The photosynthetic responses to elevated CO2 concentration (EC) at ambient and ambient +4°C temperature were aßsessed in the second leaf of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings. The duration of different leaf developmental phases, as characterised by changes in photosynthetic pigment contents and photochemical potential, was protracted in the seedlings grown under EC. On the other hand, a temporal shift in the phases of development with an early onset of senescence was observed in the seedlings grown under EC at ambient +4°C temperature. The contents of carotenoids, ß-carotene, and xanthophyll cycle pigments revealed that EC downregulated the protective mechanism of photosynthetic apparatus against oxidative damages, whereas this mechanism assumed higher significance under EC at ambient +4°C temperature. We observed an enhancement in electron transport activity, photochemical potential, and net photosynthesis in spite of a loss in photostasis of photosynthesis under EC. On the other hand, the loss in photostasis of photosynthesis was exacerbated under EC at ambient +4°C temperature due to the decline in electron transport activity, photochemical potential, and net photosynthesis., S. Panigrahi, M. K. Pradhan, D. K. Panda, S. K. Panda, P. N. Joshi., and Seznam literatury
Dinocampus coccinellae is a parasitoid wasp usually parasitizing ladybird beetles of the tribe Coccinellini. A field survey conducted between March and November 2016 revealed three hosts of this parasitoid in the Srinagar district of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir: two members of the Coccinellini (Oenopia conglobata and Coccinella undecimpunctata) and one of the Chilocorini (Priscibrumus uropygialis). Proportion of the latter (atypical) host that were parasitized was 0.09 and intermediate between that recorded for C. undecimpunctata (0.06) and O. conglobata (0.14). A series of laboratory experiments revealed that while a member of Coccinellini (O. conglobata) was more often attacked by D. coccinellae than a member of Chilocorini (P. uropygialis), the proportions of each species from which parasitoids emerged did not differ significantly. There were no significant differences between D. coccinellae females bred from O. conglobata and P. uropygialis, with respect to selection of the two host species and their suitability for the development of the parasitoid. However, members of the Chilocorini other than P. uropygialis (Chilocorus infernalis and Simmondsius pakistanensis) were rarely attacked by D. coccinellae and parasitoid larvae did not emerge from any of those attacked. The results of our experiments indicate that in Kashmir Himalayas D. coccinellae is adapted to parasitize hosts belonging to both Coccinellini and Chilocorini., Amir Maqbool, Imtiaz Ahmed, Piotr Kiełtyk, Piotr Ceryngier., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Dírkonošci (Foraminifera), mořští prvoci s vápenatou schránkou, obývají naši planetu více než půl miliardy let. Zkoumáním způsobu života těch současných se mnohé dozvíme o jejich pravěkých předcích i o dávných mořích, ve kterých žili., Foraminifera - a rich group of mainly marine microorganisms - are widely used for paleoecological reconstructions. Their occurrence provides important data about past ecological conditions of the sites. We reconstructed former conditions in Židlochovice research site (southern Moravia) by comparing fossil communities with the recent ones present on the island of Rab (Adriatic Sea)., and Anna Poštulková.
