ORCID Profile
0000-0002-7130-9617
Current Organisation
University of Wollongong
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Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Geomatic Engineering | Conservation and Biodiversity | Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing | Environmental Science and Management | Ecological Applications | Global Change Biology | Plant Physiology | Ecological Impacts of Climate Change | Ecology | Geochemistry | Genetics | Ecology And Evolution Not Elsewhere Classified | Plant Biology | Photogrammetry And Remote Sensing | Natural Resource Management | Pests, Health And Diseases | Climate Change Processes | Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology) | Palaeoecology | Animal Behaviour | Vertebrate Biology | Environmental Management | Terrestrial Ecology | Environmental Monitoring | Life Histories (Incl. Population Ecology) | Sociobiology And Behavioural Ecology | Isotope Geochemistry | Gene Expression | Other Biological Sciences | Plant Physiology | Crop and Pasture Biochemistry and Physiology | Invasive Species Ecology | Landscape Ecology | Genetic Immunology | Comparative Physiology | Biogeography and Phylogeography
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Effects of Climate Change and Variability on Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Environments (excl. Social Impacts) | Biological sciences | Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Environments | Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity | Coastal and Estuarine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity | Living resources (flora and fauna) | Land and water management | Physical and Chemical Conditions of Water in Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Environments (excl. Urban and Industrial Use) | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales | Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity | Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Environments | Ecosystem Adaptation to Climate Change | Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Forest and Woodlands Environments | Climate Variability (excl. Social Impacts) | Control of pests and exotic species | Integrated (ecosystem) assessment and management | Expanding Knowledge in Technology | Management of Water Consumption by Plant Production | Land and water management | Environmental Policy, Legislation and Standards not elsewhere classified | Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences |
Related Links
Publications
Effects of solar ultraviolet radiation on terrestrial ecosystems. Patterns, mechanisms, and interactions with climate change
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-2011
DOI: 10.1039/C0PP90035D
Abstract: Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a minor fraction of the solar spectrum reaching the ground surface. In this assessment we summarize the results of previous work on the effects of the UV-B component (280-315 nm) on terrestrial ecosystems, and draw attention to important knowledge gaps in our understanding of the interactive effects of UV radiation and climate change. We highlight the following points: (i) The effects of UV-B on the growth of terrestrial plants are relatively small and, because the Montreal Protocol has been successful in limiting ozone depletion, the reduction in plant growth caused by increased UV-B radiation in areas affected by ozone decline since 1980 is unlikely to have exceeded 6%. (ii) Solar UV-B radiation has large direct and indirect (plant-mediated) effects on canopy arthropods and microorganisms. Therefore, trophic interactions (herbivory, decomposition) in terrestrial ecosystems appear to be sensitive to variations in UV-B irradiance. (iii) Future variations in UV radiation resulting from changes in climate and land-use may have more important consequences on terrestrial ecosystems than the changes in UV caused by ozone depletion. This is because the resulting changes in UV radiation may affect a greater range of ecosystems, and will not be restricted solely to the UV-B component. (iv) Several ecosystem processes that are not particularly sensitive to UV-B radiation can be strongly affected by UV-A (315-400 nm) radiation. One ex le is the physical degradation of plant litter. Increased photodegradation (in response to reduced cloudiness or canopy cover) will lead to increased carbon release to the atmosphere via direct and indirect mechanisms.
Alien grass disrupts reproduction and post-settlement recruitment of co-occurring native vegetation: a mechanism for diversity decline in invaded forest?
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-2014
The Antarctic ozone hole, ultraviolet radiation and bushfires
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 04-2023
Genetic structure of East Antarctic populations of the mossCeratodon purpureus
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 10-06-2008
DOI: 10.1017/S0954102008001466
Abstract: The capacity of the polar flora to adapt is of increasing concern given current and predicted environmental change in these regions. Previous genetic studies of Antarctic mosses have been of limited value due to a lack of variation in the markers or non-specificity of the methods used. We examined the power of five microsatellite loci developed for the cosmopolitan moss Ceratodon purpureus to detect genetically distinct clones and infer the distribution of clones within and among populations from the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica. Our microsatellite data suggest that the extraordinarily high levels of variation reported in RAPD studies were artificially elevated by the presence of contaminants. We found surprisingly little contribution of asexual reproduction to the genetic structure of the Windmill Islands populations, but more loci are required to determine the distribution of in idual clones within and among populations. It is apparent that Antarctic populations of C. purpureus possess less genetic ersity than temperate populations, and thus have less capacity for adaptive change in response to environmental variation, but more markers are needed to resolve the total genetic ersity in Antarctic C. purpureus and other mosses.
Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2021
DOI: 10.1007/S43630-020-00001-X
Abstract: This assessment by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides the latest scientific update since our most recent comprehensive assessment (Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences, 2019, 18, 595–828). The interactive effects between the stratospheric ozone layer, solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and climate change are presented within the framework of the Montreal Protocol and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We address how these global environmental changes affect the atmosphere and air quality human health terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems biogeochemical cycles and materials used in outdoor construction, solar energy technologies, and fabrics. In many cases, there is a growing influence from changes in seasonality and extreme events due to climate change. Additionally, we assess the transmission and environmental effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, in the context of linkages with solar UV radiation and the Montreal Protocol.
Impact of changes in natural ultraviolet radiation on pigment composition, physiological and morphological characteristics of the Antarctic moss, Grimmia antarctici
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2005
Cell wall‐bound ultraviolet‐screening compounds explain the high ultraviolet tolerance of the Antarctic moss, Ceratodon purpureus
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-07-2008
DOI: 10.1111/J.1469-8137.2008.02499.X
Abstract: * Studies of ultraviolet (UV) light-induced DNA damage in three Antarctic moss species have shown Ceratodon purpureus to be the most UV tolerant, despite containing lower concentrations of methanol-soluble UV-screening compounds than the co-occurring Bryum pseudotriquetrum. * In this study, alkali extraction of cell wall-bound phenolics, combined with methanol extraction of soluble phenolics, was used to determine whether cell wall-bound UV screens explain the greater UV tolerance of C. purpureus. * The combined pool of UV screens was similar in B. pseudotriquetrum and C. purpureus, but whilst B. pseudotriquetrum had almost equal concentrations of MeOH-soluble and alkali-extractable cell wall-bound UV-screening compounds, in C. purpureus the concentration of cell wall-bound screening compounds was six times higher than the concentration of MeOH-soluble UV screens. The Antarctic endemic Schistidium antarctici possessed half the combined pool of UV screens of the other species but, as in C. purpureus, these were predominantly cell wall bound. Confocal microscopy confirmed the localization of UV screens in each species. * Greater investment in cell wall-bound UV screens offers C. purpureus a more spatially uniform, and potentially more effective, UV screen. Schistidium antarctici has the lowest UV-screening potential, indicating that this species may be disadvantaged under continuing springtime ozone depletion. Cell wall compounds have not previously been quantified in bryophytes but may be an important component of the UV defences of lower plants.
The success of the Montreal Protocol in mitigating interactive effects of stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change on the environment
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-08-2021
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.15841
Some like it wet - Biological characteristics underpinning tolerance of extreme water stress events in Antarctic bryophytes
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2006
DOI: 10.1071/FP05306
Abstract: Antarctic bryophyte communities presently tolerate physiological extremes in water availability, surviving both desiccation and submergence events. We investigated the relative ability of three Antarctic moss species to tolerate physiological extremes in water availability and identified physiological, morphological, and biochemical characteristics that assist species performance under such conditions. Tolerance of desiccation and submergence was investigated using chlorophyll fluorescence during a series of field- and laboratory-based water stress events. Turf water retention and degree of natural habitat submergence were determined from gametophyte shoot size and density, and δ13C signatures, respectively. Finally, compounds likely to assist membrane structure and function during desiccation events (fatty acids and soluble carbohydrates) were determined. The results of this study show significant differences in the performance of the three study species under contrasting water stress events. The results indicate that the three study species occupy distinctly different ecological niches with respect to water relations, and provide a physiological explanation for present species distributions. The poor tolerance of submergence seen in Ceratodon purpureus helps explain its restriction to drier sites and conversely, the low tolerance of desiccation and high tolerance of submergence displayed by the endemic Grimmia antarctici is consistent with its restriction to wet habitats. Finally the flexible response observed for Bryum pseudotriquetrum is consistent with its co-occurrence with the other two species across the bryophyte habitat spectrum. The likely effects of future climate change induced shifts in water availability are discussed with respect to future community dynamics.
