Questions: 1. Are there differences among species in their preference for coniferous vs. deciduous forest? 2. Are tree and shrub species better colonizers of recent forest stands than herbaceous species? 3. Do colonization patterns of plant species groups depend on tree species composition? Location: Three deciduous and one coniferous recent forest areas in Brandenburg, NE Germany. Methods: In 34 and 21 transects in coniferous and deciduous stands, respectively, we studied the occurrence and percentage cover of vascular plants in a total of 150 plots in ancient stands, 315 in recent stands and 55 at the ecotone. Habitat preference, diaspore weight, generative dispersal potential and clonal extension were used to explain mechanisms of local migration. Regression analysis was conducted to test whether migration distance was related to species’ life-history traits. Results: 25 species were significantly associated with ancient stands and ten species were significantly more frequent in recent stands. Tree and shrub species were good colonizers of recent coniferous and deciduous stands. In the coniferous stands, all herbaceous species showed a strong dispersal limitation during colonization, whereas in the deciduous stands generalist species may have survived in the grasslands which were present prior to afforestation. Conclusions: The fast colonization of recent stands by trees and shrubs can be explained by their effective dispersal via wind and animals. This, and the comparably efficient migration of herbaceous forest specialists into recent coniferous stands, implies that the conversion of coniferous into deciduous stands adjacent to ancient deciduous forests is promising even without planting of trees.

Although semi-natural grasslands in Europe are declining there is often a time delay in the local extinction of grassland species due to development of remnant populations, i.e., populations with an extended persistence despite a negative growth rate. The objectives of this study were to examine the occurrence of remnant populations after abandonment of semi-natural grasslands and to examine functional traits of plants associated with the development of remnant populations. We surveyed six managed semi-natural grasslands and 20 former semi-natural grasslands where management ceased 60-100 years ago, and assessed species response to abandonment, assuming a space-for-time substitution. The response of species was related to nine traits representing life cycle, clonality, leaf traits, seed dispersal and seed mass. Of the 67 species for which data allowed analysis, 44 species declined after grassland abandonment but still occurred at the sites, probably as remnant populations. Five traits were associated with the response to abandonment. The declining but still occurring species were characterized by high plant height, a perennial life form, possession of a perennial bud bank, high clonal ability, and lack of dispersal attributes promoting long-distance dispersal. Traits allowing plants to maintain populations by utilizing only a part of their life cycle, such as clonal propagation, are most important for the capacity to develop remnant populations and delay local extinction. A considerable fraction of the species inhabiting semi-natural grasslands maintain what is most likely remnant populations after more than 60 years of spontaneous succession from managed semi-natural grasslands to forest. / <p>authorCount :3</p>

The two most common varieties of the grass Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.)Torr. in North America use different strategies of clonal growth and have contrasting continental distributions. Variety caespitosa (phalanx form) ranges from central Texas westward to Arizona and California and var. curtipendula (guerrilla form) occurs in a more mesic region over the North American Great Plains. This study sought to determine whether the strategies had an ecological significance and investigated the possible relationship between changes in environmental factors and characteristics of each clonal growth strategy. Varieties showed to be morphologically variable, but the variability did not follow the pattern of the precipitational gradient. The abundance of var. curtipendula was related to soil depth and parent material (limestone types). Abundance of var. caespitosa could not be explained by any environmental factor separately. The performance of clones of the two growth forms in response to changes in resource availability (light and nutrients) and defoliation suggested similarities between the varieties in photosynthetic rate and only showed differences in water potential under extreme conditions. The major differences were related to the proportion of biomass allocated to structures related with seed production versus propagation by rhizomes. Intra-variety genetic variation for several life history traits was detected even with a very small sample size. The caespitose growth form showed more biomass and rate of tiller recruitment after defoliation on average, but responses between genotypes were dissimilar. Varieties also showed levels of plasticity in the allocation to reproductive structures in response to environmental factors. Responses to fire were compared between varieties by experimental burnings with increasing load of artificial fuel. Plants of the two varieties reached similar maximum temperatures although var. caespitosa suffered temperatures considered to be lethal for longer periods of time. Results from this study suggested that, although characteristic of the pattern of clonal growth were not distinctly associated to resource availability or defoliation, distribution of the varieties may be related to a combination of biotic and abiotic factors beyond the factors studied here.

