1
|
Deák B, Bede Á, Rádai Z, Dembicz I, Apostolova I, Batáry P, Gallé R, Tóth CA, Dózsai J, Moysiyenko II, Sudnik-Wójcikowska B, Zachwatowicz M, Nekhrizov G, Lisetskii FN, Buryak ZA, Kis S, Borza S, Godó L, Bragina TM, Smelansky I, Molnár Á, Bán M, Báthori F, Árgay Z, Dani J, Kiss R, Valkó O. Contribution of cultural heritage values to steppe conservation on ancient burial mounds of Eurasia. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14148. [PMID: 37424356 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Civilizations, including ancient ones, have shaped global ecosystems in many ways through coevolution of landscapes and humans. However, the cultural legacies of ancient and lost civilizations are rarely considered in the conservation of the Eurasian steppe biome. We used a data set containing more than 1000 records on localities, land cover, protection status, and cultural values related to ancient steppic burial mounds (kurgans); we evaluated how these iconic and widespread landmarks can contribute to grassland conservation in the Eurasian steppes, which is one of the most endangered biomes on Earth. Using Bayesian logistic generalized regressions and proportional odds logistic regressions, we examined the potential of mounds to preserve grasslands in landscapes with different levels of land-use transformation. We also compared the conservation potential of mounds inside and outside protected areas and assessed whether local cultural values support the maintenance of grasslands on them. Kurgans were of great importance in preserving grasslands in transformed landscapes outside protected areas, where they sometimes acted as habitat islands that contributed to habitat conservation and improved habitat connectivity. In addition to steep slopes hindering ploughing, when mounds had cultural value for local communities, the probability of grassland occurrence on kurgans almost doubled. Because the estimated number of steppic mounds is about 600,000 and similar historical features exist on all continents, our results may be applicable at a global level. Our results also suggested that an integrative socioecological approach in conservation might support the positive synergistic effects of conservation, landscape, and cultural values.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Deák
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
- 'Lendület' Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Ádám Bede
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Rádai
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Iwona Dembicz
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Conservation, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Iva Apostolova
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Péter Batáry
- 'Lendület' Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Róbert Gallé
- 'Lendület' Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Csaba Albert Tóth
- Debreceni Deák Ferenc Talent Development High School Vocational College, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - József Dózsai
- NGO Association for the Protection of Great Bustard, Мokrin, Serbia
| | | | - Barbara Sudnik-Wójcikowska
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Conservation, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Georgi Nekhrizov
- National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | | | | | - Szabolcs Kis
- ELKH-DE Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Botany, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Sándor Borza
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
- Hortobágy National Park Directorate, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Laura Godó
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Tatyana M Bragina
- Kostanay Regional University named after A. Baitursynov, Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Kazakhstan
| | - Ilya Smelansky
- Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Ábel Molnár
- Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Miklós Bán
- HUN-REN-UD Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Báthori
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Árgay
- Department of National Parks and Landscape Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Réka Kiss
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Valkó
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Genome Wide Analysis of Family-1 UDP Glycosyltransferases in Populus trichocarpa Specifies Abiotic Stress Responsive Glycosylation Mechanisms. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13091640. [PMID: 36140806 PMCID: PMC9498546 DOI: 10.3390/genes13091640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Populus trichocarpa (Black cottonwood) is a dominant timber-yielding tree that has become a notable model plant for genome-level insights in forest trees. The efficient transport and solubility of various glycoside-associated compounds is linked to Family-1 UDP-glycosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.x; UGTs) enzymes. These glycosyltransferase enzymes play a vital role in diverse plant functions, such as regulation of hormonal homeostasis, growth and development (seed, flower, fiber, root, etc.), xenobiotic detoxification, stress response (salt, drought, and oxidative), and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Here, we report a genome-wide analysis of the P. trichocarpa genome that identified 191 putative UGTs distributed across all chromosomes (with the exception of chromosome 20) based on 44 conserved plant secondary product glycosyltransferase (PSPG) motif amino acid sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of the 191 Populus UGTs together with 22 referenced UGTs from Arabidopsis and maize clustered the putative UGTs into 16 major groups (A–P). Whole-genome duplication events were the dominant pattern of duplication among UGTs in Populus. A well-conserved intron insertion was detected in most intron-containing UGTs across eight examined eudicots, including Populus. Most of the UGT genes were found preferentially expressed in leaf and root tissues in general. The regulation of putative UGT expression in response to drought, salt and heat stress was observed based on microarray and available RNA sequencing datasets. Up- and down-regulated UGT expression models were designed, based on transcripts per kilobase million values, confirmed their maximally varied expression under drought, salt and heat stresses. Co-expression networking of putative UGTs indicated their maximum co-expression with cytochrome P450 genes involved in triterpenoid biosynthesis. Our results provide an important resource for the identification of functional UGT genes to manipulate abiotic stress responsive glycosylation in Populus.
Collapse
|