scholarly journals Quantitative variations of usnic acid and selected elements in terricolous lichen Cladonia mitis Sandst., with respect to different environmental factors – A chemometric approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 192 ◽  
pp. 112948
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Galanty ◽  
Michał Węgrzyn ◽  
Paulina Wietrzyk-Pełka ◽  
Maria Fołta ◽  
Mirosław Krośniak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Usnic Acid ◽  
Chemometric Approach ◽  
Terricolous Lichen

The gastropod Arion fuscus prefers cyanobacterial to green algal parts of the tripartite lichen Nephroma arcticum due to low chemical defence

2009 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan ASPLUND ◽  
Yngvar GAUSLAA
Keyword(s):  
Usnic Acid ◽  
Chemical Defence ◽  
Secondary Compounds ◽  
Distribution Limit ◽  
Green Algal ◽  
Defensive Role ◽  
N Starvation ◽  
And Control ◽  
Terricolous Lichen ◽  
Acetone Rinsing

AbstractAlthough the tripartite terricolous lichen Nephroma arcticum is easily accessible to lichen-feeding gastropods, grazing marks are mainly restricted to localized cephalodia with N-fixing Nostoc. We tested if this gastropod preference for cephalodia can be explained by differences in carbon based secondary compounds (CBSCs) in cyanobacterial versus green-algal tissues. CBSCs were non-destructively removed from air-dry thalli by 100% acetone. Compound deficient and control thallus parts were offered to the slug Arion fuscus and grazing preferences were quantified by area measurements in ArcGIS™. The concentrations of CBSCs (phenarctin, usnic acid, nephroarctin and methyl gyrophorate) in thallus parts with and without cephalodia were quantified with HPLC. Compared to purely green-algal parts, cephalodial parts with adjoining fungal tissues contained less defensive compounds, and were preferred by A. fuscus. The cephalodia themselves do not contain any CBSCs. After acetone rinsing, A. fuscus did not discriminate between green-algal and cyanobacterial parts. The results were consistent with the hypothesis that CBSCs in green-algal parts of N. arcticum play a herbivore-defensive role. It is further hypothesized that grazing of cephalodia may lead to N-starvation and reduced growth of N. arcticum thalli in southern portions of its range where lichenivorous gastropods are more abundant. This may play a role in shaping the southern distribution limit of this arctic-boreal lichen species.

scholarly journals Simulated global warming increases usnic acid but reduces perlatolic acid in the mat-forming terricolous lichen Cladonia stellaris

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan ASPLUND ◽  
Andy SIEGENTHALER ◽  
Yngvar GAUSLAA
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Extreme Environments ◽  
Usnic Acid ◽  
Secondary Compounds ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Symbiotic Associations ◽  
Slow Growing ◽  
Terricolous Lichen

AbstractLichens as sessile and slow-growing symbiotic associations have evolved various carbon-based secondary compounds (CBSCs) to mitigate the effects of some stressors in the extreme environments in which they often grow. The mat-forming lichen Cladonia stellaris, an important fodder for reindeer, produces usnic acid in the outermost layer and perlatolic acid in the medulla. Here, we studied effects of simulated global warming on these CBSCs in C. stellaris cultivated in climate chambers with: 1) ambient conditions as control or 2) ambient conditions +4°C. The chambers simulated, at an hourly resolution, an averaged 10-year growing season dynamic from a long-term monitored boreal mire in northern Sweden. After two months of acclimation, +4°C warming in one simulated growing season increased the concentration of usnic acid by 31% compared with ambient conditions, whereas the warming decreased the concentration of perlatolic acid by 14%. Since lichen CBSCs play important roles in ecosystem processes such as lichenivory and decomposition, these changes may profoundly affect lichen-dominated ecosystems.

scholarly journals Morphological and Chemical Traits of Cladonia Respond to Multiple Environmental Factors in Acidic Dry Grasslands

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 453
Author(s):  
Gabriele Gheza ◽  
Luca Di Nuzzo ◽  
Chiara Vallese ◽  
Matteo Barcella ◽  
Renato Benesperi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Vegetation Dynamics ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Dry Grasslands ◽  
Reproduction Strategies ◽  
Colonization Patterns ◽  
Chemical Traits ◽  
Substrate Ph ◽  
Terricolous Lichen