Palms provide valuable commercial resources in the tropics and are dominant species in tropical lowland forests. While general biology of palms is well studied, there are gaps in the literature on palm growth through life stages and in response to environmental conditions. Literature gaps on palm growth could be caused by the slow growth of palms; it is difficult to monitor morphology and architecture for the periods of time necessary to capture changes. Acoelorrhaphe wrightii is a threatened palm native to southern Florida with an unusual adult architecture. The purpose of this dissertation was to study growth A. wrightii throughout its life stages and in response to changes in environmental conditions. In order to do study growth, I first had to understand the evolutionary history and types of vegetative branching in palms to identify vegetative branching possibilities in A. wrightii. I described branching types for 1903 species from all 181 genera using literature reviews and hands-on analysis. I then studied adult morphology and architecture in a common garden setting by monitoring leaf morphology, ramet growth and architecture of A. wrightii in two gardens in Miami, FL, over a two year period. I tested the effects of water and light on germination and growth of juvenile plants in a mesocosm where water and light were manipulated, following growth for a year. Finally, I compared leaf morphology and architecture of adult individuals in four populations in Belize and Florida. I found five branching types were present in the palms: lateral axillary branching, shoot apical division, false vivipary, abaxial branching and leaf-opposed branching. In the garden, Acoelorrhaphe wrightii displayed two types of lateral axillary branching: basal suckering and rhizomatous branching. The two branching types produced tiers in adult clones, which were used to model architecture. Ramets had an establishment period and growth varied seasonally in establishing and established phases. Low water levels and full sun yielded greater germination of A. wrighti and produced juveniles with a greater number of leaves, more root mass and more branches. Variability between populations and environmental conditions was observed in adult individuals in the field but differences were minimal.

Access to primary human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC) is limited and donor-derived differences between cultures exacerbate the issue of data reproducibility, whereas cell lines can provide sufficient numbers of homogenous cells for multiple experiments. An immortalized HCEC population was adapted to serum-free culture medium and repeated cloning was performed. Clonally grown cells were propagated under serum-free conditions and growth curves were recorded. Cells were characterized immunocytochemically for junctional proteins, collagens, Na,K-ATPase and HCEC-specific 9.3.E-antigen. Ultrastructure was monitored by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Two clonal cell lines, HCEC-B4G12 and HCEC-H9C1, could be isolated and expanded, which differed morphologically: B4G12 cells were polygonal, strongly adherent and formed a strict monolayer, H9C1 cells were less adherent and formed floating spheres. The generation time of B4G12 cells was 62.26 ± 14.5 h and that of H9C1 cells 44.05 ± 5.05 h. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that B4G12 cells had a smooth cell surface, while H9C1 cells had numerous thin filopodia. Both cell lines expressed ZO-1 and occludin adequately, and little but well detectable amounts of connexin-43. Expression of HCEC-specific 9.3.E-antigen was found commensurately in both cell lines, while expression of Na,K-ATPase α1 was higher in H9C1 cells than in B4G12 cells. B4G12 cells expressed collagen IV abundantly and almost no collagen III, while H9C1 cells expressed both collagens at reasonable amounts. It is concluded that the clonal cell line B4G12 represents an ideal model of differentiated HCEC, while H9C1 may reflect features of developing or transitional HCEC. