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Notes: We have measured the specific heat of a Speer carbon resistor in the temperature range 0.32 to 4 K and in 0, 1.2, 6, and 12 T magnetic fields. Our zero field data disagree by an order of magnitude with previously reported results; the specific heat is also field sensitive. Where a piece of Speer resistor forms part of the addenda of a small-mass specific heat platform, lack of proper accounting for its addenda contribution can lead to large errors in the specific heat measurements, particularly in field.

Notes: We describe a computer based ac calorimetry technique for small samples (m〈100 mg) at low temperatures (T〈2 K) and in high magnetic fields (B≤20 T). We have found this technique suitable for relative calorimetry in noisy environments. Extension of this technique to absolute calorimetry is also discussed.

Notes: Of the three known high effective mass ("heavy fermion'') superconductors, UPt3 has quite different properties from the rather similar CeCu2Si2 and UBe13. In particular, UPt3 has a much different temperature dependence of its resistivity below 300 K, a much lower initial slope of the superconducting critical field, H'c2(Tc), a much greater dependence of the superconducting transition temperature, Tc, on lattice perfection (proportional to resistivity ratio), and a much different temperature dependence of the low temperature normal state specific heat, Cn. This temperature dependence of Cn in fact includes a T3 ln T term for UPt3, compared to approximately a T−2 dependence for UBe13 and CeCu2Si2 at low temperatures. The presence of a T3 ln T term in Cn for UPt3, coupled with the extreme dependence of Tc on lattice perfection, has led to speculation that the pairing of the superconducting electrons in UPt3 may not be between opposite spins, but between parallel spins, i.e., p-wave instead of s-wave pairing. Recently, further experimental and theoretical evidence has been found supporting this speculation that UPt3 may be a p-wave superconductor. The present work surveys the properties of UPt3, including new results on the spin fluctuation behavior in the normal state of UPt3.

Notes: The characteristics of nitrogen acquisition, transport and assimilation were investigated in species of an Atlantic Forest succession over calcareous soil in south-eastern Brazil. Differences in behaviour were observed within the regeneration guilds. Pioneer species showed high leaf nitrogen contents, a high capacity to respond to increased soil nitrogen availability, a high capacity for leaf nitrate assimilation and were characterized by the transport of nitrate + asparagine. At the other end of the succession, late secondary species had low leaf nitrogen contents, little capacity to respond to increased soil nitrogen availability, low leaf nitrate assimilation and were active in the transport of asparagine + arginine. The characteristics of nitrogen nutrition in some early secondary species showed similarities to those of pioneer species whereas others more closely resembled late secondary species. Average leaf δ15N values increased along the successional gradient. The results indicate that the nitrogen metabolism characteristics of species may be an additional ecophysiological tool in classifying tropical forest tree species into ecological guilds, and may have implications for regeneration programmes in degraded areas.

Notes: The foliar natural abundance of 15N was analysed to compare the potential nitrogen sources of vascular rainforest epiphytes and associated soil-rooted trees. Leaves of epiphytes collected from six rainforest communities in Brazil, Australia and the Solomon Islands were depleted in 15N relative to the trees at each site. Epiphyte δ15N was as low as -6.4%o, while trees were generally enriched in 15N (0.7 to 3.5%o). These results indicate either that epiphytes use nitrogen sources depleted in 15N or that discrimination against 15N is an intrinsic function of epiphyte physiology. At three sites, epiphytes could be grouped into those having both low δ15N and low leaf-nitrogen content and those possessing both high δ15N and high leaf-nitrogen content. The second group had δ15N values in the range sometimes attributable to N2 fixation (-2 to 0%o). There was no correlation between growth form and δ15N. It is concluded that epiphytes may utilize 15N-depleted nitrogen from atmospheric deposition and N2 fixation.

Notes: Abstract. Interactions between parasitic angiosperms and their hosts occur at the level of seed germination, haustorial development and resource transfer. Chemicals released from the host function as cues for host recognition, and trigger germination as well as haustorial initiation. Transpiration is a key process regulating solute transfer from host to parasite, and some parasitie plants have unusual stomatal characteristics. Although solute transfer is apoplastic, the haustorium appears to play a role in regulating solute composition. Host responses to infection are reviewed, and it is concluded that competition for water and solutes are unlikely to play a major role in determining reductions in host productivity: metabolic incompatability is suggested to be the major cause of this.

