Effects of Plant Substrate, Insecticide, and Blood Meal Status on the Efficacy of Barrier Treatments Against Aedes albopictus

The effects of 3 plant species (Cornus florida [dogwood], rhododendron X 'Chionoides' [rhododendron], and Ilex opaca [American holly]), 4 insecticide treatments (Demand® CS [lambda-cyhalothrin] at 6.25 ml[AI]/liter; Talstar® Professional [bifenthrin] at 7.81 ml[AI]/liter, and Suspend® Polyzone® [deltamethrin] at 11.72 ml[AI]/liter, and water), and 2 physiological states (blood-fed and unfed) were evaluated for knockdown (1 h) and mortality (24 h) against female Aedes albopictus over an 8-wk sampling period. Analyses determined that there was a significant interaction between the tested plant species and the insecticides evaluated. Significant differences were likewise observed between the insecticide treatments for unfed Ae. albopictus females, with Demand CS demonstrating the highest knockdown and mortality rates (from >90% to >10% at wk 8 and >95% to ∼50% at wk 8, respectively), followed by Talstar Professional (from >75% to <10% at wk 2 and >90% to <10% at wk 2, respectively) and Suspend Polyzone (from >20% to <10% at wk 8 and >25% to >50% at wk 8, respectively). All treatments were no longer significant for knockdown or mortality at the end of the 8-wk timeframe. Significant differences were also observed between insecticide treatments for blood-fed Ae. albopictus females; Demand CS showed high knockdown and mortality rates (from 100% to ∼50% at wk 8 and 100% to >60% at wk 8, respectively), Suspend Polyzone rates were similar to Demand CS (from >80% to ∼50% at wk 8 and ∼90% to >65% at wk 8, respectively), and both were followed by Talstar Professional (from 100% to <10% at wk 4 and 100% to <20% at wk 4, respectively). All tested pyrethroid sprays showed a significant increase in effectiveness against recently blood-fed Ae. albopictus females, as compared to the unfed females. These results suggest that Demand CS can be used as an effective barrier spray against Ae. albopictus adults due to the limited impact of target foliage, its long-term efficacy under environmental conditions, and its continued effectiveness regardless of the blood meal status of the target mosquito.

Ancient events and climate adaptive capacity shaped distinct chloroplast genetic structure in the oak lineages

BACKGROUND

Understanding the origin of genetic variation is the key to predict how species will respond to future climate change. The genus Quercus is a species-rich and ecologically diverse woody genus that dominates a wide range of forests and woodland communities of the Northern Hemisphere. Quercus thus offers a unique opportunity to investigate how adaptation to environmental changes has shaped the spatial genetic structure of closely related lineages. Furthermore, Quercus provides a deep insight into how tree species will respond to future climate change. This study investigated whether closely related Quercus lineages have similar spatial genetic structures and moreover, what roles have their geographic distribution, ecological tolerance, and historical environmental changes played in the similar or distinct genetic structures.

RESULTS

Despite their close relationships, the three main oak lineages (Quercus sections Cyclobalanopsis, Ilex, and Quercus) have different spatial genetic patterns and occupy different climatic niches. The lowest level and most homogeneous pattern of genetic diversity was found in section Cyclobalanopsis, which is restricted to warm and humid climates. The highest genetic diversity and strongest geographic genetic structure were found in section Ilex, which is due to their long-term isolation and strong local adaptation. The widespread section Quercus is distributed across the most heterogeneous range of environments; however, it exhibited moderate haplotype diversity. This is likely due to regional extinction during Quaternary climatic fluctuation in Europe and North America.

CONCLUSIONS

Genetic variations of sections Ilex and Quercus were significantly predicted by geographic and climate variations, while those of section Cyclobalanopsis were poorly predictable by geographic or climatic diversity. Apart from the different historical environmental changes experienced by different sections, variation of their ecological or climatic tolerances and physiological traits induced varying responses to similar environment changes, resulting in distinct spatial genetic patterns.

