CABI

About: CABI is a nonprofit organization based out in Wallingford, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Introduced species. The organization has 789 authors who have published 1759 publications receiving 73843 citations. The organization is also known as: Centre for Biosciences and Agriculture International.

Consumption and release of nitrogen by the harvester termite Anacanthotermes ubachi navas in the northern Negev desert, Israel

Abstract: The harvester termite, Anacanthotermes ubachi Navas (Hodotermitidea) occurs throughout the desert regions of Israel. This species nests in subsurface galleries where dead plant material, the termite's main food source, and feces are stored. We measured potential net nitrogen (N) mineralization and nitrification and soil respiration in 7-day laboratory incubations of plant litter at different stages of termite processing, termite feces and termite gallery soil (carton) following wetting. Our objectives were (1) to characterize the amount of potential N release from termite-affected plant and soil materials, (2) to evaluate the potential for leaching of N from the galleries and (3) to make a preliminary evaluation of the importance of termites to the carbon (C) and N cycles of the Negev desert. Two distinct phases were seen in the dynamics of inorganic N during the 7 day incubations: (1) release of N following wetting and (2) immobilization of N from day 1 to day 7 of the incubation. The percent of inorganic N produced in 1 day that disappeared by day 7 was significantly higher in the surface and gallery litter in comparison to the feces and the carton. High levels of nitrate (NO3−: 87.5 g N kg−1) compared to ammonium (NH4+: 4.5 g N kg−1) release from the surface and gallery litter samples suggest that there is a potential for leaching of NO3− from the galleries to surrounding environments. Gallery litter, i.e. litter that had been processed by termites, released significantly less inorganic N and had a higher C:N ratio than surface litter that had not been affected by termite activity. These results suggest that termites actively remove N for their own nutrition, leaving behind litter of lower quality than was produced by plants. Comparison of the C:N ratios of litter and feces suggest that approximately 80% of the C and 65% of the N in the surface and the gallery litter was decomposed and released in the transformation to feces. Given mean annual biomass production in the study site (740 kg ha−1 with 296 kg C ha−1 and 6.6 kg N ha−1), this decomposition represents a release of 237 kg C ha−1 and 4.3 kg N ha−1, supporting the idea that termites function as keystone species in desert ecosystems.

Quantifying the social and economic benefits of the biological control of invasive alien plants in natural ecosystems.

Abstract: Invasive alien plants reduce ecosystem service delivery, resulting in environmental, economic and social costs. Here we review the returns on investment from biological control of alien plants that invade natural ecosystems. Quantifying the economic benefits of biological control requires estimates of the reductions in ecosystem goods and services arising from invasion. It also requires post-release monitoring to assess whether biological control can restore them, and conversion of these estimates to monetary values, which has seldom been done. Past studies, mainly from Australia and South Africa, indicate that biological control delivers positive and substantial returns on investment, with benefit:cost ratios ranging from 8:1 to over 3000:1. Recent studies are rare, but they confirm that successful biological control delivers attractive returns on investment, which increase over time as the value of avoided impacts accumulates.

Unusual or interesting records of plant pathogenic Oomycetes

Abstract: The following records from the UK are discussed: Peronospora grisea on Hebe gauntlettii (forming oospores), H. elliptica x pimelioides cv. Carl Teschner and H. hulkeana; Peronospora fragariae on Potentilla recta; Peronospora hariotii on Buddleia davidii cv. Pink Delight and B. globosa; Pythium tracheiphilum on Lactuca sativa. The following records from other countries are discussed: Phytophthora erythroseptica var. erythroseptica on Cymbidium sp. in Western Australia; Phytophthora palmivora on Zizyphus jujuba in Taiwan (a new record on this host); Plasmopara halstedii on Arctotis sp. in New Zealand (a new record of this species for Australasia).