#ecophysiology

Seitzinger, S. et al. Denitrification across landscapes and waterscapes: a synthesis. Ecol. Appl. 16, 2064–2090 (2006). Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  Plummer, P., Tobias, C. & Cady, D. Nitrogen reduction pathways in estuarine sediments: influences of organic carbon and sulfide. J. Geophys. Res. Biogeosci. 120, 1958–1972 (2015). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  Zhu, G. et al. Hotspots of…

04.10.2019

In the previous session, herbaceous plant leaves were collected and soaked in NaOH to compare the rate of pigmentation loss between plants with soft tissues against the tree leaves with stronger tissues.

Samples of hazel and birch remaining in NaOH still retained colour, as did the herbaceous leaves although were beginning to lose pigment.

All samples transferred to a 50% bleach solution in which some herbaceous quickly lost their pigmentation but others were slower by 1h.

Once all vascular structures were visible and no colour remained the leaves were put through the ethanol dilution series, stained with safranin & fast green dyes, then gradually returned to H2O with a reverse dilution.

02.10.2019

Sections of maple, oak, hazel and birch leaves were soaked overnight in NaOH. After 24h, there was little progress in the chemical clearing. Samples were halved and placed in a 50% bleach solution.

Pigmentation was quickly lost for oak and maple leaves but slowly with hazel and birch.

As the colour was lost, vascular structures became visible in the leaves so they could be put through an ethanol dilution series and stained using safranin & fast green for closer inspection with a microscope.

01.10.2019

Quantifying leaf venation traits. 

Preparation for clear visualisation of leaf vascular systems, in order to identify characteristics of their veins in future experiments. Chosen sample leaves are Oak, Birch, Hazelnut & Maple. 

Mixed solutions of Sodium Hydroxide (5g NaOH / 100ml H2O) which acts as a chemical clearing agent, to remove pigmentation from the leaves and allow clear display of their vein structure {Mixed with a magnetic stirrer}. Prepared an ethanol dilution series of 30%, 50%, 75% and 100% (EtOH to H2O) to be applied pre-staining. Mixed dyes of safranin and fast green (1g / 100ml H2O), then transferred to a bottle using filter paper so it can be used to give a clear image of the vascular system once applied.

Thirsty forests: Climate change is one ingredient of a cocktail of factors driving the ongoing destruction of pristine forests on Earth. We here highlight the main physiological challenges trees must face to deal with increasing drought and heat.

Climate change is one ingredient of a cocktail of factors driving the ongoing destruction of pristine forests on Earth. We here highlight the main physiological challenges trees must face to deal with increasing drought and heat.

Forests experiencing embolism after a hot drought. The upper-left pic shows Scots (Pinus sylvestris) and black (P. nigra) pines in Montaña de Salvador(Espuñola,…

Ecophysiological feedbacks under climate change

Variability in heat tolerance among populations modifies the climate-driven periods of diurnal activity expected for ectotherm species. We illustrate this phenomenon for Iberian lizards in a paper we have just published in the Journal of Animal Ecology.

Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis, male) and three localities where the species is abundant in Spain, left to right including Valdesquí/Ma…

Journal of Plant Chemistry and Ecophysiology by Austin Publishing Group