Search

Background and aims: Ecological restoration strategies are emerging globally to counteract biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. However, restored ecosystems may not reach undisturbed biodiversity and functionality. One reason of this limited success may be a focus on short-term recovery of diversity, composition, or isolated functions. These simplified metrics may underestimate the real time ecosystems need to recover. Thus, studies of more complex metrics, like biotic interactions, at larger timescales, are essential to understand ecosystem recovery. Methods: Using molecular identification, we assessed the recovery of the interactions between ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in two opencast iron mines in use since the fourteenth century and abandoned over 107 and 148 years. Results: Species richness, species diversity, Basidiomycota/Ascomycota abundance ratio and taxonomic distinctness of EcM fungi recovered to undisturbed values, whereas species composition was still different. Certain fungal functional traits (i.e. exploration and sporocarp types) also reached undisturbed values. Differences in soil pH and NH4+ affected the composition of the EcM communities associated with beech, suggesting that mining caused a long-term impact in soil biogeochemistry, that directly impacted beech-EcM interactions. Conclusion: Mycorrhizal interactions require more than 150 years to recover following mining. Contrary to the rapid recovery response provided by simple metrics like species richness, recovery metrics with more ecological information, like the identity of plant-EcM interactions, may be still capturing signals of incomplete recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the potential use of frass, the larval excrement residue obtained from mealworm rearing, as organic fertilizer for crops. Its high organic matter content means that its joint application with a biostimulant based on efficient microorganisms, favoring its mineralization, is of interest. An experiment with lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.) was conducted with two factors and six replicates under greenhouse conditions. The first factor was frass amendment at 0%, 1%, 2.5%, and 5% of the peat substrate, and the second factor was a Bacillus-based BS at two levels, with and without efficient microorganism application. The results reveal that frass shows great potential as an organic fertilizer, providing macronutrients and increasing lettuce aerial biomass, although its effect is mediated by the application rate. Rates of 2.5% or higher proved negative for lettuce plant growth, especially root development, probably due to an increased incidence of potentially pathogenic fungi. The negative effect of medium–high frass rates was counteracted by the addition of a PGP-based biostimulant, enhancing lettuce plant nutrient uptake, aerial biomass, and quality in terms of succulence, but also favoring microbial diversity in the rhizosphere, increasing the incidence of beneficial microorganisms, and decreasing potentially pathogenic fungi. This positive synergy observed between frass and the PGP-based biostimulant is of interest for the design of new organic fertilization strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinus radiata is a highly valued conifer because of its timber production and its value as a reforestation plant. To increase production, nurseries currently use a nutritional method based on mineral fertilizers high in macronutrients. This produces individual trees which are unbalanced in size and more likely to suffer infections from phytopathogenic fungi. In this paper, the effect on plant and soil of applying an aerated compost tea (ACT) is compared to a conventional fertilizer. Biometric measures of pines, their nutrient and pigment concentrations, soil physical‐chemical parameters and microbial composition of the rhizosphere along with its enzymatic activity were analyzed. The results reveal that the physical‐chemical parameters of the soil are suitable for plant growth in all the treatments (pH 8, maximum EC of 0.07 dS m−1 and +239 mV of Eh), and high phosphatase activity was detected in the peat fertilized with aerated compost tea. In addition, the microorganisms developed in peat with ACT showed greater Pseudomonas spp. and fungal diversity. Pines fertilized with compost tea showed greater radicular development, proportionate distribution, higher photosynthetic pigment and total potassium concentrations, a higher yield of PSII and a greater photosynthetic assimilation rate than conventionally fertilized and unfertilized pine plants. Therefore, ACT could be used in the production of forest plants without compromising their productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the current gap in knowledge concerning the macrofungal diversity of holm-oak forests at the northern limit of their distribution range and in the Basque Country, a mycocoenological study was conducted by sampling 23 randomly selected permanent plots from 6 holm-oak forests. To obtain a better understanding of the macrofungal diversity distribution pattern on a regional scale, forests from both the temperate and Mediterranean-type climate regions of the Basque Country were selected, covering all their phytocoenological variation. After 4 years of sampling, a total of 377 macrofungal species were collected: 209 ectomycorrhizal species, 86 humicolous saprotrophs, 40 saprotrophs on litter, 36 lignicolous saprotrophs, 