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:31:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3112.pdf: 4538374 bytes, checksum: de855e1830eb260ab2d2aa15c63fa695 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-05-30 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Guadua tagoara (Nees) Kunth is a large sized bamboo native of the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest, with a semi-scandent habitat, pachymorphic rhizome and thorns for fixation on trees. Nowadays this bamboo is considered an invasive species in secondary forests, where its populations are supposedly in expansion. The general objective of this study, developed in Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos (PARNASO), RJ, was to investigate the life history of G. tagoara from two perspectives: (a) to know the ecological basis of its supposed invasive potential and (b) to discuss it in the context of theoretical ecology and evolution of mast seeding plants. This dissertation was based primarily on three moments of the G. tagoara life cycle, studied in the scales of clump, genet and ramet. The investigated aspects of its life history were: mast seeding followed by parental death (monocarpy), regeneration from seed, synchrony and reproductive interval, development, morphological plasticity and intra and infra-specific diversity. At least at PARNASO, the life cycle of G. tagoara is strictly monocarpic, its regeneration from seeds occurred mainly in the interior of the senescent clumps. The majority of reproductive events were concentrated in 2004, suggesting a pattern known as flowering distribution for this region. The spatial gregarism of G. tagoara seems to be associated to the intra-clump reproductive synchrony, and the selective advantage of monocarpy seems to be the creation of regeneration sites for the following cohort. The same seems to be valid for other monocarpic species of Guadua with a tendency for gregarism. It was not possible to establish a reproductive interval for G. tagoara, but four possible flowering patterns were proposed for its life history. Although the adult genets have long spacers (necks), the rhizomes in the 2004 and 2006 cohorts did not present this character. Culm ramification occurred before rhizome ramification, and the thorns appeared just in the second year of the young genets. These cohorts (2004 and 2005) differed among them in structural characters, except in the number of living culms per genet, and presented characteristics here considered to be adaptations for the regeneration inside the clumps or other kinds of gaps. The morphological plasticity presented by the different patterns of ramification, by the reiterative growth and by the deviance from obstacles during elongation was observed in the culms of adult genets. The reiterative growth was also seen in the 2004 and 2005 cohorts, as well as articulated culms and the presence of invertebrates in their interior, including the internodes filled with water. Climatic seasonality doesn t restrict the growth of G. tagoara, but it is potentialized in the rainy season. Adult genets of this bamboo seem to grow during the whole year in PARNASO. Morphological plasticity observed in their culms can be considered a foraging behavior searching for light and space in the canopy. G. tagoara also has a large opportunistic growing behavior, expressed in ramets and genets, and can be considered a structural parasite of trees. Morphological elasticity, potential for clonal growth and integration of phalanx and guerilla strategies seem to be key aspects of its life history and its expansion and dominance in secondary forests. The results of this study support the hypothesis that the expansion of G. tagoara in secondary forests is facilitated by activities altering the structure of the forest. I suggest that the selfperpetuating disturbance cycle proposed to explain the formation and expansion of forests dominated by Guadua spp. in the Amazon forest must also act in the G. tagoara dominated forests, but in this latter case the anthropogenic activities seem to be very important for the origin and expansion of dominance. Some possible causes of its intra and infraspecific diversity of G. tagoara were discussed, based on the knowledge acquired about its life history, as well as some possible relations between its life cycle and the forest dynamics. The need and viability of the management of its populations were also discussed. / Guadua tagoara (Nees) Kunth é um bambu de grande porte nativo da Floresta Atlântica, de hábito semi escandente, rizoma paquimórfico e dotado de espinhos para fixação nas árvores. Atualmente este bambu é considerado uma espécie invasiva em áreas de florestas secundárias, onde suas