Tropical montane ecosystems of the Andes are critically threatened by a rapid land‐use change which can potentially affect stream variables, aquatic communities, and ecosystem processes such as leaf litter breakdown. However, these effects have not been sufficiently investigated in the Andean region and at high altitude locations in general. Here, we studied the influence of land use (forest–pasture–urban) on stream physico‐chemical variables (e.g., water temperature, nutrient concentration, and pH), aquatic communities (macroinvertebrates and aquatic fungi) and leaf litter breakdown rates in Andean streams (southern Ecuador), and how variation in those stream physico‐chemical variables affect macroinvertebrates and fungi related to leaf litter breakdown. We found that pH, water temperature, and nutrient concentration increased along the land‐use gradient. Macroinvertebrate communities were significantly different between land uses. Shredder richness and abundance were lower in pasture than forest sites and totally absent in urban sites, and fungal richness and biomass were higher in forest sites than in pasture and urban sites. Leaf litter breakdown rates became slower as riparian land use changed from natural to anthropogenically disturbed conditions and were largely determined by pH, water temperature, phosphate concentration, fungal activity, and single species of leaf‐shredding invertebrates. Our findings provide evidence that leaf litter breakdown in Andean streams is sensitive to riparian land‐use change, with urban streams being the most affected. In addition, this study highlights the role of fungal biomass and shredder species (Phylloicus; Trichoptera and Anchytarsus; Coleoptera) on leaf litter breakdown in Andean streams and the contribution of aquatic fungi in supporting this ecosystem process when shredders are absent or present low abundance in streams affected by urbanization. Finally, we summarize important implications in terms of managing of native vegetation and riparian buffers to promote ecological integrity and functioning of tropical Andean stream ecosystems.
Somatic embryogenesis is crucial for the propagation of endangered Ecuadorian orchid species, among them Cyrtochilum loxense, in view of the fact that their number in nature or in collections is quite reduced. One of the genes expressed during somatic and zygotic embryogenesis is Somatic Embryogenesis Receptor-like Kinase (SERK). Despite the development of somatic embryogenesis protocols for orchids, no SERK genes have been isolated from this family. This is the first report on the isolation of a full-length orchid SERK sequence, namely that of Cyrtochilum loxense (ClSERK). The identity of ClSERK was inferred by the presence of all domains typical of SERK proteins: a signal peptide, a leucine zipper domain, five LRRs, a serine proline-rich domain, a transmembrane domain, a kinase domain, and the C-terminal region. We have observed that the ClSERK gene is highly expressed in embryogenic calluses generated from protocorms at the time of appearance of embryonic morphological features. At later stages when embryos become well visible on calluses, ClSERK gene expression decreases. Compared to early stages of embryo formation on calluses, the expression detected in leaf tissue is far lower, thus suggesting a role of this gene during development.
Efectos del fotoperíodo, reguladores de crecimiento vegetal y medio de cultivo en el crecimiento in vitro de plántulas de Cyrtochilum loxense (Lindl.) Kraenzl. una orquídea endémica del Ecuador El presente trabajo fue financiado por la Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja. Información sobre los autores:Los autores declaran:A.C. y Y.G. diseñaron los experimentos, analizaron resultados y escribieron el artículo. Y. G. desarrolló los experimentos. AbstractCyrtochilum loxense (Lindl.) Kraenzl. is an endemic and seriously endangered orchid species endemic in the Loja Province (Southern Ecuador). The main goals of this research were to analyze how culture media, plant growth regulators and photoperiod affect the growth of C. loxense. Eight month old plants (approximate 1 -1.5 cm in height) obtained by in vitro germination, were cultivated on MS media or Knudson C; MS with three levels of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) (2/0.5; 1/0.5 y 0.5/ 0.5 mg -1 L); and three photoperiodic regimes (24/0, 16/8, 8/16 h) on MS with and without plant growth regulators. No significant differences of shoot induction were observed on media with or without plant growth regulators, and all tested photoperiods. The highest growth (1.2 cm) was observed in plantlets cultivated on growth regulator-free media with a 16/8 photoperiod. Also the shoot and root formation was better in this species in absence of plant growth regulators. Probably this response is due to the endogenous hormone levels in the tissues or due to the kind and concentrations of PGRs used were too low to induce positive morphogenetic responses.Palabras clave: culture media; photoperiod; plant hormones; endemic plant; Orchidaceae. ResumenCyrtochilum loxense (Lindl.) Kraenzl. es una orquídea endémica y críticamente amenazada, distribuida en la provincia de Loja (Sur del Ecuador). Los objetivos principales de esta investigación fueron analizar la influencia del medio de cultivo, reguladores de crecimiento vegetal y fotoperíodo en el crecimiento de C. loxense. Plantas de ocho meses (altura aproximada de 1 -1.5 cm.) obtenidas por germinación in vitro, fueron cultivadas en medio MS y Knudson C; medio MS con tres niveles de ácido naftalen acético (ANA) y 6-bencil amino purina (BAP) (2/0.5; 1/0.5 y 0.5/ 0.5 mg -1 L); y tres fotoperíodos (24/0, 16/8, 8/16 h) en MS con o sin reguladores de crecimiento vegetal (RCV). No se observaron diferencias significativas en la inducción de brotes en medio con o sin RCV, entre todos los fotoperíodos testados. El tamaño más grande (1.2 cm) se registró en plántulas cultivadas en medio libre de reguladores de crecimiento vegetal, incubadas en un fotoperíodo de 16/8. Además, la mayor brotación y enraizamiento se observó para esta especie en medio libre de reguladores de crecimiento vegetal. Probablemente esta respuesta es debida a los niveles endógenos de hormonas vegetales en el tejido o el nivel de RCV usado fue muy bajo para inducir alguna respuesta morfogénica.
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