Ecosystem Services for Planning Post-Mining Landscapes Using the DPSIR Framework

Mining in general, and particularly mining for energy resources such as coal and lignite, results in massive impacts on the surrounding landscape and ecosystems. Post-mining reclamation that takes account of the disturbed ecosystem services requires a research approach that links the mining impact to ecosystem functions and ecosystem service potentials. The method used in this paper combines the Driving Forces–Pressures–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework and the ES cascade approach by complementing the limitations of each approach with the strengths of the other. The DPSIR framework is extended to a causal network to account for the multiple interconnected causal chains of coal and lignite mining impacts. The presented causal network supports the identification of ES indicators for the assessment, planning, and monitoring of post-mining reclamation in coal/lignite mining landscapes. The presented approach can also inform political and administrative decisions by identifying the ecosystem elements at risk of being degraded from mining.RESEARCH FUND FOR COAL AND STEEL (RFCS), EUROPEAN COMMISSIONPeer Reviewe

Comparative development of the serotonin- and FMRFamide-immunoreactive components of the nervous system in two distantly related ribbon worm species (Nemertea, Spiralia)

IntroductionNeurodevelopment in larval stages of non-model organisms, with a focus on the serotonin- and FMRFamide-immunoreactive components, has been in the focus of research in the recent past. However, some taxonomic groups remain understudied. Nemertea (ribbon worms) represent such an understudied clade with only few reports on nervous system development mostly from phylogenetically or developmentally derived species. It would be insightful to explore neurodevelopment in additional species to be able to document the diversity and deduce common patterns to trace the evolution of nervous system development.MethodsFluorescent immunohistochemical labeling with polyclonal primary antibodies against serotonin and FMRF-amide and a monoclonal antibody against synapsin performed on series of fixed larval stages of two nemertean species Cephalothrix rufifrons (Archinemertea, Palaeonemertea) and Emplectonema gracile (Monostilifera, Hoplonemertea) were analyzed with confocal laser scanning microscopy.ResultsThis contribution gives detailed accounts on the development of the serotonin- and FMRFamide-immunoreactive subsets of the nervous system in two nemertean species from the first appearance of the respective signals. Additionally, data on synapsin-like immunoreactivity illustrates the general structure of neuropil components. Events common to both investigated species are the appearance of serotonin-like immunoreactive signals before the appearance of FMRF-like immunoreactive signals and the strict progression of the development of the lateral nerve cords from the anteriorly located, ring-shaped brain toward the posterior pole of the larva. Notable differences are (1) the proboscis nervous system that is developing much earlier in investigated larval stages of E. gracile and (2) distinct early, but apparently transient, serotonergic neurons on the frontal and caudal pole of the larva in E. gracile that seem to be absent in C. rufifrons.DiscussionAccording to the results from this investigation and in line with previously published accounts on nervous system development, the hypothetical last common ancestor of Nemertea had a ring-shaped brain arranged around the proboscis opening, from which a pair of ventro-lateral nerve cords develops in anterior to posterior progression. Early frontal and caudal serotonergic neurons that later degenerate or cease to express serotonin are an ancestral character of Nemertea that they share with several other spiralian clades

Fungal cyclooligomer depsipeptides: From classical biochemistry to combinatorial biosynthesis

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.This review surveys the biological activities and the iterative and recursive biosynthetic mechanisms of fungal cyclooligomer depsipeptides, and their structural diversification by various combinatorial biosynthetic methods

Phylogeny and mitochondrial gene order variation in Lophotrochozoa in the light of new mitogenomic data from Nemertea

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The new animal phylogeny established several taxa which were not identified by morphological analyses, most prominently the Ecdysozoa (arthropods, roundworms, priapulids and others) and Lophotrochozoa (molluscs, annelids, brachiopods and others). Lophotrochozoan interrelationships are under discussion, e.g. regarding the position of Nemertea (ribbon worms), which were discussed to be sister group to e.g. Mollusca, Brachiozoa or Platyhelminthes. Mitochondrial genomes contributed well with sequence data and gene order characters to the deep metazoan phylogeny debate.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study we present the first complete mitochondrial genome record for a member of the Nemertea, <it>Lineus viridis</it>. Except two <it>trnP </it>and <it>trnT</it>, all genes are located on the same strand. While gene order is most similar to that of the brachiopod <it>Terebratulina retusa</it>, sequence based analyses of mitochondrial genes place nemerteans close to molluscs, phoronids and entoprocts without clear preference for one of these taxa as sister group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Almost all recent analyses with large datasets show good support for a taxon comprising Annelida, Mollusca, Brachiopoda, Phoronida and Nemertea. But the relationships among these taxa vary between different studies. The analysis of gene order differences gives evidence for a multiple independent occurrence of a large inversion in the mitochondrial genome of Lophotrochozoa and a re-inversion of the same part in gastropods. We hypothesize that some regions of the genome have a higher chance for intramolecular recombination than others and gene order data have to be analysed carefully to detect convergent rearrangement events.</p

