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In late summer-early autumn, trees undergo growth cessation culminating in bud set. For a wide range of plants, including Populus, photoperiod is considered as the primary environmental cue determining timing of growth cessation and shoot to bud transition. However, studies on Populus have revealed temperature influence on seasonal growth cessation and bud set. In this study we examine the role of temperature in regulating the transition between phenological stages of bud development, from a growing apex to a closed bud. We test different model structures incorporating cues from both temperature and photoperiod (M1 and M2) as compared to the previously established model based on photoperiod only (M0, null hypothesis). All models simulate the date of bud set for Populus trees from 12 latitudinal populations grown in the common garden of Savar. For two of the three years (2005 and 2007) M1 and M2 models outperformed the null model in predicting bud set date. Poor predictions for 2006 were related to stressful weather conditions. This indicates that under non-stressful conditions temperature can be a factor modifying the photoperiod response, while other regulatory mechanisms can be at play during stressful conditions. A phenological model of bud development has to account for both types of responses. Thus, our study highlights the importance of temperature as a factor that should be considered in addition to the well-established photoperiodic signal in studies on autumnal bud set under natural conditions.

In 2018, up to 4 million m3 Norway spruce was killed by the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus in Sweden. The event was unique for Sweden, in terms of both affected volume and the fact that it was triggered by severe drought stress, not by ample availability of relatively defenseless storm-felled trees. The outbreak continued in 2019 and 2020, each year with twice as many trees killed as in 2018. The aim of this study was to quantify seasonal variation and potential lag-effects in tree defense capacity the year after a severe drought stress. Inoculation with a bark beetle-associated bluestain fungus, repeated four times with one-month-intervals between May and August 2019, were carried out at three field sites with spruce provenances of Swedish and East European origin representing early and late bud burst, respectively. All sites had experienced moderate to severe drought stress in 2018, and site-specific defense capacity correlated positively with the cumulative precipitation two months before inoculation. Sites with two-month precipitation levels

Forestry is raising concern about the outbreaks of European spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, causing extensive damage to the spruce forest and timber values. Precise monitoring of these beetles is a necessary step towards preventing outbreaks. Current commercial monitoring methods are catch-based and lack in both temporal and spatial resolution. In this work, light scattering from beetles is characterized, and the feasibility of entomological lidar as a tool for long-term monitoring of bark beetles is explored. Laboratory optical properties, wing thickness, and wingbeat frequency of bark beetles are reported, and these parameters can infer target identity in lidar data. Lidar results from a Swedish forest with controlled bark beetle release event are presented. The capability of lidar to simultaneously monitor both insects and a pheromone plume mixed with chemical smoke governing the dispersal of many insects is demonstrated. In conclusion, entomological lidar is a promising tool for monitoring bark beetles.

Climate change can lead to an increased frequency of extreme weather events, which may induce a decline in tree vitality, rendering the forest more vulnerable to other stress factors. In this study we used the ecosystem model LPJ-GUESS to compare the NPP of boreal conifers on till soil and sandy soil, simulating the growth of Norway spruce during the 21st century using climate model projections corresponding to RCP 8.5. Model runs with and without nitrogen cycling enabled, in combination with two different approaches to implement the dynamics of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) were compared. The simulations showed that the forest productivity in Sweden is influenced by an interplay between site-specific temperature conditions and precipitation. Local differences in soil conditions can have an impact on the productivity, mediated by soil water and nutrient content. A warmer climate will lead to a longer growing season, but the productivity increase will partly be offset by a higher frequency of drought stress in summer and higher autotrophic respiration in winter. The ecosystem model runs indicated that periods with drought stress can cause low NSC levels, leading to time periods with decreased defence capacity against attacks by secondary agents such as bark beetles. The risks may however not become apparent until the forest stands are middle-aged. The model results are discussed in relation to current forestry practice, with Norway spruce (Picea abies) commonly being planted on dry soils better suited for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in order to reduce moose browsing damage of seedlings, which in the longer term may create a forest landscape more sensitive to spruce bark beetle attacks.

In 2010, the first, and so far only, infestation of the Hungarian spruce scale (Physokermes inopinatus) and accompanying sooty mould occurred in Scania, southernmost Sweden. About 1000 ha of Norway spruce (Picea abies) were affected, and the trees suffered from the sucking of the insects as well as from the dense sooty mould that covered the needles. Salvage cuttings were carried out in many of the massively attacked forest stands, both in response to the fear that the trees otherwise would die, e.g. from secondary bark beetle attacks and to prevent spreading of the infestation. The aim of this study was to provide basic, quantitative knowledge on the aftermath response of trees that were heavily infested, but not exposed to salvage cutting. Growth characteristics, in terms of needle weight, shoot length and tree-ring size were measured on infested and uninfested trees to compare and contrast the spruce growth before, during and after the scale outbreak. The infestation resulted in dwarf annual sh...

Background A warmer climate has consequences for the timing of phenological events, as temperature is a key factor controlling plant development and flowering. In this study, we analyse the effects of the long-term climate change and an extreme weather event on the first flowering day (FFD) of five spring-flowering wild plant species in the United Kingdom. Citizen science data from the UK Woodland Trust were obtained for five species: Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot), Anemone nemorosa (wood anemone), Hyacinthoides non-scripta (bluebell), Cardamine pratensis (cuckooflower) and Alliaria petiolate (garlic mustard). Results Out of the 351 site-specific time series (≥ 15-years of FFD records), 74.6% showed significant negative response rates, i.e. earlier flowering in warmer years, ranging from − 5.6 to − 7.7 days °C−1. 23.7% of the series had non-significant negative response rates, and 1.7% had non-significant positive response rates. For cuckooflower, the response rate was increasingly more negative with decreasing latitudes. The winter of 2007 reflects an extreme weather event, about 2 °C warmer compared to 2006, where the 2006 winter temperatures were similar to the 1961–1990 baseline average. The FFD of each species was compared between 2006 and 2007. The results showed that the mean FFD of all species significantly advanced between 13 and 18 days during the extreme warmer winter of 2007, confirming that FFD is affected by temperature. Conclusion Given that all species in the study significantly respond to ambient near-surface temperatures, they are suitable as climate-change indicators. However, the responses to a + 2 °C warmer winter were both more and less pronounced than expected from an analysis of ≥ 15-year time series. This may reflect non-linear responses, species-specific thresholds and cumulative temperature effects. It also indicates that knowledge on extreme weather events is needed for detailed projections of potential climate change effects.

