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Summary Antrodia vaillantii (DC.: Fr.) Ryv., A. serialis (Fr.) Donk, A. sinuosa (Fr.) P. Karsten, A. xantha (Fr.: Fr.) Ryv. and Oligoporus placenta (Fr.) Gilb.& Ryv. form a group of internal brown-rot fungi (‘Porenschwämme’), which are associated with decay of coniferous woodwork in buildings and timber in ground contact. The fungi have similar occurrence, biology, fruit bodies and mycelia. Their nomenclature has a confusing history and is still not uniform. For a better understanding of the domestic pore fungi and for a reliable species differentiation and identification of isolates, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Isolates from decayed wood and from culture collections were used. The ITS sequences characteristic of A. vaillantii, A. serialis,A. sinuosa, A. xantha and O. placenta were obtained and deposited in the international databases. The ITS size ranges from 636 to 668 bp. Intraspecific variation was low. A dendrogram was performed for the phylogenetic relationship. Some isolates obtained mislabelled were named correctly according to the ITS sequence. The sequences contribute to our collection of ITS data from internal wood decay fungi made to characterize fungi in culture.

The relative importance of reduced soil disturbance and increased food supply in supporting large earthworm populations in cereal–legume intercropping systems was investigated in two replicated field experiments over a 3-year period. In the first experiment, the effects of the absence of tillage and the presence of a permanent white clover understorey on earthworm populations were assessed in three winter wheat cropping systems. The mean earthworm abundance as assessed by electrical extraction in conventional wheat, direct drilled wheat and direct-drilled wheat–clover intercrops was 211, 280 and 572 individuals m −2 and the corresponding earthworm biomass was 62, 92 and 203 g m −2 . In the second experiment, the effects of dairy cattle slurry and mineral fertilizer applications on earthworm populations in wheat–clover intercropping systems were assessed. Neither the input of additional organic matter (as slurry) nor mineral N fertilization increased earthworm population levels which were already remarkably high, averaging 1097 individuals m −2 and 266 g biomass m –2 in the third year of the experiment. These results suggest that while the absence of ploughing alone had only a modest effect, the combination of absence of ploughing and presence of a clover understorey increased earthworm populations greatly. It is concluded that cereal–legume intercrops support large earthworm populations primarily because the organic matter input from such systems is favourable for earthworms in terms of quantity, quality and continuity of food supply throughout the year.

Summary Earthworms, especially the larger anecic species such as Lumbricus terrestris, comprise the most significant component of the diet of the European badger (Meles meles) in northern Europe. The objective of the present study was to obtain baseline information on the earthworm populations in selected farms in a ‘badger removal’ area in Co. Kilkenny, and to investigate the relationships between earthworms and grassland management, and between earthworm and badger densities. Sixty eight fields in 32 farms, representing a range of grassland management intensities, were sampled between November 1999 and October 2000. Seventeen earthworm species were recorded. Mean earthworm populations (± s.e.) were 161 ± 8 individuals m–2 in November 1999 and 136 ± 9 in September – October 2000. Biomass estimates were 81 ± 5 and 69 ± 5 g m–2 respectively. Spring estimates were lower (72 ± 6 individuals m–2, 44 ± 4 g m–2), reflecting reduced earthworm activity due to dry soil conditions. ANCOVA revealed significant (P The correlations between earthworm populations and badger densities were generally weak, but when badgers located within 250 m of farm boundaries were included in the analysis, there were significant positive correlations between badger and total earthworm (r = 0.60) and L. terrestris (r = 0.40) abundance. The lack of stronger relationships probably reflects the wide availability of earthworm-rich grazed grassland suitable for badger foraging.

Summary Within the genus Coniophora, C. puteana and the less common species C. marmorata, C. arida and C. olivacea form a group of domestic brown-rot fungi (“cellar fungi”), which cause considerable decay in the woodwork of buildings. The fungi are difficult to distinguish by their fruit bodies. Traditional methods fail to identify species in a pure culture. Also with regard to decay of wood in use, the basidiomes rarely develop, and the surface mycelium on wood is sparse except for the fine dark strands. Thus, molecular techniques were applied to obtain a reliable method for differentiation and detection and to aquire a greater knowledge of the domestic Coniophora species. Isolates obtained from decayed wood and from culture collections and identified as domestic Coniophora species were used. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the ribosomal DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, sequenced and restricted by the endonuclease TaqI. The ITS sequences characteristic of C. puteana, C. arida, C. marmorata and C. olivacea were obtained and entered into the international databases. The sequence size ranges from 525 to 729 bp. The data supplement our collection of ITS sequences from domestic wood decay fungi built for the characterization of mycelium in culture. Most isolates belong to C. puteana and some to C. arida, C. marmorata and C. olivacea. Two other isolates belong to a further Coniophora species close to C. olivacea. Obviously, at least five Coniophora species occur within European buildings. Many of the isolates were not correctly identified. Consequently, the traditional characterization methods used, viz., growth rate, temperature influence and wood weight loss, were less suitable for the differentiation of Coniophora species as formerly anticipated.

1,3-Diphosphetane-2,4-diyles ( A ) possess a diradical molecular structure. Experimental studies reveal interconversions of different valence isomers of the diradicals. As a consequence of the faci...

