Cohabitation of tree holes by ants and breeding birds in a temperate deciduous forest

A previously unknown association of ants with birds breeding in tree holes is described. Ants Lasius brunneus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were found in c. 15% of nests of Parus major L. and Poecile palustris L. (Paridae) breeding in tree holes in the primeval deciduous forest located in the Bia?owie?a National Park (Poland). The ants preferably used holes located higher above the ground. As such holes are warmer than the unused holes or other nest sites, it is suggested that the ants cohabit holes utilized by the tits to gain thermal benefits.     

Trace elements bioavailability to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendrobaena veneta</Emphasis> in a multielement-contaminated agricultural soil amended with drinking water treatment residues

Purpose

The in situ stabilization of multielement-contaminated agricultural soils has limited effectiveness when using common single amendments. This study examined the use of drinking water treatment residues (WTR), based on (hydr)oxides of Fe, Al, or Mn, as a cost-effective solution to optimize the immobilization of metals (Cd, Pb, Zn) and As.

Materials and methods

Trace elements (TE) bioavailability was assessed under semi-controlled conditions in a pot study cultivating winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Tiger) until maturity. An Fe-based WTR and a Mn-based WTR, applied at rates of 0.5 and 1% (m/m), were related to effects of lime marl (LM) application. Additionally, a bioassay with earthworms (Dendrobaena veneta) was conducted. Both bioassays were compared with measurements of NH₄NO₃-soluble, diffusive gradients in thin film (DGT)-available and soil solution TE concentrations, representing well-established surrogates for mimicking the bioavailable element fractions in soil.

Results and discussion

The application of the Fe-based WTR reduced As accumulation in vegetative wheat tissues (by up to 75%) and earthworms (by up to 41%), which corresponded with the findings from soil chemical analyses and improved plant growth and earthworm body weight. However, As concentrations in cereal grains were not affected, Cd or Pb accumulation by wheat was not mitigated, and Zn uptake was enhanced. By contrast, the Mn-based WTR effected the greatest reduction in Pb uptake, and lowered Cd transfer to wheat grain (by up to 25%). Neither the NH₄NO₃-soluble nor DGT-available concentrations matched with Cd and Zn accumulation in plants or earthworms, indicating interferences due to competition for binding sites according to the biotic ligand model.

Conclusions

The results obtained in this study suggest that a bioassay with key species prior to field application should be mandatory when designing in situ stabilization options. The application of WTR to an agricultural soil strongly affected TE bioavailability to plants and earthworms. Low application rates tended to improve biomass production of biota. Higher application rates involved risks (e.g., P fixation, TE inputs), and none of the amendments tested could immobilize all targeted elements.

     

Maize Voc Induction after Infection by the Bacterial Pathogen,Pantoea ananatis,Alters Neighbouring Plant Voc Emissions

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Plants induce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) after pathogen infection and exposure to a neighbouring infected plant. In a greenhouse, we measured VOCs...     

Does meatiness of pigs depend on the level of gastro-intestinal parasites infection?

The aim of the present paper was to determine an influence of the presence and a level of intestine parasites infection on the quality of pork carcass expressed by the content of meat in carcass (meatiness) in pigs. The experimental part of the study was conducted on pigs farm produced in a closed cycle. The population in the study included 120 fattening pigs maintained in two keeping systems: group I--60 individuals kept on slatted floor, and group II--60 individuals kept on deep litter. All the experimental animals were treated in the same manner. The analysed fatteners were slaughtered in Meat Processing Plant when their body mass reached 110 kg, and the post-slaughter assessment was conducted according to the EUROP classification of pigs carcass using the Ultra-Fom 300 device. The study concerning the internal parasites were conducted basing on coproscopic quantitative McMaster method. As a results, the eggs of three nematode taxa were isolated and identified: Oesophagostomum spp., Ascaris suum and Strongyloides ransomi. Overall prevalence of infection of fatteners kept on litter was lower (25%±11.2) as compared to those kept on slatted floor (38.3%±12.6), however the differences were not statistically significant (χ(2)=2.465; df=1; P=0.116). The mean value of meatiness for pigs free from parasites was 53.68, while in the case of infected pigs the meatiness was statistically lower and was 52.12 (t=2.35; P=0.02). The analysed pigs were classified into three categories and conducted analysis of an influence of parasites on meatiness demonstrate the relationship that is statistically significant. The analysis of correlation between meatiness and an average number of helminth eggs also demonstrated the negative, statistically significant, relationship (F=5.52; P=0.020), i.e. in fatteners with higher EPG value the meatiness was lower.     

