Effects of howler monkey reintroduction on ecological interactions and processes

Rewilding has been an increasingly popular tool to restore plant–animal interactions and ecological processes impaired by defaunation. However, the reestablishment of such processes has seldom been assessed. We investigated the restoration of ecological interactions following the reintroduction of the brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba) to a defaunated Atlantic forest site. We expected the reintroduction to restore plant–animal interactions and interactions between howlers and dung beetles, which promote secondary seed dispersal. We estimated the number of interactions expected to be restored by the reintroduction to provide the baseline interaction richness that could be restored. We followed the reintroduced howler monkeys twice a week for 24 months (337 hours total) to assess their diet. We used howler monkey dung in secondary seed dispersal experiments with 2484 seed mimics to estimate the removal rates by dung beetles and collected the beetles to assess community attributes. We compared the potential future contribution of howler monkeys and other frugivores to seed dispersal based on the seed sizes they disperse in other areas where they occur. In 2 years, howler monkeys consumed 60 animal-dispersed plant species out of the 330 estimated. Twenty-one dung beetle species were attracted to experimentally provided dung; most of them were tunnelers, nocturnal, and large-sized (>10 mm). On average 30% (range 0–100%) of the large seed mimics (14 mm) were moved by dung beetles. About 91% of the species consumed by howlers (size range 0.3–34.3 mm) overlapped in seed size with those removed by dung beetles. In our study area, howler monkeys may consume more large-seeded fruit species than most other frugivores, highlighting their potential to affect forest regeneration. Our results show reintroductions may effectively restore ecological links and enhance ecological processes.     

The effects of compost prepared from waste material of banana on the growth, yield and quality properties of banana plants

Three doses (15-30-45 kg plant(-1)) of the compost prepared from the clone of Dwarf cavendish banana were compared with farmyard manure (50 kg plant(-1)), mineral fertilizers (180 g N+ 150 g P +335 g K plant(-1)) and farmyard manure+ mineral fertilizers (25 kg FM+ 180 g N+ 150 g P +335 g K plant(-1)) which determined positive effects on the growth, yield and fruit quality characteristics of banana plants. The banana plants were grown under a heated glasshouse and in a soil with physical and chemical properties are suitable for banana growing. The contents of N, P, K and Mg in compost and in farmyard manure were found to be similar. Farmyard manure, farmyard manure + mineral fertilizers and 45 kg plant(-1) of compost increased growth, yield and fruit quality characteristics. According to obtained results, 45 kg plant(-1) of compost was determined more suitable in terms of economical production and organic farming than the other fertilizer types.     

Diversity and structural characteristics of nitrogen-fixing bacterial community in tobacco-growing soils at different elevations in Panzhihua北大核心CSCD

固氮细菌在土壤氮素转换过程中发挥重要作用.为深入认识攀枝花地区农田土壤固氮细菌群落特征及其与土壤理化性质的关联性,以攀枝花米易县不同海拔高度(1 600 m、1 800 m、2 000 m)植烟土壤为研究对象,采用高通量测序技术(high-throughput sequencing)对nifH基因进行测序,分析固氮细菌群落结构特征和多样性.结果显示,固氮酶活性随海拔升高而逐渐降低,并与土壤有机碳及全氮呈极显著正相关(P <0.01);固氮细菌群落多样性指数在海拔1 800 m处达到最大值.3个海拔土壤共获得高质量序列1 159 980条,所检测到的固氮细菌分属于4个门、11个纲、19个目、29个科、40个属.基于门分类水平分析结果,变形菌门(Proteobacteria)在所有海拔土壤中均为优势固氮菌群,相对丰度达64.69%-78.36%;而蓝细菌门(Cyanobacteria)仅在海拔高度2 000 m时为优势类群.在属水平上,伯克霍尔德菌属(Burkholderia)、克雷伯氏菌属(Klebsiella)相对丰度分别为海拔高度1 800 m与2 000 m土壤优势菌属,而类伯克霍尔德氏菌属(Paraburkholderia)是所有海拔土壤中的主要菌属.采用随机森林分析评估和筛选标志物种,确认Azohydromonas对固氮细菌群落结构差异存在重要影响.结合Pearson相关性分析与冗余分析结果,土壤含水量、硝态氮、碱解氮与有效磷是造成不同海拔土壤固氮细菌群落特征差异的主要环境因子.本研究表明海拔梯度及响应其变化的土壤理化因子,对调控固氮细菌群落结构与多样性有较大影响.(图8表3参41)     

