Biosphere Research Articles

The occurrence of Bacillus thuringiensis strains in chemical intensive rice growing ecosystem

Sustainable crop production is largely dependent on the efficient crop protection measures. Use of synthetic chemicals though seemed to be effective; in long run it proved to be detrimental to the biosphere. Rice being the major stable food of Asians received much attention on improving the productivity. In the present investigation, native Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) isolates were isolated in the chemical intensive rice growing ecosystem. The isolation of Bt from the soils of rice fields indicated the ability of Bt to survive under chemical stress. Since all the isolates are motile, it is presumed that these isolates may be virulent against different rice pests and indicated their possible role in nitrogen cycle. The results obtained also reveal the presence of multiple strains of Bt with varying protein profile and hence possibility of a broad spectrum of insecticidal activity. Key words: Bacillus thuringiensis, isolation, rice ecosystem.

Morphology of the new for Ukraine Bacillariophyta from the hydrotopes of the Rightbank forest-steepe. I. Species of Gomphonema Ehrenb.

Two species Gomphonema laticollum Reichardt and Gomphonema bukycanyona sp. nov. are recorded for the first time from the hydrotopes of Ukraine. Their morphology using CM and SEM microphotos and geographic distribution are described. New terminology is suggested for the poles of the heteropolar frustule. Depending on the pole contour valve head and foot or head pole and foot pole are used to date. However, many species of Gomphonema Ehrenb. do not have a wide round pole that resembles a head, instead they may have the same contour on both poles. According of every pole functions an attaching valve pole is a pole with pore fields or other structures that attach individual to substratum. A free valve pole is relatively freely located in a space pole. The function of free pole consists in expansion of individual contact space – a part of the environment where an individual may interact directly with its physical body and its biospace (=биополе in Rus.). Within an individual contact space physical, maximum energy and informative interaction, high interchange of substances are accomplished between individual and environment. This ecosystem parameter is a part of individual biosphere and impacts directly on the formation of a species econiche. Proposed terms concern functional morphology of the genera with heteropolar frustule as Gomphonema, Didymosphenia M. Schmidt, Meridion Agardh, Licmophora Agardh and other. Species typification of Bacillariophyta is discussed.

Reconnecting to the Biosphere: a Social-Ecological Renaissance

Reconnecting to the Biosphere: a Social-Ecological Renaissance

Avaliação do desperdício hídrico de água potável no uso de bebedouro elétrico de pressão por alunos de uma escola pública em Cabo Frio-RJ

iscussion of issues aiming at alerting society about factors that cause risks to the biosphere and its inhabitants is extremely important for the development of scientific studies. It is necessary that society be aware of possible actions in order to conserve water and eliminate waste of this precious natural resource. Aiming at cooperating with this process, a research was carried out with 381 students in a public school in Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro. The study showed the inadequate use of electric pressure drinking fountains, and the resulting waste of water. Results indicate an annual waste of approximately 47,790 liters of water related to the use of fountains by the 810 students attending morning classes.

Biological remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in the soil and sediments by microorganisms and plants

It is a known fact that the environment is suffering from severe contamination as a result of various uncontrolled activities of man and chemicals in the biosphere. This acute and diffuse contamination of air, soil and water by metals, chemicals and metalloids causes wide environmental concerns, which if left unchecked will be detrimental to man and organisms. Biological methods for cleaning of the environment especially the soil have been receiving increasing attention for the past two decades. Bacteria and fungi have been the natural detoxification agent for contaminants in the environment. Recently, research has shown that with the combination of plants and microorganism in the right proportions and technique, detoxification of environmental contaminants will produce a desirable and better result and most importantly the natural environment will not be affected as some of the processes are environmentally friendly. However, the hydrophobic organic molecules such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) tend to be much less responsive to bioremediation strategies. The wide spread presence of this compound and others in the prominent group known as persistent organic pollutants (POP’s), that share common chemical, toxicological and environment properties continues to increase in the environment, even with the various measures taken to control its presence in the environment. This review focuses on the possible trends of remediation of PCBs in the environment and the methodologies applied. It also reviews the merits and demerits of using plants and microorganisms as biological detoxification agents. This will highlight the possible improvement measures on the combination of plants and microorganisms in bioremediation, thereby filling the gap left behind by the conventional methods of remediation with its enormous limitations and disadvantages. Key words: Bioremediation, phytoremediation, PCB, biodegradation, environmental pollution, rhizodegradation, thermal and chemical/physical process, dechlorination, contaminated soil, oxidative dechlorination/reductive dechlorination.

