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For highly productive regions such as Germany, the increase of wheat grain yields observed throughout the 20th century is largely attributed to the progress in crop breeding and agronomic management. However, several studies indicate a strong variability of the genetic contribution across locations that further varies with experimental design and variety selection. It is therefore still unclear to which extent management conditions have promoted the realization of the breeding progress in Germany over the last 100+ years. We established a side-by-side cultivation experiment over two seasons (2014/2015 and 2015/2016) including 16 winter wheat varieties released in Germany between 1895 and 2007. The varieties were grown using 24 different long-term fertilization treatments established since 1904 (Dikopshof, Germany). Averaged over all cultivars and treatments mean yields of 6.88 t ha−1 and 5.15 t ha−1 were estimated in 2015 and 2016, respectively. A linear mixed effects analysis was performed to study the treatment-specific relation between grain yields and year of variety release. Results indicate a linear increase in grain yields ranging from 0.025 to 0.032 t ha−1 yr−1 (0.304 to 0.387% yr−1) in plots that were treated with combined synthetic-organic fertilizers without signs of a leveling-off. Yields from low or unfertilized plots do not show a significant progress in yield. Responsiveness of mean yields to fertilizer management increases with year of release and indicates small yield penalties under very low nutrient supply. Results highlight the need to consider the importance of long-term soil fertilization management for the realization of genetic gains and the value of long-term fertilization experiments to study interactions between genetic potential and management. ISSN:1748-9326 ISSN:1748-9318

Submitted by Eunice Novais (enovais@uepg.br) on 2018-05-07T18:58:48Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Keli Guera.pdf: 1614668 bytes, checksum: 870a9f0b3528b9a4706861308ce7024c (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-07T18:58:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Keli Guera.pdf: 1614668 bytes, checksum: 870a9f0b3528b9a4706861308ce7024c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-27 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior O sistema integrado de produção agropecuária (SIPA), tem sido uma prática que pode melhorar os atributos químicos do solo e otimizar a adubação de sistemas de produção. Todavia, os solos brasileiros são altamente intemperizados, com elevada acidez e baixa disponibilidade em P. Dessa forma, estratégias que resultem em aumento da eficiência do uso de fósforo contribuem para a produção de alimentos de maneira sustentável. Os objetivos desse trabalho foram: (i) analisar os atributos químicos do solo, ao longo do tempo, decorrente da aplicação anual na superfície de fosfatos de diferentes solubilidades e; (ii) avaliar as concentrações de P disponível no solo pelos extratores Mehlich-1 e resina trocadora de íons (RTI), a longo prazo, decorrente da aplicação de fosfatos em SIPA. O experimento foi instalado no município de Castro-PR, em abril/2009, em um Cambissolo Háplico argiloso. Foi empregado delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial incompleto (3 x 3 +1), com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de três fontes de P [superfosfato triplo (SFT), fosfato natural reativo - Arad (FNR) e termofosfato magnesiano (TFM)] e três doses de P (60; 120 e 180 kg ha-1), além do controle (sem adição de P2O5). Amostras de terra das camadas de 