Winter Temperature Conditions Research Articles

Investigation of endogenous phytohormones and critical flowering genes during flower development in Iris germanica

With showy display and multi-color, Iris germanica (Bearded iris) is one of the most popular ornamental perennials, of which molecular mechanisms in regulation of flowering are poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to reveal profiles of endogenous phytohormones and identify critical genes in floral regulation during flower development. The development process of flowering from initiation of inflorescence to flower stem elongation was observed. Based on the observation results, plant materials at four critical development stages were collected to identify the endogenous phytochromes and genes regulating flowering by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-throughput RNA sequencing. The concentration of different endogenous phytohormones showed various trends at four stages. Among identified phytohormones, the concentrations of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) were relatively high when compared with the active forms of other phytohormones. Besides, the concentration of IAA was low at pistil and petal primordium stage under winter low temperature conditions and increased at petal and stem elongation stages, while the concentration changes of ABA showed opposite trend. With comprehensive analysis of the DEGs annotated with the GO, KEGG and NR databases, homologs of critical genes in flowering regulatory pathway, such as IgAP2, IgFRI, IgSVP, IgVIN3-1, IgVIN3-2, IgGI et al. were identified. Correlation analysis between DEGs and phytohormones showed that IgFLC, IgFRI, IgVIN3-1 had closely negative relations with IAA and positive relations with ABA. The result indicates that IgFLC, IgFRI and IgVIN3-1 might be key genes in regulation of the flowering process during the flower bud development. The profiles of endogenous phytohormones and critical flowering genes identified in this study could provide references for further research on regulation of flower time in I. germanica or other species in this genus.

Low reynolds number carbon-containing composite liquid fuel pipeline transportation under sub-ambient and subzero temperatures

An experimental study of the effect of lowered temperatures (from 25 °C to −5 °C) on the velocity and viscosity of composite liquid fuel (CLF) flow in mini-channels was performed at low Reynolds numbers. Examined CLFs are composed of water, coking coal, and sludge from coking coal processing, mixed with lignite polymer, acidic sodium pyrophosphate, isononylphenol and a mixture of mono-and dialkylphenols with ethylene oxide. The method of adjusting the critical ratio between the Reynolds numbers at the actual liquid flow rate of the local consumer and at the pump flow rate has been developed for CLF pipeline transport in off-season and winter temperature conditions. It is based on the constant regulation of the pump flow rate, depending on the current external temperature. Under a controlled decrease in the pump flow rate and a CLF temperature of −5 °C, its transportation by pipeline was successfully performed at laboratory conditions.

Wyoming Big Sagebrush Transplant Survival and Growth Affected by Age, Season of Planting, and Competition

Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis [Beetle & A. Young] S. L. Welsh) has decreased from its historic prevalence across the sagebrush steppe in part because of its interaction with invasive annual grasses and the increased wildfire frequency. Restoration of this species is vital to the ecosystem; however, traditional seeding methods such as broadcast or drill seeding have low success rates. Seedling mortality is associated with harsh weather conditions such as freezing temperatures in the winter and extreme temperature and soil moisture conditions during the summer drought. Transplanting sagebrush has greater success by overcoming the bottleneck of early seedling mortality. We tested how sagebrush transplant survival and size (canopy volume) are affected by age at the time of planting (10 classes, 6−24 wk), planting season (fall versus spring), and invasive annual grass competition (low/high) with a randomized factorial design over 2 yr. Survival was lower for age classes under 10 or 12 wk (in yr 1 and 2, respectively) but relatively similar from 12 to 24 wk. Fall-planted transplants had lower survival but increased canopy volume compared with spring-planted transplants. Survival and canopy volume decreased with competition with annual grasses. Our results suggest that land managers should consider planting younger transplants than previously thought and controlling invasive annual grasses before planting sagebrush transplants to increase long-term survival and canopy volume.

