ALBERT

Description:    Local populations are subject to recurrent extinctions, and small populations are particularly prone to extinction. Both demographic (stochasticity and the Allee effect) and genetic factors (drift load and inbreeding depression) potentially affect extinction. In fragmented populations, regular dispersal may boost population sizes (demographic rescue effect) or/and reduce the local inbreeding level and genetic drift (genetic rescue effect), which can affect extinction risks. We studied extinction processes in highly fragmented populations of the common species Crepis sancta (Asteraceae) in urban habitats exhibiting a rapid turnover of patches. A four-year demographic monitoring survey and microsatellite genotyping of individuals allowed us to study the determinants of extinction. We documented a low genetic structure and an absence of inbreeding (estimated by multilocus heterozygosity), which suggest that genetic factors were not a major cause of patch extinction. On the contrary, local population size was the main factor in extinction, whereas connectivity was shown to decrease patch extinction, which we interpreted as a demographic rescue effect that was likely due to better pollination services for reproduction. This coupling of demographic and genetic tools highlighted the importance of dispersal in local patch extinctions of small fragmented populations connected by gene flow. Content Type Journal Article Category Population ecology - Original research Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00442-011-2229-0 Authors Antoine Dornier, UMR 5175 CEFE-CNRS, Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CNRS), 1919, Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 05, France Pierre-Olivier Cheptou, UMR 5175 CEFE-CNRS, Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CNRS), 1919, Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 05, France Journal Oecologia Online ISSN 1432-1939 Print ISSN 0029-8549

Description:    Vigilance allows individuals to escape from predators, but it also reduces time for other activities which determine fitness, in particular resource acquisition. The principles determining how prey trade time between the detection of predators and food acquisition are not fully understood, particularly in herbivores because of many potential confounding factors (such as group size), and the ability of these animals to be vigilant while handling food. We designed a fertilization experiment to manipulate the quality of resources, and compared awareness (distinguishing apprehensive foraging and vigilance) of wild impalas ( Aepyceros melampus ) foraging on patches of different grass height and quality in a wilderness area with a full community of predators. While handling food, these animals can allocate time to other functions. The impalas were aware of their environment less often when on good food patches and when the grass was short. The animals spent more time in apprehensive foraging when grass was tall, and no other variable affected apprehensive behavior. The probability of exhibiting a vigilance posture decreased with group size. The interaction between grass height and patch enrichment also affected the time spent in vigilance, suggesting that resource quality was the main driver when visibility is good, and the risk of predation the main driver when the risk is high. We discuss various possible mechanisms underlying the perception of predation risk: foraging strategy, opportunities for scrounging, and inter-individual interference. Overall, this experiment shows that improving patch quality modifies the trade-off between vigilance and foraging in favor of feeding, but vigilance remains ultimately driven by the visibility of predators by foragers within their feeding patches. Content Type Journal Article Category Behavioral ecology - Original research Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s00442-011-2218-3 Authors Olivier Pays, LEESA, Groupe Ecologie et Conservation, Université d’Angers, Campus Belle Beille, 2 Bd Lavoisier, 49045 Angers, France Pierrick Blanchard, Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, CNRS, ENFA, UMR 5174, Université de Toulouse, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France Marion Valeix, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR-CNRS 5558, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bât Gregor Mendel, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France Simon Chamaillé-Jammes, Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Patrick Duncan, Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-UPR 1934, 79360 Beauvoir-sur-Niort, France Stéphanie Périquet, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR-CNRS 5558, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bât Gregor Mendel, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France Marion Lombard, CNRS HERD Program, Hwange LTER, Hwange Main Camp Research, Hwange NP, Box 62, Dete, Zimbabwe Gugulethu Ncube, CNRS HERD Program, Hwange LTER, Hwange Main Camp Research, Hwange NP, Box 62, Dete, Zimbabwe Tawanda Tarakini, CNRS HERD Program, Hwange LTER, Hwange Main Camp Research, Hwange NP, Box 62, Dete, Zimbabwe Edwin Makuwe, Hwange National Park, P. Bag 5778, Dete, Zimbabwe Hervé Fritz, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR-CNRS 5558, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bât Gregor Mendel, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France Journal Oecologia Online ISSN 1432-1939 Print ISSN 0029-8549

