Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. Fruits: Chromatographic Analysis of Seasonal and Geographical Variation in Bioactive Compounds

Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. (lingonberry) fruits are promising sources of bioactive components with high potential in biomedical applications. Selection in plant breeding, determination of perspective wild clones with optimal growing conditions, and appropriate harvesting time leading to standardized extracts are key factors for achieving phytochemical quality to meet consumer’s needs. In the present study, lingonberry fruits collected along different phenological stages and from different geographical locations were analyzed for the composition of 56 constituents using validated chromatographic techniques. Early stages of lingonberries vegetation were determined as the best stages for obtaining high levels of most phenolics and triterpenoids, while the end of berry vegetation could be chosen as the optimal harvesting time in terms of anthocyanins. Furthermore, intensified continuous biosynthesis of triterpenoids and phenolic acids precursors after vegetation season in the winter sample was observed. Chemodiversity of lingonberries was affected by geographical factors as well as climatic and edaphic conditions, indicating different favorable growing conditions for the accumulation of particular compounds. Present findings could serve for breeders to obtain the highest yields of desirable lingonberry constituents, relevant in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Vegetation communities and edaphic relationships along a typical coastal saltmarsh to woodland gradient in eastern Tasmania

Saltmarsh soils impose harsh selection pressures on vegetation resulting in characteristic plant communities. For our study of the effect of edaphic factors on vegetation we chose Long Point in Moulting Lagoon, Tasmania’s largest saltmarsh, which is dominated by a diverse assemblage of halophytic succulents and graminoids. Three transects were established to sample variations in vegetation along the gradient from saltmarsh to woodland. Soil samples were analysed for summer and winter moisture, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC); a mixed summer and winter sample from each point was analysed for soil organic matter (SOM) and carbon. Additionally, a particle size analysis was carried out on all summer samples. Aspects of soil characteristics were aligned to classified vegetation groups and elevation. Moisture, pH, EC, SOM and carbon were all negatively correlated with elevation; the saltmarsh zone displaying higher levels of all variables than those in the adjacent woodland zone. Clay content decreased and sand content increased from the marine margin of the saltmarsh zone to the woodland zone. Within the saltmarsh zone, soil moisture, EC and carbon had highest values in the low marsh area, with values decreasing towards the upper marsh area. This study deepens our understanding of the roles various edaphic factors play in the floristic composition of coastal saltmarshes.

Microbial mats as shelter microhabitat for amphipods in an intermittent karstic spring

Microbial mats represent complex communities where cyanobacteria and diatoms as key organisms provide shelter for diverse assemblages of aquatic invertebrates, like the small stygophilous amphipod Synurella ambulans. Studies addressing such communities in the karst springs have rarely examined springheads, and have ignored intermittent springs. During high flow conditions the stygophilic crustaceans are flushed to the surface of a temporary stream Krčić where microbial mats prevent their drift and enables their successful retreat into underground in the periods of drought. The objective of this study was to characterize the microbial mat community of the Krčić Spring as a shelter for S. ambulans during strong current and high water level. Representative samples for diatom and cyanobacterial species identification and composition, as well as the fresh mat material for potential animal activity and cyanobacterial phylogenetic analysis were collected. The most dominant diatom was Achnanthidium minutissimum, whilst Fragilaria capucina, Meridion circulare, Navicula cryptocephala and Nitzschia palea had abundance greater than 0.5%. Morphological observations of cyanobacteria revealed that Phormidium favosum was the most dominant, with Hydrocoleum muscicola as a subdominant. Cyanobacterial phylogenetic relationship revealed two distinct clusters: (i) "Phormidium cluster", confirming morphological observations in both winter and spring samples, and (ii) "Wilmottia cluster", a first report for Croatia and found exclusively in the winter sample. Laboratory observations revealed a small stygophilic amphipod S. ambulans, hiding and feeding inside the pockets of fresh microbial mat. The intermittent Krčić Spring as a predator-free and competitor-free ecosystem provides a spatiotemporal conformity between microbial mat and stygophilous amphipod.