Facilitation, competition and parasitic facilitation amongst invasive and native liana seedlings and a native tree seedling
Publisher: Pensoft Publishers
Date: 14-08-2017
Radiocarbon bomb spike reveals biological effects of A ntarctic climate change
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-10-2011
Not just about sunburn – the ozone hole's profound effect on climate has significant implications for Southern Hemisphere ecosystems
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-11-2014
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.12739
Abstract: Climate scientists have concluded that stratospheric ozone depletion has been a major driver of Southern Hemisphere climate processes since about 1980. The implications of these observed and modelled changes in climate are likely to be far more pervasive for both terrestrial and marine ecosystems than the increase in ultraviolet-B radiation due to ozone depletion however, they have been largely overlooked in the biological literature. Here, we synthesize the current understanding of how ozone depletion has impacted Southern Hemisphere climate and highlight the relatively few documented impacts on terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Reviewing the climate literature, we present ex les of how ozone depletion changes atmospheric and oceanic circulation, with an emphasis on how these alterations in the physical climate system affect Southern Hemisphere weather, especially over the summer season (December-February). These potentially include increased incidence of extreme events, resulting in costly floods, drought, wildfires and serious environmental damage. The ecosystem impacts documented so far include changes to growth rates of South American and New Zealand trees, decreased growth of Antarctic mosses and changing bio ersity in Antarctic lakes. The objective of this synthesis was to stimulate the ecological community to look beyond ultraviolet-B radiation when considering the impacts of ozone depletion. Such widespread changes in Southern Hemisphere climate are likely to have had as much or more impact on natural ecosystems and food production over the past few decades, than the increased ultraviolet radiation due to ozone depletion.
Integrating transient heterogeneity of non-photochemical quenching in shade-grown heterobaric leaves of avocado (Persea Americana L.): Responses to CO2 concentration, stomatal occlusion, dehydration and relative humidity
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 13-10-2013
DOI: 10.1093/PCP/PCT128
Abstract: Long-lived shade leaves of avocado had extremely low rates of photosynthesis. Gas exchange measurements of photosynthesis were of limited use, so we resorted to Chl fluorescence imaging (CFI) and spot measurements to evaluate photosynthetic electron transport rates (ETRs) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Imaging revealed a remarkable transient heterogeneity of NPQ during photosynthetic induction in these hypostomatous, heterobaric leaves, but was adequately integrated by spot measurements, despite long-lasting artifacts from repeated saturating flashes during assays. Major veins (mid-vein, first- and second-order veins) defined areas of more static large-scale heterogeneous NPQ, with more dynamic small-scale heterogeneity most strongly expressed in mesophyll cells between third- and fourth-order veins. Both responded to external CO2 concentration ([CO2]), occlusion of stomata with Vaseline™, leaf dehydration and relative humidity (RH). We interpreted these responses in terms of independent behavior of stomata in adjacent areoles that was largely expressed through CO2-limited photosynthesis. Heterogeneity was most pronounced and prolonged in the absence of net CO2 fixation in 100 p.p.m. [CO2] when respiratory and photorespiratory CO2 cycling constrained the inferred ETR to ~75% of values in 400 or 700 p.p.m. [CO2]. Likewise, sustained higher NPQ under Vaseline™, after dehydration or at low RH, also restricted ETR to ~75% of control values. Low NPQ in chloroplast-containing cells adjacent to major veins but remote from stomata suggested internal sources of high [CO2] in these tissues.
Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: progress report, 2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-2016
DOI: 10.1039/C6PP90004F
Abstract: The Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) is one of three Panels that regularly informs the Parties (countries) to the Montreal Protocol on the effects of ozone depletion and the consequences of climate change interactions with respect to human health, animals, plants, biogeochemistry, air quality, and materials. The Panels provide a detailed assessment report every four years. The most recent 2014 Quadrennial Assessment by the EEAP was published as a special issue of seven papers in 2015 (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2015, 14, 1-184). The next Quadrennial Assessment will be published in 2018/2019. In the interim, the EEAP generally produces an annual update or progress report of the relevant scientific findings. The present progress report for 2015 assesses some of the highlights and new insights with regard to the interactive nature of the effects of UV radiation, atmospheric processes, and climate change.
Antarctic moss stress assessment based on chlorophyll content and leaf density retrieved from imaging spectroscopy data
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-06-2015
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.13524
Abstract: The health of several East Antarctic moss‐beds is declining as liquid water availability is reduced due to recent environmental changes. Consequently, a noninvasive and spatially explicit method is needed to assess the vigour of mosses spread throughout rocky Antarctic landscapes. Here, we explore the possibility of using near‐distance imaging spectroscopy for spatial assessment of moss‐bed health. Turf chlorophyll a and b , water content and leaf density were selected as quantitative stress indicators. Reflectance of three dominant Antarctic mosses Bryum pseudotriquetrum , Ceratodon purpureus and Schistidium antarctici was measured during a drought‐stress and recovery laboratory experiment and also with an imaging spectrometer outdoors on water‐deficient (stressed) and well‐watered (unstressed) moss test sites. The stress‐indicating moss traits were derived from visible and near infrared turf reflectance using a nonlinear support vector regression. Laboratory estimates of chlorophyll content and leaf density were achieved with the lowest systematic/unsystematic root mean square errors of 38.0/235.2 nmol g −1 DW and 0.8/1.6 leaves mm −1 , respectively. Subsequent combination of these indicators retrieved from field hyperspectral images produced small‐scale maps indicating relative moss vigour. Once applied and validated on remotely sensed airborne spectral images, this methodology could provide quantitative maps suitable for long‐term monitoring of Antarctic moss‐bed health.
Photoprotection enhanced by red cell wall pigments in three East Antarctic mosses
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-11-2018
Stoichiometric Nightmares: Studies of Photosynthetic O2 and CO2 Exchanges in CAM Plants
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Date: 1996
Extending Fluspect to simulate xanthophyll driven leaf reflectance dynamics
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2018
Wax as a Mechanism for Protection against Photoinhibition — A Study of Cotyledon orbiculata
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-1993
Probing functional and optical cross-sections of PSII in leaves during state transitions using fast repetition rate light induced fluorescence transients
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1071/FP18054
Abstract: Plants adjust the relative sizes of PSII and PSI antennae in response to the spectral composition of weak light favouring either photosystem by processes known as state transitions (ST), attributed to a discrete antenna migration involving phosphorylation of light-harvesting chlorophyll-protein complexes in PSII. Here for the first time we monitored the extent and dynamics of ST in leaves from estimates of optical absorption cross-section (relative PSII antenna size aPSII). These estimates were obtained from in situ measurements of functional absorption cross-section (σPSII) and maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (φPSII) i.e. aPSII = σPSII/φPSII (Kolber et al. 1998) and other parameters from a light induced fluorescence transient (LIFT) device (Osmond et al. 2017). The fast repetition rate (FRR) QA flash protocol of this instrument monitors chlorophyll fluorescence yields with reduced QA irrespective of the redox state of plastoquinone (PQ), as well as during strong ~1 s white light pulses that fully reduce the PQ pool. Fitting this transient with the FRR model monitors kinetics of PSII → PQ, PQ → PSI, and the redox state of the PQ pool in the ‘PQ pool control loop’ that underpins ST, with a time resolution of a few seconds. All LIFT/FRR criteria confirmed the absence of ST in antenna mutant chlorina-f2 of barley and asLhcb2–12 of Arabidopsis, as well as STN7 kinase mutants stn7 and stn7/8. In contrast, wild-type barley and Arabidopsis genotypes Col, npq1, npq4, OEpsbs, pgr5 bkg and pgr5, showed normal ST. However, the extent of ST (and by implication the size of the phosphorylated LHCII pool participating in ST) deduced from changes in aʹPSII and other parameters with reduced QA range up to 35%. Estimates from strong WL pulses in the same assay were only ~10%. The larger estimates of ST from the QA flash are discussed in the context of contemporary dynamic structural models of ST involving formation and participation of PSII and PSI megacomplexes in an ‘energetically connected lake’ of phosphorylated LHCII trimers (Grieco et al. 2015). Despite the absence of ST, asLhcb2-12 displays normal wild-type modulation of electron transport rate (ETR) and the PQ pool during ST assays, reflecting compensatory changes in antenna LHCIIs in this genotype. Impaired LHCII phosphorylation in stn7 and stn7/8 accelerates ETR from PSII →PQ, over-reducing the PQ pool and abolishing the yield difference between the QA flash and WL pulse, with implications for photochemical and thermal phases of the O-J-I-P transient.