Study of the Microbial Degradation of Toxaphene in Fresh Water Sediment

Background: Toxaphene is a chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide. the residues of which have been documented throughout the biosphere including water, ground water, soil and lake sediments, even though its use was banned some years ago. Toxaphene has been known as an important environmental pollutant as a result of its persistence in the environment, bioaccumulation and bio magnification in food web. This study was conducted to characterize the degradation of toxaphene and the effect of energy sources for microorganisms under the flooded condition in irrigation ditch sediment . Methods: The experiment was carried out in test tubes for 60 days in four parts with differences in the amount of toxaphene and being sterilized or not.. Each part included three samples: unamend sediment, sediment amended with alfalfa meal and sediment amended with nutrient broth. Throughout the incubation, single tubes from each sample were removed for analysis at selected times. After the extraction of toxaphene residue its gas chromatogram was qualified. In each sterilized part one set of autoclaved tubes was reinsulated after 60 days with sediment-water suspension . Results: When sediment was autoclaved, no toxaphene degradation occurred, regardless of the presence of an energy source and the amount of toxaphene. When these samples were not autoclaved the degradation occurred in all samples. The overall order of toxaphene degradation was: Sediment amended with alfalfa meal> sediment amended with nutrient broth > not amended sediment. When autoclaved sediment samples were reinsulated, toxaphene began to degrade . Conclusion: The results indicate that biological processes caused toxaphene degradation in sediment and the addition of an energy source undoubtedly enhanced the degradative activity of micro flora in the sediment .

Chemical composition of bottom sedimentary deposits in lakes in the zone impacted by atmospheric emissions from the severonickel plant

Water bodies are collectors of all types of contami� nation. Bottom deposits (BD) in water bodies provide a record of fluxes of chemical elements in the bio� sphere during the historic period [1, 2] and are a source of important information on past climatic, geochemical, and ecological conditions that existed in the drainage area of a given water body and in this water body itself. This information makes it possible to estimate the current ecological conditions of the atmosphere and hydrosphere. Chemical composition of BD in lakes occurring in the zone impacted by air pollution by the Severonickel plant (SNP) of the Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company were carried out at the Monchegorsk refer� ence area (Fig. 1 in [3]. The chemical composition of atmospheric fallouts and surface waters in the area are described in [3, 4]. Our studies were focused on the evaluation of pol� lution in lakes situated in the influence zone of intense atmospheric pollution by SNP and were based on the results obtained on BD. In order to evaluate the pollution of water bodies in the Monchegorsk area and the effect of atmospheric emissions from SNP, we sampled BD in Moncheoz� ero, Malevoe, and Pagel’ lakes, with the sampling sites occurring at distances of 7.5, 9, and 12 km, respec� tively, from SNP. The methods of sampling and the analytical techniques were described in much detail in [5–7]. Samples of BD were analyzed by atomic absorption for Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, Pb, Cd, Hg, and As, which are the major contaminants of atmospheric emissions from SNP. We also determined the concen� trations of Fe and Mn, which play an important role in the adsorption of heavy metals in BD. The contamina�

Photosynthetic Reaction Centres-from Basic Research to Application

There is no doubt that studying the photosynthetic conversion of light into chemical energy is extremely important in many points of view; e.g., 1) technical-in order to improve the utilization of the solar energy; 2) food production-to improve the photosynthetic production of plants in agriculture; 3) ecology-keeping the primer production in ecosystems in the biosphere balanced, etc. In the photosynthetic reaction centre protein, RC, light energy is converted by a quantum yield of almost unity. There is no such a system designed by human which is able to do that. The RC purified from purple bacteria provides an extremely unique system for studying the requirements for high efficiency conversion of light into electrochemical energy. Thanks to the recent structural (e.g. crystallography (Nobel prize to Michel, Deisenhofer, Huber) and functional (Nobel prize to Marcus)) results together with the works of molecular biology, computer- and electro-techniques, a wealth of information made a relatively clear picture about the kinetics, energetics and stabilization of electron transport within this protein that opens possibilities for new generation practical applications. In this paper we provide a short summary of fields in which the reaction centre protein can be important from practical points of view.

