443 research outputs found

    Microcantilever arrays functionalised with spiropyran photoactive moieties as systems to measure photo-induced surface stress changes

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    Herein we investigate the feasibility of detecting photo-induced surface stress changes using the deflection response of cantilevers. For this purpose, silicon microcantilevers have been functionalised with spiropyran photochromic molecules, using both a monolayer and a polymeric brushes approach. Upon ultraviolet light irradiation, the spiropyran unit is converted to the merocyanine form due to the photo-induced cleavage of the Cspiro-O bond. The two forms of the molecule have dramatically different charge, polarity and molecular conformations. This makes spiropyrans an ideal system to study the correlation between photo-induced molecular changes and corresponding changes in surface stress. Our investigations include monitoring the changes in static cantilever deflection, and consequently, surface stress of the spiropyran functionalised cantilevers on exposure to ultraviolet light. Cantilever deflection data reveals that ultraviolet induced conformational changes in the spiropyran moiety cause a change in compressive surface stress and this varies with the type of functionalisation method implemented. The change in surface stress response from the spiropyran polymer brushes functionalised cantilevers gives an average surface stress change of 98 Nm-1 (n = 8) while the spiropyran monolayer coated cantilevers have an average surface stress change of about 446 Nm-1 (n = 24) upon irradiation with UV light

    Pulsed Interleaved MINFLUX

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    We introduce p-MINFLUX, a new implementation of the highly photon-efficient single-molecule localization method with a simplified experimental setup and additional fluorescence lifetime information. In contrast to the original MINFLUX implementation, p-MINFLUX uses interleaved laser pulses to deliver the doughnut-shaped excitation foci at a maximum repetition rate. Using both static and dynamic DNA origami model systems, we demonstrate the performance of p-MINFLUX for single-molecule localization nanoscopy and tracking, respectively. p-MINFLUX delivers 1-2 nm localization precision with 2000-1000 photon counts. In addition, p-MINFLUX gives access to the fluorescence lifetime enabling multiplexing and super-resolved lifetime imaging. p-MINFLUX should help to unlock the full potential of innovative single-molecule localization schemes.Fil: Masullo, Luciano Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Bionanociencias "Elizabeth Jares Erijman"; ArgentinaFil: Steiner, Florian. Ludwig Maximilians Universitat; AlemaniaFil: Zähringer, Jonas. Ludwig Maximilians Universitat; AlemaniaFil: Lopez, Lucía Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Bionanociencias "Elizabeth Jares Erijman"; ArgentinaFil: Bohlen, Johann. Ludwig Maximilians Universitat; AlemaniaFil: Richter, Lars. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Bionanociencias "Elizabeth Jares Erijman"; ArgentinaFil: Cole, Fiona. Ludwig Maximilians Universitat; AlemaniaFil: Tinnefeld, Philip. Ludwig Maximilians Universitat; AlemaniaFil: Stefani, Fernando Daniel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Física; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Bionanociencias "Elizabeth Jares Erijman"; Argentin

    A Tropical Macroalga (Halimeda incrassata) Enhances Diversity and Abundance of Epifaunal Assemblages in Mediterranean Seagrass Meadows

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    The introduction and successful expansion of tropical species into temperate systems is being exacerbated by climate change, and it is particularly important to identify the impacts that those species may have, especially when habitat-forming species are involved. Seagrass meadows are key shallow coastal habitats that provide critical ecosystem services worldwide, and they are threatened by the arrival of non-native macroalgae. Here, we examined the effects of Halimeda incrassata, a tropical alga that has recently colonized the Mediterranean Sea, on epifaunal assemblages associated with Cymodocea nodosa seagrass meadows of Mallorca Island (Western Mediterranean Sea). This invasive macroalga is an ecological engineer and thus has a high potential of modifying native habitats. A seagrass meadow colonized by H. incrassata exhibited important changes on associated epifaunal assemblages, with an increase in abundance and diversity, particularly driven by higher abundances of Gammaridae, Polychaeta, Copepoda and Caprellidae. Given the key ecological contribution of epifauna to food webs, these alterations will likely have important implications for overall food web structure and ecosystem functioning of native ecosystems.En prens

    Biogeographical scenarios modulate seagrass resistance to small‐scale perturbations

