scholarly journals Open-top warming chambers reduce animal pollination of two subalpine herbs

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 231-239
Author(s):  
Carter Perez Adamson ◽  
Amy Iler

Open top chambers (OTCs) are a popular method for studying the biological effects of climate change through passive heating, but their effects on biotic interactions are poorly understood, especially for pollination. Here we use the subalpine plants Delphinium nuttallianum and Potentilla pulcherrima to examine the possibility that the effects of OTCs on plant reproduction are not the result of warming but rather OTCs acting as barriers to pollinator movement. Pollinator observations were conducted and stigmas collected from plants inside and outside of OTCs in a meadow in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA. Very few visitors were observed inside of OTCs, which led to severe reductions in visitation rates, by 92% in Delphinium and 85% in Potentilla. The number of conspecific pollen grains on stigmas was 73% lower in OTCs for Delphinium but not Potentilla, likely because it is capable of autogamous self-pollination. This study clearly shows that OTCs can reduce animal pollination, which is also likely to reduce plant reproductive output of outcrossing plants via decreases in the quantity or quality of pollen. OTCs may therefore confound effects of warming on plant reproduction with pollination effects. Although the unintended effects of OTCs on abiotic conditions are well-studied, this study highlights that their effects on biotic interactions require further investigation.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Breygina Maria ◽  
Klimenko Ekaterina ◽  
Shilov Eugeny ◽  
Mamaeva Anna ◽  
Zgoda Viktor ◽  
...  

1.AbstractROS are known to be accumulated in stigmas of different species and can possibly perform different functions in plant reproduction. Here we confirm the assumption that they affect pollen by altering ion transport through the plasma membrane; as a more deferred effect, pollen proteome is modified. We detected ROS in stigma exudate, found hyperpolarization in exudate-treated growing pollen tubes and used flow cytometry of pollen protoplasts to compare the effects of fresh exudate and exogenous H2O2 on pollen tube plasmalemma. Exudate causes plasmalemma hyperpolarization similar to the one provoked by H2O2, which is abolished by catalase treatment and ROS quencher MnTMPP. Inhibitory analysis indicates the participation of Ca2+- and K+-conducting channels in the observed hyperpolarization, linking obtained data with previous patch-clamp studies in vitro. For a deeper understanding of pollen response to ROS we analyzed proteome alterations in H2O2-treated pollen grains. We found 50 unique proteins and 20 differently accumulated proteins that are mainly involved in cell metabolism, energetics, protein synthesis and folding. Thus, pollen is getting ready for effective resource usage, construction of cellular components and rapid growth.HighlightsThe active substance in stigma exudate is H2O2H2O2 causes hyperpolarization mediated by the activation of cation channels.H2O2 affects pollen proteome; we found 50 unique proteins.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 657-663
Author(s):  
Jie Liu ◽  
Lichao Wu ◽  
Yimin Tan

Se-enriched camellia oil has received increasing attention because it can improve the Se intake of diet for Se deficiency areas and has a wide spectrum of biological effects. Six main cultivars of camellia oil in Guangxi, including Camellia oleifera cenxiruanzhi 2 (CR2), CR3, C. oleifera xianglin 4 (XL4), XL40, C. oleifera changlin 1 (CL1), and CL210, were selected for fertilization experiment to produce Se-enriched camellia oil and investigated the effect of Se enrichment on quality. The Se content in camellia oil of six varieties was significantly increased by Se fertilizer application. CR2 had the maximum Se content and raise ratio compared to CK, which was 0.87 mg kg−1 and fourfold, respectively. The Se contents in XL1, XL210, CR3, CL4, and CL40 improved by 2.14-, 2.77-, 3.58-, 2.56-, and 3.79-fold, respectively. Se fertilizer reduced the acid and peroxide values and increased the squalene and tocopherol contents. The acid value decreased by 38.29%–61.30%, the peroxide value decreased by 20.66%–61.79%, the tocopherol content increased by 7.76%–32.78%, and the squalene content increased by 13.53%–77.39%. The quality indices were significantly different among camellia oil varieties. Principal component analysis showed that CR2 obtained the highest score by comprehensive evaluation. Se fertilization, particularly for CR2 species, can significantly increase the contents of Se as well as functional components, such as squalene and tocopherol, and thus improve the quality of camellia oil


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 5094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Dür ◽  
Lars Keller

Today’s environmental challenges have been determined and exacerbated by human behavior. It is imperative that education develops learning-settings that enable students to make their individual lifestyles more sustainable. The aim of this paper is to examine the effect of the research-education-collaboration ‘AustrIndia-4QOL’ (Teenagers from Austria and India Perform Research on Quality of Life) on the teenagers’ awareness of the importance of environmental aspects in regards to quality of life, and on their willingness to act towards more sustainable lifestyles. Therefore, the results from a collaboration via social media and from a collaboration with additional face-to-face workshops were analyzed. The question of whether an increased awareness or willingness to act is followed by a change of real action after the project was also investigated. The results indicate that conducting education for sustainable development requires long term educational engagement, and that unintended effects cannot be excluded.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (13) ◽  
pp. 2399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Bocian ◽  
Justyna Buczkowicz ◽  
Marcin Jaromin ◽  
Konrad Kamil Hus ◽  
Jaroslav Legáth

Honey is a natural sweetener composed mostly of sugars, but it contains also pollen grains, proteins, free amino acids, and minerals. The amounts and proportions of these components depend on the honey type and bee species. Despite the low content of honey protein, they are becoming a popular study object, and have recently been used as markers of the authenticity and quality of honey. Currently, the most popular methods of protein isolation from honey are dialysis against distilled water, lyophilization of dialysate, or various precipitation protocols. In this work, we propose a new method based on saturated phenol. We tested it on three popular polish honey types and we proved its compatibility with both 1D and 2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and MS (mass spectrometry) techniques. The elaborated technique is also potentially less expensive and less time-consuming than other previously described methods, while being equally effective.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 640
Author(s):  
Michael Bartoš ◽  
Štěpán Janeček ◽  
Petra Janečková ◽  
Eliška Chmelová ◽  
Robert Tropek ◽  
...  

