scholarly journals Sexual Dimorphism in the Chemical Composition of Male and Female in the Dioecious Tree, Juniperus communis L., Growing under Different Nutritional Conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 8094
Author(s):  
Mariola Rabska ◽  
Emilia Pers-Kamczyc ◽  
Roma Żytkowiak ◽  
Dawid Adamczyk ◽  
Grzegorz Iszkuło
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Annual Life Cycle ◽  
Soil Fertilization ◽  
Intensive Phase ◽  
Juniperus Communis ◽  
Availability Analysis ◽  
Nutritional Conditions ◽  
Cone Development

We hypothesized that female and male individuals of the dioecious tree species, Juniperus communis, exhibit different strategies of resource allocation when growing under stress conditions. To test this hypothesis, we performed a two-year pot experiment on plants exposed to different levels of nutrient availability. Analysis of the plants revealed a higher concentration of carbohydrates, carbon, and phenolic compounds in needles of female plants, indicating that females allocate more resources to storage and defense than males. This difference was independent of nutrient availability. Differences in carbohydrates levels between the sexes were most often significant in June, during the most intensive phase of vegetative growth in both sexes, but could also be attributed to female resources investment in cone development. A higher level of nitrogen and other macroelements was observed in males than in females, which may have been connected to the accumulation of resources (nitrogen) for pollen grain production in males or greater allocation of these elements to seeds and cones in females. The interaction between sex and soil fertilization for the C:N ratio may also indicate sex-specific patterns of resource allocation and utilization, which is impacted by their availability during specific periods of J. communis annual life cycle.

Nutritional influences on the expression of genotypic resistance to gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 1445 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. W. Walkden-Brown ◽  
S. J. Eady
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Host Resistance ◽  
Gastrointestinal Nematode ◽  
Nutritional Intervention ◽  
Nematode Infection ◽  
Genotypic Resistance ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Nutritional Conditions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Faecal Egg Count

This paper reviews experiments investigating the responses of resistant and susceptible genotypes of sheep to gastrointestinal nematode infection under differential nutrition. Using faecal egg count as a measure of host resistance, differences between genotypes appeared to be greatest under conditions of low nutrient availability and under such conditions both resistant and susceptible genotypes generally responded to supplemental protein by reducing faecal egg count. However, when nutritional conditions were moderate to good, responses to additional protein tended to be observed only in susceptible genotypes. In general, host genetic resistance was associated with reliable reductions in faecal egg count of moderate to large magnitude, while nutritional intervention was less reliable at reducing faecal egg count, and induced reductions of smaller magnitude. The situation was very different when examining host resilience to infection, as determined by sheep productivity in the face of infection. Increased host resistance was rarely associated with improved growth or production during the period of infection. In contrast, nutritional supplementation reliably increased host productivity irrespective of infection status and prevailing nutritional conditions. A general model of the relationship between nutrient availability and host resistance and resilience in resistant and susceptible genotypes is postulated. Taken together, the studies reviewed in this paper suggest that selection for host resistance and strategic nutritional intervention have complementary roles in the integrated control of gastrointestinal nematode infection in sheep. The former will contribute primarily to the epidemiology of the disease by reliably reducing faecal egg output over a wide range of conditions, reducing host challenge and the number of treatment interventions required. The latter will reliably boost host resilience to infection, with lesser effects on resistance, and the economic rationale for use will require accounting for the full spectrum of production and disease responses.

Variations with altitude in reproductive traits and resource allocation of three Tibetan species of Ranunculaceae

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao Zhigang ◽  
Du Guozhen ◽  
Zhou Xianhui ◽  
Wang Mantang ◽  
Ren Qingji
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Seed Size ◽  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
The Self ◽  
Allocation Pattern ◽  
Carpel Number ◽  
Female Investment

We investigated the adaptive response of alpine plants to elevational gradients by examining reproductive traits and resource allocation of three species of Ranunculaceae with contrasting mating systems in alpine and subalpine populations on the eastern QinhaiTibetan Plateu. The results showed that (i) at alpine sites, the self-incompatible Trollius ranunculoides Hemsley tended to become limited by pollination rather than by nutrient availability, although the self-compatible Anemone rivularis var. flore-minore Maxim. Fl. Tang. and A. obtusiloba D.Don. seemed not to be limited by pollen availability; (ii) influences on the reproduction of these three species induced by high altitude were seen in different reproductive characters, and the influences were, to some extent, dependent on the plant. Female investment in the self-compatible A. rivularis and A. obtusiloba was influenced by altitude and plant size; with a much lower carpel number per flower and larger mean seed size in A. rivularis, and a much higher carpel number per flower and smaller mean seed size in A. obtusiloba, at a higher altitude. Floral investment in the self-incompatible T. ranunculoides was also influenced by altitude and plant size, with a smaller single-flower size and larger seed at the higher altitude. Results also showed that (iii) reproductive allocation to flowering and fruiting did not always decrease with altitude as predicted. This may be due to higher nutrient availability in soil at alpine sites. (iv) Although self-pollination may be an assurance mechanism alleviating pollination limitation, changes in allocation pattern, (i.e. the male-biased floral sexual allocation in A. rivularis and the higher allocation to attractive structure in A. obtusiloba) seem to promote pollinator visits at the high altitude.