0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20 e 20-30 cm foram coletadas aos 24, 36, 48 e 60 meses após o início do experimento, e os seguintes atributos químicos foram avaliados: pH, concentrações de Ca, Mg e K trocáveis, saturação por bases (V%) e concentrações de P disponível pelos extratores Mehlich-1 e RTI. A aplicação de TFM proporcionou aumento de pH do solo, elevação da V% e eficiência no fornecimento de Mg2+ às plantas. As concentrações de P disponíveis no solo pelo extrator Mehlich-1 foram maiores com o uso de FNR superestimando as concentrações de P. O uso de diferentes fontes fosfatadas não influenciou as concentrações de RTI, mostrando-se como o extrator de P mais adequado para prever as concentrações deste nutriente, independente da solubilidade do fertilizante fosfatado utilizado. Em condições de solo adequadamente conservado e manejado, a aplicação anual de fosfatos em superfície pode garantir a manutenção da fertilidade do solo a longo prazo. A renovação do sistema radicular decorrente do pastejo animal, maior produção de ácidos orgânicos e a deposição de excretas favoreceram a melhoria dos atributos químicos do solo e aumento da concentração de P, ao longo do tempo. O sistema integrado de produção agropecuária (SIPA), tem sido uma prática que pode melhorar os atributos químicos do solo e otimizar a adubação de sistemas de produção. Todavia, os solos brasileiros são altamente intemperizados, com elevada acidez e baixa disponibilidade em P. Dessa forma, estratégias que resultem em aumento da eficiência do uso de fósforo contribuem para a produção de alimentos de maneira sustentável. Os objetivos desse trabalho foram: (i) analisar os atributos químicos do solo, ao longo do tempo, decorrente da aplicação anual na superfície de fosfatos de diferentes solubilidades e; (ii) avaliar as concentrações de P disponível no solo pelos extratores Mehlich-1 e resina trocadora de íons (RTI), a longo prazo, decorrente da aplicação de fosfatos em SIPA. O experimento foi instalado no município de Castro-PR, em abril/2009, em um Cambissolo Háplico argiloso. Foi empregado delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial incompleto (3 x 3 +1), com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de três fontes de P [superfosfato triplo (SFT), fosfato natural reativo - Arad (FNR) e termofosfato magnesiano (TFM)] e três doses de P (60; 120 e 180 kg ha-1), além do controle (sem adição de P2O5). Amostras de terra das camadas de 0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20 e 20-30 cm foram coletadas aos 24, 36, 48 e 60 meses após o início do experimento, e os seguintes atributos químicos foram avaliados: pH, concentrações de Ca, Mg e K trocáveis, saturação por bases (V%) e concentrações de P disponível pelos extratores Mehlich-1 e RTI. A aplicação de TFM proporcionou aumento de pH do solo, elevação da V% e eficiência no fornecimento de Mg2+ às plantas. As concentrações de P disponíveis no solo pelo extrator Mehlich-1 foram maiores com o uso de FNR superestimando as concentrações de P. O uso de diferentes fontes fosfatadas não influenciou as concentrações de RTI, mostrando-se como o extrator de P mais adequado para prever as concentrações deste nutriente, independente da solubilidade do fertilizante fosfatado utilizado. Em condições de solo adequadamente conservado e manejado, a aplicação anual de fosfatos em superfície pode garantir a manutenção da fertilidade do solo a longo prazo. A renovação do sistema radicular decorrente do pastejo animal, maior produção de ácidos orgânicos e a deposição de excretas favoreceram a melhoria dos atributos químicos do solo e aumento da concentração de P, ao longo do tempo.

