Cycads: their evolution,toxins, herbivores and insect pollinators

Palaeobiological evidence indicates that gymnosperms were wind-pollinated and that insect pollination began in angiosperms in the Lower Cretaceous (ca. 135 mya) leading to close associations between higher plants and their pollinators. Cycads, which were widespread and pervasive throughout the Mesozoic (250-65 mya) are among the most primitive living seed-plants found today. Because pollination by beetles and by thrips has now been detected in several modern cycads, it is attractive to speculate that some insects and cycads had already developed similar mutualistic interactions in the Triassic (250-205 mya), long before the advent of angiosperms. We also draw attention to another key factor in this insect-plant relationship, namely secondary, defensive plant substances which must always have controlled interspecific interactions. Cycads mainly produce toxic azoglucosides and neurotoxic non-protein amino acids (e.g. BMAA), which apparently are crucial elements in the development and maintenance of mutualism (pollination) and parasitism (herbivory) by cycad-linked herbivores. We now add new results on the uptake and storage of the main toxin, cycasin, of the Mexican cycad Zamia furfuracea by its pollinator, the weevil Rhopalotria mollis, and by a specialist herbivore of Zamia integrifolia, the aposematic Atala butterfly Eumaeus atala.     

Historical record of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in Swiss lake sediments

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) were found in annually laminated sediments from Lakes Zurich, Baldegg, and Lugano in Switzerland. Octachlorodibenzo-p-diox in (OCDD) predominated, averaging approximately 1.3 ppb. The congener distribution indicated that combustion was the source of PCDD and PCDF in these sediments. In these dated sediment cores, we found that PCDD and PCDF were absent from the sediments before about 1945, but increased thereafter.     

Biodegradation of chlorinated solvents in a water unsaturated topsoil

In order to investigate topsoils as potential sinks for chlorinated solvents from the atmosphere, the degradation of trichloromethane (CHCl(3)), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (CH(3)CCl(3)), tetrachloromethane (CCl(4)), trichloroethene (C(2)HCl(3)) and tetrachloroethene (C(2)Cl(4)) was studied in anoxic laboratory experiments designed to simulate denitrifying conditions in water unsaturated topsoil. Active denitrification was demonstrated by measuring the release of 15N in N(2) to the headspace from added 15N labeled nitrate. The degradation of chlorinated aliphatic compounds was followed by measuring their concentrations in the headspace above the soil.The headspace concentrations of all the chlorinated solvents except CH(3)CCl(3) were significantly (P相似文献   

Concentration of LAS and boron in the Itter. Comparison of measured data with results obtained by simulation with the GREAT-ER software

The GREAT-ER software was used to calculate linear alkylbenzene sulphonate [LAS] and boron concentrations in the Itter stream in North Rhine-Westfalia, Germany. The aim was to investigate the predictive strength of this newly developed tool and to compare its results to measured data. Substance-specific input data which were used in this scenario were partly generic (e.g. LAS and sodium perborate tetrahydrate consumption figures for Germany) and partly (site-)specific data (e.g. half-life time for LAS elimination). The comparison with the measured data reveals that the model predictions for LAS and boron are correct at least within a factor of two, only if generic German consumption data is applied. By using refined input data, the accuracy can be increased further.     

Secondary air pollutants

The study has been performed in a supposedly clean-air region of a Northern Finnish forest with a homogeneous stand of Scots pine. Stomatal epicuticular wax layer erosion is described using a classification system of five erosion stages. The percentage of stomatal wax within each erosion stage is calculated and the results are treated statistically, which makes the morphological study of the needle surface semi-quantitative. Severe wax degradation has already been found in the current year, increasing with the age of the needles. In this area, the wax layer erosion is correlated with secondary air pollutants, as analyses have shown high trichloroacetate (TCA) levels in needles from the same trees. The wax layer analyses are in accordance with earlier findings which have demonstrated differences in tolerance to TCA.     

Studies on metal content in the brown seaweed, Fucus vesiculosus, from the Archipelago of Stockholm

Concentrations of eleven metals (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) were determined in the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus collected from the Archipelago of Stockholm. Several factors which influence the metal content in the seaweed have been studied, including errors caused by epiphytes, sea exposure and differences depending on which part of the seaweed is analysed. It is concluded that, if all these factors are considered, Fucus vesiculosus plants are excellent bio-indicators of metal pollution. This is also demonstrated by a significant increase in metal content in transplanted Fucus vesiculosus near the city of Stockholm. The results from this investigation also indicate increasing metal concentrations, especially Cd, in samples from the northern parts of the Archipelago and the reason for this is discussed.     

Forest ecosystems and the changing patterns of nitrogen input and acid deposition today and in the future based on a scenario

A global assessment of the impact of the anthropogenic perturbation of the nitrogen and sulfur cycles on forest ecosystems is carried out for both the present-day [1980-1990] and for a projection into the future [2040-2050] under a scenario of economic development which represents a medium path of development according to expert guess [IPCC IS92a]. Results show that forest soils will receive considerably increasing loads of nitrogen and acid deposition and that deposition patterns are likely to change. The regions which are most prone to depletion of soils buffering capacity and supercritical nitrogen deposition are identified in the subtropical and tropical regions of South America and Southeast Asia apart from the well known 'hotspots' North-Eastern America and Central Europe. The forest areas likely to meet these two risks are still a minor fraction of the global forest ecosystems, though. But the bias between eutrophication and acidification will become greater and an enhanced growth triggered by the fertilizing effects of increasing nitrogen input cannot be balanced by the forest soils nutrient pools. Results show increasing loads into forest ecosystems which are likely to account for 46% higher acid loads and 36% higher nitrogen loads in relation to the 1980-1990 situation. Global background deposition of up to 5 kg N ha-1 a-1 will be exceeded at more than 25% of global forest ecosystems and at more than 50% of forest ecosystems on acid sensitive soils. More than 33% of forest ecosystems on acid sensitive soils will receive acid loads which exceeds their buffering capacity. About 25% of forest areas with exceeded acid loads will receive critical nitrogen loads.