Dynamics of extracellular DNA decomposition and bacterial community composition in soil

Microbial necromass is an important source of stabilized organic matter in soil, yet the decomposition dynamics of necromass constituents have not been adequately characterized. This includes DNA, a nutrient-rich molecule that when released into the environment as extracellular DNA (eDNA) can be readily used by soil microorganisms. However, the ecological relevance of eDNA as a nutrient source for soil microorganisms is relatively unknown. To address these deficits, we performed a laboratory experiment wherein soils were amended with ¹³C-labeled eDNA and clay minerals known to interact with DNA (kaolinite and montmorillonite). The amount of eDNA-carbon remaining in the soil declined exponentially over time. Kaolinite amendment decreased eDNA decomposition rates and, after 30 days, retained a higher fraction of eDNA-carbon (∼70% remaining) than control or montmorillonite soils (∼40% remaining), indicating that clay mineral sorption can stabilize eDNA-derived carbon in soil. Sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes showed that during the incubation the relative abundance of the added eDNA's sequence decreased by 98%, 92% and 99% in the control, montmorillonite, and kaolinite amended soils respectively. These results suggest that the fraction of eDNA-carbon that remained in the soil was incorporated into microbial biomass, firmly bound to soil constituents, or fragmented and no longer amenable to sequencing. In addition, the eDNA amendment affected the composition of the bacterial community. Specifically, the relative abundance of select phyla (Planctomycetes and TM7) and genera (e.g., Arthrobacter and Nocardioides) were elevated in soils that received eDNA, suggesting these groups may be particularly effective at degrading eDNA and using it for growth. Taken together, these results indicate that while eDNA is consumed by bacteria in soil, a fraction of eDNA material is resistant to decomposition, particularly when stabilized by soil minerals, suggesting a substantial amount of recalcitrant eDNA could accumulate over time.     

Soil microarthropods are only weakly impacted after 13 years of repeated drought treatment in wet and dry heathland soils

Studies of biological responses in the terrestrial environment to rapid changes in climate have mostly been concerned with aboveground biota, whereas less is known of belowground organisms. The present study focuses on mites and springtails of heathland ecosystems and how the microarthropod community has responded to simulated climate change in a long-term field experiment. Increased temperature and repeated drought was applied for 13 years to field plots located in Wales, The Netherlands and Denmark representing sites of contrasting climatic conditions with respect to precipitation and temperature. This approach provided an opportunity to study biological responses on a local (within sites) and regional scale. Warming treatments increasing night time temperature (0.3–1 °C higher than ambient at 5 cm soil depth) had no detectable effects on the microarthropod communities. Increased intensity and frequency of drought had only weak persistent effects on springtail species composition, but practically no effect on major mite groups (Oribatida, Prostigmata or Mesostigmata) suggesting that ecosystem functions of microarthropods may only be transiently impacted by repeated spring or summer drought.     

Mineral Composition and Soil-Plant Relationships for Common Guava (Psidium guajava L.) and Yellow Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleianum var. lucidum) Tree Parts and Fruits

The mineral compositions of the fruit and tree parts of common guava, Psidium guajava L., and strawberry guava, Psidium cattleianum var. lucidum, were determined. The study occurred during three seasons at six locations in Hawaii to assess guava as feed for livestock. Guava bark contained the greatest concentrations of calcium (Ca) and ash; leaves the greatest concentrations of magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), sodium (Na), boron (B), and manganese (Mn); and the shoots had the greatest concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The leaves and the shoots had the greatest concentrations of copper (Cu) and iron (Fe). Between guava and waiwi, guava had greater concentrations of most minerals except for Na in all plant parts, and Mg and ash in the leaves. Guava leaves and shoots meet the macromineral requirements for various phases of sheep, goat, and beef cattle life cycles with the exception of P and Na. Guava shoots do not meet Mn requirements for lactating cows.     

