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Barassé, V., Touchard, A., Téné, N., Tindo, M., Kenne, M., Klopp, C., et al. (2019). The peptide venom composition of the fierce stinging ant tetraponera aethiops (formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae). Toxins, 11(12), 732.
Abstract: In the mutualisms involving certain pseudomyrmicine ants and different myrmecophytes (i.e., plants sheltering colonies of specialized “plant-ant” species in hollow structures), the ant venom contributes to the host plant biotic defenses by inducing the rapid paralysis of defoliating insects and causing intense pain to browsing mammals. Using integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approaches, we identified the venom peptidome of the plant-ant Tetraponera aethiops (Pseudomyrmecinae). The transcriptomic analysis of its venom glands revealed that 40% of the expressed contigs encoded only seven peptide precursors related to the ant venom peptides from the A-superfamily. Among the 12 peptide masses detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), nine mature peptide sequences were characterized and confirmed through proteomic analysis. These venom peptides, called pseudomyrmecitoxins (PSDTX), share amino acid sequence identities with myrmeciitoxins known for their dual offensive and defensive functions on both insects and mammals. Furthermore, we demonstrated through reduction/alkylation of the crude venom that four PSDTXs were homo- and heterodimeric. Thus, we provide the first insights into the defensive venom composition of the ant genus Tetraponera indicative of a streamlined peptidome.
Keywords: Defensive venom; Dimeric peptides; Peptidome; Tetraponera aethiops
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Honorio Coronado, E. N., Blanc-Jolivet, C., Mader, M., García-Dávila, C. R., Sebbenn, A. M., Meyer-Sand, B. R. V., et al. (2019). Development of nuclear and plastid SNP markers for genetic studies of Dipteryx tree species in Amazonia. Conserv. Genet. Res., 11(3), 333–336.
Abstract: We developed nuclear and plastid single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and insertion/deletion (INDEL) markers for Dipteryx species using a combination of restriction associated DNA sequencing (RADSeq) and low coverage MiSeq genome sequencing. Of the total 315 loci genotyped using a MassARRAY platform, 292 loci were variable and polymorphic among the 73 sampled individuals from French Guiana, Brasil, Peru, and Bolivia. A final set of 56 nuclear SNPs, 26 chloroplast SNPs, 2 chloroplast INDELs, and 32 mitochondrial SNPs identifying significant population structure was developed. This set of loci will be useful for studies on population genetics of Dipteryx species in Amazonia.
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Sebbenn, A. M., Blanc-Jolivet, C., Mader, M., Meyer-Sand, B. R. V., Paredes-Villanueva, K., Honorio Coronado, E. N., et al. (2019). Nuclear and plastidial SNP and INDEL markers for genetic tracking studies of Jacaranda copaia. Conserv. Gen. Res., 11(3), 341–343.
Abstract: Nuclear and plastidial single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and INDEL markers were developed using restriction associated DNA sequencing (RADSeq) and low coverage MiSeq genome sequencing for population genetics and timber tracking purposes in the Neotropical timber species Jacaranda copaia. We used 407 nuclear SNPs, 29 chloroplast, and 31 mitochondrial loci to genotype 92 individuals from Brazil, Bolivia, French Guiana, and Peru. Based on high amplification rates and genetic differentiation among populations, 113 nuclear SNPs, 11 chloroplast, and 4 mitochondrial loci were selected, and their use validated for genetic tracking of timber origin.
Keywords: DNA fingerprints; Geographical origin; Jacaranda copaia; MassARRAY; MiSeq; RADSeq; Tropical timber
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Chaves, C. L., Blanc-Jolivet, C., Sebbenn, A. M., Mader, M., Meyer-Sand, B. R. V., Paredes-Villanueva, K., et al. (2019). Nuclear and chloroplastic SNP markers for genetic studies of timber origin for Hymenaea trees. Conserv. Gen. Res., 11(3), 329–331.
Abstract: We developed nuclear and chloroplastic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and INDEL (insertion/deletion) markers using restriction associated DNA sequencing (RADSeq) and low coverage MiSeq genome sequencing to set up a genetic tracking method of the geographical origin of Hymenaea sp. From two initial sets of 358 and 32 loci used to genotype at least 94 individuals, a final set of 75 nSNPs, 50 cpSNPs and 6 INDELs identifying significant population structure was developed. © 2018, Springer Nature B.V.
