Designing a suite of measurements to understand the critical zone

Many scientists have begun to refer to the earth surface environment from the upper canopy to the depths of bedrock as the critical zone (CZ). Identification of the CZ as an integral object worthy of study implicitly posits that the study of the whole earth surface will provide benefits that do not arise when studying the individual parts. To study the CZ, however, requires prioritizing among the measurements that can be made – and we do not generally agree on the priorities. Currently, the Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory (SSHCZO) is expanding from a small original focus area (0.08 km2 , Shale Hills catchment), to a larger watershed (164 km2 , Shavers Creek watershed) and is grappling with the prioritization. This effort is an expansion from a monolithologic first-order forested catchment to a watershed that encompasses several lithologies (shale, sandstone, limestone) and land use types (forest, agriculture). The goal of the project remains the same: to understand water, energy, gas, solute, and sediment (WEGSS) fluxes that are occurring today in the context of the record of those fluxes over geologic time as recorded in soil profiles, the sedimentary record, and landscape morphology. Given the small size of the Shale Hills catchment, the original design incorporated measurement of as many parameters as possible at high temporal and spatial density. In the larger Shavers Creek watershed, however, we must focus the measurements. We describe a strategy of data collection and modeling based on a geomorphological and land use framework that builds on the hillslope as the basic unit. Interpolation and extrapolation beyond specific sites relies on geophysical surveying, remote sensing, geomorphic analysis, the study of natural integrators such as streams, groundwaters or air, and application of a suite of CZ models. We hypothesize that measurements of a few important variables at strategic locations within a geomorphological framework will allow development of predictive models of CZ behavior. In turn, the measurements and models will reveal how the larger watershed will respond to perturbations both now and into the future

Bal arılarında stress protein tepkileri: kovandaki her bir arının strese tepkilerinin ölçülmesi kullanışlı mı