The impact of intensive cultivation for potato production on the earthworm populations was assessed in two adjacent large fieldplots. Three successive winter wheat crops had been grown in one plot while winter wheat was grown with minimum cultiva-tion in an understorey of white clover in the other. Both plots were ploughed in spring 1998 and intensively cultivated (grub-bing, ridging, bed-tilling, destoning, ridging) prior to planting potatoes. Earthworm populations were reduced from a meandensity of 319 individuals m –2 and 55 g m –2 biomass in the conventional wheat plot, and from 1160 individuals and 175 g m –2 biomass in the wheat–clover plot in the 1996/1997 cropping season, to 40–82 individuals and 4–19 g m –2 in June–October1998 following potato planting. Populations declined to virtually undetectable levels following mechanical potato harvesting inlate autumn 1998 and spring cultivation for barley in 1999, remained at very low levels throughout 1999 and had shown no signof recovering by May 2000. The results show that earthworm populations can be virtually eliminated within a single season bydrastic forms of soil cultivation. © 2002 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Summary Stable isotope tracers are a promising tool for investigating the ecology of terrestrial slugs, including predator-prey relationships, migration behaviour, nutrient turnover and dietary routing. The objective of the present feasibility study was to label two economically important slug groups, Deroceras reticulatum and keeled slugs (families Limacidae and Milacidae, respectively), with the stable isotope 15 N under controlled laboratory conditions. Significant isotopic enrichment in slug tissue was detected after 4 days and persisted for at least 10 days after slugs had been fed on 15 N enriched food for a period of 15 days. The time course of 15 N uptake into slug tissues and its relation to food consumption were well described mathematically. Estimated mean 15 N assimilation efficiencies from labelled maize mixed with unlabelled wheat bran were 30% and 38%, respectively, for the species groups studied. These findings suggest that slugs can be readily and efficiently labelled and that it is feasible to devise protocols for producing large numbers of isotopically labelled slugs for use in ecological studies. A simple method is described for the collection and analysis of cutaneous mucus from individual slugs which can be used to test uniformity of isotopic labelling.

Summary In this research, we examined decay patterns occurring in Quercus castaneifolia wood under natural conditions compared with controlled decay in vivo. Pleurotus ostreatus-infected oak wood was obtained from the Sari forests in the north of Iran. The species causing decay was verified as P. ostreatus using rDNA-ITS sequencing of pure cultures from infected sapwood. In addition to P. ostreatus, two wood-inhabiting Ascomycota, Trichoderma harzianum and T. lixii, were present. Mass loss in oak sapwood samples exposed to P. ostreatus for 60 days was around 10 per cent. Samples were prepared from both naturally decayed wood and wood decayed under controlled conditions and examined using microscopy. P. ostreatus was found to produce a simultaneous white-rot decay pattern in both conditions.

Decayed-wood samples were collected from a naturally-infected bridge made of Quercus robur. Fruiting bodies of the white-rot basidiomycetes Hymenochaete rubiginosa and Stereum hirsutum were sampled. The white-rot fungus Fuscoporia ferrea and the secondary saprobiont Mycena galericulata were identified from the rotten wood by means of rDNA-ITS sequencing. The topochemistry of lignin degradation within individual cell-wall layers was determined by cellular UV-microspectrophotometry (UMSP) at 278 nm wavelength. Increased delignification occurred in compound middle lamella regions (CML), secondary wall layers of fibres (S2), longitudinal and ray parenchyma cells as well in vessels. The highest lignin content at initial and medium decay was recorded in the CML, whereas in advanced decay secondary wall layers of the vessels exhibited the highest content of residual lignin. In all stages of degradation, the S2 layers of fibres had the lowest lignin amount.

Animal dung is an important resource in natural, pastoral and agro-ecosystems. Labelling dung with stable isotopes offers a powerful technique to trace faeces-derived carbon and nutrients in soils and organisms, but the production of isotopically labelled animal excrements needs to be practicable and cost-effective. Here we present a simple method for producing solid rabbit faeces triple-labelled with C-13, N-15 and S-34 stable isotopes. The steps involved are: (1) fertilising cereal seedlings with isotopically enriched fertilizers (C-13-N-15 urea and S-34 sodium sulphate); (2) feeding these seedlings daily to a rabbit as supplementary forage for 6 days; and (3) collecting the accruing faeces and measuring the isotopic enrichment in bulk dung and the undigested fraction. The rabbit dung was clearly enriched in C-13, N-15 and S-34 compared to unlabelled start dung. The enrichments increased linearly with time and peaked on the last day of the labelling diet, but most were still detectable two days later, especially N-15. The undigested fraction (Neutral Detergent Fibre) had lower enrichments than the bulk material; this was especially marked for S-34. Data from a follow-up experiment, in which soil microcosms were fertilised with the dung, illustrated that the N-15 enrichments were sufficient to track N incorporation into grass. Our method is simple, rapid and suitable to the small-scale production of labelled faeces. We present tracer recovery estimates for the sequence total tracer used wheat biomass animal dung and discuss ways of increasing the proportions recovered and of obtaining higher enrichments if required. (C) 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Untersucht wurden Vorkommen und Verbreitung von Bakterien in sogenannten „Frostrissen“ von Eichenstammen, um Kenntnisse uber die mogliche Bedeutung von Bakterien fur die Entstehung und Entwicklung von Radialrissen in lebenden Baumen zu erhalten. Die Bakterienisolierungen erfolgten aus Stammscheiben unterschiedlicher Hohe von frisch gefallten Stiel-Eichen mit auserlich sichtbaren „Frostrissen“. Von der Innenflache der Risse wurden haufig Bakterien isoliert. Die Bakteriendichte nahm mit der Entfernung von der Risoberflache zum Inneren des Holzes ab. Holz in Risferne war in der Regel steril. Entlang eines Risses verringerte sich die Bakterienzahl vom Mark zur Splintholzgrenze. Der Splint war meist keimfrei. In Langsrichtung waren Scheiben aus Wurzelnahe starker bakteriell besiedelt als solche aus 1,5 und 2 m Hohe. Die erhaltenen Reinkulturen waren haufig Bacillaceae und weitere mikroaerophile bzw. fakultativ anaerobe Bakterien, vermutlich Milchsaurebakterien und Enterobacteriaceae. Abbauversuche unter aeroben und anaeroben Bedingungen an verholzten Zellwanden und ihren Komponenten zeigten das fur „Holzbakterien“ typische Verhaltensmuster: Abbau von Parenchymzellen, Pektin und Cellulosederivaten sowie fehlende Aktivitat gegenuber nativer Cellulose und verholzten Zellwanden. Zusatzlich wurden in den Rissen als Pilze vereinzelt einige Deuteromyceten und Ascomyceten nachgewiesen. Aus den Laborergebnissen konnte gefolgert werden, das Bakterien bei der Auflosung der Holzstruktur, vor allem der Pektine und Cellulosederivate, und damit an der Entstehung und Ausweitung von Radialrissen im Holz lebender Baume beteiligt sein konnen.

