On adaptations of trees and shrubs in the north of the Russian Far East

Specific ecological features of trees (Chosenia arbutifolia and Betula lanata) and shrubs (Pinus pumila and Duschekia fruticosa) at the northern limit of their distribution are compared. New biomorphological adaptations of these species under extreme conditions are described.     

Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies in Kenya

Abstract

To determine the climate changes that are due to natural variability and those due to human activities is quite challenging, just like delineating the impacts. Moreover, it is equally difficult to ascertain the adaptive strategies for coping with the climate changes and in particular for developing countries like Kenya. While climate change is a global phenomenon, the impacts are more or less specific to local areas such as observed in Kenyan case. Therefore climate change impacts adaptation strategies are appropriately applicable to a given local perspective. The study investigated the main indicators of climate change and effective adaptive strategies that can be employed in Kenya. Based on online questionnaire survey, the study established unpredictable rainfall patterns as the major indicator of climate change in the country, while water harvesting and change of cropping methods are the best adaptive strategies.     

适冷微生物研究进展及应用现状

适冷微生物(包括嗜冷微生物、耐冷微生物)是在低温下仍具有生存和繁殖的能力的一类微生物,低温会对微生物产生如酶活性降低、膜流动性变差、蛋白质冷变性、不适当的蛋白质空间折叠和低温下细胞内部构造破坏等不利影响。适冷微生物能克服低温带来的消极影响,并能在极端环境下生长及代谢。随着宏基因组测序、蛋白质组学以及其它分析手段在环境微生物中的应用,作者对低温微生物的一些适应性改变有了新的认识。酶活性中心结构的改变、膜中脂质成分含量的增加,冷适应蛋白的快速表达等都被证明在对低温适应中起着重要作用。文章综述了适冷微生物的适冷机理及其在污染控制领域的应用,为适冷微生物的实际工程应用提供参考,为适冷微生物在环境工程中的进一步广泛应用奠定基础。     

A second life for old data: global patterns in pollution ecology revealed from published observational studies

A synthesis of research on the responses of terrestrial biota (1095 effect sizes) to industrial pollution (206 point emission sources) was conducted to reveal regional and global patterns from small-scale observational studies. A meta-analysis, in combination with other statistical methods, showed that the effects of pollution depend on characteristics of the specific polluter (type, amount of emission, duration of impact on biota), the affected organism (trophic group, life history), the level at which the response was measured (organism, population, community), and the environment (biome, climate). In spite of high heterogeneity in responses, we have detected several general patterns. We suggest that the development of evolutionary adaptations to pollution is a common phenomenon and that the harmful effects of pollution on terrestrial ecosystems are likely to increase as the climate warms. We argue that community- and ecosystem-level responses to pollution should be explored directly, rather than deduced from organism-level studies.     

Influence of Postflood Hydrologic Conditions in the Kuibyshev Reservoir on Coastal Communities of Ground Beetles (COLEOPTERA,CARABIDAE)

Long-term stationary investigations on the islands of the Kuibyshev Reservoir have revealed one of the elements of adaptation of communities of ground beetles to extreme conditions created by prolonged floods. In contrast to hydrologic conditions in the reservoir during the flood, small fluctuations in the water level in summer and autumn have a favorable effect on the community of ground beetles of flooded stations, which are actively repopulated after floodwater recession. Under conditions of the heterogeneous environment created in such areas, different species establish relationships that promote their coexistence.     

Effects of water depth and litter accumulation on morpho-ecological adaptations of Eleocharis sphacelata

The morpho-ecological adaptations of Eleocharis sphacelata in response to water depth and the sequential effects of resultant differences in deep water conditions on the long term population dynamics were investigated based on the observations carried out in three stable homogeneous populations in Goulburn and Ourimbah, New South Wales, Australia from August 2003 to May 2005. The deep water populations attained a higher harvestable shoot biomass and a lower rhizome biomass with increased growth in root structure thus significantly enhancing the nutrient uptake rates leading to a higher accumulation of shoot bound macronutrients. However, the accretion of excessive amounts of autogenous shoot litter coupled with slower decomposition rates under anaerobic conditions in the two deep water populations led to higher nutrient enrichment in sediments and overlying water column causing subsequent eutrophication with signs of growth inhibition including typical stress symptoms like stunted growth and chlorotic shoots. The shallow water population that intermittently experienced alternative inundation-drawdown pattern depicted an unaffected continuation of seasonal growth affirming that strict water regime management practices coupled with timely mowing or the removal of accumulating litter are necessary to ensure long-term survival of healthy E. sphacelata stands when it is used in applications where deep water conditions prevail.     

Structural Changes in the Fauna of Pollinating Insects in Urban Landscapes

Species composition, abundance, and some ecological features of pollinating insects have been studied in urbanized landscapes. Changes in the composition of bumblebees (Hymenoptera) and butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) and their adaptive potential in urban environments are considered.__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 4, 2005, pp. 286–293.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Eremeeva, Sushchev.