A new species of Lymanopoda Westwood, a cloud forest Neotropical genus of Satyrinae, is described from the páramo grasslands on an isolated, peripheral massif in the Colombian Central Cordillera of the Andes: L. flammigera Pyrcz, Prieto & Boyer, sp. n. The genus Lymanopoda is species-rich (approx. 65 species) and its alpha taxonomy is relatively well researched. Relationships within the genus using molecular data have also been explored. The new species is outstanding for its golden yellow colour in males, not found in any other neotropical Satyrinae. Cladograms were constructed based on COI sequences of 47 species of Lymanopoda (~ 70% of the known species) including 17 from Colombia. The new species segregates in the "tolima" clade, which comprises four other high altitude Colombian species, as well as two from Ecuador. However, it is the comparative analysis of male genitalia, in particular the superuncus and valvae, which identified its closest relatives, thus confirming that genital characters can help refine molecular phylogenies. In addition to identifying species using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA barcodes), nucleotide sites with unique fixed states used to identify nine species of Lymanopoda from Colombia are also presented., Tomasz W. Pyrcz, Carlos Prieto, Pierre Boyer, Jadwiga Lorenc-Brudecka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The scydmaenine tribe Eutheiini is recorded from Australia for the first time. Paraneseuthia carltoni sp. n. and P. booloumba sp. n. are described and illustrated, both from Queensland. In a parsimony-based phylogenetic analysis using adult morphological characters including genital features, the Australian species together with the Melanesian type species of Paraneseuthia Franz, P. peckorum Franz, were found to be more closely related to East Palearctic congeners than to most of the Paraneseuthia in the Sunda-Papuan area. The topology of the tree and biogeographic data suggest a Sundaland origin of this genus, with three major dispersal routes from a center located in present-day Sumatra: (i) north-eastern colonization of the Palearctic Far East, via a continental or island-arc route; (ii) south-eastern dispersal to East Australia; and (iii) eastern dispersal to Melanesia, possibly via the Quaternary Outer-Melanesian Arc. The important role of dispersal in the evolution of Paraneseuthia is supported by the presence of this genus on isolated volcanic islands, such as the southern Moluccas and Fiji, which were never connected to larger land masses. and Paweł Jałoszyński.
a1_Perennial organ functions of trees living in seasonal environments exhibit temporal changes that can be classified as long-term interannual changes and seasonal fluctuations within single years. However, few studies have separately quantified these changes from longitudinal measurement data or analyzed the relationships between them. We developed a hierarchical Bayesian statistical model consisting of three parts: a long-term interannual change expressed by consecutive annual linear trends, seasonal fluctuations with 26 values for two-week periods in a year, and a random effect for repeated measurements. The model can extract long-term interannual changes and seasonal fluctuations from longitudinal repeated measure data. The pattern of seasonal fluctuation, the amount of seasonal fluctuation, and the net annual change are expressed by the estimated model parameters. We applied our model to foliar chlorophyll (Chl) and nitrogen (N) content measured repeatedly on more than 1-year-old leaves of saplings in four evergreen broad-leaved tree species using nondestructive optical methods. The model successfully explained large variations in the Chl and N content. In general, seasonal fluctuations corresponded to the phenology of current-year leaves; Chl and N tended to decrease from the opening to maturation of new leaves and increased during the rest period. The magnitude of the decrease in the Chl and N content in the growth period of current-year leaves (Δγ) did not decrease noticeably as leaves aged. For the Chl content, Δγ was positively correlated with the maximum value before leaf opening across species. For the N content, Δγ and the maximum value before leaf opening were not clearly correlated across species, but were positively correlated within some species., a2_A model parameter for annual linear trends in Chl and N varied from positive (indicating increasing trends) to negative values (indicating decrease) depending on species and leaf age in years., D. Mizusaki, K. Umeki, T. Honjo., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the tapeworms of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato complex, which have worldwide distribution. No data on the circulation of genotypes of the E. granulosus complex in intermediate hosts in endemic areas in Calabria are available. The aims of our study were to evaluate the dispersal of genotypes of the E. granulosus complex in Calabria and to characterise parasite isolates by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. We collected 71 animal samples from pigs, wild boars, sheep, cattle and goats. The first PCR screening analysis targeted three partial genomic regions: the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), calreticulin protein (cal) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1); this identified 28 parasitic cysts. Bidirectional sequencing of cox1 amplicons and phylogenetic analysis allowed us to characterise all isolates. Molecular analyses of 28 newly generated cox1 sequences revealed that most wild boars (n = 16) and three pigs were parasitised by the larval stage of Taenia hydatidena Pallas, 1766, called cysticercus tenuicollis. Two isolates from wild boars were identified as Echinococcus canadensis Webster and Cameron, 1961 (G7), while five sheep and two goats were infected with E. granulosus G1 (sheep strain) and G1 microvariant (previously reported as G2 genotype or Tasmanian sheep strain), respectively. These molecular findings should prompt further and more extensive studies, to elucidate regional transmission patterns and to guide control programs., Grazia Pavia, Federica De Gori, Lucia Ciambrone, Natalino De Gori, Rosanna Musarella and Francesco Casalinuovo., and Obsahuje bibliografii
