Pollen and dinoflagellate cyst counts on sediment core M72/5_628-1 (MD72/5-25-GC1) from the Black Sea

High-resolution pollen and dinoflagellate cyst records from sediment core M72/5-25-GC1 were used to reconstruct vegetation dynamics in northern Anatolia and surface conditions of the Black Sea between 64 and 20 ka BP. During this period, the dominance of Artemisia in the pollen record indicates a steppe landscape and arid climate conditions. However, the concomitant presence of temperate arboreal pollen suggests the existence of glacial refugia in northern Anatolia. Long-term glacial vegetation dynamics reveal two major arid phases ~64-55 and 40-32 ka BP, and two major humid phases ~54-45 and 28-20 ka BP, correlating with higher and lower summer insolation, respectively. Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) cycles are clearly indicated by the 25-GC1 pollen record. Greenland interstadials are characterized by a marked increase in temperate tree pollen, indicating a spread of forests due to warm/wet conditions in northern Anatolia, whereas Greenland stadials reveal cold and arid conditions as indicated by spread of xerophytic biomes. There is evidence for a phase lag of ~500 to 1500 yr between initial warming and forest expansion, possibly due to successive changes in atmospheric circulation in the North Atlantic sector. The dominance of Pyxidinopsis psilata and Spiniferites cruciformis in the dinocyst record indicates brackish Black Sea conditions during the entire glacial period. The decrease of marine indicators (marine dinocysts, acritarchs) at ~54 ka BP and increase of freshwater algae (Pediastrum, Botryococcus) from 32 to 25 ka BP reveals freshening of the Black Sea surface water. This freshening is possibly related to humid phases in the region, to connection between Caspian Sea and Black Sea, to seasonal freshening by floating ice, and/or to closer position of river mouths due to low sea level. In the southern Black Sea, Greenland interstadials are clearly indicated by high dinocyst concentrations and calcium carbonate content, as a result of an increase in primary productivity. Heinrich events show a similar impact on the environment in the northern Anatolia/Black Sea region as Greenland stadials.

Pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs counting data from Borsteler Moor (Germany)

In order to reconstruct regional vegetation changes and local conditions during the fen-bog transition in the Borsteler Moor (northwestern Germany), a sediment core covering the period between 7.1 and 4.5 cal kyrs BP was palynologically in vestigated. The pollen diagram demonstrates the dominance of oak forests and a gradual replacement of trees by raised bog vegetation with the wetter conditions in the Late Atlantic. At ~ 6 cal kyrs BP, the non-pollen palynomorphs (NPP) demonstrate the succession from mesotrophic conditions, clearly indicated by a number of fungal spore types, to oligotrophic conditions, indicated by Sphagnum spores, Bryophytomyces sphagni, and testate amoebae Amphitrema, Assulina and Arcella, etc. Four relatively dry phases during the transition from fen to bog are clearly indicated by the dominance of Calluna and associated fungi as well as by the increase of microcharcoal. Several new NPP types are described and known NPP types are identified. All NPP are discussed in the context of their palaeoecological indicator values.

Pollen profile and age determination for sediment core M72/5_619-1 (22-GC3)

Sediments from the Black Sea, a region historically dominated by forests and steppe landscapes, are a valuable source of detailed information on the changes in regional terrestrial and aquatic environments at decadal to millennial scales. Here we present multi-proxy environmental records (pollen, dinoflagellate cysts, Ca, Ti and oxygen isotope data) from the uppermost 305 cm of the core 22-GC3 (42°13.53' N, 36°29.55' E) collected from a water depth of 838 m in the southern part of the Black Sea in 2007. The records span the last ~ 18 kyr (all ages are given in cal kyr BP). The pollen data reveal the dominance of the Artemisia-steppe in the region, suggesting rather dry/cold environments ~ 18-14.5 kyr BP. Warming/humidity increase during melt-water pulses (~ 16.1-14.5 kyr BP), indicated by d18O records from the 22-GC3 core sediment and from the Sofular Cave stalagmite, is expressed in more negative d13C values from the Sofular Cave, usually interpreted as the spreading of C3 plants. The records representing the interstadial complex (~ 14.5-12.9 kyr BP) show an increase in temperature and moisture, indicated by forest development, increased primary productivity and reduced surface run-off, whereas the switch from primary terrigenous to primary authigenic Ca origin occurs ~ 500 yr later. The Younger Dryas cooling is clearly demonstrated by more negative d13C values from the Sofular Cave and a reduction of pines. The early Holocene (11.7-8.5 kyr BP) interval reveals relatively dry conditions compared to the mostly moist and warm middle Holocene (8.5-5 kyr BP), which is characterized by the establishment of the species-rich warm mixed and temperate deciduous forests in the low elevation belt, temperate deciduous beech-hornbeam forests in the middle and cool conifer forest in upper mountain belt. The border between the early and middle Holocene in the vegetation records coincides with the opening of the Mediterranean corridor at ~ 8.3 kyr BP, as indicated by a marked change in the dinocyst assemblages and in the sediment lithology. Changes in the pollen assemblages indicate a reduction in forest cover after ~ 5 kyr BP, which was likely caused by increased anthropogenic pressure on the regional vegetation.