3 coprophilous saprotrophs and 3 parasitic species. Species considered characteristic of this kind of forest, such as Cortinarius aurilicis, Cortinarius callochrous, Cortinarius ionochlorus, Hygrophorus leucophaeo-ilicis, Hygrophorus persoonii, Hygrophorus russula, Lactarius atlanticus, Lactarius ilicis, Leccinellum lepidum, were recorded all over the territory, but Mediterranean forests were richer in species and more productive in sporocarps than temperate ones. Species assemblage was found to change gradually at local scale from temperate to Mediterranean climate zones, and was distinct to each phytocoenological association with all species, with ectomycorrhizal species and with saprotrophs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systematics of the genus Hydnum have undergone important advances, and many new species have been described with the aid of molecular data. A revision of old names that refer to Hydnum s. str., considering the knowledge now available, might reveal prioritary names of recently described species. This study focuses on the study of names that refer to white Hydnum in Europe, among which earlier synonyms of Hydnum reginae (=Hydnum albidum s. auct. pl. eur.) are potentially found, a species characterized by producing white basidiomata and smaller spores than any other European species. Our revision revealed the existence of three earlier names based on European material, namely H. pallidum Raddi, H. album Fr. and H. heimii Maas Geest. The earliest of those, Hydnum pallidum, is epitypified using material from Tuscany (Italy), from where it was originally described, and hence, it becomes the correct name for H. albidum s. auct. pl. eur. A full description and photographs of H. pallidum are provided, and further comments on other names that refer to white Hydnum based on European material are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores species limits of a group of Clavaria species with taxonomic and nomenclatural problems and discusses the phylogeny and circumscription of the genus. The nuc 28S rDNA (28S) and internal transcribed spacer region phylogenies resolve species relationships, and the ITS is showntobeanadequatebarcodemarkerfor Clavaria. Yellow, clamped species of Clavaria are distributed in two clades, (i) C. flavostellifera, sister to C. incarnata and C. asterospora in ITS analyses, characterized by producing ornamented spores, and (ii) C. argillacea-C. citrinorubra-C. flavipes-C. sphagnicola, with smooth spores. Clavaria flavostellifera is described as new species based on morphological and molecular characters. Molecular evidence that supports C. sphagnicola as distinct from C. argillacea is provided. The usefulness of spore ornamentation as a taxonomic character is discussed; it is present only in some taxa and then only on spores trapped in the hymenium. Descriptions of C. argillacea, C. flavipes and C. sphagnicola are provided, along with color photographs and a key to yellow species of Clavaria with clamped basidia. Camarophyllopsis and Clavicorona are recovered within a paraphyletic Clavaria in our 28S phylogeny. Clampless contextual hyphae and narrow, slightly thick-walled mycelial hyphae are proposed as synapomorphies of Camarophyllopsis and Clavaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its high incidence, low back pain is a major problem from a social, health, and labor perspective. It is considered one of the most common causes of medical consultations in primary care, and one of the main reasons for temporary disability. A correct diagnostic approach and adequate therapeutic management will allow for better control of the clinical condition and its evolution. To do this, there are functional assessment techniques, both objective and subjective, which will provide fundamental information to perform appropriate management of the pathology, as well as to assess the effectiveness of the treatment. Within the subjective techniques, the Oswestry disability index is the most widely questionnaire used in hospitals, while the Roland Morris scale is used mainly in primary care. The results provided by the isokinetic and isoinertial techniques assess the functional capacity of the lumbar spine in an easy and convenient way for the patient. The main objective of this study is to present different subjective questionnaires and objective techniques to make a correct valuation of lumbar pain, improving access to adequate treatment and reducing work time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Hydnum, characterized by slender Hydnum rufescens-like basidiomes and ovoid to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores, are described from the Iberian Peninsula based on morphological and ITS molecular data. Hydnum ovoideisporum is distinguished by pilei with deep orange tones and strong preference for calcareous soil. It is widespread in the Iberian-Mediterranean area. Hydnum vesterholtii is characterized by its ocher to light ocher pileus, and nearly all the collections were made in the Pyrenees. Both ovoid-spored species are monophyletic well supported groups in the maximum parsimony and Bayesian ITS phylogenies, while the remainder of the samples assigned to H rufescens s.l. and having globose basidiospores split into six well supported clades. The need to typify the name Hydnum rufescens is discussed, and a provisional key is given for the European taxa of Hydnum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cationic complexes [Ni(η³-CH2C(R)CH2)(SbPh3)3][BAr'4] (R= CH3 