It's getting darker so this month's quiz has to do with our darkest shade, black. Can you figure out these Arboretum creatures that have the word "black" in their names? The answers are at the bottom of the newsletter. A printable version is available by clicking here: http://www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum/Listservnewsletter/October_2017/printable_quiz_colour_black_Oct_2017.pdf

Skyjack was generous enough to loan us a boom lift again this year. Our staff uses this equipment to gather seeds from treetops that we could not otherwise have reached. This year we focused on harvesting seed from several of our Living Gene Banks, including the Kentucky Coffee Tree.  We are so grateful to Skyjack Inc. for their support.

 

 

Our grounds staff have been busy with so much at this time of the year. This year has been a bumper crop for seeds so they have been busy gathering seeds from a broad range of rare species. Many of these seeds will be distributed to native plant nurseries. Time has been spent accessioning trees into the Gene Banks. New beds have been developed in the Dwarf Conifer Collection and new Lavender plantings have been done in the Italian Garden. Trail maintenance has also been happening along the Wall Custance Memorial Trail.

On Sunday, September 17, over 2000 visitors attended the Wall Custance Memorial Forest Dedication Service here on The Arboretum grounds. The service touched many people's hearts. Further information on this program can be found at: http://www.wallcustance.com/memorialforest.html.

We have had three part-time students begin this month. Tessa who worked on the grounds over the summer has returned as a work study student. Another work study student is Chris, our multi-media assistant, who will be working on our website as well as other projects. Natassya will be focusing her time on our social media. Welcome Chris and Natassya and welcome back Tessa!  We are excited to have these U of G students join our team!

We have a new workshop that we are offering in November entitled "Selecting a First Telescope for Astronomy." It is just in time for anyone who is considering buying a telescope for someone for Christmas ... this workshop will help ensure you make the best choice for you. The workshop is Thursday, November 23 and the early bird deadline is November 15. Check it out on our website for further information. A whole series on astronomy will be offered in late winter early spring so watch our website for more information on that.

The leaves are changing into their striking fall colours making the grounds into a picture perfect location to go for a walk or hike. We hope you can take the time to come out and enjoy the spectacular sights.

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower" - Albert Camus

by Aron Fazekas

Recently, I went for a walk on campus and wandered by the new gryphon statue near the campus entrance. Looking at the statue, I was reminded what a gryphon actually is – a chimera. The traditional chimera is a composite creature that is composed of parts of various animals. In this case the gryphon has the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.

Interesting, but really just the stuff of myths and legends, right? As is often the case, there is a kernel of truth here, and while most chimeras are not as dramatic as the gryphon, they are a real phenomenon. While it’s rare that two different animals stick together (although it does happen!), in the plant world this is actually not that new – the practice of plant grafting has been around for millennia. Sometimes this means grafting onto rootstock of the same species, but sometimes the graft is made onto a different species with hardier rootstock or with other desired characteristics. For example, the elms in the Arboretum’s orchard that we think may be tolerant to Dutch Elm disease are grafts of tolerant individuals onto rootstock grown from seed of an elm on campus. For butternut (currently being devastated by butternut canker), grafts are usually made onto a different species – black walnut. The chimeric nature of the individual is not passed on to the next generation – flowers and seed arise from only the grafted portion of the plant, so the butternut grafts produce butternuts, not walnuts.

Scientifically, a chimera is defined as a single organism that is composed of cells from two (or more) genetically distinct lineages. Some people take ‘distinct’ as meaning from different species, but as our awareness of the prevalence of chimeras has grown, the term is now regularly applied to organisms that are composed of different cell lineages of the same species.

Chimeras can be created, but they also occur naturally as a result of genetic mutations that happen randomly (individual mutations happen at a very low rate). When a mutation occurs, and the cell then divides, both new cells will carry the same mutation. If this occurs early in the development of an organism, the situation can arise in which distinct genetic lineages are maintained within the same individual – one lineage with the mutation, one without. In most cases this probably goes undetected, but occasionally the mutation results in an obvious morphological difference.

In plants, some of the most noticeable chimeras are those that involve differences in leaf colour, or variegation. (Note that chimerism is only one of a number of possible causes of variegated leaves – there are a number of other processes, such as certain genes being turned on or off in specific parts of the plant, that also result in variegation). Here, a mutation has occurred that interferes with the synthesis of chlorophyll. The variegated effect in a chimera is also function of the organization of the tissues in the plant.

In the apical meristem (the growing tip) of dicotyledonous plants there are three layers of cells: an outer, middle, and an inner layer. Cells in the outer layer give rise to the epidermis of the leaf. Cells in the middle layer divide to form the inside cells of the leaf near the edges, and the inner layer of the meristem forms the central portion of the inside of the leaf. As cells divide and the plant grows, this layered organization is maintained. A mutation in the middle layer of the apical meristem will be propagated throughout the cells that derive from that layer – but not the others. This is likely the cause of the type of variegation seen in the Harlequin maple. The middle apical meristem layer gives rise to the palisade cells and spongy parenchyma cells at the leaf margin, and these cells appear to have a genotype that cannot make chlorophyll.