Description:    Flower characteristics have been traditionally considered relatively constant within species. However, there are an increasing number of examples of variation in flower characteristics. In this study, we examined the variation in attracting and rewarding flower characters at several ecological levels in a metapopulation of Pyrus bourgaeana in the Doñana area (SW Spain). We answered the following questions: what are the variances of morphological and nectar characters of flowers? How important are intra-individual and inter-individual variance in flower characters? Are there microgeographical differences in flower characters? And if so, are they consistent between years? In 2008 and 2009, we sampled flowers of 72 trees from five localities. For six flower morphological and two nectar characteristics, we calculated coefficients of variation (CV). The partitioning of total variation among-localities, among-individuals, and within-individuals was estimated. To analyze differences among localities and their consistency between years, we conducted generalized linear mixed models. The CVs of nectar characters were always higher than those of morphological characters. As expected, inter-individual variation was the main source of variation of flower morphology, but nectar characters had significant variation at both intra- and inter-individual levels. For most floral traits, there were no differences among localities. Our study documents that variation is a scale-dependent phenomenon and that it is essential to consider intra- and inter-individual variance when investigating the causes and consequences of variation. It also shows that single year studies of floral characters should be viewed with caution. Content Type Journal Article Category Population ecology - Original research Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00442-011-2232-5 Authors Magdalena Żywiec, Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Lubicz 46, 31-512 Kraków, Poland Miguel Delibes, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio s/n, Isla de La Cartuja, 41092 Sevilla, Spain José M. Fedriani, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio s/n, Isla de La Cartuja, 41092 Sevilla, Spain Journal Oecologia Online ISSN 1432-1939 Print ISSN 0029-8549

Description:    In the deep, cooler layers of clear, nutrient-poor, stratified water bodies, phytoplankton often accumulate to form a thin band or “deep chlorophyll maximum” (DCM) of ecological importance. Under such conditions, these photosynthetic microorganisms may be close to their physiological compensation points and to the boundaries of their ecological tolerance. To grow and survive any resulting energy limitation, DCM species are thought to exhibit highly specialised or flexible acclimation strategies. In this study, we investigated several of the adaptable ecophysiological strategies potentially employed by one such species, Chlamydomonas acidophila : a motile, unicellular, phytoplanktonic flagellate that often dominates the DCM in stratified, acidic lakes. Physiological and behavioural responses were measured in laboratory experiments and were subsequently related to field observations. Results showed moderate light compensation points for photosynthesis and growth at 22°C, relatively low maintenance costs, a behavioural preference for low to moderate light, and a decreased compensation point for photosynthesis at 8°C. Even though this flagellated alga exhibited a physiologically mediated diel vertical migration in the field, migrating upwards slightly during the day, the ambient light reaching the DCM was below compensation points, and so calculations of daily net photosynthetic gain showed that survival by purely autotrophic means was not possible. Results suggested that strategies such as low-light acclimation, small-scale directed movements towards light, a capacity for mixotrophic growth, acclimation to low temperature, in situ exposure to low O 2 , high CO 2 and high P concentrations, and an avoidance of predation, could combine to help overcome this energetic dilemma and explain the occurrence of the DCM. Therefore, corroborating the deceptive ecophysiological complexity of this and similar organisms, only a suite of complementary strategies can facilitate the survival of C. acidophila in this DCM. Content Type Journal Article Category Physiological ecology - Original research Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s00442-011-2225-4 Authors Mark R. Clegg, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469 Potsdam, Germany Ursula Gaedke, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469 Potsdam, Germany Bertram Boehrer, Department of Lake Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Brückstrasse 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany Elly Spijkerman, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469 Potsdam, Germany Journal Oecologia Online ISSN 1432-1939 Print ISSN 0029-8549

Description:    In the ferromagnet/superconductor/ferromagnet double tunneling junctions, the spin-polarized tunneling current in the antiparallel alignment of the magnetization induces spin imbalance in the superconductor, which has a pair breaking effect depressing superconductivity in the same way that the Zeeman effect does in the paramagnetic limit. In particular, it is shown that when the ferromagnets are highly spin polarized, the strong spin imbalance may lead to a first-order phase transition from the superconducting phase to the normal phase at low temperature and low bias voltage. This phase transition accompanies a large discontinuous drop in superconducting gap parameter bring in distinctive features in low energy transport. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s10948-011-1398-8 Authors Biao Jin, College of Physical Sciences, Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 4588, Beijing, 100049 China Journal Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism Online ISSN 1557-1947 Print ISSN 1557-1939