Summary The temporal dynamics of earthworm populations were studied for three years in two farm-scale winter wheat production systems, conventionally monocropped wheat and low-input, direct-drilled wheat intercropped with white clover. Populations were estimated by soil sorting monthly in the first two cropping cycles and bimonthly in the third cycle. Earthworm population dynamics were strongly related to changes in soil moisture, with low population levels coinciding with low moisture content. Populations in conventional wheat were generally quite stable but showed a sharp drop after autumn ploughing followed by a marked recovery in the first two cropping cycles. In wheat–clover, drought conditions during the first summer probably disrupted population build-up. Population levels in the two systems diverged in the second cropping cycle and were widely separated in the third cycle when 319 individuals m —2 (55 g biomass m —2 ) were found in conventional wheat and 1160 individuals m —2 (175 g biomass m —2 ) in wheatclover. Nine earthworm species were present in both cropping systems and shifts in species composition were relatively small. Murchieona minuscula , a little known endogeic species previously unreported from Ireland, was abundant in both systems and appeared to benefit from annual ploughing. Earthworm tissue production was estimated to be 81–209 g m —2 in conventional wheat and 122–552 g m —2 in wheatclover, while N output resulting from mortality was calculated at 0.75–4.24 g m —2 in wheat and 1.16–10.61 g m —2 in wheatclover. N output via excretion and mucus was estimated to account for a further 2.93–3.65 g m —2 in the wheat and 4.98–10.69 g m —2 in the wheatclover crop.

The use of 13C isotope tracer techniques in terrestrial ecology has been restricted by the technical requirements and high costs associated with the production of 13C enriched plant material by 13CO2 release in labelling chambers. We describe a novel, simple and relatively inexpensive method for the small-scale production of 13C and 15N labelled plant material. The method is based on foliar feeding of plants with a urea solution (97 atom% 13C, 2 atom% 15N) by daily misting. Maize was grown in a greenhouse in a compost–soil mixture and enclosed in clear polythene bags between urea applications. Final enrichment in 27 d old maize shoots was 211‰ δ13C (≈1.34 atom% 13C) and 434‰ δ15N (≈0.52 atom% 15N). Enrichments of hot-water extractable fractions (289‰ δ13C, 469‰ δ15N) were only slightly higher than those observed in plant bulk material, which suggests that daily urea applications ensured fairly uniform labelling of different biochemical fractions and plant tissues. Recovery of applied excess 13C and 15N in plant shoots was 22% and 42%, respectively. Roots were less enriched (21‰ δ13C and 277‰ δ15N), but no attempts were made to recover roots quantitatively.

Summary Novel methods developed for characterization and identification of wood-inhabiting fungi target molecules of the organisms such as proteins and nucleic acids and use mycelial interaction, mating, antibodies, electrophoretic protein patterns, oligonucleotide primers and DNA sequencing. The article reviews the respective work on the dry rot fungus Serpula lacrymans in the Hamburg institute and also covers the international literature.

The ITS of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of Serpula lacrymans and S. himantioides was amplified by PCR to evaluate this DNA region as a diagnostic tool. Sequencing of the amplified ITS region revealed a size of the complete ITS of 654 bp for S. lacrymans and 650 bp for S. himantioides. The base sequence difference between the two fungi was used to design species-specific oligonucleotide PCR primers for both species. With laboratory and field samples, each primer selectively detected its target organism. No cross reaction occurred with other fungi causing rot of indoor wood.

The natural abundance variations in carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in a population of the earthworm Aporrectodea longa, a species known to feed on both soil and plant litter, is reported in this paper. Worms were collected from a small land area of an old white clover field and body tissue and mucus were analyzed separately. The range of isotopic values was small, but patterns of variation were not random. Tissue carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were significantly higher in adult than in juvenile A. longa and tissue nitrogen isotope ratios tended to increase with increasing biomass of individuals. Further, carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were positively correlated in both tissue and mucus. Possible causes of the observed patterns, including physiological effects, body composition and assimilation of C and N from different plant, soil and microbial sources are discussed. It is concluded that the causes of natural variability in isotopic composition must be understood and validated experimentally before natural abundance stable isotope methods can be used for the analysis of trophic relations among detritivorous soil invertebrates.