Chimerism would also explain the potential for ‘reversion’ in this cultivar, which happens occasionally when new shoots arise that yield stems with ‘normal’ all-green leaves. Sometimes this is referred to as a ‘reverse mutation’, which is probably not actually the case. Individual mutations are rare events, and for a second one to occur that reverses the first one precisely would be like winning the lottery twice. It’s more likely that the cellular organization of the layers wasn’t precisely maintained as the apical meristem of the shoot formed. The cells of the middle layer in these reversions were displaced by one of the other layers that lacked the mutation. This specific type of chimera is likely rare in nature, because the reduced photosynthetic ability puts the individual at a selective disadvantage, and also because the chimeric nature of the plant is lost when the plant is propagated by seed. In order to make new individuals of the cultivar, propagation is usually done by grafting onto regular Norway maple rootstock.

Another interesting example of chimerism in plants is the original varieties of thornless blackberries. In these plants the epidermal layer of tissue has a mutation that renders the stems thornless. This was only discovered after breeders attempted to use seed from thornless varieties in breeding programs, but found that all of the progeny had thorns. Because this mutation is only in the epidermal layer of the plant, and the ‘thorny’ genotype is present in the other layers, new plants generated from adventitious shoots on root cuttings will bear thorns.

While examples of chimeras in plant and animal systems have been known for some time, the prevalence of chimerism and its consequences are only starting to be better understood as new technology increases our ability to detect rare variants that would otherwise go unnoticed. While much of the current focus is on humans, it’s likely that there are many other examples in the plant kingdom that we will learn of in the near future.

So, do you have chimera lurking undetected in your backyard? – you probably do!

For a fascinating introduction to Chimerism as it relates to human health, below is a link to an article in The Scientist.
http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/42476/title/From-Many--One/

A printable version of this article is available at: http://www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum/Listservnewsletter/October_2017/ChimeraV2_Aron.pdf

by Jason Chan

Mosquito (Family Culicidae)

The world of bugs, insects and arachnids continue to fascinate me. Yet the small and seemingly insignificant are usually cast aside or squashed under your housemate’s slipper. And to that involuntary and odious response I say, “greater appreciation comes from further investigation”. I’m encouraged to see others trying to promote investigating the marvelous mysteries of insects and was inspired after the huge success that was Guelph Bug Day back in August.

“Insects are crucial in every single ecosystem and ecological process, Insects are at the root of everything and it's an extremely small and tiny universe around us at our feet and if you just open your eyes and take a second to look you can see some pretty amazing things. The diversity of insects is incredible, they are the most numerous creatures we have identified on the planet, and there’s just so much diversity, every insect is different.” - Matt Muzzatti, co-organizer of Guelph Bug Day 2017

Throughout the many bug programs I’ve led, I try to emphasize that every kind of insect is adapted to its environment and even its food source. But during my programs, questions I am frequently asked include “if butterflies have a proboscis to suck up nectar, do mosquitoes also have a proboscis for sucking up blood?” “how does a butterfly sucking up nectar compare to a stinkbug that sucks up plant juices?” So I, BugBoy, set out to gather some answers for these burning questions.

Insects, among all living things are classified taxonomically and are grouped based on morphological or genetic features. Looking at the insects, beetles are classified by their distinctive line down their hind wings (elytra), and the butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) by the scales on their wings but today, let’s look at the world of insects from a different perspective, by their mouths and their functions.



image from: http://www.lacasamorett.com/foxgallery/insect-mouthparts.html

BITING AND CHEWING
This mouth is found on insects like dragonflies/damselflies, caterpillars, bees, mantids, ants, and beetles, to name a few. This type of mouth is probably most similar to ours. They use their large mandibles and maxillae to help hold and position their food as we would with our hands. Insects like the mantids are sometimes observed to “hold” their food with their forelegs, but wouldn’t have the same dexterity as we would with our fingers. Caterpillars are in their feeding life stage and so must be equipped with chompers to get through all the foliage they need, and bees are known to work with and mold honey with their mandibles.


Left to right - European Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa), Polyphemus Moth Capterillar (Antheraea polyphemus), Blister Beetle (Family Meloidae)

PIERCING AND SUCKING
Looking back to my Insect Diversity and Biology course, the true bugs (homopterans) were grouped together because of their piercing and sucking mouthparts. And I know what you’re thinking; yes, scientifically there is a whole group of insects known as “bugs” which includes the familiar stinkbugs, bedbugs, cicadas, and aphids. These bugs are adapted to preying on plant matter and other insects, well equipped with juices that are secreted to help digest and “juicify” the matter before sucking it up. Their mandibles and maxillae have been adapted to pierce into surfaces instead of chomp and chew. We see this in mosquitoes (which are flies) as well - did you know mosquitoes have 6 different needles that make up their mouth, four in which pierce into the skin to stabilize the individual, one that sucks up blood and another that injects saliva? As gross as that may seem, it is incredibly complex!