Impact of warm spells during late fall and winter on frost hardiness of short-day treated Norway spruce seedlings

Warm spells during the late fall and winter are expected to become more frequent in boreal areas due to climate change. The aims of our study were to investigate whether warm spells in the late fall and winter cause deacclimation of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings, whether the seedlings are capable of reacclimating in response to a subsequent cold period, and whether a short-day (SD) treatment applied in a nursery affects seedlings’ responses to warm and cold spells during the non-growing season (hereafter off-season). During the preceding growing season, the seedlings were treated either with a SD treatment (SD1: June 29 – July 20 or SD2: July 20 – August 10) or were grown in a natural photoperiod. The seedlings were artificially exposed to a 7-day warm spell, followed by a 7-day cold spell on four occasions (late fall: October and November; winter: January and March). The frost hardiness of the needles and the probability of bud damage were determined before and after the warm spell and after the cold spell. The dormancy status of the seedlings was also determined. Warm spells reduced the frost hardiness in needles and increased the probability of bud damage in January and March, but not in October and November. Needles were able to reacclimate from November to January, and buds also in early March. Our results indicate that in boreal areas, warm spells followed by low temperatures may predispose Norway spruce seedlings to freezing damage later in the winter, but not in the late fall. The seedlings that received SD2 treatment retained an ability to reacclimate after a warm spell in March, unlike the seedlings in the other photoperiod treatments, indicating that the responses of seedlings to the fluctuating temperature conditions in winter are affected by the growth conditions during the previous growing season. Therefore, the use and timing of SD treatment may affect survival of fall-planted seedlings and seedlings that overwinter outdoors in nurseries, especially during snowless winters.

Differences in leaf photoprotection strategies of tree species at different successional stages in subtropical forests under seasonal climate change and their relationship to construction cost strategies

Differences in response patterns to spatio-temporal changes in environmental stressors mediated by seasonal climatic differences reflect the underlying adaptation strategies of plants, and can provide key information on how tree species respond to seasonal climatic changes at different successional stages. However, in forests dominated by subtropical broadleaf evergreen species, the relationship between leaf photoprotection strategies and their construction cost strategies in different seasons remains unclear. It limits the assessment of the impact of seasonal climate change on community growth and exploration of potential drivers of community succession. In this study, we measured photoprotective substances, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic pigments and leaf construction cost (CC) in leaves of three mid-successional and three late-successional tree species in a subtropical broadleaf evergreen forest in different seasons. Our data showed that the young leaves of mid-successional trees had higher photoprotection ability in summer compared to winter, and were therefore better adapted to high temperature and high light conditions in summer, but not to low temperature and high light conditions in winter. The young leaves of late-successional trees had strong and flexible photoprotection in both summer and winter, which ensured normal growth of the young leaves under high temperature and high light in summer, and under low temperature and high light in winter. In addition, the photoprotection of the leaves was positively correlated with CC, suggesting that an increase in photoprotective capacity of plants was accompanied by an increase in its investment in CC. This was a response of the plants to environmental stress and the sacrifices it needed to make to maintain its survival. The differential growth patterns of late-successional species, which could grow normally in summer and winter, and mid-successional species, which were adapted to grow in summer but not in winter, may be key clues to the gradual replacement of mid-successional species by late-successional species.

Evolutionary origin and functional specialization of Dormancy-Associated MADS box (DAM) proteins in perennial crops

BackgroundBud dormancy is a phenological adaptation of temperate perennials that ensures survival under winter temperature conditions by ceasing growth and increasing cold hardiness. SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP)-like factors, and particularly a subset of them named DORMANCY-ASSOCIATED MADS-BOX (DAM), are master regulators of bud dormancy in perennials, prominently Rosaceae crops widely adapted to varying environmental conditions.ResultsSVP-like proteins from recently sequenced Rosaceae genomes were identified and characterized using sequence, phylogenetic and synteny analysis tools. SVP-like proteins clustered in three clades (SVP1–3), with known DAM proteins located within SVP2 clade, which also included Arabidopsis AGAMOUS-LIKE 24 (AthAGL24). A more detailed study on these protein sequences led to the identification of a 15-amino acid long motif specific to DAM proteins, which affected protein heteromerization properties by yeast two-hybrid system in peach PpeDAM6, and the unexpected finding of predicted DAM-like genes in loquat, an evergreen species lacking winter dormancy. DAM gene expression in loquat trees was studied by quantitative PCR, associating with inflorescence development and growth in varieties with contrasting flowering behaviour.ConclusionsPhylogenetic, synteny analyses and heterologous overexpression in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana supported three major conclusions: 1) DAM proteins might have emerged from the SVP2 clade in the Amygdaloideae subfamily of Rosaceae; 2) a short DAM-specific motif affects protein heteromerization, with a likely effect on DAM transcriptional targets and other functional features, providing a sequence signature for the DAM group of dormancy factors; 3) in agreement with other recent studies, DAM associates with inflorescence development and growth, independently of the dormancy habit.