scholarly journals Obtaining more benefits from crop residues as soil amendments by application as chemically heterogeneous mixtures

SOIL ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 467-481
Author(s):  
Marijke Struijk ◽  
Andrew P. Whitmore ◽  
Simon R. Mortimer ◽  
Tom Sizmur
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Soil Amendments ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Available N

Abstract. Crop residues are valuable soil amendments in terms of the carbon and other nutrients they contain, but the incorporation of residues does not always translate into increases in nutrient availability, soil organic matter (SOM), soil structure, and overall soil fertility. Studies have demonstrated accelerated decomposition rates of chemically heterogeneous litter mixtures, compared to the decomposition of individual litters, in forest and grassland systems. Mixing high C:N ratio with low C:N ratio amendments may result in greater carbon use efficiency (CUE) and nonadditive benefits in soil properties. We hypothesised that nonadditive benefits would accrue from mixtures of low-quality (straw or woodchips) and high-quality (vegetable waste compost) residues applied before lettuce planting in a full factorial field experiment. Properties indicative of soil structure and nutrient cycling were used to assess the benefits from residue mixtures, including soil respiration, aggregate stability, bulk density, SOM, available N, potentially mineralisable N, available P, K, and Mg, and crop yield. Soil organic matter and mineral N levels were significantly and nonadditively greater in the straw–compost mixture compared to individual residues, which mitigated the N immobilisation occurring with straw-only applications. The addition of compost significantly increased available N, K, and Mg levels. Together, these observations suggest that greater nutrient availability improved the ability of decomposer organisms to degrade straw in the straw–compost mixture. We demonstrate that mixtures of crop residues can influence soil properties nonadditively. Thus, greater benefits may be achieved by removing, mixing, and reapplying crop residues than by simply returning them to the soils in situ.

How does host nutrition affect the development of a microparasitic infection?

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 90-90
Author(s):  
W.M. Brindle ◽  
G.C. Emmans ◽  
I. Kyriazakis
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Evolutionary Ecology ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farm Animal ◽  
Host Nutrition ◽  
Animal Hosts ◽  
Phenotypic Responses ◽  
Animal Production Systems

Models that predict phenotypic responses from the interaction between genotypic descriptors and the environment are desirable both in the context of both animal production systems and evolutionary ecology. Nutrient availability is often related to the ability of a host to control an invading parasitic population and mounting an immune response is often associated with a nutritional cost. This cost is shown by the peripartuient break down of immunity (Houdijk et al., 2003) and reports of negative correlations between production and resistance traits (Rauw et al., 1998). The aim was to develop a model which is able to make predictions relating to the effects of resource allocation as determined by nutrition and genotype, on the course of microparasitic infection in farm animal hosts.

Impact of Nitrogen Deposition on Tropical Forest Biomass and Carbon Sequestration

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (02) ◽  
pp. 60-67
Author(s):  
R. Sagar ◽  
Vijay Pratap Gautam
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Forest Biomass ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Mycorrhizal Association ◽  
Use Efficiency

Undoubtedly, nitrogen (N) is an essential component of proteins and nucleic acid of cells but in the last few decades it has undergone dramatic changes. Now move nitrogen has come into circulation and thus it has now become an environmental problem. Ndeposition is not always undesirable, in areas with N- limitation , N–deposition enhances the plant growth. Besides, it sequesters more CO into the plant biomass there by 2 lowering greenhouse gas emission into the atmosphere. Forest ecosystems all around the globe have experienced N- deposition and are becoming an important C-sink which has been shown in the table 1of this review article. The C-sink capacity of forest ecosystems have been determined using many approaches which are stochiometric scaling, dynamic global vegetation models and biomass weighting method. All these method used C:N response ratio as a predictor for future rate of C-sequestration in response to N- addition. Nutrient availability increases the production of biomass per unit of photosynthesis and decreases heterotrophic respiration in forests. Nutrient availability also determines net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and ecosystem carbon use efficiency (CUE). Biomass production was found higher in the nutrient rich forests, Increase in biomass production was more in woody biomass while foliage and root biomass production remain unchanged. Indeed, the potential of forest C-sink depends upon the partitioning of the carbon uptaken during photosynthesis. In terrestrial ecosystems, C –sequestration predominantly occur in forests ecosystems. Both C:N ratio and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) are crucial for determining C-sequestration in different forest types. C-sequestration in response to N-addition shows variation with kind of mycorrhizal association. N-deposition benefitted trees with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi rather than ectomycorrhizal fungi. Thus, after going thoroughly across number of research articles, we arrived at the conclusion that it is the C:N ratio, NUE, forest type, nutrient availability which determine the C sequestration by forest biomass.