Terricolous lichen communities in lowlands occur especially in open dry habitats. Such communities are often dominated by species of the genus Cladonia, which are very variable in morphology, reproduction strategies, and secondary metabolites. In this work, we investigated traits-environment relationships considering vegetation dynamics, substrate pH, disturbance, and climate. A total of 122 plots were surveyed in 41 acidic dry grasslands in the western Po Plain (Northern Italy). Relationships between Cladonia traits and environmental variables were investigated by means of a model-based Fourth Corner Analysis. Thallus morphology and metabolites responded to vegetation dynamics, substrate pH, disturbance, and climate, whereas reproduction strategies responded only to vegetation dynamics. Traits’ correlations with vegetation dynamics elucidate their colonization patterns in open dry habitats or suggest biotic interactions with bryophytes and vascular plants. In addition, correlations between metabolites and environmental factors support interpretations of their ecological roles. Our results also stress the importance of studying traits’ relationships with climatic factors as an alert towards lichen reactions to climate change.

Ambient UV irradiation induces a blue pigment in Xanthoparmelia stenophylla

2006 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria McEvoy ◽  
Knut Asbjørn Solhaug ◽  
Yngvar Gauslaa
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Usnic Acid ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Blue Pigment ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Xanthoria Parietina ◽  
Taxonomic Studies ◽  
Fungal Pigments ◽  
Foliose Lichen

Lichens are colourful organisms owing to numerous combinations of algal and fungal pigments (as reviewed by Rikkinen 1995). Colour is often used in taxonomic studies to aid species identification but it is sometimes over-used as a characteristic to discriminate related genera such as, Xanthoparmelia and Neofuscelia (Poelt & Leuckert 1993). However, colour variations within species can be significant (Solhaug et al. 2003) because of spatial (Gauslaa & Solhaug 2001; Gauslaa & Ustvedt 2003) and temporal variations (Gauslaa & McEvoy 2005) in environmental factors. There are few experimental studies on lichen colours so far; as a result we do not know the relative importance of genetic versus environmental factors. Our study aimed to assess the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the colour of the widespread foliose lichen Xanthoparmelia stenophylla (Ach.) Ahti & D. Hawksw. (until recently known as X. somloensis (Gyeln.) Hale, see Ahti & Hawksworth 2005). Usnic acid is responsible for the yellowish appearance of its upper cortex, but other colour variations are also mentioned in taxonomic literature (Brodo et al. 2001). More specifically, we wanted to discover if UVR and the photosynthate ribitol supplied by the photobiont would cause changes in pigmentation in a Xanthoparmelia species. These factors have been shown to induce and stimulate the synthesis of the orange parietin in Xanthoria parietina (Solhaug & Gauslaa 2004; Solhaug et al. 2003).

scholarly journals Effect of environmental factors on polyketide synthase gene expression, usnic acid biosynthesis, and ground cover of a lichen-fungus, Cladonia uncialis

Botany ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duleeka Gunawardana ◽  
Natalia Sveshnikova ◽  
André Arsenault ◽  
Michele D Piercey-Normore
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Acid Concentration ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Polyketide Synthase ◽  
Usnic Acid ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Ph Level

Lichens are composed of symbiotic slow-growing organisms and are often exposed to extreme micro-environmental conditions, resulting in production of unique secondary metabolites. One of the most commonly produced secondary metabolites is usnic acid, which is thought to be produced by two genes. The objectives of the present study were to compare Polyketide Synthase (PKS) gene expression and usnic acid concentration in Cladonia uncialis, with two environmental factors. Seventy-five lichen samples were collected from three locations in Newfoundland using a strip transect method (x5 transects x5 quadrats). Usnic acid concentration was measured using Liquid Chromatography tandem Mass-Spectrometric method and gene expression of two PKS genes (methylphloracetophenone oxidase MPAO, methylphloracetophenone synthase MPAS) was examined using quantitative Real-Time PCR. The results showed that percent ground cover of Cladonia uncialis was affected by soil pH level but not soil moisture; and usnic acid concentration was not affected by either soil pH or soil moisture. MPAO gene expression level was significantly affected by soil pH level but not soil moisture; and MPAS gene expression level was not affected by either soil pH level or soil moisture. There was no significant relationship between MPAS and MPAO gene expression levels and usnic acid concentration. These findings suggest that soil pH may be important for the production of usnic acid by C. uncialis but the genes involved require further study.