Study on Season Factor in the Preparation of PVA/RS Composite

The effect of season factor on the performances of poly (vinyl alcohol)/rice straw (PVA/RS) composites prepared by hot-pressing was studied. Two forms of RS, including shortcut RS and RS wires, were used to prepare composite. For PVA/ shortcut RS composites, samples of winter showed higher tensile strength and strength at tensile fracture at different PVA contents than that of summer. When PVA content is 50%, tensile strength of winter sample is 136% higher than that of summer sample and strength at tensile fracture of winter sample is 320% higher than that of summer sample. In addition, samples of winter showed lower tensile stretch and higher hardness at different PVA contents than that of summer. For PVA/RS wire composites, the comparison results are similar. These indicated that season is an important factor for preparing plant based composite with PVA as adhesive.

An Analysis of the Parasites of a Mid-winter Population of the Snowshoe Hare, Lepus americanus, on Insular Newfoundland During a Cyclical Peak

A mid-winter sample of 78 Snowshoe Hares (Lepus americanus) was collected during their cyclical peak in population from three eco-regions (Western Newfoundland, North Shore and Avalon Forest) on insular Newfoundland and was examined for the presence of enteric parasites. The length of the hares was significantly shorter in the Avalon Forest Region (n = 27) than those of the Western Newfoundland Region (n = 25) and North Shore Region (n = 26) samples (P ≤ 0.001 and P ≤ 0.003 respectively); however, no significant differences occurred for other morphological measurements. Four species of parasites, two cestodes (Mosgovoyia pectinata and Taenia pisiformis) and two nematodes (Obeliscoides cuniculi and Rauschia triangularis), were recovered. Taenia pisiformis was recovered from the North Shore eco-region only. No other significant differences with respect to their prevalence, intensity, mean intensity, relative density and dispersion between eco-regions were found. Within eco-regions, only R. triangularis showed a significantly higher value (P ≤ 0.027) for males and the prevalence of this species was lower than that previously reported. The occurrence of O. cuniculi was significantly different between the higher weight classes of hares and the prevalence of this species was higher than that previously reported. No trends for multiple infections were noted. The expansion of a new animal species, the Coyote, Canis latrans, to Newfoundland appeared to have had no effect on the diversity of parasites found in the hare.

Seasonal Changes in The Phytoplankton During the Year 1951–52 As Indicated by Spectrophotometric Chlorophyll Estimations

Chlorophyll from the phytoplankton at station Ei was examined from September 1951 till August 1952, from o to 50 m. The minimum was in June, i-8 mg./m.3, and the maximum 342 in March, both surface samples. The maximum 50 m. sample contained 18-4 mg./m.3 in April. The winter minima were 4-6 and 43, surface and bottom, in November. Converted to water column (70 m.) values, over iog./m.2 is obtained for the wet weight of phytoplankton for September and March, the April maximum and the June minimum being 132 and 015 g./m.2. A comparison with the production obtained from phosphate analyses suggests that the phytoplankton crop each month is rapidly devoured.Exact proportionality was found between concentration and absorption in a chlorophyll band up to 40 mg./l. and a moderate error up to 80 mg./l. The spectral absorption curves have been given for pure cultures of phytoplankton and for cells filtered out of sea water. The chlorophyll in such extracts, made with 80% acetone, is stable when kept in total darkness.The collodion disks containing suspended clay arid the algal cells may show a surprising variation in their colour intensity, from dark grey to a very faint tint, even though obtained from sea water about 20 miles from land and over 70 m. in depth. The surface may be far darker than 5, 10 or 15 m. samples.The botanical composition of the water was studied by allowing the algae to multiply in diffuse light after enriching the water chemically. Eight species of Chlorophyceae, and one species each of the Chrysophyceae and Dinophyceae were recorded. Of the Cryptophyceae one winter sample from 50 m. gave a nearly pure growth of Hemiselmis rufescens Parke. The diatoms Melostra borreri, Nitzschia closterium and Navicula sp. occurred commonly.