Limited nutrient diffusion in three-dimensional (3D) constructs is a major concern in tissue engineering. Therefore, monitoring nutrient availability and diffusion within a scaffold is an important asset. Since nutrients come in various forms, we have investigated the diffusion of the oxygen, luciferin and dextran molecules within tissue-engineered constructs using optical imaging technologies. First, oxygen availability and diffusion were investigated, using transgenic cell lines in which a hypoxia-responsive element drives expression of the green fluorescent protein gene. Using confocal imaging, we observed oxygen limitation, starting at around 200 ?m from the periphery in the context of agarose gel with 1 million CHO cells. Diffusion of luciferin was monitored real-time in agarose gels using a cell line in which the luciferase gene was driven by a constitutively active CMV promoter. Gel concentration affected the diffusion rate of luciferin. Furthermore, we assessed the diffusion rates of fluorescent dextran molecules of different molecular weights in biomaterials by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and observed that diffusion depended on both molecular size and gel concentration. In conclusion, we have validated a set of efficient tools to investigate molecular diffusion of a range of molecules and to optimize biomaterials design in order to improve nutrient delivery.

Melon is one of the most demanding cucurbits regarding fertilization, requiring knowledge of soils, crop nutritional requirements, time of application, and nutrient use efficiency for proper fertilization. Developing support systems for decision-making for fertilization that considers these variables in nutrient requirement and supply is necessary. The objective of this study was parameterization of a fertilizer recommendation system for melon (Ferticalc-melon) based on nutritional balance. To estimate fertilizer recommendation, the system considers the requirement subsystem (REQ), which includes the demand for nutrients by the plant, and the supply subsystem (SUP), which corresponds to the supply of nutrients through the soil and irrigation water. After determining the REQtotal and SUPtotal, the system calculates the nutrient balances for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S, recommending fertilizer application if the balance is negative (SUP < REQ), but not if the balance is positive or zero (SUP ≥ REQ). Simulations were made for different melon types (Yellow, Cantaloupe, Galia and Piel-de-sapo), with expected yield of 45 t ha-1. The system estimated that Galia type was the least demanding in P, while Piel-de-sapo was the most demanding. Cantaloupe was the least demanding for N and Ca, while the Yellow type required less K, Mg, and S. As compared to other fertilizer recommendation methods adopted in Brazil, the Ferticalc system was more dynamic and flexible. Although the system has shown satisfactory results, it needs to be evaluated under field conditions to improve its recommendations. O meloeiro é uma das cucurbitáceas mais exigentes em relação à adubação, requerendo conhecimento sobre solos, exigência nutricional da cultura, época de aplicação e eficiência no uso de nutrientes para uma adubação adequada, assim como sendo necessário o desenvolvimento de sistemas de apoio à decisão para adubação que considere essas variáveis no requerimento e suprimento de nutrientes. O objetivo deste estudo foi a parametrização de um sistema de recomendação de adubação para o meloeiro (Ferticalc-Melão), com base no balanço nutricional. Para estimar a recomendação de adubação, o sistema considera: o subsistema requerimento (REQ), que inclui a demanda de nutriente pela planta; e o subsistema suprimento (SUP), que corresponde ao suprimento de nutrientes pelo solo e pela água de irrigação. Após a determinação do REQtotal e SUPtotal, o sistema calcula o balanço de nutrientes para N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S, recomendando adubar, se o balanço for negativo (SUP < REQ), ou não adubar, para o caso de o balanço ser positivo ou zero (SUP ≥ REQ). Foram feitas simulações para diferentes tipos de melão (Amarelo, Cantaloupe, Gália e Pele-de-sapo), com produtividade estimada de 45 t ha-1. O sistema estimou que o Gália foi o menos exigente em P, enquanto o Pele-de-sapo, o mais exigente. Cantaloupe foi o que menos demandou N e Ca, enquanto o tipo Amarelo requereu menos K, Mg e S. Em comparação com outros métodos de recomendação de adubação adotados no Brasil, o sistema Ferticalc foi mais dinâmico e flexível em suas recomendações. Embora o sistema tenha apresentado resultados satisfatórios, esse precisa ser avaliado no campo para o aprimoramento das suas recomendações.

cet article est intégré dans un numéro spécial : Van de Waal, D. B., Elser, J. J., Martiny, A. C., Sterner, R. W., Cotner, J. B., eds (2018). Progress in Ecological Stoichiometry. Lausanne: Frontiers Media. doi: 10.3389/978-2-88945-621-5; International audience; Ecological stoichiometry and resource competition theory both predict that nutrient rates and ratios can alter infectious disease dynamics. Pathogens such as viruses hijack nutrient rich host metabolites to complete multiple steps of their epidemiological cycle. As the synthesis of these molecules requires nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), environmental supply rates, and ratios of N and P to hosts can directly limit disease dynamics. Environmental nutrient supplies also may alter virus epidemiology indirectly by changing host phenotype or the dynamics of coinfecting pathogens. We tested whether host nutrient supplies and coinfection control pathogen growth within hosts and transmission to new hosts, either directly or through modifications of plant tissue chemistry (i.e., content and stoichiometric ratios of nutrients), host phenotypic traits, or among-pathogen interactions. We examined two widespread plant viruses (BYDV-PAV and CYDV-RPV) in cultivated oats (Avena sativa) grown along a range of N and of P supply rates. N and P supply rates altered plant tissue chemistry and phenotypic traits; however, environmental nutrient supplies and plant tissue content and ratios of nutrients did not directly alter virus titer. Infection with CYDV-RPV altered plant traits and resulted in thicker plant leaves (i.e., higher leaf mass per area) and there was a positive correlation between CYDV-RPV titer and leaf mass per area. CYDV-RPV titer was reduced by the presence of a competitor, BYDV-PAV, and higher CYDV-RPV titer led to more severe chlorotic symptoms. In our experimental conditions, virus transmission was unaffected by nutrient supply rates, co-infection, plant stoichiometry, or plant traits, although nutrient supply rates have been shown to increase infection and coinfection rates. This work provides a robust test of the role of plant nutrient content and ratios in the dynamics of globally important pathogens and reveals a more complex relationship between within-host virus growth and alterations of plant traits. A deeper understanding of the differential effects of environmental nutrient supplies on virus epidemiology and ecology is particularly relevant given the rapid increase of nutrients flowing into Earth's ecosystems as a result of human activities.