The ongoing climate change can influence the dynamic of insect populations and therefore the Insect species Responsible for Forest Damage (“insects-RFD” hereafter). The present study aims at identifying the most occurring insects-RFD in Sweden, and exploring the relationships between insects-RFD and climate and land management changes. The recorded insect attacks based on historical reports, literature and databases, were collected for North, Central and South of Sweden, and for two periods at yearly time scales: 1850–1950 and 1961–2014. A series of analyses has been carried out based on this dataset: 1-Estimation of the occurrence of each insects-RFD over years to assess which insect species have caused the major forest damage, 2-Ratios of broadleaved versus conifer host trees to estimate the main types of damaged forests, and 3-Canonical correspondence analyses to evaluate how much climate (winter and summer temperature, winter and summer precipitation, and storms) and land management (land areas for wood production, standing volume for all trees and standing volume for deciduous trees) changes have affected insects-RFD. The results reveal that the most occurring insects-RFD differ between the North and South of Sweden, and between 1850–1950 and 1961–2014. The most occurring insects-RFD since 1850 were Ips typographus, Neodiprion sertifer, Tortrix viridana, Hylobius abietis and Tomicus piniperda. The occurrences of insects-RFD have been higher in the South of Sweden since at least 1850 than in other regions. The North of Sweden have been mostly affected by insects-RFD between 1911 and 1950. Canonical correspondence analyses show that the spread of insects-RFD might be related to environmental conditions. More particularly, the insects-RFD variation explained are increasing between 1902–1950 and 1961–2007 in all Sweden for temperature (winter and summer) and in Central and South of Sweden for storm damage. However, the evolution of landscape management would participate in influencing insects-RFD, in particular from 1961, when changes in forest management (e.g. increase in land areas for wood production) have been developed, as well as the way to report insect forest damages. This long-term perspective of how changes in climate and land management have influenced insects-RFD is of great interest for further discussion about climate adaptation strategies in forestry and ecosystem services.

Europe is one of the world’s largest food producers, and climate change may pose a serious threat to food security in the region. In the present study, we assess the potential impact of climate change on the Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)—a severe pest of potato (Solanum tuberosum, L.). We also investigate the possible impact of climate change on the phenological development of potato. The main focus is on factors that may limit the northward expansion of the CPB, and the number of generations per year in areas where the insect pest is already present. These factors include lack of temperature sum for completed development before winter, and lack of food (i.e. potato) due to mismatches in insect-host plant phenological synchrony. We use a gridded observational dataset and an ensemble of bias corrected regional climate model data for the period of 1981–2099, representing RCP8.5, as input to a potato and CPB phenological model. The results show that in the future, CPB individuals with a low developmental threshold (+10 °C) can complete maturity of two generations per year before potato is harvested in most parts of Europe. A third generation of CPB may not be able to complete maturation due to lack of food in south and central Europe, while temperature becomes a limiting factor further north. In north-eastern Europe, the initiation of a first generation may be delayed due to lack of food in spring. CPBs with a high developmental threshold (+12 °C) will emerge later from winter hibernation, and food availability will therefore not be a problem in spring. However, individuals with a high developmental threshold face a greater risk of regeneration failure caused by harvesting of potato in autumn. The potential lack of food in autumn may also increase the strength of selection towards a low developmental threshold in northern populations. The combined analysis of CPB and potato phenology indicated that climate change can lead to increased pressure from the CPB in most potato growing areas.

Climate change is altering legacies of native insect-caused disturbances and contributing to non-native invasions globally. Many insect fitness traits are temperature dependent and projected climatic changes are expected to cause continued alterations in insect-caused tree mortality, with uncertain consequences for forest ecosystems and their management. Dendroctonus ponderosae in Pinus habitats of western North America and Ips typographus in European Picea are among the most significant tree mortality agents on each continent. Changing climate is influencing both species in their native habitats, although thermal suitability if they should invade new continents and novel forest habitats has not been investigated. We assessed thermal suitability for intra- and inter-continental establishment using physiological models that describe evolved, temperature-dependent traits of each species. Models were driven by projections from two Global Climate Models representing RCP 8.5. Simulations suggest that for both species the common phenological strategy of one generation annually (univoltine) will shift northward with warming throughout this century. As optimum habitat for I. typographus univoltinism shifts northward, habitat supporting a 2nd generation, a historically common strategy in warm European Picea forests, expands on both continents. In contrast, a 2nd D. ponderosae generation has been historically rare due to traits that evolved for phenological synchrony in its cool native habitats. As thermal habitat for D. ponderosae univoltinism shifts northward, suitability for a 2nd generation is limited to the warmest Pinus forests on both continents. In the near future (2011-2040), models project extensive thermal suitability for inter-continental establishment of both species, highlighting the need for effective mitigation policies and continued monitoring at ports in an era of climate change and increasing global trade. Throughout the century, thermal suitability remains high for I. typographus population success on both continents, for D. ponderosae in warm areas of Europe, and for D. ponderosae expansion into novel North American Pinus habitats. Portions of the historical D. ponderosae range, however, are projected to become thermally unsuitable.

Ecosystem productivity is influenced by the start and end of the growing season, and ecosystem models that simulate productivity need reliable representations of the phenology. For the seasonal development, autumn events are less understood than spring events, with comparatively fewer modelling attempts have been made for leaf senescence than for budburst. The few existing models for autumn phenology represent the influence of temperature and photoperiod. In this study, the aim was to evaluate which type of temperature response, photoperiod requirement and interaction between temperature and photoperiod captured the variation in leaf colouring more accurately. We tested existing models on a large dataset and developed new models by combining seven model components: linear or sigmoid temperature response above or below a base temperature, with or without modification by photoperiod, and photoperiod requirements (starting day of temperature response). Potential photoperiod requirement for leaf senescence induction was assessed by using a calibrated starting day or day of budburst that instead of a requirement represent the start of the ageing processes. Day of leaf colouring was simulated using 37 models for birch, beech and oak in Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom, in total 111 model runs that was compared to average day of leaf colouring. In 109 out of 111 simulations, average day of leaf colouring provided a better estimate. Some of the better performing models resembled average day of leaf colouring by counting number of days. Overall, the results indicate that the models estimated response to temperature and photoperiod do not support the use of a fixed degree-day requirement, especially across large regions. No photoperiod requirement could be inferred, and photoperiod in combination with temperature response provided little or no improvement on model performance. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (Less)

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian clear cell carcinomas (OCCCs) constitute a rare ovarian cancer subtype with distinct clinical features, but may nonetheless be difficult to distinguish morphologically from other subtypes. There is limited knowledge of genetic events driving OCCC tumorigenesis beyondARID1A, which is reportedly mutated in 30-50% of OCCCs. We aimed to further characterize OCCCs by combined global transcriptional profiling and targeted deep sequencing of a panel of well-established cancer genes. Increased knowledge of OCCC-specific genetic aberrations may help in guiding development of targeted treatments and ultimately improve patient outcome.METHODS: Gene expression profiling of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue from a cohort of the major ovarian cancer subtypes (cohort 1;n = 67) was performed using whole-genome cDNA-mediated Annealing, Selection, extension and Ligation (WG-DASL) bead arrays, followed by pathway, gene module score, and gene ontology analyses, respectively. A second FFPE cohort of 10 primary OCCCs was analyzed by targeted DNA sequencing of a panel of 60 cancer-related genes (cohort 2). Non-synonymous and non-sense variants affecting single-nucleotide variations and insertions or deletions were further analyzed. A tissue microarray of 43 OCCCs (cohort 3) was used for validation by immunohistochemistry and chromogenicin situhybridization.RESULTS: Gene expression analyses revealed a distinct OCCC profile compared to other histological subtypes, with, e.g.,ERBB2, TFAP2A, and genes related to cytoskeletal actin regulation being overexpressed in OCCC. ERBB2 was, however, not overexpressed on the protein level andERBB2amplification was rare in the validation cohort. Targeted deep sequencing revealed non-synonymous variants or insertions/deletions in 11/60 cancer-related genes. Genes involved in chromatin remodeling, includingARID1A, SPOP, andKMT2Dwere frequently mutated across OCCC tumors.CONCLUSION: OCCCs appear genetically heterogeneous, but harbor frequent alterations in chromatin remodeling genes. Overexpression ofTFAP2AandERBB2was observed on the mRNA level in relation to other ovarian cancer subtypes. However, overexpression ofERBB2was not reflected by HER2 amplification or protein overexpression in the OCCC validation cohort. In addition, Rho GTPase-dependent actin organization may also play a role in OCCC pathogenesis and warrants further investigation. The distinct biological features of OCCC discovered here may provide a basis for novel targeted treatment strategies.

