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The terrestrial carbon cycle is largely driven by photosynthetic plants and decomposer organisms that process biomass to CO 2. In forest ecosystems, the decomposers are predominantly wood decay fungi, and the response of community structure and activity to increasing global temperatures is likely critical to forest biogeochemical processes. Metabolic products can drive community structure and substrate utilisation, and the role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as extracellular enzymes, are of particular interest. Pair-wise interactions of a community of basidiomycetes were made under 3 different microclimate conditions that mimic fluctuations in local climate conditions, and the outcome of interactions was assessed in terms of: (1) which fungus won the confrontation or whether it was a draw (deadlock); (2) the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and enzyme activities; and (3) the rate of decomposition. While substrate utilisation and exploitation in terms of decomposition was not affected, community response to changing temperature was underpinned by altered outcomes of interactions and changes to territory occupation, which were reflected by changes in VOC production and extracellular enzyme activity. This study underlines the importance of understanding the impact of community structure on carbon cycling in forest ecosystems under a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community dynamics are mediated by species interactions, and within communities spatial heterogeneity and intransitive relationships promote coexistence. However, few experimental studies have assessed effects of heterogeneity on the interactions of competing individuals. Wood decay basidiomycete fungi are ideal for studying community structure and dynamics because they are easy to manipulate in laboratory microcosms, and communities resolve themselves rapidly. Most studies have only used simplistic pair-wise interactions in a 2-D plane, but here we investigate a three-species community in an environmentally realistic novel 3-dimensional system. We show how spatial heterogeneity and patch size dynamics are important for coexistence, and how competitive interactions change over different spatial dimensions. Emergent properties arose with increased spatial heterogeneity: the weakest competitor co-occurred with the community when its territory was less fragmented, and interactions became intransitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corona ciliata of Chaetognatha (arrow worms) is a circular or elliptical groove lined by a rim from which multiple lines of cilia emanate, located dorsally on the head and/or trunk. Mechanoreception, chemosensation, excretion, respiration, and support of reproduction have been suggested to be its main functions. Here we provide the first experimental evidence that the cilia produce significant water flow, and the first visualisation and quantification of this flow. In Spadella cephaloptera , water is accelerated toward the corona ciliata from dorsal and anterior of the body in a funnel-shaped pattern, and expelled laterally and caudally from the corona, with part of the water being recirculated. Maximal flow speeds were approximately 140 μm s −1 in adult specimens. Volumetric flow rate was Q = 0.0026 μl s −1 . The funnel-shaped directional flow can possibly enable directional chemosensation. The flow measurements demonstrate that the corona ciliata is well suited as a multifunctional organ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most harvestman species are dependent on high humidity levels and amenable temperatures for homeostasis. While they are known to actively choose environments with these conditions, no thermo-/hygroreceptor has yet been identified in harvestmen. Using electron microscopy, we investigated the ultrastructure of two types of hair sensilla of the armored harvestman Heteromitobates discolor (Laniatores, Gonyleptidae): namely the sensillum basiconicum and the hooded sensillum. Both structures occur in small numbers ( sensilla basiconica : 28 units; hooded sensilla: 4 units) and are distributed on the distal parts of the legs. On the distalmost tarsomeres I and II, the receptor cells of paired sensilla basiconica and single hooded sensillum occupy a large volume of the inner tissue, and appear tightly associated. The sensillum basiconicum is innervated by 3-4 dendrites and has a longitudinal slit giving the impression of a shaft with two flaps, resembling a beak. The slit probably allows for evaporation of sensillum lymph. The hooded sensillum is innervated by two bundles of three dendrites each, has two pore-like structures on its tip and displays an unusual reticulate cuticle of the shaft. Details of shaft cuticle, the evidence of evaporation of sensillum lymph, and specific innervation patterns support our hypothesis that sensilla basiconica are thermo- and/or hygroreceptors. Even though the definite function of hooded sensilla remains unclear, its putative receptor modalities are assessed by means of specific ultrastructures. Finally, we discuss with regard to functional ultrastructures as to whether the evaporation system of sensilla basiconica fits mechanisms of hygroreception as known from current literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition between mycelia of saprotrophic cord-forming basidiomycetes occurs both within dead woody resources and in the soil-litter interface, and involves a variety of antagonistic mechanisms including the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The antagonistic potential of VOC profiles from interactions in wood blocks and in soil microcosms was assessed using shared headspace experiments, and the profile of VOCs emitted over the course of interactions elucidated using solid phase microextraction (SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Quantitative and qualitative changes in VOC production occurred in interactions compared to self-pairing controls, with different VOC profiles from fungi growing in wood blocks compared to soil trays. There were both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of VOCs on target mycelial extension rate, hyphal coverage and fractal dimension. VOC-mediated effects were greater in self-pairing controls compared to interactions, and differed depending on the substratum in which the VOC-producing fungi were growing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal species vary in the rate and way in which they decay wood. Thus, understanding fungal community dynamics within dead wood is crucial to understanding decomposition and carbon cycling. Mycelia compete for wood territory, by employing antagonistic mechanisms involving changes in morphology, and production of volatile and diffusible chemicals. This is metabolically costly, and may affect the rate of use of the resource. The metabolic rate during pairwise interactions between