Neotropical mustelids: fecal metabolome diversity and its potential for taxonomic discrimination     

Lana Resende de ALMEIDA  Marina Amaral ALVES  Ana Maria Obino MASTELLA  Rafael GARRETT  Maria João Ramos PEREIRA 《Integrative zoology》2023,18(3):518-529

Chemical profiles of non-invasive biological material, such as feces, have great potential to study elusive animals or those with low population densities. Here, we use a metabolomic approach to evaluate Neotropical mustelids as a biological model to describe the diversity of the metabolites present in fecal samples, as well as to evaluate the potential of chemical profiles for taxonomic discrimination. We collected fecal samples from captive individuals of 5 species of mustelids occurring in Brazil and analyzed them by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. Over 200 compounds have been annotated; “bile acids, alcohols and derivatives” was the most expressive class in the metabolome of all the species. We successfully discriminated 3 taxonomic groups: 1—tayra (Eira barbara); 2—otters (Lontra longicaudis and Pteronura brasiliensis; 1); and 3—grisons (Galictis vittata and Galictis cuja). Several compounds seemed to be associated with food intake and the digestive process, while others were found for the first time in Neotropical mustelids. We concluded that mustelids show high metabolome diversity and that species-specific identification through metabolomic profiles is possible, thus contributing to the development and implementation of additional non-invasive approaches in the study of mustelids.  相似文献   

Larvicidal,molluscicidal and nematicidal activities of essential oils and compounds from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Foeniculum vulgare</Emphasis>     

Rose?Marie?O.?F.?Sousa  José?S.?Rosa  Cláudia?A.?Silva  Maria?Teresa?M.?Almeida  M.?Teresa?Novo  Ana?C.?Cunha  Manuel?Fernandes-FerreiraEmail author 《Journal of pest science》2015,88(2):413-426

Plant-based products, namely essential oils (EOs), are environmentally friendly alternatives for the control of disease vectors, hosts and/or parasites. Here, we studied the general toxicity and biopesticidal potential of EOs and phenylpropanoids from Foeniculum vulgare var. vulgare (bitter fennel), a perennial plant well adapted to temperate climates. EO/compound toxicity was tested against a freshwater snail and potential intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica (Radix peregra), a mosquito and former European malaria vector (Anopheles atroparvus) and one of the most damaging plant-parasitic nematodes, the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica). Lethal concentrations (LC₅₀; LC₉₀) of EOs (infrutescences/stems with leaves) and compounds were calculated by probit analysis. All displayed noteworthy activity against R. peregra adults (LC₅₀ 21–39 µg ml^?1) and A. atroparvus larvae (LC₅₀ 16–56 µg ml^?1). trans-Anethole revealed acute nematicidal activity after 24 and 48 h (LC₅₀ 310 and 249 µg ml^?1, respectively), and estragole (1,000 µg ml^?1) showed some effectiveness against M. javanica hatching and juveniles after 15 days. Plant and EO yields were determined to evaluate the bitter fennel productivity. The chemical composition of the EOs was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. EOs extracted from whole plants, infrutescences and stems with leaves were characterized by estragole-dominant profiles (28–65 %), considerable amounts of phellandrene (10–34 %) and fenchone (6–16 %), and minor trans-anethole contents (1–4 %). Although additional toxicological studies against nontarget organisms are required, our study demonstrates that bitter fennel is a productive source of molluscicides and larvicides, and thus a potential sustainable biological agent to control particular host species, namely freshwater snails and mosquitoes.  相似文献   

The effect of isolation method on the chemical structure of residual lignin   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

A.?S.?J??skel?inen  Y.?Sun  D.?S.?ArgyropoulosEmail author  T.?Tamminen  B.?Hortling 《Wood Science and Technology》2003,37(2):91-102

Two methods are used for the isolation of residual lignin: acidolytic and enzymatic hydrolysis. Recently a two-step procedure that is a combination of enzymatic and acidic hydrolyses was proposed. In this paper, the structures of residual lignins isolated by these three methods are compared. Enzymatic hydrolysis gave lignin with the highest yield (83%); however, it contained high amounts of carbohydrates and protein. The molar mass of enzymatic lignin was the highest, indicating that no cleavage of lignin occurred. Acidolysis gave a significantly lower lignin yield (40%), but this lignin was practically free from impurities. The -aryl ether and lignin-carbohydrate linkages cleaved during the isolation, which was manifested in the decreased molar mass of the lignin as well as in increased phenolic hydroxyl group content. The new two-step isolation procedure gave properties between the preparations of enzymatic and acidolytic hydrolyses. The lignin yield was high (78%), but it contained some impurities, although less than the enzymatic lignin. The lignin-carbohydrate linkages cleaved to some extent, but the -aryl ether linkages remained intact.Y. Sun also affiliated with the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada (PAPRICAN), Pulp and Paper Research Centre, McGill University.  相似文献   