1a, H 1b; Ar' = 3,5-C6H3(CF3)2), [Ni(η3-CH2C(R)CH2)(AsPh3)2][BAr'4] (R= CH3 2a, H 2b), [Ni(η3-CH2CHCH2)(PPh3)(L)][BAr'4] (L = SbPh3 3, AsPh3 4), and the neutral derivatives [Ni(h3-CH2C(R)CH2)Br(L)] (L = SbPh3, R = CH3 5a, H 5b; L = AsPh3, R = CH3 6a, H 6b) have been prepared and characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of 1a-b, 2b, 3, 5a and 6b have been determined. These complexes are very active catalyst precursors for the low-molecular weight oligomerization of RC6H4CH=CH2 to mainly dimers and trimers of styrene (R = H) or 4-methylstyrene (R = CH3). They also catalyse the oligomerization of a-methylstyrene to dimers and trimers, or to higher oligomers depending upon the reaction conditions (solvent and temperature). The oligomerization reactions were carried out at 25 °C in most cases, in dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane or fluorobenzene, using a olefin/catalyst ratio equal to 2000. The oligomerization products were characterised by means of GPC/SEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Machu Picchu Inca sanctuary (Cusco Region, Peru) was constructed on a granitic plateau, better known as Vilcabamba batholith. One of the most important carved granitic rocks from this archaeological site is the Sacred Rock , used by Inca citizens for religious rituals. Due to the location and climatic conditions, different rocks from this archaeological site are affected by biocolonizations. Concretely, the Sacred Rock shows flaking and delamination problems. In this work, a non-destructive multi analytical methodology has been applied to determine the possible role of the biodeteriogens, forming the biological patina on the Sacred Rock , in the previously mentioned conservation problems. Before characterizing the biological patina, a mineralogical characterization of the granitic substrate was conducted using X-ray Diffraction, Raman microscopy (RM) and micro energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. For the identification of the main biodeteriogens in the biofilm, Phase Contrast Microscopy was used. RM also allowed to determine the distribution (imaging) and the penetration (depth profiling) of the biogenic pigments present in the biopatina. Thanks to this study, it was possible to asses that some colonizers are growing on inner areas of the rock, reinforcing their possible assistance in the delamination. Moreover, the in-depth distribution of a wide variety of carotenoids in the patinas allowed to approach the penetration ability of the main biodeteriogens and the diffusion of these biogenic pigments to the inner areas of the rocky substrate. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The Sacred Rock from Machu Picchu archaeological site was analyzed. • The Sacred Rock is suffering exfoliation. • Different biocolonizers such as Bryopsida mosses, endolithic ascolichen, algae and cyanobacteria were identified. • Raman imaging was used in order to observe the distribution of the different biogenic pigments of the colonizers. • Depth profile study of some biogenic pigments by means of Raman microscopy was carried out to determine their penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a reddish biocolonization composed mainly by Trentepohlia algae affecting a synthetic building material from a modern building from the 90s located in the Bizkaia Science and Technology Park (Zamudio, North of Spain) was characterized and its ability to accumulate metals coming from the surrounding atmosphere was evaluated. To asses if these biofilms can act as bioindicators of the surrounding metal pollution, a fast non-invasive in situ methodology based on the use of hand-held energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (HH-ED-XRF) was used. In order to corroborate the in situ obtained conclusions, some fragments from the affected material were taken to analyze the metal distribution by means of micro-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (μ-ED-XRF) and to confirm the presence of metal particles deposited on it using Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled to an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS). In order to confirm if Trentepohlia algae biofilms growing on the surface of building materials could be a fast way to in situ provide information about the surrounding metal pollution, a second Trentepohlia algae biofilm growing on a different kind of material (sandstone) was analyzed from an older historical building, La Galea Fortress (Getxo, North of Spain). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on mutualistic and antagonistic networks, such as plant-pollinator and host-parasite networks, has shown that species interactions can influence and be influenced by the responses of species to environmental perturbations. Here we examine whether results obtained for directly observable networks generalize to more complex networks in which species interactions cannot be observed directly. As a case study, we consider data on the occurrences of 98 wood-inhabiting fungal species in managed and natural forests. We specifically ask if and how much the positions of wood-inhabiting fungal species within the interaction networks influence their responses to forest management. For this, we utilize a joint species distribution model that partitions variation in species occurrences among environmental (i.e. resource availability) and biotic (i.e. species-to-species associations) predictors. Our results indicate that in