A unique bonding situation is displayed by the lithium 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl-2-ylidenide 2 small middle dot[Li(thf)(n)](+) (Ar=2,4,6-tBu(3)C(6)H(2)) obtained by deprotonation of 1. According to ab initio calculations, the anion 2 can viewed as a cyclic bis(phosphanyl)carbene. Reaction with trimethylaluminum gives the complex 3 small middle dot[Li(thf)(4)](+), whose crystal structure is presented.

We used natural abundance measurements of nitrogen stable isotope ratios (15N/14N, expressed as δ15N ‰) to trace nitrogen derived from dairy cattle slurry into two common earthworm species under field conditions. Three annual spring applications of 15N-rich slurry totalling 450 kg N ha−1 resulted in significantly elevated tissue δ15N values in Aporrectodea caliginosa and A. longa collected in the autumn. This suggests that both earthworm species assimilated slurry-derived nitrogen. Earthworm δ15N values were unchanged after a single slurry application and in plots receiving inorganic N fertilizer compared to those from control plots. A. caliginosa, an endogeic species, had consistently higher δ15N values than the anecic A. longa. Preservation of earthworms in formalin for 58 days did not significantly alter their tissue δ15N signatures but affected δ13C values. This study demonstrates the potential of the natural abundance stable isotope approach for tracing anthropogenic N inputs through soil food webs in situ, on a field scale.

SummaryIsolates of the dry rot fungus,Serpula lacrymans, and of the morphologically similar wild merulius,S. himantioides, were investigated by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region to prove this method as diagnosis tool for the economically important indoor rot fungi. The technique uses the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the relatively variable sequences of the ITS region arranged between the highly conserved portions of the 18S and 28S RNA genes of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) repeat unit. Subsequent digestion of the amplicon with restriction endonucleases may exhibit differences at species and subspecies level. Using the universal ITS 1/ITS 4 primer combination, the ITS region of all isolates ofS. lacrymansandS. himantioideswas amplified. The size of the amplified products was about 630bp in both species, as estimated from agarose gel electrophoresis. Digestion of the amplicon with the endonuclease pairsAluI/HhaI andAvaII/MboII, respectively, revealed identical rDNA-ITS fragments for the isolates of both species, indicating their genetic relationship. On the other hand, digestion withBglI/HinfI andHaeIII/TaqI, respectively, separated the fungi by means of different fragment patterns. Thus, ARDRA-ITS proved to be suited for the identification of both fungi.

The effects of earthworms (Lumbricidae) on plant biomass production and N allocation in model intercropping systems of winter wheat and white clover were evaluated in two pot experiments. Wheat and wheat-clover mixtures were grown in a low-organic loam soil, earthworms were added at densities comparable to field population densities and the experiments were terminated 48 and 17 d after earthworm introductions. In both experiments, earthworms significantly increased the biomass and N uptake of wheat while they had generally no effects on clover. As a result, earthworm activity increased the proportion of wheat biomass in the total plant biomass of the mixture. Nitrogen budgets of the experiment lasting 48 d indicated that additional N in the system made available by earthworm activity was primarily taken up by the wheat. Earthworms also affected intra-plant N allocation in wheat which had significantly higher shoot:root N ratios when earthworms were present. When clover was labelled with 15N in the experiment which lasted 17 d, endogeic earthworms significantly reduced the amounts of 15N excess transferred from living or decomposing clover roots to accompanying wheat plants. Earthworms assimilated small quantities of 15N tracer from decomposing clover roots but not from living clover roots. The results of these model experiments suggest that earthworms can affect the balance between intercropped cereals and legumes by altering intra- and inter-plant N allocation.

Das butadienanaloge Phosphanylcarben 2 ist Ab-initio-Rechnungen zufolge das Intermediat der Umlagerung von 1 zu 3 im Feststoff [Gl. (a)]. Seine Energieliegt nur 1.3 kJ mol−1 hoher als die von 1, und es sind bei dieser Umlagerung wahrend der gesamten Reaktion lediglich kleine Anderungen bezuglich der endocyclischen Bindungen erforderlich. R2N = 2,2,6,6-Me4C5H6N.

Various isolates of the dry rot fungus, Serpula lacrymans, the wild merulius. S. himantioides, and the cellar fungus. Coniophora puteana, from Asia, Europe and USA were investigated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based technique of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The banding patterns obtained revealed for S. lacrymans a rather species-specific reaction which may be used to distinguish the dry rot fungus from other indoor rot species. On the other hand. the isolates of the wild merulius and the cellar fungus showed more polymorphisms possibly suitable for identification of individual isolates.

The natural abundances of the stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ 15 N) and carbon (δ 13 C) were measured in plant shoots and in seven earthworm (Lumbricidae) species from a wheat and a wheat-clover cropping system. Variations in earthworm δ 13 C were generally small in these systems containing only C 3 plants. Plant shoot δ 15 N ranged from −2.2‰ to −0.7‰ in white clover and from +0.9‰ to +6.6‰ in winter wheat. Intraspecific variability in earthworm δ 15 N was small. Earthworm δ 15 N was significantly related to the cropping system and to the ecological grouping of the earthworms. Mean δ 15 N values of all earthworm groups were significantly lower (by 3.5‰ to 4.4‰) in the wheat-clover field than in the wheat field. Within each of the two cropping systems, earthworm nitrogen isotope ratios differed significantly between ecological earthworm groups, with δ 15 N values decreasing in the order Allolobophora chlorotica and Aporrectodea caliginosa > Aporrectodea longa > Lumbricus spp. These results demonstrate for the first time that the δ 15 N signature of legumes can influence those of soil invertebrates. Because isotope measurements reflect assimilated tissue nitrogen, they offer novel insights into the feeding ecology and trophic positions of earthworms.

