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Barnes PW, Robson TM, Zepp RG, Bornman JF, Jansen MAK, Ossola R, Wang QW, Robinson SA, Foereid B, Klekociuk AR, Martinez-Abaigar J, Hou WC, Mackenzie R, Paul ND. Interactive effects of changes in UV radiation and climate on terrestrial ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and feedbacks to the climate system. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2023; 22:1049-1091. [PMID: 36723799 PMCID: PMC9889965 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-023-00376-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Terrestrial organisms and ecosystems are being exposed to new and rapidly changing combinations of solar UV radiation and other environmental factors because of ongoing changes in stratospheric ozone and climate. In this Quadrennial Assessment, we examine the interactive effects of changes in stratospheric ozone, UV radiation and climate on terrestrial ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles in the context of the Montreal Protocol. We specifically assess effects on terrestrial organisms, agriculture and food supply, biodiversity, ecosystem services and feedbacks to the climate system. Emphasis is placed on the role of extreme climate events in altering the exposure to UV radiation of organisms and ecosystems and the potential effects on biodiversity. We also address the responses of plants to increased temporal variability in solar UV radiation, the interactive effects of UV radiation and other climate change factors (e.g. drought, temperature) on crops, and the role of UV radiation in driving the breakdown of organic matter from dead plant material (i.e. litter) and biocides (pesticides and herbicides). Our assessment indicates that UV radiation and climate interact in various ways to affect the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems, and that by protecting the ozone layer, the Montreal Protocol continues to play a vital role in maintaining healthy, diverse ecosystems on land that sustain life on Earth. Furthermore, the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment are mitigating some of the negative environmental consequences of climate change by limiting the emissions of greenhouse gases and protecting the carbon sequestration potential of vegetation and the terrestrial carbon pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- P W Barnes
- Biological Sciences and Environment Program, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, USA.
| | - T M Robson
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology (OEB), Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Viikki Plant Sciences Centre (ViPS), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- National School of Forestry, University of Cumbria, Ambleside, UK.
| | - R G Zepp
- ORD/CEMM, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, USA
| | - J F Bornman
- Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
| | | | - R Ossola
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, USA
| | - Q-W Wang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenyang, China
| | - S A Robinson
- Global Challenges Program & School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - B Foereid
- Environment and Natural Resources, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Ås, Norway
| | - A R Klekociuk
- Antarctic Climate Program, Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Australia
| | - J Martinez-Abaigar
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of La Rioja, Logroño (La Rioja), Spain
| | - W-C Hou
- Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - R Mackenzie
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Puerto Williams, Chile
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Chile
| | - N D Paul
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
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Ali Z, Merrium S, Habib-Ur-Rahman M, Hakeem S, Saddique MAB, Sher MA. Wetting mechanism and morphological adaptation; leaf rolling enhancing atmospheric water acquisition in wheat crop-a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:30967-30985. [PMID: 35102510 PMCID: PMC9054867 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-18846-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Several plant species such as grasses are dominant in many habitats including arid and semi-arid areas. These species survive in these regions by developing exclusive structures, which helps in the collection of atmospheric water. Before the collected water evaporates, these structures have unique canopy structure for water transportation that plays an equivalent share in the fog-harvesting mechanism. In this review, the atmospheric gaseous water harvesting mechanisms and their affinity of measurements were discussed. Morphological adaptations and their role in the capturing of atmospheric gaseous water of various species were also discussed. The key factor for the water collection and its conduction in the wheat plant is the information of contact angle hysteresis. In wheat, leaf rolling and its association with wetting property help the plant in water retention. Morphological adaptations, i.e., leaf erectness, grooves, and prickle hairs, also help in the collection and acquisition of water droplets by stem flows in directional guide toward the base of the plant and allow its rapid uptake. Morphological adaptation strengthens the harvesting mechanism by preventing the loss of water through shattering. Thus, wheat canopy architecture can be modified to harvest the atmospheric water and directional movement of water towards the root zone for self-irrigation. Moreover, these morphological adaptations are also linked with drought avoidance and corresponding physiological processes to resist water stress. The combination of these traits together with water use efficiency in wheat contributes to a highly efficient atmospheric water harvesting system that enables the wheat plants to reduce the cost of production. It also increases the yielding potential of the crop in arid and semi-arid environments. Further investigating the ecophysiology and molecular pathways of these morphological adaptations in wheat may have significant applications in varying climatic scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zulfiqar Ali
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, 60000, Pakistan.
| | - Sabah Merrium
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, 60000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Habib-Ur-Rahman
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Crop Science Group, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
- Department of Agronomy, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, 60000, Pakistan.
