Background: An increasing frequency of massive flooding along the lower Yangtse River in China ended in a disastrous catastrophe in summer 1998 leaving several thousand people homeless, more than 3.600 dead and causing enormous economic damage. Inappropriate land-use techniques and large scale timber felling in the water catchment of the upper Yangtse and its feeder streams were stated to be the main causes. Immediate timber cutting bans were imposed and investigations on land use patterns were initiated by the Chinese Government. The Institute for World Forestry of the Federal Research Centre for Forestry and Forest Products was approached by the Yunnan Academy of Forestry in Kunming to exchange experiences and to cooperate scientifically in the design and application of appropriate afforestation and silvicultural management techniques in the water catchment area of the Yangtse. This cooperation was initiated in 1999 and is based on formal agreements in the fields of agrarian research between the German and Chinese Governments. Objectives: The cooperation was in the first step focussing on the identification of factors which caused the enormous floodings. After their identification measures of prevention were determined and put into practice. In this context experiences made in past centuries in the alpine region of central Europe served as an incentive and example for similar environmental problems and solutions under comparable conditions. Relevant key questions of the cooperation project were: - Analysis of forest related factors influencing the recent floodings of the Yangtse, - Analysis and evaluation of silvicultural management experiences from central Europe for know-how transfer, - Evaluation of rehabilitation measures for successful application in Yunnan, - Dissemination of knowledge through vocational training. Results: - Frequent wild grazing of husbandry is a key factor for forest degeneration beyond unsustainable timber harvests, forest fires and insect calamities leading to increased water run-off in the mountainous region of Yunnan; - Browsing of cattle interrupts succession thus avoiding natural regeneration and leaving a logging ban ineffective; - Mountain pasture in the Alps had similar effects in the past in central Europe. The introduction of controlled grazing has led to an ecologically compatible coexistence of pasture and ecology. Close-to-nature forestry can have positive effects in this sensitive environment. - Afforestation with site adopted broadleaves and coniferous tree species was implemented on demonstration level using advanced techniques in Yunnan.
Ziel des Projektes ist eine Bestandsaufnahme der Wassermassenverteilung und der Zirkulation im Arktischen Ozean. Stabile Sauerstoffisotopen (delta18O) des Wassers ist ein konservativer Tracer und werden zusammen mit hydrochemischen Daten dazu verwendet das vom Schelf stammende Süßwasser (Flusswasser und Meereis-Schmelze oder Bildung) und die aus dem Pazifik stammende Komponente zu untersuchen. Auf diese Weise wird der Einfluss dieser Wassermassen in der arktischen Salzgehaltsschichtung (Halokline), dem Atlantischen Zwischenwasser und dem Tiefen- und Bodenwasser des Arktischen Ozeans quantifiziert werden. Es ist bekannt, dass die Verteilung der Pazifischen Komponente starken Veränderungen auf dekadischen Zeitskalen unterliegt aber auch in den Süßwasserverteilungen im Transpolaren Drift Strom wurden 2007 starke Variationen beobachtet welche somit auf zusätzliche jährliche Variationen hinweisen. Es ist nicht bekannt ob die 2007 beobachteten Variationen ein permanentes Phänomen sind und ob diese mit dem weitgehenden Fehlen des Pazifischen Wassers in diesem Zeitraum zusammenhängen. Die geplante flächendeckende und quantitative Erfassung der Süßwasserverteilung und des Pazifischen Wassers werden daher dazu beitragen, den Einfluss und die möglichen Rückkopplungsmechanismen der arktischen Hydrographie auf den arktischen und globalen Klimawandel weitergehend zu verstehen.
Flowering time (FTi) genes play a key role as regulators of complex gene expression networks, and the influence of these networks on other complex systems means that FTi gene expression triggers a cascade of regulatory effects with a broad global effect on plant development. Hence, allelic and expression differences in FTi genes can play a central role in phenotypic variation throughput the plant lifecycle. A prime example for this is found in Brassica napus, a phenotypically and genetically diverse species with enormous variation in vernalisation requirement and flowering traits. The species includes oilseed rape (canola), one of the most important oilseed crops worldwide. Previously we have identified QTL clusters related to plant development, seed yield and heterosis in winter oilseed rape that seem to be conserved in diverse genetic backgrounds. We suspect that these QTL are controlled by global regulatory genes that influence numerous traits at different developmental stages. Interestingly, many of the QTL clusters for yield and biomass heterosis appear to correspond to the positions of meta-QTL for FTi in spring-type and/or winter-type B. napus. Based on the hypothesis that diversity in FTi genes has a key influence on plant development and yield, the aim of this study is a detailed analysis of DNA sequence variation in regulatory FTi genes in B. napus, combined with an investigation of associations between FTi gene haplotypes, developmental traits, yield components and seed yield.