The interactive effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and climate change on aquatic ecosystems.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-2019
DOI: 10.1039/C8PP90062K
Abstract: This assessment summarises the current state of knowledge on the interactive effects of ozone depletion and climate change on aquatic ecosystems, focusing on how these affect exposures to UV radiation in both inland and oceanic waters. The ways in which stratospheric ozone depletion is directly altering climate in the southern hemisphere and the consequent extensive effects on aquatic ecosystems are also addressed. The primary objective is to synthesise novel findings over the past four years in the context of the existing understanding of ecosystem response to UV radiation and the interactive effects of climate change. If it were not for the Montreal Protocol, stratospheric ozone depletion would have led to high levels of exposure to solar UV radiation with much stronger negative effects on all trophic levels in aquatic ecosystems than currently experienced in both inland and oceanic waters. This "world avoided" scenario that has curtailed ozone depletion, means that climate change and other environmental variables will play the primary role in regulating the exposure of aquatic organisms to solar UV radiation. Reductions in the thickness and duration of snow and ice cover are increasing the levels of exposure of aquatic organisms to UV radiation. Climate change was also expected to increase exposure by causing shallow mixed layers, but new data show deepening in some regions and shoaling in others. In contrast, climate-change related increases in heavy precipitation and melting of glaciers and permafrost are increasing the concentration and colour of UV-absorbing dissolved organic matter (DOM) and particulates. This is leading to the "browning" of many inland and coastal waters, with consequent loss of the valuable ecosystem service in which solar UV radiation disinfects surface waters of parasites and pathogens. Many organisms can reduce damage due to exposure to UV radiation through behavioural avoidance, photoprotection, and photoenzymatic repair, but meta-analyses continue to confirm negative effects of UV radiation across all trophic levels. Modeling studies estimating photoinhibition of primary production in parts of the Pacific Ocean have demonstrated that the UV radiation component of sunlight leads to a 20% decrease in estimates of primary productivity. Exposure to UV radiation can also lead to positive effects on some organisms by damaging less UV-tolerant predators, competitors, and pathogens. UV radiation also contributes to the formation of microplastic pollutants and interacts with artificial sunscreens and other pollutants with adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. Exposure to UV-B radiation can decrease the toxicity of some pollutants such as methyl mercury (due to its role in demethylation) but increase the toxicity of other pollutants such as some pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Feeding on microplastics by zooplankton can lead to bioaccumulation in fish. Microplastics are found in up to 20% of fish marketed for human consumption, potentially threatening food security. Depletion of stratospheric ozone has altered climate in the southern hemisphere in ways that have increased oceanic productivity and consequently the growth, survival and reproduction of many sea birds and mammals. In contrast, warmer sea surface temperatures related to these climate shifts are also correlated with declines in both kelp beds in Tasmania and corals in Brazil. This assessment demonstrates that knowledge of the interactive effects of ozone depletion, UV radiation, and climate change factors on aquatic ecosystems has advanced considerably over the past four years and confirms the importance of considering synergies between environmental factors.
Moss δ13C: an accurate proxy for past water environments in polar regions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-02-2015
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.12848
Abstract: Increased aridity is of global concern. Polar regions provide an opportunity to monitor changes in bioavailable water free of local anthropogenic influences. However, sophisticated proxy measures are needed. We explored the possibility of using stable carbon isotopes in segments of moss as a fine-scale proxy for past bioavailable water. Variation in δ(13) C with water availability was measured in three species across three peninsulas in the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica and verified using controlled chamber experiments. The δ(13) C from Antarctic mosses accurately recorded long-term variations in water availability in the field, regardless of location, but significant disparities in δ(13) C between species indicated some make more sensitive proxies. δ(13) CSUGAR derived from living tissues can change significantly within the span of an Antarctic season (5 weeks) in chambers, but under field conditions, slow growth means that this technique likely represents multiple seasons. δ(13) CCELLULOSE provides a precise and direct proxy for bioavailable water, allowing reconstructions for coastal Antarctica and potentially other cold regions over past centuries.
Canopy conundrums: Building on the Biosphere 2 experience to scale measurements of inner and outer canopy photoprotection from the leaf to the landscape
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2012
DOI: 10.1071/FP11255
Abstract: Recognising that plant leaves are the fundamental productive units of terrestrial vegetation and the complexity of different environments in which they must function, this review considers a few of the ways in which these functions may be measured and potentially scaled to the canopy. Although canopy photosynthetic productivity is clearly the sum of all leaves in the canopy, we focus on the quest for ‘economical insights’ from measurements that might facilitate integration of leaf photosynthetic activities into canopy performance, to better inform modelling based on the ‘insights of economics’. It is focussed on the reversible downregulation of photosynthetic efficiency in response to light environment and stress and summarises various xanthophyll-independent and dependent forms of photoprotection within the inner and outer canopy of woody plants. Two main themes are developed. First, we review experiments showing the retention of leaves that grow old in the shade may involve more than the ‘payback times’ required to recover the costs of their construction and maintenance. In some cases at least, retention of these leaves may reflect selection for distinctive properties that contribute to canopy photosynthesis through utilisation of sun flecks or provide ‘back up’ capacity following damage to the outer canopy. Second, we report experiments offering hope that remote sensing of photosynthetic properties in the outer canopy (using chlorophyll fluorescence and spectral reflectance technologies) may overcome problems of access and provide integrated measurements of these properties in the canopy as a whole. Finding appropriate tools to scale photosynthesis from the leaf to the landscape still presents a challenge but this synthesis identifies some measurements and criteria in the laboratory and the field that improve our understanding of inner and outer canopy processes.
Somatic mutation and the Antarctic ozone hole
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-01-2008
Synchronicity of thermogenic activity, alternative pathway respiratory flux, AOX protein content, and carbohydrates in receptacle tissues of sacred lotus during floral development
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 02-2008
DOI: 10.1093/JXB/ERM333
Abstract: The relationships between heat production, alternative oxidase (AOX) pathway flux, AOX protein, and carbohydrates during floral development in Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) were investigated. Three distinct physiological phases were identified: pre-thermogenic, thermogenic, and post-thermogenic. The shift to thermogenic activity was associated with a rapid, 10-fold increase in AOX protein. Similarly, a rapid decrease in AOX protein occurred post-thermogenesis. This synchronicity between AOX protein and thermogenic activity contrasts with other thermogenic plants where AOX protein increases some days prior to heating. AOX protein in thermogenic receptacles was significantly higher than in post-thermogenic and leaf tissues. Stable oxygen isotope measurements confirmed that the increased respiratory flux supporting thermogenesis was largely via the AOX, with little or no contribution from the cytochrome oxidase pathway. During the thermogenic phase, no significant relationship was found between AOX protein content and either heating or AOX flux, suggesting that regulation is likely to be post-translational. Further, no evidence of substrate limitation was found starch accumulated during the early stages of floral development, peaking in thermogenic receptacles, before declining by 89% in post-thermogenic receptacles. Whilst coarse regulation of AOX flux occurs via protein synthesis, the ability to thermoregulate probably involves precise regulation of AOX protein, most probably by effectors such as alpha-keto acids.
Interactive effects of changes in UV radiation and climate on terrestrial ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and feedbacks to the climate system
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S43630-023-00376-7
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, bio ersity, 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 bio ersity. 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, erse 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. Graphical abstract
Surface reflectance properties of Antarctic moss and their relationship to plant species, pigment composition and photosynthetic function
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-09-2002
Climate change manipulations show Antarctic flora is more strongly affected by elevated nutrients than water
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-07-2006
Sunsafe Bryophytes: Photoprotection from Excess and Damaging Solar Radiation
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 07-08-2013
Phytoremediation of hydrocarbon contaminants in subantarctic soils: An effective management option
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.JENVMAN.2014.04.019
Abstract: Accidental fuel spills on world heritage subantarctic Macquarie Island have caused considerable contamination. Due to the island's high latitude position, its climate, and its fragile ecosystem, traditional methods of remediation are unsuitable for on-site clean up. We investigated the tolerance of a subantarctic native tussock grass, Poa foliosa (Hook. f.), to Special Antarctic Blend (SAB) diesel fuel and its potential to reduce SAB fuel contamination via phytoremediation. Toxicity of SAB fuel to P. foliosa was assessed in an 8 month laboratory growth trial under growth conditions which simulated the island's environment. Single seedlings were planted into 1 L pots of soil spiked with SAB fuel at concentrations of 1000, 5 000, 10,000, 2000 and 40,000 mg/kg (plus control). Plants were harvested at 0, 2, 4 and 8 months and a range of plant productivity endpoints were measured (biomass production, plant morphology and photosynthetic efficiency). Poa foliosa was highly tolerant across all SAB fuel concentrations tested with respect to biomass, although higher concentrations of 20,000 and 40,000 mg SAB/kg soil caused slight reductions in leaf length, width and area. To assess the phytoremediation potential of P. foliosa (to 10 000 mg/kg), soil from the planted pots was compared with that from paired unplanted pots at each SAB fuel concentration. The effect of the plant on SAB fuel concentrations and the associated microbial communities found within the soil (total heterotrophs and hydrocarbon degraders) were compared between planted and unplanted treatments at the 0, 2, 4 and 8 month harvest periods. The presence of plants resulted in significantly less SAB fuel in soils at 2 months and a return to background concentration by 8 months. Microbes did not appear to be the sole driving force behind the observed hydrocarbon loss. This study provides evidence that phytoremediation using P. foliosa is a valuable remediation option for use at Macquarie Island, and may be applicable to the management of fuel spills in other cold climate regions.
