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  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Canopy gaps promote selective stem-cutting by small mammals of two dominant tree species in an African lowland forest: the importance of seedling chemistry
    (2016-1)
    Norghauer, Julian M.
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    Small mammals can impede tree regeneration by injuring seedlings and saplings in several ways. One fatal way is by severing their stems, but apparently this type of predation is not well-studied in tropical rain forest. Here, we report on the incidence of stem-cutting' to new, wild seedlings of two locally dominant, canopy tree species monitored in 40 paired forest understorey and gap-habitat areas in Korup, Cameroon following a 2007 masting event. In gap areas, which are required for the upward growth and sapling recruitment of both species, 137 seedlings of the long-lived, light-demanding, fast-growing large tropical tree (Microberlinia bisulcata) were highly susceptible to stem-cutting (83% of deaths) it killed 39% of all seedlings over a c. 2-y period. In stark contrast, seedlings of the more shade-tolerant, slower-growing tree species (Tetraberlinia bifoliolata) were hardly attacked (4.3%). In the understorey, however, stem-cutting was virtually absent. Across the gap areas, the incidence of stem-cutting of M. bisulcata seedlings showed significant spatial variation that could not be explained significantly by either canopy openness or Janzen-Connell type effects (proximity and basal area of conspecific adult trees). To examine physical and chemical traits that might explain the species difference to being cut, bark and wood tissues were collected from a separate sample of seedlings in gaps (i.e. not monitored for stem-cutting). These analyses suggested that, compared with T. bifoliolata, the lower stem density, higher Mg and K and fatty acid concentrations in bark, and fewer phenolic and terpene compounds in M. bisulcata seedlings made them more palatable and attractive to small-mammal predators, likely rodents. We conclude that selective stem-cutting is a potent countervailing force to the current local canopy dominance of the grove-forming M. bisulcata by limiting the recruitment and abundance of its saplings. Given the ubiquity of gaps and ground-dwelling rodents in pantropical forests, it would be surprising if this form of lethal browsing was restricted to Korup.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    A specialist root herbivore exploits defensive metabolites to locate nutritious tissues
    (2012)
    Robert, Christelle Aurélie Maud
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    Marti, Guillaume
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    Doyen, G. R.
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    Gaillard, Mickaël David Philippe
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    Köllner, Tobias G.
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    Giron, David
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    Body, Mélanie
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    Babst, Benjamin A.
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    Ferrieri, Richard A.
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    The most valuable organs of plants are often particularly rich in essential elements, but also very well defended. This creates a dilemma for herbivores that need to maximise energy intake while minimising intoxication. We investigated how the specialist root herbivore Diabrotica virgifera solves this conundrum when feeding on wild and cultivated maize plants. We found that crown roots of maize seedlings were vital for plant development and, in accordance, were rich in nutritious primary metabolites and contained higher amounts of the insecticidal 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA) and the phenolic compound chlorogenic acid. The generalist herbivores Diabrotica balteata and Spodoptera littoralis were deterred from feeding on crown roots, whereas the specialist D. virgifera preferred and grew best on these tissues. Using a 1,4-benzoxazin-3-one-deficient maize mutant, we found that D. virgifera is resistant to DIMBOA and other 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones and that it even hijacks these compounds to optimally forage for nutritious roots.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Rapid profiling of intact glucosinolates in
    (2012) ;
    Schweizer, F.
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    Reymond, P.
    Introduction The analysis of glucosinolates (GS) is traditionally performed by reverse-phase liquid chromatography coupled to ultraviolet detection after a time-consuming desulphation step, which is required for increased retention. Simpler and more efficient alternative methods that can shorten both sample preparation and analysis are much needed. Objective To evaluate the feasibility of using ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOFMS) for the rapid profiling of intact GS. Methodology A simple and short extraction of GS from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves was developed. Four sub-2?mu m reverse-phase columns were tested for the rapid separation of these polar compounds using formic acid as the chromatographic additive. High-resolution QTOFMS was used to detect and identify GS. Results A novel charged surface hybrid (CSH) column was found to provide excellent retention and separation of GS within a total running time of 11?min. Twenty-one GS could be identified based on their accurate mass as well as isotopic and fragmentation patterns. The method was applied to determine the changes in GS content that occur after herbivory in Arabidopsis. In addition, we evaluated its applicability to the profiling of other Brassicaceae species. Conclusion The method developed can profile the full range of GS, including the most polar ones, in a shorter time than previous methods, and is highly compatible with mass spectrometric detection. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Induction and detoxification of maize 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones by insect herbivores
    (2011) ;
    Marti, Guillaume
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    Doyen, Gwladys A.