Earthworm food was tested as a carrier and inoculum source for Pseudomonas corrugata 2140R, a biocontrol agent for Take-all disease of wheat, in order to use the feeding, burrowing and casting activity of earthworms to disperse the biocontrol agent through soil. Three experiments are reported here using a bioluminescent derivative, P. corrugata 2140R lux8 (hereinafter called P. corrugata). In the first experiment, P. corrugata was inoculated into autoclaved sheep dung pellets at 106 colony forming units [cfu] g−1 wet weight and maintained in the laboratory either in moist soil or in a soil-free environment. In both situations, bacterial numbers increased to ca. 109 cfu g−1 of moist dung in 2 days and declined only slowly to about 108 cfu g−1 over the following 29 days at 18°C. The second experiment tested the effects of simple, carrier pre-treatments (which are likely to reduce indigenous microbial competition and increase nutrient availability) on the population dynamics of freshly inoculated P. corrugata in small pellets of two different organic plus mineral soil mixtures (cow dung and decomposed leaf litter mixed with soil). Autoclaving of cow dung led to significantly (P < 0.05) higher P. corrugata populations over a period of 21 days after inoculation compared to untreated dung. Similarly, a freshly prepared mixture of oven-dried, milled leaf litter and soil supported larger populations of P. corrugata than the same mixture that had been conditioned for 5 days (P < 0.05). In the third experiment, four species of earthworm (Aporrectodea caliginosa, A. longa, Lumbricus rubellus, L. terrestris) were fed either soil or a mixture of soil and leaf litter containing P. corrugata. High numbers (105–107 cfu g−1 fresh wt) of P. corrugata were recovered from fresh casts of all species tested.

The food-preference behaviour of earthworms was examined in order to develop earthworm feeds which might act as a microbial carrier in earthworm-mediated dispersal of beneficial microorganisms in soil. A circular choice chamber containing 18 feeding stations was used to assess the food-type preference of four earthworm species ( Aporrectodea caliginosa, A. longa, Lumbricus rubellus, L. terrestris ). Representatives of each species were presented with four types of organic matter (cow dung, sheep dung, decomposed leaf litter, sewage sludge) either alone or mixed 1 to 4 (on a dry weight basis) with a sandy loam soil; soil alone was also tested in the same chamber. The nine types of potential food were each inoculated with Pseudomonas corrugata 2140R lux 8 at a rate of 10 7 cfu (colony forming units) g −1 wet wt of material. All earthworm species showed a strong preference for pure mineral soil over pure organic matter. Also, mineral-organic mixtures were clearly preferred to pure organic sources, with leaf litter + soil being the preferred mixture for all four earthworm species tested. In addition, cow dung + soil and sewage sludge + soil were acceptable to all species except A. caliginosa . Inoculation of the food stuffs with Pseudomonas corrugata 2140R lux 8 did not deter the earthworms from feeding and earthworm casts contained from 10 7 to 10 9 cfu g −1 wet wt. The choice chamber method offers a simple, rapid and inexpensive test for studying food preferences of earthworms for various applications.

Proposed is a method to investigate degradation of lignocelluloses by pure cultures of basidiomycetes using preserving jars with vermiculite as reservoir for water and nutrients. Bamboo samples of Gigantochloa atroviolacea and Phyllostachys pubescens and wood samples of Fagus sylvatica and Pinus sylvestris were inoculated with the brown-rot fungus Coniophora puteana and the white-rot fungus Schizophyllum commune. The fungi were cultured on vermiculite containing different amounts of tap water or malt extract solution. Mass loss of the bamboos after 32 weeks was low and did not show a remarkable influence of moisture content and nutrient addition. However, considerable degradation of Pinus sylvestris sapwood occurred by C. puteana whereby moisture and nutrients influenced aggressiveness.

Isotope ratio analysis of bovine tissues is a tool for inferring aspects of the dietary history of cattle. The objective of this experiment was to quantify the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotopic turnover in blood (serum and residue) and inner organs (liver, kidney, heart and brain) of beef cattle.Growing beef cattle (n = 70 in total) were either switched from a control diet containing barley and urea to an experimental diet containing maize and (15)N-enriched urea, for various intervals prior to slaughter or maintained on the control diet for 168 days pre-slaughter. Samples of blood, liver, kidney, heart and brain were collected at 0, 14, 28, 56, 112 and 168 days and analysed using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry.After 168 days, C- and N-isotopic equilibrium was reached in the blood serum, liver and kidney, approached in the heart and brain, but not reached in the non-serum component of blood. The estimated C and N half-lives were 16.5 and 20.7 days for liver, 19.2 and 25.5 days for kidney, 29.2 and 35.6 days for blood serum, 37.6 and 49.9 days for heart, 53.3 and 52.2 days for brain and 113.3 and 115.0 days for the non-serum blood residue, respectively. Modelling the C and N turnover in the different tissue combinations revealed that a combined analysis of liver and heart as well as brain and kidney can provide the most accurate estimation of the timing of the diet switch.Based on the difference in turnover rates, bovine soft tissues can provide isotopic information on short- and long-term dietary changes, which in turn may be linked to the geographic or production origin of beef cattle. This study also provides basic biological data on organ C and N turnover in a large herbivorous mammal.