Rivers transport nutrients and suspended sediment matter (SSM) as well as fresh water from land to coastal regions, where the biological productivity is high. In the coastal area, the buoyancy of fresh water leads to the formation of horizontal anticyclonic gyres and vertical circulations, which affect the variation of biological production such as plankton blooms. However, the primary production caused by the 3-D dynamics have not been quantitatively discussed, and observations can hardly capture the daily temporal variations of phytoplankton blooms. We developed an ocean general circulation model including a simple ecosystem model, to investigate the 3-D and temporal changes in phytoplankton blooms caused by riverine input such as flooding. The distribution patterns of nutrients and phytoplankton differ significantly from that of fresh water. The phytoplankton maxima shift from the downstream (right-hand side of the river mouth) to the upstream regions (left-hand side of the river mouth). The shift that occurs is categorized by the different nitrate origins: (1) river-originated nitrate is dominant in the downstream region; (2) subsurface-originated nitrate is dominant in the upstream region, and is transported by upwelling associated with vertical circulation and horizontal anticyclonic gyre; and (3) regenerated nitrate is dominant in the upstream region. The total primary production in phytoplankton blooms is maintained not only by river-originated nitrate but also by subsurface-originated nitrate that is 1.5 times larger than the river-originated. Several case studies (e.g., including SSM) were conducted in this study.

A main objective of restoration and afforestation at post-mining sites is establishing a long-term sustainable ecosystem which depends on adaptations of tree species and which in turn depends on the soil nutrient flux. The nutrient concentration (nitrogen (N), P, K, Ca, Mg, and sulfur (S)) of Scots pine needles was investigated in reclaimed mine soils (RMS) located at the following post-mining sites: a sand mine pit, spoil heap from a lignite mine, spoil heap from a S mine, and a carbonaceous spoil heap from an underground coal mine. The control plots were arranged on natural forest sites adjacent to the post-mining sites. A higher level of foliar nutrients was noted in the carbonaceous RMS, while lower levels were found in RMS on the spoil heap following lignite mining. The characteristics of the substrate were found to exert greater effect than mineral fertilization (performed at the onset of reclamation) on the tree stand characteristics, needle length and foliar nutrient concentration. While the soils and trees were most deficient in N, negative symptoms have not been noted to this date in tree stands at reclaimed mine sites. Trophic ratings were recommended based on statistical correlations and groupings between N and P contents in needles and needles length (mean length of 300 needles) while nutrient ratings were recommended from statistical differences and groupings of the RMS substrates.