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    1. Seagrasses constitute a key coastal habitat worldwide, but are exposed to multiple perturbations. Understanding elements affecting seagrass resistance to disturbances is critical for conservation. Distinct biogeographical scenarios are intrinsically linked with varying ecological and evolution backgrounds shaped across millennia. 2.We addressed whether the resistance (change in shoot abundances) and performance (change in leaf morphology and growth) of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa to a local stressor, light reduction, varied across three regions (Southeast Iberia, the Balearic Sea and the Canaries) within the temperate northern Atlantic realm. We hypothesized that distinct biogeographical scenarios, in terms of distinct ecological/environmental conditions and genetic diversity of meadows, would affect seagrass resistance and performance, with flow‐on effects on associated epifauna. The same experiments, in terms of shading intensities, timing and duration, were replicated at three seagrass meadows within each region. 3.Results demonstrated inter‐regional variation in the resistance and performance of C. nodosa. Under moderate and high shading, shoot abundance was abruptly decreased, relative to controls, in the Canaries with concurrent, but less accentuated, changes in leaf morphology and no changes in growth. In the other two regions, however, moderate and high shading had a negligible effect on shoot abundance, leaf morphology and growth. Shading had no overall effect over the total abundance and assemblage structure of epifauna; these faunal attributes, however, varied between regions. Low seagrass resistance at the Canaries is linked with the peripheral distribution of the species there, favoring isolation and decreased genetic diversity. 4.Synthesis Different biogeographical scenarios shape seagrass resistance to local perturbations. From a conservation perspective, if resistance differs among biogeographical scenarios, universal conservation rules for seagrasses are challenging.1. Las angiospermas marinas constituyen un hábitat prioritario globalmente, pero están expuestas a múltiples perturbaciones. Comprender qué elementos afectan su resistencia a impactos es crítico para la conservación. Distintos escenarios biogeográficos están vinculados con distintos contextos ecológicos y evolutivos modulados durante milenios. 2. Evaluamos si la resistencia (cambio en abundancias de haces) y funcionamiento (cambio en la morfología foliar y crecimiento) de la angiosperma marina Cymodocea nodosa a un estresante local, reducción luminosa, varió entre tres regiones (sudoeste de la Península Ibérica, Mar Balear e Islas Canarias) en el Atlántico norte. Nuestra hipótesis es que distintos escenarios biogeográficos, en cuanto a distintas condiciones ecológicas/ambientales, así como de diversidad genética de las praderas, afectaría la resistencia y funcionamiento de la angiosperma, con efectos sobre la epifauna asociada. Los mismos experimentos, en términos de intensidad de sombreado, tiempo y duración, se replicaron en tres praderas de cada región. 3. Los resultados demostraron variación entre regiones en la resistencia y funcionamiento de C. nodosa. Bajo sombreado moderado e intenso, la abundancia de haces decreció abruptamente, en relación con controles, en Canarias, con cambios menos acentuados en la morfología foliar y ausentes para el crecimiento. En las otras dos regiones, sin embargo, el sombreado moderado e intenso tuvieron un efecto despreciable sobre la abundancia de haces, morfología foliar y crecimiento. El sombreado no tuvo efecto sobre la abundancia total y estructura multivariante de la epifauna, que variaron no obstante entre regiones. La baja resistencia en Canarias se vincula con la distribución periférica de la especie allí, lo que favorece el aislamiento y una diversidad genética baja. 4. Síntesis. Diferentes escenarios biogeográficos afectan la resistencia de la angiosperma a perturbaciones locales. Desde una perspectiva de conservación, si la resistencia difiere entre escenarios biogeográficos se hace difícil disponer de reglas de conservación universales para las angiospermas marina.This work was funded by a project (RESIGRASS, CGL2014-58829) supported by the Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación (MINECO, Government of Spain) to FT and FT

    Variation in Fish Abundance, Diversity and Assemblage Structure in Seagrass Meadows across the Atlanto-Mediterranean Province

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    Seagrasses worldwide provide key habitats for fish assemblages. Biogeographical disparities in ocean climate conditions and seasonal regimes are well-known drivers of the spatial and temporal variation in seagrass structure, with potential effects on associated fish assemblages. Whether taxonomically disparate fish assemblages support a similar range of ecological functions remains poorly tested in seagrass ecosystems. In this study, we examined variation in the abundance, diversity (from a taxonomic and functional perspective), and assemblage structure of fish community inhabiting nine meadows of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa across three regions in the Mediterranean (Mallorca and Alicante) and the adjacent Atlantic (Gran Canaria), and identified which attributes typifying the structure of meadows, and large-scale variability in ocean climate, contributed most to explaining such ecological variation. Despite a similar total number of species between Mallorca and Gran Canaria, the latter region had more taxonomically and functionally diverse fish assemblages relative to the western Mediterranean regions, which translated into differences in multivariate assemblage structure. While variation in the abundance of the most conspicuous fish species was largely explained by variation in seagrass structural descriptors, most variation in diversity was accounted for by a descriptor of ocean climate (mean seasonal SST), operating at regional scales. Variation in fish assemblage structure was, to a lesser extent, also explained by local variability in seagrass structure. Beyond climatic drivers, our results suggest that lower temporal variability in the canopy structure of C. nodosa meadows in Gran Canaria provides a more consistent source of food and protection for associated fish assemblages, which likely enhances the more abundant and diverse fish assemblages thereEn prens
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