We report Cu, Fe, and Zn natural isotope compositions in organs, body fluids, diets and feces of mice and sheep. Large and systematic isotope variability is observed, notably in the δ(66)Zn in liver and δ(65)Cu in kidneys, but significant differences exist between mice, sheep and humans, especially in the δ(66)Zn value of blood. The results are interpreted with reference to current knowledge of metal trafficking and redox conditions in cells. In general, the light isotopes preferentially fractionate into 'softer' bonds involving sulfur such as cysteine and glutathione, whereas heavy isotopes fractionate into 'harder' bonds involving nitrogen (histidine) and even more oxygen, notably hydroxides, phosphates, and carbonates. Bonds involving the reduced forms Cu(+) and Fe(2+) are enriched in the light isotopes relative to bonds involving the oxidized Cu(2+) and Fe(3+) forms. Differences in blood Zn isotope abundances between mice, sheep and humans may reflect a different prevalence of Zn ZIP transporters. The isotopically heavy Cu in the kidneys may reflect isotope fractionation during redox processes and may be relevant to ascorbate degradation into oxalate.

Viele Studierende entscheiden sich dafür, ihre Abschlussarbeit in einem Unternehmen zu schreiben und diese als Sprungbrett in den Beruf zu nutzen. Was auf den ersten Blick durchaus attraktiv klingt, hat erfahrungsgemäß auch seine Tücken. Der Spagat zwischen wissenschaftlichem Anspruch einerseits und den Anforderungen des Unternehmens andererseits kann groß sein. Der Autor geht deswegen auf die Erfolgsfaktoren und Fallstricke im Detail ein. Das Spektrum reicht von der richtigen Themenfindung über zu schließende Verträge bis hin zur Erstellung und der Präsentation sowie dem einzuholenden Feedback. Zu Veranschaulichung des Themas wählt er zahlreiche Beispiele und bietet hilfreiche Checklisten an. Das Buch richtet sich an Studierende der Wirtschafts- und Naturwissenschaften, die mit dem Gedanken spielen, ihre Abschlussarbeit in einem Unternehmen zu schreiben. Fazit: Mit diesem Ratgeber gelingt es Studierenden, eine erfolgreiche Abschlussarbeit abzugeben, um sich so den ersten Grundstein für einen erfolgreichen Berufseinstieg zu legen.

This work aimed to identify a combination of isotopic and molecular biomarkers in bovine muscle and adipose tissue for authentication of the diet of beef cattle. Muscle and adipose tissue samples were collected from animals one of four dietary treatments fed over a 1 year period : pasture (P), barley-based concentrate (C), silage followed by pasture (SiP) or silage followed by pasture with concentrate (SiPC). In total, 83 variables were studied including volatile compounds, colour and reflectance measurements, stable isotope ratios, fatty acids, β-carotene, lutein and α-tocopherol. Chemometric models were created for each dietary treatment using the entire and an attenuated variable set. Meat from each dietary treatment was identified with a high level of accuracy (correct classification between 90.8% and 100%) using a discriminant approach. After elimination of insignificant variables, accuracy was maintained or marginally improved. SIMCA class-modelling performed moderately well, especially with the reduced variable set (76.1-100% correct classification).

Background Change in land use and management can impact massively on soil ecosystems. Ecosystem engineers and other functional biodiversity in soils can be influenced directly by such change and this in turn can affect key soil functions. Here, we employ meta-analysis to provide a quantitative assessment of the effects of changes in land use and land management across a range of successional/extensification transitions (conventional arable¿¿¿no or reduced tillage¿¿¿grassland¿¿¿wooded land) on community metrics for two functionally important soil taxa, earthworms and fungi. An analysis of the relationships between community change and soil structural properties was also included. Results Meta-analysis highlighted a consistent trend of increased earthworm and fungal community abundances and complexity following transitions to lower intensity and later successional land uses. The greatest changes were seen for early stage transitions, such as introduction of reduced tillage regimes and conversion to grassland from arable land. Not all changes, however, result in positive effects on the assessed community metrics. For example, whether woodland conversion positively or negatively affects community size and complexity depends on woodland type and, potentially, the changes in soil properties, such as pH, that may occur during conversion. Alterations in soil communities tended to facilitate subsequent changes in soil structure and hydrology. For example, increasing earthworm abundances and functional group composition were shown to be positively correlated with water infiltration rate (dependent on tillage regime and habitat characteristics); while positive changes in fungal biomass measures were positively associated with soil microaggregate stability. Conclusions These findings raise the potential to manage landscapes to increase ecosystem service provision from soil biota in relation to regulation of soil structure and water flow. Keywords: Meta analysis; Earthworm; Fungi; Functional biodiversity; Soil porosity; Microaggregate stability

Pure cultures of the Paria indoor brown-not fungi, Antrodia vaillantii, A.sinuosa, A.serialis, A.xantha and Tyromyces placenta, were studied regarding growth rate, response to temperature, copper tolerance, wood decay and mycelial interactions. Radial growth extension reached from 4-9 mm/d. All fungi were rather resistant to high temperatures. Optimum temperature was between 25 and 31°C. All withstood 1 hour at 60°C and some even 3h at 65°C. A.vaillantii showed copper tolerance up to 0.05 M Cu. Wood weight loss after 20 weeks was higher by T.placenta (35%) and A.sinuosa (33%) than by A.xantha (21%), A.serialis (16%) and A.vaillantii (14%). Dual cultures showed various inter- and intraspecific interactions and detected identity of differently coded cultures. The former Poria vaporaria Normstamm II for testing wood preservatives and the recent Poria placenta EN113 strain, FPRL280, were assumed either to be identical or at least to originate from the same individual.