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    Wolfender, Jean-Luc
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    In monocotyledonous plants, 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones, also referred to as benzoxazinoids or hydroxamic acids, are one of the most important chemical barriers against herbivores. However, knowledge about their behavior after attack, mode of action and potential detoxification by specialized insects remains limited. We chose an innovative analytical approach to understand the role of maize 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones in plant?insect interactions. By combining unbiased metabolomics screening and simultaneous measurements of living and digested plant tissue, we created a quantitative dynamic map of 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones at the plant?insect interface. Hypotheses derived from this map were tested by specifically developed in vitro assays using purified 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones and active extracts from mutant plants lacking 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones. Our data show that maize plants possess a two-step defensive system that effectively fends off both the generalist Spodoptera littoralis and the specialist Spodoptera frugiperda. In the first step, upon insect attack, large quantities of 2-?-d-glucopyranosyloxy-4,7-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (HDMBOA-Glc) are formed. In the second step, after tissue disruption by the herbivores, highly unstable 2-hydroxy-4,7-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (HDMBOA) is released by plant-derived ?-glucosidases. HDMBOA acts as a strong deterrent to both S. littoralis and S. frugiperda. Although constitutively produced 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones such as 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA) are detoxified via glycosylation by the insects, no conjugation of HDMBOA in the insect gut was found, which may explain why even the specialist S. frugiperda has not evolved immunity against this plant defense. Taken together, our results show the benefit of using a plant?insect interface approach to elucidate plant defensive processes and unravel a potent resistance mechanism in maize.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Alternative reproductive tactics, sperm mobility, and oxidative stress in Carollia perspicillata (Seba's short-tailed bat)
    (2017-1-1)
    Fasel, Nicolas Jean
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    Wesseling, Charlotte
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    Fernandez, Ahana Aurora
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    Vallat, Armelle
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    Richner, Heinz
    In social systems with alternative reproductive tactics, sneakers face a stronger sperm competition than harem males, and hence are predicted to allocate more resources to ejaculates. Antioxidants can protect sperm against oxidative stress, and thus their allocation to the ejaculate may depend on social status. In this study on the frugivorous bat Carollia perspicillata, we assessed for harem and sneaker males, four sperm mobility traits, blood and ejaculate markers of the redox balance, and the ejaculate to blood ratios of the redox markers. Under higher sperm competition, sneaker males should allocate proportionally more antioxidant resources to the protection of sperm than harem males. In contrast, harem males should favour pre-copulatory functions, which comprise the protection of blood. We found significantly higher sperm velocity and sperm survival in sneakers. There was no correlation between sperm mobility and sperm enzymatic antioxidant activity or ejaculate levels of lipid peroxidation (oxidative damage). Ejaculate levels of lipid peroxidation and sperm survival showed a significantly positive correlation, which could be attributed to the role of reactive oxygen species for sperm capacitation. Harem and sneaker males showed similar levels of redox balance markers in ejaculate and blood. However, harem males showed a higher ratio of oxidized over reduced glutathione in blood, which may indicate higher cellular stress due to higher metabolism. Overall, our findings suggest that sneakers of C. perspicillata compensate for a stronger sperm competition by higher sperm mobility.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Corticosterone: effects on feather quality and deposition into feathers
    (2015-2-1)
    Jenni-Eiermann, Susanne
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    Vallat, Armelle
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    Jenni, Lukas
    The concentration of the glucocorticoid hormone corticosterone (CORT) is increasingly used in ecology and conservation biology as an integrated measure of the historical record of an individual's hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) activity during feather growth. However, where and how CORT is incorporated in feathers is incompletely known. * We therefore examined whether CORT is reliably measured with an enzyme immunoassay, where CORT is incorporated in the feather and where it affects feather quality, and whether CORT incorporation is related to plasma CORT levels, feather growth rate and melanin pigmentation. * During the regrowth of plucked tail feathers, we injected pigeons with tritium-labelled CORT, and implanted a CORT-releasing pellet to increase plasma CORT concentration for about 3 days. In feather segments, we measured labelled CORT (DPM3H) and we quantified CORT with an enzyme immunoassay EIA (CORTEIA) and double-checked the results with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS) (CORTMS). * Administered CORT affected feather structure and colour at the very base of the feather (epidermal collar, ramogenic zone) and reduced growth rate. In contrast, incorporation of CORT into the feather happened mainly in the blood quill, as shown with all three methods (DPM3H, CORTEIA and CORTMS). * Incorporation of CORT into feathers was only roughly proportional to plasma concentration, proportional to feather growth rate and increased with melanin pigmentation. * Measuring CORT in feather is a way to reveal past events of increased stress during feather growth in birds.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Biotic and abiotic factors associated with altitudinal variation in plant traits and herbivory in a dominant oak species
    (2016-12-2)
    Abdala-Roberts, Luis
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    Berny-Mier y Terán, Jorge C.
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    Covelo, Felisa
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    Moreira, Xoaquin