Dynamics of arsenic-containing compounds sorption on sediments

Background  River and lake sediments constitute complex and difficult analytical samples. On the other hand, sediments play a fundamental role in the distribution of toxic compounds in aquatic systems and in the evaluation of the current state and the course of changes taking place in the environment. Among elements present in the environment in trace concentrations, but having well-elaborated toxic properties, one of most dangerous is arsenic. The element occurs in the environment in several chemical forms, predominant are inorganic forms of As(V) and As(III), and methylated forms such as monomethylarsonic acid (MMAA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA). Objectives  Reported herein are experiments, which were undertaken with the aim of examining the dynamics of arsenic sorption in sediments and its dependence on speciation of the element and the pH in the environment. Simultaneously, influence of organic matter content and chemical composition of the sediments on As sorption, were investigated. Methods  Sediment samples (upper 10 cm layer) were collected from three sites located in the vicinity of Cracow:

The effect of inulin supply to high‐fat diet rich in saturated fatty acids on pork quality and profile of sarcoplasmic protein in meat exudate

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of inulin supply to high‐fat diet rich in saturated fatty acids (SFA) on pork quality and profile of sarcoplasmic protein in drip loss. At 50 days of age, twenty cross‐bred pigs (gilts) were randomly allotted to four groups: the control (C) group fed a standard diet, and three experimental (D1, D2 and D3) groups fed a high‐fat diet rich in SFA. Moreover, pigs from the groups D2 and D3 consumed an extra inulin supply (7% of daily feed intake) from 85 to 120 days of age (for 5 weeks) and from 50 to 120 days of age (for 10 weeks) respectively. The addition of inulin to the diet reduced meaty odour and flavour significantly, improved tenderness and overall sensory quality of pork and additionally influenced ultimate pH, L* colour parameter, lactate level and protein content in meat. The diets also affected the profile of sarcoplasmic proteins. Significant effects were observed for the following enzymes—PK/PGI (pyruvate kinase/phosphoglucose isomerase) and ALD (aldolase), which are related to the intensity of post‐mortem glycolysis. Presented data indicate that long‐term inulin supply to high‐fat diet has a positive effect on technological and sensory quality as well as protein profile of pork.     

Renewable cathode materials from biopolymer/conjugated polymer interpenetrating networks

Renewable and cheap materials in electrodes could meet the need for low-cost, intermittent electrical energy storage in a renewable energy system if sufficient charge density is obtained. Brown liquor, the waste product from paper processing, contains lignin derivatives. Polymer cathodes can be prepared by electrochemical oxidation of pyrrole to polypyrrole in solutions of lignin derivatives. The quinone group in lignin is used for electron and proton storage and exchange during redox cycling, thus combining charge storage in lignin and polypyrrole in an interpenetrating polypyrrole/lignin composite.     

Effect of soil drought on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids grown under compacted soil

In this study, we examined responses of maize hybrids differing in susceptibility to soil compaction and drought in the case of their separate or combined action. We ran field and greenhouse experiments and determined effects on grain yield, biomass, weight of 1000 grains, shoot and roots dry matter (DM), shoot-to-roots ratio, harvest index, plant height, emergence index, leaf area and greening and root number and length. Individual and combined effects of both stresses were observed in the field and greenhouse. Compared with plants growing in loose soil and optimal irrigation (LI), the resistant hybrids in treatments HI, LD and HD showed a smaller reduction in GY, BY, S, R, R_N and R_L than the sensitive. In both groups, stress influence on HA, W-1000, LA and SPAD was smaller and the differences were insignificant. Compared with LI treatment, the roots of LD, HI and HD increased their DM, number and length in the upper level of the soil profile and the number of roots developed at 0–30° and 30–60° in relation to the root main axis. Analysis of those traits in the hybrids resistant and sensitive to both stress factors enabled to explain a defence response. Our study demonstrated that soil compaction and soil drought, which usually occurs simultaneously, caused significant changes in components of plant yield and showed plant plasticity in response to environmental factors under natural conditions.     

Reaction of sewage farm soils to different irrigation solutions in a column experiment 2. Heavy metals and their leaching

Heavy metal polluted soils from a recent and a former sewage farm were studied in a 2.5 years‐column experiment under various irrigation regimes and/or liming treatment. The copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in the soil and the leaching of these elements were studied. The amounts of the metals leached differed markedly between both soils, however, the effect of various irrigation treatments was less pronounced. The heavy metal content in the soil solid phase depended on the organic carbon content, however these dependencies differed for both soils as well as for particular metals. In lower soil horizons, the amount of heavy metals bound by unit mass of organic carbon was constant. It was assumed that the same amount of the heavy metals can be bound by the unit mass of the DOC. Under this assumption the amount of the DOC in the former sewage farm soil was in general too small to carry all heavy metals leached. Therefore leaching of their cationic forms has been postulated. The amount of the DOC in the present sewage farm soil could carry more heavy metals than these being leached. Therefore, an undersaturation of the DOC in heavy metals could occur in this soil.<?show $6#>