Quantification of tree species diversity in forest stands—model BIODIVERSS     

Ján?Mergani?Email author  ?tefan??melko 《European Journal of Forest Research》2004,123(2):157-165

This paper presents a method for complex evaluation and quantification of tree-layer species diversity in forest ecosystems—model BIODIVERSS. The model was constructed for the assessment of species diversity on a small-scale (forest-stand) level, but may be applied with advantage to regional and large-scale inventories. The probability of correct classification of species diversity degree is relatively high; e.g. with a sampling intensity of only 1.5%, the correctness of the classification by the model is already 90%. Model BIODIVERSS is a simple and practical tool. It can be used directly during fieldwork, since for its application only a pocket calculator is needed.  相似文献   

Experimental study on the possibility of detecting internal decay in standing Picea abies by blind impact response analysis   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Axmon  Joakim; Hansson  Maria; Sornmo  Leif 《Forestry》2004,77(3):179-192

  相似文献   

Diameter growth: can live trees decrease?     

Pastur  Guillermo Martinez; Lencinas  Maria Vanessa; Cellini  Juan Manuel; Mundo  Ignacio 《Forestry》2007,80(1):83-88

Growth refers to an increase in dimensions with time and isimplicit in the expected continual increase in tree dimensions.Tree diameters, however, could decrease during the growing seasondue to water depletion. Annual negative growth measurementsare usually attributed to human error and not to other physiologicalor physical processes. Although seasonal and diurnal fluctuationsof diameter have been well documented, perennial decrement ofdiameter has not been the focus of physiological research. Theaim of this work was to analyse the potential causes of decreasein annual diameter growth related to tree mortality due to self-thinningin Nothofagus pumilio forests and to quantify the variationsin water depletion of the tree trunks. Some trees did presentnegative annual diameter increments associated with a watercontent decrease in the trunks (77 per cent in live trees comparedwith 56 per cent in recently dead individuals), which produceda contraction (more than 8 per cent of the initial diameter)in the wood and the bark. Trees could survive during 2–5growth seasons with continual decreases in their diameters (14per cent, standard error 5 per cent of the trees in the studiedstand) until the water content reached a limit where mortalityresulted. Therefore, the occurrence of data showing a diameterdecrease in successive forest inventories may be due to physiologicaland physical processes in the natural dynamics of the stand,and not exclusively be explained away as the results of humanmeasurement errors.  相似文献   

An economic and ecological multi-criteria evaluation of reforestation methods to recover burned Pinus nigra forests in NE Spain     

Josep Maria Espelta  Javier Retana  Abdessamad Habrouk 《Forest Ecology and Management》2003,180(1-3):185-198

Recurrence of recent large wildfires is threatening the permanence of Pinus nigra Arnold (Black pine) forests in central Catalonia (NE Spain), due to the almost nil post-fire regeneration of this non-serotinous pine. Potential practices to carry out extensive reforestation programs with P. nigra may differ widely in terms of their final success, economic cost and undesired ecological impact. In this framework, we have analysed different types of vegetation clearing (mechanical, controlled burning or grazing), soil preparation (ripping or planting holes) and reforestation methods (broadcast seeding, spot seeding and planting) to restore P. nigra forests. We have compared these practices in terms of seedling establishment, but also in the light of their economic costs and ecological impact, through a new multi-criteria analysis. Seedling establishment after sowing was very poor and not influenced by vegetation clearing. In plantations, seedling survival was higher in the ripper treatment than in planting holes for all vegetation clearing treatments except the control one. Nevertheless, the higher economic cost of the planting holes treatment and the negative impact of mechanical clearing and burning on the small mammals community made the stated differences in seedling survival irrelevant. Thus, the multi-criteria analysis revealed that the two most preferred options were planting in uncleared or lightly grazed areas with soil preparation through ripping. This study gives some valuable insights about the use of new decision-support tools in restoration programs and provides practical guidelines concerning the restoration of extensive burned P. nigra forests.  相似文献   