Bark beetle population dynamics is thought to be primarily driven by bottom-up forces affecting insect performance and host tree resistance. Although there are theoretical predictions and empirical evidences that predation and parasitism may play an important role in driving bark beetle population fluctuations, long-term studies testing the role of both biotic and abiotic controls on population dynamics are still rare. The aim of the study was to quantify the relative importance of predation, negative density feedback and abiotic factors in driving Ips typographus population dynamics. We analyzed a unique time series of population density of I. typographus and its main predator Thanasimus formicarius over almost two decades in four regions across Sweden. We used a discrete population model and a multi-model inference approach to evaluate the importance of both bottom up and top down factors. We found that availability of breeding substrates in the form of storm-felled trees was the main outbreak trigger, while strong intra-specific competition for host trees was the main endogenous regulating factor. Although temperature-related metrics are known to have strong individual effect on I. typographus development and number of generations, they did not emerge as important drivers of population dynamics. A positive effect of low summer rainfall was evident only in the region located in the southernmost and warmest part of the spruce distribution range in Sweden. Predator density did not emerge as an important prey regulating factor. As the reported damage from storms seems to have increased across whole Europe, spruce forests are expected to be increasingly susceptible to large outbreaks of I. typographus with important economic and ecological consequences for boreal ecosystems. However, the observed negative density feedback seems to be a natural regulating mechanism that impedes a strong long-term propagation of the outbreaks.

Bark beetles are among the most devastating biotic agents affecting forests globally and several species are expected to be favored by climate change. Given the potential interactions of insect outbreaks with other biotic and abiotic disturbances, and the potentially strong impact of changing disturbance regimes on forest resources, investigating climatic drivers of destructive bark beetle outbreaks is of paramount importance. We analyzed 17 time-series of the amount of wood damaged by Ips typographus, the most destructive pest of Norway spruce forests, collected across 8 European countries in the last three decades. We aimed to quantify the relative importance of key climate drivers in explaining timber loss dynamics, also testing for possible synergistic effects. Local outbreaks shared the same drivers, including increasing summer rainfall deficit and warm temperatures. Large availability of storm-felled trees in the previous year was also strongly related to an increase in timber loss, likely by providing an alternative source of breeding material. We did not find any positive synergy among outbreak drivers. On the contrary, the occurrence of large storms reduced the positive effect of warming temperatures and rainfall deficit. The large surplus of breeding material likely boosted I. typographus population size above the density threshold required to colonize and kill healthy trees irrespective of other climate triggers. Importantly, we found strong negative density dependence in I. typographus that may provide a mechanism for population decline after population eruptions. Generality in the effects of complex climatic events across different geographical areas suggests that the large-scale drivers can be used as early warning indicators of increasing local outbreak probability., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Forests are important from many perspectives. Forestry delivers products such as timber, fiber and fuel; forests are also important for recreational activities as well as for the global carbon balance. Consequently, it is important to develop methods that enable efficient monitoring of disturbances, such as insect attacks, over vast forested areas. These methods can be based on remote sensing, since satellites provide images with frequent spatial coverage. Insect attacks can be detected in these satellite data if the resulting defoliation or discolouration is sufficiently severe. Satellite data also facilitates monitoring of migration patterns of invasive insects since some sensors provide time series that enables tracing of insect attacks back in time. In this study, SPOT and MODIS data were utilized to map damage in Norway spruce (Picea abies) caused by Physokermes inopinatus, and the associated black encrustation formed by sooty mold during an attack occurring 2010 in Scania, the southernmost province of Sweden. This attack is the first known presence of P. inopinatus in Sweden. The study shows that damage can be detected with high accuracy in satellite data. In SPOT-data, 78% of the damage was detected with an overestimation of 46%. The larger damaged areas could be detected with MODIS 16-days composite NDVI-product with 250 m resolution. In addition, the study indicates that there was damage already in 2009, the year before any damage was detected in field. Prior to 2009 no damage was detected, suggesting that this was the first year of the outbreak. This study documents the outbreak of P. inopinatus in S. Sweden and highlights the potential for remote sensing for monitoring and early detection of damage of this invasive insect. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (Less)

The Eurasian spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, is one of the major forest insect pests in Europe, capable of mass-attacking and killing mature Norway spruce trees. The initiation and development of a new generation are strongly controlled by temperature and a warmer climate may affect the number of generations that is produced per year and hence the outbreak dynamics. Experimental knowledge regarding reproductive diapause adaptations is, however, too sparse for large-scale assessments of future trends. We developed a model description of diapause induction, and used gridded observational temperature data to evaluate multiple combinations of day length and temperature thresholds to find the model parameterisation most coherent with I. typographus monitoring data from Scandinavia. The selected model parameterisation is supported by European literature data, though further experimental studies are required to analyse population specific adaptations and capacity for adjustments to changing climate conditions. Implementing the model description of reproductive diapause in a temperature driven model of bark beetle phenology (swarming activity and development from egg to mature bark beetle), enabled us to assess the length of the late summer swarming period that is a critical determinant of the risk of forest damage. By using regional climate model data we show that higher temperatures can result in increased frequency and length of late summer swarming events, producing a second generation in southern Scandinavia and a third generation in lowland parts of central Europe. Reproductive diapause will not prevent the occurrence of an additional generation per year, but the day length cues may restrict the length of the late summer swarming period.

Understanding the effects of climate change on boreal forests which hold about 7% of the global terrestrial biomass carbon is a major issue. An important mechanism in boreal tree species is acclimatization to seasonal variations in temperature (cold hardiness) to withstand low temperatures during winter. Temperature drops below the hardiness level may cause frost damage. Increased climate variability under global and regional warming might lead to more severe frost damage events, with consequences for tree individuals, populations and ecosystems. We assessed the potential future impacts of changing frost regimes on Norway spruce ( Picea abies L. Karst.) in Sweden. A cold hardiness and frost damage model were incorporated within a dynamic ecosystem model, LPJ-GUESS. The frost tolerance of Norway spruce was calculated based on daily mean temperature fluctuations, corresponding to time and temperature dependent chemical reactions and cellular adjustments. The severity of frost damage was calculated as a growth-reducing factor when the minimum temperature was below the frost tolerance. The hardiness model was linked to the ecosystem model by reducing needle biomass and thereby growth according to the calculated severity of frost damage. A sensitivity analysis of the hardiness model revealed that the severity of frost events was significantly altered by variations in the hardening rate and dehardening rate during current climate conditions. The modelled occurrence and intensity of frost events was related to observed crown defoliation, indicating that 6–12% of the needle loss could be attributed to frost damage. When driving the combined ecosystem-hardiness model with future climate from a regional climate model (RCM), the results suggest a decreasing number and strength of extreme frost events particularly in northern Sweden and strongly increasing productivity for Norway spruce by the end of the 21st century as a result of longer growing seasons and increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentrations. However, according to the model, frost damage might decrease the potential productivity by as much as 25% early in the century.