The changing biosphere: recent insights from paleoenvironmental science into drivers, mechanisms and impacts

Paleoenvironmental science has experienced a recent surge in interest and activity as concerns grow over global environmental change. Key research questions in the biotic realm of paleoenvironmental science focus on explaining climatic change at time scales of decades to centuries and understanding ecosystem responses to these changes. Biotic responses are increasingly being studied at smaller spatial scales to identify local factors that determine the sensitivity of a particular system to climatic change. These findings can then be applied to solving a variety of problems, such as setting conservation targets or testing mechanisms for observed climatic and biogeographic phenomena. Research approaches commonly used today include hypothesis testing, which has now become more sophisticated as paleoecologists and paleoclimatologists integrate with modellers. Other frameworks involve the quantitative integration of multiple proxy indicators and the use of extensive publicly available data networks to produce new datasets for paleoclimatic reconstructions and other applications.

Coral Reef Associated Gastropods in Tuticorin Coast of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, India

Coral reef associated gastropods diversity study was undertaken in Tuticorin group of islands (Hare, Vaan and Koswari). Underwater survey was made in three quadrants (10 sq.m) in each site. A sum of 40 species of gastropods were recorded from the study area. Most of the species are commonly found in three islands. Twelve were rare viz., Ficus ficus, Colubraria muricata, Casmaria erinaceus, Natica didyma, Nerita polita, Rapana bulbosa, Purpura rudolphi, Strombus sp., Architectonica perspectiva, Cypraea tigris, Cymatium lotorium and Haustellum haustellum were reported form the study area. Species diversity and richness were found to be higher in the Vaan island.

A carbon budget of alpine steppe area in the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau,the third pole of the earth,is one of the least human-disturbed regions in the world.Its outstanding topographic feature and ecological characteristics have significant effects on modern atmospheric circulation and climate,so the greenhouse gases emission and absorption are linked to climate changes at local,regional and even global scales.Also,to examine or estimate the actual magnitude of carbon uptake or release from this terrestrial ecosystem has become the central issue in global carbon cycle researches.However,relatively few studies have been reported in the literatures about the carbon contributions of the alpine grassland area on the Tibetan Plateau.In this paper,we use a mechanistically based ecological simulation model to describe and analyze the spatial pattern of terrestrial net primary productivity(NPP),carbon fluxes and net ecosystem productivity(NEP) in this alpine steppe area.The NASA-CASA(Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Biosphere) model is designed to simulate seasonal patterns in net carbon fixation and allocation,litterfall,and soil nutrient mineralization,and soil CO2 emissions.Our fundamental approach is to use CASA to estimate net primary production(NPP) in the alpine steppe area on the Tibetan Plateau.We combined MODIS data and CASA to estimate NPP,and soil carbon emissions were calculated by the regression formula obtained in the pre-study.Upon these,we estimated the carbon budget for each of the 0.05° latitude×0.05° longitude grid cells in the alpine steppe area.The potential annual net primary productivity(NPP) of this alpine steppe area is estimated to be 20.57×1012g·a-1 of carbon.The annual NPP has the distinct spatial distribution,whereas vegetation NPP decreased gradually from southeast to northwest due to the temperature and precipitation gradients.Soil carbon emission(heterotrophic respiration) is estimated to be 8.07×1012g·a-1.Net ecosystem productivity(NEP),an indicator for carbon budget,is the difference between annual net primary productivity(NPP) and annual soil respiration.Determination of net ecosystem productivity showed that the alpine steppe ecosystem acts as a distinct carbon sink(12.50×1012 g·a-1 of carbon),although this carbon reservoir is quite small.