scholarly journals Diversity and distribution of lichens in recently deglaciated areas of southeastern Spitsbergen

2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Maciejowski ◽  
Piotr Osyczka ◽  
Jerzy Smykla ◽  
Wiesław Ziaja ◽  
Krzysztof Ostafin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
Lichen Species ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Svalbard Archipelago ◽  
First Time ◽  
Terricolous Lichen

The diversity and distribution of lichen species were investigated in recently deglaciated areas of the borderland between Sørkapp Land and Torell Land (southeastern Spitsbergen, Svalbard). A total of 15 sites representing various habitat types specific to the area were evaluated. Sampling sites were characterized by a very diverse composition of lichens and species richness ranging from as few as two species to as many as 53. None of the species was ubiquitous among the investigated sampling sites; conversely, most were recorded only once or twice indicating a high heterogeneity in species distribution. Eighty species are reported for the first time from southeastern Spitsbergen. The terricolous lichen <em>Verrucaria xyloxena</em> is reported for the first time from the Svalbard archipelago. The influence of the selected abiotic and biotic environmental factors on the occurrences and distributions of lichen species is discussed in this paper.

Reductionist thinking and animal models in neuropsychiatric research

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Baran
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Developmental Genetic ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Mechanisms Of Plasticity

AbstractReductionist thinking in neuroscience is manifest in the widespread use of animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders. Broader investigations of diverse behaviors in non-model organisms and longer-term study of the mechanisms of plasticity will yield fundamental insights into the neurobiological, developmental, genetic, and environmental factors contributing to the “massively multifactorial system networks” which go awry in mental disorders.

The dual nature of obesity in metabolic programming: quantity versus quality of adipose tissue

2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (18) ◽  
pp. 2447-2451
Author(s):  
Anissa Viveiros ◽  
Gavin Y. Oudit
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Maternal Obesity ◽  
Metabolic Programming ◽  
Dual Nature ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Adipose Tissue Volume ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Metabolically Healthy

Abstract The global prevalence of obesity has been rising at an alarming rate, accompanied by an increase in both childhood and maternal obesity. The concept of metabolic programming is highly topical, and in this context, describes a predisposition of offspring of obese mothers to the development of obesity independent of environmental factors. Research published in this issue of Clinical Science conducted by Litzenburger and colleagues (Clin. Sci. (Lond.) (2020) 134, 921–939) have identified sex-dependent differences in metabolic programming and identify putative signaling pathways involved in the differential phenotype of adipose tissue between males and females. Delineating the distinction between metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity is a topic of emerging interest, and the precise nature of adipocytes are key to pathogenesis, independent of adipose tissue volume.

Shared Responsibilities for Full Participation in Society: Planning Further Integration of the ICF Into AAC

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (12) ◽  
pp. 83-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Blake Huer ◽  
Travis T. Threats
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Community Support ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Classification Of Functioning ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Social Service Agencies ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Full Participation

The World Health Organization's (WHO's) 2001 International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) has as one of its central tenets the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. It acknowledges the need for medical and rehabilitation intervention in its biopscychosocial framework. However, the WHO realizes that society must do its part to facilitate this full participation and empowerment. Persons with complex communication needs (PWCCN) often need augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in order to express themselves. However, in order to access and successfully use AAC, PWCCN need access to the necessary AAC devices and services, as well as a willing society to interact with them as full contributing members of society. The factors outside of a person's specific physical and/or cognitive functional limitations are addressed in the ICF via the Personal and Environmental Factors. Personal Factors include the individual's personality traits, lifestyle, experiences, social/educational/professional background, race, gender, and age. Environmental Factors include community support systems, social service agencies, governments, social networks, and those persons that interact with the PWCCN. This article addresses the sociopolitical influences on PWCCN and their functioning from a human rights perspective. The necessary introspective role of speech-language pathologists in this process is explored.

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