The Impact of Long-Term Fertilisation of Potato Starch Wastewater on the Growth of Scots Pines: A Retrospective Analysis

The article discusses the impact of the application of potato starch wastewater as a fertiliser on the growth responses of Scots pines at the Forest Wastewater Treatment Plant (FWTP) in Iława. More specifically, our study sought to determine the direction, extent, and duration of changes in the trees’ growth responses caused by the application of fertiliser and the influence of climatic conditions on secondary growth in the trees to which the fertiliser had been applied. As part of the study, the extent of and changes in the growth responses were determined with reference to annual ring widths and earlywood and latewood widths using dendrochronological methods. The research was carried out in four pine stands: two stands of different ages (80 and 110 years) located within the FWTP site and two control stands of corresponding ages located outside that area. Core samples were collected from 12 trees in each stand. We found a two-way impact of potato starch wastewater on secondary growth in the trees under study, with a stimulatory effect (27%–30%) in the first decade of fertiliser application followed in the subsequent years by a strong reduction in growth (30%–45%, depending on the age of the trees). The trends of these changes could be seen in both the overall annual ring widths and the widths of earlywood and latewood. The direction of the changes was the same for trees of different ages, although age was found to have affected the extent and duration of the stimulatory or inhibitory effect. Over the entire period during which the fertiliser was applied, changes occurred in the structure of the wood as manifested in the increased share of earlywood. The sprinkler application of potato starch wastewater and the accompanying irrigation caused a shift in dendroclimatic relationships in comparison to the control plots. Surface irrigation and the resulting changes in water balance reduced the drought susceptibility of the pines under study. At the same time, however, trees weakened by the excessive concentration of toxic nitrates became more sensitive to temperature conditions in winter. The results confirm that the implementation of substances containing significant amounts of organic nitrogen and potassium into forest ecosystems may impair the vigour of trees, reduce stand productivity, cause an imbalance in the ecosystem and may consequently lead to forest degradation.

Seasonal energetic physiology in the ark shell Anadara kagoshimensis in response to rising temperature

Knowledge of physiological responses of important shellfish species to rising temperatures is crucial in assessing the impacts of climate change on marine aquaculture production. The physiological components of energy balance that support growth performance were measured seasonally at different exposure temperatures in the ark clams (Anadara kagoshimensis) cultured in the shallow muddy bottom sediment in Yeoja Bay, Korea. We tested the effects of winter minimum (3–8°C) and summer maximum (23–28°C) temperature elevations on individual physiological processes (ingestion, respiration, egestion, and excretion) and the combined energetic physiology (scope for growth [SFG] and net growth efficiency [K2] measures). The seasonal cycle of dry flesh tissue weight (DW) was also investigated from January 2016 to November 2018, to compare its variation at contrasting cold vs. warm regimes. The rates of physiological components were related to DW, generating significant allometric equations. The weight exponents of the equations for ingestion rate and respiration rate were low at the winter minimum compared with the remaining season temperatures, indicating a higher thermal sensitivity in larger individuals. The physiological rates that were re-calculated for individual components based on estimates of the slope and intercept of the equations increased with increasing temperature, revealing an incapability of thermal acclimation and a temperature effect at seasonally different endogenous conditions. The thermal sensitivity (Q10) of the ingestion rate and respiration rate was reversed between the winter minimum and the summer maximum temperature elevations, yielding negative SFG and K2 values at 3 and 28°C. Furthermore, the interannual difference in the seasonal cycle of clam DW displayed variations in the period of increment prior to spawning and the post-spawning loss/recovery in association with its energy balance status in the winter and summer temperature conditions. Overall, these results indicate that warming is projected to affect physiological performance and the seasonal DW cycle of clams in different manners between winter and summer: physiological benefits and advanced weight gain vs. heat stress and progressive weight loss, respectively. The mechanistic adjustment of the clam energy balance across thermal conditions seems to explain the recent advancement in its seasonal biological cycle, as well as the failure in spat collection and the mass summer mortality observed at this culturing site.