Um aktuelle Umwelt- und Klimaveränderungen in einem längeren zeitlichen Kontext bewerten zu können, insbesondere anthropogene und natürliche Einflüsse auf den atmosphärischen Aerosoleintrag in die Atmosphäre zu verstehen, werden Informationen über die Zusammensetzung der Atmosphäre in der Vergangenheit benötigt. Eisbohrkerne aus den Polarregionen oder Gletschern sind wertvolle Umwelt- und Klimaarchive, da sie unter anderem das mit dem Schnellfall deponierte Aerosol enthalten. Daher kann die Analyse von partikel-gebundenen Spurenstoffen in Eisbohrkernen stoffliche Informationen über zurückliegende Umwelt- und Klimabedingungen liefern. Bis heute konzentrieren sich diese Bemühungen auf anorganische Substanzen und nur wenige organische Analyten. Ein Großteil der in diesen Bohrkernen enthaltenen Informationen geht dadurch verloren. Dies charakterisiert das Hauptziel des Vorhabens, durch Erarbeitung organischer spurenanalytischer Methoden basierend auf LC-HRMS (Flüssigchromatographie in Kombination mit hochauflösender Massenspektrometrie) eine ausgewählte Palette von Markersubstanzen zu quantifizieren. Zielmoleküle sind insbesondere neue Marker für biogene sekundäre organische Aerosole (biogenic SOA) und Biomasseverbrennungs-Marker. Die Auswahl dieser Verbindungen basiert einerseits auf dem zu erwartenden Informationsgewinn über die Quellen und deren Zusammensetzung (terrestrische Vegetation/Waldbrände), andererseits auf der atmosphärischen Lebensdauer der Marker, da nur langlebige Marker weit entfernt liegende Regionen erreichen können. Zusätzlich zur Analyse dieser Zielanalyten sollen auch ââ‚ Ìnon-target screening-Methoden zum Einsatz kommen. In enger Zusammenarbeit mit einem etablierten Eisbohrkernlabor am PSI in der Schweiz werden die entwickelten Analysetechniken auf einen Eisbohrkern aus dem Belukha-Gletscher im Sibirischen Altai Gebirge angewendet.
In many plant species, FLOWERING LOCUS T and related proteins are the mobile signal that communicates information on photoperiod from the leaves to the shoots, where the transition to flowering is realized. FT expression is tightly controlled at the transcriptional level so that it is restricted to leaves, occurs only in appropriate photoperiods, and integrates ambient temperature and developmental cues, as well as information on biotic and abiotic stress. We previously established that FT transcription in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana requires proximal promoter cis-elements and a distal enhancer, both evolutionary conserved among Brassicacea species. In addition, FT transcription is blocked prior vernalization in biannual accessions and vernalization-dependency of FT is controlled through a CArG-box located in the first intron that binds the transcriptional repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). Chromatin-mediated repression by the Polycomb Group (PcG) pathway is required for photoperiod-dependent FT regulation and participates in FT expression level modulation in response to other cues.In this project, I propose to explore the available sequence data from the 1001 genome project in Arabidopsis to evaluate how often changes in regulatory cis-elements at FT have occurred and how these translate into an adaptive value. Allele-specific FT expression pattern will be measured in F1 hybrids of different accessions in response to varying environmental conditions. FT alleles that show cis-regulatory variation will be further analyzed to pinpoint the causal regulatory changes and study their effect in more detail. The allotetrapolyploid species Brassica napus is a hybrid of two Brassiceae species belonging to the A- and C-type genome, which are in turn mesopolyploid due to a genome triplication that occurred ca. 10x106 years ago. We will determine allele-specific expression of FT paralogs from both genomes of a collection of B. napus accessions. The plants will be grown in the field in changing environmental conditions to maximize the chance to detect expression variation of the paralogs. We will compare the contribution of the founder genomes to the regulation of flowering time and asses variation in this contribution. A particular focus will be to study the impact of chromatin-mediated repression on allele selection in B. napus.
The decomposition of terrestrial organic material such as leaf litter represents a fundamental ecosystem function in streams that delivers energy for local and downstream food webs. Although agriculture dominates most regions in Europe and fungicides are applied widely, effects of currently used fungicides on the aquatic decomposer community and consequently the leaf decomposition rate are largely unknown. Also potential compensation of such hypothesised adverse effects due to nutrients or higher average water temperatures associated with climate change are not considered. Moreover, climate change is predicted to alter the community of aquatic decomposers and an open question is, whether this alteration impacts the leaf decomposition rate. The current projects follows a tripartite design to answer these research questions. Firstly, a field study in a vine growing region where fungicides are applied in large amounts will be conducted to whether there is a dose-response relationship between the exposure to fungicides and the leaf decomposition rate. Secondly, experiments in artificial streams with field communities will be carried out to assess potential compensatory mechanisms of nutrients and temperature for effects of fungicides. Thirdly, field experiments with communities exhibiting a gradient of taxa sensitive to climate change will be used to investigate potential climate-related effects on the leaf decomposition rate.