he efficacy of natural enemies in controlling pests under field conditions is largely correlated with their capacity to spread within infested crops. In this study the spatial dispersal of the California red scale parasitoid Aphytis melinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was evaluated in the field after augmentative releases. The experiment was conducted in 2007 in six 1-ha plots in a Sicilian citrus orchard under integrated pest management. A total of 180,000 A. melinus adults was released in each of three plots and the other plots were left as untreated control. The flight range of the parasitoid was evaluated, for 35 days after the release, on 16 trees per each plot, located at 20 and 40 m from the central release point using yellow sticky traps activated with Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) sexual pheromone and by monitoring the percentage parasitism of the scale on fruits and twigs. The effects of the distance from the release point and density of susceptible stages of host on parasitoid dispersal were evaluated. The number of wasps captured during the whole trial was greater in the traps located 20 m from the release point than in those at 40 m and in the control plots. Aphytis melinus dispersed over distances less than 40 m based on both the lower percentage parasitism and numbers captured recorded at distances of 40 m. The results are discussed in the context of the biological control of California red scale in citrus orchards by means of wasp releases. In particular, the release points should be no more than 40 m apart for a quick and homogeneous colonization of the area treated., Lucia Zappala ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), also known as the Asian chestnut gall wasp, is a non-native invasive species that has recently appeared in many regions of Europe, including the Iberian Peninsula. This species is an important pest of chestnut trees in several regions and is of concern for foresters in these areas. The results of this research revealed 14 different hotspots of infestation of D. kuriphilus and resulted in the development of models that predict the distribution of D. kuriphilus in Spain over the next 37 years (2019-2055). These results indicate a rapid spread in all Spanish chestnut forests and identify areas that are theoretically highly suitable and susceptible to colonization by this cynipid based on predictions of three different niche models. Although D. kuriphilus is able to induce galls on all chestnut trees, the models indicate that there are differences in the suitability of the different regions for this species. This differential suitability results in some areas having better environmental conditions than others for D. kuriphilus, which is a factor that should be taken into account in its management and biological control. This study of the current distribution, patterns of dispersal using GIS and potentially suitable areas for D. kuriphilus, using niche models will assist in the management and control of this pest in Spain., Diego Gil-Tapetado, José F. Gómez, Francisco J. Cabrero-Sañudo, José L. Nieves-Aldrey., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In order to use rationally switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) introduced in a large scale in semiarid regions on the Loess Plateau of China, we investigated and compared soil water storage dynamics, diurnal and seasonal changes in leaf photosynthetic characteristics, and biomass production of switchgrass grown under three different row spacing (20, 40, and 60 cm). Results indicated that photosynthetic parameters showed a pronounced seasonality. Diurnal course of net photosynthetic rate (P N) was bimodal, showing obvious midday depression, which was mainly due to stomatal limitation in May and June, by nonstomatal limitation in August, and both stomatal and nonstomatal factors in September. Generally, P N, stomatal conductance, instantaneous water-use efficiency, light-saturated net photosynthetic rate, saturation irradiance, and compensation irradiance increased with increasing row spacing. Plant height, leaf width, and a relative growth rate of biomass accumulation were significantly higher at the row spacing of 60 cm, while 20 cm spacing showed significantly higher aboveground biomass production and the biomass water-use efficiency. All these confirmed that soil water is the key limiting factor influencing switchgrass photosynthesis, and suggested that the wide row plantation (i.e., 60 cm) was more beneficial to switchgrass growth, while narrow spacing was in favor of improving switchgrass productivity and water-use efficiency., Z. J. Gao, B. C. Xu, J. Wang, L. J. Huo, S. Li., and Obsahuje seznam literatury