The spruce bark beetle Ips typographus is one of the major insect pests of mature Norway spruce forests. In this study, a model describing the temperature-dependent thresholds for swarming activity and temperature requirement for development from egg to adult was driven by transient regional climate scenario data for Sweden, covering the period of 1961-2100 for three future climate change scenarios (SRES A2, A1B and B2). During the 20th century, the weather supported the production of one bark beetle generation per year, except in the north-western mountainous parts of Sweden where the climate conditions were too harsh. A warmer climate may sustain a viable population also in the mountainous part; however, the distributional range of I. typographus may be restricted by the migration speed of Norway spruce. Modelling suggests that an earlier timing of spring swarming and fulfilled development of the first generation will significantly increase the frequency of summer swarming. Model calculations suggest that the spruce bark beetle will be able to initiate a second generation in South Sweden during 50% of the years around the mid century. By the end of the century, when temperatures during the bark beetle activity period are projected to have increased by 2.4-3.8 degrees C, a second generation will be initiated in South Sweden in 63-81% of the years. The corresponding figures are 16-33% for Mid Sweden, and 1-6% for North Sweden. During the next decades, one to two generations per year are predicted in response to temperature, and the northern distribution limit for the second generation will vary. Our study addresses questions applicable to sustainable forest management, suggesting that adequate countermeasures require monitoring of regional differences in timing of swarming and development of I. typographus, and planning of control operations during summer periods with large populations of bark beetles.

We investigated if coarse-resolution satellite data from the MODIS sensor can be used for regional monitoring of insect disturbances in Fennoscandia. A damage detection method based on z-scores of seasonal maximums of the 2-band Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI2) was developed. Time-series smoothing was applied and Receiver Operating Characteristics graphs were used for optimisation. The method was developed in fragmented and heavily managed forests in eastern Finland dominated by Scots pine ( L.) (pinaceae) and with defoliation of European pine sawfly ( Geoffr.) (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) and common pine sawfly ( L.) (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae). The method was also applied to subalpine mountain birch ( N.I. Orlova) forests in northern Sweden, infested by autumnal moth (Borkhausen) and winter moth ( L.). In Finland, detection accuracies were fairly low with 50% of the damaged stands detected, and a misclassification of healthy stands of 22%. In areas with long outbreak histories the method resulted in extensive misclassification. In northern Sweden accuracies were higher, with 75% of the damage detected and a misclassification of healthy samples of 19%. Our results indicate that MODIS data may fail to detect damage in fragmented forests, particularly when the damage history is long. Therefore, regional studies based on these data may underestimate defoliation. However, the method yielded accurate results in homogeneous forest ecosystems and when long-enough periods without damage could be identified. Furthermore, the method is likely to be useful for insect disturbance detection using future medium-resolution data, e.g. from Sentinel‑2.Pinus sylvestrisNeodiprion sertiferDiprion piniBetula pubescensssp. Czerepanovii Epirrita autumnata Operophtera brumata

Mass-propagation of the spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, following windfalls and drought is a serious threat to mature spruce forests. Climate change will affect the population dynamics of I. typographus directly as the swarming activity and development rate are mainly controlled by temperature, and indirectly via changes in availability of brood trees. Today, I. typographus is in general univoltine in southern Sweden. In Denmark, however, the weather conditions usually support the production of a second generation. By modelling the temperature dependent population dynamics, we have evaluated the effect of regional climate change scenarios for the period of 2070-2099 on I. typographus in southern Sweden. Our results indicate that temperature increase will have a step-wise effect on the population dynamics. Earlier spring swarming and a faster development from egg to mature bark beetle increase the probability of a second swarming period during summer. A second swarming will be customary with an annual mean temperature increase of 2-3 degrees C. The thermal requirement for development of a second generation may, however, not be fulfilled every year with an annual mean temperature increase less than 5-6 degrees C. Winter is fatal for immature bark beetles, and the larger the temperature increase, the higher the probability that the second generation will complete development and survive hibernation. The temperature regime during autumn will therefore have a decisive impact on the size of the swarming population next spring. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (Less)

We have developed a gill-filament based ethoxyresorufin O -deethylase (EROD) assay to be used as a tool to monitor cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) induction in caged fish. The present study aimed to compare temporal patterns of EROD induction in gills and liver of rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) exposed in the laboratory to readily metabolized and persistent CYP1A inducers, i.e. indigo, benzo[ a ]pyrene (BaP), and 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB#126). Branchial and hepatic EROD activities were examined in fish exposed for 6, 12, or 24 h and in fish exposed for 24 h and then held in clean water for 2 or 14 days. Furthermore, branchial CYP1A protein expression was localized by immunohistochemistry. All compounds strongly induced branchial EROD activity within 6 h. The highest EROD inductions observed for indigo, BaP, and PCB#126 were roughly similar in gills (52-, 76-, and 74-fold), but differed considerably in liver (11-, 78-, and 200-fold). In indigo- and BaP-exposed fish, both hepatic and branchial EROD activities decreased rapidly in clean water. In PCB#126-exposed fish, decreased branchial and increased hepatic EROD activities were observed following transfer to clean water. The substances gave rise to immunostaining for CYP1A at different cellular sites. All inducers increased the CYP1A-immunostaining in the gill filament secondary lamellae, but PCB#126 also induced a pronounced CYP1A immunoreactivity in cells near the basal membrane of the epithelium of the primary lamellae. The observation that the low BaP and indigo concentrations induced EROD activity markedly in the gills but only slightly or not at all in the liver, supports the contention that readily metabolized AhR agonists may escape detection when hepatic EROD activity is used for environmental monitoring. The results show that gill filament EROD activity is a sensitive biomarker both for persistent and readily metabolized AhR agonists in polluted water.

