Untangling interactions: do temperature and habitat fragmentation gradients simultaneously impact biotic relationships?

Gaining insight into the impact of anthropogenic change on ecosystems requires investigation into interdependencies between multiple drivers of ecological change and multiple biotic responses. Global environmental change drivers can act simultaneously to impact the abundance and diversity of biota, but few studies have also measured the impact across trophic levels. We firstly investigated whether climate (using temperature differences across a latitudinal gradient as a surrogate) interacts with habitat fragmentation (measured according to fragment area and distance to habitat edges) to impact a New Zealand tri-trophic food chain (plant, herbivore and natural enemy). Secondly, we examined how these interactions might differentially impact both the density and biotic processes of species at each of the three trophic levels. We found evidence to suggest that these drivers act non-additively across trophic levels. The nature of these interactions however varied: location synergistically interacted with fragmentation measures to exacerbate the detrimental effects on consumer density; and antagonistically interacted to ameliorate the impact on plant density and on the interactions between trophic levels (herbivory and parasitoid attack rate). Our findings indicate that the ecological consequences of multiple global change drivers are strongly interactive and vary according to the trophic level studied and whether density or ecological processes are investigated.

Suspensiones celulares y producción de metabolitos secundarios en cultivos in vitro de Piper sp / Cellular suspension and production of secondary metabolites in in vitro cultures of Piper sp

Piperaceae is an important family from neotropical American in which many biologically active compounds were identified. A survey of structural diversity and bioactivity reveals that groups of species specialize in the production of amides, phenylpropanoids, lignans and neolignans, benzoic acids and chromenes, alkaloids, polyketides, and a plethora of compounds of mixed biosynthetic origin. With this in mind, several explants obtained from in vitro plantlets were cultured in the presence of different plant growth regulator combinations (IAA, NAA, 2,4-D, DICAMBA, BAP and KIN). The callus induction was depended of Piper species, explant type and plant growth regulator combinations. From a callus culture, cell suspension cultures were established and their growth and metabolite accumulation studied. The achieve results may be useful for further characterization of the activated secondary metabolites pathways in in vitro systems of various Piper species.

Piperaceae es una familia importante de la América neotropical en la que muchos compuestos biológicamente activos han sido identificados. Un estudio general sobre la diversidad estructural y bioactividad reveló que grupos de especies se especializan en la producción de amidas, fenilpropanoides, lignanos y neolignanos, ácidos benzoicos y cromenes, alcaloides, policétidos y una diversidad de compuestos de origen biosintético mixto. Con este conocimiento, diversos explantes obtenidos de plántulas in vitro se cultivaron en presencia de diferentes combinaciones de reguladores de crecimiento (AIA, ANA, 2,4-D, DICAMBA, BAP y KIN). La inducción de callos dependió de la especie de Piper, tipo de explante y las combinaciones de los reguladores de crecimiento. Suspensiones celulares se establecieron a partir de callos y estudiadas en su crecimiento y acumulación de metabolitos. Los resultados alcanzados pueden utilizarse para caracterizar rutas de producción de metabolitos secundarios, en sistemas in vitro, en varias especies de Piper.

Diversidade genética de populações naturais de pariparoba [Pothomorphe umbellata (L. ) Miq.] por RAPD / Genetic diversity of natural populations of pariparoba [Pothomorphe umbellata (L. ) Miq.] according to RAPD analysis

O objetivo desse trabalho foi analisar a estrutura genética de populações de Pothomorphe umbellata (L.) Miq. com base em polimorfismos moleculares do tipo RAPD. Foram analisadas quatro populações naturais do estado de São Paulo (Jacareí, Jundiaí, Piquete e Ubatuba) e uma população do Paraná (Adrianópolis). Foram identificados 25 locos polimórficos (96,15%). Elevados índices de diversidade genética foram observados dentro das populações (Hs = 0,2220). Verificou-se que 65,33% da variabilidade genética total encontra-se dentro das populações e 34,67% entre as populações; índices estes, obtidos a partir do cálculo da divergência genética (G ST = 0,3467). Os resultados sugerem que essas populações possuem níveis elevados de variabilidade genética, a qual pode ser fortemente impactada pela ação humana.