Environmental effects of ozone depletion, UV radiation and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, update 2017
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-2018
DOI: 10.1039/C7PP90043K
Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: 2014 assessment
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1039/C4PP90042A
Contribution of the Alternative Pathway to Respiration during Thermogenesis in Flowers of the Sacred Lotus
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 03-02-2006
Abstract: We report results from in vivo measurements, using oxygen isotope discrimination techniques, of fluxes through the alternative and cytochrome respiratory pathways in thermogenic plant tissue, the floral receptacle of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). Fluxes through both pathways were measured in thermoregulating flowers undergoing varying degrees of thermogenesis in response to ambient temperature. Significant increases in alternative pathway flux were found in lotus receptacles with temperatures 16°C to 20°C above ambient, but not in those with lesser amounts of heating. Alternative pathway flux in the hottest receptacles was 75% of the total respiratory flux. In contrast, fluxes through the cytochrome pathway did not change significantly during thermogenesis. These data support the hypothesis that increased flux through the alternative pathway is responsible for heating in the lotus and that it is unlikely that uncoupling proteins, which would have produced increased fluxes through the cytochrome pathway, contribute significantly to heating in this tissue. Comparisons of actual flux, with capacity determined using inhibitors, suggested that the alternative pathway was operating at close to maximum capacity in heating tissues of lotus. However, in nonheating tissues the inhibitor data significantly overestimated the alternative pathway flux. This confirms that isotopic measurements are necessary for accurate determination of fluxes through the two pathways.
Photosynthesis In Silico. Overcoming the Challenges of Photosynthesis Education Using a Multimedia CD-ROM
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-2004
Preliminary investigations of pigment responses to phylloxera infestation
Publisher: International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS)
Date: 02-2007
Living on the edge – plants and global change in continental and maritime Antarctica
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2003
Introduction: Climate change biology at the ends of the Earth‐International Polar year special issue
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-06-2009
Dominating the Antarctic Environment: Bryophytes in a Time of Change
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 07-08-2014
Foreword to 'Plant and Ecosystem Physiology: Research and Methodology'
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2006
DOI: 10.1071/FPV33N5_FO
Ozone depletion, ultraviolet radiation, climate change and prospects for a sustainable future
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-06-2019
Antarctic climate change and the environment: an update
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 18-04-2013
DOI: 10.1017/S0032247413000296
Abstract: We present an update of the ‘key points’ from the Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment (ACCE) report that was published by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) in 2009. We summarise subsequent advances in knowledge concerning how the climates of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean have changed in the past, how they might change in the future, and examine the associated impacts on the marine and terrestrial biota. We also incorporate relevant material presented by SCAR to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, and make use of emerging results that will form part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report.
Climate change and extreme events are changing the biology of Polar Regions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-07-2022
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.16309
Abstract: Polar landscapes and their unique bio ersity are threatened by climate change. Wild reindeer are cultural and ecological keystone species, traversing across the northern Eurasian Arctic throughout the year (Wild reindeer in the sub-Arctic in Kuhmo, Finland. Photo: Antti Leinonen, Snowchange Cooperative. Used with permission). In contrast, Antarctic terrestrial bio ersity is found on islands in the ice (or ocean) which support unique assemblages of plants and animals (King George Island, South Shetlands photo Andrew Netherwood. Used with permission). This VSI examines how the changing climate threatens these erse marine and terrestrial habitats and the bio ersity that they support.
Invasive alien lianas have similar allometry to native lianas in temperate forests
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-10-2016
Bayesian methods for comparing species physiological and ecological response curves
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2016
Response of Tradescantia albiflora to growth irradiance: Change versus changeability
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2001
Rapid change in East Antarctic terrestrial vegetation in response to regional drying
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-09-2018
Unmanned aircraft system advances health mapping of fragile polar vegetation
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-07-2017
Threat management priorities for conserving Antarctic biodiversity
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 22-12-2022
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PBIO.3001921
Abstract: Antarctic terrestrial bio ersity faces multiple threats, from invasive species to climate change. Yet no large-scale assessments of threat management strategies exist. Applying a structured participatory approach, we demonstrate that existing conservation efforts are insufficient in a changing world, estimating that 65% (at best 37%, at worst 97%) of native terrestrial taxa and land-associated seabirds are likely to decline by 2100 under current trajectories. Emperor penguins are identified as the most vulnerable taxon, followed by other seabirds and dry soil nematodes. We find that implementing 10 key threat management strategies in parallel, at an estimated present-day equivalent annual cost of US$23 million, could benefit up to 84% of Antarctic taxa. Climate change is identified as the most pervasive threat to Antarctic bio ersity and influencing global policy to effectively limit climate change is the most beneficial conservation strategy. However, minimising impacts of human activities and improved planning and management of new infrastructure projects are cost-effective and will help to minimise regional threats. Simultaneous global and regional efforts are critical to secure Antarctic bio ersity for future generations.
Distribution of thermogenic activity in floral tissues of Nelumbo nucifera
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2010
DOI: 10.1071/FP10024
Abstract: Thermogenesis in Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) has been known to scientists for many years however, the extent of heating by different floral parts remains unclear. We present evidence that the receptacle, stamens and petals produce heat independently, and that the source of heating in these tissues is most likely the alternative oxidase (AOX). The temperatures of the receptacle, petals and stamens were significantly higher than non-thermogenic leaf tissue. After removal from the pedicel, the receptacle retained the most heat (8.1 ± 1.9°C above non-thermogenic tissue temperature) and the petals the least (2.8 ± 4.2°C), with the stamens intermediate. High AOX protein levels and flux through the AOX pathway (in all tissues) during the thermogenic period are consistent with AOX being the mechanism used for thermogenesis. Lipids and carbohydrates were investigated as possible substrates for thermogenesis. There was little change in total lipids during floral development however, soluble carbohydrate levels decreased by 70% with the onset of thermogenesis. These sugars may fuel thermogenesis in the stamens. The localisation of AOX protein in the various floral parts and the evolutionary significance of its heating role are discussed.
The spatial structure of Antarctic biodiversity
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-2014
DOI: 10.1890/12-2216.1
Optimizing Spectral and Spatial Resolutions of Unmanned Aerial System Imaging Sensors for Monitoring Antarctic Vegetation
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Date: 10-2019
Islands in the ice: Potential impacts of habitat transformation on Antarctic biodiversity
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-07-2022
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.16331
Abstract: Antarctic bio ersity faces an unknown future with a changing climate. Most terrestrial biota is restricted to limited patches of ice-free land in a sea of ice, where they are adapted to the continent's extreme cold and wind and exploit microhabitats of suitable conditions. As temperatures rise, ice-free areas are predicted to expand, more rapidly in some areas than others. There is high uncertainty as to how species' distributions, physiology, abundance, and survivorship will be affected as their habitats transform. Here we use current knowledge to propose hypotheses that ice-free area expansion (i) will increase habitat availability, though the quality of habitat will vary (ii) will increase structural connectivity, although not necessarily increase opportunities for species establishment (iii) combined with milder climates will increase likelihood of non-native species establishment, but may also lengthen activity windows for all species and (iv) will benefit some species and not others, possibly resulting in increased homogeneity of bio ersity. We anticipate considerable spatial, temporal, and taxonomic variation in species responses, and a heightened need for interdisciplinary research to understand the factors associated with ecosystem resilience under future scenarios. Such research will help identify at-risk species or vulnerable localities and is crucial for informing environmental management and policymaking into the future.
Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: 2010 assessment
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-2011
DOI: 10.1039/C0PP90043E
Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: progress report, 2011
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2012
DOI: 10.1039/C1PP90033A
Abstract: The parties to the Montreal Protocol are informed by three panels of experts. One of these is the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP), which deals with two focal issues. The first focus is the effects of increased UV radiation on human health, animals, plants, biogeochemistry, air quality, and materials. The second focus is on interactions between UV radiation and global climate change and how these may affect humans and the environment. When considering the effects of climate change, it has become clear that processes resulting in changes in stratospheric ozone are more complex than believed previously. As a result of this, human health and environmental problems will be longer-lasting and more regionally variable. Like the other panels, the EEAP produces a detailed report every four years the most recent was published in 2010 (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2011, 10, 173-300). In the years in between, the EEAP produces less detailed and shorter progress reports, which highlight and assess the significance of developments in key areas of importance to the parties. The next full quadrennial report will be published in 2014-2015.
