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Mixed Species (mixed + species)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Life Sciences75%

Terms modified by Mixed Species

  • mixed species groups
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    Selected Abstracts

    How can we predict the effects of elevated CO2 on the balance between perennial C3 grass species competing for light?

    NEW PHYTOLOGIST, Issue 1 2002
    F. Teyssonneyre
    Summary ,,Changes in the balance between mixed plant species have been reported under elevated [CO2] compared with ambient atmospheric [CO2]. We hypothesized that species response to elevated CO2 in mixture can be explained by taking into account resource partitioning between mixed species. ,,This hypothesis was tested experimentally on three perennial C3 grass species (Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea and Holcus lanatus) grown in monocultures and in binary mixtures (Lolium,Festuca and Lolium,Holcus) under mild (frequent cuts) or severe (infrequent cuts) competition for light and at a high N supply (40 g N m,2). ,,Under mild competition for light, the dry matter yield response to elevated CO2 of the mixed grass species was similar to that observed in monocultures. By contrast, under severe light competition, the grass species that absorbed more light per unit leaf area (Holcus and Festuca), also had a greater response to elevated CO2 in mixture compared with monoculture. ,,Under our experimental conditions, we have shown that the dry matter yield response to CO2 in mixture can be predicted from both the species response in monoculture, and the light capture per unit leaf area in ambient CO2 of the mixed compared with the pure grasses. [source]

    Changes in frigate tuna populations on the south coast of Sri Lanka: evidence of the shifting baseline syndrome from analysis of fisher observations

    AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 2 2010
    A. J. Venkatachalam
    Abstract 1.This study examines changes in frigate tuna populations in southern Sri Lanka, based on reports from fishers in three age classes. Significantly higher values for best day's catch and largest specimen ever caught were obtained by older fishers than younger ones. Values were also significantly higher during early years, providing clear evidence of a decrease in the resource over time (1951,2007). 2.Older fishers reported best catches further inshore and in shallower waters which, on becoming depleted, forced younger generations to fish in less exploited areas further offshore. Heavy harvesting is also evident from the significantly greater number of sites reported by older fishers as being depleted, compared with observations of younger fishers. 3.These findings contrast markedly with catch and catch per effort patterns from statistics for frigate tuna and bullet tuna (combined) in southern Sri Lanka (1994,2004). No stock decline is evident, and at least one report in the early 1990s advocated increasing exploitation rates by 40% to maximize yields. 4.Although not a primary research objective, fisher observations on frigate tuna populations were also analysed to help evaluate possible effects of the 2004 tsunami. Most fishers reported post-tsunami decline, but mainly from a larger new generation of fishers, rather than extra boats provided by aid money or (direct or indirect) biophysical impacts from the tsunami. 5.Reliance on fishery statistics, especially for mixed species and over a limited period, can be risky and easily mask true stock status. Evidence of harvesting effects on frigate tuna in southern Sri Lanka is evident using questionnaire data over a longer time scale. 6.This study provides another compelling case of the ,shifting baseline syndrome', whereby fishers of different ages have altered perceptions/experiences of their environment. This may be its first reported occurrence in Sri Lanka. Traditional knowledge from this and similar surveys may provide national fishery management with valuable insights and help improve conservation prospects for frigate tuna and other marine resources. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

    Evaluation of macrofaunal effects on leaf litter breakdown rates in aquatic and terrestrial habitats

    AUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
    AUGUSTO C. DE A. RIBAS
    Abstract Decomposition of the organic matter is a key process in the functioning of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, although different factors influence processing rates between and within these habitats. Most patterns were described for temperate regions, with fewer studies in tropical, warmer sites. In this study, we carried out a factorial experiment to compare processing rates of mixed species of leaf litter between terrestrial and aquatic habitats at a tropical site, using ,ne and coarse mesh cages to allow or prevent colonization by macroinvertebrates. The experiment was followed for 10 weeks, and loss of leaf litter mass through time was evaluated using exponential models. We found no interaction between habitat and mesh size and leaf litter breakdown rates did not differ between ,ne and coarse mesh cages, suggesting that macroinvertebrates do not influence leaf litter decomposition in either habitat at our studied site. Leaf breakdown rates were faster in aquatic than in terrestrial habitats and the magnitude of these differences were comparable to studies in temperate regions, suggesting that equivalent factors can influence between-habitat differences detected in our study. [source]

    Characterization of an unusual folding pattern in a catalytically active guanine quadruplex structure

    BIOPOLYMERS, Issue 6 2006
    Pinaki R. Majhi
    Abstract In the presence of certain metal ions, DNA and RNA can form guanine quadruplex structures, which have been proposed to play a functional role in a variety of biological processes. An 18-nucleotide DNA oligomer, PS2.M, d(GTG3TAG3CG3T2G2), was previously reported to bind hemin and the resulting complex exhibited peroxidase activity. It was proposed that PS2.M folds unimolecularly into an antiparallel quadruplex with unusual, single-base loops and terminal guanines positioned in adjacent quartets. Here we describe structural and stability properties of PS2.M alone in different buffers and metal ions, using gel electrophoresis, circular dichroism (CD), ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopies, and one-dimensional 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Native gel behavior of PS2.M in the presence of either Na+ or Pb2+ suggests the formation of unimolecular structures but, in the presence of K+, both unimolecular and multistranded structures are observed. In the presence of Pb2+ ions, PS2.M forms a unimolecular quadruplex containing three guanine quartets. CD titrations reveal that binding of Pb2+ ions to PS2.M is stoichiometric, and a single lead cation suffices to fully fold PS2.M. The PS2.M,Na+ system also forms a similar unimolecular quadruplex. In the presence of K+, the PS2.M,K+ system forms mixed species. With increasing time and PS2.M concentration, the contribution of unimolecular species decreases while that of multimolecular species increases, and this behavior is independent of buffer media. These results suggest that the catalytically active form, studied in the presence of K+, may be a parallel, multistranded quadruplex rather than an antiparallel, unimolecular quadruplex. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 82:558,569, 2006 This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The "Published Online" date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com [source]