Pollen from 50 lake surface samples in Brandenburg, Germany, in 2009

Past changes in plant and landscape diversity can be evaluated through pollen analysis, however, pollen based diversity indexes are potentially biased by differential pollen production and deposition. Studies examining the relationship between pollen and landscape diversity are therefore needed. The aim of this study is to evaluate how different pollen based indexes capture aspects of landscape diversity. Pollen counts were obtained from surface samples of 50 small to medium sized lakes in Brandenburg (Northeast Germany) and compiled into two sets, with one containing all pollen counts from terrestrial plants and the second restricted to wind-pollinated taxa. Both sets were adjusted for the pollen production/dispersal bias using the REVEALS model. A high resolution biotope map was used to extract the density of total biotopes and different biotopes per area as parameters describing landscape diversity. In addition tree species diversity was obtained from forest inventory data. The Shannon index and the number of taxa in a sample of 10 pollen grains are highly correlated and provide a useful measure of pollen type diversity which corresponds best to landscape diversity within one km of the lake and the proportion of non-forested area within seven km. Adjustments of the pollen production/dispersal bias only slightly improve the relationships between pollen diversity and landscape diversity for the restricted dataset as well as for the forest inventory data and corresponding pollen types. Using rarefaction analysis, we propose the following convention: pollen type diversity is represented by the number of types in a small sample (low count e.g. 10), pollen type richness is the number of types in a large sample (high count e.g. 500) and pollen sample evenness is characterized by the ratio of the two. Synthesis. Pollen type diversity is a robust index that captures vegetation structure and landscape diversity. It is ideally suited for between site comparisons as it does not require high pollen counts. In concert with pollen type richness and evenness, it helps evaluating the effect of climate change and human land use on vegetation structure on long timescales.

Toxicidade de extratos vegetais ao percevejo bronzeado do eucalipto Thaumastocoris peregrinus (hemiptera: heteroptera: thaumastocoridae) e organismos não-alvo

Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae ) is an insect from Australia which is causing severe damage to eucalyptus crops around the world. When feeding from the leaves sap, it causes bronzening, and in extreme cases, may lead to the tree death. Control methods have been studied and the most promising so far is the egg parasitoid Cleruchoides noackae (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae). Alternative products from plants with insecticidal properties could also be a viable option, and they might even be used concomitantly with C. noackae, aiming for a most effective control, but still safe for the environment. Thus, the objective of this work was to verify the action of 5% aqueous plant extracts of Matricaria chamomilla, Echinodorus grandiflorus, Punica granatum, Maytenus ilicifolia a n d Origanum majorana on T. peregrinus. In addition, we aimed to study the extracts potential toxicity to C. noackae and Gallus domesticus L., since the plant compounds might have negative effect upon the non-target organisms. At first, HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) was used to verify which phenolic compounds would be found in the plant extracts. These were tested on bronze bug adults, in confinement test (to verify the insecticidal action of the extracts) and free-choice test (to verify the repellency). The extracts that showed better results were selected for further tests with non-target organisms. Regarding C. noackae, pre-parasitism and post-parasitism, confinement and free-choice tests were performed to verify if the extracts would affect the host-choosing by the female or the development of the immature stages of the parasitoid. To verify if the extracts would be toxic to G. domesticus, the plant extracts were added to young birds feed for five days. Parameters such as weight gain, food intake, quantification of serum enzymes and histopathological analysis were carried out. HPLC analysis detected gallic, ferulic, vanillic, caffeic and cumaric acid in the extracts samples. All plant extracts tested reduced T. peregrinus survival, but E. grandiflorus, Matricaria chamomilla Maytenus ilicifolia had also a repellent effect, and were tested on the non-target organisms. None of these extracts affected neither the host choice by C. noackae nor adult emergency, when compared to the control group. In addition, the extracts did not cause alterations in any of the studied parameters. Thus, we verified that E. grandiflorus, Matricaria chamomilla and Maytenus ilicifolia have potential to be used to control T. peregrinus and are safe to C. noackae and G. domesticus.