The boreal and boreo-nemoral forests in Europe, which occur in northern and northeastern Europe, are dominated by 2 coniferous species, Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) Karst. being economically the most important one. Forestry is of major economic importance in this region. Forestry planning and climate change scenarios are based on similar (long-term) timescales, i.e. between 70 and 120 yr. Within the EU project 'Modelling the Impact of Climate Extremes' (MICE), we have used 'present day' runs (1961-1990) and future scenarios (2070-2100, emission scenarios A2 and B2 from the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios [SRES]) of the HadRM3 regional climate model to study and model direct and indirect effects of changing climate on Norway spruce in Sweden and northern Europe. According to our results, extreme climate events like spring temperature backlashes and summer drought will increase in frequency and duration. In combination with a raised mean temperature, climate extremes will negatively precondition trees (i.e. increase their susceptibility) to secondary damage through pests and pathogens. Decreased forest vitality also makes stands more susceptible to windthrow. Storm damage is discussed based on a 100 yr storm damage record for Sweden. Marginally increased frequencies and windspeeds of storms may cause disproportionate increases in windthrow. Increased economic hazards can be expected from a combination of the increased volumes of wind-thrown timber, and a greater likelihood of additional generations of spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (further encouraged by the increase in fallen timber), as a result of a changing climate with warmer summers. (Less)

In boreal and nemoboreal forests, tree frost hardiness is modified in reaction to cues from day length and temperature. The dehardening processes in Norway spruce, Picea abies, could be estimated to start when the daily mean temperature is above 5 degreesC for 5 days. Bud burst will occur approximately after 120-170 degree-days above 5 degreesC. dependent on genetic differences among provenances. A reduced cold hardiness level during autumn and spring and an advanced onset of bud burst are expected impacts of projected future global wart-ning. The aim of this study was to test if this will increase the risk for frost damage caused by temperature backlashes. This was tested for Sweden by comparing output from the Hadley Centre regional climate model, HadRM3H, for the period 1961-1990 with future IPCC scenario SRES A2 and B2 for 2070-2099. Different indices for calculating the susceptibility to frost damage were used to assess changes in frost damage risk. The indices were based on: (1) the start of dehardening; (2) the severity of the temperature backlash: (3) the timing of bud burst: and (4) the cold hardiness level. The start of dehardening and bud burst were calculated to occur earlier all over the country. which is in line with the overall warming in both climate change scenarios. The frequency of temperature backlashes that may cause frost damage was calculated to increase in the southern part, an effect that became gradually less pronounced towards the north. The different timing of the onset of dehardening mainly caused this systematic latitudinal pattern. In the south, it occurs early in the year when the seasonal temperature progression is slow and large temperature variations occur. In the north, dehardening will occur closer to the spring equinox when the temperature progression is faster. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (Less)

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the N, P and K status on frost sensitivity of Norway spruce needles in a fertilization experiment situated in a nutrient poor 29-year-old Picea abies stand in western Denmark. The relative difference in frost sensitivity among trees was assessed by an index of injury, based on conductivity measurements of ion leakage from needles. Despite fertilization, all trees indicated N, P and K deficiency. The foliage, collected in late winter, was generally not very frost sensitive, but foliage from trees with the lowest K and P status were more sensitive to frost, and the current year needles were more sensitive than the second and third year needles. The advancement of bud burst was assessed in May. Trees with a relatively high N concentration in the current year needles had a more advanced bud burst than trees with a lower N concentration, increasing the risk for frost damage by a temperature backlash.

The effect of burning piles of slash on a Norway spruce clear-cut in southern Sweden was followed for 3 years. The vegetation cover, soil chemistry, soil water at a depth of 30 - 40 cm and runoff water were studied. The burnt plots were without vegetation for several months after burning, while the control plots were almost totally covered by Deschampsia flexuosa and Galium saxatile. The remaining mor horizon of the burnt plots had a pH of 6 compared with pH 4.4 in the control plots. This caused more intense nitrification of the burnt plots that, in turn, caused an acid push with high concentrations of hydrogen ions, nitrate and potassium in the soil water. After 1 year, a cover of D. flexuosa and G. saxatile had also developed on the burnt plots, and the soil water chemistry no longer indicated an elevated leakage of ions. Throughout the study period, no leaching effect was observed in the runoff water. This was explained by nutrient retention of a swamp forest with Betula pubescens on peat soil, surrounding the ditch collecting the runoff water. The increased risk of developing a nutrient imbalance in the next forest generation may strongly outweigh the short-term benefit of reduced competition between tree seedlings and forest floor vegetation, especially if the slash burning is not expected to be of any value for species conservation. (Less)

Bark beetles that feed on live tissue are major contributors to global tree mortality and can also cause declines in crop systems. Many bark beetle life history traits that influence population success are temperature dependent, and climate change will therefore cause significant alterations to bark beetle population dynamics, both positive and negative. Many species have responded to increased temperature and reduced precipitation in the past decade, and projected global changes will undoubtedly continue to manifest through alterations in bark beetle population outbreaks and shifts in species distributions. To adequately manage future forest and agriculture ecosystems, knowledge of potential bark beetle impacts in a changing climate will be required. Despite the importance of climate in predicting bark beetle outbreaks, only six species have sufficient information for development of mechanistic and statistical models. We review mechanistic phenology models that incorporate thermally dependent physiological processes that control survival and seasonality (i.e., development, diapause, cold tolerance), and ecosystem models that describe the effect of climate and host plant conditions on bark beetle population abundance using statistical and analytical techniques. We discuss commonalities that may facilitate future modeling frameworks and identify limitations that could hinder projections in future climates.

Bark necrosis and resin flows in Norway spruce have increased in southern Sweden over the last few decades. Frost damage late in spring has been suggested as a possible cause, but other factors besides the climate may have contributed to the damage. The nutrient status influences the hardening processes and plants with poor nutritional conditions have an increased sensitivity to frost. In this study the sensitivity to frost of bark and the hardiness status of needles of Norway spruce were compared with the nutrient status at two sites with different soil fertility. The trees were 30-40 years old. The hardiness status of the bark and needles was negatively affected by low concentrations of P and Mg.

Bark lesions on beech are mostly caused by frost damage and/or insect and fungal infections. Liming, treatment with wood ash and N-fertilization were hypothesised to affect this type of damage. The frost sensitivity was measured as an index of injury, calculated from electrolytic leakage of bark samples. Samples were taken from the same trees in August and November at five sites. Two sites had been limed, one treated with wood ash and two had been fertilized with nitrogen, one of them with an additional phosphorous fertilization. Trees fertilized with nitrogen had significantly more lesions than trees from other treatments. The bark was more damaged at −20°C than at −10°C in both August and November at experimental conditions. No clear pattern in temperature sensitivity was detectable among sites or treatments approximately seven years after soil treatment. Trees with bark lesions seemed to be less able to withstand low temperatures.

Decline in pH and leakage of base cations have been recorded in beech forest soils in southern Sweden. This study investigated the influence of soil properties on frost sensitivity in beech bark and evaluated the effects on frost sensitivity of soil treatment with lime, wood ash or excessive N fertilization. Beech trees on five experimental sites were studied. The results indicated that beech trees subjected to a comparatively low C/N ratio and low concentration of nutrient elements in the mineral soil layer were predisposed to a higher sensitivity to frost. Seven years after treatment, no effects of N fertilization were detectable in the soil, but positive effects of liming were recorded. There were no obvious effects of bark ash amendments, owing to large differences among blocks at the site.

The roles of the two ldh genes of Enterococcus faecalis were studied using knockout mutants. Deletion of ldh-1 causes a metabolic shift from homolactic fermentation to ethanol, formate, and acetoin production, with a high level of formate production even under aerobic conditions. Ldh-2 plays only a minor role in lactate production.

Budburst models have mainly been developed to capture the processes of individual trees, and vary in their complexity and plant physiological realism. We evaluated how well eleven models capture the variation in budburst of birch and Norway spruce in Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom and Finland. The comparison was based on the models performance in relation to their underlying physiological assumptions with four different calibration schemes. The models were not able to accurately simulate the timing of budburst. In general the models overestimated the temperature effect, thereby the timing of budburst was simulated too early in the United Kingdom and too late in Finland. Among the better performing models were three models based on the growing degree day concept, with or without day length or chilling, and an empirical model based on spring temperatures. These models were also the models least influenced by the calibration data. For birch the best calibration scheme was based on multiple sites in either Germany or Europe, and for Norway spruce the best scheme included multiple sites in Germany or cold years of all sites. Most model and calibration combinations indicated greater bias with higher spring temperatures, mostly simulating earlier than observed budburst.