Antibacterial activity of essential oils of Aromatic plants from South India

The objective of this paper was a screening of the antibacterial potential of essential oils of Syzygium neesianum Arn (leaves), Elaeocarpus lanceifolius Roxb. (Leaves), Glycosmis tirunelveliensis (Leaves), and Boesenbergia tiliafolia (rhizome), were investigated by agar disc diffusion method. The result show that the antibacterial activity of the volatile oil was tested against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli using agar disc diffusion method with the inhibition zones from 16-34mm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the antibacterial activity of Syzygium neesianum Arn (leaves), Elaeocarpus lanceifolius Roxb. (Leaves), Glycosmis tirunelveliensis (Leaves), and Boesenbergia tiliafolia (rhizome) against human bacterial pathogen. Keywords: Agastiyamalai Biosphere reserve, Aromatic plants, Essential oils, Antibacterial activity

Contribution to the knowledge of medicinal plants of the Dja Biosphere Reserve, Cameroon: Plants used for treating jaundice

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in two phases in the Dja region in 1995 and 2000. A total of 63 herbalists prescribed 45 plants and 84 recipes in the treatment of jaundice. These plants are distributed in 44 genera and 31 botanical families. The fact that a same plant species be mentioned by different persons or by the same persons after five years for treating the same ailment, is a credibility index which can be attributed to that plant species. Annickia chlorantha, Harungana madagascariensis, Carica papaya, Bidens pilosa, Cassia alata, Coffea canephora, Emilia coccinea are such plant species. A. chlorantha and H. madagascariensis are also confirmed in the literature to possess effective chemical compounds against jaundice. Some 34.5% of the recipes cited were also indicated by healers to possess diuretic, purgative or vomitive effect. Such effects are confirmed in the literature for E. coccinea and H. madagascariensis. These results lead credibility to the folk medicine use in the Dja Reserve, and to the method used to identify medicinal plants indicated in traditional medicine.

A NEW LOCALITY FOR Vipera (Pelias) kaznakovi NIKOLSKY, 1909 (REPTILIA, VIPERIDAE) IN THE NORTH-EASTERN ANATOLIA

In this study, Vipera ( Pelias ) kaznakovi specimens collected from Camili Biosphere Reserve (Borcka, Artvin province Turkey) were investigated in terms of morphological characters. Information on morphological, ecological features and population status of this species in the Biosphere Reserve is given. Furthermore, the distribution range of Vipera ( Pelias ) kaznakovi has been extended in Turkey.

Studies on Phytodiversity of Little Rann of Kachchh with Special Reference to Wild Ass Sanctuary, Gujarat

The floristic studies of any protected area viz . National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserve etc. are important for the effective assessment of phytodiversity and the resultant data act as precursor for sustainable habitat management and to formulate future planning strategies for conservation of Biodiversity. The present paper envisages an account of vegetation, floral composition of vascular plants comprising 372 species belonging to 224 genera under 72 families. Besides this, economically important plants of bioperspective nature have been given. The present study also envisages a list of 20 crop/cultivated plants along with their 24 wild relatives occurring in the sanctuary area. The present paper also analysed rare and threatened taxa and their conservation in the area. At last management constraints and recommendations have also been dealt.

Consequences of estuarine sand dredging and dumping on the Urdaibai Reserve of the Biosphere (Bay of Biscay): the case of the “Mundaka left wave”

In the spring of 2003, 240,000 m3 of sand were dredged from the main channel of the lower Oka estuary (Urdaibai Reserve of the Biosphere) and dumped on the southern area of Laida beach located at the estuary mouth. After few months, strong erosion of the deposited sediments occured as a consequence of the northwards migration of the final meander of the main estuarine channel before it reached the estuary inlet. At the same time, the estuarine inlet abandoned its original position near the rocky western margin and migrated eastwards cutting and eroding the sandy ebb delta (Mundaka sand bar). This caused a change in the way the incident wave broke as it reached the shallow water of the ebb tidal delta and beach and made surfing impossible under the same optimal conditions previously enjoyed due to the production of a wave that gradually broke from right to left as it reached shallow water, the so called “Mundaka left wave”. As a consequence, the Billabong Pro surf championship was cancelled in 2005. This paper describes the results obtained during a study of the outer estuary carried out during the period May 2005-April 2006 to characterize the processes operating on the most dynamic area of the estuary throughout the year and to evaluate the influence that the anthropogenic activities in the estuary had on the wave characteristics. No corrective measures were taken in the outer estuary during the study period and the environment recovered its normal morphological features naturally. This natural restoration it is hoped will be more stable, long lasting and reliable to ensure the continuing future of the “Mundaka left wave”.