A video on mosquito mouthparts here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD8SmacBUcU


Left to right - Assassin Bug (Family Reduviidae), Cicada (Superfamily Cicadoidea)

SIPHONING
Most people have compared the proboscis of the butterfly to a drinking straw, but does a butterfly actually “suck/slurp up nectar” like we would slurp our root beer or apple juice? It has been found that nectar makes its way up the proboscis via capillary action. Capillary action is the means by which a liquid moves up as a result of cohesion (the bond between same particles) and adhesion (the bond between different particles). A common example of capillary action is when you dip paper towel into a spill and watch the liquid get “sucked up” the sheet. And so for butterflies, the nectar is actually pulled up the tube-like mouthpart instead of being “sucked up”.

But a crucial procedure must be completed properly so that capillary action can take place. When butterflies emerge, they need to extend and contract their proboscis because their proboscis starts off as two pieces. This helps fuse the two parts together forming the tube-like mouthpart required for feeding.


Left to right; Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)

SPONGING
Have you ever spent time watching a fly be a fly? Okay, the majority probably hasn’t - but the next time you have a fruit fly problem at home, or hear the buzz that gets on your nerves, track it down and observe it. You’ll notice that most flies will dab a vacuum-like appendage over the surface it is on. In this “vacuum” are pseudotrachea, which are fine tubes used to secrete digestive juices before soaking up its food via capillary action. This is similar to the proboscis of the butterfly, but many tubes are involved which is likely adaptive for the different types of food sources they feed on respectively.



Left to right - Hoverfly (Family Syrphidae), Longlegged Fly (Family Dolichopodidae)

The world of insects is so incredibly diverse, I could go on and on just about their mouths. I’ll conclude by highlighting the mouth of a dragonfly nymph, which is modified to be a hydraulic arm that propels its labium out to grab whatever prey may be swimming by (check out a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W557aSVdW_g). How cool and fascinating is the world of the small but mighty. Greater appreciation comes from further investigation. My hope is that even if you may be slightly grossed out, that you come to appreciate some of the critters that fly, buzz and crawl around our planet.

A printable version of this newsletter is available here: http://www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum/Listservnewsletter/October_2017/Insect_Mouth_Jason.pdf

Join Jason every Wednesday until the end of the year at 12:15 as he explores the grounds on a 50 minute hike. It is a wonderful way to explore the fall colours and so much more that fall offers on The Arboretum grounds. The walk is free and you should meet at the kiosk at the end of the promenade closest to campus if you are interested in participating.

Oh no! You haven't booked your company's Christmas party yet! That's okay, The Arboretum still has some dates available. The Arboretum is a perfect location for your Christmas party for groups up to 130 people. For further information please contact Dawn Ann Webster, Bookings Co-ordinator at extension 54110, [log in to unmask].

All catering is provided by Hospitality Services, University of Guelph. For further information on the catering please call extension 53350 or [log in to unmask].


Auditorium setup for Cnristmas Party

We like to share information and photos. If you would like to see more from us then please check out our Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. You can go directly to each of the sites by clicking on the corresponding word above.

The Gull and Selecting a First Telescope for Astronomy workshops are approaching. The dates and registration deadlines can be found in our Coming Events listing in the column on the left side of this newsletter. A detailed description of each course is available on our website. Help us promote our programs… please forward this e-mail on to your friends and colleagues who may be interested. The more participants we have, the more programs we can offer.

Registering early is important for us because we need lead time to decide if there are enough people registered to run the workshop or not. To encourage registering before the deadline, we have an Early Bird Fee. You can still register after the deadline, but it will cost an extra $10, so why not register early?

Registration is available on-line, which allows you to register for our programs at anytime, not just during our regular business hours. A secure link is provided on our website for this easy registration process.

If you do not have internet access, registration can still be made by phone or in person at 519-824-4120 ext. 52358 as in the past. Please remember that a decision is made on the registration deadline as to whether the workshop will run or not, based on the minimum number of required registrants. You may still register after the deadline as long as the workshop is running and there is space.

Fall migration is in full swing and we have caught a few migrating birds during our bird banding labs for the 4th year ornithology course. These include Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a Nashville Warbler, a Blue-headed Vireo and a bunch of White-throated Sparrows. A first year student found a new spider for The Arboretum during an insect program - the Latticed Orbweaver. Quite a pretty spider! Fall colours are finally taking hold and fallen leaves are being enjoyed by old and young visitors alike.

 
Blue-headed Vireo                                Latticed Orbweaver Spider
photo by Chris Earley                            photo by Chris Earley

Be a part of the BetterPlanet Project by donating on-line:

Your donation can be directed to The Arboretum online through the secure University of Guelph donation page: http://uofg.convio.net/arboretum

If you prefer not to make an online donation, there are several other ways to provide your financial support. You can choose to donate by telephone, mail, fax, or in person:

UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH Attention Alumni Affairs 50 Stone Road East Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 Tel: 1-888-266-3108 ext. 56934 Tel: 519-824-4120 ext. 56934 Fax: 519-822-2670 Email: [log in to unmask]

If you would like information on bequests and planned giving to The Arboretum please contact:

Amy Atkinson
Senior Development Manager, Ontario Agricultural College
at (519) 824-4120 ext. 58652 or by e-mail at [log in to unmask]