ecosystems. A previous study has demonstrated that substructuring across large geographic distances (1500 km) occurs in the western USA. To examine genetic structure over a more localized scale, basidiocarps of Russula brevipes from three subpopulations, separated by distances of 230-1090 m, were collected over two consecutive years in an oak/pine woodland. Microsatellite loci were used to test for population differentiation both among subpopulations and by year. No significant population differentiation was detected between subpopulations (theta(ST) = 0.01) or between years (theta(ST) = 0.01). Most loci were consistent with a Hardy-Weinburg equilibrium and 82% of the genets between seasons from similar sampling localities constituted new genotypes. These results indicate that R. brevipes constitutes a randomly mating population with no genetic differentiation between locations or across successive fruiting seasons.

Agaricales↗

Importance of short-term dynamics in carbon isotope ratios of ecosystem respiration (delta13C(R)) in a Mediterranean oak woodland and linkage to environmental factors.

Temporal dynamics in carbon isotope ratios of ecosystem respiration (delta13C(R)) were evaluated on hourly, daily and annual timescales in a Mediterranean woodland. Emphasis was given to the periods of transition from wet to dry season and vice versa, when the system turns from a net carbon sink to a source. The constancy of nocturnal delta13C(R) was tested. The relationship between delta13C(R) (determined through Keeling plots) and environmental factors was evaluated through time-lag analysis. Delta13C(R) exhibited high annual variation (> 7). During the transition periods, delta13C(R) correlated significantly with factors influencing photosynthetic discrimination, soil respiration, and whole-canopy conductance. Time-lags differed between below- and above-ground variables, and between seasons. A shift in regression parameters with environmental factors indicated seasonal differences in ecosystem responsiveness (e.g. temperature acclimation). Delta13C(R) exhibited substantial nocturnal enrichment (> 4) from dusk to dawn. These data indicate pronounced short-term dynamics in delta13C(R) at hourly to daily timescales and a modulated response to environmental drivers. Substantial short-term changes in nocturnal delta13C(R) may have important implications for the sampling protocols of nocturnal Keeling plots.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Hydrogen exchange during cellulose synthesis distinguishes climatic and biochemical isotope fractionations in tree rings.

The abundance of the hydrogen isotope deuterium (D) in tree rings is an attractive record of climate; however, use of this record has proved difficult so far, presumably because climatic and physiological influences on D abundance are difficult to distinguish. Using D labelling, we created a D gradient in trees. Leaf soluble sugars of relatively low D abundance entered cellulose synthesis in stems containing strongly D-labelled water. We used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to quantify D in the C-H groups of leaf glucose and of tree-ring cellulose. Ratios of D abundances of individual C-H groups of leaf glucose depended only weakly on leaf D labelling, indicating that the D abundance pattern was determined by physiological influences. The D abundance pattern of tree-ring cellulose revealed C-H groups that exchanged strongly (C(2)-H) or weakly (C(6)-H2) with water during cellulose synthesis. We propose that strongly exchanging C-H groups of tree-ring cellulose adopt a climate signal stemming from the D abundance of source water. C-H groups that exchange weakly retain their D abundance established in leaf glucose, which reflects physiological influences. Combining both types of groups may allow simultaneous reconstruction of climate and physiology from tree rings.

Cellulose↗

Effects of restoring oak savannas on bird communities and populations.

Efforts to restore and maintain oak savannas in North America, with emphasis on the use of prescribed fire, have become common. Little is known, however about how restoration affects animal populations, especially those of birds. I compared the breeding densities, community structure, and reproductive success of birds in oak savannas maintained by prescribed fire (12 sites) with those in closed-canopy forests (13 sites). All sampling was conducted in Illinois (U.S.A.). Of the 31 bird species analyzed, 12 were more common in savannas, 14 were not affected by habitat structure, and 5 were more common in forest habitat. The species favored by disturbance and restoration included Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus), Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura), Red-headed Woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea), and Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula). Those more common in closed-canopy forest included Ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla) and Wood Thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina). Few species were unique to one type of habitat, but overall avian community structure in oak savannas and closed-canopy forests was generally distinctive. Estimates of nesting success (derived from 785 nests) revealed that 6 of the 13 species considered experienced greater productivity in the savanna habitat. Rates of brood parasitism were unaffected by restoration and habitat structure. Within savannas, tract size had little effect on breeding abundances and reproductive success. My results illustrate that restoration techniques can significantly affect the ecology of constituent animal populations and communities and have key implications regarding avian conservation and the management of forest habitat in fragmented landscapes. Small patches of forest habitat that regularly function as population sinks may offer far better prospects for birds if they are subjected to disturbance and ecosystem restoration.