Effects of regulated deficit irrigation during the pre-harvest period on gas exchange, leaf development and crop yield of mature almond trees   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Romero P  Navarro JM  García F  Botía Ordaz P 《Tree physiology》2004,24(3):303-312

We investigated the effects of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) during the pre-harvest period (kernel-filling stage) on water relations, leaf development and crop yield in mature almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb cv. Cartagenera) trees during a 2-year field experiment. Trees were either irrigated at full-crop evapotranspiration (ETc=100%) (well-irrigated control treatment) or subjected to an RDI treatment that consisted of full irrigation for the full season, except from early June to early August (kernel-filling stage), when 20% ETc was applied. The severity of water stress was characterized by measurements of soil water content, predawn leaf water potential (Psipd) and relative water content (RWC). Stomatal conductance (gs), net CO2 assimilation rate (A), transpiration rate (E), leaf abscission, leaf expansion rate and crop yield were also measured. In both years, Psipd and RWC of well-irrigated trees were maintained above -1.0 MPa and 92%, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for trees in the RDI treatment were -2.37 MPa and 82%. Long-term water stress led to a progressive decline in gs, A and E, with significant reductions after 21 days in the RDI treatment. At the time of maximum stress (48 days after commencement of RDI), A, gs and E were 64, 67 and 56% lower than control values, respectively. High correlations between A, E and gs were observed. Plant water status recovered within 15 days after the resumption of irrigation and was associated with recovery of soil water content. A relatively rapid and complete recovery of A and gs was also observed, although the recovery was slower than for Psipd and RWC. Severe water stress during the kernel-filling stage resulted in premature defoliation (caused by increased leaf abscission) and a reduction in leaf growth rate, which decreased tree leaf area. Although kernel yield was correlated with leaf water potential, RDI caused a nonsignificant 7% reduction in kernel yield and had no effect on kernel size. The RDI treatment also improved water-use efficiency because about 30% less irrigation water was applied in the RDI treatment than in the control treatment. We conclude that high-cropping almonds can be successfully grown in semiarid regions in an RDI regime provided that Psipd is maintained above a threshold value of -2 MPa.  相似文献   

Interactions between<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Orthotomicus erosus</Emphasis> (Woll.) (Col., Scolytidae) and the Argentine ant<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Linepithema humile</Emphasis> (Mayr) (Hym., Formicidae)     

Jean-Marc?Henin  Maria?Rosa?PaivaEmail author 《Journal of pest science》2004,77(2):113-117

Interactions occurring between Orthotomicus erosus, an economically important pine bark beetle in Portugal, and the aggressive Argentine ant Linepithema humile were investigated. Tri-trophic experimental enclosures consisting of Pinus pinaster logs, O. erosus adults and L. humile workers were set up in the field and in the laboratory. Interactions between ants and scolytids were observed and quantified in terms of the bark beetles success in colonizing the logs. The presence of L. humile did not influence the ability of O. erosus to colonize the logs, apparently due to the difficulties met by the ants in handling the bark beetles and to their inability to injure them. Thus, although abundant in many pine stands in Portugal and in spite of its aggressiveness, L. humile does not seem to affect populations of O. erosus.  相似文献   

Predispersal seed predation in Acacia macrostachya,its impact on seed viability,and germination responses to scarification and dry heat treatments     

Schelin  Maria  Tigabu  Mulualem  Eriksson  Ingalill  Sawadogo  Louis  Christer Odén  Per 《New Forests》2004,27(3):251-267

Predispersal seed predation among individual Acacia macrostachya trees over two sites in Burkina Faso was assessed. In addition, the effects of seed predation on seed viability; germination responses to scarification (mechanical, hot water at 60, 70 and 80°C, and sulphuric acid for 10, 20 and 30 min) and dry heat (at 60, 70 and 80°C for 15, 30 and 60 min each) treatments were investigated under laboratory conditions. The results indicated a large difference in predation intensity among individual trees, as well as between sites. Predispersal predation significantly decreased seed germination, particularly when the number of insect larvae per seed increased. Scarified and unscarified seeds germinated equally well, except for hot water treatments of high temperature. This indicates lack of physical dormancy and dispersed seeds can readily germinate provided that conditions for germination are conducive. Seeds exposed to dry heat treatments also germinated close to 97% under low intensity and short exposure times. This suggests that fire, under natural condition, plays a key role in triggering germination of A. macrostachya seeds.  相似文献