Biological pretreatment of rice straw with Streptomyces griseorubens JSD-1 and its optimized production of cellulase and xylanase for improved enzymatic saccharification efficiency

Biological pretreatment of rice straw and production of reducing sugars by hydrolysis of bio-pretreated material with Streptomyces griseorubens JSD-1 was investigated. After 10 days of incubation, various chemical compositions of inoculated rice straw were degraded and used for further enzymatic hydrolysis studies. The production of cellulolytic enzyme by S. griseorubens JSD-1 favored the conversion of cellulose to reducing sugars. The culture medium for cellulolytic enzyme production by using agro-industrial wastes was optimized through response surface methodology. According to the response surface analysis, the concentrations of 11.13, 20.34, 4.61, and 2.85 g L^?1 for rice straw, wheat bran, peptone, and CaCO₃, respectively, were found to be optimum for cellulase and xylanase production. Then the hydrolyzed spent Streptomyces cells were used as a nitrogen source and the maximum filter paper cellulase, carboxymethylcellulase, and xylanase activities of 25.79, 78.91, and 269.53 U mL^?1 were achieved. The crude cellulase produced by S. griseorubens JSD-1 was subsequently used for the hydrolysis of bio-pretreated rice straw, and the optimum saccharification efficiency of 88.13% was obtained, indicating that the crude enzyme might be used instead of commercial cellulase during a saccharification process. These results give a basis for further study of bioethanol production from agricultural cellulosic waste.     

Oil for Fish: An Energy Return on Investment Analysis of Selected European Union Fishing Fleets

World food production has increased substantially in the past century, thanks mostly to the increase in the use of oil as input in the production processes. This growing use of fossil fuels has negative effects, both on the environment and the production costs. Fishing is a fuel consuming food production activity, and its energy efficiency performance has worsened over time. World‐wide fisheries are also suffering from overexploitation, which contributes to the poor efficiency performance, adding more pressure and criticism on this economic activity. In this paper we analyzed the energy efficiency performance of more than 20,000 European Union (EU) fishing vessels for the period 2002–2008, using the edible energy return on investment (EROI) indicator. The vessels analyzed, grouped in 49 different fleets, represented 25% of the vessels and 33% of the landings of the EU fishing sector. These EU fishing fleets’ average EROI for 2008 was 0.11, which translates to an energy content of the fuel burned that is 9 times greater than the edible energy content of the catch. Hence, the significance of this study arises from the use of time‐series data on a relevant part of the EU fleet that showed stable or even slight improvements on the EROI over time. Moreover, results showed that the energy efficiency of the different fleets varied significantly (from 0.02 to 1.12), mainly depending on the fishing gear and the vessel length. The performance of the most efficient fleets, such as large pelagic trawlers and seiners, was comparable to many agricultural production activities. The plausible drivers behind these trends are further considered.     

Contrasting effects of GPS device and harness attachment on adult survival of Lesser Black‐backed Gulls Larus fuscus and Great Skuas Stercorarius skua

Telemetry has become an important method for studying the biology and ecology of animals. However, the impact of tracking devices and their method of attachment on different species across multiple temporal scales has seldom been assessed. We compared the behavioural and demographic responses of two species of seabird, Lesser Black‐backed Gull Larus fuscus and Great Skua Stercorarius skua, to a GPS device attached using a crossover wing harness. We used telemetry information and monitoring of breeding colonies to compare birds equipped with a device and harness, and control birds without an attachment. We assessed whether tagged birds have lower short‐term breeding productivity or lower longer term overwinter return rates (indicative of overwinter survival) than controls. For Great Skua, we also assessed whether territory attendance within the breeding season differed between tagged and control birds. As with previous studies on Lesser Black‐backed Gull, we found no short‐term impacts on breeding productivity or long‐term impacts on overwinter return rates. For Great Skua, there was no evidence for impacts of the device and harness on territory attendance or breeding productivity. However, as found by a previous study of Great Skuas using a different (body) harness design, there was strong evidence of reduced overwinter return rates. Consequently, a device attached using a wing harness was considered suitable for long‐term deployment on Lesser Black‐backed Gulls, but not on Great Skuas. These findings will inform the planning of future tracking studies.     