scholarly journals The cost of deer to trees: changes in resource allocation from growth-related traits and phenolic content to structural defence

2019 ◽  
Vol 152 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-425
Author(s):  
Julien Barrere ◽  
Xavier Morin ◽  
Sonia Saïd ◽  
Vincent Boulanger ◽  
Nick Rowe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Phenolic Content ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Chemical Defence ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Deer Browsing ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Structural Resistance

Background and aims – Plants may use various defence mechanisms to protect their tissues against deer browsing and the allocation of resources to defence may trade-off with plants’ growth. In a context of increasing deer populations in European forests, understanding the resource allocation strategies of trees is critical to better assess their ability to face an increasing browsing pressure. The aim of this study was to determine how deer removal affects the resource allocation to both defensive and growth-related traits in field conditions for three tree species (Abies alba, Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica).Methods – We compared eight pairs of fenced-unfenced plots to contrast plots with and without browsing pressure. The pairs were set up in 2005 and 2014 to compare different fencing duration. We measured leaf and shoot traits related to the defence against herbivores (phenolic content, structural resistance, C:N ratio) and to the investment in plants’ growth and productivity (specific leaf area and nutrient content). Key results – For the three species, the structural resistance of leaves and shoots was negatively correlated with SLA, nutrient content and phenolic content. For Abies alba, exclusion of deer decreased shoot structural resistance in favour of higher nutrient content, SLA and phenolic content. The fencing duration had no effect on the different measured traits. Conclusions – Our results support the assumption of a trade-off between structural defence and growth-related traits at the intraspecific scale for the three studied species. We also confirmed the hypothesis that exposure to deer browsing is involved in the resource allocation of woody species. For Abies alba, fencing led to a change in resource allocation from structural defence to growth-related traits and chemical defence.

Folk-economic beliefs as moral intuitions

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Malhotra
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Moral Intuitions ◽  
Economic Beliefs ◽  
Evolutionary Explanations

AbstractAlthough Boyer & Petersen's (B&P's) cataloguing of and evolutionary explanations for folk-economic beliefs is important and valuable, the authors fail to connect their theories to existing explanations for why people do not think like economists. For instance, people often have moral intuitions akin to principles of fairness and justice that conflict with utilitarian approaches to resource allocation.

Lymphedema and lipedema - an overview of conservative treatment

VASA ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Conservative Treatment ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Subcutaneous Tissue ◽  
Compression Therapy ◽  
Compression Stocking ◽  
Lymph Drainage ◽  
Intensive Phase ◽  
Manual Lymph Drainage ◽  
Causal Therapy

Lymphedema and lipedema are chronic progressive disorders for which no causal therapy exists so far. Many general practitioners will rarely see these disorders with the consequence that diagnosis is often delayed. The pathophysiological basis is edematization of the tissues. Lymphedema involves an impairment of lymph drainage with resultant fluid build-up. Lipedema arises from an orthostatic predisposition to edema in pathologically increased subcutaneous tissue. Treatment includes complex physical decongestion by manual lymph drainage and absolutely uncompromising compression therapy whether it is by bandage in the intensive phase to reduce edema or with a flat knit compression stocking to maintain volume.

Mother or Wife?

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phia S. Salter ◽  
Glenn Adams
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Cultural Psychology ◽  
The United States ◽  
Personal Relationship ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Church Membership ◽  
Cultural Dynamics ◽  
Psychology Perspective ◽  
Cultural Ecological

Inspired by “Mother or Wife” African dilemma tales, the present research utilizes a cultural psychology perspective to explore the dynamic, mutual constitution of personal relationship tendencies and cultural-ecological affordances for neoliberal subjectivity and abstracted independence. We administered a resource allocation task in Ghana and the United States to assess the prioritization of conjugal/nuclear relationships over consanguine/kin relationships along three dimensions of sociocultural variation: nation (American and Ghanaian), residence (urban and rural), and church membership (Pentecostal Charismatic and Traditional Western Mission). Results show that tendencies to prioritize nuclear over kin relationships – especially spouses over parents – were greater among participants in the first compared to the second of each pair. Discussion considers issues for a cultural psychology of cultural dynamics.

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