Fixed-Domain Asymptotics for Variograms Using Subsampling

The variogram is a measure of the local variation in space of a random field. For large geostatistical data sets, the traditional empirical variogram may be hard to compute. This article presents, for processes with a fixed domain, the effect of using a subsample of the available data on the performance of the empirical variogram. The motivation of this work, apart from the saving on computation, is to study how dense the observations need to be in the bounded sampling region to obtain most of the information we would get from continuous observations in the fixed domain.     

Compensatory responses of an arid land crucifer, Chorispora tenella (Brassicaceae), to experimental flower removal

We studied experimentally the compensatory ability of an annual arid land crucifer, Chorispora tenella, with respect to density of conspecifics. Chorispora tenella was able to compensate for flower losses by modulating the rates of abortion of flowers, fruits and ovules. In addition, plants growing at lower density compensated more intensely against losses than plants growing at high density. Nevertheless, as a consequence of compensation, plants in all treatments produced the same quantity of seeds (equal compensation). These results suggest that, from flower production to fruit and ovule maturation, C. tenella maintained a number of ovules that exceeded those that it could eventually mature. This could help to colonize arid environments successfully, in which resources are typically scarce and spatio-temporally unpredictable.     

Silicon Deficiency Induces Alkaline Phosphatase Enzyme Activity in Cultures of Four Marine Diatoms

Alkaline phosphatase (AP) was detected using ELF-97® in silicon-starved Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries cells; thus, we tested two, alternative hypotheses: Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries has a high phosphate demand, showing signs of phosphate deficiency even when concentrations of orthophosphate are high, or silicate deficiency can stimulate the AP enzyme in this species. We also studied the effect of silicon deficiency on AP in three other common marine diatoms: Thalassiosira pseudonana, Nitzschia pusilla, and Nitschia closterium. Each of the species tested showed a different pattern of AP regulation. AP levels, however, increased in the four diatoms as a result of silicon deficiency, suggesting that AP may be involved in a variety of intracellular processes related to silicon deficiency. Additionally, the results of this study indicate that AP could be stimulated by stressors other than phosphate deficiency, such as silicon deficiency; therefore, it should be used cautiously as an indicator of phosphate limitation.     

Methoxychlor bioremediation by defined consortium of environmental Streptomyces strains

Methoxychlor is an organochlorine pesticide used worldwide against several insect pests, resulting in human exposure. This pesticide mimics endocrine hormone functions, interfering with normal endocrine activity in humans and wildlife. For this reason, it is imperative to develop methods to remove this pesticide from the environment, and though, bioremediation using microorganisms results as an excellent strategy. Five Streptomyces spp. strains previously isolated from organochlorine-polluted sites and capable to grow and remove methoxychlor were combined as different mixed cultures to increase methoxychlor removal. From the 39 consortia tested, one consortium (Streptomyces spp. A6, A12, A14, M7) was selected because of its high pesticide removal and specific dechlorinase activity to be assayed on slurry and soil systems. This consortium showed higher biomass values (8.3 × 10⁶ ± 5.7 × 10⁵ CFU mL^?1) and methoxychlor removal (56.2 ± 2.3 %) on enriched slurry than in non-enriched slurry (7.3 × 10⁵ ± 1.2 × 10⁵ CFU mL^?1 and 45.6 ± 7.4 % of pesticide removal). In soil systems, Streptomyces consortium showed higher growth (1.0 × 10¹¹ ± 5.0 × 10¹⁰ CFU g^?1) than in enriched slurry, although differences in methoxychlor removal between both culture conditions were not statistically significant. Therefore, the selected Streptomyces consortium may be suitable for the development of in situ (soil) and ex situ (slurry bioreactor) bioremediation methods because of their potential to remove methoxychlor from different systems.