Reproductive success through high pollinator visitation rates despite self incompatibility in an endangered wallflower

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Self incompatibility (SI) in rare plants presents a unique challenge—SI protects plants from inbreeding depression, but requires a sufficient number of mates and xenogamous pollination. Does SI persist in an endangered polyploid? Is pollinator visitation sufficient to ensure reproductive success? Is there evidence of inbreeding/outbreeding depression? We characterized the mating system, primary pollinators, pollen limitation, and inbreeding/outbreeding depression in Erysimum teretifolium to guide conservation efforts. METHODS: We compared seed production following self pollination and within- and between-population crosses. Pollen tubes were visualized after self pollinations and between-population pollinations. Pollen limitation was tested in the field. Pollinator observations were quantified using digital video. Inbreeding/outbreeding depression was assessed in progeny from self and outcross pollinations at early and later developmental stages. KEY RESULTS: Self-pollination reduced seed set by 6.5× and quadrupled reproductive failure compared with outcross pollination. Pollen tubes of some self pollinations were arrested at the stigmatic surface. Seed-set data indicated strong SI, and fruit-set data suggested partial SI. Pollinator diversity and visitation rates were high, and there was no evidence of pollen limitation. Inbreeding depression (δ) was weak for early developmental stages and strong for later developmental stages, with no evidence of outbreeding depression. CONCLUSIONS: The rare hexaploid E. teretifolium is largely self incompatible and suffers from late-acting inbreeding depression. Reproductive success in natural populations was accomplished through high pollinator visitation rates consistent with a lack of pollen limitation. Future reproductive health for this species will require large population sizes with sufficient mates and a robust pollinator community

A survey of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer substitution rates across angiosperms: an approximate molecular clock with life history effects

BACKGROUND: A full understanding of the patterns and processes of biological diversification requires the dating of evolutionary events, yet the fossil record is inadequate for most lineages under study. Alternatively, a molecular clock approach, in which DNA or amino acid substitution rates are calibrated with fossils or geological/climatic events, can provide indirect estimates of clade ages and diversification rates. The utility of this approach depends on the rate constancy of molecular evolution at a genetic locus across time and across lineages. Although the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (nrITS) is increasingly being used to infer clade ages in plants, little is known about the sources or magnitude of variation in its substitution rate. Here, we systematically review the literature to assess substitution rate variation in nrITS among angiosperms, and we evaluate possible correlates of the variation. RESULTS: We summarize 28 independently calibrated nrITS substitution rates ranging from 0.38 × 10(-9 )to 8.34 × 10(-9 )substitutions/site/yr. We find that herbaceous lineages have substitution rates almost twice as high as woody plants, on average. We do not find any among-lineage phylogenetic constraint to the rates, or any effect of the type of calibration used. Within life history categories, both the magnitude of the rates and the variance among rates tend to decrease with calibration age. CONCLUSION: Angiosperm nrITS substitution rates vary by approximately an order of magnitude, and some of this variation can be attributed to life history categories. We make cautious recommendations for the use of nrITS as an approximate plant molecular clock, including an outline of more appropriate phylogenetic methodology and caveats against over interpretation of results. We also suggest that for lineages with independent calibrations, much of the variation in nrITS substitution rates may come from uncertainty in calibration date estimates, highlighting the importance of accurate and/or multiple calibration dates

Mitbestimmungswege zum lifelong and lifewide learning: Betriebliche Beispiele aus vier Branchen

Weiterbildung wird zunehmend nicht nur in den Kontext des lebenslangen, sondern auch des lebensweiten Lernens gestellt. Anhand von vier Unternehmensfällen untersucht diese Studie, welche Mittel Betriebsräte nutzen können, um Lifelong and Lifewide Learning im Sinne der Beschäftigten erfolgreich mitzubestimmen. Es zeigt sich, dass es dabei keinen universell passenden Königsweg gibt. Die Fallbeispiele geben aber wichtige Hinweise darauf, wie Betriebsräte ihren eigenen Mitbestimmungsweg zu diesem Thema finden und verfolgen können

The dilemma of social media for German work councils representing qualified employees - the case of a German car manufacturer

The world of work is undergoing huge changes as a result of digitalisation. Part of this transformation process involves a growing demand for skilled employees—a section of the workforce that appears increasingly less reliant on the representative services provided by works councils. In the following article, we consider works council’s use of ICT tools to re‐engage with skilled employees, noting that current institutional and cultural contingencies appear to hinder its employment of ICT tools

Bird nests as botanical time capsules: DNA barcoding identifies the contents of contemporary and historical nests