Description:    After sulfate-reducing ammonium oxidation (SRAO) was first assumed in 2001, several works have been published describing this process in laboratory-scale bioreactors or occurring in the nature. In this paper, the SRAO process was performed using reject water as a substrate for microorganisms and a source of NH 4 + , with SO 4 2− being added as an electron acceptor. At a moderate temperature of 20°C in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) sulfate reduction along with ammonium oxidation were established. In an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASBR) the SRAO process took place at 36°C. Average volumetric TN removal rates of 0.03 kg-N/m³/day in the MBBR and 0.04 kg-N/m³/day in the UASBR were achieved, with long-term moderate average removal efficiencies, respectively. Uncultured bacteria clone P4 and uncultured planctomycete clone Amx - PAn30 were detected from the biofilm of the MBBR, from sludge of the UASBR uncultured Verrucomicrobiales bacterium clone De2102 and Uncultured bacterium clone ATB - KS - 1929 were found also. The stoichiometrical ratio of NH 4 + removal was significantly higher than could be expected from the extent of SO 4 2− reduction. This phenomenon can primarily be attributed to complex interactions between nitrogen and sulfur compounds and organic matter present in the wastewater. The high NH 4 + removal ratio can be attributed to sulfur-utilizing denitrification/denitritation providing the evidence that SRAO is occurring independently and is not a result of sulfate reduction and anammox. HCO 3 – concentrations exceeding 1,000 mg/l were found to have an inhibiting effect on the SRAO process. Small amounts of hydrazine were naturally present in the reaction medium, indicating occurrence of the anammox process. Injections of anammox intermediates, hydrazine and hydroxylamine, had a positive effect on SRAO process performance, particularly in the case of the UASBR. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-16 DOI 10.1007/s10532-011-9529-2 Authors Ergo Rikmann, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia Ivar Zekker, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia Martin Tomingas, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia Taavo Tenno, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia Anne Menert, Tallinn University of Technology, 5 Ehitajate Street, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia Liis Loorits, Tallinn University of Technology, 5 Ehitajate Street, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia Toomas Tenno, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, 14a Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia Journal Biodegradation Online ISSN 1572-9729 Print ISSN 0923-9820

Description:    The role of microzooplankton (MZP) in the pelagic trophodynamics is highly significant, but the responses of marine MZP to increasing CO 2 levels are rather poorly understood. Hence the present study was undertaken to understand the responses of marine plankton to increasing CO 2 concentrations. Natural water samples from the coastal Bay of Bengal were incubated under the ambient condition and high CO 2 levels (703–711 μatm) for 5 days in May and June 2010. A significant negative correlation was obtained between phytoplankton and MZP abundance which indicated that phytoplankton community structure can considerably be controlled by MZP in this region. The average relative abundances of tintinnids under elevated CO 2 levels were found to be significantly higher (68.65 ± 5.63% in May; 85.46 ± 9.56% in June) than observed in the ambient condition (35.68 ± 6.83% in May; 79 ± 5.36% in June). The observed dominance of small chain forming diatom species probably played a crucial role as they can be potentially grazed by tintinnids. This fact was strengthened by the observed high negative correlations between the relative abundance of major phytoplankton and tintinnids. Moreover, particulate organic carbon and total bacterial counts were also enhanced under elevated CO 2 level and can serve as additional food source for ciliates. The observed responses of tintinnids to increasing CO 2 might have multiple impacts on the energy transfer, nutrient and carbon cycling in the coastal water. The duration of the present study was relatively short and therefore further investigation on longer time scale needs to be done and might give us a better insight about phytoplankton and MZP species succession under elevated CO 2 level. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-18 DOI 10.1007/s10531-011-0209-7 Authors Haimanti Biswas, National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Center, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), 176 Lawson’s Bay Colony, Visakhapatnam, 530017 India Subhadra Devi Gadi, Department of Zoology, Carmel College of Arts, Science and Commerce for Women, Nuvem, 403 601 Goa, India V. Venkata Ramana, National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Center, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), 176 Lawson’s Bay Colony, Visakhapatnam, 530017 India M. Durga Bharathi, National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Center, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), 176 Lawson’s Bay Colony, Visakhapatnam, 530017 India R. Kesava Priyan, National Institute of Oceanography, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dona Paula, 43004 Goa, India D. Taruni Manjari, National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Center, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), 176 Lawson’s Bay Colony, Visakhapatnam, 530017 India M. Dileep Kumar, National Institute of Oceanography, Doan Paula, 43004 Goa, India Journal Biodiversity and Conservation Online ISSN 1572-9710 Print ISSN 0960-3115