Keywords: DNA fingerprints; Geographical origin; MiSeq; RADSeq
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Tysklind, N., Blanc-Jolivet, C., Mader, M., Meyer-Sand, B. R. V., Paredes-Villanueva, K., Honorio Coronado, E. N., et al. (2019). Development of nuclear and plastid SNP and INDEL markers for population genetic studies and timber traceability of Carapa species. Conserv. Gen. Res., 11(3), 337–339.
Abstract: Low coverage MiSeq genome sequencing and restriction associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) were used to identify nuclear and plastid SNP and INDEL genetic markers in Carapa guianensis. 261 genetic markers including 237 nuclear SNPs, 22 plastid SNPs, and 2 plastid INDELs are described based on 96 genotyped individuals from French Guiana, Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. The best 117 SNPs for identifying population structure and performing individual assignment are assembled into four multiplexes for MassARRAY genotyping.
Keywords: Carapa guianensis; Carapa surinamensis; DNA-fingerprints; Geographical origin; MassARRAY; MiSeq; RADSeq; Tropical timber
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Mirabel, A., Marcon, E., & Hérault, B. (2021). 30 Years of postdisturbance recruitment in a Neotropical forest. Ecology and Evolution, 11(21), 14448–14458.
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Romero, G. Q., Marino, N. A. C., MacDonald, A. A. M., Céréghino, R., Trzcinski, M. K., Mercado, D. A., et al. (2020). Extreme rainfall events alter the trophic structure in bromeliad tanks across the Neotropics. Nat. Commun., 11(3215).
Abstract: Changes in global and regional precipitation regimes are among the most pervasive components of climate change. Intensification of rainfall cycles, ranging from frequent downpours to severe droughts, could cause widespread, but largely unknown, alterations to trophic structure and ecosystem function. We conducted multi-site coordinated experiments to show how variation in the quantity and evenness of rainfall modulates trophic structure in 210 natural freshwater microcosms (tank bromeliads) across Central and South America (18°N to 29°S). The biomass of smaller organisms (detritivores) was higher under more stable hydrological conditions. Conversely, the biomass of predators was highest when rainfall was uneven, resulting in top-heavy biomass pyramids. These results illustrate how extremes of precipitation, resulting in localized droughts or flooding, can erode the base of freshwater food webs, with negative implications for the stability of trophic dynamics. © 2020, The Author(s).
Keywords: fresh water; rain; fresh water; agricultural intensification; angiosperm; biomass; climate change; ecosystem function; extreme event; food web; freshwater ecosystem; Neotropic Ecozone; precipitation intensity; rainfall; trophic structure; Article; biomass; Central America; controlled study; detritivore; drought; flooding; food web; hydrology; microcosm; Neotropics; nonhuman; precipitation; predator; South America; trophic level; animal; biodiversity; Bromelia; climate change; ecosystem; flooding; food chain; Central America; South America; Animals; Biodiversity; Biomass; Bromelia; Climate Change; Droughts; Ecosystem; Floods; Food Chain; Fresh Water; Hydrology; South America
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Esquivel-Muelbert, A., Phillips, O. L., Brienen, R. J. W., Fauset, S., Sullivan, M. J. P., Baker, T. R., et al. (2020). Tree mode of death and mortality risk factors across Amazon forests. Nat. Commun., 11(5515).
Abstract: The carbon sink capacity of tropical forests is substantially affected by tree mortality. However, the main drivers of tropical tree death remain largely unknown. Here we present a pan-Amazonian assessment of how and why trees die, analysing over 120,000 trees representing > 3800 species from 189 long-term RAINFOR forest plots. While tree mortality rates vary greatly Amazon-wide, on average trees are as likely to die standing as they are broken or uprooted—modes of death with different ecological consequences. Species-level growth rate is the single most important predictor of tree death in Amazonia, with faster-growing species being at higher risk. Within species, however, the slowest-growing trees are at greatest risk while the effect of tree size varies across the basin. In the driest Amazonian region species-level bioclimatic distributional patterns also predict the risk of death, suggesting that these forests are experiencing climatic conditions beyond their adaptative limits. These results provide not only a holistic pan-Amazonian picture of tree death but large-scale evidence for the overarching importance of the growth–survival trade-off in driving tropical tree mortality. © 2020, The Author(s).