ObjectiveTranscriptional profiling of epithelial ovarian cancer has revealed molecular subtypes correlating to biological and clinical features. We aimed to determine gene expression differences between malignant, benign and borderline serous ovarian tumors, and investigate similarities with the well-established intrinsic molecular subtypes of breast cancer.MethodsGlobal gene expression profiling using Illumina's HT12 Bead Arrays was applied to 59 fresh-frozen serous ovarian malignant, benign and borderline tumors. Nearest centroid classification was performed applying previously published gene profiles for the ovarian and breast cancer subtypes. Correlations to gene expression modules representing key biological breast cancer features were also sought. Validation was performed using an independent, publicly available dataset.Results5,944 genes were significantly differentially expressed between benign and malignant serous ovarian tumors, with cell cycle processes enriched in the malignant subgroup. Borderline tumors were split between the two clusters. Significant correlations between the malignant serous tumors and the highly aggressive ovarian cancer signatures, and the basal-like breast cancer subtype were found. The benign and borderline serous tumors together were significantly correlated to the normal-like breast cancer subtype and the ovarian cancer signature derived from borderline tumors. The borderline tumors in the study dataset, in addition, also correlated significantly to the luminal A breast cancer subtype. These findings remained when analyzed in an independent dataset, supporting links between the molecular subtypes of ovarian cancer and breast cancer beyond those recently acknowledged.ConclusionsThese data link the transcriptional profiles of serous ovarian cancer to the intrinsic molecular subtypes of breast cancer, in line with the shared clinical and molecular features between high-grade serous ovarian cancer and basal-like breast cancer, and suggest that biomarkers and targeted therapies may overlap between these tumor subsets. The link between benign and borderline ovarian cancer and luminal breast cancer may indicate endocrine responsiveness in a subset of ovarian cancers.

Ovarian cancer linked to Lynch syndrome represents a rare subset that typically presents at young age as early-stage tumors with an overrepresentation of endometrioid and clear cell histologies. We investigated the molecular profiles of Lynch syndrome-associated and sporadic ovarian cancer with the aim to identify key discriminators and central tumorigenic mechanisms in hereditary ovarian cancer. Global gene expression profiling using whole-genome c-DNA-mediated Annealing, Selection, extension, and Ligation was applied to 48 histopathologically matched Lynch syndrome-associated and sporadic ovarian cancers. Lynch syndrome-associated and sporadic ovarian cancers differed by 349 significantly deregulated genes, including PTPRH, BIRC3, SHH and TNFRSF6B. The genes involved were predominantly linked to cell growth, proliferation, and cell-to-cell signaling and interaction. When stratified for histologic subtype, hierarchical clustering confirmed distinct differences related to heredity in the endometrioid and serous subtypes. Furthermore, separate clustering was achieved in an independent, publically available data set. The distinct genetic signatures in Lynch syndrome-associated and sporadic ovarian cancers point to alternative preferred tumorigenic routes and suggest that genetic discriminators may be relevant for molecular diagnostics and targeted therapeutics. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10689-014-9728-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A warmer climate may increase the risk of attacks by insect pests on agricultural crops, and questions on how to adapt management practice have created a need for impact models. Phenological models driven by climate data can be used for assessing the potential distribution and voltinism of different insect species, but the quality of the simulations is influenced by a range of uncertainties. In this study, we model the temperature-dependent activity and development of the Colorado potato beetle, and analyse the influence of uncertainty associated with parameterization of temperature and day length response. We found that the developmental threshold has a major impact on the simulated number of generations per year. Little is known about local adaptations and individual variations, but the use of an upper and a lower developmental threshold gave an indication on the potential variation. The day length conditions triggering diapause are known only for a few populations. We used gridded observed temperature data to estimate local adaptations, hypothesizing that cold autumns can leave a footprint in the population genetics by low survival of individuals not reaching the adult stage before winter. Our study indicated that the potential selection pressure caused by climate conditions varies between European regions. Provided that there is enough genetic variation, a local adaption at the northern distribution limit would reduce the number of unsuccessful initiations and thereby increase the potential for spreading to areas currently not infested. The simulations of the impact model were highly sensitive to biases in climate model data, i.e. systematic deviations in comparison with observed weather, highlightening the need of improved performance of regional climate models. Even a moderate temperature increase could change the voltinism of Leptinotarsa decemlineata in Europe, but knowledge on agricultural practice and strategies for countermeasures is needed to evaluate changes in risk of attacks.

A constructed lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-negative mutant of Enterococcus faecalis V583 grows at the same rate as the wild type but ferments glucose to ethanol, formate, and acetoin. Microarray analysis showed that LDH deficiency had profound transcriptional effects: 43 genes in the mutant were found to be upregulated, and 45 were found to be downregulated. Most of the upregulated genes encode enzymes of energy metabolism or transport. By two-dimensional (2D) gel analysis, 45 differentially expressed proteins were identified. A comparison of transcriptomic and proteomic data suggested that for several proteins the level of expression is regulated beyond the level of transcription. Pyruvate catabolic genes, including the truncated ldh gene, showed highly increased transcription in the mutant. These genes, along with a number of other differentially expressed genes, are preceded by sequences with homology to binding sites for the global redox-sensing repressor, Rex, of Staphylococcus aureus . The data indicate that the genes are transcriptionally regulated by the NADH/NAD ratio and that this ratio plays an important role in the regulatory network controlling energy metabolism in E. faecalis .

In this study, we quantify the effect of uncertainties in climate projections on an impact model (IPS) that describes the temperature-dependent swarming and development of Ips typographus . Three forcing climate data sets (ensembles) were used: (1) E-Obs gridded observations, (2) ERA-40 reanalysis data downscaled by eight regional climate models (RCMs) and (3) regional scenarios from one RCM forced by seven GCM simulations representing SRES-A1B, for the period of 1961–2097. The IPS_RCM_ERA40 ensemble members, including IPS_RC3_ERA40 , were generally within the IPS_E-Obs confidence limits. The IPS model is however sensitive to the warming during spring and cooling during autumn, and deviations in simulated swarming were related to known climate model biases. The variation between the IPS_RCA3_GCM ensemble members was particularly high in regions where warmer summers (temperature increase from +2 °C to +4 °C) will induce an additional generation per year, for example a shift from one to two generations per year in south Scandinavia, and an increased frequency of three generations per year in central Europe. Impact assessments based on an ensemble of climate data gives more robust decision support than a single climate model approach because it allows a probabilistic assessment of the geographical areas experiencing a transition in biological response.