Can We Use Tree Rings of Black Alder to Reconstruct Lake Levels? A Case Study for the Mecklenburg Lake District, Northeastern Germany

In this study, we explore the potential to reconstruct lake-level (and groundwater) fluctuations from tree-ring chronologies of black alder (Alnus glutinosa L.) for three study lakes in the Mecklenburg Lake District, northeastern Germany. As gauging records for lakes in this region are generally short, long-term reconstructions of lake-level fluctuations could provide valuable information on past hydrological conditions, which, in turn, are useful to assess dynamics of climate and landscape evolution. We selected black alder as our study species as alder typically thrives as riparian vegetation along lakeshores. For the study lakes, we tested whether a regional signal in lake-level fluctuations and in the growth of alder exists that could be used for long-term regional hydrological reconstructions, but found that local (i.e. site-specific) signals in lake level and tree-ring chronologies prevailed. Hence, we built lake/groundwater-level reconstruction models for the three study lakes individually. Two sets of models were considered based on (1) local tree-ring series of black alder, and (2) site-specific Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Indices (SPEI). Although the SPEI-based models performed statistically well, we critically reflect on the reliability of these reconstructions, as SPEI cannot account for human influence. Tree-ring based reconstruction models, on the other hand, performed poor. Combined, our results suggest that, for our study area, long-term regional reconstructions of lake-level fluctuations that consider both recent and ancient (e.g., archaeological) wood of black alder seem extremely challenging, if not impossible.

Interactive effects of UV radiation and water availability on seedlings of six woody Mediterranean species

To assess the effects of UV radiation and its interaction with water availability on Mediterranean plants, we performed an experiment with seedlings of six Mediterranean species (three mesophytes vs three xerophytes) grown in a glasshouse from May to October under three UV conditions (without UV, with UVA and with UVA+UVB) and two irrigation levels (watered to saturation and low watered). Morphological, physiological and biochemical measures were taken. Exposure to UVA+UVB increased the overall leaf mass per area (LMA) and the leaf carotenoids/chlorophyll a + b ratio of plants in relation to plants grown without UV or with UVA, respectively. In contrast, we did not find a general effect of UV on the leaf content of phenols or UVB-absorbing compounds of the studied species. Regarding plant growth, UV inhibited the above-ground biomass production of well-watered plants of Pistacia lentiscus. Conversely, under low irrigation, UVA tended to abolish the reduction in growth experienced by P. lentiscus plants growing in a UV-free environment, in accordance with UVA-enhanced apparent electron transport rate (ETR) values under drought in this species. UVA also induced an overall increase in root biomass when plants of the studied species were grown under a low water supply. In conclusion, while plant exposition to UVA favored root growth under water shortage, UVB addition only gave rise to photoprotective responses, such as the increase in LMA or in the leaf carotenoids/chlorophyll a + b ratio of plants. Species-specific responses to UV were not related with the xerophytic or mesophytic character of the studied species.

Reproduction, growth, and defense trade-offs vary with gender and reproductive allocation in Ilex glabra (Aquifoliaceae)

PREMISE OF THE STUDY

Male-biased herbivory in dioecious species is expected as a consequence of selection for increased resistance (reduced attack) in the sex with higher reproductive costs-females. Empirical support of this prediction is taxonomically restricted and fraught with exceptions. Phenological changes in resource allocation to reproduction may change the trade-offs among functions in a sex-specific fashion, and may eliminate male-biased herbivory.

METHODS

We investigated variation in trade-offs among reproduction, growth, and defense in relation to the reproductive period, and whether females were more resistant and less tolerant (maintaining fitness upon damage) than males in a natural population of Ilex glabra in Nova Scotia. We subjected plants to partial or full defoliation treatments during and after flowering in 2006 and before flowering in 2007, and measured their growth and reproductive output in 2007. We assessed resistance to herbivory using the proportion of leaf damage found on leaves obtained from the defoliation treatment.