Large areas of peatlands have worldwide been drained to facilitate agriculture, which has adverse effects on the environment and the global climate. Agriculture on rewetted peatlands (paludiculture) provides a sustainable alternative to drainage-based agriculture. One form of paludiculture is the cultivation of Sphagnum moss, which can be used as a raw material for horticultural growing media. Under natural conditions, most Sphagnum mosses eligible for paludiculture typically predominate only in nutrient-poor wetland habitats. It is unknown, however, how the prevailing high nutrient levels in rewetted agricultural peatlands interfere with optimal Sphagnum production.We therefore studied the effect of enriched nutrient conditions remaining even after top soil removal and further caused by external supply of nutrient-rich irrigation water and (generally) high inputs of atmospheric nitrogen (N) to habitat biogeochemistry, biomass production and nutrient stoichiometry of introduced Sphagnum palustre and S. papillosum in a rewetted peatland, which was formerly in intensive agricultural use.Airborne N was responsible for the major supply of N. Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were mainly supplied by irrigation water. The prevailing high nutrient levels (P and K) are a result of nutrient-rich irrigation water from the surroundings. Peat porewater (10 cm below peatmoss surface) CO2 concentrations were high, bicarbonate concentrations low, and the pH was around 4.2.Provided that moisture supply is sufficient and dominance of fast-growing, larger graminoids suppressed (in order to avoid outshading of Sphagnum mosses), strikingly very high biomass yields of 6.7 and 6.5 t DW ha(-1) yr(-1) (S, palustre and S. papillosum [including S. fallax biomass], respectively) were obtained despite high N supply and biomass N concentrations. Despite high P and K supply and uptake, N:P and N:K ratios in the Sphagnum capitula were still low. Sphagnum mosses achieved high nutrient sequestration rates of 34 kg N, 17 kg K and 4 kg P ha(-1) yr(-1) from May 2013 to May 2014, which shows that the site acted as an active nutrient sink. Nutrient management still needs further improvement to reduce the competitive advantage of fast growing peatmoss species (cf. S. fallax) at the expense of slower growing but preferred peatmosses as horticultural substrate (S. palustre and S. papillosum) to optimize the quality of biomass yields.In conclusion, Sphagnum farming is well able to thrive under high N input provided that there is a simultaneous high input of P and K from irrigation water, which facilitates high production rates. Due to the lack of suitable, nutrient poor sites, it seems to be useful to remove the topsoil (mainly P removal) prior to start growing Sphagnum mosses. In addition, bicarbonate concentrations have to stay sufficientlylow to ensure a low pH, CO2 supply from the peat soil should be sufficiently high to prevent C limitation, and graminoids should be mown regularly. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rehabilitation of mine tailings dams is often a challenge due to a lack of nutrients and a poor humus reservoir prevailing in tailings soils. This is especially true for establishing longer lived species such as trees. For these reasons the effects of different soil ameliorants (woodchips compost, vermicompost, mature sewage sludge), added to the root system of Karee (Searcia lancea) saplings were tested in pot trials. Those pots were filled with platinum and gold tailings substrate as well as red clay soil, respectively. For three months plants remained in a greenhouse and were subsequently moved to a test field outside. Throughout the test period regular chl a fluorescence measurements were taken and subjected to JIP-test quantifying changes in photosynthetic vitality status. Additionally, growth measurements and one-off leaf analysis were carried out. Test plants growing on mine tailings experienced an up to 35% higher average photosynthetic vitality (PIABS) and improved nutrient supply, when treated with mature sewage sludge. Consequently, sewage sludge treated plants showed a higher biomass build-up rate and an up to 55% higher diameter growth, compared to control. In summary the experiments present a low cost alternative for reforestation enterprises on platinum and gold tailings dams in South Africa. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15226514.2011.636402 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15226514.2011.636402

12 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, Growing evidence of inorganic nutrient limitation on oceanic bacteria suggests a global dependence of bacterial activity and production on rates of nutrient supply. The present study examined whether surface bacterial abundance is significantly related to water column stability, and whether bacterial activity and growth rate are related to the rate of diffusive supply of inorganic nutrients to the mixed layer in the Central Atlantic during 2 meridional cruises. The 2 cruises were run under very different oceanic conditions, with relatively low values of bacterial activity in spring 1995 and relatively higher values in fall 1995. We obtained depth-resolved data in the second cruise and found that the integrated value of bacterial production was also related to the rate of nutrient supply, while integrated particulate primary production and chlorophyll concentration were not. There was also no relationship between particulate primary production and bacterial production. The relationship between nutrient supply and integrated bacterial production was tested with data from a mesocosm experiment showing a good fit to the pattern obtained in the Atlantic. Average bacterial production was ~21% of primary production in the Central Atlantic, with values ranging between 5 and 100%, and higher values in the tropical areas. The demonstration of a direct relationship between nutrient supply and bacterial activity helps to explain a relatively large bacterial biomass as compared to phytoplankton biomass, a low bacterial growth efficiency, and a high bacterial carbon demand relative to contemporaneous primary production often measured in the open ocean, as well as the accumulation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) observed in nutrient-limited oligotrophic seas, This research was part of the LATITUD project (AMB94-0739), funded by the Spanish Interministerial Commission for Science and Technology, while writing was supported by projects COCA (REN2000-1471-CO2-01/MAR) and MODIVUS (CTM2005-04795/MAR). We thank the crew of RV ‘Hespérides’ for assistance

