Radionuclides in the lichen-caribou-human food chain near uranium mining operations in northern Saskatchewan, Canada.
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The richest uranium ore bodies ever discovered (Cigar Lake and McArthur River) are presently under development in northeastern Saskatchewan. This subarctic region is also home to several operating uranium mines and aboriginal communities, partly dependent upon caribou for subsistence. Because of concerns over mining impacts and the efficient transfer of airborne radionuclides through the lichen-caribou-human food chain, radionuclides were analyzed in tissues from 18 barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus). Radionuclides included uranium (U), radium (226Ra), lead (210Pb), and polonium (210Po) from the uranium decay series; the fission product (137Cs) from fallout; and naturally occurring potassium (40K). Natural background radiation doses average 2-4 mSv/year from cosmic rays, external gamma rays, radon inhalation, and ingestion of food items. The ingestion of 210Po and 137Cs when caribou are consumed adds to these background doses. The dose increment was 0.85 mSv/year for adults who consumed 100 g of caribou meat per day and up to 1.7 mSv/year if one liver and 10 kidneys per year were also consumed. We discuss the cancer risk from these doses. Concentration ratios (CRs), relating caribou tissues to lichens or rumen (stomach) contents, were calculated to estimate food chain transfer. The CRs for caribou muscle ranged from 1 to 16% for U, 6 to 25% for 226Ra, 1 to 2% for 210Pb, 6 to 26% for 210Po, 260 to 370% for 137Cs, and 76 to 130% for 40K, with 137Cs biomagnifying by a factor of 3-4. These CRs are useful in predicting caribou meat concentrations from the lichens, measured in monitoring programs, for the future evaluation of uranium mining impacts on this critical food chain. (+info)
The phytotoxic lichen metabolite, usnic acid, is a potent inhibitor of plant p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase.
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The lichen secondary metabolite usnic acid exists as a (-) and a (+) enantiomer, indicating a alpha or beta projection of the methyl group at position 9b, respectively. (-)-Usnic caused a dose-dependent bleaching of the cotyledonary tissues associated with a decrease of both chlorophylls and carotenoids in treated plants whereas no bleaching was observed with the (+) enantiomer. (-)-Usnic acid inhibited protophorphyrinogen oxidase activity (I50 = 3 microM), but did not lead to protoporphyrin IX accumulation. Bleaching appears to be caused by irreversible inhibition of the enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase by (-)-usnic acid (apparent IC50 = 50 nM). (+info)
On the patterns of abundance and diversity of macrolichens of Chopta-Tunganath in the Garhwal Himalaya.
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A total of 3211 colonies of macrolichens, from twelve 50 m x 10 m plots distributed across four macrohabitat (vegetation) types between 1500 m-3700 m in the Chopta-Tunganath landscape of the Garhwal Himalaya, yielded 13 families with 15 genera and 85 species. Lobaria retigera stood out as a broad-niched generalist species with moderate levels of abundance in all the three major microhabitats, viz. rock, soil and wood across 83% of all the plots sampled, whereas Umbilicaria indica emerged as an abundantly occurring specialist confined to rock substrates. Heterodermia incana and Leptogium javanicum appeared to be rare members of the community as they were encountered only once during the field survey. Woody microhabitats turned out to be richer than rock and soil substrates for macrolichens. Amongst the macrohabitats, middle altitude (2500-2800 m) Quercus forest was richest in species and genera followed by high altitude (2900-3200 m) Rhododendron forest, higher altitude grasslands (3300-3700 m) and then the lower elevation (1500 m) Quercus forest. Species, genus and family level alpha- as well as beta-diversities were significantly correlated with each other, implying that higher taxonomic ranks such as genera may be used as surrogates for species thus facilitating cost- and time-effective periodic monitoring of the biodiversity of macrolichens. Dynamics of the diversity of lichen communities in relation to various forms of environmental disturbance including livestock grazing and tourism as dominant land use activities in the higher Himalaya need further research. (+info)
Biomass of the cryptoendolithic microbiota from the Antarctic desert.
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Extractable lipid phosphate was used to determine the biomass of the cryptoendolithic microbiota that colonizes sandstone rocks in the Ross Desert region of Antarctica. The mean amount of lipid phosphate was 0.053 micromole/cm2 (n = 9), which equals 2.54 g of C per m2 (range, 1.92 to 3.26 g of C per m2) of biomass in the biotic zone of these rocks. The turnover of phospholipids was comparable to that of temperate sediments and soils (t1/2, 6 to 9 days) at 0 degrees C and a light intensity of 305 micromoles of photons per m2 per s, indicating that this was a good method to measure viable biomass. The biomass was 0.3 to 9.6% of the total carbon content of the biotic zone and was about 2 orders of magnitude smaller than the epilithic lichen dry weight at a location some 7 degrees north in latitude. The cryptoendolithic microbiota had a uniform density throughout the biotic zone under the rock surface. The results indicate that the cryptoendolithic microbial biomass is small but viable in this unique, extreme ecosystem. (+info)
Carbon metabolism of the cryptoendolithic microbiota from the Antarctic desert.