KEY RESULTS

Contrary to theoretical predictions, we did not find male-biased herbivory. Males were more tolerant than females to being partially defoliated before or after flowering. Regardless of sex, plants either fully or overcompensated after partial defoliation, and under-compensated in response to full defoliation, except when defoliated before flowering. Rather than a trade-off, we found a weak, positive correlation between resistance and tolerance.

CONCLUSION

The timing of damage in relation to reproductive phenology influences both resistance and tolerance to herbivory, which must be considered when assessing predictions about gender dimorphism of biotic interactions.

[Total flavonoids and icariin contents of Epimedium pubescens in different types of communities and their relationships with soil factors]

Epimedium pubescens and soil samples were collected from the Betula albosinensis community (community I ), Cyclobalanopsis glauca var. gracilis community (community II), and Cinnamomum longepaniculatum community (community III) in Tangjiahe Nature Reserve in August 2009, with the total flavonoids and icariin contents in E. pubescens samples measured by high performance liquid chromatography and UV-spectrophotometer, and the relationships between these contents and soil parameters analyzed. Among the plant organs of E. pubescens, leaf had the highest contents of total flavonoids and icariin, while stem had the lowest one. The total flavonoids and icariin contents of E. pubescens were significantly higher in community I [(5.32 +/- 0.23)%, (0.47 +/- 0.05)%] than in communities II [(4.06 +/- 0.03)%, (0.32 +/- 0.01)%] and III [(4.15 +/- 0.07)%, (0.28 +/- 0.09)%] (P<0.05), and negatively correlated with soil total nitrogen and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (P<0.05) but positively correlated with soil pH (P<0.01), suggesting that the soil with lower level of nitrogen and higher level of acidity in community I could enhance the total flavonoids and icariin contents of E. pubescens.

Effects of forest fragmentation on seed dispersal and seedling establishment in ornithochorous trees

Habitat fragmentation increases seed dispersal limitation across the landscape and may also affect subsequent demographic stages such as seedling establishment. Thus, the development of adequate plans for forest restoration requires an understanding of mechanisms by which fragmentation hampers seed delivery to deforested areas and knowledge of how fragmentation affects the relationship between seed-deposition patterns and seedling establishment. We evaluated the dispersal and recruitment of two bird-dispersed, fleshy-fruited tree species (Crataegus monogyna and Ilex aquifolium) in fragmented secondary forests of northern Spain. Forest fragmentation reduced the probability of seed deposition for both trees because of decreased availability of woody perches and fruit-rich neighborhoods for seed dispersers, rather than because of reductions in tree cover by itself. The effects of fragmentation went beyond effects on the dispersal stage in Crataegus because seedling establishment was proportional to the quantities of bird-dispersed seeds arriving at microsites. In contrast, postdispersal mortality in Ilex was so high that it obscured the seed-to-seedling transition. These results suggest that the effects of fragmentation are not necessarily consistent across stages of recruitment across species. Habitat management seeking to overcome barriers to forest recovery must include the preservation, and even the planting, of fleshy-fruited trees in the unforested matrix as a measure to encourage frugivorous birds to enter into open and degraded areas. An integrative management strategy should also explicitly consider seed-survival expectancies at microhabitats to preserve plant-population dynamics and community structure in fragmented landscapes.

[Landscape quality evaluation and vertical structure optimization of natural broadleaf forest]

Taking the natural broadleaf forest in Wuyuan County of Jiangxi Province as study object, a total of 30 representative photos of near-view landscapes and related information were collected. The scenic beauty values were acquired by public judgment method, and the relationship models of scenic beauty values and landscape elements were established by using multiple mathematical model. The results showed that the main elements affecting the near-view landscape quality of natural broadleaf forest were the trunk form, stand density, undergrowth coverage and height, natural pruning, and color richness, with the partial correlation coefficients being 0.4482-0.7724, which were significant or very significant by t-test. The multiple correlation coefficient of the model reached 0.9508, showing very significant by F test (F = 36.11). Straight trunk, better natural pruning and rich color did well, while the super-high or low stand density and undergrowth coverage and height did harm to the scenic beauty. Several management measures for the vertical structure optimization of these landscape elements were put forward.