Response of winter wheat yield and soil microbial biomass to fertilization with ridge mulching-furrow planting in the dry highlands of the Loess Plateau北大核心CSCD

As the typical planting pattern of winter wheat in the dry highlands of the Loess Plateau, ridge mulching-furrow planting (RMFP) has played an important role in fertilizer efficiency of different fertilizers, and the differences in fertilizer efficiency further influence the diversity of the structure of soil microbial communities. The effects of different fertilization practices on winter wheat yield formation, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN), and soil microbial biomass phosphorus (SMBP) were investigated by field experiments during 2014-2016 in the winter wheat growing region of the dry highlands in southern Shanxi. The treatments included four groups, farmer fertilization (FF), monitoring fertilization (MF), monitoring fertilization combined application of manure (MFM), and monitoring fertilization combined application of bio-organic fertilizer (MFB). Results showed a significant increase in winter wheat yield by optimized and balanced fertilization, and the grain yield of MFB was highest among all treatments, with a value of 4 107-5 400 kg/hm2, which was 14.5%-23.2% (P < 0.05) higher than that of FF. The effects of different fertilization treatments on the winter wheat yield formulation mainly depended on spike number; however, no effect was found on kernel number per spike and 1 000-grain weight. Soil microbial biomass was affected by both growth period and fertilization patterns, i.e., the content of SMBC from jointing to flowering stage was highest during the winter wheat growth period, whereas the maximum values of SMBN and SMCP were found during the jointing stage. Changes in the rates of SMBC, SMBN, and SMBP during the entire growth period were less than 50%; however, the average contribution rate of optimized fertilization on SMBC, SMBN, and SMBP reached 90%. Compared to single chemical fertilizer applications, the combined application chemical fertilizer and manure or bio-organic fertilizer significantly improved the contents of SMBC, SMBN, and SMBP; however, the contents of SMBC and SMBN between MFM and MFB had no significant difference, whereas the SMBP of MFB was 19.8%-47.1% (P < 0.05) higher than that of MFM owing to the effect of mixed phosphorus bacteria. The soil microbial biomass C/N and C/P of the different treatments were 6.9-9.8 and 14.4-41.0, respectively, and maximum values occurred during the flowering stage. Given the above, the combined application of reasonable chemical fertilizer and bio-organic fertilizer can effectively improve the winter wheat yield and soil microbial biomass under RMFP cultivation in the dry highlands of the Loess Plateau. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Impacts of ozone on the biomass and yield of rice in open-top chambers

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Solid waste forecasting using modified ANFIS modeling

Solid waste prediction is crucial for sustainable solid waste management. Usually, accurate waste generation record is challenge in developing countries which complicates the modelling process. Solid waste generation is related to demographic, economic, and social factors. However, these factors are highly varied due to population and economy growths. The objective of this research is to determine the most influencing demographic and economic factors that affect solid waste generation using systematic approach, and then develop a model to forecast solid waste generation using a modified Adaptive Neural Inference System (MANFIS). The model evaluation was performed using Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and the coefficient of determination (R2). The results show that the best input variables are people age groups 0-14, 15-64, and people above 65 years, and the best model structure is 3 triangular fuzzy membership functions and 27 fuzzy rules. The model has been validated using testing data and the resulted training RMSE, MAE and R2 were 0.2678, 0.045 and 0.99, respectively, while for testing phase RMSE =3.986, MAE = 0.673 and R2 = 0.98.