Notes: Samples of recently produced shoot material collected in winter/spring from common plant species of mulga vegetation in eastern and Western Australia were assayed for 13C and 15N natural abundance. 13C analyses showed only three of the 88 test species to exhibit C4 metabolism and only one of seven succulent species to be in CAM mode. Non-succulent winter ephemeral C3 species showed significantly lower mean δ13C values (– 28·0‰) than corresponding C3-type herbaceous perennials, woody shrubs or trees (– 26·9, – 25·7 and – 26·2‰, respectively), suggesting lower water stress and poorer water use efficiency in carbon acquisition by the former than latter groups of taxa. Corresponding values for δ15N of the above growth and life forms lay within the range 7·5–15·5‰. δ15N of soil NH4+ (mean 19·6‰) at a soft mulga site in Western Australia was considerably higher than that of NO3– (4·3‰). Shoot dry matter of Acacia spp. exhibited mean δ15N values (9·10 ± 0·6‰) identical to those of 37 companion non-N2-fixing woody shrubs and trees (9·06 ± 0·5‰). These data, with no evidence of nodulation, suggested little or no input of fixed N2 by the legumes in question. However, two acacias and two papilionoid legumes from a dune of wind-blown, heavily leached sand bordering a lake in mulga in Western Australia recorded δ15N values in the range 2·0–3·0‰ versus 6·4–10·7‰ for associated non-N2-fixing taxa. These differences in δ15N, and prolific nodulation of the legumes, indicated symbiotic inputs of fixed N in this unusual situation. δ15N signals of lichens, termites, ants and grasshoppers from mulga of Western Australia provided evidence of N2 fixation in certain termite colonies and by a cyanobacteria-containing species of lichen. Data are discussed in relation to earlier evidence of nitrophily and water availability constraints on nitrate utilization by mulga vegetation.

Notes: Analysis of soil solution from forest sites dominated by Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus maculata indicates that soluble forms of organic nitrogen (amino acids and protein) are present in concentrations similar to those of mineral nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium). Experiments were conducted to determine the extent to which mycorrhizal associations might broaden nitrogen source utilization in Eucalyptus seedlings to include organic nitrogen. In isolation, species of ectomycorrhizal fungi from northern Australia show varying abilities to utilize mineral and organic forms of nitrogen as sole sources. Pisolithus sp. displayed strongest growth on NH4+, glutamine and asparagine, but grew poorly on protein, while Amanita sp. grew well both on mineral sources and on a range of organic sources (e.g. arginine, asparagine, glutamine and protein). In sterile culture, non-mycorrhizal seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus maculata grew well on mineral sources of nitrogen, but showed no ability to grow on sources of organic nitrogen other than glutamine. In contrast, mycorrhizal seedlings grew well on a range of organic nitrogen sources. These observations indicate that mycorrhizal associations confer on species of Eucalyptus the ability to broaden their resource base substantially with respect to nitrogen. This ability to utilize organic nitrogen was not directly related to that of the fungal symbiont in isolation. Seedlings mycorrhizal with Pisolithus sp. were able to assimilate sources of nitrogen (in particular histidine and protein) on which the fungus in pure culture appeared to grow weakly. Experiments in which plants were fed 15N-labelled ammonium were undertaken in order to investigate the influence of mycorrhizal colonization on the pathway of nitrogen metabolism. In roots and shoots of all seedlings, 15N was incorporated into the amide group of glutamine, and label was also found in the amino groups of glutamine, glutamic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid and alanine. Mycorrhizal colonization appeared to have no effect on the assimilation pathway and metabolism of [15N]H4+; labelling data were consistent with the operation of the glutamate synthase cycle in plants infected with either Pisolithus sp. (which in isolation assimilates via the glutamate synthase cycle) or Elaphomyces sp. (which assimilates via glutamate dehydrogenase). It is likely that the control of carbon supply to the mycorrhizal fungus from the host may have a profound effect on both the assimilatory pathway and the range of nitrogen sources that can be utilized by the association.