Water-stored hardwood logs have shown a certain resistance of their pit membranes towards bacterial decomposition. Since these membranes can be modified due to parenchymatic wound reactions, the pit behaviour was studied with Betula pendula as a reactive species. Branch segments were either water-stored for four weeks or boiled to inactivate the parenchyma. A third series contained samples with wound reactions due to artificial wounding. To study the influence of these different pretreatments on bacterial action, strains capable to degrade cell wall components or aromatics were used. In the water-stored samples parenchyma cells secreted substances which covered the pit membranes. A bacterial mixture attacked neither the secretion products nor the membranes. In the water-boiled samples with no parenchymatic secretion a mixed culture of the cellulolytic/hemicellulolytic Cellulomonas flavigena and the pectinolytic Erwinia carotovora decomposed the pit membranes. The secretion substances of the prewounded samples were partially degraded by a mixture of aromatics-attacking bacteria.

Species of the Poria group causing brown rot of wood in buildings and with similar morphological appearance and biology, namely Antrodia vaillantii, A. seriadis, A. sinuosa, A. xantha, and Tyromyces placenta, were investigated by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Different cultures of A. vaillantii showed a species-specific protein profile separating the fungus from A. serialis, A. sinuosa and A. xantha and from T. placenta. The method also differentiated these pore fungi from the dry rot fungus Serpula lacrymans and detected misidentifications

Ecological niche theory asserts that invading species become established only if introduced propagules survive stochastic mortality and can exploit resources unconsumed by resident species. Because their transportation is not controlled by plant health or biosecurity regulations, soil macrofauna decomposers, including earthworms are probably introduced frequently into non-native soils. Yet even with climatic change, exotic earthworm species from southern Europe have not been reported to become established in previously glaciated areas of northern Europe that already have trophically differentiated earthworm communities of ‘peregrine’ species. We discovered established populations of the earthworm Prosellodrilus amplisetosus (Lumbricidae), a member of a genus endemic to southern France, in six habitats of an urban farm in Dublin, Ireland, about 1000 km north of the genus's endemic range. Not only was P. amplisetosus the dominant endogeic (geophagous) earthworm species in two habitats, it also occupied a significantly different trophic position from the resident species, as evinced by stable isotope ratio analysis. The suggested ability of this non-native species to feed on and assimilate isotopically more enriched soil carbon (C) and nitrogen fractions that are inaccessible to resident species portends potential implications of decomposer range expansions for soil functioning including C sequestration.

The influence of slaked limes (calcium hydroxide) on the fresh mortar properties varies according to morphological and chemical characteristics of the raw material. Until now there have been no sufficient scientific results to describe the parameters of calcium hydroxide that modify the plasticity in mortar systems. The aim of the investigations carried out here is to determine these plasticity regulating parameters. Therefore, several calcium hydroxides from different manufacturers have been analysed. The analyses included characterisation of raw materials and detailed investigations of differently slaked lime and lime putty at different times. Chemical and morphological principles of plasticity have been identified. Furthermore, these results have been evaluated by correlation of pilot plant experiments with defined lime mortars regarding their workability. The resulting material parameters responsible for plasticity are pointed out and distinguished between parameters relevant for plasticity values and those for plasticity development after extended soaking time.

A characteristic feature of the Babylonian mathematical astronomy is the use of periodically varying functions in the form of sequences of numbers (e.g. arithmetic progressions, zig-zag functions, or piecewise constant step functions) to describe periodically occurring astronomical phenomena. One major achievement of the Babylonian astronomers consists in a very precise determination of the periods of the number sequences used in their ephemeris texts. Any reconstruction of the Babylonian calculation schemes must explain how the fundamental periods or period relations can be determined empirically by such astronomical observations as were compiled in the Babylonian Diaries. This paper is concerned with the Babylonian moon ephemerides. The fundamental periods used here are the length P⊙ of the more empirically founded and less theoretically than believed until now.

Multielemental (C, N, H, S) stable isotope ratio analysis was used as an analytical tool to verify the geographical origin of beef from several European and non-European countries. Beef samples were collected from nine different countries, and the (13)C/(12)C, (15)N/(14)N, (2)H/(1)H, and (34)S/(32)S ratios of defatted beef were measured using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). There were highly significant differences in the mean isotopic values of the beef from different countries. The results of discriminant analysis showed that the four isotope ratios were significant for the discrimination of geographical origin and that 84.9% of the samples were correctly assigned to the country of origin (82.2% when cross-validated). Beef was also classified according to geographical origin when additional information on different feeding regimens used in Ireland was included, with 85.0% of the samples correctly allocated and 82.9% cross-validated using the isotopic signatures. All of the Irish beef samples verifiable as pasture-fed beef were correctly classified and then cross-validated.

Stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) was used as an analytical tool to verify the preslaughter diet of beef cattle. Muscle and tail hair samples were collected from animals fed either pasture (P), a barley-based concentrate (C), silage followed by pasture (SiP), or silage followed by pasture with concentrate (SiPC) for 1 year (n = 25 animals per treatment). The (13)C/(12)C, (15)N/(14)N, (2)H/(1)H, and (34)S/(32)S isotope ratios in muscle clearly reflected those of the diets consumed by the animals. By applying a stepwise canonical discriminant analysis, a good discrimination of bovine meat according to dietary regimen was obtained. On the basis of the classification success rate, the (13)C/(12)C and (34)S/(32)S ratios in muscle were the best indicators for authentication of beef from animals consuming the different diets. Analysis of (13)C/(12)C and (15)N/(14)N in tail hair sections provided an archival record of changes to the diet of the cattle for periods of over 1 year preslaughter.