Bird nests in natural history collections are an abundant yet vastly underutilized source of genetic information. We sequenced the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer to identify plant species used as nest material in two contemporary (2003 and 2018) and two historical (both 1915) nest specimens constructed by Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) and Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis). A total of 13 (22%) samples yielded single, strong bands that could be identified using GenBank resources: six plants (Angiospermae), six green algae (Chlorophyta), and one ciliate (Ciliophora). Two native plant species identified in the nests included Festuca microstachys, which was introduced to the nest collection site by restoration practitioners, and Rosa californica, identified in a nest collected from a lost habitat that existed about 100 years ago. Successful sequencing was correlated with higher sample mass and DNA quality, suggesting future studies should select larger pieces of contiguous material from nests and materials that appear to have been fresh when incorporated into the nest. This molecular approach was used to distinguish plant species that were not visually identifiable, and did not require disassembling the nest specimens as is a traditional practice with nest material studies. The many thousands of nest specimens in natural history collections hold great promise as sources of genetic information to address myriad ecological questions

Barriers and facilitators to consuming pulses: a qualitative exploration including effects of trying recipes at home.

Pulses are a healthy, sustainable, low cost food, but consumption levels are low for a variety of reasons, including practical and cooking concerns. This work aimed to explore barriers and facilitators towards pulse consumption and increasing consumption, and the potential value of cooking suggestions and recipes for changing these perceptions. Two qualitative studies were undertaken. In Study 1, 21 participants (10 males, 11 females, of a range of ages, cooking responsibilities, and experiences with pulses) were interviewed both before and after receiving cooking suggestions and recipes. In Study 2, 12 participants (2 males, 10 females, as above) were interviewed once after trying recipes. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis. Seven themes described barriers and facilitators towards pulse consumption: 'Enjoyment and Sensory properties'; 'Benefits and Recommendations'; 'Practical Concerns'; 'Cooking Concerns'; 'Compatibility with current diet'; 'Personal Influences'; and 'External Influences'. Some similar themes also referred to increasing consumption: 'Willingness'; 'Awareness, Knowledge of Benefits'; 'Knowledge of Cooking and Practical Concerns'; and 'Compatibility with current diet'. Cooking suggestions and recipe use resulted in themes on 'Awareness'; 'Willingness, Trying New Things'; 'Small Changes'; and facilitators associated with 'Enjoyment, Sensory Properties, Practical Concerns, Benefits' and 'Knowledge, Cooking Ideas and Confidence, Incorporation, Cooking Solutions'. Barriers related to 'Risk and Preconceptions'; 'Awareness, but' inaction and additional considerations were also found. Our findings demonstrate a positive role for pulse consumption for increased experience, familiarity, and confidence with preparing, cooking, and consuming these healthy and sustainable foods

Public understanding of sustainable diets and changes towards sustainability: A qualitative study in a UK population sample.

Dietary consumption contributes significantly to the environmental impacts of daily life. Changes to consumption are required, but limited work investigates the reasoning underlying relevant dietary choices. This study aimed to explore public understanding of sustainable diets and any willingness or attempts to make changes towards sustainability in a sample of the UK population. A qualitative approach was used. Twenty-one participants (10 males; predominantly young adults; with a range of living circumstances and cooking responsibilities) were interviewed. Interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Four themes were identified that related to understanding sustainable diets: 'Consistent with the definition by the FAO', 'Multiple benefits', 'Unsure' and 'Competing Interests'. Four themes related to making changes: 'Willing, but unsure', 'Small easy changes', 'Enablers' and 'Barriers'. An additional theme 'COVID-19 pandemic' reflected the period when the work was done (February-May 2021). Within these themes, participants were able to define sustainable eating in a manner that was consistent with and incorporated aspects of the definition by the FAO, could identify sustainable actions that they were undertaking or could undertake, and considered these to be beneficial, but there was a lot of uncertainty, and alternative or competing definitions and actions were also given. Participants were also willing to make changes to make their diet more sustainable, and preferences were expressed for small easy changes of high impact, but there was again considerable uncertainty as to what changes to make. Caution due to the small and select sample is required, but suggestions from this work include increasing awareness and knowledge of the environmental impacts of dietary choices, focusing on small easy changes of likely impact and personal benefit, and increasing availability and accessibility to sustainable diets

Workplace trade union engagement with European Works Councils and transnational agreements: the case of Volkswagen Europe

This article examines two transnational agreements signed by the Volkswagen European and Global Works Councils, considering their interlinked implementation within subsidiaries in Britain, Italy, Spain and Germany. We demonstrate differing stances and some uncertainty towards principles of co-management, social dialogue and codetermination. These agreements have improved local industrial relations and strengthened cross-national interaction between employee representatives, despite significant differences in orientation regarding how unions should engage with management. However, the emerging international framework has not led to a clear politics of incorporation, with local trade unions being well aware of the risks of co-management and a more business-oriented relationship