Identification of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) ecotypes and the effect of environmental factors on tuber sprouting in China

AbstractPurple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) is a widely distributed weed. To evaluate the effect of environmental factors on tuber sprouting in different ecotypes, an inter‐simple sequence repeat (ISSR)‐based genetic analysis approach was used to assess the genetic relatedness among 24 purple nutsedge populations collected in China. Twenty‐one ISSR primers were selected to generate 167 scorable bands. The percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) was 97%, indicating a high level of genetic diversity, and the cluster results largely coincided with the geographical locations. Three ecotypes, HN‐1, HB‐1 and SD‐1 (collected from Hai'nan Island, central China and northern China, respectively), with large genetic and geographic distances from each other, were selected to assess variation in the purple nutsedge sprouting trait. Compared with the other ecotypes, ecotype SD‐1 showed the highest sprouting capacity at constant 15°C and at 10/20°C, and the shortest time to reach 80% sprouting (t80) at constant 20°C and at 15/25 and 20/30°C. The sprouting percentage was very high (95%–98.8%) and without significant differences between the three ecotypes over a pH range between 5 and 9. The osmotic potentials that caused 50% inhibition of the maximum sprouting percentages of HN‐1, HB‐1 and SD‐1 were −0.37, −0.43 and −0.44 MPa respectively. Ecotype SD‐1 appeared to maintain a slightly higher sprouting percentage under osmotic stress, but the difference was not significant. These findings suggest that the higher tolerance to lower temperatures and drought of ecotype SD‐1 might be an adaptation to lower winter temperature and drier climatic conditions in North China. Abundant genetic diversity may be a potential factor that endows purple nutsedge with strong environmental adaptability.

Biotopic distribution and abundance of the Altai mole (<i>Talpa altaica</i> Nikolsky, 1883) on the left bank of the Middle Ob

The studies were conducted on the territory of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug Yugra (Surgutskiy District) in 20182020 in the Surgut natural wildlife reserve and in 2020 in the vicinity of the Kamennyi Cape ski resort on the left bank of the middle Ob. The paper notes the poor knowledge of the distribution of the Altai mole in the forest zone of Western Siberia, especially on the northern and western borders of the range. Hence, there is almost complete lack of information on its biology and ecology in the area. The Altai mole was collected while counting other small mammals using trapping grooves and guiding fences made of polyethylene membrane; a total of 43 individuals were counted. As in other parts of the forest zone of Western Siberia, the Altai mole near the northern border of the range the left bank of the Middle Ob is confined to mixed and small-leaved forests with rich undergrowth and grassy layer. During the observation period, the maximum abundance of the Altai mole was in 2019. In 2018 and 2020 its abundance was 26 times lower. One of the reasons for such fluctuations can be abiotic factors, in particular, the difference in winter temperature conditions, the height of the snow cover and others. Information about freezing of both Talpa europaea Linnaeus, 1758, and Talpa altaica Nikolsky, 1883, moles during little snowy harsh winters is known.