| | - Sadia Hakeem
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, 60000, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Ali Sher
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, 60000, Pakistan
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Karabourniotis G, Liakopoulos G, Bresta P, Nikolopoulos D. The Optical Properties of Leaf Structural Elements and Their Contribution to Photosynthetic Performance and Photoprotection. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:1455. [PMID: 34371656 PMCID: PMC8309337 DOI: 10.3390/plants10071455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Leaves have evolved to effectively harvest light, and, in parallel, to balance photosynthetic CO2 assimilation with water losses. At times, leaves must operate under light limiting conditions while at other instances (temporally distant or even within seconds), the same leaves must modulate light capture to avoid photoinhibition and achieve a uniform internal light gradient. The light-harvesting capacity and the photosynthetic performance of a given leaf are both determined by the organization and the properties of its structural elements, with some of these having evolved as adaptations to stressful environments. In this respect, the present review focuses on the optical roles of particular leaf structural elements (the light capture module) while integrating their involvement in other important functional modules. Superficial leaf tissues (epidermis including cuticle) and structures (epidermal appendages such as trichomes) play a crucial role against light interception. The epidermis, together with the cuticle, behaves as a reflector, as a selective UV filter and, in some cases, each epidermal cell acts as a lens focusing light to the interior. Non glandular trichomes reflect a considerable part of the solar radiation and absorb mainly in the UV spectral band. Mesophyll photosynthetic tissues and biominerals are involved in the efficient propagation of light within the mesophyll. Bundle sheath extensions and sclereids transfer light to internal layers of the mesophyll, particularly important in thick and compact leaves or in leaves with a flutter habit. All of the aforementioned structural elements have been typically optimized during evolution for multiple functions, thus offering adaptive advantages in challenging environments. Hence, each particular leaf design incorporates suitable optical traits advantageously and cost-effectively with the other fundamental functions of the leaf.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Karabourniotis
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Morphology, Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece; (G.L.); (D.N.)
| | - Georgios Liakopoulos
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Morphology, Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece; (G.L.); (D.N.)
| | - Panagiota Bresta
- Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece;
| | - Dimosthenis Nikolopoulos
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Morphology, Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece; (G.L.); (D.N.)
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Albani Rocchetti G, Armstrong CG, Abeli T, Orsenigo S, Jasper C, Joly S, Bruneau A, Zytaruk M, Vamosi JC. Reversing extinction trends: new uses of (old) herbarium specimens to accelerate conservation action on threatened species. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 230:433-450. [PMID: 33280123 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Although often not collected specifically for the purposes of conservation, herbarium specimens offer sufficient information to reconstruct parameters that are needed to designate a species as 'at-risk' of extinction. While such designations should prompt quick and efficient legal action towards species recovery, such action often lags far behind and is mired in bureaucratic procedure. The increase in online digitization of natural history collections has now led to a surge in the number new studies on the uses of machine learning. These repositories of species occurrences are now equipped with advances that allow for the identification of rare species. The increase in attention devoted to estimating the scope and severity of the threats that lead to the decline of such species will increase our ability to mitigate these threats and reverse the declines, overcoming a current barrier to the recovery of many threatened plant species. Thus far, collected specimens have been used to fill gaps in systematics, range extent, and past genetic diversity. We find that they also offer material with which it is possible to foster species recovery, ecosystem restoration, and de-extinction, and these elements should be used in conjunction with machine learning and citizen science initiatives to mobilize as large a force as possible to counter current extinction trends.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas Abeli
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, Roma, 00154, Italy
| | - Simone Orsenigo
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Caroline Jasper
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Simon Joly
- Montreal Botanical Garden, Montréal, QC, H1X 2B2, Canada
- Département de Sciences Biologiques and Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H1X 2B2, Canada
| | - Anne Bruneau
- Département de Sciences Biologiques and Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H1X 2B2, Canada
| | - Maria Zytaruk
- Department of English, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jana C Vamosi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
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Abstract
Dead museum specimens are finding new life, providing critical data about otherwise hidden impacts of human-caused environmental change. New research powerfully leverages decades of plant collections to uncover global responses in floral pigmentation linked to ozone and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Mason Heberling
- Section of Botany, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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Hock M, Hofmann R, Essl F, Pyšek P, Bruelheide H, Erfmeier A. Native distribution characteristics rather than functional traits explain preadaptation of invasive species to high‐UV‐B environments. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Hock
- Institute for Ecosystem Research/Geobotany Kiel University Kiel Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle Germany
| | - Rainer Hofmann
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences Lincoln University Lincoln New Zealand
| | - Franz Essl
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research University Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Petr Pyšek
- Institute of Botany Department of Invasion Ecology Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