populações supostamente estariam em expansão. O objetivo geral deste estudo, desenvolvido no Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos (PARNASO), RJ, foi investigar a história de vida de Guadua tagoara sob duas perspectivas: (a) conhecer a base ecológica do seu suposto potencial invasiso e (b) discuti-la no contexto teórico da ecologia e evolução das plantas mast seeding. Esta dissertação baseou-se principalmente em três momentos do ciclo vital de G. tagoara, abordados nas escalas de taquaral, geneta e rameta: frutificação maciça seguida de morte parental (monocarpia), regeneração por sementes e desenvolvimento dos genetas adultos. Os aspectos estudados em sua história de vida foram: frutificação maciça, monocarpia, regeneração por sementes, sincronia e intervalo reprodutivos, desenvolvimento, plasticidade morfológica e diversidade intra e infra - específica. Pelo menos no PARNASO, o ciclo de vida de G. tagoara é estritamente monocárpico, e sua regeneração por sementes ocorreu principalmente no interior dos taquarais senescentes. O florescimento foi assincrônico em escala populacional, mas marcadamente sincrônico dentro dos taquarais. O ano de 2004 concentrou a maior parte dos taquarais reprodutivos, sugerindo para esta região um padrão conhecido como distribuição do florescimento. O gregarismo espacial de G. tagoara parece associado à sincronia reprodutiva intra taquaral, e a vantagem seletiva da monocarpia parece ser a criação de sítios de regeneração para a coorte seguinte. O mesmo parece valer para outras espécies monocárpicas de Guadua com tendência ao gregarismo. Não foi possível estabelecer um intervalo reprodutivo para G. tagoara, mas quatro possíveis padrões de florescimento foram propostos para sua história de vida. Embora os genetas adultos possuam espaçadores (pescoços) longos, nas coortes de 2004 e 2005 o rizoma não apresentou esta característica. A ramificação dos colmos ocorreu antes da ramificação do rizoma, e o surgimento dos espinhos ocorreu a partir do segundo ano de vida destes genetas. Estas coortes diferiram entre si em termos estruturais, com exceção do número de colmos vivos por geneta, e apresentaram características interpretadas aqui como adaptações à regeneração no interior dos taquarais ou em outras clareiras. A plasticidade morfológica representada por distintos padrões de ramificação, pelo crescimento reiterativo e pelo desvio de obstáculos durante o elongamento foi observada nos colmos de genetas adultos. O crescimento reiterativo também foi observado nos colmos das coortes de 2004 e 2005, nas quais também foram observados colmos articulados e a presença de raízes nos nós aéreos. Tanto nas coortes jovens quanto nos genetas adultos foram observadas perfurações nos colmos e a presença de invertebrados em seu interior, inclusive nos entrenós preenchidos com água. A sazonalidade climática não restringe o desenvolvimento de G. tagoara, mas o potencializa na época mais chuvosa do ano. Os genetas adultos deste bambu parecem crescer durante todo o ano no PARNASO. A plasticidade morfológica observada nos seus colmos pode ser considerada como um comportamento forrageador por espaço e luz no dossel da floresta. G. tagoara possui grande potencial de crescimento oportunista, o qual pode se expressar nas escalas de rametas e genetas, e pode ser considerado um parasita estrutural de árvores. A plasticidade morfológica, o potencial de crescimento clonal e a integração das estratégias falangeal e guerrilheira parecem ser aspectos-chave da sua história de vida e da sua expansão e dominância em florestas secundárias. Os resultados deste estudo dão suporte à hipótese de que a expansão de G. tagoara em florestas secundárias seja facilitada por atividades antrópicas que alterem a estrutura da floresta. Eu sugiro que o ciclo de distúrbios auto-perpetuante proposto para explicar a formação e expansão das florestas dominadas por Guadua spp. na Amazônia também deve atuar nas florestas dominadas por G. tagoara, mas nesse caso as ações antrópicas parecem ter grande relevância na origem e expansão da dominância. A partir dos conhecimentos obtidos sobre a história de vida de G. tagoara, foram discutidas algumas possíveis causas da sua diversidade intra e infraespecífica, e algumas possíveis relações entre o seu ciclo de vida e a dinâmica florestal. A necessidade e a viabilidade do manejo de suas populações também foram discutidas.