Increasingly favourable winter temperature conditions for major crop and forest insect pest species in Switzerland

With global warming, recent winters in Switzerland have been milder than in previous decades, and this trend is predicted to continue. Survival during the cold season could increase for insect species sensitive to winter cold events. Forest pests, such as the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) and green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum), as well as some crop pests, such as the southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula), could overwinter more easily. These species are affected by temperatures below –12°C or below –8°C. In this study, we examined whether changes in winter minimum temperatures (Tmin) could potentially favour the winter survival of these pest species in various places in Switzerland. We analysed long-term daily Tmin data from the period 1980–2019 at 67 locations. We then used two climatic scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) to analyse daily Tmin in 2020–2099. We determined the number of days with Tmin below –8°C or –12°C and the frequency of years with at least one day below these thresholds. Our results show that the frequency of cold days has decreased over the last 40 years, even though winter Tmin has increased less than yearly Tmin. However, the –8°C threshold was still reached in most years, except on the Southern side of the Alps. The –12°C threshold was reached almost every year above 800 m, but infrequently at lower elevations. Our results indicate that, by the end of the 21st century, temperatures below –12°C will occur only infrequently up to 1700 m in Switzerland, and years with occurrences of temperatures below –8°C will become rare at lower elevations. Future temperature conditions can thus be expected to favour some crop pests, by enabling them to overwinter more easily on the Swiss Plateau, as well as some forest pests, which will likely reach higher elevations.

Analysis on the Effects of External Temperature and Welding Speed on the Safety of EVA Waterproofing Sheet Joints by Hot Air Welding.

This study analyzes the optimal seasonal ambient temperature during welding and welding speed conditions for securing high tensile strength of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) waterproofing sheets bonded for roofing, installed by hot air welded joints (overlaps). Seven separate ambient temperature conditions (−10, −5, and 0 °C for winter conditions, 20 °C for the normal condition, and 25, 30, and 35 °C for summer conditions) were set for the test variable and seven speed conditions (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 m/min) for hot air welding. Based on these conditions, EVA sheet joint specimens were prepared, and the tensile strength of the joint sections was tested and measured. Tensile strength results, compared to normal temperature conditions (20 °C) showed an increase in the summer temperature condition but a decrease during winter temperature conditions. The analysis on the effects of the welding speed showed that in summer temperature conditions (25, 30, and 35 °C), the optimum hot air welding speed is 4.3~9.0 m/min at 25 °C, 4.7~8.7 m/min at 30 °C and 5.2~8.6 m/min at 35 °C, whereas in winter (−10, −5, and 0 °C), the optimum hot air welding temperature is 3~4.1 m/min at −10 °C, 3~4.6 m/min at −5 °C and 3~4.9 m/min at 0 °C. Research results demonstrate that it is imperative to consider the welding speed in accordance to the respective seasonal temperature conditions to secure construction quality of the EVA joints for roofing.

Biotechnological wastewater treatment in small-scale wastewater treatment plants

The article analyses the results of ten months of operations of two small-scale wastewater treatment plants. Both wastewater treatment plants were one-block facilities, operating on the basis of activated sludge in accordance with the same technological scheme and having an identical hydraulic load. The difference between the plants was that one was 1.3 times smaller than the other, was better insulated and had a longer sludge retention time, with excess sludge having to be removed less often. The smaller plant purified waste more effectively in terms of the parameters of chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand over five days, suspended solids, ammonium nitrogen, and total phosphorus. The efficiency level in regard to removing ammonium nitrogen in the small plant given the winter temperature conditions was high (98–99%). In the treated effluent, the amount of remaining ammonium nitrogen was just 0.1–0.6 mg/L. Helpful factors were the long sludge retention time and the concentration of activated sludge, which reached up to 6.5 g/L. Excess sludge was removed from the small plant only twice in ten months. The amount of phosphorus remaining in the treated effluent was on average 1.06 mg/L. Comparing the two plants, a 20% greater effectiveness in elimination of phosphorus (82%) was achieved in the smaller plant, which used four times less electrical energy. The analysis results are useful for the further improvement of small biological wastewater treatment plants.

Changes in facial moisture distribution and feelings of moisture/dryness among various environmental temperatures and humidities in summer and winter.