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The carbon metabolism of the cryptoendolithic microbiota of sandstones from the Ross Desert of Antarctica was studied in situ and in vitro. Organic and inorganic carbon compounds were metabolized by the microbiota, with bicarbonate incorporation into community lipids occurring primarily in the light. Light intensity affected the photometabolism of carbon with a photosynthesis-intensity response optimum at about 200 to 300 micromoles of photons per m2 per s. Photosynthesis was also affected by temperature, with a minimum activity at -5 degrees C, an optimum activity at 15 degrees C, and complete inhibition at 35 degrees C, indicating that the cryptoendolithic community was psychrophilic. The primary source of CO2 for photosynthesis in situ was the atmosphere. CO2 may also be photometabolized by using the carbon produced from respiration within the endolithic community. Photosynthesis occurred maximally when the microbiota was wet with liquid water and to a lesser extent in a humid atmosphere. This simple microbial community, therefore, exists under extremes of water, light, and temperature stress which affect and control its metabolism. (+info)
Protection of the photosynthetic apparatus against damage by excessive illumination in homoiohydric leaves and poikilohydric mosses and lichens.
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Experimental work on the control of photosystem II in the photosynthetic apparatus of higher plants, mosses and lichens is reviewed on a background of current literature. Transmembrane proton transport during photoassimilatory and photorespiratory electron flows is considered insufficient for producing the intrathylakoid acidification necessary for control of photosystem II activity under excessive illumination. Oxygen reduction during the Mehler reaction is slow. Together with associated reactions (the water-water cycle), it poises the electron transport chain for coupled cyclic electron transport rather than acting as an efficient electron sink. Coupled electron transport not accompanied by ATP consumption in associated reactions provides the additional thylakoid acidification needed for the binding of zeaxanthin to a chlorophyll-containing thylakoid protein. This results in the formation of energy-dissipating traps in the antennae of photosystem II. Competition for energy capture decreases the activity of photosystem II. In hydrated mosses and lichens, but not in leaves of higher plants, protein protonation and zeaxanthin availability are fully sufficient for effective energy dissipation even when photosystem II reaction centres are open. In leaves, an additional light reaction is required, and energy dissipation occurs not only in the antennae but also in reaction centres. Loss of chlorophyll fluorescence during the drying of predarkened poikilohydric mosses and lichens indicates energy dissipation in the dry state which is unrelated to protonation and zeaxanthin availability. Excitation of photosystem II by sunlight is not destructive in these dry organisms, whereas photosystem II activity of dried leaves is rapidly lost under strong illumination. (+info)
Hydration-dependent photosynthetic production of lichens: what do laboratory studies tell us about field performance?
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Extensive investigations made in the past two decades on lichen photosynthesis in relation to water content have shown two features of particular interest: first, the depression of net photosynthesis at high water contents, suprasaturation (i.e. the lichen contains more water than necessary to saturate photosynthesis), and, second, the ability of green algal lichens to regain photosynthetic activity by uptake of water from humid air. Evidence from several investigators is presented to confirm that both phenomena are now well substantiated through laboratory investigations. It has been questioned whether these features do actually occur in nature and, if they do, to what extent. Recent work is summarized that demonstrates that for many of the lichens studied suprasaturation is of major importance and can result in depressed photosynthesis for around a third of the time that the lichens are photosynthetically active. Reactivation of photosynthesis of green algal lichens by high humidity is also, apparently, very common in some environments, for example, humid temperate rainforests, occurring almost every night. It is possible that the dominance of green algal lichens, rather than cyanobacterial species, in these habitats is a result of their ability to utilize water vapour. If so, then the phenomenon must have major ecological importance for lichen productivity. In general, laboratory studies seem to be able to predict extremely well the behaviour of lichens in their natural habitat. (+info)
Influences of nitrogen sources on usnic acid production in a cultured Mycobiont of the lichen Usnea hirta (L.) Wigg.
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Effects of the nitrogen sources in the medium for the production of secondary metabolites in lichens were examined. The usnic acid production by a mycobiont of the lichen Usnea hirta was higher in the liquid medium containing ammonium and nitrate ions than in those containing amino acids. (+info)