General decline in the diversity of the airborne microbiota under future climatic scenarios

Microorganisms attached to aerosols can travel intercontinental distances, survive, and further colonize remote environments. Airborne microbes are influenced by environmental and climatic patterns that are predicted to change in the near future, with unknown consequences. We developed a new predictive method that dynamically addressed the temporal evolution of biodiversity in response to environmental covariates, linked to future climatic scenarios of the IPCC (AR5). We fitted these models against a 7-year monitoring of airborne microbes, collected in wet depositions. We found that Bacteria were more influenced by climatic variables than by aerosols sources, while the opposite was detected for Eukarya. Also, model simulations showed a general decline in bacterial richness, idiosyncratic responses of Eukarya, and changes in seasonality, with higher intensity within the worst-case climatic scenario (RCP 8.5). Additionally, the model predicted lower richness for airborne potential eukaryotic (fungi) pathogens of plants and humans. Our work pioneers on the potential effects of environmental variability on the airborne microbiome under the uncertain context of climate change.

Analysing pine forest ecosystems from Transylvania in the context of future Climatic Changes

A climatic modelling program was used in order to see the extent of changes in future climatic conditions. This can realize prognosis for certain climatic factors that cause extreme climatic phenomena concerning forest ecosystems. The program was applied for forest ecosystems comprised of Scots pine, installed and inventoried on sample surfaces from Transylvania. Simulations were then created within two future climatic scenarios. Two scenarios were chosen: the climatic scenario in which the increase of greenhouse gases would be moderate (rcp-4.5) and the climatic scenario in which the increase would be accentuated (rcp-8.5). The data was then processed, resulting in an analysis focused on the results of future climatic changes on forest ecosystems located in the studied area. By analyzing all three pine stands, we can conclude that the Lechinta stand is the most vulnerable one if the two climatic parameters change. It is necessary to verify and use future climatic scenarios for other areas that have the same species, as well as for other species, in order to see how they will be affected. These results can be used for applying the best management measures for current stands as well as for establishing decisions for installing future stands at a national level.

Dynamics of Aedes albopictus invasion. Insights from a spatio-temporal model

France displays a latitudinal range for the expansion of Aedes albopictus invasive populations that is not yet completely colonized providing a critical opportunity to address key invasion processes. We propose a spatio-temporal model (DISTIGRI) to describe and predict current and future expansion at both intra- and inter-annual scales of Aedes albopictus. This process-based model integrates mechanistic descriptions of the developmental cycle and the dispersal process of Aedes albopictus within a reaction-diffusion framework, depending on climatic suitability and photoperiod with a high spatio-temporal resolution. Using this model coupled with a climatic database, we propose several maps describing the current intra-annual distribution of Aedes albopictus, including the date of first emergence and the length of the period with significant adult presence. We also compute its future distribution over the next 10 years under several climatic scenarios, which shows a range expansion with a strong dependence on the climatic scenario. The outputs of the model may constitute a valuable asset for designing control and avoidance strategies, and to anticipate the biting nuisance with a high spatio-temporal resolution. These outputs also emphasize the importance of taking both dispersal and life cycle into account to obtain accurate descriptions of out-of-equilibrium processes such as ongoing invasions.

SESSILE OAK FOREST ECOSYSTEMS FROM TRANSYLVANIA IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATIC CHANGES

Climatic modelling software was used in order to measure future changes in climatic conditions. The software HYPE can realize prognosis for certain climatic factors responsible for causing extreme climatic phenomena in forest ecosystems. It was applied to study sessile oak forest ecosystems from Transylvania. Sample surfaces were installed, inventoried and followed by simulations of two future climatic scenarios. Two such scenarios were chosen, namely the climatic scenario in which the gas effect concentration will increase moderately (rcp-4.5) and the climatic scenario in which the gas effect concentration will be accentuated (rcp-8.5). The data was then processed and which led to an analysis of the way in which future climatic changes will affect forest ecosystems located in the studied area. After analyzing all three sessile oak stands, we can conclude that the Mediaș stand is the most vulnerable one to both climatic parameters. Future climatic scenarios are necessary for other surfaces located in our country for the same species, as well as for others in order to have a bigger picture of future implications. The best management measures and decisions regarding the installment of future stands can consequently be taken based on these results.

Breeding for Drought Resistance

Drought is the most severe abiotic stresses in many parts of the world and is one of the major problems in present-day climatic scenario. Drought tolerant varieties are with high demand which seems to be a great challenging task to plant breeders however difficulties are combined by the difficulty of crop yield on the genetic and physiological bases. Drought resistance may be defined as the mechanism(s) causing minimum loss of the yield in a drought environment relative to the maximum yield in a constant-free of optimal environment for the crop. Several researchers explained the plant reaction to drought through drought escape, dehydration avoidance, and/or dehydration tolerance mechanisms. Drought stress decreases size of the leaves, stem extension and root proliferation inside the soil, it also disturbs plant water relations and reduces water-use efficiency ultimately reduces the yielding ability of the plant so, breeding for Drought resistance is a good approach, following different breeding strategies and approaches to develop a drought resistant variety combining both conventional and molecular approaches. Considering the parameters like root morphology studies, proline estimation, leaf rolling etc., Selection based on a comprehensive approach of testing might be more effective in breeding better drought-tolerant cultivars.