Growth performance and meat quality from broiler chickens reared with zeolite and halloysite in feed and straw pellet

The study's aim was to analyze the effects of different levels of halloysite (H) and zeolite (Z) in feed and pellets on the growth and meat quality in chickens; 500 Ross 308 broilers were assigned to five groups (1 g, control; 2–5 g, experimental). In Groups 2–5, different proportions of Z and H in feed (25:75 ratio; 0.5% to 2%) and pellet in kg/m² (2, 0.650H; 3, 0.325H and 0.325Z; 4, 0.650Z; 5, 0.160H and 0.490Z) were used. Body weight was higher than 1 in all experimental groups, and carcass weight was higher, except for Group 2. The feed consumption was lower in Groups 3 and 5 than in Group 4. The breast muscle weight was higher in Group 3 than in the control group. In Groups 2, 3, and 5, the water holding capacity in the breast muscles was better than in Group 4 and in the leg muscles in Groups 3 and 4 than in Groups 1 and 5. Most of the tested characteristics indicate a beneficial effect of aluminosilicates in feed and litter on the growth and quality of meat.     

Vegetation response to a topographical-soil gradient

Plant cover is an easily discernible, recognisable and labile component of the natural environment that reacts to changes in other components. One of the more important components controlling vegetation cover is the soil, and both vegetation and soil are influenced by topography, amongst other things. As it is in the humus-accumulation horizon of soils that vascular plants have most of their roots, these species are capable of reacting to qualitative and quantitative differences in its composition. The relationship between topography, soil and vegetation were assessed on the basis of three catenal sequences representative of Poland's Wigierski (Lake Wigry) National Park. The aim was to determine if changes in soil along the catenae were reflected in changes in plant community (species richness, species composition, and indicator species). We made use of soil analysis, phytosociological analysis of vegetational structure, and Ellenberg indicator values. Correlations between 23 variables allowed distinguishing 6 statistically-significant groups of variables with main ordinating groups being the percentage shares of species indicating relatively dry, slightly moist soils, the combined shares of these species, altitude above sea level and relative elevation. The first two axes of a Principal Components Analysis were strongly related to soil moisture and elevation (axis 1) and to soil fertility (axis 2). Together, these axes accounted for more than 60% of the variability. Within the forest communities, however, fertility was the most important factor. The three catenae differed most in terms of their species richness and least in soil characteristics. An intermediate place was taken by the weighted Ellenberg's indicator values. The lower sections of catenae were found to have more similarity in terms of soil, vegetation and their interrelationships and patterns than the upper parts.     

Selected leukocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood and uterine washings in cows before and after intrauterine administration of cefapirin and methisoprinol

The aim of the study was to evaluate the selected lymphocyte subpopulations TCD4, TCD8, BCD21, BCD25, CD18, CD11b, and MHC II in blood and uterine flush of cows with endometritis, before and after intrauterine (i.u.) administration of cefapirin and methisoprinol. The research was carried out on 28 cows with clinical endometritis. Animals were divided into four groups, each composed of seven cows, depending on the i.u. preparation used: Group A, cefapirin; Group B, methisoprinol; Group C, cefapirin and methisoprinol simultaneously; and a control group—without medication. The study was performed using flow cytometry method. Summarizing the results of the research, i.u. infusion of cefapirin caused a weakening of the effector phase of the local uterine immune response; however, it enhanced leukocyte chemotaxis and antigen presentation. After i.u. administration of methisoprinol, the stimulation of specific uterine immunity mechanisms was mainly observed. The use of both mentioned preparations showed the strengthening of specific uterine immunological mechanisms presumably caused by methisoprinol, despite the inhibitory effect of the antibiotic. Intrauterine use of immunostimulatory substances can improve the effectiveness of the endometritis treatment in cows by improving specific local mechanisms of uterine immunity. As a consequence, it may enhance the effector function of immune competent cells and finally eliminate inflammation.     

Targeted screening of contaminants and physico-chemical behaviors in permanent grass vegetation soils and agricultural soils from Eastern Slovakia

Journal of Soils and Sediments - To evaluate the ecological risk, physico-chemical properties, and the impact of anthropogenic sources on permanent eighteen samples of grass vegetation soils (PGVS)...     

The influence of storm-induced microsites to tree regeneration patterns in boreal and hemiboreal forest

We reviewed studies dealing with regeneration under variable conditions in boreal and hemiboreal forests as affected by different microsite types by tree species functional groups. Generally, the importance of storm-induced microsites for regeneration dynamics in boreal forests depends on several factors: (1) distribution and type of microsites (generated by storm characteristics and stand conditions); (2) viable seed supply (stand history, species dispersal traits and status of surviving trees) and their species’ life history strategy; (3) climatic and site conditions (pre-storm conditions and storm-induced changes); and (4) delayed storm effects, such as retarded falling of trees, favoured vegetation growth, etc. Studies acknowledging the significance of microsites were mostly related to intermediate or severe events, causing sufficient changes in resource levels and growth conditions, and influencing extrinsic factors such as frost heaving, erosion and browsing. Also, the dispersal traits of available tree species, including sprouting and response of surviving trees, such as canopy expansion, should be considered in evaluating microsite importance in individual cases. In intermediate to severe windstorm events, pioneer species are generally profiting most from the additional offer in microsites, requiring bare mineral soil and elevated locations for their establishment and growth. Under gap dynamics, shade-tolerant species benefit from dead wood and elevated locations as these offer safe sites in stands with abundant understorey vegetation.     

Effects of soil moisture manipulations on fine root dynamics in a mature balsam fir (Abies balsamea L. Mill.) forest

We tested the hypothesis that moisture stress affects fine root dynamics during and after the stress. To this end, we investigated the effects of soil moisture on annual and seasonal fine root production and mortality over 4 years in a mature balsam fir (Abies balsamea L. Mill.) stand using a minirhizotron and soil coring. Droughting and irrigating treatments were imposed for 17 weeks during the third year of the study, and post-treatment recovery was measured during the fourth year. Monthly fine root production was often reduced by low soil water content (SWC) during July-September in the pre-treatment years and by imposed drought. Irrigation resulted in higher summer fine root production than in pre-treatment years. In the recovery year, increased fine root production was observed in the previously droughted plots despite low SWC in August and September. Droughting decreased year-end fine root biomass in the treatment year, but biomass returned to pre-treatment levels during the recovery year. Droughting and irrigating did not affect foliage production during the treatment and recovery years. Our results suggest that for balsam fir, establishment and maintenance of a functional balance between foliage and fine root biomass, with respect to moisture supply and demand, can depend on fine root dynamics occurring over more than one growing season. In addition, our findings provided insights into tree growth responses to interannual variation in moisture supply.     

Environmental mycobacteria closely related to the pathogenic species evidenced in an acidic forest wetland

The diversity of environmental mycobacteria was studied in water-logged acidic forest soil. Mycobacteria were assessed in upper and lower soil horizons and summer and winter seasons using T-RFLP and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene produced with Mycobacterium-specific primers. Mycobacteria diversity differed between both the two seasons and soil horizons. Cloning revealed the presence of mycobacteria belonging to three major clusters recognized within the genus, i.e. fast-growing, intermediate, and slow-growing species, with unprecedented abundance and diversity of the latter. Two novel clusters of sequences unrelated to the known mycobacteria were identified. This study raises the possibility that forest wetlands could serve as environmental reservoirs for an unexplored diversity of mycobacteria including those related to pathogenic species.