wood decay ascomycetes and basidiomycetes was determined by measuring CO 2 production. CO 2 evolution altered over time, but changes were combination-specific. In only two combinations – when the dominant competitor overgrew the opponent's territory as mycelia cords – did CO 2 evolution increase over the course of the whole interaction. In most interactions, CO 2 evolution increased only after complete replacement of one competitor, suggesting utilisation of the predecessor mycelium or differences in decay ability due to alteration of the resource by the predecessor. There was no relationship between rate of CO 2 evolution and combative ability nor outcome of interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have calculated adsorption energies for N2O on the MgO (001) surface using periodic DFT calculations with the B3LYP functional and subsequent dispersion correction. Additionally a wave function-based correlation treatment at the MP2 level was performed. Whilst the B3LYP calculation failed to find a bond state, both the dispersion corrections and the MP2 treatment result in a significantly better description. The best agreement with experiment is obtained with a dispersion correction via the D3 scheme. The calculated binding energies are very similar for adsorption with the nitrogen or the oxygen end towards the surface, whilst calculated vibrational frequencies of adsorbed N2O match the experimental values better when assuming an O-down adsorption structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In Chilopoda, solitary epidermal glands are composed of a couple of cells only. These glands are highly abundant on the entire body surface and are distributed throughout the single-layered epidermis. Some authors provided more or less comprehensive observations on the structure of epidermal glands of specific chilopod taxa. However, no information is hitherto available on the ultrastructural diversity of these glands. Furthermore, potential homologies of these chilopod epidermal glands and of their characteristic cellular components remain unknown. Based on our results, we are now able to distinguish two types of epidermal glands in Chilopoda that can be clearly distinguished by their structure and the course of their conducting canal: recto-canal epidermal glands (rceg) and flexo-canal epidermal glands (fceg). In the present paper, we focus on the rceg. We examined the ultrastructural organization of these glands in the head region and on the anterior trunk segments of various representatives of the five extant chilopod orders by light- and electron-microscopy. According to our terminology, rceg consist of up to five different cell types including: a) distal canal cells, b) proximal canal cells, c) intermediary cells, and d) two different types of secretory cells. Intermediary and canal cells form a common conducting canal. The rceg may taxon-specifically differ in relative size and subcellular architecture, but all have the following features in common: 1) a wide distribution on various body regions among all five chilopod subtaxa, 2) the straight, broad and locally dilated conducting canal surrounded by closely packed microvilli or microvilliform infoldings around the apex of the canal cell(s), and 3) the tendency to aggregate to form compound glandular organs of massive size and complexity. Tricellular glandular units established by three different cell types are observed in Scutigeromorpha and Geophilomorpha, whereas four cell types constitute rceg in Lithobiomorpha and Craterostigmomorpha. Five different cell types per glandular unit are found only in Scolopendromorpha. The partial cuticularization of the lower part of the conducting canal formed by the intermediary cell, as found in Chilopoda, differs from the pattern described for equivalent euarthropod epidermal glands, as for instance in Hexapoda. Their wide distribution in Chilopoda and Progoneata makes it likely that tricellular rceg were at least present in the last common ancestor of the Myriapoda. Concerning Chilopoda, the evolution of highly diverse rceg is well explained on the basis of the Pleurostigmophora concept. Glands of the recto-canal type are also found in other arthropods. The paper discusses cases where homology of rceg and also fceg may be assumed beyond Myriapoda and briefly evaluates the potentials and the still-to-be-solved issues prior to use them as an additional character system to reconstruct the phylogeny of the Euarthropoda. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in synthesizing studies on the structure of the nervous systems with phylogenetic questions (“neurophylogeny”). However, in the discussion on the phylogeny of Malacostraca, and the question of their closest relatives, little attention has been paid to brain morphology in the basal representatives of this taxon. To close this gap in our knowledge, this study sets out to analyze the architecture of the brain of Nebalia herbstii (Leptostraca, Phyllocarida, Malacostraca) in a neurophylogenetic context. Most phylogenetic studies consider the Phyllocarida to be the sister group to the Eumalacostraca, together forming the taxon Malacostraca, so that the brain organization of N. herbstii may possess many ancestral features. Classical histological techniques and 3D reconstruction as well as immunostaining and confocal laser-scan imaging revealed that besides taxon specific characteristics, the brain organization of N. herbstii exhibits a strong eumalacostracan affinity. The four nested optic neuropils are connected by two successive chiasms. The olfactory globular tract, connecting the olfactory lobes with second order integration centers in the lateral protocerebrum, features a contralateral connection. The olfactory lobes are composed of a radial array of spherical/spheroid glomeruli but serotonergic innervations of the olfactory glomeruli are absent. These and other architectural features are discussed in comparison to the central nervous system of Eumalacostraca, Remipedia, non-malacostracan Crustacea and Hexapoda, and are synthesized into a ground pattern of the malacostracan brain that might serve as a basis for neurophylogenetic discussion of the evolutionary relationship of these taxa. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have characterised the Lewis acidity of unsaturated surface cations of MgF2 crystals using periodic calculations at the B3LYP level. The relative importance of low index surfaces was determined by calculating surface energies, and these surfaces were then probed by CO adsorption. We found that a MgF2 microcrystal should expose mainly (110), (100) and (101) surfaces in which the undercoordinated cations are fivefold coordinated. The adsorption energies and CO stretching frequencies are discussed with respect to the coordination number of surface cations and the stability of the surfaces and are compared to IR spectra from the literature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]