Objective: Ovarian clear cell carcinomas (OCCCs) constitute a rare ovarian cancer subtype. Despite relatively clear clinical features, OCCCs can be difficult to distinguish morphologically from other epithelial ovarian cancers. OCCC gene expression signatures capturing not only the morphology but also the biology of this tumor subtype have been described, and a previous study using comparative genomic hybridization showed that OCCCs are indeed heterogeneous. Still, only a few genes have been analyzed using gene sequencing techniques. In the present study we aimed to further characterize OCCCs and their histotype specific genetic changes using targeted sequencing of 60 well-established cancer genes. Increased knowledge about genetic aberrations in OCCCs may help to guide future development of targeted treatments and improve the outcome for these patients. Methods: Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue was collected from 11 primary OCCCs, diagnosed at the Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden (1998-2013). One sample was excluded due to poor DNA quality. For the remaining 10 samples, 600 ng genomic DNA/sample was used for single strand targeted DNA sequencing using the SureSeq™ solid tumor panel consisting of 60 key genes involved in cancer evolution, including ovarian cancer. The panel covers all coding exons in the included genes, and is validated for research use on FFPE samples. The publicly available ENSEMBL database was used to classify the mutations according to severity across the genes. Serious mutations, defined as major non-conservative amino acid changes, splice or frameshift variants or changes in stop codons, affecting single nucleotide variations (SNVs) or insertions or deletions of DNA bases (indels) were used for further analyses. The mutation call cut-off was set to 20% and the reading depth ≥300x, and unsupervised hierarchical clustering of the tumor samples was performed. Results: >99% of the target bases had a 30x coverage across all samples, and the mean target coverage was 534x. Using the 20% cut-off, approximately 300 mutations were detected in the 60 genes across the 10 tumor samples. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering revealed two distinct clusters related to mutational load. Mutations in genes previously reported to be affected in OCCCs, such as ARID1A and ERBB2, were identified. Whereas ARID1A was mainly affected in one cluster, mutations in genes signifying a highly malignant phenotype, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 dominated in the other. Genes in signaling pathways often affected in malignant tumors, as e.g. the RAS pathway, however, were unaffected. Other mutations detected in this dataset were ZFHX3 and KMT2C. KMT2C was the only highly mutated gene across both clusters. The clustering pattern was not related to age of FFPE blocks or tumor cell content. Conclusions: In the present study we show that OCCCs are genetically heterogeneous. The variation in mutation rate is in line with a previous publication, and points to differences in tumor biology that may be important for tumor behavior and thus patient outcome. The highly mutated genes may help in guiding trials of targeted treatments; the methyl transferase gene KMT2C, also known as MLL3, may potentially be one such target. Rearrangements of this gene are well-described in acute leukemias. Interestingly, KMT2C/MLL3 is also reported to be a mutational cancer driver gene in renal clear cell carcinomas according to the TCGA. Likewise, ZFHX3 has recently been reported in endometrial clear cell carcinomas. Despite the small size of this study it points to the well-established fact that ovarian cancer is not one single disease, and also confirms that even the rare OCCCs seem to harbor different biological features which may be of potential clinical importance. Citation Format: Jenny-Maria Jönsson, Nicolai Skovbjerg Arildsen, Anna Ebbesson, Sofia Westbom-Fremer, Anna Måsbäck, Susanne Malander, Mef Nilbert, Ingrid Hedenfalk. Targeted sequencing of ovarian clear cell carcinomas reveals intertumor heterogeneity and distinct clustering related to mutational load. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research: Exploiting Vulnerabilities; Oct 17-20, 2015; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B12.

Background and aims: Influence of sex hormones in ovarian cancer is of great interest, but study results are inconclusive. A majority of all ovarian cancers display high expression of sex hormone receptors, but the effect of endocrine treatment is limited. We assessed estrogen (ER) α and β, progesterone (PR), and androgen (AR) receptor expression in an ovarian cancer cohort in order to study the potential correlation between receptor expression and disease free survival. Expression of the genes encoding the respective receptors (ESR1, ESR2, PGR and AR), was further explored in molecular ovarian cancer subtypes. Methods: 140 ovarian cancers were collected in Sweden 1998-2000. A majority of the tumors were serous, high-grade and advanced stage. Immunohistochemical stainings for the receptors were evaluated on a tissue microarray, and dichotomized as either negative (10% stained cells). The 5-year disease free survival (DFS) was estimated and Cox regression was used for multivariable modelling. ESR1, ESR2, PGR and AR were analyzed using an independent dataset (n = 285 tumors). Progression free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for high versus low gene expression was analyzed in the six molecular ovarian cancer subtypes, using the median as cut-off. Results: Immunohistochemical expression of PR and AR were both associated with increased 5-year DFS (p Gene expression analyses revealed higher mRNA levels of PGR in the molecular subtypes constituted of borderline and endometrioid tumors respectively (p Conclusions: This study indicates that PR and AR may serve as independent prognostic markers in subsets of ovarian cancer, with the best 5-year disease free survival seen with combined PR/AR positivity. Gene expression analysis of the corresponding genes revealed differences among the subtypes of ovarian cancer. This underlines the importance of stratifying tumors also based on molecular features when investigating prognostic markers. Larger, well defined study cohorts are needed to identify the best markers and to elucidate in which specific subtypes of ovarian cancer endocrine treatment may have a role. Citation Format: Jenny-Maria Jönsson, Nicolai Arildsen, Susanne Malander, Anna Måsbäck, Linda Werner Hartman, Mef Nilbert, Ingrid Hedenfalk. Sex hormone receptor expression affects ovarian cancer survival. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1834. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1834

International audience; The sensitivity to frost in the living inner bark of trees have been hypothesised to be influenced by acid rain and N deposition through changes in nutrient balance and carbon metabolism. At the Skogaby experimental site, situated in southern Sweden, Norway spruce in control plots, plots fertilized with ammonium sulphate and plots fertilized with mineral nutrients except N were compared in this respect. Frost sensitivity was measured by electrolytic leakage and expressed as an index of injury. The results showed increased sensitivity to frost in the bark of trees treated with continuous applications of ammonium sulphate for 11 years. This was probably not only a direct effect of high nitrogen availability, but also caused by insufficient levels of other nutrients due to the rapid growth and changes in soil chemistry induced by the addition of ammonium sulphate. Mainly Mg and K seemed to be of importance for retaining a good frost resistance, supporting the hypothesis that nutrient imbalances increases the risk for development of frost related bark lesions in southern Sweden.; Effets d'un excès d'azote sur la sensibilité au froid de l'écorce interne de l'Epicéa. On a émis l'hypothèse selon laquelle la sensibilité au froid de la partie vivante interne de l'écorce des arbres serait influencée par les pluies acides et les dégâts azotés, par suite de changements de l'équilibre d'azote et du métabolisme du carbone. À la station expérimentale de Skogaby, située en Suède méridionale, on a comparé le comportement, sous cet angle, de l'épicéa dans un dispositif comportant des parcelles fertilisées avec divers nutrients à l'exclusion d'azote, ainsi que des parcelles témoins. La sensibilité au froid a été évaluée par des mesures de conductivité électrolitique, et exprimée par un indice de l'importance des dommages observés. Les résultats montrent une sensibilité accrue au froid de l'écorce des arbres traités d'une manière continue pendant 11 ans avec du sulfate d'ammoniac. Cela est probablement dû, non seulement à l'effet direct d'une importante disponibilité en azote, mais aussi à un niveau insuffisant de celle des autres nutrients, cela résultant d'une croissance plus rapide ainsi que de modifications des équilibres chimiques du sol induits par l'apport du sulfate d'ammoniac. Le rôle de Mg et K semble particulièrement important pour assurer une bonne résistance au froid, ce qui appuie l'hypothèse selon laquelle des déséquilibres entre nutrients augmentent le risque de lésions de l'écorce dans le sud de la Suède.