Animals↗

An epidemic airborne disease caused by the oak processionary caterpillar.

The oak processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea processionea Lepidoptera) is found in several European countries. It usually lives in oak forests or on single-standing oak trees. The larva of from the 3rd to 6th developmental stage (instar) develops poisonous hair (setae), filled with an urticating toxin that may lead to serious dermatitis, conjunctivitis, and pulmonary affection (summarized as lepidopterism) on contact with the setae. In June 2004 more than 40 people including young children developed symptoms of lepidopterism after resting within 20 m of an infested oak tree. Only a few people had touched the caterpillars. All those with clinical symptoms of lepidopterism could be treated as outpatients, but several needed systemic steroids because of the severity of their complaints. Lepidopterism, an airborne disease caused by the setae of the processionary caterpillar, is a growing public health problem because of the increasing numbers of outbreaks.

Adolescent↗

Phytophthora polonica, a new species isolated from declining Alnus glutinosa stands in Poland.

In a survey of Phytophthora associated with alder decline in Poland, several isolates of a homothallic Phytophthora sp., which could not be assigned to other taxa including Phytophthora alni subspecies, were consistently recovered from rhizosphere soil samples. Their morphology and pathogenicity, as well as sequence data for three nuclear regions (internal transcribed spacer rDNA, elongation factor-1alpha and beta-tubulin) and a coding mitochondrial DNA region (nadh1), were examined. The new Phytophthora species is characterized by the moderate to slow growth rate of its colony in carrot agar at 20 degrees C, high optimal (c. 30 degrees C) and maximum (c. 38 degrees C) growth temperatures, formation of catenulate, often lateral, hyphal swellings, large chlamydospores in agar media and in soil extract, persistent, ovoid to ellipsoid nonpapillate sporangia and large oogonia with paragynous and sometimes amphigynous antheridia. Phytophthora polonica was slightly pathogenic to alder twigs and not pathogenic to trunks of several tree species. In a phylogenetic analysis using either Bayesian inference or maximum likelihood methods, P. polonica falls in clade 8 'sensu Kroon et al. (2004)' of Phytophthora.

Alnus↗

Anatolian tree rings and a new chronology for the east Mediterranean Bronze-Iron Ages.

We report an extensive program of high-precision radiocarbon dating to establish the best date for a floating 1599-year Anatolian tree ring chronology that spans the later third millennium B.C. through the earlier first millennium B.C. This chronology is directly associated with a number of key sites and ancient personages. A previously suggested dating is withdrawn and is replaced by a robust new date fix 22 (+4 or -7) years earlier. These new radiocarbon wiggle-matched dates offer a unique independent resource for establishing the precise chronology of the ancient Near East and Aegean and help resolve, among others, a long-standing debate in favor of the so-called Middle Mesopotamian chronology.

Archaeology↗

The duration of forest stages in southern Europe and interglacial climate variability.

Foraminiferal oxygen isotope and pollen analyses from a deep-sea sequence off southwest Portugal show that the duration of temperate stages on land over the past 350,000 years varied considerably. The record shows forest contractions during intervals of low ice volume, coeval with declines in atmospheric methane, after which tree populations did not always recover. What emerges is that, although the broad timing of interglacials is consistent with orbital theory, their specific duration may be dictated by millennial variability. This complicates the prediction of the natural duration of interglacials, at least until the origin of this climate variability is understood.

Animals↗

Carbon flux and growth in mature deciduous forest trees exposed to elevated CO2.

Whether rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations will cause forests to grow faster and store more carbon is an open question. Using free air CO2 release in combination with a canopy crane, we found an immediate and sustained enhancement of carbon flux through 35-meter-tall temperate forest trees when exposed to elevated CO2. However, there was no overall stimulation in stem growth and leaf litter production after 4 years. Photosynthetic capacity was not reduced, leaf chemistry changes were minor, and tree species differed in their responses. Although growing vigorously, these trees did not accrete more biomass carbon in stems in response to elevated CO2, thus challenging projections of growth responses derived from tests with smaller trees.

Atmosphere↗