Ecological world

     The wood-inhabiting fungi as well as their colonization and damaging of wood are influenced by various physical/chemical and biological influences .      Physical/chemical factors comprise nutrients, water, air, temperature, pH value, light, and the force of gravity. Biological influences arise because of reciprocal effects between different organisms as antagonism, synergism, and symbiosis (e.g., Rypaek 1966; Kaarik 1975; Rayner and Boddy 1988). When investigating the various factors, laboratory methods do not reflect the situa-tion under natural conditions. Often it is difficult to vary a parameter without affecting the others. The individual factors in nature do not work isolated, but strengthen or weaken themselves mutually. Table 3.1. Influences on fungal activity physical/chemical: nutrients, water, air, temperature, pH-value, light, force of gravity biological: antagonism, synergism, symbiosis  Nutrients      Fungi consist of about 90% water and 10% d

Fatty acid profiles MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry Microorganisms synthesize over 200 different fatty acids. The presence of specific acids and their relative amounts are constant for a particular species. Since the 1960s, bacteria and fungi are identified by gas chromatographic analysis of fatty acids, which were previously derivatized to methyl esters. The technique has also been used to identify wood-decay fungi like Phanerochaete chrysosporium, P. sordaria, Trametes versicolor, T. hirsuta, and T. pubescens (Diehl et al. 2003). The technique of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was developed in the 1980s, and was used in many fields for peptide, protein, and nucleic acid analyses Otirgens 2004; Welker et al. 2004). The method was suitable to differentiate and identify viruses, bacteria, and fungi (yeasts and Deuteromycetes) (e.g., Fenselau and Demirev 2001). In MALDI-TOF MS, biomolecules and even whole cells

                Determination keys and descriptions for Deuteromycetes are based on mor-phology, color, and development (conidiogenesis) of conidia and conidio-genous cells  (Carmichael et al. 1980; Domsch et al. 1980; v. Arx 1981; Wang 1990; Hoog and Guarro 1995; Schwantes 1996; Kiffer and Morelet 2000; Samson et al. 2004). The fruit bodies of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes serve to identify species on the basis of macro- and microscopic characteristics using keys or illustrated books: Kreisel 1961; Domariski 1972; Domariski et al. 1973; Breitenbach and Kranzlin 1981, 1986, 1991, 1995; Moser 1983; Jiilich 1984; Hanlin 1990; Jahn 1990; Wang and Zabel 1990; Ryvarden and Gilbertson 1993, 1994; Huckfeldt and Schmidt /005; yeasts: Barnett et al. 1990).  There are identification kits for yeasts that employ assimilation tests of carbohydrates with a specifically adapted database, and also growth tests on carbon sources that are bound to a tetrazolium dye (Mikluscak and Dawson-An

                       DNA-Arrays DNA-arrays (DNA-chips, microarrays) are tools in medical, pharmaceutical, and biological diagnosis of pathogens (genotyping, pathotyping) (Beier et al. 2002; Wiehlmann et al. 2004). Basis is the increasing availability of sequence information of various viruses and bacteria.  One chip can carry up to 10,000 different DNA probes (e.g., oligonucleotides), which are raster-like bound on its surface. Nucleic acid molecules of the sample hybridize specifically with the corresponding DNA probe, and the hybridized chip areas are detected colori-metrically.  Compared to PCR techniques, the sensitivity of the chip technology is lower than with species-specific PCR, and the chip techniques need experi-enced staff and expensive laboratory equipment. The great miniaturization and automation, however, allow the analyses of a great number of samples in a short time. Specific oligonucleotides to be used for arrays are already commercially available for se

Buchvorschlag, Optionen zur Weiterentwicklung von Anpassungsstrategien This November, the latest climate report for Germany, titled "Climate Change in Germany: Development, Consequences, Risks and Perspectives", was published. For the first time, climate change in Germany has been assessed from an interdisciplinary and comprehensive perspective, taking all societal issues and sectors into account. The 126 authors covered issues such as already-observed and prospective changes, weather calamities and their consequences, risks for the future and options for the advancement of adaptation strategies. Dr. Grit Martinez of Ecologic Institute is co-author of the report's chapter on story line options for a transformative climate adaptive society in Germany. The climate report is available for download. Published at Springer Press, the climate report is available as an open-access publication, and an enhanced e-book version is in preparation. The report is expect