As environmental conditions vary depending on area of residence, consideration of environmental temperature and humidity conditions is crucial for detection of actual skin conditions in daily life. In this study, we determined changes in facial moisture and sensory evaluation distributions in various environmental temperature and humidity conditions. An original near-infrared (NIR) imaging system was used to obtain moisture distributions. Sensory evaluations of feelings of moisture/dryness were graded, and changes were compared among 10 healthy Japanese female subjects in four different environmental temperature and humidity conditions (28°C, 60% RH; 28°C, 20% RH; 15°C, 60% RH; 15°C, 20% RH) in summer and winter. Skin moisture was lower at high temperatures and higher at low temperatures. Feelings of dryness on bare skin were high in low humidity. Sensitivity of feelings of moisture and dryness was high around the center of the cheekbones between side of the eyes and the mouth, but the same was not true of the moisture distribution. Moisture level was lower in winter at high temperatures, especially under the eyes near the side of the nose ridge, while the sense of dryness was not strong. These divergences between sensory evaluation and moisture level indicate the presence of a "hidden dry situation." Changes in moisture level and sensory evaluation scores in facial skin varied among environmental conditions, which differed between summer and winter, even under the same environmental temperature and humidity.

Research on synthesis and properties of amphoteric early strength polycarboxylate superplasticizer

The amphoteric early strength polycarboxylate superplasticizer (AE-PCE) was synthesized by free radical aqueous solution polymerization, and using acrylic acid (AA), isobutylene alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (HPEG, molecular weight 4000) and dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (DMDAAC) as monomers. In this work, the structure of AE-PCE were characterized by FTIR, the hydration behavior of concrete were investigated by using TAM AIR isothermal microcalorimetry and scanning electron microscope, and properties of AE-PCE were studied by cement paste and concrete experimental. The results show that the quaternary ammonium cationic functional group has been successfully introduced into the molecular structure of polycarboxylate superplasticizer. The synthesized amphoteric early strength polycarboxylate superplasticizer (AE-PCE) can accelerate the hydration rate, significantly shorten the setting time and improve the early strength of concrete, and the effect of promoting coagulation and early strength is better than similar foreign products. Applied to the production process of subway shield segments, AE-PCE can effectively shorten the demoulding time of shield segments and improve the production efficiency under low temperature conditions in winter.

East Asian winter monsoon evolution since the late Pliocene based on a pollen record from Lake Xingkai, northeast Asia

AbstractA 328.58 m drill core (XK12) was recovered from lacustrine–alluvial sediments in the Xingkai Basin, northeast China, with the aim of obtaining a high-resolution pollen record of East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) evolution since 3.6 Ma. An index based on the pollen record of thermophilous trees and terrestrial herbs is used as an indicator of winter temperature conditions controlled by the EAWM, at the glacial–interglacial scale. Primary age control was established based on lithostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy, and then the pollen index was correlated to the LR04 global benthic δ18O record and finally tuned to Earth orbital obliquity to produce a high-resolution astronomical time scale. The pollen record indicates that the EAWM underwent two stepwise enhancements at 2.8 and 1.6 Ma. These events are consistent with paleoclimatic records of mean quartz grain size from the Chinese Loess Plateau, and they are also in accord with the initiation and intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation. Our findings suggest that the variability of the EAWM since 3.6 Ma was primarily controlled by changes in global ice volume and climatic cooling.

Predicting Within- and Between-Year Variation in Activity of the Invasive Spotted Wing Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in a Temperate Region.

Invasive insect pests can be challenging to manage because their recent arrival provides limited information on which to build predictive population models. The magnitude and timing of activity by the invasive vinegar fly, Drosophila suzukii, in crop fields has been unpredictable due to its recent arrival in many new regions of the world and changes in methods for its detection. Using 7 yr of consistent trapping of adults at four blueberry farms in Michigan, United States, we modeled the temporal and environmental factors influencing D. suzukii activity. We found that this pest established high levels within 2 yr of being detected, with peak fly activity continuing to increase. Fly activity timing and abundance were predicted by the annual number of days below 0°C, the number of winter and spring days above 10°C, and by the fly activity in the preceding year, providing support for overwintering in our region. We monitored larval infestation for 4 yr at these same sites and found a moderate positive correlation between larvae in fruit and adults in traps. Finally, we developed a generalized additive model to predict D. suzukii fly capture throughout the season based on relevant environmental factors and examined the relative timing and magnitude of activity under varying winter and spring temperature conditions. Our results suggest that D. suzukii activity is predictable and that environmental conditions can be used in temperate regions to provide regional risk warnings as a component of strategies to manage this invasive insect pest.