addition to the direct loss of resource-specialised species, forest management has indirect effects mediated through interactive associations. In particular, species with strong associative links to other species are especially sensitive to forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black crust in buildings can be formed as a result of different kind of chemical and physical reactions between the stone surface and environmental factors (e.g. acid aerosols emitted to the atmosphere, airborne particulate matter, etc.). Moreover, biological colonizations can also be present on them. This kind of pathology is widely present in limestones, but fewer are the case study dealing with the characterization of black crusts on sandstones. In this work we present an innovative methodology based on the use of cauliflower-like black crusts formed on sandstone material as natural passive sampler to evaluate the environmental pollution related with the emission of natural (crustal particles and marine aerosol particles) and metallic elements in the airborne particulate matter from the surrounding atmosphere. To illustrate its usefulness, different cauliflower-like black crusts growing in areas protected from the rain growing in an historical construction, La Galea Fortress, made up of sandstone and placed in the Abra Bay (Getxo, Basque Country, Spain) were characterized. This area suffers the anthropogenic emissions coming from the surrounding industry, traffic, sea port, and the natural ones coming from the surrounding marine atmosphere. The applied analytical methodology began with a previous elemental in situ screening in order to evaluate and compare the presence of the metals trapped in black crusts from different orientations using a hand-held energy dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer. After this preliminary study, samples of black crusts were taken in order to characterize them in the laboratory using molecular techniques (Raman spectroscopy and XRD) and elemental techniques (ICP-MS, SEM-EDS and micro energy dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence). With the last two elemental techniques, imaging analyses were performed at different lateral resolutions in order to observe the distribution of the metals and other kind of particles trapped in the black crust samples. Additionally, a biological colonization found beneath the black crusts was also characterized using Phase Contrast microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decades, the concern about air pollution has increased significantly, especially in urban areas. Active sampling of air pollutants requires specific instrumentation not always available in all the laboratories. Passive sampling has a lower cost than active alternatives but still requires efforts to cover extensive areas. The use of biological systems as passive samplers might be a solution that provides information about air pollution to assist decision-makers in environmental health and urban planning. This study aims to employ subaerial biofilms (SABs) growing naturally on façades of historical and recent constructions as natural passive biomonitors of atmospheric heavy metals pollution. Concretely, SABs spontaneously growing on constructions located in a tropical climate, like the one of the city of Barranquilla (Colombia), have been used to develop the methodological approach here presented as an alternative to SABS grown under laboratory conditions. After a proper identification of the biocolonizers in the SAB through taxonomic and morphological observations, the study of the particulate matter accumulated on the SABs of five constructions was conducted under a multi-analytical approach based mainly on elemental imaging studies by micro Energy Dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (μ-EDXRF) and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS) techniques, trying to reduce the time needed and associated costs. This methodology allowed to discriminate metals that are part of the original structure of the SABs, from those coming from the anthropogenic emissions. The whole methodology applied assisted the identification of the main metallic particles that could be associated with nearby anthropogenic sources of emission such as Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni and Ti by SEM-EDS and by μ-EDXRF Ba, Sb, Sn, Cl and Br apart others; revealing that it could be used as a good alternative for a rapid screening of the atmospheric heavy metals pollution. [Display omitted] • Subaerial biofilms (SABs) for passive biomonitoring studies of air quality in tropical cities. • Deposition of metallic PM in SABs growing naturally on buildings from tropical cities. • μ-EDXRF and SEM-EDS single point and imaging in SABs to assessment air pollution sources. • Analytical methodologies for fast and cost-effective assessment of PM deposited in SABs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to understand the nature of the main colonizer and the composition of the biogenic compounds present in a reddish biofilm located on the sandstone from the Northside of La Galea Fortress (Getxo, North of Spain). For that purpose, microscopic observations of the main colonizer and the biofilm were conducted using Phase Contrast Microscope and a Scanning Electron microscope. These observations allowed to identify the Trentepohlia algae as the main colonizer responsible for the reddish biofilm formation. In order to determine the composition of the organic compounds