The deficiency of pollen grains for ovule fertilization can be the main factor limiting plant reproduction and fitness. Because of the ongoing global changes, such as biodiversity loss and landscape fragmentation, a better knowledge of the prevalence and predictability of pollen limitation is challenging within current ecological research. In our study we used pollen supplementation to evaluate pollen limitation (at the level of seed number and weight) in 22 plant species growing in a wet semi-natural meadow. We investigated the correlation between the pollen limitation index (PL) and floral traits associated with plant reproduction or pollinator foraging behavior. We recorded significant pollen limitation for approximately 41% of species (9 out of 22 surveyed). Seven species had a significant positive response in seed production and two species increased in seed weight after pollen supplementation. Considering traits, PL significantly decreased with the number of pollinator functional groups. The relationship of PL with other examined traits was not supported by our results. The causes of pollen limitation may vary among species with regard to (1) different reproductive strategies and life history, and/or (2) temporary changes in influence of biotic and abiotic factors at a site.


2001 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Meksem ◽  
V. N. Njiti ◽  
W. J. Banz ◽  
M. J. Iqbal ◽  
My. M. Kassem ◽  
...  

Soy products contain isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, and glycitein) that display biological effects when ingested by humans and animals, these effects are species, dose and age dependent. Therefore, the content and quality of isoflavones in soybeans is a key to their biological effect. Our objective was to identify loci that underlie isoflavone content in soybean seeds. The study involved 100 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) from the cross of ‘Essex’ by ‘Forrest,’ two cultivars that contrast for isoflavone content. Isoflavone content of seeds from each RIL was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The distribution of isoflavone content was continuous and unimodal. The heritability estimates on a line mean basis were 79% for daidzein, 22% for genistein, and 88% for glycitein. Isoflavone content of soybean seeds was compared against 150 polymorphic DNA markers in a one-way analysis of variance. Four genomic regions were found to be significantly associated with the isoflavone content of soybean seeds across both locations and years. Molecular linkage group B1 contained a major QTL underlying glycitein content (P=0.0001,R 2=50.2%), linkage groupNcontained a QTL for glycitein (P=0.0033,R 2=11.1%) and a QTL for daidzein (P=0.0023,R 2=10.3%) and linkage groupA1contained a QTL for daidzein (P=0.0081,R 2=9.6%). Selection for these chromosomal regions in a marker assisted selection program will allow for the manipulation of amounts and profiles of isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, and glycitein) content of soybean seeds. In addition, tightly linked markers can be used in map based cloning of genes associated with isoflavone content.


2014 ◽  
Vol 170 ◽  
pp. 89-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Mazzeo ◽  
Marino Palasciano ◽  
Alessandra Gallotta ◽  
Salvatore Camposeo ◽  
Andrea Pacifico ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 20170702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Macias-Fauria ◽  
Eric Post

The rapid decline in Arctic sea ice (ASI) extent, area and volume during recent decades is occurring before we can understand many of the mechanisms through which ASI interacts with biological processes both at sea and on land. As a consequence, our ability to predict and manage the effects of this enormous environmental change is limited, making this a crisis discipline . Here, we propose a framework to study these effects, defining direct effects as those acting on life-history events of Arctic biota, and indirect effects , where ASI acts upon biological systems through chains of events, normally involving other components of the physical system and/or biotic interactions. Given the breadth and complexity of ASI's effects on Arctic biota, Arctic research requires a truly multidisciplinary approach to address this issue. In the absence of effective global efforts to tackle anthropogenic global warming, ASI will likely continue to decrease, compromising the conservation of many ASI-related taxonomic groups and ecosystems. Mitigation actions will rely heavily on the knowledge acquired on the mechanisms and components involved with the biological effects of ASI.


Author(s):  
Wilfred Damndja Ngaha ◽  
Richard Aba Ejoh ◽  
Edith Nig Fombang ◽  
William Dzusuo Tedom

Toddlers malnutrition is a health problem in developing countries like those found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Owing to prevalence of poverty, families are generally not able to afford the commercial complementary foods available in the market stalls, since such complementary foods are imported and made from non-local foodstuffs. In order to overcome these issues, FAO/WHO recommends the use of local foodstuffs in formulation of complementary foods and defines the virtues that the complementary foods should possess. In this light, researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa have proposed several formulations of complementary foods. The present work reviews these research findings on complementary foods available in the Sub-Saharan Africa utilizing the local food materials, the treatment that is required to be meted to such food ingredients, nutritional quality of formulated complementary foods and ultimately their biological effects. The limitations of the research work, if any, has been highlighted and the means to take such research forward that would be helpful in the production and commercialization of cost-effective complementary foods possessing requisite nutritional quality and biological effects as per dietary norms laid down by competent authorities.


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