Implications: To date, a few attempts have been made to predict the annual solid waste generation in developing countries. This paper presents modeling of annual solid waste generation using Modified ANFIS, it is a systematic approach to search for the most influencing factors and then modify the ANFIS structure to simplify the model. The proposed method can be used to forecast the waste generation in such developing countries where accurate reliable data is not always available. Moreover, annual solid waste prediction is essential for sustainable planning.     

House sparrows benefit from the conservation of white storks

As with many farmland bird species, the house sparrow Passer domesticus is declining in Europe, mainly due to intensification of agriculture reducing nest sites and food supplies. During 2002–2005, we studied the population size and nest site characteristics of house sparrows breeding within white stork Ciconia ciconia nests in a large area of agricultural landscape within western Poland. To explain sparrow density within stork nests, we examined characteristics of white stork nests (position, age, productivity) and the farm type around the nest. House sparrow density was greatest in the longest established (and hence larger) white stork nests located on traditionally managed farms. Two recent changes appear to have adverse effects on house sparrows. The first is the intensification of farming and the second is active management of white stork nests on electric poles to reduce nest size and thus avoid both disruption to the electrical supply and electrocution of white storks. Because the white stork has such a high profile in Poland, there are numerous schemes to conserve and enhance this species. In conclusion, we clearly show that protecting one species can have valuable, although unplanned, benefits to another species of conservation interest, the house sparrow.     

Hazard and Effects of Pollution by Lead on Vegetable Crops

Lead (Pb) contamination of the environment is an important human health problem. Children are vulnerable to Pb toxicity; it causes damage to the central nervous system and, in some extreme cases, can cause death. Lead is widespread, especially in the urban environment, and is present in the atmosphere, soil, water and food. Pb tends to accumulate in surface soil because of its low solubility, mobility, and relative freedom from microbial degradation of this element in the soil. Lead is present in soil as a result to weathering and other pedogenic processes acting on the soil parent material; or from pollution arising caused by the anthropogenic activities; such as mining, smelting and waste disposal; or through the adoption of the unsafe and unethical agricultural practices such as using of sewage sludge, and waste water in production of vegetable crops or cultivation of vegetables near highways and industry regions. Lead concentrations are generally higher in the leafy vegetables than the other vegetables. Factors affecting lead uptake included its concentration in the soil, soil pH, soil type, organic matter content, plant species, and unsafe agriculture practices. Generally, as Pb concentration increased; dry matter yields of roots, stems and leaves as well as total yield decreased. The mechanism of growth inhibition by lead involve: a decrease in number of dividing cells, a reduction on chlorophyll synthesis, induced water stress to plants, and decreased NO ₃ ^- uptake, reduced nitrate and nitrite reductase activity, a direct effect of lead on protein synthesis, a decrease on the uptake and concentration of nutrients in plants. The strategies to minimize Pb hazard can be represented in: (a) Phytoremediation, through natural plants are able to bio-accumulate Pb in their above–ground parts, which are then harvested for removal such as, using Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea), Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Hemp Dogbane (Apocynum cannabium), or Poplar trees, which sequester lead in its biomass. (b) Good and ethical agricultural practices such as cultivation of vegetables crops as far from busy streets or highways and industry regions as well as nonuse of sewage sludge and waste water in cultivated soils. (c) Increasing the absorptive capacity of the soil by adding organic matter and humic acid. (d) Growing vegetable crops and cultivars with a low potential to accumulate lead, especially in soils exposed to atmospheric pollution. (e) Washing of leafy vegetables by water containing 1 % vinegar or peeling roots, tubers, and some fruits of vegetables before consumption may be an important factor in reducing the lead concentration.     

Use of Seawater in Flue Gas Desulfurization

For seasite power plants using seawater for condenser cooling, Bechtel developed a new process to remove better than 90 percent of flue gas SO₂ using seawater and lime. Tests demonstrate that marine life is not affected by the effluent from this unique scrubbing process; therefore, the aqueous effluent containing reacted products (gypsum) in solution at low concentration is suitable for discharge to the sea.