present in the Trentepohlia algae and those excreted by them, point-by-point and Raman imaging using confocal Raman microscope were applied. These analyses allowed to identify not only β-carotene as the main biogenic pigment but also additional carotenoids such as bacterioruberin. Moreover, the identification of scytonemin suggests the presence of cyanobacteria on the biofilm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this pharmacokinetic (PK) study was to evaluate tacrolimus (TAC) exposure in stable cystic fibrosis (CF) lung transplant (LT) recipients, converted from TAC twice daily to TAC once daily in an open-label, prospective, single-centre study. Methods: Eligible patients were post-transplant CF patients (18-65 years) with stable lung function, on stable doses of TAC twice daily and who were candidates to switch to TAC once daily. Twelve consecutive patients were included in the study. Patients had their first PK analysis on day 1, still under the stable TAC twice-daily regimen, and were converted to TAC once daily from day 2 onwards. The doses were adjusted according to clinical judgement to achieve target levels, and a second 24-h PK period profile was obtained once the patient was on a stable dosage on the therapeutic range. Results: The mean total (SD) daily dose of TAC twice daily at baseline upon enrolment was 0.17 (0.10) mg/kg/day. The mean (SD) daily dose of TAC once daily after adjustments was 0.22 (0.12) mg/kg/day. In order to achieve target C levels with a similar AUC, 82 % of subjects who were converted to TAC once daily required an increase of dose, in a range of 0-66.7 %, with a mean dose increase of 28 %. Conclusions: Our study results indicate that the switch for conversion from TAC twice daily to TAC once daily in patients with CF may need dose adjustment in order to reach levels within the therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For efficient use of conservation resources it is important to determine how species diversity changes across spatial scales. In many poorly known species groups little is known about at which spatial scales the conservation efforts should be focused. Here we examined how the community turnover of wood-inhabiting fungi is realised at three hierarchical levels, and how much of community variation is explained by variation in resource composition and spatial proximity. The hierarchical study design consisted of management type (fixed factor), forest site (random factor, nested within management type) and study plots (randomly placed plots within each study site). To examine how species richness varied across the three hierarchical scales, randomized species accumulation curves and additive partitioning of species richness were applied. To analyse variation in wood-inhabiting species and dead wood composition at each scale, linear and Permanova modelling approaches were used. Wood-inhabiting fungal communities were dominated by rare and infrequent species. The similarity of fungal communities was higher within sites and within management categories than among sites or between the two management categories, and it decreased with increasing distance among the sampling plots and with decreasing similarity of dead wood resources. However, only a small part of community variation could be explained by these factors. The species present in managed forests were in a large extent a subset of those species present in natural forests. Our results suggest that in particular the protection of rare species requires a large total area. As managed forests have only little additional value complementing the diversity of natural forests, the conservation of natural forests is the key to ecologically effective conservation. As the dissimilarity of fungal communities increases with distance, the conserved natural forest sites should be broadly distributed in space, yet the individual conserved areas should be large enough to ensure local persistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The identification of the conventionally accepted species of Clavulina (Cantharellales, Basidiomycota) in Europe (Clavulina amethystina, Clavulina cinerea, Clavulina cristata, and Clavulina rugosa) is often difficult and many specimens are not straightforwardly assignable to any of those four species, which is why some authors have questioned their identity. In order to assess the status of those species, a morphological examination was combined with the molecular analysis of the ITS region. The same six major clades were obtained in the Bayesian and parsimony phylogenetic analyses, and all six clades were well-supported at least by one of the analyses. Morphological characters, such as the overall branching pattern, the presence and intensity of grey colour, the cristation of the apices, and basidiospore size and shape were to various extents correlated with the phylogenetic signal obtained from the ITS region. The congruence between the molecular analyses and morphology, rather than geographical origin, suggests the existence of several species that can be delimited using a combined phylogenetic and morphological species recognition. The analyses revealed that C. cristata and C. rugosa are well-delimited species. In contrast, more than one taxa could be subsumed under the names C. amethystina and C. cinerea, the taxonomical complexity of which is discussed. The ITS region is proved to be adequate to separate phylogenetic species of Clavulina. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]