Conference communication The Margalef´s mandala (1978) is a simplified bottom-up control model that explains how mixing and nutrient concentration determine the composition of marine phytoplankton communities. Due to the difficulties of measuring turbulence in the field, previous attempts to verify this model have applied different proxies for nutrient supply, and very often used interchangeably the terms mixing and stratification. Moreover, because the mandala was conceived before the discovery of smaller phytoplankton groups (picoplankton

19 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables, We investigated the influence of ocean mixing and nutrient supply dynamics on picoplankton community composition in the context of Margalef's Mandala (Margalef 1978). Simultaneous measurements of microturbulence, nutrient concentration, and autotrophic and heterotrophic picoplankton properties, were collected during 3 cruises carried out in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea in March (F1), April/May (F2) and September (F3) 2009. The 3 cruises sampled different oceanographic conditions, starting with early stages of the late winter-early spring bloom, followed by the late stage of the bloom, and finally summer stratification. As a result of the variability in vertical diffusivity and the nitrate gradient across the nitracline, nitrate vertical fluxes were higher during F1 (23 ± 35 mmol m d), compared to F2 (0.4 ± 0.2 mmol m d) and F3 (0.09 ± 0.09 mmol m d). Prochlorococcus abundance was low when nitrate supply was high, Synechococcus exhibited the highest abundances at intermediate levels of nitrate supply and highest irradiance during F2, and large and small picoeukaryotic groups increased their abundance under high nutrient supply in F1. No significant relationships between the abundance of high and low nucleic acid heterotrophic bacteria and nitrate supply were found. In agreement with Margalef's model, our results show different responses of picophytoplankton groups to nitrate supply (probably reflecting differences in nutrient uptake abilities), and that the ratio of prokaryotic to picoeukaryotic photoautotrophic biomass decreases with increasing nitrate supply, This work was funded by the Spanish projects TRYNITROP (CTM2004-05174-C02), FAMOSO (CTM2008-06261-C03), TURBIMOC (CTM2009-06712-E/MAR), and CHAOS (CTM 2012-30680). P.C. was supported by a Ramon y Cajal fellow-ship. B.F.-C. thanks the Spanish Government for support through a FPU fellowship (AP2010-5594)

Personalised, genotype-based nutrition is a concept that links genotyping with specific nutritional advice in order to improve the prevention of nutrition-associated, chronic diseases. This review describes the current scientific basis of the concept and discusses its problems. There is convincing evidence that variant genes may indeed determine the biological response to nutrients. The effects of single-gene variants on risk or risk factor levels of a complex disease are, however, usually small and sometimes inconsistent. Thus, information on the effects of combinations of relevant gene variants appears to be required in order to improve the predictive precision of the genetic information. Furthermore, very few associations between genotype and response have been tested for causality in human intervention studies, and little is known about potential adverse effects of a genotype-derived intervention. These issues need to be addressed before genotyping can become an acceptable method to guide nutritional recommendations. © The Authors 2007.

We used hyperspectral imaging to study short-term effects of bioturbation by lugworms (Arenicola marina) on the surficial biomass of microphytobenthos (MPB) in permeable marine sediments. Within days to weeks after the addition of a lugworm to a homogenized and recomposed sediment, the average surficial MPB biomass and its spatial heterogeneity were, respectively, 150-250% and 280% higher than in sediments without lugworms. The surficial sediment area impacted by a single medium-sized lugworm (∼4 g wet weight) over this time-scale was at least 340 cm2. While sediment reworking was the primary cause of the increased spatial heterogeneity, experiments with lugworm-mimics together with modeling showed that bioadvective porewater transport from depth to the sediment surface, as induced by the lugworm ventilating its burrow, was the main cause of the increased surficial MPB biomass. Although direct measurements of nutrient fluxes are lacking, our present data show that enhanced advective supply of nutrients from deeper sediment layers induced by faunal ventilation is an important mechanism that fuels high primary productivity at the surface of permeable sediments even though these systems are generally characterized by low standing stocks of nutrients and organic material.