Heterostructured Copper-Ceria and Iron-Ceria Nanorods: Role of Morphology, Redox, and Acid Properties in Catalytic Diesel Soot Combustion.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 15-02-2018
DOI: 10.1021/ACS.LANGMUIR.7B03998
Abstract: This work reports the synthesis of heterostructured copper-ceria and iron-ceria nanorods and the role of their morphology, redox, and acid properties in catalytic diesel soot combustion. Microscopy images show the presence of nanocrystalline CuO (9.5 ± 0.5 nm) and Fe
A Validated and Accurate Method for Quantifying and Extrapolating Mangrove Above-Ground Biomass Using LiDAR Data
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 14-07-2021
DOI: 10.3390/RS13142763
Abstract: LiDAR data and derived canopy height models can provide useful information about mangrove tree heights that assist with quantifying mangrove above-ground biomass. This study presents a validated method for quantifying mangrove heights using LiDAR data and calibrating this against plot-based estimates of above-ground biomass. This approach was initially validated for the mangroves of Darwin Harbour, in Northern Australia, which are structurally complex and have high species ersity. Established relationships were then extrapolated to the nearby West Alligator River, which provided the opportunity to quantify biomass at a remote location where intensive fieldwork was limited. Relationships between LiDAR-derived mangrove heights and mean tree height per plot were highly robust for Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora stylosa and Sonneratia alba (r2 = 0.84–0.94, RMSE = 0.03–0.91 m RMSE% = 0.07%–11.27%), and validated well against an independent dataset. Additionally, relationships between the derived canopy height model and field-based estimates of above-ground biomass were also robust and validated (r2 = 0.73–0.90, RMSE = 141.4 kg–1098.58 kg, RMSE% of 22.94–39.31%). Species-specific estimates of tree density per plot were applied in order to align biomass of in idual trees with the resolution of the canopy height model. The total above-ground biomass at Darwin Harbour was estimated at 120 t ha−1 and comparisons with prior estimates of mangrove above-ground biomass confirmed the accuracy of this assessment. To establish whether accurate and validated relationships could be extrapolated elsewhere, the established relationships were applied to a LiDAR-derived canopy height model at nearby West Alligator River. Above-ground biomass derived from extrapolated relationships was estimated at 206 t ha−1, which compared well with prior biomass estimates, confirming that this approach can be extrapolated to remote locations, providing the mangrove forests are biogeographically similar. The validated method presented in this study can be used for reporting mangrove carbon storage under national obligations, and is useful for quantifying carbon within various markets.
Basking in the sun: how mosses photosynthesise and survive in Antarctica
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-07-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S11120-023-01040-Y
Abstract: The Antarctic environment is extremely cold, windy and dry. Ozone depletion has resulted in increasing ultraviolet-B radiation, and increasing greenhouse gases and decreasing stratospheric ozone have altered Antarctica’s climate. How do mosses thrive photosynthetically in this harsh environment? Antarctic mosses take advantage of microclimates where the combination of protection from wind, sufficient melt water, nutrients from seabirds and optimal sunlight provides both photosynthetic energy and sufficient warmth for efficient metabolism. The amount of sunlight presents a challenge: more light creates warmer canopies which are optimal for photosynthetic enzymes but can contain excess light energy that could damage the photochemical apparatus. Antarctic mosses thus exhibit strong photoprotective potential in the form of xanthophyll cycle pigments. Conversion to zeaxanthin is high when conditions are most extreme, especially when water content is low. Antarctic mosses also produce UV screening compounds which are maintained in cell walls in some species and appear to protect from DNA damage under elevated UV-B radiation. These plants thus survive in one of the harshest places on Earth by taking advantage of the best real estate to optimise their metabolism. But survival is precarious and it remains to be seen if these strategies will still work as the Antarctic climate changes.
Moving beyond presence and absence when examining changes in species distributions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-02-2017
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.13628
Abstract: Species distributions are often simplified to binary representations of the ranges where they are present and absent. It is then common to look for changes in these ranges as indicators of the effects of climate change, the expansion or control of invasive species or the impact of human land-use changes. We argue that there are inherent problems with this approach, and more emphasis should be placed on species relative abundance rather than just presence. The s ling effort required to be confident of absence is often impractical to achieve, and estimates of species range changes based on survey data are therefore inherently sensitive to s ling intensity. Species niches estimated using presence-absence or presence-only models are broader than those for abundance and may exaggerate the viability of small marginal sink populations. We demonstrate that it is possible to transform models of predicted probability of presence to expected abundance if the s ling intensity is known. Using case studies of Antarctic mosses and temperate rain forest trees, we demonstrate additional insights into biotic change that can be gained using this method. While species becoming locally extinct or colonising new areas are extreme and obviously important impacts of global environmental change, changes in abundance could still signal important changes in biological systems and be an early warning indicator of larger future changes.
Thermotolerance capacities of native and exotic coastal plants will lead to changes in species composition under increased heat waves
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 2017
How Much Does Weather Matter? Effects of Rain and Wind on PM Accumulation by Four Species of Australian Native Trees
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 21-10-2019
Abstract: As interest in improving urban air quality grows, phytoremediation—amelioration through plants—is an increasingly popular method of targeting particulate matter (PM), one of the most harmful pollutants. Decades of research has proven that plants effectively capture PM from air however, more information is needed on the dynamics of PM accumulation. Our study evaluated the effects of meteorological conditions on the dynamics of PM deposition, wash off and resuspension using four Australian tree species growing under natural conditions near a busy highway. Accumulation of PM on foliage was analyzed over the short term (daily changes) and over a longer time period (weekly changes). The results obtained were correlated with ambient concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10, rain intensity and wind strength. The highest accumulation of PM was recorded for Eucalyptus ovata (100.2 µg cm−2), which also had the thickest wax layer while the lowest was for Brachychiton acerifolius (77.9 µg cm−2). PM accumulation was highly changeable, with up to 35% different PM loads on the foliage from one day to the next. Importantly these dynamics are hidden in weekly measurements. Changes in PM deposition on the leaves was mostly affected by rain and to a lesser extent by wind, but the extent of the effect was species specific. The large PM fraction (10–100 µm) was the first to be removed from leaves, while the smallest PM fraction (0.2–2.5 µm) was retained for longer. Precipitation affects also PM retained in waxes, which until now were believed to be not affected by rain. This work demonstrates important interactions between PM load and weather, as well as adding to the small inventory of Australian native tree PM accumulation data.
Spatial co-registration of ultra-high resolution visible, multispectral and thermal images acquired with a micro-UAV over antarctic moss beds
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-05-2014
DOI: 10.3390/RS6054003
Global maps of soil temperature.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-02-2022
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.16060
Abstract: Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km
Using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to capture micro-topography of antarctic moss beds
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2014
Can DVD simulations provide an effective alternative for paramedic clinical placement education?
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 22-04-2009
Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the usability of DVD simulations, the impact on student learning satisfaction and the potential for using DVD simulations to reduce the clinical placement burden on the current healthcare system. The clinical DVD simulations were underpinned by interprofessional educational principles that supported clinical placements for paramedic students. Eleven DVD simulations were developed by academic staff members from Monash University with input and feedback from a team of healthcare professionals. Students (N = 97) from the Bachelor of Emergency Health at Monash University viewed the DVD simulations. Students' perceptions, attitudes and thoughts about the clinical relevance of the simulations were assessed by completing a standardised self-report 7-point Likert scale questionnaire (7 indicating the highest satisfaction score). Qualitative data assessing if and how the DVD simulations had influenced paramedic students' clinical placement learning experiences were also collected via two focus groups (n = 6). Overall, paramedic students positively perceived the DVD simulations with relation to learning satisfaction (mean (SD) 5.14 (1.14), 95% CI 4.91 to 5.37) and information processing quality (mean (SD) 5.50 (0.83), 95% CI 5.33 to 5.67). The simulations maintained students' attention and concentration (mean (SD) 4.35 (0.95), 95% CI 4.15 to 4.54) and provided clinical authenticity and relevance to practice (mean (SD) 4.27 (0.65), 95% CI 4.14 to 4.40). A number of themes emerged from the focus group data including the impact on employment, greater appreciation of healthcare teamwork and notion of interdisciplinary teamwork, the fact that DVD simulations have the capacity to replace some clinical placement rotations and should be integrated into standard curriculum, and that varying amounts of learning wastage occur during clinical placements. DVD simulations with an interprofessional education focus were developed. Paramedic students reported the simulations as being educationally, professionally and clinically relevant. The students also identified some aspects of current clinical placements that may be replaced by using DVD simulations. The cost benefit of using interprofessional DVD simulations to supplement and replace certain clinical placement rotations should be investigated further.
Stress in native grasses under ecologically relevant heat waves
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 11-10-2018
Assessment of Antarctic moss health from multi-sensor UAS imagery with Random Forest Modelling
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2018
Introduction: Future fire activity and climate change
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-02-2009
Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: Progress report, 2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-2017
DOI: 10.1039/C7PP90001E
Solar ultraviolet radiation in a changing climate
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 28-05-2014
DOI: 10.1038/NCLIMATE2225
Two Cys or Not Two Cys? That Is the Question; Alternative Oxidase in the Thermogenic Plant Sacred Lotus
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 22-04-2009
Abstract: Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) regulates temperature in its floral chamber to 32°C to 35°C across ambient temperatures of 8°C to 40°C with heating achieved through high alternative pathway fluxes. In most alternative oxidase (AOX) isoforms, two cysteine residues, Cys1 and Cys2, are highly conserved and play a role in posttranslational regulation of AOX. Further control occurs via interaction of reduced Cys1 with α-keto acids, such as pyruvate. Here, we report on the in vitro regulation of AOX isolated from thermogenic receptacle tissues of sacred lotus. AOX protein was mostly present in the reduced form, and only a small fraction could be oxidized with diamide. Cyanide-resistant respiration in isolated mitochondria was stimulated 4-fold by succinate but not pyruvate or glyoxylate. Insensitivity of the alternative pathway of respiration to pyruvate and the inability of AOX protein to be oxidized by diamide suggested that AOX in these tissues may lack Cys1. Subsequently, we isolated two novel cDNAs for AOX from thermogenic tissues of sacred lotus, designated as NnAOX1a and NnAOX1b. Deduced amino acid sequences of both confirmed that Cys1 had been replaced by serine however, Cys2 was present. This contrasts with AOXs from thermogenic Aroids, which contain both Cys1 and Cys2. An additional cysteine was present at position 193 in NnAOX1b. The significance of the sequence data for regulation of the AOX protein in thermogenic sacred lotus is discussed and compared with AOXs from other thermogenic and nonthermogenic species.
