The prospect of alien life in exotic forms on other worlds

The nature of life on Earth provides a singular example of carbon-based, water-borne, photosynthesis-driven biology. Within our understanding of chemistry and the physical laws governing the universe, however, lies the possibility that alien life could be based on different chemistries, solvents, and energy sources from the one example provided by Terran biology. In this paper, we review some of these possibilities. Silanes may be used as functional analogs to carbon molecules in environments very different from Earth; solvents other than water may be compatible for life-supporting processes, especially in cold environments, and a variety of energy sources may be utilized, some of which have no Terran analog. We provide a detailed discussion of two possible habitats for alien life which are generally not considered as such: the lower cloud level of the Venusian atmosphere and Titan’s surface environment.     

Does reproductive state affect a lizard's behavior toward predator chemical cues?

We examined how reproductive state affected shifts in behavior of adult female Podarcis sicula toward chemical cues from a natural snake predator (Coronella austriaca). The oviparous P. sicula lizards do not experience a major physical burden during reproduction, but gravid females substantially increase duration of basking. Therefore, gravid lizards are likely to experience a greater risk of mortality because they are exposed to predators for longer periods. Both gravid and non-gravid females shifted patterns of locomotion when confronted with snake chemical cues, but the change was notably larger when females were non-gravid. When non-gravid, lizards responded to predator scent by increasing the number of stand-ups and starts, while such a response was not observed when females were gravid. By contrast, gravid lizards clearly reduced the time spent basking in the presence of predator scent, whereas no change in basking behavior was observed when females were non-gravid. Thus, females exhibit differential behavioral responses to predator scents that is dependent on reproductive state.     

Growth and DNA damage in young Laminaria sporophytes exposed to ultraviolet radiation: implication for depth zonation of kelps on Helgoland (North Sea)

Growth as an integrative parameter of all physiological processes was measured in young sporophytes of temperate Laminaria digitata, Laminaria saccharina and Laminaria hyperborea exposed in the laboratory to irradiance consisting of either only photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) or to a spectrum including ultraviolet radiation (UVR) (PAR+UVA+UVB) by use of cut-off glass filters. Size increment was measured every 10 min over a period of 18–21 days using growth chambers with on-line video measuring technique. In the chamber, plants were grown at 10±2°C and 16:8 h light–dark cycles with 6 h additional UVR exposure in the middle of the light period. Tissue morphology and absorption spectra were measured in untreated young sporophytes while chlorophyll a content and DNA damage were measured in treated thalli at the end of the experiment. Sensitivity of growth under UVR was found to be related to the observed upper depth distribution limit of the upper sublittoral L. digitata, upper to mid sublittoral L. saccharina and lower sublittoral L. hyperborea. Tissue DNA damage is, however, dependent on thallus thickness which minimizes UVR effect where outer cell layers shade inner cells and provide longer pathlength for UVR. Exposure to UVR causes cellular, enzymatic and molecular damage. Presence of UV-absorbing compounds further reduces effective UVR from reaching physiological targets. The cost of producing higher amount of UV-absorbing compounds and effective DNA repair mechanism can, however, divert photosynthate at the expense of growth. Tissue chlorophyll a content was not significantly different between treatments suggesting a capacity for acclimation to moderate UVR fluence. Growth acclimation to repeated UVR exposure was observed within a period of 12 days while growth inhibition was observed after a longer UVR exposure period of 21 days. The results give further insight into the effects of UVR on the cellular level and show how ecological parameters such as the upper depth distribution limit are dependent on cellular processes.     

Ein Indikator für den Einsatz gef?hrlicher Stoffe in Produkten und Prozessen: Monoethylenglykol-?quivalente

Zusammenfassung  Zur Quantifizierung des Gefahrstoffeinsatzes in der Produktion ist im Rahmen der integrierten ?kologischen Bewertung des ?ko-Institutes (EcoGrade) eine eigene Methodik entwickelt worden. Indikator für den Gefahrstoffeinsatz sind Monoethylenglykol (‘MEG’)-?quivalente. Sie erm?glichen einen direkten, schadstoffbezogenen Prozess- und Produktvergleich (Bunke 2001). Die Bewertung basiert auf den R-S?tzen (Gefahrenhinweise) der Inhaltsstoffe. Die Methodik der MEG-?quivalente stellt eine Weiterentwicklung und Anwendung des Wirkfaktorenmodells der Technischen Regel für Gefahrstoffe (TRGS) 440 dar (AGS 2001). Die zur Bewertung erforderlichen Daten sind im Unternehmen vorhanden (Sicherheitsdatenbl?tter) bzw. ?ffentlich leicht zug?nglich (Gefahrstoffdatenbanken). Die Bilanzierung von Gefahrstoffen mit Hilfe der hier vorgestellten Methode erm?glicht es auch, in ?kobilanziellen Untersuchungen systematisch den Gefahrstoffeinsatz zu berücksichtigen. Die Methodik ist am Beispiel von Wohngeb?uden erprobt worden. Anmerkung: Als Gefahrstoffe, Schadstoffe, gef?hrliche Inhaltsstoffe bzw. gef?hrliche Stoffe werden in dieser Arbeit solche Stoffe definiert, die eines der Gef?hrlichkeitsmerkmale nach § 3 Chemikaliengesetz besitzen. OnlineFirst: 19. 12. 2001