The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic structure of populations of Pothomorphe umbellata (L.) Miq. based on RAPD molecular polymorphisms. Analysis included four natural populations from São Paulo State (Jacareí, Jundiaí, Piquete, Ubatuba) and one population from Paraná State (Adrianópolis). Twenty-five polymorphic loci (96.15%) were identified. There were high levels of genetic diversity within populations (Hs = 0.2220). Of the total genetic variability, 65.33% is within populations and 34.67% among populations (G ST = 0.3467). Results suggest that these populations have high levels of genetic variability, which can be strongly impacted by human action.

Propagação vegetativa de espécies silvestres do gênero Piper, com potencial para uso como porta enxertos em pimenta-do-reino (Piper nigrun) / Vegetative propagation of wild species of the genus Piper, with potential for use as rootstocks in black pepper (Piper nigrun)

O estabelecimento de espécies usadas como porta-enxerto, importantes na olericultura, podem ser multiplicadas por meio da estaquia com auxílio de fitorreguladores. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a influência do AIB no estabelecimento de espécies nativas do gênero Piper com potencial de uso como porta-enxerto de Piper nigrum. Estacas de P. Arboreum, P. amplum e P. sp foram submetidas a diferentes dosagens de AIB (0, 2000, 4000, 6000 e 8000 mg.L-1) e mantidas em estufa agrícola com irrigação intermitente com temperatura e umidade controlados. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3x5 (3 espécies de Piper x 5 dosagens de AIB) e composto por 3 repetições por tratamento, sendo cada parcela composta por 10 estacas. A avaliação foi realizada aos 45 dias de transplantio e as variáveis analisadas foram: índice de sobrevivência, número médio de folhas, número médio de brotos e comprimento médio do maior broto. A espécie Piper arboreum apresentou bons resultados referentes ao crescimento da parte aérea independentemente da concentração de AIB empregada.

The establishment of species used as rootstock, which are important in horticulture crop scan may be multiplied, with the aid of growth regulators, by cutting. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of IBA on the establishment of native species of the genus Piper with potential use as rootstock of Piper nigrum. Cuttings of P. arboreum, P. amplum and P. sp were treated with different concentrations of IBA (0 ,2000, 4000, 6000 and 8000mg.L-1) and maintained in a greenhouse with intermittent irrigation, with the temperature and humidity controlled. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial 3x5 plan (3 Piper species x5 doses of IBA) and comprising of three repetitions per treatment, each plot consisting of 10 cuttings. The evaluation was performed at 45 days of transplanting and the analyzed variables were: survival rate, the number of leaves, the number of shoots and the length of the largest shoot. The Piper arboretum species showed the best growth results for the aerial part independent of the IBA concentration used.

Verhuellia is a segregate lineage in Piperaceae: more evidence from flower, fruit and pollen morphology, anatomy and development.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The perianthless Piperales, i.e. Saururaceae and Piperaceae, have simple reduced flowers strikingly different from the other families of the order (e.g. Aristolochiaceae). Recent molecular phylogenies proved Verhuellia to be the first branch in Piperaceae, making it a promising subject to study the detailed structure and development of the flowers. Based on recently collected material, the first detailed study since 1872 was conducted with respect to morphology, anatomy and development of the inflorescence, pollen ultrastructure and fruit anatomy. METHODS: Original scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and light microscopy (LM) observations on Verhuellia lunaria were compared with those of Piperaceae, Saururaceae and fossils. KEY RESULTS: The inflorescence is an indeterminate spike with sessile flowers, each in the axil of a bract, developing in acropetal, helical succession. Flowers consist of two (occasionally three) stamens with basifixed tetrasporangiate anthers and latrorse dehiscence by a longitudinal slit. The gynoecium lacks a style but has 3-4 stigma branches and a single, basal orthotropous and unitegmic ovule. The fruit is a drupe with large multicellular epidermal protuberances. The pollen is very small, inaperturate and areolate, with hemispherical microechinate exine elements. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the superficial similarities with different genera of Piperaceae and Saururaceae, the segregate position of Verhuellia revealed by molecular phylogenetics is supported by morphological, developmental and anatomical data presented here. Unitegmic ovules and inaperturate pollen, which are synapomorphies for the genus Peperomia, are also present in Verhuellia.