Keywords: bioclimatology; carbon sink; ecological modeling; growth; holistic approach; mortality; mortality risk; risk factor; survival; trade-off; tropical forest; article; climate; controlled study; forest; growth rate; human; mortality rate; mortality risk; survival; biological model; biomass; Brazil; carbon sequestration; ecology; ecosystem; environmental monitoring; growth, development and aging; proportional hazards model; risk factor; tree; tropic climate; Amazonia; carbon dioxide; Biomass; Brazil; Carbon Dioxide; Carbon Sequestration; Ecology; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Forests; Models, Biological; Proportional Hazards Models; Risk Factors; Trees; Tropical Climate
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Thomas, H. J. D., Bjorkman, A. D., Myers-Smith, I. H., Elmendorf, S. C., Kattge, J., Diaz, S., et al. (2020). Global plant trait relationships extend to the climatic extremes of the tundra biome. Nat. Commun., 11(1351).
Abstract: The majority of variation in six traits critical to the growth, survival and reproduction of plant species is thought to be organised along just two dimensions, corresponding to strategies of plant size and resource acquisition. However, it is unknown whether global plant trait relationships extend to climatic extremes, and if these interspecific relationships are confounded by trait variation within species. We test whether trait relationships extend to the cold extremes of life on Earth using the largest database of tundra plant traits yet compiled. We show that tundra plants demonstrate remarkably similar resource economic traits, but not size traits, compared to global distributions, and exhibit the same two dimensions of trait variation. Three quarters of trait variation occurs among species, mirroring global estimates of interspecific trait variation. Plant trait relationships are thus generalizable to the edge of global trait-space, informing prediction of plant community change in a warming world. © 2020, Crown.
Keywords: biome; climate change; extreme event; global change; growth; interspecific interaction; plant community; tundra; article; plant community; prediction; tundra; warming; classification; climate; ecosystem; genetics; plant; plant development; Climate; Ecosystem; Plant Development; Plants; Tundra
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Ziegler, C., Dusenge, M. E., Nyirambangutse, B., Zibera, E., Wallin, G., & Uddling, J. (2020). Contrasting Dependencies of Photosynthetic Capacity on Leaf Nitrogen in Early- and Late-Successional Tropical Montane Tree Species. Front. Plant Sci., 11, 500479.
Abstract: Differences in photosynthetic capacity among tree species and tree functional types are currently assumed to be largely driven by variation in leaf nutrient content, particularly nitrogen (N). However, recent studies indicate that leaf N content is often a poor predictor of variation in photosynthetic capacity in tropical trees. In this study, we explored the relative importance of area-based total leaf N content (Ntot) and within-leaf N allocation to photosynthetic capacity versus light-harvesting in controlling the variation in photosynthetic capacity (i.e. Vcmax, Jmax) among mature trees of 12 species belonging to either early (ES) or late successional (LS) groups growing in a tropical montane rainforest in Rwanda, Central Africa. Photosynthetic capacity at a common leaf temperature of 25˚C (i.e. maximum rates of Rubisco carboxylation, Vcmax25 and of electron transport, Jmax25) was higher in ES than in LS species (+ 58% and 68% for Vcmax25 and Jmax25, respectively). While Ntot did not significantly differ between successional groups, the photosynthetic dependency on Ntot was markedly different. In ES species, Vcmax25 was strongly and positively related to Ntot but this was not the case in LS species. However, there was no significant trade-off between relative leaf N investments in compounds maximizing photosynthetic capacity versus compounds maximizing light harvesting. Both leaf dark respiration at 25˚C (+ 33%) and, more surprisingly, apparent photosynthetic quantum yield (+ 35%) was higher in ES than in LS species. Moreover, Rd25 was positively related to Ntot for both ES and LS species. Our results imply that efforts to quantify carbon fluxes of tropical montane rainforests would be improved if they considered contrasting within-leaf N allocation and photosynthetic Ntot dependencies between species with different successional strategies. © Copyright © 2020 Ziegler, Dusenge, Nyirambangutse, Zibera, Wallin and Uddling.
Keywords: allocation; early successional; late successional; nitrogen; photosynthesis; tropical montane forests
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