Improved representation of plant functional types and physiology in the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES v4.2) using plant trait information

Dynamic global vegetation models are used to predict the response of vegetation to climate change. They are essential for planning ecosystem management, understanding carbon cycle–climate feedbacks, and evaluating the potential impacts of climate change on global ecosystems. JULES (the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator) represents terrestrial processes in the UK Hadley Centre family of models and in the first generation UK Earth System Model. Previously, JULES represented five plant functional types (PFTs): broadleaf trees, needle-leaf trees, C3 and C4 grasses, and shrubs. This study addresses three developments in JULES. First, trees and shrubs were split into deciduous and evergreen PFTs to better represent the range of leaf life spans and metabolic capacities that exists in nature. Second, we distinguished between temperate and tropical broadleaf evergreen trees. These first two changes result in a new set of nine PFTs: tropical and temperate broadleaf evergreen trees, broadleaf deciduous trees, needle-leaf evergreen and deciduous trees, C3 and C4 grasses, and evergreen and deciduous shrubs. Third, using data from the TRY database, we updated the relationship between leaf nitrogen and the maximum rate of carboxylation of Rubisco (Vcmax), and updated the leaf turnover and growth rates to include a trade-off between leaf life span and leaf mass per unit area. Overall, the simulation of gross and net primary productivity (GPP and NPP, respectively) is improved with the nine PFTs when compared to FLUXNET sites, a global GPP data set based on FLUXNET, and MODIS NPP. Compared to the standard five PFTs, the new nine PFTs simulate a higher GPP and NPP, with the exception of C3 grasses in cold environments and C4 grasses that were previously over-productive. On a biome scale, GPP is improved for all eight biomes evaluated and NPP is improved for most biomes – the exceptions being the tropical forests, savannahs, and extratropical mixed forests where simulated NPP is too high. With the new PFTs, the global present-day GPP and NPP are 128 and 62 Pg C year−1, respectively. We conclude that the inclusion of trait-based data and the evergreen/deciduous distinction has substantially improved productivity fluxes in JULES, in particular the representation of GPP. These developments increase the realism of JULES, enabling higher confidence in simulations of vegetation dynamics and carbon storage

TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Alpine plant communities differ in their seed germination requirements along a snowmelt gradient in the caucasus

E.F.P. was supported by the Jardín Botánico Atlántico [SV-20-GIJON-JBA]

