Identifying causal gateways and mediators in complex spatio-temporal systems

J.R. received support by the German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung), a Humboldt University Postdoctoral Fellowship, and the German Federal Ministry of Science and Education (Young Investigators Group CoSy-CC2, grant no. 01LN1306A). J.F.D. thanks the Stordalen Foundation and BMBF (project GLUES) for financial support. D.H. has been funded by grant ERC-CZ CORES LL-1201 of the Czech Ministry of Education. M.P. and N.J. received funding from the Czech Science Foundation project No. P303-14-02634S and from the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, project No. DAAD-15-30. J.H. was supported by the Czech Science Foundation project GA13-23940S and Czech Health Research Council project NV15-29835A. We thank Mary Lindsey from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for her kind help with Fig. 4e. NCEP Reanalysis data provided by NOAA/OAR/ESRL PSD, Boulder, Colorado, USA, from their web site at http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Compound Specific Trends of Chemical Defences in Ficus Along an Elevational Gradient Reflect a Complex Selective Landscape

Elevational gradients affect the production of plant secondary metabolites through changes in both biotic and abiotic conditions. Previous studies have suggested both elevational increases and decreases in host-plant chemical defences. We analysed the correlation of alkaloids and polyphenols with elevation in a community of nine Ficus species along a continuously forested elevational gradient in Papua New Guinea. We sampled 204 insect species feeding on the leaves of these hosts and correlated their community structure to the focal compounds. Additionally, we explored species richness of folivorous mammals along the gradient. When we accounted for Ficus species identity, we found a general elevational increase in flavonoids and alkaloids. Elevational trends in non-flavonol polyphenols were less pronounced or showed non-linear correlations with elevation. Polyphenols responded more strongly to changes in temperature and humidity than alkaloids. The abundance of insect herbivores decreased with elevation, while the species richness of folivorous mammals showed an elevational increase. Insect community structure was affected mainly by alkaloid concentration and diversity. Although our results show an elevational increase in several groups of metabolites, the drivers behind these trends likely differ. Flavonoids may provide figs with protection against abiotic stressors. In contrast, alkaloids affect insect herbivores and may provide protection against mammalian herbivores and pathogens. Concurrent analysis of multiple compound groups alongside ecological data is an important approach for understanding the selective landscape that shapes plant defences

Compound specific trends of chemical defences in Ficus along an elevational gradient reflect a complex selective landscape

Elevational gradients affect the production of plant secondary metabolites through changes in both biotic and abiotic conditions. Previous studies have suggested both elevational increases and decreases in host-plant chemical defences. We analysed the correlation of alkaloids and polyphenols with elevation in a community of nine Ficus species along a continuously forested elevational gradient in Papua New Guinea. We sampled 204 insect species feeding on the leaves of these hosts and correlated their community structure to the focal compounds. Additionally, we explored species richness of folivorous mammals along the gradient. When we accounted for Ficus species identity, we found a general elevational increase in flavonoids and alkaloids. Elevational trends in non-flavonol polyphenols were less pronounced or showed non-linear correlations with elevation. Polyphenols responded more strongly to changes in temperature and humidity than alkaloids. The abundance of insect herbivores decreased with elevation, while the species richness of folivorous mammals showed an elevational increase. Insect community structure was affected mainly by alkaloid concentration and diversity. Although our results show an elevational increase in several groups of metabolites, the drivers behind these trends likely differ. Flavonoids may provide figs with protection against abiotic stressors. In contrast, alkaloids affect insect herbivores and may provide protection against mammalian herbivores and pathogens. Concurrent analysis of multiple compound groups alongside ecological data is an important approach for understanding the selective landscape that shapes plant defences

Actinide migration experiment in the AeSPOeHRL in Sweden: Results from Core 5. Pt. 3

Within the scope of a bilateral cooperation a series of Actinide Migration Experiments were performed by INE at the AespoeHard Rock Laboratory in Sweden. This report covers investigations on actinide migration in a single fractured granite sample (core 5) performed in the CHEMLAB 2 probe under in situ conditions at AespoeHRL. The same experimental setup was applied as in previous experiments. Investigations of the flow path properties and the break-through of inert HTO tracer are reported. Experiments with the actinides Am, Np and Pu are presented. Breakthrough of actinides was not detected within the experimental time of about four months. The different analytical techniques for determination of sorbed actinides are presented. After cutting the core in slices, the abraded material is dissolved and analyzed, the slices are used to visualize the flow path. Effective volumes and inner surface areas are measured and the results compared to batch sorption studies. A prediction for the break-through of a further in-situ experiment is given, planned for uranium as tracer. (orig.)Im Rahmen einer bilateralen Zusammenarbeit wurde vom INE eine Reihe von Actiniden-Migrations-Experimenten im Hard Rock Laboratory Aespoein Schweden durchgefuehrt. Im vorliegenden Bericht sind Untersuchungen zur Actinidenmigration in einer einfach gekluefteten Granitprobe (Core 5) unter in-situ Bedingungen in der CHEMLAB-2 Sonde vorgestellt. Die Auslegung der Experimente erfolgte wie in den vorhergehenden Berichten beschrieben. Die Untersuchungen erstreckten sich ueber den Durchbruch eines inerten Tracers (HTO) und die Ermittlung der Fliessweg-Parameter. Die Actiniden Am, Np und Pu wurden untersucht. Ein Durchbruch der Actiniden konnte innerhalb des experimentellen Zeitraums von 4 Monaten nicht beobachtet werden. Mit verschiedenen analytischen Methoden wurden die sorbierten Actiniden erfasst. Nach dem Zerschneiden des Bohrkerns wird das dabei abgeschliffene Material aufgeloest und analysiert, die Schnitte werden bezueglich des Fliessweges visualisiert. Die effektiven Volumina der Kluft und ihre inneren Oberflaechen werden bestimmt und die Ergebnisse mit Batch-Sorptions-Messungen verglichen. Die Ergebnisse werden fuer die Prognose des Migrationsverhaltens von Uran benutzt, das in einem weiteren Experiment eingesetzt werden soll. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: ZA5141(6925) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Actinide migration experiment in the HRL AeSPOe, Sweden: results of laboratory and in situ experiments (Pt. 1)

This report covers investigations on actinide migration in single fractured granite samples performed in laboratory and in situ in the AeSPOeHRL. Design of experimental setup, breakthrough of inert tracer and of actinides Am, Np and Pu are presented. Breakthrough curves are analyzed to determine hydraulic properties of the fractured samples. Destructive and non-destructive analyses of the samples are performed. The different analytical techniques for characterization of the flow path and the sorbed actinides are presented. One-dimensional transport model calculations are performed and the results are compared to the experimental findings. The rather simple model is not well suited for the complex flow paths and the complex sorption process. Matrix diffusion processes are not relevant vor the cores investigated.Available from TIB Hannover: ZA 5141(6652) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman