Ecological assessment of Phragmites australis wetlands using multi-season SPOT-5 scenes

Ecologists and conservationists need accurate and replicable tools for monitoring wetland conditions in order to develop and implement adaptive management strategies efficiently. The Rhone Delta (Camargue) in southern France encloses 9200 ha of fragmented reed marshes actively managed for reed harvesting, waterfowl hunting or cattle grazing, and holding significant numbers of vulnerable European birds. We used multi-season SPOT-5 data in conjunction with ground survey to assess the predictive power of satellite imagery in modelling indicators of reed structure (height, diameter, density and cover of green/dry stems) relevant to ecosystem management and bird ecology. All indicators could be predicted accurately with a combination of bands (SWIR, NIR) and indices (SAVI, OSAVI, NDWI, DVI, DVW, MSI) issued from scenes of March, June, July, September or December and subtraction between these. All models were robust when validated with an independent set of satellite and field data. The high spatial resolution of SPOT-5 scenes (pixel of 10 × 10 m) permits the monitoring of detailed attributes characterizing the reed ecosystem across a large spatial extent, providing a scientifically-based, replicable tool for managers, stakeholders and decision-makers to follow wetland conditions in the short and long-term. Combined with models on the ecological requirements of vulnerable bird species, these tools can provide maps of potential species ranges at spatial extents that are relevant to ecosystem functioning and bird populations.     

Biogas production from reed biomass: Effect of pretreatment using different steam explosion conditions

Biogas production often competes with food and feed production for the raw materials and cropland required for cultivation. Common reed offers an alternative source of biomass for biogas production, alleviating this conflict. Effective microbiological conversion of this type of lignocellulosic biomass requires a pretreatment process. This study aims to determine the specific methane yields of steam-exploded reed as well as to identify how pretreatment conditions influence its physico-chemical characteristics. For this purpose, reed was pretreated with steam explosion at severity factors ranging from 2.47 to 4.83. The effects on methane yields were analyzed in batch experiments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were captured and detailed chemical analyses of the substrates carried out. Results show that the digestibility of reed biomass improved remarkably after pretreatment. Compared to the untreated sample, steam explosion increased the specific methane yield up to 89% after pretreatment at 200 °C for 15 min. However, methane yield decreased under harsher conditions, which may be due to the formation of degradation compounds during the pretreatment.     

污泥干化芦苇床芦苇中多环芳烃的含量分布

通过现场试验,考查了多环芳烃（PAHs）从污泥向芦苇的转移以及PAHs在芦苇各部位的分布情况。受试芦苇植于污泥干化芦苇床内,芦苇床规格3 m×1 m×1.3 m,其中高度含0.65 m填料层和0.65 m超高。试验进行了3 a,包括2 a的污泥负荷期和1 a的闲置期。2 a负荷期内共进泥8.4 m(含水率99.14%),污泥PAHs含量平均5.69 mg·kg -1。原生芦苇茎和叶中的PAHs含量相对较高,达到2.198和2.583 mg·kg -1 (DW),分别是芦苇根PAHs含量的2.44和2.87倍,且以低环PAHs为主。运行结果表明,受试芦苇对污泥中的PAHs产生了明显的富集作用。运行第2年9、10和11月取污泥干化芦苇床芦苇样品并进行检测,发现芦苇根茎叶内PAHs含量呈逐月升高趋势;第3年11月芦苇根茎叶所含PAHs总量分别为7.642、7.713、7.946 mg·kg -1 (DW),相对原生芦苇分别提高了8.50、3.52和3.08倍,且以低环PAHs为主,根茎叶低环PAHs含量占PAHs总量的55.14%、56.96%和44.59%。芦苇中PAHs的含量与植物含脂率具有显著的正相关关系,而与芦苇的含水量无关。     

水力条件对芦苇湿地系统DO质量浓度的影响

就水位及水力负荷对湿地系统中DO质量浓度的影响进行实验。结果表明：随着水位的不断提高,芦苇湿地系统中的DO质量浓度呈现出不断升高的趋势,且在300～550 mm水位区间增加趋势比较明显,随着水位的再度升高,在550～650 mm水位区间DO质量浓度增加趋势趋于平稳;随着水力负荷的不断增加,芦苇湿地系统中的DO质量浓度呈现先增加后减小的趋势,本实验中最适合的水力负荷在0.8968～1.2230 m3/（ m2＆#183; d）之间。     

The invasion of a large lake by the Eurasian genotype of common reed: The influence of roads and residential construction

The Eurasian genotype of common reed (Phragmites australis) is one of the most aggressive plant invading North American wetlands. There is, however, little published evidence on establishment patterns of populations along lakes of the St. Lawrence River–Great Lakes watershed. We tested the hypothesis that the recent invasion of Great Lake Saint-François (Québec, Canada) by common reed was facilitated by a dense road system and by an intense residence construction activity along lakeshores. A total of 345 and 2914 reed stands were mapped along lakeshores, and along the road system of the study area, respectively. The probability of finding a reed stand on a lakeshore increases with the proximity of the lake's outlet, and of a paved road, but decreases with the proximity of a residence built since 1990. It is likely that common reed first spread along the road system, and that wind dispersal of seeds then favored the establishment of populations on lakeshores. Our model does not support the hypothesis that residential construction facilitated the establishment of reed stands, probably because the recent residential construction boom occurred essentially in the southern part of the lake, where the number of roadside reed populations is much lower than in the northern part (lower seed rain). The invasion of Great Lake Saint-François shows that the spread of the plant is not restricted to major river or road systems. Large or small lakes, if submitted to intense diaspore pressure, can also be at risk.     