Comparison of solvent regimes for the extraction of photosynthetic pigments from leaves of higher plants
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2004
DOI: 10.1071/FP03162
Abstract: The relative efficiency of methanol- and acetone-based solvents for the extraction of pigments from photosynthetic tissues of plant was compared, together with the advantages of multiple versus single extractions. The two commonly employed triple acetone extractions (100 : 80 : 80% and 85 : 100 : 100%) performed comparably for most pigments and for all plant species tested. Single extractions with either 96% methanol or 85% acetone failed to extract the more hydrophobic pigments, especially β-carotene. We conclude that multiple extractions that combine pure and aqueous (80–85%) acetone are preferable for extraction of the full range of pigments. These results suggest that previous studies that have utilised aqueous methanol (especially in a single extraction) have probably underestimated the concentration of β-carotene relative to other pigments.
The Enzymology and Metabolism of Glutamine, Glutamate, and Asparagine
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 1990
Effects of light on respiration and oxygen isotope fractionation in soybean cotyledons
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2000
The 2019/2020 summer of Antarctic heatwaves
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-03-2020
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.15083
Development of the Photosynthetic Apparatus in Australian Rainforest Leaves
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 1998
Concepts of plant biotic stress. Some insights into the stress physiology of virus-infected plants, from the perspective of photosynthesis
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-1997
Toxicity of fuel‐contaminated soil to Antarctic moss and terrestrial algae
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-07-2015
DOI: 10.1002/ETC.3021
Abstract: Fuel pollution is a significant problem in Antarctica, especially in areas where human activities occur, such as at scientific research stations. Despite this, there is little information on the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on Antarctic terrestrial biota. The authors demonstrate that the Antarctic mosses Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Schistidium antarctici, and Ceratodon purpureus, and the Antarctic terrestrial alga Prasiola crispa are relatively tolerant to Special Antarctic Blend (SAB) fuel-contaminated soil (measured as total petroleum hydrocarbons). Freshly spiked soils were more toxic to all species than were aged soils containing degraded fuel, as measured by photosynthetic efficiency (variable fluorescence/maximum fluorescence [Fv/Fm]), pigment content, and visual observations. Concentrations that caused 20% inhibition ranged from 16,600 mg/kg to 53,200 mg/kg for freshly spiked soils and from 30,100 mg/kg to 56,200 mg/kg for aged soils. The photosynthetic efficiency of C. purpureus and S. antarctici was significantly inhibited by exposure to freshly spiked soils with lowest-observed-effect concentrations of 27,900 mg/kg and 40,400 mg/kg, respectively. Prasiola crispa was the most sensitive species to freshly spiked soils (Fv/Fm lowest-observed-effect concentration 6700 mg/kg), whereas the Fv/Fm of B. pseudotriquetrum was unaffected by exposure to SAB fuel even at the highest concentration tested (62,900 mg/kg). Standard toxicity test methods developed for nonvascular plants can be used in future risk assessments, and sensitivity data will contribute to the development of remediation targets for petroleum hydrocarbons to guide remediation activities in Antarctica.
Physiological Traits of Organisms in a Changing Environment
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2006
Diatom communities differ among Antarctic moss and lichen vegetation types
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 17-12-2020
DOI: 10.1017/S0954102020000620
Abstract: Continental Antarctica is a polar desert containing sparse pockets of vegetation within ice-free areas. Despite the recognized association between lichens, mosses and epiphytic diatoms, the environmental factors controlling diatom community structure are poorly understood. We investigated the association between diatom communities and host vegetation characteristics by experimentally adding nutrients and/or water to two bryophyte (healthy and moribund) and two lichen (crustose and Usnea ) vegetation types in the Windmill Islands. Diatom communities were morphologically characterized, ersity indices calculated and differences between treatments, vegetation type and vegetation characteristics tested. We identified 49 diatom taxa, 8 of which occurred with 1% relative abundance. Bryophyte and lichen vegetation harboured significantly different diatom communities, both in composition and ersity indices. Specifically, Luticola muticopsis was more prevalent in moribund bryophytes and crustose lichens, and Usnea lichens showed lower species richness than other types. While nutrient and water additions did not significantly alter diatom communities, ersity indices and some species showed relationships with vegetation physiological characteristics, notably %N and δ 13 C, suggesting the importance of ambient gradients in water and nutrient availability. Collectively, this work suggests that future conditions favouring the dominance of a particular vegetation type may have a homogenizing effect on the terrestrial diatom communities of East Antarctica.
Antarctic Moss Biflavonoids Show High Antioxidant and Ultraviolet-Screening Activity
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 07-08-2017
DOI: 10.1021/ACS.JNATPROD.7B00085
Abstract: Ceratodon purpureus is a cosmopolitan moss that survives some of the harshest places on Earth: from frozen Antarctica to hot South Australian deserts. In a study on the survival mechanisms of the species, nine compounds were isolated from Australian and Antarctic C. purpureus. This included five biflavonoids, with complete structural elucidation of 1 and 2 reported here for the first time, as well as an additional four known phenolic compounds. Dispersion-corrected DFT calculations suggested a rotational barrier, leading to atropisomerism, resulting in the presence of diastereomers for compound 2. All isolates absorbed strongly in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, e.g., biflavone 1 (UV-A, 315-400 nm), which displayed the strongest radical-scavenging activity, 13% more efficient than the standard rutin p-coumaric acid and trans-ferulic acid showed the highest UV-B (280-315 nm) absorption. The more complex and abundant 1 and 2 presumably have dual roles as both UV-screening and antioxidant compounds. They are strongly bound to Antarctic moss cell walls as well as located inside the cells of moss from both locations. The combined high stability and photoprotective abilities of these isolates may account for the known resilience of this species to UV-B radiation and its survival in some of the toughest locations in the world.
Emerging biological archives can reveal ecological and climatic change in Antarctica
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-09-2022
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.16356
Abstract: Anthropogenic climate change is causing observable changes in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean including increased air and ocean temperatures, glacial melt leading to sea‐level rise and a reduction in salinity, and changes to freshwater water availability on land. These changes impact local Antarctic ecosystems and the Earth's climate system. The Antarctic has experienced significant past environmental change, including cycles of glaciation over the Quaternary Period (the past ~2.6 million years). Understanding Antarctica's paleoecosystems, and the corresponding paleoenvironments and climates that have shaped them, provides insight into present day ecosystem change, and importantly, helps constrain model projections of future change. Biological archives such as extant moss beds and peat profiles, biological proxies in lake and marine sediments, vertebrate animal colonies, and extant terrestrial and benthic marine invertebrates, complement other Antarctic paleoclimate archives by recording the nature and rate of past ecological change, the paleoenvironmental drivers of that change, and constrain current ecosystem and climate models. These archives provide invaluable information about terrestrial ice‐free areas, a key location for Antarctic bio ersity, and the continental margin which is important for understanding ice sheet dynamics. Recent significant advances in analytical techniques (e.g., genomics, biogeochemical analyses) have led to new applications and greater power in elucidating the environmental records contained within biological archives. Paleoecological and paleoclimate discoveries derived from biological archives, and integration with existing data from other paleoclimate data sources, will significantly expand our understanding of past, present, and future ecological change, alongside climate change, in a unique, globally significant region.
Biodiversity redistribution under climate change: Impacts on ecosystems and human well-being.
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Date: 31-03-2017
Abstract: Distributions of Earth's species are changing at accelerating rates, increasingly driven by human-mediated climate change. Such changes are already altering the composition of ecological communities, but beyond conservation of natural systems, how and why does this matter? We review evidence that climate-driven species redistribution at regional to global scales affects ecosystem functioning, human well-being, and the dynamics of climate change itself. Production of natural resources required for food security, patterns of disease transmission, and processes of carbon sequestration are all altered by changes in species distribution. Consideration of these effects of bio ersity redistribution is critical yet lacking in most mitigation and adaptation strategies, including the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.