Seasonal variations in water relations in current-year leaves of evergreen trees with delayed greening

We investigated seasonal patterns of water relations in current-year leaves of three evergreen broad-leaved trees (Ilex pedunculosa Miq., Ligustrum japonicum Thunb., and Eurya japonica Thunb.) with delayed greening in a warm-temperate forest in Japan. We used the pressure-volume method to: (1) assess the extent to which seasonal variation in leaf water relations is attributable to leaf development processes in delayed greening leaves versus seasonal variation in environmental variables; and (2) investigate variation in leaf water relations during the transition from the sapling to the adult tree stage. Leaf mass per unit leaf area was generally lowest just after completion of leaf expansion in May (late spring), and increased gradually throughout the year. Osmotic potential at full turgor (Psi(o) (ft)) and leaf water potential at the turgor loss point (Psi(w) (tlp)) were highest in May, and lowest in midwinter in all species. In response to decreasing air temperature, Psi(o) (ft) dropped at the rate of 0.037 MPa degrees C(-1). Dry-mass-based water content of leaves and the symplastic water fraction of total leaf water content gradually decreased throughout the year in all species. These results indicate that reductions in the symplastic water fraction during leaf development contributed to the passive concentration of solutes in cells and the resulting drop in winter Psi(o) (ft). The ratio of solutes to water volume increased in winter in current-year leaves of L. japonicum and E. japonica, indicating that osmotic adjustment (active accumulation of solutes) also contributed to the drop in winter in Psi(o) (ft). Bulk modulus of elasticity in cell walls fluctuated seasonally, but no general trend was found across species. Over the growing season, Psi(o) (ft) and Psi(w) (tlp) were lower in adult trees than in saplings especially in the case of I. pedunculosa, suggesting that adult-tree leaves are more drought and cold tolerant than sapling leaves. The ontogenetic increase in the stress resistance of I. pedunculosa may be related to its characteristic life form because I. pedunculosa grows taller than the other species studied.

Shade tolerance, photoinhibition sensitivity and phenotypic plasticity of Ilex aquifolium in continental Mediterranean sites

Shade tolerance, plastic phenotypic response to light and sensitivity to photoinhibition were studied in holly (Ilex aquifolium L.) seedlings transported from the field to a greenhouse and in adult trees in the field. All plants were growing in, or originated from, continental Mediterranean sites in central Spain. Seedlings tolerated moderate but not deep shade. Mortality was high and growth reduced in 1% sunlight. Survival was maximal in 12% sunlight and minimal in full sunlight, although the relative growth rate of the seedlings surviving in high light was similar to that of plants in moderate shade. Maximum photochemical efficiency at predawn was significantly lower in sun plants than in shade plants in the field, revealing chronic photoinhibition that was most pronounced in winter. Plasticity in response to available light varied according to the variable studied, being low for photosynthetic capacity and stomatal conductance, and high for specific leaf area, root:shoot ratio and leaf area ratio, particularly in seedlings. Differences in water relations and hydraulic features between sun and shade plants in the field were marginal. High water potential at the turgor loss point of field-grown plants suggested that holly is sensitive to drought during both the seedling and the adult stage. Low relative growth rates in both high and low light with low physiological plasticity in response to light indicate the existence of a stress-tolerance mechanism. We conclude that holly is a facultative understory plant in areas of oceanic and relatively mild climate, but an obligate understory plant in dry continental areas such as the study site. The impact of abandonment of traditional management practices and climate change on these Mediterranean populations is discussed.

Sensitivity analyses of woody species exposed to air pollution based on ecophysiological measurements

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND

Air pollution has been of a major problem in the Pearl River Delta of south China, particularly during the last two decades. Emissions of air pollutants from industries have already led to damages in natural communities and environments in a wide range of the Delta area. Leaf parameters such as chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf area (LA), dry weight (DW) and leaf mass per area (LMA) had once been used as specific indexes of environmental stress. This study aims to determine in situ if the daily variation of chlorophyll fluorescence and other ecophysiological parameters in five seedlings of three woody species, Ilex rotunda, Ficus microcarpa and Machilus chinensis, could be used alone or in combination with other measurements for sensitivity indexes to make diagnoses under air pollution stress and, hence, to choose the correct tree species for urban afforestation in the Delta area.