Access to primary human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC) is limited and donor-derived differences between cultures exacerbate the issue of data reproducibility, whereas cell lines can provide sufficient numbers of homogenous cells for multiple experiments. An immortalized HCEC population was adapted to serum-free culture medium and repeated cloning was performed. Clonally grown cells were propagated under serum-free conditions and growth curves were recorded. Cells were characterized immunocytochemically for junctional proteins, collagens, Na,K-ATPase and HCEC-specific 9.3.E-antigen. Ultrastructure was monitored by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Two clonal cell lines, HCEC-B4G12 and HCEC-H9C1, could be isolated and expanded, which differed morphologically: B4G12 cells were polygonal, strongly adherent and formed a strict monolayer, H9C1 cells were less adherent and formed floating spheres. The generation time of B4G12 cells was 62.26 ± 14.5 h and that of H9C1 cells 44.05 ± 5.05 h. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that B4G12 cells had a smooth cell surface, while H9C1 cells had numerous thin filopodia. Both cell lines expressed ZO-1 and occludin adequately, and little but well detectable amounts of connexin-43. Expression of HCEC-specific 9.3.E-antigen was found commensurately in both cell lines, while expression of Na,K-ATPase α1 was higher in H9C1 cells than in B4G12 cells. B4G12 cells expressed collagen IV abundantly and almost no collagen III, while H9C1 cells expressed both collagens at reasonable amounts. It is concluded that the clonal cell line B4G12 represents an ideal model of differentiated HCEC, while H9C1 may reflect features of developing or transitional HCEC. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

The study is focused on comparative ecology of three closely related species from Myosotis palustris group. Importance of various functional traits of individual species was evaluated experimentally in the greenhouse (germination experiments), in the pot experiment and in the reciprocal transplant field experiment. Germination, production of clonal structures and response to various environmental conditions (competition, moisture conditions, etc.) were studied. The experimental data are supplemented with an analysis of phytosociological relationships of the studied species.

Wetland plant species rely largely on vegetative reproduction. Although all types of clonal growth organs are found in wetlands, special adaptations, e.g., turions, fragmentation and budding, are more frequent in true aquatic communities. However, root-sprouting is underrepresented, although it can be beneficial under disturbed conditions. This thesis focuses on ecological constrains potentially hindering root-sprouting in wetlands. This ability was studied in a wetland herb Rorippa palustris in relation to life history, injury timing and carbon economy of a plant. In addition, plant regeneration following submergence and severe disturbance was assessed.

La llegada de plantas exóticas fuera de su rango de distribución original y su posterior asentamiento en ecosistemas naturales no es una excepción en las Islas Baleares. En la actualidad tenemos 308 especies no nativas naturalizadas y subespontáneas que representan el 16% del total de la flora Balear. En esta tesis se ha evaluado el estado de la cuestión a nivel global y local. Se ha confeccionado el primer catálogo de flora introducida y se ha analizado cuales de ellas son más abundantes y peligrosas; así como también qué ecosistemas son más vulnerables a la introducción de éstas. También se ha profundizado en el conocimiento de dos de las especies exóticas más peligrosas en el litoral Balear: Carpobrotus edulis y C. affine acinaciformis. Se ha evaluado su influencia sobre la polinización, su tasa de crecimiento bajo diferentes escenarios ambientales, se ha confeccionado un modelo de crecimiento y se ha evaluado su impacto sobre la composición y estructura de las comunidades nativas. / L'arribada de plantes exòtiques fora del seu rang de distribució original i el seu posterior assentament a ecosistemes naturals no és una excepció a les Illes Balears. A l'actualitat tenim 308 espècies no natives naturalitzades i subespontànies que representen el 16% del total de la flora Balear. En aquesta tesi s'ha avaluat l'estat de la qüestió a nivell global i local. S'ha confeccionat el primer catàleg de flora introduïda i s'han analitzat quines d'elles són més abundants i perilloses; així com també quins ecosistemes són més vulnerables a la introducció d'aquestes. També s'ha profunditzat en el coneixement de dues de les espècies exòtiques més perilloses del litoral Balear: Carpobrotus edulis y C. affine acinaciformis. S'ha avaluat la seva influència damunt els vectors de pol·linització, la taxa de creixement a diferents escenaris ambiental, s'ha confeccionat un model de creixement, i s'ha avaluat el seu impacte damunt la composició i estructura de les comunitats natives. / The constant arrival of exotic plants into areas outside their original distribution range and further settlement in natural ecosystems is not an exception in the Spanish Balearic archipelago. At the moment we have 308 non native species (naturalized and casual), the 16% from the total Balearic flora. This thesis has evaluated the exotic plant problematic at global and local level. We have elaborated the first exotic plants list, its distribution and abundance, as well as its degree of impact on the more vulnerable environments. We went deeply into the knowledge of two very invasive plants along the coast of the Balearic islands: Carpobrotus edulis y C. affine acinaciformis. We have evaluated its influence over pollen transmission, its growth rate at different environmental conditions, we have too elaborated a non liner growth model and its impact on composition and structure in natural communities