Eusociality provides honey bees a broad repertoire of responses, through a colony’s division of labor, to maintain hive homeostasis in the countenance of environmental perturbations. The hive dynamics instrumented by workers must be balanced against losses during periods of stress. Stress proteins, a component of the cellular stress response that is already characterized in species from bacteria to man, provide molecular protection against many stressors at the organismal level of biological organization. A capacious stress protein literature reveals several general patterns. Exposure to sublethal stress increases cellular stress protein concentrations and improves survival to subsequent stress. While promoting survival during periods of stress, over-expression of stress proteins during development may diminish expression of performance traits important later in life under different circumstances. The relatively few studies that have investigated stress responses in bees reveal relationships with abiotic stress (i.e. temperature, toxins) and oxidative stress associated with flight and alcohol consumption. Given the economic importance of the honey bee and the need to better understand how agricultural factors (e.g., hive management practices, pesticides, natural enemies) affect colony performance, investigations of the association between the stress response and performance traits in individual bees should be pursued in the future.Amaç: Bu derlemenin amacı bal arılarında stres proteinlerinin çalışma mekanizması, stres proteinlerinin stres zamanında bal arılarında hücresel-moleküler ve organizma seviyesinde nasıl bir tolerans sağladığı, her bir arının kovanda bir biyo-gösterge olabileceğini tartışmaktır. Tartışma: Bal arılarında ileri derecede sosyal yapı çevresel faktörlere ve kovandaki dengelerin kurulmasında koloni işbölümü sayesinde çok geniş bir tepki olanağı sağlamaktadır. Işçi arılar tarafından sağlanan kovan dinamikleri koloni kayıp zamanlarındaki strese karşı dengelenmelidir. Stres proteinleri çevredeki çok farklı stres faktörlerine karşı hücresel-moleküler tepki mekanizmasının önemli bir parçasıdır. Bal arısı kolonisi grup olarak çok farklı çevre koşullarında özelleşmiş rekabetçilere karşı rekabet edip yaşamaya devam edebilmesi için kovan içindeki iklimsel dengeyi de korurlar. Bunu yayılmacı arılar nektar yerine su toplayarak buharlaşma ile çok sıcak havalarda kovanda soğutma yaparak sağlar. Nectar stresi bal arılarında çiçeklere yayılma davranışı ve diğer nektar toplayan canlılar arasında bir yarışmanın sonucudur. Bu durumda yayılmacı arılar her ne kadar maksimum net enerji hedefleselerde çiçekleri paylaşımda da bir işbölümü olduğu ve bunun rekabeti azalttığı görülmektedir. Bakteriden insana kadar tanımlanmış ve moleküler hücre stres tepki mekanizmasının bir parçası olan stres proteinleri biyolojik organizasyonda organizma seviyesinde stres faktörlerine karşı koruma sağlamaktadır. Literatürde yaygın stres proteini birçok genel yapı göstermektedir. Ölümcül olmayan stres hücre seviyesinde stres proteinlerinin konsantrasyonunu artırmakta ve arkasından gelecek strese karşı yaşama direncini artırmaktadır. Fakat üretilen stres proteinlerinin canlı açısından bir bedeli bulunmaktadır. Bir taraftan stres koşullarında fazla üretilen stres proteinleri yaşama gücünü artırırken gelişme döneminde yaşamın daha sonraki evrelerinde farklı koşullar altında önemli olan bazı başarı karakterlerinin kaybedilmesine neden olabilir. Bir kaç çalışma stres proteinlerinin cansız faktörlerle (sıcaklık, zehirler) alkol tüketimi ve uçuşla ilişkili oksijen stresi arasındaki ilişkilerini araştırmıştır. Sıcaklık stresi bal arılarında sinir sisteminde bozukluk ve kısa süreli hafızanın kaybedilmesine ve yayılmacı arıların besinin yerini bulmasını engellemektedir. Pestisit olarak zararlı organizmalara karşı kullanılan kimyasallar merkez sinir sistemi fonksiyonu, deri değiştirme ve üreme gibi fizyolojik gelişmeleri bozmaktadır. Elde edilen veriler pestisitlerin ölümcül dozun altında olması durumunda bile tozlaşma için önemli olan kolonideki yayılmacı arı sayısını azalttığnıı göstermektedir. Ek olarak permethrin, coumaphos, diazin gibi kimyasaların bal arılarında öğrenmeyi engellediği bilinmektedir. Son zamanlarda (yeni nesil pyrethroids, böcek büyüne düzenleyicileri gibi) hedefe özel çevreye dost ve güvenli görülen tarımsal kimyasalların bal arılarında davranışı nasıl etkilediği konusunda çok az bilgi bulunmaktadır. Örneğin, Dicofol’un çoğu böceklere karşı zehirli olmadığı kabul edilir fakat bal arılarında kullanıldığı zaman öğrenme seviyesinde önemli derecede kayıp görülmüştür. Sonuç: Sonuçta böceklere karşı kullanılan kimyasallar tarımsal ilaçlar ekolojik açıdan doğru olmayan, zararlıların direnç geliştrmesine, ikincil zararlıların çok sayıda artmasına, hedef olmayan canlılarda olumsuz etkilere, kalıntı sorunlarına, ve üzerinde uygulanan canlılara zrar vermektedir. Bu bakımdan stres oluşturması nedeniyle benzer şekilde farklı konsantrasyonlarda alkol solüsyonları ile çalışmalar yapılmaktadır. Ölümcül dozun altındaki tarımsal kimysallar kovanda direk olarak arıları öldürmeyebilir, fakat işçi arıları, ana arıyı ve erkek arıları olumsuz etkileyerk koloninin veriminin azalmasına neden olabilir. Bal arılarının ekonomik önemi (farklı mevsimlerde sıcaklık, besinin durumu, kovanların gezginci arıcılıkta taşınması, kolonilerin rutin kontrolleri, körük kullanımı, koloni bakım-besleme, pestisitler, doğal düşmanlar) nedeni ile tarımsal faktörlerin koloni performansını nasıl etkilediği, her bir arıda başarı karakterleri ve stres tepkileri arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi gelecekte araştırılması gereken bir konudu

The Use of LiDAR Terrain Data in Characterizing Surface Roughness and Microtopography

The availability of light detection and ranging data (LiDAR) has resulted in a new era of landscape analysis. For example, improvements in LiDAR data resolution may make it possible to accurately model microtopography over a large geographic area; however, data resolution and processing costs versus resulting accuracy may be too costly. We examined two LiDAR datasets of differing resolutions, a low point density (0.714 points/m2 spacing) 1 m DEM available statewide in Pennsylvania and a high point density (10.28 points/m2 spacing) 1 m DEM research-grade DEM, and compared the calculated roughness between both resulting DEMs using standard deviation of slope, standard deviation of curvature, a pit fill index, and the difference between a smoothed splined surface and the original DEM. These results were then compared to field-surveyed plots and transects of microterrain. Using both datasets, patterns of roughness were identified, which were associated with different landforms derived from hydrogeomorphic features such as stream channels, gullies, and depressions. Lowland areas tended to have the highest roughness values for all methods, with other areas showing distinctive patterns of roughness values across metrics. However, our results suggest that the high-resolution research-grade LiDAR did not improve roughness modeling in comparison to the coarser statewide LiDAR. We conclude that resolution and initial point density may not be as important as the algorithm and methodology used to generate a LiDAR-derived DEM for roughness modeling purposes