Front line defenders of the ecological niche! Screening the structural diversity of peptaibiotics from saprotrophic and fungicolous <i>Trichoderma/Hypocrea</i> species

Approximately 950 individual sequences of nonribosomally biosynthesised peptides are produced by the genus Trichoderma/Hypocreathat belong to a perpetually growing class of mostly linear antibiotic oligopeptides, which are rich in the non-proteinogenic α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib). Thus, they are comprehensively named peptaibiotics. Notably, peptaibiotics represent ca. 80%of the total inventory of secondary metabolites currently known from Trichoderma/Hypocrea. Their unique membrane-modifying bioactivity results from amphipathicity and helicity, thus making them ideal candidates in assisting both colonisation and defence of the natural habitats by their fungal producers. Despite this, reports on the in vivo-detection of peptaibiotics have scarcely been published in the past. In order to evaluate the significance of peptaibiotic production for a broader range of potential producers, we screened nine specimensbelonging to seven hitherto uninvestigated fungicolous orsaprotrophic Trichoderma/Hypocrea species by liquid chromatographycoupled to electrospray high resolution mass spectrometry.Sequences of peptaibiotics found were independently confirmedby analysing the peptaibiome of pure agar culture

Nemertean taxonomy- Implementing changes in the higher ranks, dismissing Anopla and Enopla

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Cyclodipeptide synthases, a family of class-I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-like enzymes involved in non-ribosomal peptide synthesis

Cyclodipeptide synthases (CDPSs) belong to a newly defined family of enzymes that use aminoacyl-tRNAs (aa-tRNAs) as substrates to synthesize the two peptide bonds of various cyclodipeptides, which are the precursors of many natural products with noteworthy biological activities. Here, we describe the crystal structure of AlbC, a CDPS from Streptomyces noursei. The AlbC structure consists of a monomer containing a Rossmann-fold domain. Strikingly, it is highly similar to the catalytic domain of class-I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), especially class-Ic TyrRSs and TrpRSs. AlbC contains a deep pocket, highly conserved among CDPSs. Site-directed mutagenesis studies indicate that this pocket accommodates the aminoacyl moiety of the aa-tRNA substrate in a way similar to that used by TyrRSs to recognize their tyrosine substrates. These studies also suggest that the tRNA moiety of the aa-tRNA interacts with AlbC via at least one patch of basic residues, which is conserved among CDPSs but not present in class-Ic aaRSs. AlbC catalyses its two-substrate reaction via a ping-pong mechanism with a covalent intermediate in which l-Phe is shown to be transferred from Phe-tRNAPhe to an active serine. These findings provide insight into the molecular bases of the interactions between CDPSs and their aa-tRNAs substrates, and the catalytic mechanism used by CDPSs to achieve the non-ribosomal synthesis of cyclodipeptides

Conceptualising fields of action for sustainable intensification A systematic literature review and application to regional case studies

[EN] After two decades of research on sustainable intensification (SI), namely securing food production on less environmental cost, heterogeneous understandings and perspectives prevail in a broad and partly fragmented scientific literature. Structuring and consolidating contributions to provide practice-oriented guidelines are lacking. The objectives of this study are to (1) comprehensively explore the academic SI literature, (2) propose an implementation-oriented conceptual framework, and (3) demonstrate its applicability for region-specific problem settings. In a systematic literature review of 349 papers covering the international literature of 20 years of SI research, we identified SI practices and analysed temporal, spatial and disciplinary trends and foci. Based on key SI practices, a conceptual framework was developed differentiating four fields of action from farm to regional and landscape scale and from land use to structural optimisation. Its applicability to derive region specific SI solutions was successfully tested through stakeholder processes in four European case studies. Disciplinary boundaries and the separation of the temporal and spatial strands in the literature prevent a holistic address of SI. This leads to the dominance of research describing SI practices in isolation, mainly on the farm scale. Coordinated actions on the regional scale and the coupling of multiple practices are comparatively un-derrepresented. Results from the case studies demonstrate that implementation is extremely context-sensitive and thus crucially depends on the situational knowledge of farmers and stakeholders. Although, there is no 'one size fits all' solution, practitioners in all regions identified the need for integrated solutions and common action to implement suitable SI strategies at the regional landscape level and in local ecosystems.This research was financially supported by the European Commission under grant agreement 652615 and conducted in the context of the ERA-Net FACCE SURPLUS project VITAL, with the national funders NWO (Netherlands), BMBF (Germany), INIA (Spain), ANR (France).Weltin, M.; Zasada, I.; Piorr, A.; Debolini, M.; Geniaux, G.; Moreno-Pérez, OM.; Scherer, L.... (2018). Conceptualising fields of action for sustainable intensification A systematic literature review and application to regional case studies. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment. 257:68-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2018.01.023S688025