The indoor wood-decaying basidiomycetes cause considerable economical damage. Approximately 80 species have been found in North German buildings. This chapter describes their significance as well as classical morphological and molecular techniques for identification.

International audience; Brown rot decay removes cellulose and hemicellulose from wood-residual lignin contributing up to 30% of forest soil carbon-and is derived from an ancestral white rot saprotrophy in which both lignin and cellulose are decomposed. Comparative and functional genomics of the "dry rot" fungus Serpula lacrymans, derived from forest ancestors, demonstrated that the evolution of both ectomycorrhizal biotrophy and brown rot saprotrophy were accompanied by reductions and losses in specific protein families, suggesting adaptation to an intercellular interaction with plant tissue. Transcriptome and proteome analysis also identified differences in wood decomposition in S. lacrymans relative to the brown rot Postia placenta. Furthermore, fungal nutritional mode diversification suggests that the boreal forest biome originated via genetic coevolution of above- and below-ground biota.

This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that stable isotope ratios of nitrogen and carbon (expressed as δ(13)C and δ(15)N) of host blood are faithfully reproduced in unfed nymphal Ixodes ricinus that developed from larvae fed on that host. Measured isotopic discrimination (i.e. the tick-blood spacing) was between -0.1 and 0.7‰ for δ(13)C and 3.8 and 3.9‰ for δ(15)N. Both δ(13)C and δ(15)N increased significantly with tick ageing. The isotopic analysis of unfed ticks has potential for determining the physiological age of unfed ticks, for identifying the season in which the previous stage had fed and for identifying the main hosts utilized by ticks.

1.Labelling plants with 15N and 13C stable isotopes usually require cultivation of plants in isotopically enriched soil and gas-tight labelling chambers - both approaches are not suitable if one aims to investigate in situ species interactions in real plant communities. 2.In this greenhouse experiment, we tested a labelling method in which dual-labelled (15N, 13C) urea solution is brushed directly onto leaves of twelve temperate grassland species representing grasses, non-leguminous forbs and legumes. 3.Across all plant species, shoots (15N: 0·145; 13C: 0·090 atom percent excess, APE) and roots (15N: 0·051; 13C: 0·023 APE) were significantly enriched after five daily labelling events. Generally, isotopic enrichments were significantly higher in shoots than in roots. No clear pattern of absolute isotopic enrichment was observed between plant functional groups; however, grasses showed a more even allocation between shoots and roots than forbs and legumes. Isotopic enrichment levels after 4 weeks were lower, higher or unchanged compared to those of week one and varied between species or plant parts. 4.Considering the consistent enrichment levels and simplicity of this method, we conclude that it can be applied widely in ecological studies of above-belowground plant–plant or plant–animal interactions even in real plant communities.

Evidence is growing that the range of zinc stable isotope compositions, represented by the deviation of (66)Zn in permil units relative to a standard and expressed as delta(66)Zn, is larger in organic matter than in inorganic material. This study reports the variations of delta(66)Zn in various organs of sheep raised on a controlled diet. Zinc was purified by anion-exchange chromatography. The Zn concentrations and Zn stable isotope compositions were determined by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, respectively. The data show that delta(66)Zn variability exceeds 1 per thousand, with bone, muscle, serum and urine enriched in the heavy isotopes, and feces, red blood cells, kidney and liver enriched in light isotopes, all relative to the diet value. The (66)Zn enrichment of the circulating serum reservoir is likely to take place in the digestive tract, probably through the preferential binding of lighter isotopes with phytic acid, which is known to control the uptake of metallic elements. Mass balance calculations suggest that the (66)Zn depletion between diet and feces, which is not balanced by any other outward flux, leads to a secular isotopic drift in serum. A simple time-dependent two-box model, involving the gastro-intestinal tract on the one hand and the muscle and bone on the other, predicts that the maximum (66)Zn enrichment, which equals the difference in delta(66)Zn between diet and bulk (approximately 0.25 per thousand), is reached after about ten years. Therefore, a better understanding of the variations of natural abundance of Zn isotopes in animals and humans will probably bring new perspectives for the assessment of their Zn status.

We used natural abundance stable isotope techniques to estimate carbon and nitrogen turnover rates in body tissue and mucus of earthworms. Isotope ratios of carbon (delta(13)C) and nitrogen (delta(15)N) were monitored simultaneously in body tissue and mucus for up to 101 days in feeding or fasting Lumbricus festivus kept in an artificial substrate. When the diet of the earthworms was switched from clover (C(3) plant, legume) to maize (C(4), non-legume), the new dietary delta(13)C signature manifested itself much more rapidly in the mucus than in the body tissue of the animals, causing a delta(13)C shift of about 4 per thousand in mucus and 1 per thousand in tissue after 13.5 days. Turnover of earthworm body tissue carbon, unlike that of mucus carbon, was described adequately by an exponential, single-pool model. Nitrogen turnover could not be assessed because the delta(15)N difference between sources was too small. Fasting for 56 days did not result in the expected whole-body (15)N or (13)C enrichment, but it caused a significant decrease in mucus and tissue C:N ratios and in the ratio (mucus C:N ratio):(tissue C:N ratio). We conclude that the separate analysis of body tissue and mucus has great potential for studying the ecophysiology, feeding ecology and role in elemental cycling of earthworms and other invertebrates.