Fusarium species of the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex cause serious diseases on different crops such as rice, wheat and maize. An important group of plant pathogens is the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex (GFC) of closely related Fusarium species which are associated with specific hosts; F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum are particularly associated with maize where they can cause serious ear-, root-, and stalk rot diseases. Two other closely related species of the GFC, F. mangiferae and F. fujikuroi, which share about 90Prozent sequence identity with F. verticillioides, are pathogens on mango and rice, respectively. All of these species produce a broad spectrum of secondary metabolites such as phytohormones (gibberellins, auxins, and cytokinins), and harmful mycotoxins, such as fumonisin, fusarin C, or fusaric acid in large quantities. However, the spectrum of those mycotoxins might differ between closely related species suggesting that secondary metabolites might be determinants for host specificity. In this project, we will study the potential impact of secondary metabolites (i.e. phytohormones and certain mycotoxins) and some other species-specific factors (e.g. species-specific transcription factors) on host specificity. The recently sequenced genomes of F. mangiferae and F. fujikuroi by our groups and the planned sequencing of F. proliferatum will help to identify such determinants by genetic manipulation of the appropriate metabolic pathway(s).
This subproject aims to analyze the fragmentation of forest policy at both an international and national level for the selected countries, employing a discourse analysis approach. It is split into two sub-subprojects (SSPs). 'SSPa' conducts an analysis of discursive genealogies of forest policy in Germany, Sweden, and the US. 'SSPb' investigates the history of forest related discourses in three global environmental policy processes (UNFF, CBD, and UNFCCC). In doing so, both SSPs follow a three step procedure: In the first work package, relevant literature is reviewed and a theoretical and analytical framework is developed. In the second work package, empirical data (mostly formal and informal policy documents) are gathered and analyzed. In the third work package, emphasis is placed on the role of political 'elites' in the creation of fragmented forest policy discourses at different levels; in-depth interviews with policy stakeholders and experts add another perspective to the analysis in this work package. The project is expected to develop a new understanding not only of the fragmentation of multi-level and multi-sector forest policy discourses, but also of the way in which 'discourse elites' interact with and within these discourses. The results of the work packages will be published in peer reviewed journals and discussed with policy stakeholders and scientists in conferences and workshops.
Outbreaks of foodborne illness linked to consumptions of fresh, or partially processed, agricultural products are a growing concern in industrialized and developing countries. The incidence of human pathogens on fresh fruits and vegetables is often related to the use of recycled wastewaster in surface irrigation as well as high amounts of animal manure in agricultural management practice. Thereby the soil inhabiting fauna plays an important role in the transport and dissemination of microorganisms. The focus of the proposed project is on nematodes, well known vectors for bacteria and viruses in soil. The major goals are to: (1) survey human pathogens in soil and on/in free-living and plant parasitic nematodes in agriculture field sites irrigated with recycled wastewater or fertilized with fresh animal manure in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, (2) assess the function of nematodes as vectors in transmitting bacteria from microbial hot spots to plants, and (3) localize bacteria on and/or within the nematode and identify bacterial factors required for survival in the nematode host. Understanding the mechanisms involved in dissemination of human pathogens by nematodes will enhance the ability to develop practical means to minimize contamination of fresh produce and increase safety in food production.
Beach sand deposits are widespread in the area around Sandefjord, at the western coast of the Oslofjord, southern Norway. The age of the deposits continuously increases with elevation, as the area has been subject to steady glacio-isostatic uplift throughout the Holocene. Existing local sea level curves provide age control related to elevation. Thus, the area offers excellent conditions to test hypotheses on soil formation and OSL dating. A chronosequence covering the last 10 000 years will be established. A preliminary study showed that soil formation leads to Podzols within 4300 - 6600 years. Micromorphological analyses suggest that clay illuviation takes place before and below podzolisation. It is hypothesised that clay translocation goes on contemporarily with podzolisation, but at greater soil depth, where the chemical conditions are suitable. This hypothesis will be proved by more detailed micromorphological investigation and chemical analyses. The factors controlling soil forming processes and their rates, will be determined by analyzing elemental composition, primary minerals and clay mineralogy. Preliminary OSL dating tests suggest that the beach sand deposits are OSL dateable despite the high latitude. This hypothesis will be checked by comparing OSL datings to ages derived from the 14C-based sea level curves.
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