The influence of thermal extremes on coral reef fish behaviour in the Arabian/Persian Gulf

Despite increasing environmental variability within marine ecosystems, little is known about how coral reef fish species will cope with future climate scenarios. The Arabian/Persian Gulf is an extreme environment, providing an opportunity to study fish behaviour on reefs with seasonal temperature ranges which include both values above the mortality threshold of Indo-Pacific reef fish, and values below the optimum temperature for growth. Summer temperatures in the Gulf are comparable to those predicted for the tropical ocean by 2090–2099. Using field observations in winter, spring and summer, and laboratory experiments, we examined the foraging activity, distance from refugia and resting time of Pomacentrus trichrourus (pale-tail damselfish). Observations of fish behaviour in natural conditions showed that individuals substantially reduced distance from refugia and feeding rate and increased resting time at sub-optimal environmental temperatures in winter (average SST = 21 °C) and summer (average SST = 34 °C), while showing high movement and feeding activity in spring (average SST = 27 °C). Diet was dominated by plankton in winter and spring, while fish used both plankton and benthic trophic resources in summer. These findings were corroborated under laboratory conditions: in a replicated aquarium experiment, time away from refugia and activity were significantly higher at 28 °C (i.e. spring temperature conditions) compared to 21 °C (i.e. winter temperature conditions). Our findings suggest that P. trichrourus may have adapted to the Arabian/Persian Gulf environment by downregulating costly activity during winter and summer and upregulating activity and increasing energy stores in spring. Such adaptive behavioural plasticity may be an important factor in the persistence of populations within increasing environmentally variable coral reef ecosystems.

Разработка концептуальной модели зимней всепогодной безопасной автомобильной шины

The article presents issues related to improving safety and efficiency of operation of mobile machines in the constantly changing, winter temperature and traffic conditions. The authors develop a conceptual model of winter all-weather tires able to adapt to various road conditions such as when the road is covered with a layer of ice or compacted snow, or when the road is free from snow and ice. The use of such winter all weather tires will improve the road safety by contributing to increasing the life of tires and preserving the road network. The proposed model has no foreign analogues and is protected by a patent of the Russian Federation.

Transcriptome analysis of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum) in response to low temperature stress

BackgroundChrysanthemum is one kind of ornamental plant well-known and widely used in the world. However, its quality and production were severely affected by low temperature conditions in winter and early spring periods. Therefore, we used the RNA-Seq platform to perform a de novo transcriptome assembly to analyze chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum) transcription response to low temperature.ResultsUsing Illumina sequencing technology, a total of 86,444,237 high-quality clean reads and 93,837 unigenes were generated from four libraries: T01, controls; T02, 4 °C cold acclimation (CA) for 24 h; T03, − 4 °C freezing treatments for 4 h with prior CA; and T04, − 4 °C freezing treatments for 4 h without prior CA. In total, 7583 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of 36,462 annotated unigenes were identified. We performed GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses, and excavated a group of important cold-responsive genes related to low temperature sensing and signal transduction, membrane lipid stability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and osmoregulation. These genes encode many key proteins in plant biological processes, such as protein kinases, transcription factors, fatty acid desaturase, lipid-transfer proteins, antifreeze proteins, antioxidase and soluble sugars synthetases. We also verified expression levels of 10 DEGs using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In addition, we performed the determination of physiological indicators of chrysanthemum treated at low temperature, and the results were basically consistent with molecular sequencing results.ConclusionIn summary, our study presents a genome-wide transcript profile of Dendranthema grandiflorum var. jinba and provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of D. grandiflorum in response to low temperature. These data contributes to our deeper relevant researches on cold tolerance and further exploring new candidate genes for chilling-tolerance and freezing-tolerance chrysanthemum molecular breeding.