- Department of Ecology Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| | - Alexandra Erfmeier
- Institute for Ecosystem Research/Geobotany Kiel University Kiel Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany
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Bernhard GH, Neale RE, Barnes PW, Neale PJ, Zepp RG, Wilson SR, Andrady AL, Bais AF, McKenzie RL, Aucamp PJ, Young PJ, Liley JB, Lucas RM, Yazar S, Rhodes LE, Byrne SN, Hollestein LM, Olsen CM, Young AR, Robson TM, Bornman JF, Jansen MAK, Robinson SA, Ballaré CL, Williamson CE, Rose KC, Banaszak AT, Häder DP, Hylander S, Wängberg SÅ, Austin AT, Hou WC, Paul ND, Madronich S, Sulzberger B, Solomon KR, Li H, Schikowski T, Longstreth J, Pandey KK, Heikkilä AM, White CC. Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, update 2019. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2020; 19:542-584. [PMID: 32364555 PMCID: PMC7442302 DOI: 10.1039/d0pp90011g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
This assessment, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP), one of three Panels informing the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, provides an update, since our previous extensive assessment (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2019, 18, 595-828), of recent findings of current and projected interactive environmental effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, stratospheric ozone, and climate change. These effects include those on human health, air quality, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and materials used in construction and other services. The present update evaluates further evidence of the consequences of human activity on climate change that are altering the exposure of organisms and ecosystems to UV radiation. This in turn reveals the interactive effects of many climate change factors with UV radiation that have implications for the atmosphere, feedbacks, contaminant fate and transport, organismal responses, and many outdoor materials including plastics, wood, and fabrics. The universal ratification of the Montreal Protocol, signed by 197 countries, has led to the regulation and phase-out of chemicals that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. Although this treaty has had unprecedented success in protecting the ozone layer, and hence all life on Earth from damaging UV radiation, it is also making a substantial contribution to reducing climate warming because many of the chemicals under this treaty are greenhouse gases.
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Affiliation(s)
- G H Bernhard
- Biospherical Instruments Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | - R E Neale
- Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - P W Barnes
- Biological Sciences and Environment Program, Loyola University, New Orleans, USA
| | - P J Neale
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, USA
| | - R G Zepp
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - S R Wilson
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - A L Andrady
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - A F Bais
- Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - R L McKenzie
- National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, Lauder, Central Otago, New Zealand
| | - P J Aucamp
- Ptersa Environmental Consultants, Faerie Glen, South Africa
| | - P J Young
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - J B Liley
- National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, Lauder, Central Otago, New Zealand
| | - R M Lucas
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - S Yazar
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - L E Rhodes
- Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, and Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester, UK
| | - S N Byrne
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - L M Hollestein
- Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Manchester, The Netherlands
| | - C M Olsen
- Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - A R Young
- St John's Institute of Dermatology, King's College, London, London, UK
| | - T M Robson
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J F Bornman
- Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia.
| | - M A K Jansen
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - S A Robinson
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - C L Ballaré
- Faculty of Agronomy and IFEVA-CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C E Williamson
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - K C Rose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
| | - A T Banaszak
- Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - D -P Häder
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Möhrendorf, Germany
| | - S Hylander
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - S -Å Wängberg
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - A T Austin
- Faculty of Agronomy and IFEVA-CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - W -C Hou
- Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan, China
| | - N D Paul
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - S Madronich
- National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - B Sulzberger
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - K R Solomon
- Centre for Toxicology, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - H Li
- Institute of Atmospheric Environment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - T Schikowski
- Research Group of Environmental Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute of Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - J Longstreth
- Institute for Global Risk Research, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - K K Pandey
- Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bengaluru, India
| | - A M Heikkilä
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - C C White
- , 5409 Mohican Rd, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Monroe JG, Gill B, Turner KG, McKay JK. Drought regimens predict life history strategies in Heliophila. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 223:2054-2062. [PMID: 31087648 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Explaining variation in life history strategies is an enduring goal of evolutionary biology and ecology. Early theory predicted that for plants, annual and perennial life histories reflect adaptations to environments that experience alternative drought regimens. Nevertheless, empirical support for this hypothesis from comparative analyses remains lacking. Here, we test classic life history theory in Heliophila L. (Brassicaceae), a diverse genus of flowering plants native to Africa, controlling for phylogeny and integrating 34 yr of satellite-based drought detection with 2192 herbaria occurrence records. We find that the common ancestor of these species was likely to be an annual, and that perenniality and annuality have repeatedly evolved, an estimated seven and five times, respectively. By comparing historical drought regimens, we show that annuals rather than perennial species occur in environments where droughts are significantly more frequent. We also find evidence that annual plants adapt to predictable drought regimens by escaping drought-prone seasons as seeds. These results yield compelling support for longstanding theoretical predictions by revealing the importance of drought frequency and predictability to explain plant life history. More broadly, this work highlights scalable approaches, integrating herbaria records and remote sensing to address outstanding questions in evolutionary ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Grey Monroe