Developing a Flexible Learning Activity on Biodiversity and Spatial Scale Concepts Using Open-Access Vegetation Datasets from the National Ecological Observatory Network

Biodiversity is a complex, yet essential, concept for undergraduate students in ecology and other natural sciences to grasp. As beginner scientists, students must learn to recognize, describe, and interpret patterns of biodiversity across various spatial scales and understand their relationships with ecological processes and human influences. It is also increasingly important for undergraduate programs in ecology and related disciplines to provide students with experiences working with large ecological datasets to develop students’ data science skills and their ability to consider how ecological processes that operate at broader spatial scales (macroscale) affect local ecosystems. To support the goals of improving student understanding of macroscale ecology and biodiversity at multiple spatial scales, we formed an interdisciplinary team that included grant personnel, scientists, and faculty from ecology and spatial sciences to design a flexible learning activity to teach macroscale biodiversity concepts using large datasets from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). We piloted this learning activity in six courses enrolling a total of 109 students, ranging from midlevel ecology and GIS/remote sensing courses, to upper-level conservation biology. Using our classroom experiences and a pre/postassessment framework, we evaluated whether our learning activity resulted in increased student understanding of macroscale ecology and biodiversity concepts and increased familiarity with analysis techniques, software programs, and large spatio-ecological datasets. Overall, results suggest that our learning activity improved student understanding of biological diversity, biodiversity metrics, and patterns of biodiversity across several spatial scales. Participating faculty reflected on what went well and what would benefit from changes, and we offer suggestions for implementation of the learning activity based on this feedback. This learning activity introduced students to macroscale ecology and built student skills in working with big data (i.e., large datasets) and performing basic quantitative analyses, skills that are essential for the next generation of ecologists

Inhibition of Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer by Estrogenic Compounds Is Associated with Increased Expression of Immune-Related Genes 1

Abstract The clinical utility of estrogens for treating prostate cancer (CaP) was established in the 1940s by Huggins. The classic model of the anti-CaP activity of estrogens postulates an indirect mechanism involving the suppression of androgen production. However, clinical and preclinical studies have shown that estrogens exert growth-inhibitory effects on CaP under low-androgen conditions, suggesting additional modes whereby estrogens affect CaP cells and/or the microenvironment. Here we have investigated the activity of 17B estradiol (E2) against androgen-independent CaP and identified molecular alterations in tumors exposed to E2. E2 treatment inhibited the growth of all four androgen-independent CaP xenografts studied (LuCaP 35V, LuCaP 23.1AI, LuCaP 49, and LuCaP 58) in castrated male mice. The molecular basis of growth suppression was studied by cDNA microarray analysis, which indicated that multiple pathways are altered by E2 treatment. Of particular interest are changes in transcripts encoding proteins that mediate immune responses and regulate androgen receptor signaling. In conclusion, our data show that estrogens have powerful inhibitory effects on CaP in vivo in androgendepleted environments and suggest novel mechanisms of estrogen-mediated antitumor activity. These results indicate that incorporating estrogens into CaP treatment protocols could enhance therapeutic efficacy even in cases of advanced disease. Neoplasia (2006) 8, 862-87

Inhibition of Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer by Estrogenic Compounds Is Associated with Increased Expression of Immune-Related Genes

The clinical utility of estrogens for treating prostate cancer (CaP) was established in the 1940s by Huggins. The classic model of the anti-CaP activity of estrogens postulates an indirect mechanism involving the suppression of androgen production. However, clinical and preclinical studies have shown that estrogens exert growth-inhibitory effects on CaP under low-androgen conditions, suggesting additional modes whereby estrogens affect CaP cells and/or the microenvironment. Here we have investigated the activity of 17β estradiol (E2) against androgen-independent CaP and identified molecular alterations in tumors exposed to E2. E2 treatment inhibited the growth of all four androgen-independent CaP xenografts studied (LuCaP 35V, LuCaP 23.1AI, LuCaP 49, and LuCaP 58) in castrated male mice. The molecular basis of growth suppression was studied by cDNA microarray analysis, which indicated that multiple pathways are altered by E2 treatment. Of particular interest are changes in transcripts encoding proteins that mediate immune responses and regulate androgen receptor signaling. In conclusion, our data show that estrogens have powerful inhibitory effects on CaP in vivo in androgen-depleted environments and suggest novel mechanisms of estrogen-mediated antitumor activity. These results indicate that incorporating estrogens into CaP treatment protocols could enhance therapeutic efficacy even in cases of advanced disease