UV‐B and Drought Stress Influenced Growth and Cellular Compounds of Two Cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabaceae)
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-09-2021
DOI: 10.1111/PHP.13318
Native hemiparasite and light effects on photoprotection and photodamage in a native host
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1071/FP15132
Abstract: Plants infected with hemiparasites often have lowered rates of photosynthesis, which could make them more susceptible to photodamage. However, it is also possible that infected plants increase their photoprotective capacity by changing their pigment content and/or engagement of the xanthophyll cycle. There are no published studies investigating infection effects on host pigment dynamics and how this relates to host susceptibility to photodamage whether in high (HL) or low light (LL). A glasshouse experiment was conducted where Leptospermum myrsinoides Schltdl. either uninfected or infected with Cassytha pubescens R.Br. was grown in HL or LL and pigment content of both host and parasite were assessed. Infection with C. pubescens significantly decreased all foliar pigment concentrations (except chlorophyll b) in L. myrsinoides in both HL and LL. Xanthophyll cycle (violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, zeaxanthin VAZ) and chlorophyll (Chl) pigments decreased in parallel in response to infection, hence, VAZ/Chl of the host was unaffected by C. pubescens in either HL or LL. Pre-dawn and midday de-epoxidation state [(A + Z)/(V + A + Z)] of L. myrsinoides was also unaffected by infection in both HL and LL. Thus, L. myrsinoides infected with C. pubescens maintained similar photoprotective capacity per unit chlorophyll and engagement of the xanthophyll cycle as uninfected plants. Even though midday quantum yield (ΦPSII) of HL plants was affected by infection, pre-dawn maximum quantum yields (Fv/Fm) of hosts were the same as uninfected plants whether in HL or LL. This ability of L. myrsinoides to maintain photoprotective capacity/engagement when infected by C. pubescens thereby preventing photodamage could explain this host’s tolerance to hemiparasite infection.
Desiccation protects two Antarctic mosses from ultraviolet-B induced DNA damage
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2009
DOI: 10.1071/FP08286
Abstract: Antarctic mosses live in a frozen desert, and are characterised by the ability to survive desiccation. They can tolerate multiple desiccation-rehydration events over the summer growing season. As a result of recent ozone depletion, such mosses may also be exposed to ultraviolet-B radiation while desiccated. The ultraviolet-B susceptibility of Antarctic moss species was examined in a laboratory experiment that tested whether desiccated or hydrated mosses accumulated more DNA damage under enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation. Accumulation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and pyrimidine (6–4) pyrimidone dimers was measured in moss s les collected from the field and then exposed to ultraviolet-B radiation in either a desiccated or hydrated state. Two cosmopolitan species, Ceratodon purpureus (Hedw.) Brid. and Bryum pseudotriquetrum (Hedw.) Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb, were protected from DNA damage when desiccated, with accumulation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers reduced by at least 60% relative to hydrated moss. The endemic Schistidium antarctici (Cardot) L.I. Savicz & Smirnova accumulated more DNA damage than the other species and desiccation was not protective in this species. The cosmopolitan species remarkable ability to tolerate high ultraviolet-B exposure, especially in the desiccated state, suggests they may be better able to tolerate continued elevated ultraviolet-B radiation than the endemic species.
Interpretations of gradients in ?13C value in thick photosynthetic tissues of plants with Crassulacean acid metabolism
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-1993
DOI: 10.1007/BF00196621
From ecophysiology to phenomics: some implications of photoprotection and shade-sun acclimation in situ for dynamics of thylakoids in vitro
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 19-12-2012
Abstract: Half a century of research into the physiology and biochemistry of sun–shade acclimation in erse plants has provided reality checks for contemporary understanding of thylakoid membrane dynamics. This paper reviews recent insights into photosynthetic efficiency and photoprotection from studies of two xanthophyll cycles in old shade leaves from the inner canopy of the tropical trees Inga sapindoides and Persea americana (avocado). It then presents new physiological data from avocado on the time frames of the slow coordinated photosynthetic development of sink leaves in sunlight and on the slow renovation of photosynthetic properties in old leaves during sun to shade and shade to sun acclimation. In so doing, it grapples with issues in vivo that seem relevant to our increasingly sophisticated understanding of Δ pH-dependent, xanthophyll-pigment-stabilized non-photochemical quenching in the antenna of PSII in thylakoid membranes in vitro .
Civil disobedience movements such as School Strike for the Climate are raising public awareness of the climate change emergency
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-01-2020
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.14978
Functional transition in the floral receptacle of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera): from thermogenesis to photosynthesis
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2009
DOI: 10.1071/FP08326
Abstract: The receptacle of the sacred lotus is the main source of heat during the thermogenic stage of floral development. Following anthesis, it enlarges, greens and becomes a fully functional photosynthetic organ. We investigated development of photosynthetic traits during this unusual functional transition. There were two distinct phases of pigment accumulation in receptacles. Lutein and photoprotective xanthophyll cycle pigments accumulated first with 64 and 95% of the maximum, respectively, present before anthesis. Lutein epoxide comprised 32% of total carotenoids in yellow receptacles, but declined with development. By contrast, more than 85% of maximum total chlorophyll, β-carotene and Rubisco were produced after anthesis, and were associated with significant increases in maximum electron transport rates (ETR) and photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm). Leaves and mature receptacles had similar Rubisco content and ETRs ( μmol m−2 s−1), although total chlorophyll and total carotenoid contents of leaves were significantly higher than those of green receptacles. Receptacle δ13C before anthesis was similar to that of leaves consistent with leaf photosynthesis being the source of C for these tissues. In contrast, mature receptacles had significantly lower δ13C than leaves, suggesting that 14–24% of C in mature receptacles is the result of refixation of respired CO2.
Roadside Moss Turfs in South East Australia Capture More Particulate Matter Along an Urban Gradient than a Common Native Tree Species
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 24-04-2019
Abstract: Urbanisation largely consists of removing native vegetation. Plants that remain interact with air quality in complex ways. Pollutants can be detrimental to plant growth plants sometimes reduce air quality, yet some species also improve it through phytoremediation. A common pollutant of concern to human health in urban areas is particulate matter (PM), small particles of solid or liquid. Our study compared roadside moss turfs with leaves of a common Australian tree species, Pittosporum undulatum, in their ability to capture PM along an urban gradient. We s led nine sites, three in each of three levels of urbanisation: low, medium, and high according to road type (freeway, suburban road, quiet peri-urban road). In addition, we deployed a PM monitor over a two-week period in one site of each urban level to provide concentrations of PM2.5. We used chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm maximum quantum yield of photosystem II) as a measure of plant stress. We extracted PM in three size fractions using a filtration and washing technique with water and chloroform. Site averages for moss turfs were between 5.60 and 33.00 mg per g dry weight for total PM compared to between 2.15 and 10.24 mg per g dry weight for the tree leaves. We found that moss was more sensitive to increasing urbanisation, both in terms of trapping proportionately more PM than the leaves, and also in terms of photosynthetic stress, with moss Fv/Fm declining by a site average of 40% from low to high urban “class” (0.76 to 0.45). Our study highlights the stressors potentially limiting moss persistence in cities. It also demonstrates its ability to trap PM, a trait that could be useful in urban applications relating to urban greening or air quality.
Friends with benefits: The effects of vegetative shading on plant survival in a green roof environment
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 14-11-2019
Solar ultraviolet radiation and ozone depletion-driven climate change: effects on terrestrial ecosystems
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1039/C4PP90034K
Abstract: In this assessment we summarise advances in our knowledge of how UV-B radiation (280-315 nm), together with other climate change factors, influence terrestrial organisms and ecosystems. We identify key uncertainties and knowledge gaps that limit our ability to fully evaluate the interactive effects of ozone depletion and climate change on these systems. We also evaluate the biological consequences of the way in which stratospheric ozone depletion has contributed to climate change in the Southern Hemisphere. Since the last assessment, several new findings or insights have emerged or been strengthened. These include: (1) the increasing recognition that UV-B radiation has specific regulatory roles in plant growth and development that in turn can have beneficial consequences for plant productivity via effects on plant hardiness, enhanced plant resistance to herbivores and pathogens, and improved quality of agricultural products with subsequent implications for food security (2) UV-B radiation together with UV-A (315-400 nm) and visible (400-700 nm) radiation are significant drivers of decomposition of plant litter in globally important arid and semi-arid ecosystems, such as grasslands and deserts. This occurs through the process of photodegradation, which has implications for nutrient cycling and carbon storage, although considerable uncertainty exists in quantifying its regional and global biogeochemical significance (3) UV radiation can contribute to climate change via its stimulation of volatile organic compounds from plants, plant litter and soils, although the magnitude, rates and spatial patterns of these emissions remain highly uncertain at present. UV-induced release of carbon from plant litter and soils may also contribute to global warming and (4) depletion of ozone in the Southern Hemisphere modifies climate directly via effects on seasonal weather patterns (precipitation and wind) and these in turn have been linked to changes in the growth of plants across the Southern Hemisphere. Such research has broadened our understanding of the linkages that exist between the effects of ozone depletion, UV-B radiation and climate change on terrestrial ecosystems.
