Nitrogen uptake, distribution, turnover, and efficiency of use in a CO2-enriched sweetgum forest

The Progressive Nitrogen Limitation (PNL) hypothesis suggests that ecosystems in a CO2-enriched atmosphere will sequester C and N in long-lived biomass and soil organic pools, thereby limiting available N and constraining the continued response of net primary productivity to elevated [CO2]. Here, we present a six-year record of N dynamics of a sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) stand exposed to elevated [CO2] in the free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiment at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. We also evaluate the concept of PNL for this ecosystem from the perspective of N uptake, content, distribution, and turnover, and N-use efficiency. Leaf N content was 11% lower on a leaf mass basis (NM) and 7% lower on a leaf area basis (NA) in CO2-enriched trees. However, there was no effect of [CO2] on total canopy N content. Resorption of N during senescence was not altered by [CO2], so NM of litter, but not total N content, was reduced. The NM of fine roots was not affected, but the total amount of N required for fine-root production increased significantly, reflecting the large stimulation of fine-root production in this stand. Hence, total N requirement of the trees was higher in elevated [CO2], and the increased requirement was met through an increase in N uptake rather than increased retranslocation of stored reserves. Increased N uptake was correlated with increased net primary productivity (NPP). N-use efficiency, however, did not change with CO2 enrichment because increased N productivity was offset by lower mean residence time of N in the trees. None of the measured responses of plant N dynamics in this ecosystem indicated the occurrence of PNL, and the stimulation of NPP by elevated [CO2] was sustained for the first six years of the experiment. Although there are some indications of developing changes in the N economy, the N supply in the soil at this site may be sufficient to meet an increasing demand for available N, especially as the roots of CO2-enriched trees explore deeper in the soil profile.     

Prenatal and presymptomatic diagnosis of the marfan syndrome using fluorescence pcr and an automated sequencer

The Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a heritable connective tissue disorder characterized by skeletal, ocular, and cardiovascular abnormalities. Defects in fibrillin, an elastin-associated microfibrillar protein, are now known to cause MFS. Since the discovery of fibrillin as the gene responsible for MFS, requests for prenatal and presymptomatic diagnosis have become common-place. Here we report the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using fluorescence labelled primers and an automated sequencer, to establish linkage data for “molecular diagnosis”. The mistaken clinical diagnosis of MFS based on the appearance of a common cardiovascular manifestation, mitral valve prolapse, and a positive family history is also discussed.     

On-line determination of respiration rates of aquatic organisms in a mono-phase oxystat at steady-state dissolved oxygen tensions

On-line determination of respiration rates at steady-state dissolved oxygen tensions was performed in a thermostatted measuring chamber equipped with a galvanic oxygen electrode. The measuring chamber is designed to completely exclude gas bubbles from the liquid phase and is named a mono-phase oxystat. Additions of oxygenated water to maintain steady-state dissolved oxygen tensions are controlled by a computer, and the respiration rate is determined from the rate of these additions. An external loop with a flow cell in a spectrophotometer makes it possible to determine and control the concentration of algal cells in the mono-phase oxystat and allowed simultaneous determination of respiration and filtration rates of filter-feeding invertebrates. Because the system maintains steady-state conditions the experiments do not suffer from time limitations. The response time of the system is negligible compared to the response time of other open systems. Received: 7 November 1996 / Accepted: 6 December 1996