Effects of salinity on the growth and proximate composition of selected tropical marine periphytic diatoms and cyanobacteria

Marine periphytic cyanobacteria and diatoms have been examined as a potential source of feed supplement for rearing aquatic larvae in the aquaculture industry. Culture of the periphytic diatom Amphora sp., Navicula sp., Cymbella sp. and the cyanobacteria Oscillatoria sp. at different salinities showed significant changes in biomass and specific growth rates. Diatoms growth was significantly higher at 35 g L⁻¹, while for cyanobacteria growth was better at 25 g L⁻¹. Significantly higher levels of protein and lipid were found in diatoms at low salinities (15–25 g L⁻¹) and an increase in carbohydrate at high salinities (30–35 g L⁻¹). Conversely, cyanobacteria showed a significantly higher lipid content at 30–35 g L⁻¹ compared with other salinity levels but no significant changes were observed in the protein and carbohydrate contents at different salinity levels. The present findings can be taken into consideration when culturing marine periphytic Amphora sp., Navicula sp., Cymbella sp. and Oscillatoria sp. to provide appropriate levels of protein, lipid and carbohydrate as feed supplement as well as for bioremediation in aquaculture.     

Changes of Intramuscular Fat Composition,Lipid Oxidation and Lipase Activity in Biceps femoris and Semimembranosus of Xuanwei Ham During Controlled Salting Stages

Fatty acid composition of neutral lipids （NLs）, phospholipids （PLs） and free fatty acids （FFAs） from intramuscular fat （IMF）, lipid oxidation and lipase activity in muscle Semimembranosus （SM） and msucle Biceps femoris （BF） of dry-cured Xuanwei ham during the 90-d salting stages were analysed. The salt content increased from 0.34 to 3.52%in BF and from 0.10 to 5.42%in SM during the 90 d salting stage, respectively. PLs of IMF in both BF and SM decreased 54.70%（P〈0.001） and 34.64%（P〈0.05）, furthermore, the saturated fatty acids （SFA）, monounsaturated fatty acids （MUFA） and polyunsaturated fatty acids （PUFA） of PLs in both muscles were hydrolysed almost isochronously. FFAs were increased from 0.46 g 100 g-1 lipids to 2.92 g 100 g-1 lipids in BF at the end of salting, which was lower than SM （from 1.29 g 100 g-1 lipids to 9.70 g 100 g-1 lipids）. The activities of acid lipase, neutral lipase and acid phospholipase all remained active in the 90 d. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances （TBARS） was slowly increased to 1.34 mg kg-1 muscle in BF and to 2.44 mg kg-1 muscle in SM during the salting stage. In conclusion, the controlled salting process prompted the hydrolysis of PLs of IMF notably and increased the lipid oxidation of muscles within some limits.     

泗阳县玉米测土配方施肥试验

为明确测土配方技术在泗阳地区玉米生产过程中的实际效果，通过田间试验对玉米生育期、产量构成和效益等进行了对比分析。试验结果显示：采用14.8-9-8的肥料配比能显著提升玉米肥料利用率，提高产量和收益。相较常规施肥，测土配方施肥对玉米生育期影响较小，但玉米穗粒数和千粒重提升效果显著，分别提升了1.88%和3.89%；测土配方施肥的氮、磷、钾肥利用率和养分平均利用率分别为40.77%、28.02%、51.18%，相较常规施肥分别提升了11.55%、4.07%、21.46%，养分平均利用率提升了12.36%；测土配方施肥籽粒产量为9535.04kg/ha，相较常规施肥增产429.99kg，增产率为4.72%，纯收益每公顷提升1269.60元。     

马肠道微生物组成及影响因素的研究进展

马肠道微生物群对其营养消化及维持机体健康具有重要作用,肠道不同部位的微生物具有不同功能,易受到各种因素的影响。马肠道正常微生物群结构遭到破坏,可导致肠道微生物失衡和机体功能紊乱,进而引起多种疾病。介绍了马肠道不同部位的微生物群结构组成特征,阐述了影响马肠道微生物群变化的各类因素,以期为改善马肠道营养健康、开发马健康监测和疾病预防工具提供科学依据,也为马肠道微生物研究提供新的视角。     

饮水温度对崂山奶山羊产奶性能的影响

为了研究在寒冷季节饮水温度对崂山奶山羊产奶量及主要乳成分的影响,给奶山羊饮用16、22、28℃的温水,以自然水温为对照,结果发现:奶山羊的饮水量和产奶量随水温升高而增加,从低到高其产奶量比CK组产奶量分别显著提高16.2%、18.4%、23.1%(P<0.05);随饮水温度升高,乳脂率和乳蛋白率整体呈现递减趋势,但22℃组高于16℃组和28℃组,建议在冬季寒冷季节给奶山羊饮用22℃温水为宜,既能保证产奶量又对乳品质影响较小。