METHODS

Five seedlings of each species were transplanted in pot containers after their acclimation under shadowing conditions. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were made in situ by a portable fluorometer (OS-30, Opti-sciences, U.S.A). Ten random samples of leaves were picked from each species for LA measurements by area-meter (CI-203, CID, Inc., U.S.A). DW was determined after the leaf samples were dried to a constant weight at 65 degrees C. LMA was calculated as the ratio of DW/LA. Leaf N content was analyzed according to the Kjeldhal method, and the extraction of pigments was carried out according Lin et al.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The daily mean Fv/Fm (Fv is the variable fluorescence and Fm is the maximum fluorescence) analysis showed that Ilex rotunda and Ficus microcarpa were more highly resistant to pollution stress, followed by Machilus chinensis, implying that the efficiency of photosystem II in I. rotunda was less affected by air pollutants than the other two species. Little difference in daily change of Fv/Fm in I. rotunda between the polluted and the clean site was also observed. However, a relatively large variation of Fv/Fm appeared in the other two species, particularly in M. chinensis, suggesting that they were more sensitive to air pollutants than I. rotunda. The mean LA was reduced for all species growing at the polluted site. The mean LMA for all species exceeded the sclerophylly threshold given by Cowling and Campbell and increased for those under pollution stress, which could be explained as one of the acclimation strategies for plants to air pollution stress. Little difference in leaf chlorophyll content was observed in F. microcarpa and M. chinensis, while remarkable differences were found in I. rotunda growing at the polluted and the clean site. Content of leaf carotenoids was largely reduced in I. rotunda growing at the polluted site, but increased in F. microcarpa and M. chinensis, compared with plants growing at the clean site. Plants growing at the clean site had a lower leaf N content than those growing at the polluted site. In addition, species with a higher resistance to pollution stress showed less difference in leaf N content than those sensitive species.

CONCLUSION

Based on Fv/Fm measurements of the three woody species, I. rotunda showed the highest resistance to air pollutants from ceramic industries, followed by F. microcarpa. M. chinensis was the most sensitive species to air pollution, had lowest capacities to cope with the air pollution stress, which was consistent with visual injury symptoms observed in the crown profiles of plants at the polluted site. Fv/Fm, LAM, LA, leaf pigments and N content could be used alone or in combination to diagnose the extent of the physiological injury. The ratio of Fv/Fm, however, was the best and most effective parameter.

RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK

Tree species which have higher air-pollutant resistance, as diagnosed by such ecophysiological parameters, should be considered first and planted widely for urban afforestation or forest regeneration in areas where the forest was seriously degraded or forest health was markedly effected by the same kind of air pollutants.

Micropropagation of Ilex dumosa (Aquifoliaceae) from nodal segments in a tissue culture system

Micropropagation of Ilex dumosa var. dumosa R. ("yerba señorita") from nodal segments containing one axillary bud was investigated. Shoot regeneration from explants of six-year-old plants was readily achieved in 1/4 strength Murashige and Skoog medium (1/4 MS) plus 30 gr x L(-1) sucrose and supplemented with 4.4 microM BA. Further multiplication and elongation of the regenerated shoots were obtained by subculture in a fresh medium of similar composition with 1.5 gr x L(-1) sucrose. Rooting induction from shoots were achieved in two steps: 1) 7 days in 1/4 MS (30 gr x L(-1) sucrose, 0.25% Phytagel) with 7.3 microM IBA and 2) 21 days in the same medium without IBA and 20 microM of cadaverine added. Regenerated plants were successfully transferred to soil. This micropropagation schedule can be implemented in breeding programs of Ilex dumosa.