强化型缓冲带水质净化技术试验研究

对强化型缓冲带中的植物净化系统进行了研究,对芦苇和蒲草的净化效果进行了对比分析。结果表明:蒲草和芦苇对水体中总磷能快速吸收、吸收效果显著,对总氮和有机物效果不明显;在最低种植密度(3株/m2)时,后期芦苇对试验效果的维持比蒲草好,在中等(6株/m2)和高等密度(12株/m2)时,蒲草对试验水体中总磷的净化效果较芦苇好;蒲草植株内的总磷含量较芦苇高,在相同时间内收获相同植株数量蒲草比芦苇对试验水体中总磷的移除量更大;工程应用时建议以蒲草为主,芦苇为辅;种植密度蒲草采用3株/m2,芦苇采用6株/m2;为避免植株腐败造成二次污染,芦苇和蒲草应在10月上旬至中旬收割。     

Fungal dyes for textile applications: testing of industrial conditions for wool fabrics dyeing

Natural dyes and pigments have been proposed as an eco-friendly alternative to artificial pigments. Among the diverse organisms able to synthesize natural dyes and pigments, several wood inhabiting fungi produce extracellular compounds which have been tested to dye fabrics at laboratory conditions with good results. However, the dyeing conditions used at laboratory level not necessary meet the real conditions in which dyeing of fabrics is conducted at industrial level. In this work, yellow and red dyes producing fungi, Penicillium murcianum and Talaromyces australis, respectively, were isolated from wood samples and used to dye wool fabrics at conditions of temperature, pH, additives, and equipment similar to those used at industrial level. After dyeing treatments, color fastness to washing, wet and dry rubbing, and tensile strength were tested. Satisfactory results were found when the dyes were used individually and mixed to different proportions. According to the results, natural dyes synthesized by these two wood inhabiting fungi have great potential to be used for dyeing of wool at industrial level.     

典型滩涂环境因子对植物群落空间分布的影响

长江口滩涂生境具有较高的环境异质性,导致不同滩涂植物群落的分布特征存在显著差异。为分析长江口典型滩涂植物群与环境因子的关系,在崇明东滩和奉贤金汇港两个典型滩涂对其环境因子及植物群落特征进行了采样分析。分析结果表明,滩涂随着高程的增加,受潮汐的影响逐渐减少,环境因子呈现一定的规律性变化,滩涂植物对环境因子具有不同的适应力是导致长江口盐沼植被带状分布的重要因素。崇明东滩作为植物群落较为成熟的滩涂,芦苇和互花米草的生长表现沿高程呈"V"型。奉贤金汇港作为植物建群较短的新生带滩涂,互花米草的生长表现沿高程呈梯度分布。两区域植物群落表现不同的主要原因有可能是建群时间、演替阶段、滩涂受潮汐作用和立地条件等造成的。     

Root-secreted Allelochemical in the Noxious Weed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites Australis</Emphasis> Deploys a Reactive Oxygen Species Response and Microtubule Assembly Disruption to Execute Rhizotoxicity

Phragmites australis is considered the most invasive plant in marsh and wetland communities in the eastern United States. Although allelopathy has been considered as a possible displacing mechanism in P. australis, there has been minimal success in characterizing the responsible allelochemical. We tested the occurrence of root-derived allelopathy in the invasiveness of P. australis. To this end, root exudates of two P. australis genotypes, BB (native) and P38 (an exotic) were tested for phytotoxicity on different plant species. The treatment of the susceptible plants with P. australis root exudates resulted in acute rhizotoxicity. It is interesting to note that the root exudates of P38 were more effective in causing root death in susceptible plants compared to the native BB exudates. The active ingredient in the P. australis exudates was identified as 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid (gallic acid). We tested the phytotoxic efficacy of gallic acid on various plant systems, including the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Most tested plants succumbed to the gallic acid treatment with the exception of P. australis itself. Mechanistically, gallic acid treatment generated elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the treated plant roots. Furthermore, the triggered ROS mediated the disruption of the root architecture of the susceptible plants by damaging the microtubule assembly. The study also highlights the persistence of the exuded gallic acid in P. australis’s rhizosphere and its inhibitory effects against A. thaliana in the soil. In addition, gallic acid demonstrated an inhibitory effect on Spartina alterniflora, one of the salt marsh species it successfully invades. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Cross Pharmacological,Biochemical and Computational Studies of a Human Kv3.1b Inhibitor from Androctonus australis Venom

The voltage-gated K⁺ channels Kv3.1 display fast activation and deactivation kinetics and are known to have a crucial contribution to the fast-spiking phenotype of certain neurons. AahG50, as a natural product extracted from Androctonus australis hector venom, inhibits selectively Kv3.1 channels. In the present study, we focused on the biochemical and pharmacological characterization of the component in AahG50 scorpion venom that potently and selectively blocks the Kv3.1 channels. We used a combined optimization through advanced biochemical purification and patch-clamp screening steps to characterize the peptide in AahG50 active on Kv3.1 channels. We described the inhibitory effect of a toxin on Kv3.1 unitary current in black lipid bilayers. In silico, docking experiments are used to study the molecular details of the binding. We identified the first scorpion venom peptide inhibiting Kv3.1 current at 170 nM. This toxin is the alpha-KTx 15.1, which occludes the Kv3.1 channel pore by means of the lysine 27 lateral chain. This study highlights, for the first time, the modulation of the Kv3.1 by alpha-KTx 15.1, which could be an interesting starting compound for developing therapeutic biomolecules against Kv3.1-associated diseases.