European Transect

FIGURE 4 The European Transect Latitudinal changes of needle and leaf nitrogen concentration, 5 C-isotope ratio and S N-isotope ratio, net primary productivity (NPP) and leaf area index (LAI) for conifers (Picea abies) and deciduous trees (Ptigus sylvuticu). In Fig. 4a minimum (min) and maximum (max) values show the absolute range of data. 

Most ferns contain sizable quantities of phenolics and tannins so their role in ferns acclimation should not be surprising. However, similar phenolics-elevation trends have been observed in angiosperms in which phenolics metabolism is less important (e.g. Fiussello et al., 1979 Bachereau et al., 1998). For example, recent evidence on the genus Leontodon (Asteraceae) performance in an ample altitudinal range (0 - 3000 m asl) in the European Alps, reveal various sources of variation in their phenolics expression specific plant organ (e.g. in the ligules of flower heads), population, and individuals within a population, season, and elevation (Zidorn and Stuppner, 2001). However, not all phenolic constituents responded similarly. While flavonoids in flower heads of L. helveticus and L. autumnalis followed a clear incremental trend with altitude, phenolic acids remained relatively constant along the transect in L. hispidus. Specific flavonoids also varied within individuals. 

Chri.stensen, T. R., Jonas.son, S., Callaghan, T. V., and Havstrom, M. (1995). Spatial variation in high latitude methane flux—A transect across tundra enviionments in Siberia and the European arctic./. Geo-phys. Res. 100(020), 21035-21045. 

Schroter, D., Wolters, V., De Ruiter, PC., 2003. C and N mineralisation in the decomposer food webs of a European forest transect. Oikos 102, 294—308. 

Fig. 1 Map showing transects through the towns of Vorkuta (W-NE), Inta (N-S) and Usinsk (SW-NE) in the Pechora Basin, North-eastern European Russia. The rey dashed line indicates the approximate position of the tree line and grey shading indicates land above 500 m. Adapted from Walker et al. (2009)...

Koda, M., Kamada, T., Hashimoto, M., Murakami, M., Shirasawa, H., Sakao, S., Ino, H., Yoshinaga, K., Koshizuka, S., Moriya, H., and Yamazaki, M. 2007. Adenovirus vector-mediated ex vivo gene transfer of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to bone marrow stromal cells promotes axonal regeneration after transplantation in completely transected adult rat spinal cord. European Spine Journal 16 2206-2214. 

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