Evaluation of sampling methods for periphytic fauna in macrophytes at the Espinhaço Mountain Range Biosphere Reserve, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Os metodos “Jarra”, “Remocao Manual” e “Draga de Eckman modificada” foram avaliados para amostrar a fauna perifitica associada a macrofitas aquaticas. Foram coletadas 63 amostras em cinco ambientes lenticos e tres loticos na reserva da biosfera da Serra do Espinhaco (Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil). Os testes estatisticos Anova e Tukey foram feitos para riqueza de Protista, Rotifera e Crustacea, enquanto para a abundância de Protista, Rotifera, Crustacea, Gastrotricha, Tardigrada e Nematoda foram avaliados os percentuais. Os protozoarios e rotiferos representaram 80% da abundância e riqueza da comunidade. Nos ecossistemas avaliados todos os metodos foram relevantes para Protista, por outro lado, o metodo da Jarra foi o mais adequado para a analise de Crustacea. Entre os metodos, a Draga foi menos indicada para os grupos de microinvertebrados nos ecossistemas aquaticos. Os metodos Remocao Manual e Draga foram apropriados para analisar Rotifera. A abundância de Gastrotricha e Tardigrada demonstrou melhores resultados pelo metodo da Jarra e Nematoda pelo metodo da Draga. Os tres metodos sao apropriados para amostragem da fauna perifitica em ambos os sistemas aquaticos. Entretanto, e importante estar ciente de que para cada tipo de ecossistema a amostragem da comunidade faunistica requer um metodo especifico para obter a melhor performance

The Big Biosphere Party

The Big Biosphere Party

Contribution de l’agriculture à l’effet de serre

1 UMR INRA-AgroParisTech Environnment et Grandes Cultures, 78850 Thiverval-Grignon 2 INRA UMR Microbiologie du sol et de l’environnement, 17 rue Sully, 21065 Dijon Cedex, France Abstract: Agriculture contributes to almost 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in France, and the same applies for most EU countries. This is due to a large extent to N2O emission after N fertilizer application, but the emissions are very variable in space and time, due mainly to the variability in environmental conditions. However, the figure of the relationship between agriculture and greenhouse effect is more complex. First a significant fraction of emitted N2O does not occur where N has been applied, but is due to indirect emissions in wetlands or forest where N is transferred by natural pathways. This implies the need to make an assessment at larger scale than the field where N is applied. Many other GHG emissions are more or less directly linked to nitrogen use. Carbon storage in ecosystems in enhanced by nitrogen; ozone (also a greenhouse gas) is produced by the reaction of N oxides and volatile organic compounds; fine particles formed by the reaction of ammonia (mainly from agricultural sources) and atmospheric acids can reflect solar radiation. Moreover the negative effect of ozone on photosynthesis could reduce significantly the biospheric CO2 sink in the future. It is thus very complex to make a complete balance of the influence of agriculture on the greenhouse effect and the impact of an agricultural practice or farming system on the greenhouse effect.

On the Coupling between Eddy Covariance and Remote Sensing Techniques in Ecosystem Carbon Flux Estimation

Long term observation and research on carbon,water and heat fluxes of terrestrial ecosystem has been the global hotspot.To date,micrometeorology approach based on eddy covariance technique has been regarded as the only direct measurement of material and energy fluxes between atmosphere and biosphere,and has been the key technology of the international flux network.However,eddy covariance technique is a small scale observation method,and the results acquired from the method are difficult to directly scale up to larger scales.Moreover,the lack of observation data from regional,cross-scale ecosystems and their temporal-spatial dynamic remains an important issue limiting the progress of carbon cycle researches.With the development of remote sensing technology,it is possible to make the long term quantitative observation in large scale and high resolution ecosystems in the near future.These problems currently focus on how to establish the cross-scale observation system coupling carbon flux and remote sensing techniques,and how to link limited observation of carbon flux stations to large scale remotely sensed data and ecological models.The past works on coupling eddy covariance technique and remote sensing technology are summarized.The following three aspects were focused: ①Cross validation on the carbon flux estimation between eddy covariance and remote sensing technology;②Eddy covariance provides ground parameters for remote sensing inversion;③Remote sensing based eddy footprint analysis.Through discussion on these aspects and summary about their features and progress,it helps to sort out the ideas toward future work in this field.