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA
- College of Agriculture, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA
| | - Brian Gill
- Institute for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Kathryn G Turner
- Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16802, USA
| | - John K McKay
- College of Agriculture, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA
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Seddon AWR, Festi D, Robson TM, Zimmermann B. Fossil pollen and spores as a tool for reconstructing ancient solar-ultraviolet irradiance received by plants: an assessment of prospects and challenges using proxy-system modelling. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2019; 18:275-294. [PMID: 30649121 DOI: 10.1039/c8pp00490k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280-315 nm) constitutes less than 1% of the total solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface but has a disproportional impact on biological and ecological processes from the individual to the ecosystem level. Absorption of UV-B by ozone is also one of the primary heat sources to the stratosphere, so variations in UV-B have important relationships to the Earth's radiation budget. Yet despite its importance for understanding atmospheric and ecological processes, there is limited understanding about the changes in UV-B radiation in the geological past. This is because systematic measurements of total ozone and surface UV-B only exist since the 1970s, so biological or geochemical proxies from sediment archives are needed to reconstruct UV-B irradiance received at the Earth surface beyond the experimental record. Recent developments have shown that the quantification of UV-B-absorbing compounds in pollen and spores have the potential to provide a continuous record of the solar-ultraviolet radiation received by plants. There is increasing interest in developing this proxy in palaeoclimatic and palaeoecological research. However, differences in interpretation exist between palaeoecologists, who are beginning to apply the proxy under various geological settings, and UV-B ecologists, who question whether a causal dose-response relationship of pollen and spore chemistry to UV-B irradiance has really been established. Here, we use a proxy-system modelling approach to systematically assess components of the pollen- and spore-based UV-B-irradiance proxy to ask how these differences can be resolved. We identify key unknowns and uncertainties in making inferences about past UV-B irradiance, from the pollen sensor, the sedimentary archive, and through the laboratory and experimental procedures in order to target priority areas of future work. We argue that an interdisciplinary approach, modifying methods used by plant ecologists studying contemporary responses to solar-UV-B radiation specifically to suit the needs of palaeoecological analyses, provides a way forward in developing the most reliable reconstructions for the UV-B irradiance received by plants across a range of timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair W R Seddon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Norway. .,Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen, Norway.
| | - Daniela Festi
- Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Austria.,Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy
| | - T Matthew Robson
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology (OEB), Viikki Plant Science Centre (ViPS), Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Boris Zimmermann
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
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Seale M, Cummins C, Viola IM, Mastropaolo E, Nakayama N. Design principles of hair-like structures as biological machines. J R Soc Interface 2018; 15:20180206. [PMID: 29848593 PMCID: PMC6000178 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Hair-like structures are prevalent throughout biology and frequently act to sense or alter interactions with an organism's environment. The overall shape of a hair is simple: a long, filamentous object that protrudes from the surface of an organism. This basic design, however, can confer a wide range of functions, owing largely to the flexibility and large surface area that it usually possesses. From this simple structural basis, small changes in geometry, such as diameter, curvature and inter-hair spacing, can have considerable effects on mechanical properties, allowing functions such as mechanosensing, attachment, movement and protection. Here, we explore how passive features of hair-like structures, both individually and within arrays, enable diverse functions across biology. Understanding the relationships between form and function can provide biologists with an appreciation for the constraints and possibilities on hair-like structures. Additionally, such structures have already been used in biomimetic engineering with applications in sensing, water capture and adhesion. By examining hairs as a functional mechanical unit, geometry and arrangement can be rationally designed to generate new engineering devices and ideas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Seale
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- School of Engineering, Institute for Integrated Micro and Nano Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- SynthSys Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Cathal Cummins
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- SynthSys Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- School of Engineering, Institute for Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ignazio Maria Viola
- School of Engineering, Institute for Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Enrico Mastropaolo
- School of Engineering, Institute for Integrated Micro and Nano Systems, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Naomi Nakayama
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- SynthSys Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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