Distribution of Casein Molar Fractions in Pasta Filata Cheeses

Tato práce je zaměřena na studium změn kaseinového komplexu u pařených sýrů typu Pasta Filata. Hlavním cílem bylo sledování degradace kaseinového komplexu u různých druhů vyrobených pařených sýrů s respektováním jejich odlišnosti a s ohledem na charakter zrání a druh pařeného sýra. Pro dosažení tohoto cíle byly sledovány základní chemické parametry suroviny (sýrového těsta) pro výrobu pařených sýrů. U standardně vyrobené suroviny, která je základem pro výrobu pařených sýrů byly ověřeny rozhodující technologické parametry tj. hodnoty prokysáni suroviny (pH), vliv rozdílné teploty a doby paření suroviny. Uvedené faktory bezprostředně ovlivňují proces kvality paření sýrů a finálního výrobku. Experimenty byly založeny na analýze suroviny před pařením, po paření a následně analýzy finálních produktů v průběhu zrání resp. na konci doby min. trvanlivosti. Rozsah a hloubka degradace kaseinového komplexu byla sledována pomocí gelové permeační chromatografie (GPC) a metodou sodium dodecylsulfat polyakrylamidovou gelovou elektroforezou (SDS-PAGE). Zjištěné hodnoty byly porovnány na standardní vzorek kysele sráženého vzorku kaseinu (frakce alfa-, beta-, kappa-kaseinů ). Jako doplňující analýzy byl provedeny mikrobiální rozbory, rozbory na biogenní aminy a senzorická analýza. Z výsledků analýz vyplývá, že kaseinový komplex je poměrně termostabilní, tzn. že standardní pařicí teploty používané pro tuto technologie vyvolávají jen v omezeném rozsahu denaturaci a degradaci kaseinového komplexu. Jak metoda GPC, rovněž tak SDS-PAGE jsou použitelné a vypovídající o změnách kaseinového komplexu. Následná hlubší proteolýza kaseinového komplexu je pak vyvolána proteolytickými enzymy produkovaným mikroorganismy.This research is focused on the study of changes in the casein complex in pasta filata cheeses. The aim of the study was to analyze the degradation of casein complex in various types of Czech pasta filata cheeses. To achieve this objective the basic chemical parameters of cheese curds and final products were analyzed. The basic technological parameters i.e. actual acidity values (pH), titratable acidity values (SH°) and the influence of different temperatures and time of heating for the cheese curds mass were studied. These factors directly affect the quality of heating process and the final cheese product. The experimental samples of cheeses were collected from four dairy industrial organizations. The experiments were based on analysis of cheese curd before heating, after heating and following analysis of final products during ripening or, at the end of expiration date. The casein complex degradation range and depth was monitored by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The obtained values were evaluated on standard samples of acid-precipitated casein (fraction of alfa-, beta-, and kappa-caseins). As additional analyses a microbiological analysis, analysis of biogenic amines and sensory evaluation were carried out. The analyses results show that casein complex is relatively thermostable, i.e. under steaming standard temperature used for this technology the denaturation and degradation of the casein complex was within the tolerance. The GPC method as well as SDS-PAGE are applicable and meaningful for studies on changes in the casein complex.Ústav technologie potravinobhájen

Dominance hierarchies, diversity and species richness of vascular plants in an alpine meadow: contrasting short and medium term responses to simulated global change

We studied the impact of simulated global change on a high alpine meadow plant community. Specifically, we examined whether short-term (5 years) responses are good predictors for medium-term (7 years) changes in the system by applying a factorial warming and nutrient manipulation to 20 plots in Latnjajaure, subarctic Sweden. Seven years of experimental warming and nutrient enhancement caused dramatic shifts in dominance hierarchies in response to the nutrient and the combined warming and nutrient enhancement treatments. Dominance hierarchies in the meadow moved from a community being dominated by cushion plants, deciduous, and evergreen shrubs to a community being dominated by grasses, sedges, and forbs. Short-term responses were shown to be inconsistent in their ability to predict medium-term responses for most functional groups, however, grasses showed a consistent and very substantial increase in response to nutrient addition over the seven years. The non-linear responses over time point out the importance of longer-term studies with repeated measurements to be able to better predict future changes. Forecasted changes to temperature and nutrient availability have implications for trophic interactions, and may ultimately influence the access to and palatability of the forage for grazers. Depending on what anthropogenic change will be most pronounced in the future (increase in nutrient deposits, warming, or a combination of them both), different shifts in community dominance hierarchies may occur. Generally, this study supports the productivity–diversity relationship found across arctic habitats, with community diversity peaking in mid-productivity systems and degrading as nutrient availability increases further. This is likely due the increasing competition in plant–plant interactions and the shifting dominance structure with grasses taking over the experimental plots, suggesting that global change could have high costs to biodiversity in the Arctic

Bluetooth устройства в повседневной жизни

В статье рассматриваются современные популярные Bluetooth-устройства. Рассматриваемые устройства могут применяться в повседневной жизни человека. Были рассмотрены такие устройства, как наушники, дверной замок, смарт-часы, фитнес-браслет и Bluetooth-гарнитура. Также рассмотрена концепция создания умного дома при использовании технологии Bluetooth.The article considers modern popular Bluetooth devices. The devices under consideration can be used in everyday life. Such devices as headphones, door lock, smart clocks, fitness bracelet and Bluetooth headset were considered. The concept of designing a smart home using Bluetooth technology was also considered