Micoencapsulation of bioactive plant extracts: a tool to functionalize cottage cheeses

Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel) and Matricaria recutita L. (chamomile) are two examples of plants with reported antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, which can be related with their composition in phenolic compounds [1,2]. Furthermore, according to previous results of our research group, the direct incorporation of the aqueous extracts showed capacity to maintain the nutritional properties of the cottage cheeses, up to 7 days of storage, while improving the antioxidant potential. However, after 14 days, a decrease in the antioxidant properties was observed [1,2], which can be related with factors such as light, moisture, temperature and pH, that can cause bioactive compounds degradation. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to prepare microcapsules with the aqueous extracts of fennel and chamomile for incorporation in cottage cheese samples, in order to protect the bioactive molecules present in the extracts, such as phenolic compounds, and prevent the decrease of the antioxidant activity observed after the 14 days period. The microspheres were prepared using an atomization/coagulation technique. Sodium alginate was used as the matrix material to produce the microspheres that were characterized through optical microscopy (OM), during and after atomization, for inspecting morphology. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) was determined by HPLC-DAD by an indirect method by analysing the coagulation solution. FTIR was also used to attest the presence of the extract inside of the alginate matrix. These microencapsulated extracts were incorporated in cottage cheese samples that were further characterized in terms of nutritional properties and antioxidant potential right after incorporation, and after 7 and 14 days of storage at 4•c. The EE was estimated as -100% and the FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of the extracts inside the microspheres. The results showed that the incorporation of the microencapsulated extracts did not cause changes in the nutritional value of cottage cheeses (through a comparison with control samples without extracts). The predominant fatty acids were palmitic (C16:0) and oleic (CI8:0) acids. The order of abundance of fatty acids was as follows: saturated fatty acids (SF A)> monounsaturatcd fatty acids (MUF A)> polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUF A). Regarding free sugars, lactose was the only sugar identified and quantified in all samples. Regarding the antioxidant activity, the samples functionalized with the microencapsulated extracts showed a higher preservation of this property even after the 7th day of storage. Overall, the incorporation of the protected plant extracts in dairy foods can be a strategy to provide health benefits to consumers.

Contribution of plant phytochemicals to organic homeostasis: focus on the aging process and opportunistic infections

Aging process is conceived as a normal stage during human life cycle, but it is also considered a hot topic among scientists and medical community. Alarming rates of premature aging and oxidative stress-related diseases have increasingly affect human individuals. Stress, pollution and exposition to chemical substances are considered the main triggering factors for those conditions; in addition, they also suppress the immune system and, therefore, improve organic vulnerability and occurrence of opportunistic infections [I]. Apart from the associated morbidity and mortality, the increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance improve the severity of the clinical conditions [2]. Botanical preparations possess a multitude of bioactive properties, namely acting as antimicrobials, antioxidants, and homeostasis modulators. Thus, upcoming alternatives, mainly based in plant phytochemicals, are necessary to improve the wellbeing as also life expectancy of individuals. The present study aims to evaluate and to compare both antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of plant extracts rich in phenolic compounds. Among the tested plants, Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) evidenced the most pronounced free radicals scavenging and antimicrobial effects, followed by Salvia officina/is L. (sage), Thymus vulgaris L. (thyme) and Origanum vulgare L. (oregano). Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (blue gum) and Juglans regia L. (walnut) also showed a high effect, while Pterospartum tridentatum (L.) Willk. (carqueja) and Rubus ulmifolius Schott (elm leaf blackberry) displayed moderate effects, and lastly, Tabebuia impetigirwsa (Mart. ex DC) Standley (pau d'arco), Foeniculum vulgare Miller (fennel), Rosa canina L. (rose hips) and Matricaria recutita L. (chamomile) gave only slight effects. In general, the most pronounced bioactivities were observed in the plant preparations (infusion>decoction>hydromethanolic extract) with higher levels of phenolic compounds (both flavonoids and phenolic acids). The observed synergisms between the phenolic compounds present in the extracts highlight the use of phytochemicals as future health promoters. However, further studies are necessary to understand the effective mode of action of individual phenolic constituents as also the existence of polyvalence relationships between them.