The state of the environment and the passage of time are reflected in the changing colours of the plants around us. Chlorophyll, the green pigment of leaves, captures the energy of sunlight that drives photosynthesis and powers the biosphere. The disappearance of chlorophyll from autumn leaves reveals the yellows and oranges of another family of plant pigments, the carotenoids. Carotenoids protect plants from stresses and are also responsible for the colours of many flowers and fruits. In autumn, the leaves of species such as maples make red and purple anthocyanins, which are members of a diverse family of pigments and defence chemicals. Plants use pigments to send signals to pollinators, dispersers and predators, among which are humans, who have a special physiological and psychological responsiveness to the plant chemistry that colours our world.
This leaf: the nature, origins and purposes of leaf colours
Invasive animals and their effects on British freshwater ecosystems
The introduction of non-native species presents one of the most significant threats facing biodiversity worldwide. Freshwater ecosystems are particularly affected, due to the widespread introduction of species to rivers and lakes for aquaculture and fishing. This article describes non-native, freshwater animals that are present and invasive in Britain, as well as those which are likely to become established over the coming years. The effects of these animals on freshwater ecosystems are explained, and problems that are faced when attempting to manage invasive species are highlighted. Additionally, the effects of climate change and other stressors on the future distribution of non-native species are discussed.
Predicting contributions by the last glaciers of Eryri (Snowdonia) to Younger Dryas carbon cycling
The concept of glaciers as active ecosystems is strongly supported by evidence of significant contributions to global carbon and macronutrient cycles by extant glaciers. Regrettably, the roles of glacial ecosystems in past glaciations are generally overlooked. Therefore we reconstructed glacial habitats and carbon fluxes on the last glaciers of north Wales at their maximum extent during the Younger Dryas chronozone glaciation. Net uptake of 30-180 kg C of CO2 and emissions of 265-1591 g C CH4 per annum are estimated for the palaeoglaciers. This emphasises the hitherto unexplored potential for the last Welsh glaciers as actors in biogeochemical cycles; however our understanding could be extended by linking our knowledge of contemporary glacial ecosystems with analyses of sedimentary biomarkers and thermomechanical models of Devensian ice mass dynamics.
The role of stem cells in cardiac tissue regeneration: evaluating treatments and identifying risk
This article evaluates the potential of a range of stem cells in cardiac tissue regeneration following a heart attack. Following an initial review of relevant research, some of the main biological mechanisms involved in cardiac tissue regeneration are presented, including: the role of transcription factors, such as oxytocin and c-kit and paracrine transcription factors; studies on zebra fish that display mechanisms such as the regnerative role of cardionogen 1, 2- and 3- in reversing the effect of induced cardiac phenotypes that normally regulate heart development; delivery and engraftment mechanisms, including viral and plasmid vectors, electrical stimulation and nantoechnology. The results of in vitro and in vivo experiments are reported that have shown the clinical potential of stem cells as well as their immunological and tumorgenic risks. At the time of writing (2012), while the clinical evidence is limited, complex therapeutic models are proposed for future development in the field.
Are small peptides a nutrition source for plant and micro-organisms in the maritime Antarctic?
Nitrogen (N) is the most important element that controls plant growth. During the past twenty years, our understanding of which N species are important for plant growth has developed significantly but it is still thought that large nitrogenous molecules need to be broken down into their constituent amino acids to be available for plant and microbial growth. This paper builds on our understanding of this process and suggests that small peptides are equally important for microbial nutrition and that soil microbes outcompete plants for low molecular weight N compounds in maritime Antarctic soil.
Worm Research Project
Nod y prosiect hwn oedd deall gwasgariad y parasit llyngyr y rwmen yng Nghymru. Gweithiodd gwyddonwyr o IBERS, Prifysgol Aberystwyth, gydag aelodau CFfI ar draws Cymru i ddarganfod ym mha ffermydd yr oedd llyngyr y rwmen yn bresennol.
Cyflwyniad i Ecoleg Afiechydon
Mae afiechydon yn medru creu pwysau detholus cryf ar amryw o rywogaethau, gan gynnwys anifeiliaid gwyllt a domestig. Yn y cyflwyniad hwn i faes ecoleg afiechydon, mae Dr Gethin Thomas o Brifysgol Abertawe yn canolbwyntio ar y berthynas rhwng moch daear, gwartheg a'r diciau i esbonio sut mae'r rhyngweithiad rhwng anifeiliaid a'u pathogenau yn faes diddorol a cyfoes.
Ensuring future availability of ruminant products of the highest quality
Government statistics illustrate that by 2050 there will be a shortage of meat and milk due to globalpopulationgrowth and the increaseddemand from the Far East. Ensuring food security in terms of availability and nutritionalsafety is, therefore, important for our future existence. Central to achieving milk and meat security are ruminants. Ruminants have a four chambered stomach composed of the reticulum, rumen, abomasum and omasum with microbial fermentation of forage occurring in the rumen. Rumen microbial fermentation is largely responsible for animal production, ruminant product quality and much of greenhouse gas emissions. Indeed, when forage reaches the rumen, the rumen microbes degrade the plant cell wall and subsequently metabolise plant cell content, including plant amino acids and proteins which they convert into proteins that they can utilise. In order to ensure availability of milk and meat of the best possible quality (with the least greenhouse gas emissions) for the future, we must increase our understanding of the plant-microbe interactome using the principles of systems biology and 'omic' technology.
Biodiversity Workshops
Resources created from biodiversity workshops held with AS and A level students. The aim of the workshops was to provide students with experience of electrophoresis, PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) techniques and the ways in which they are applied.
Laboratory Experiments and Techniques
A series of short film clips featuring Dr Heledd Iago demonstrating the various important steps in laboratory experiments and techniques across the Biological Sciences.