Light (LM) and transmission electron (TEM) microscopy were used to study previously specified ozone symptoms in the foliage of Norway spruce. The three youngest green needle generations from twenty mature trees in two stands on sites of different soil fertility at Asa, southern Sweden, were sampled in 1999. The critical dose of ozone, expressed as AOT40, was 6,362 ppb.h. LM showed ozone-specific symptoms: decreased chloroplast size with electron dense stroma advancing gradually from the outer to the inner cell layers, being most severe in the needle side facing the sky. The symptoms were expressed as ozone syndrome indices at the needle generation, tree and stand levels. The index had higher values at the low fertility site. TEM was used to confirm the LM results. The study shows that LM can be used for diagnosis of the impact of ozone on conifers in the field.

A sensitive, accurate, and straightforward way to determine basal and induced ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities in gill filaments, using rainbow trout as model species, is described. Tip pieces of primary gill filaments were incubated in tissue culture plate wells containing HEPES-Cortland buffer supplemented with 7-ethoxyresorufin. Each well was sampled on two occasions, and resorufin concentrations were determined by measuring the fluorescence with a plate reader. EROD activity was calculated from the difference in resorufin concentration and the interval between the two samplings. EROD activity was found to be significantly induced by 6 h of exposure to waterborne beta-naphthoflavone (1 microM). EROD in gills was also induced by caging rainbow trout in a polluted river or by laboratory exposure of fish to water extracted from that river. There was no loss of EROD activity when gill tissue was kept in ice-cold buffer for up to 1 d, which promotes the use of the method for studying fish exposed in the wild. We propose this novel method as a way to monitor dioxin-like compounds in aquatic environments.

International audience; Concentration of nutrients and balance between nutrients in trees can affect tree vitality, and are dependent on soil conditions and atmospheric deposition. The aim of this investigation was to survey the concentration of nutrients in beech bark and to look for relationships with the frost sensitivity of the bark. Beech trees with bark lesions were compared to undamaged beech trees on five experimental sites with control plots, plots treated with nitrogen, ash or lime. Trees treated with lime had increased Ca/Al ratio and decreased concentrations of Mn and B. Negative influence from N fertilization could be traced in the concentration of nutrients in the bark seven years after treatment, but the absence of new lesions indicated that the vigour of the trees has increased. The frost sensitivity was correlated to the nutrient content. Trees with lesions had higher concentrations of N and Al, indicating influence of soil acidity.; Influence de la composition en éléments minéraux de l'écorce en relation avec les traitements chimiques apportés au sol sur la sensibilité au froid du hêtre dans le sud de la Suède. La concentration et l'équilibre des éléments minéraux dans les arbres peut affecter leur vitalité et sont dépendants des conditions de sol et des dépôts atmosphériques. Le but de ce travail a été d'étudier la concentration des éléments minéraux dans l'écorce du hêtre et d'essayer de mettre en évidence des relations avec la sensibilité au froid des écorces. Les arbres avec des lésions au niveau de l'écorce étaient comparés avec des arbres indemnes dans cinq sites expérimentaux comprenant des placettes témoins et des placettes traitées avec apport d'azote, de cendres ou de chaux. Les arbres traités avec apport de chaux ont vu un accroissement du rapport Ca/Al et une décroissance de la concentration en manganèse et en bore. Une influence négative de la fertilisation azotée peut être retrouvée sur la concentration en éléments minéraux de l'écorce sept ans après le traitement. Mais l'absence de nouvelles lésions indique que la vigueur des arbres a été accrue. La sensibilité au froid a été correlée avec la teneur en éléments minéraux. Les arbres avec des lésions ont présenté une plus grande concentration en azote et en Al reflétant l'influence de l'acidité du sol.

Background: Ovarian cancers linked to Lynch syndrome represent a rare subset that typically present at young age as early-stage tumors with an overrepresentation of endometrioid and clear cell histologies. We aimed to identify molecular profiles of Lynch syndrome-associated ovarian cancer for application in refined diagnostics and targeted therapeutics. Methods: Global gene expression profiling using whole-genome c-DNA-mediated Annealing, Selection, extension, and Ligation (WG-DASL) was applied to 48 histopathologically matched ovarian cancers, which represented Lynch syndrome-associated tumors and sporadic tumors. The results were validated by application of an external ovarian cancer data set and by immunohistochemistry. Results: Lynch syndrome-associated and sporadic ovarian cancers differed by 349 significantly deregulated genes, predominantly involved in the mTOR and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. Conclusion: The distinct genetic signatures in Lynch syndrome-associated and sporadic ovarian cancers point to different tumorigenic routes and suggest that targets within the mTOR and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways may be relevant to consider for molecular diagnostics and targeted therapeutics. Citation Format: Jenny-Maria Jönsson, Katarina Bartuma, Mev Dominguez Valentin, Katja Harbst, Zoreh Ketabi, Susanne Malander, Mats Jönsson, Ana Carneiro, Anna Måsbäck, Göran Jönsson, Mef Nilbert. Distinct gene expression profiles in Lynch syndrome-associated ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research: From Concept to Clinic; Sep 18-21, 2013; Miami, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2013;19(19 Suppl):Abstract nr A15.

The annual growth cycle of boreal trees is synchronized with seasonal changes in photoperiod and temperature. A warmer climate can lead to an earlier bud burst and increased risk of frost damage caused by temperature backlashes. In this study we analysed site- and provenance specific responses to interannual variation in temperature, using data from 18 Swedish and East-European provenances of Norway spruce (Picea abies), grown in three different sites in southern Sweden. The temperature sum requirements for bud burst, estimated from the provenance trials, were correlated with the provenance specific place of origin, in terms of latitudinal and longitudinal gradients. Frost damage had a significant effect on tree height development. Earlier timing of bud burst was linked to a higher risk of frost damage, with one of the sites being more prone to spring frost than the other two. The estimated provenance specific temperature sum requirements for bud burst were used to parametrize a temperature sum model of bud burst timing, which was then used together with the ensemble of gridded climate model data (RCP8.5) to assess the climate change impact on bud burst and associated risk of frost damage. In this respect, the simulated timing of bud burst and occurrence of frost events for the periods 2021–2050 and 2071–2100 were compared with 1989–2018. In response to a warmer climate, the total number of frost events in southern Sweden will decrease, while the number of frost events after bud burst will increase due to earlier bud burst timing. The provenance specific assessments of frost risk under climate change can be used for a selection of seed sources in Swedish forestry. In terms of selecting suitable provenances, knowledge on local climate conditions is of importance, as the gridded climate data may differ from local temperature conditions. A comparison with temperature logger data from ten different sites indicated that the gridded temperature data were a good proxy for the daily mean temperatures, but the gridded daily minimum temperatures tended to underestimate the local risk of frost events, in particular at the measurements 0.5 m above ground representing the height of newly established seedlings.