We used hyperspectral imaging to study short-term effects of bioturbation by lugworms (Arenicola marina) on the surficial biomass of microphytobenthos (MPB) in permeable marine sediments. Within days to weeks after the addition of a lugworm to a homogenized and recomposed sediment, the average surficial MPB biomass and its spatial heterogeneity were, respectively, 150-250% and 280% higher than in sediments without lugworms. The surficial sediment area impacted by a single medium-sized lugworm (∼4 g wet weight) over this time-scale was at least 340 cm2. While sediment reworking was the primary cause of the increased spatial heterogeneity, experiments with lugworm-mimics together with modeling showed that bioadvective porewater transport from depth to the sediment surface, as induced by the lugworm ventilating its burrow, was the main cause of the increased surficial MPB biomass. Although direct measurements of nutrient fluxes are lacking, our present data show that enhanced advective supply of nutrients from deeper sediment layers induced by faunal ventilation is an important mechanism that fuels high primary productivity at the surface of permeable sediments even though these systems are generally characterized by low standing stocks of nutrients and organic material.

Orchids and soil communities that support them may be affected when we monitor or conduct inves- tigative procedures, or through tourism especially during the blooming season, but this has never been investigated or quantified (Light 2004). The immedi- ate and direct effect of human disturbance including crushing of flowering plants and seedlings is obvious: broken stems are unlikely to resume growth and a season’s reproductive effort can be lost. Orchids and soil communities that support them may be affected when we monitor or conduct inves- tigative procedures, or through tourism especially during the blooming season, but this has never been investigated or quantified (Light 2004). The immedi- ate and direct effect of human disturbance including crushing of flowering plants and seedlings is obvious: broken stems are unlikely to resume growth and a season’s reproductive effort can be lost.

10 pages, 7 tables.-- Printed version published Nov 2006., The Northern Areas of Pakistan form a mountainous, semi-arid region in which subsistence mixed farming is the predominant economic activity for the majority of the population, which numbers around 1 million. Following a period of relative isolation, construction of the Karakoram Highway and the ensuing development activity have been catalysts for rapid infrastructural and social change over the last two decades. In the study reported here, feed resources for the livestock enterprise, which is largely made up of cattle, goats and sheep, were studied in detail over the course of a single winter feeding season. Productive outputs including liveweight change, milk production and reproductive performance were also quantified over a full year. The aim of the study was to provide a quantitative description of the system and to assess the extent to which proximity to a major highway influenced livestock husbandary. Six villages across the region were selected for study as part of a 2 × 3 factorial design with one village per cell of the study design. Factors consisted of two geographical transects and three agro-ecological zones. Transects were the Karakoram Highway (KKH) transect which enjoyed relatively good transport infrastructure and the Gilgit Ghizer Region (GGR) transect where infrastructure was more limited. Agro-ecological zones were the single, transitional and double cropping zones. One village per transect from each of the three main agro-ecological zones was chosen for study with 6–7 households within each village studied. Results showed that feed resources per household did not vary significantly according to transect or zone but cattle numbers per household were higher in the GGR transect than in the KKH transect indicating a heavier reliance on subsistence livestock production in this transect. Live weight and body condition of livestock in the Northern Areas changed markedly over the annual cycle. Losses of live weight were in the order of 10% over winter while summer gains during the summer season averaged 35% of initial live weight. There were differences between transects, with animals in the KKH gaining less weight in summer but showing higher milk yield (in cattle) and better reproductive performance. The results indicate a typical system of smallholder livestock production with heavy reliance on cereal by-products, a mix of livestock species and a relative scarcity of stored feed resources relative to overall livestock holdings. This study also suggests that proximity to the main highway running through the Northern Areas is associated with a reduced but more feed-efficient livestock production system., The research reported here was funded by the European Union under the Framework 5 INCO-DC Programme.