Description:    Brazilian peppertree ( Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, Anacardiaceae) was introduced into Florida from South America in the 1800s and commercialized as an ornamental plant. Based on herbaria records and available literature, it began to escape cultivation and invade ruderal and natural habitats in the 1950s, and is now considered to be one of Florida’s most widespread and damaging invasive plants. Historical records and molecular evidence indicate that two genetic lineages of Brazilian peppertree were established in Florida, one in Miami on the east coast and a second near Punta Gorda on the west coast. Since arriving, the distributions of these two types have greatly expanded, and they have extensively hybridized. Principal component analysis and reciprocal niche fitting were used to test the equivalency of climatic niches of the Florida populations with the climatic niches of the two South American chloroplast haplotype groups which established in Florida. Both approaches indicated a significant shift in niches between the parental populations in the native range and the invasive populations in Florida. The models, however, closely predicted the areas of initial establishment. We hypothesize that (1) Brazilian peppertree was able to gain an initial foothold in Florida due to niche similarity and (2) the current dissimilarity in native and exotic niches is due to hybridization followed by rapid selection of genotypes adapted to Florida’s climate. In addition, to examine the potential consequence of the introduction of additional genetic diversity from the native range on invasion success, a niche model constructed with occurrences of all native genotypes was projected onto the continental United States. The result of this test indicated that under such an event, the potential invasive range would greatly expand to cover most of the southeastern USA. Our study suggests that multiple introductions from disjunct regions in the native range can facilitate invasion success. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-16 DOI 10.1007/s10530-011-0168-7 Authors A. Mukherjee, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA D. A. Williams, Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, USA G. S. Wheeler, Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, USDA/ARS, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA J. P. Cuda, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA S. Pal, Department of Statistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA W. A. Overholt, Indian River Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL, USA Journal Biological Invasions Online ISSN 1573-1464 Print ISSN 1387-3547

Description:    A pot experiment was carried out (1) to compare C and N yield of different plant parts, nutrient concentrations, and root colonization between the non-mycorrhizal mutant P2 ( myc − ) and the symbiotic isoline Frisson ( myc + ), (2) to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and growing pea plants on microbial decomposition of 15 N-labeled maize residues, and (3) to follow the distribution of the added substrate over different soil fractions, such as particulate organic matter, soil microbial biomass, and microbial residues. Yields of C in straw, grain, and roots of myc + peas were significantly higher by 27%, 11%, and 92%, respectively, compared with those of myc − peas. The δ 13 C values in the different plant parts were significantly higher in myc + than in myc − tissue with and without maize. Application of labeled maize residues generally resulted in 15 N enrichment of pea plants. At the end of the experiment, the ergosterol concentration in roots of mature peas did not differ between the two isolines, indicating similar colonization by saprotrophic fungi. The decomposition of added maize residues was significantly reduced by the myc − peas, but especially by myc + peas. The formation of microbial residue C was increased and that of microbial residue N was reduced in the presence of plants. The insufficient N supply to soil microorganisms reduced decomposition of maize residues in the presence of peas, especially myc + peas. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s00374-011-0647-0 Authors Ramia Jannoura, Department of Soil Biology and Plant Nutrition, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhofstr. 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany Bernd Kleikamp, Life Science Coach & Consult, Plesseweg 75, 37120 Bovenden, Germany Jens Dyckmans, Center for Stable Isotope Research and Analysis, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077 Göttingen, Germany Rainer Georg Joergensen, Department of Soil Biology and Plant Nutrition, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhofstr. 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany Journal Biology and Fertility of Soils Online ISSN 1432-0789 Print ISSN 0178-2762

Description:    The diversity and function of viruses in coral holobionts has only recently received attention. The non-reef building gorgonian octocoral, Gorgonia ventalina, is a major constituent of Caribbean reefs. We investigated viral communities associated with G. ventalina tissues to understand their role in gorgonian ecology. Pyrosequencing was used to prepare a total of 514,632 sequence reads of DNA- and RNA-based mixed-community viral genomes (metaviromes). RNA viral assemblages were comprised of primarily unidentifiable reads, with most matching host transcripts and other RNA metaviromes. DNA metaviromes were similar between healthy and diseased tissues and comprised of contiguous sequences (contigs) that matched primarily metazoan and bacterial proteins. Only ~5% of contigs matched viral proteins that were primarily cyanophage and viruses of Chlorella and Ostreococcus . Our results confirm that DNA and RNA viruses comprise a component of the gorgonian holobiont, suggesting that they may play a role in the ecology of G. ventalina . Content Type Journal Article Category Note Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00338-011-0864-x Authors I. Hewson, Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Wing Hall 403, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA J. M. Brown, Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Wing Hall 403, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA C. A. Burge, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA C. S. Couch, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA B. A. LaBarre, Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Wing Hall 403, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA M. E. Mouchka, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA M. Naito, Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Wing Hall 403, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA C. D. Harvell, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA Journal Coral Reefs Online ISSN 1432-0975 Print ISSN 0722-4028