Reductive acetogenesis by homoacetogens represents an alternative pathway to methanogenesis to remove metabolic hydrogen during rumen fermentation. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of homoacetogen in the rumens of pasture-fed roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) and sika deer (Cervus nippon) fed either oak-leaf-based (tannin-rich, 100 mg/kg dried matter), corn-stover-based, or corn-silage...

Oaks (Quercus, Fagaceae) are the dominant tree genus of North America in species number and biomass, and Mexico is a global center of oak diversity. Understanding the origins of oak diversity is key to understanding biodiversity of northern temperate forests. A phylogenetic study of biogeography, niche evolution and diversification patterns in Quercus was performed using 300 samples, 146 specie...

Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa Michx.) and chinquapin oak (Q. muehlenbergii Engl.) leaves were exposed to high temperatures at various photosynthetic photon flux densities under laboratory conditions to determine if species-specific responses to these factors were consistent with the distribution of these oaks in gallery forests in the tallgrass prairies of northeastern Kansas, USA. Measurements o...

Pine-oak ecosystems are globally distributed even though differences in anatomy and leaf habit between many co-occurring oaks and pines suggest different strategies for resource use, efficiency and stomatal behavior. The New Jersey Pinelands contain sandy soils with low water- and nutrient-holding capacity providing an opportunity to examine trade-offs in resource uptake and efficiency. Therefo...

Fire is a major disturbance factor influencing the formation and maintenance of oak (Quercus)-dominated forests of eastern North America. Fire suppression practices have resulted in declining oak dominance, and caused the loss of oak seedlings due to poor light regimes and vegetative competition. Both wildfires and prescribed fires can alter forest stand composition and influence succession. Fi...

Growth-chamber studies were conducted to examine the ability of seven vegetable crops-‘Blue Lake’ bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), ‘Detroit Dark Red’ beet (Beta vulgaris L.), ‘Burgundy’ okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (Moench), ‘Little Marvel’ pea (Pisum sativum L.), ‘California Wonder’ bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), ‘New Zealand’ spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), and ‘Beefsteak’ tomato (Lycopersico...

The focus of the present study is the estimation of leaf area index (LAI) and the assessment of allometric equations for predicting the leaf area of Lebanon oaks (Quercus libani Oliv.) in Iran’s northern Zagros forests. To that end, 50 oak trees were randomly selected and their biophysical parameters were measured. Then, on the basis of destructive sampling of the oak trees, their specific leaf...

quapin oak (Q. muehlenbergii Engl.) leaves were exposed to high temperatures at various photosynthetic photon flux densities under laboratory conditions to determine if species-specific responses to these factors were consistent with the distribution of these oaks in gallery forests in the tallgrass prairies of northeastern Kansas, USA. Measurements of the ratio of chlorophyll fluorescence decr...

From the perspective of a specialist herbivore, how homogenous are individual tree crowns as patches of habitat? We partitioned variation in physical and chemical host leaf traits and in the abundance and performance of a specialist oak leaf miner, Tischeria ekebladella , into variation at different hierarchical levels. For the phenolic contents of the leaves, we examined variation among oak st...

The dry deposition to several leafy vegetables (endive, head lettuce, red oak leaf lettuce, spinach) was studied. Particles with attached Cs were used for testing the particulate deposition, gaseous elemental I was the tracer for gas deposition. The particle deposition was the highest for rough and structured leafs as red oak leaf lettuce has, but as well for spinach with many open stomata. The...