Ultraviolet B screening potential is higher in two cosmopolitan moss species than in a co‐occurring Antarctic endemic moss: implications of continuing ozone depletion
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-10-2006
Relative functional and optical absorption cross-sections of PSII and other photosynthetic parameters monitored in situ, at a distance with a time resolution of a few seconds, using a prototype light
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1071/FP17024
Abstract: The prototype light-induced fluorescence transient (LIFT) instrument provides continuous, minimally intrusive, high time resolution (~2 s) assessment of photosynthetic performance in terrestrial plants from up to 2 m. It induces a chlorophyll fluorescence transient by a series of short flashes in a saturation sequence (180 ~1μs flashlets in μs) to achieve near-full reduction of the primary acceptor QA, followed by a relaxation sequence (RQA 90 flashlets at exponentially increasing intervals over ~30 ms) to observe kinetics of QA re-oxidation. When fitted by the fast repetition rate (FRR) model (Kolber et al. 1998) the QA flash of LIFT/FRR gives smaller values for FmQA from dark adapted leaves than FmPAM from pulse litude modulated (PAM) assays. The ratio FmQA/FmPAM resembles the ratio of fluorescence yield at the J/P phases of the classical O-J-I-P transient and we conclude that the difference simply is due to the levels of PQ pool reduction induced by the two techniques. In a strong PAM-analogous WL pulse in the dark monitored by the QA flash of LIFT/FRR φPSIIWL ≈ φPSIIPAM. The QA flash also tracks PQ pool reduction as well as the associated responses of ETR QA → PQ and PQ → PSI, the relative functional (σPSII) and optical absorption (aPSII) cross-sections of PSII in situ with a time resolution of ~2 s as they relax after the pulse. It is impractical to deliver strong WL pulses at a distance in the field but a longer PQ flash from LIFT/FRR also achieves full reduction of PQ pool and delivers φPSIIPQ ≈ φPSIIPAM to obtain PAM-equivalent estimates of ETR and NPQ at a distance. In situ values of σPSII and aPSII from the QA flash with smaller antenna barley (chlorina-f2) and Arabidopsis mutants (asLhcb2–12, ch1–3 Lhcb5) are proportionally similar to those previously reported from in vitro assays. These direct measurements are further validated by changes in antenna size in response to growth irradiance. We illustrate how the QA flash facilitates our understanding of photosynthetic regulation during sun flecks in natural environments at a distance, with a time resolution of a few seconds.
Linkages between stratospheric ozone, UV radiation and climate change and their implications for terrestrial ecosystems.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-2019
DOI: 10.1039/C8PP90061B
Abstract: Exposure of plants and animals to ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B 280-315 nm) is modified by stratospheric ozone dynamics and climate change. Even though stabilisation and projected recovery of stratospheric ozone is expected to curtail future increases in UV-B radiation at the Earth's surface, on-going changes in climate are increasingly exposing plants and animals to novel combinations of UV-B radiation and other climate change factors (e.g., ultraviolet-A and visible radiation, water availability, temperature and elevated carbon dioxide). Climate change is also shifting vegetation cover, geographic ranges of species, and seasonal timing of development, which further modifies exposure to UV-B radiation. Since our last assessment, there has been increased understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which plants perceive UV-B radiation, eliciting changes in growth, development and tolerances of abiotic and biotic factors. However, major questions remain on how UV-B radiation is interacting with other climate change factors to modify the production and quality of crops, as well as important ecosystem processes such as plant and animal competition, pest-pathogen interactions, and the decomposition of dead plant matter (litter). In addition, stratospheric ozone depletion is directly contributing to climate change in the southern hemisphere, such that terrestrial ecosystems in this region are being exposed to altered patterns of precipitation, temperature and fire regimes as well as UV-B radiation. These ozone-driven changes in climate have been implicated in both increases and reductions in the growth, survival and reproduction of plants and animals in Antarctica, South America and New Zealand. In this assessment, we summarise advances in our knowledge of these and other linkages and effects, and identify uncertainties and knowledge gaps that limit our ability to fully evaluate the ecological consequences of these environmental changes on terrestrial ecosystems.
Bryophyte species composition over moisture gradients in the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica: Development of a baseline for monitoring climate change impacts
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 09-2012
Impact of hydrocarbons from a diesel fuel on the germination and early growth of subantarctic plants
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1039/C4EM00680A
Abstract: Development of early life stages (root and shoot growth for up to 28 days) were generally a more sensitive indicator of exposure effects than germination.
Combating ecosystem collapse from the tropics to the Antarctic
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-02-2021
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.15539
Abstract: Globally, collapse of ecosystems—potentially irreversible change to ecosystem structure, composition and function—imperils bio ersity, human health and well‐being. We examine the current state and recent trajectories of 19 ecosystems, spanning 58° of latitude across 7.7 M km 2 , from Australia's coral reefs to terrestrial Antarctica. Pressures from global climate change and regional human impacts, occurring as chronic ‘presses’ and/or acute ‘pulses’, drive ecosystem collapse. Ecosystem responses to 5–17 pressures were categorised as four collapse profiles—abrupt, smooth, stepped and fluctuating. The manifestation of widespread ecosystem collapse is a stark warning of the necessity to take action. We present a three‐step assessment and management framework (3As Pathway Awareness , Anticipation and Action ) to aid strategic and effective mitigation to alleviate further degradation to help secure our future.
Phylloxera-infested grapevines have reduced chlorophyll and increased photoprotective pigment content - Can leaf pigment composition aid pest detection?
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2006
DOI: 10.1071/FP05315
Abstract: Grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch) is a root-feeding pest of grapevines. In Australia, phylloxera-infested vineyards are subjected to quarantine restrictions and early detection remains vital for the timely implementation of post-outbreak quarantine protocols. Current detection methods rely on time-consuming ground surveying, which involves detailed examination of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) root systems. Leaf pigment composition is often a sensitive indicator of plant stress. The increasing popularity of remote sensing systems, which exploit those changes in pigments observed with plant stress, offers a real possibility for the development of a phylloxera-specific remote detection system. Our objective was to investigate changes in grapevine leaf pigments associated with phylloxera infestation and to relate any changes to appropriate reflectance indices. This was achieved with a glasshouse experiment in which the responses of two vine cultivars (Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz) to phylloxera infestation were compared with their responses to water and nitrogen deficiencies. The responses of leaf pigments to phylloxera infestation were also investigated in Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines grown under field conditions. A reduction in the leaf chlorophyll content and an increase in photoprotective pigment concentrations were observed in leaves of phylloxera-infested grapevines compared with uninfested vines. The photochemical reflectance index (PRI) was found to be most closely associated with the ratio of total carotenoid to chlorophyll in these vines.
Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-02-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S43630-022-00176-5
Abstract: The Environmental Effects Assessment Panel of the Montreal Protocol under the United Nations Environment Programme evaluates effects on the environment and human health that arise from changes in the stratospheric ozone layer and concomitant variations in ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the Earth’s surface. The current update is based on scientific advances that have accumulated since our last assessment (Photochem and Photobiol Sci 20(1):1–67, 2021). We also discuss how climate change affects stratospheric ozone depletion and ultraviolet radiation, and how stratospheric ozone depletion affects climate change. The resulting interlinking effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and climate change are assessed in terms of air quality, carbon sinks, ecosystems, human health, and natural and synthetic materials. We further highlight potential impacts on the biosphere from extreme climate events that are occurring with increasing frequency as a consequence of climate change. These and other interactive effects are examined with respect to the benefits that the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments are providing to life on Earth by controlling the production of various substances that contribute to both stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change.
High tolerance of repeated heatwaves in Australian native plants
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-01-2019
DOI: 10.1111/AEC.12700
Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change: progress report, 2011
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2012
DOI: 10.1039/C1PP90033A
Abstract: The parties to the Montreal Protocol are informed by three panels of experts. One of these is the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP), which deals with two focal issues. The first focus is the effects of increased UV radiation on human health, animals, plants, biogeochemistry, air quality, and materials. The second focus is on interactions between UV radiation and global climate change and how these may affect humans and the environment. When considering the effects of climate change, it has become clear that processes resulting in changes in stratospheric ozone are more complex than believed previously. As a result of this, human health and environmental problems will be longer-lasting and more regionally variable. Like the other panels, the EEAP produces a detailed report every four years the most recent was published in 2010 (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2011, 10, 173-300). In the years in between, the EEAP produces less detailed and shorter progress reports, which highlight and assess the significance of developments in key areas of importance to the parties. The next full quadrennial report will be published in 2014-2015.
Accumulation of DNA damage in Antarctic mosses: correlations with ultraviolet-B radiation, temperature and turf water content vary among species
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-2009
Responses of plants in polar regions to UVB exposure: a meta‐analysis
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-10-2009
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University College London
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Kings College London Department Of Education And Professional Studies
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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