秸秆还田对耕作黑土中小型土壤动物群落的影响

为了考察秸秆还田对耕作黑土中土壤动物群落结构的影响,2009年到2011年在黑龙江省海伦市进行了定点实验,调查了样地A(17kg秸秆+含高浓度催腐剂还田)、样地B(8.5kg秸秆+含低浓度催腐剂还田)、样地C(对照样地),样地D(8.5kg秸秆还田),样地E(17kg秸秆还田)的中小型土壤动物群落结构。共获取中小型土壤动物21779只,分别隶属于58个类群。其中,甲螨亚目、姬跳虫科、棘跳虫科与驼跳科4个类群土壤动物在本地区是最适应环境变化的土壤动物类群。土壤动物群落结构分析表明,对照样地C中土壤动物密度最高(46591.67只/m~2),土壤动物类群最多(17.17),土壤动物优势度指数最大(0.37),样地D中土壤动物丰富度指数最多(2.63),样地A中土壤动物多样性指数最高(1.72),样地B中土壤动物均匀性最高(0.64)。同时,各样地土壤动物基本都具有表聚性,样地A中土壤动物更趋于生存于上层土壤。综合比较分析表明,样地A秸秆还田方式相对来说最利于土壤动物生存。主成分分析表明,不同秸秆还田方式对土壤动物密度、甲螨亚目动物类群、节跳虫科类群、前气门亚目类群影响较大,是耕作黑土中对秸秆还田方式反应敏感的土壤动物指标,今后可以作为考察耕作黑土秸秆还田肥力效应的评价指标。另外,CAA分析表明:受土壤环境因子影响较大的土壤动物类群多为研究区域内优势类群与常见类群,土壤动物的密度与土壤中有机质、有机碳、碳氮比与全磷的含量关系最为密切。     

基于秸秆还田条件下的黄灌区稻旱轮作土壤硝态氮淋失特征研究

宁夏引黄灌区农田面源污染较为严重,区内大部分排水沟水质为劣Ⅴ类,其主要污染物硝态氮与铵态氮。设置常规施肥(CK)、常规施肥条件下施用4500kg/hm~2(T1,半量还田)和9000 kg/hm~2(T2,全量还田)秸秆3个处理。利用树脂芯法吸附10、20、30、60、90cm土层的硝态氮流失量。2009—2013年的试验结果表明:秸秆还田能够减少土壤30cm土层的硝态氮淋失。与对照硝态氮淋失量(15.76 kg/hm~2)相比,T1(13.76 kg/hm~2)与T2(13.74 kg/hm~2)均达到显著差异(P0.05),淋失量分别减少12.71%和12.84%,T1与T2没有达到显著差异。秸秆还田对土壤硝态氮淋失的影响效应主要体现在30cm土层处,10、20、60与90cm土层处的处理与对照都没有达到显著差异。秸秆还田提高了30cm土层的土壤有机质与土壤总氮,与对照(13.78 g/kg)相比,T1与T2土壤有机质分别提高0.89 g/kg和1.24 g/kg;试验结束后,对照、T1和T2的总氮是达到0.64、0.66和0.69 g/kg,与对照相比,处理分别提高了2.76%和6.83%。秸秆还田有助于作物增产,T1与T2的水稻平均增产9.24%和10.37%,小麦增产10.11%和11.51%。     

施入不同土层的秸秆腐殖化特征及对玉米产量的影响

耕作和秸秆还田是打破犁底层、改善黑土肥力的重要措施.本研究利用田间试验,分析了耕作和秸秆还田对秸秆腐殖化系数、总有机质含量(SOC)和玉米产量的影响.结果表明:深耕+秸秆施入20～35 cm(ST+S)能够打破犁底层,与浅耕(TT)、深耕(ST)和浅耕+秸秆还田(TT+S)相比,试验6年间土壤容重平均降低了5.7%、3.3%和5.7%,其中ST和ST+S试验第一年效果最好;试验6年后秸秆腐解率表现为0～20 cm土层(72.0%)>20～35 cm土层(59.2%);0～20和20～35 cm土层秸秆腐殖化系数在试验的第一年达到了最大值,分别为15.9%和12.7%;与初始土壤相比,TT、ST和ST+S处理0～20 cm土层SOC和轻组有机碳(LFOC)含量呈下降趋势,而TT+S处理分别增加了2.9%和12.4%,ST+S处理20～35 cm土层分别增加了9.2%和9.9%;对玉米产量的影响表现为ST+S>TT+S>ST>TT,耕作和秸秆还田的时间效应明显,其中ST处理玉米产量的影响可以持续3年,而ST+S处理可以持续6年.因此,通过耕作的方式将秸秆施入20～35 cm土层是一种有效的、可持续改善黑土质量的农业措施.     

Juvenile Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica L. from late broods start autumn migration younger,fuel less effectively and show lower return rates than juveniles from early broods

Long‐distance migratory passerines may exhibit different post‐fledging rearing times between their early and late broods due to limited time and energy resources. This could affect the migratory fuelling behaviour, condition and fitness of juvenile birds. We analysed long‐term (13‐year) biometric data (body mass, fat score) on Barn Swallows ringed at the nest and later recaptured during their initial stages of autumn migration. The return rates of early‐ and late‐born juveniles after overwintering in Africa were further compared to estimate their fitness. We found that juveniles from late broods started migrating south on average 11 days younger compared with juveniles from early broods. Body masses of nestlings did not differ between early and late broods, but juveniles from late broods were in better condition after leaving the nest, possibly due to a longer period of parental care. Having started migration, juveniles from late broods were, however, less efficient in accumulating energy than juveniles from early broods. A younger departure age, together with less efficient fuelling of late brood juveniles, may partly explain the 39% lower return probability and hence lower fitness value of late‐brood juveniles. Our study is the first to show that juveniles from the early and late broods exhibit different fuelling behaviour and departure strategies (in terms of age and timing), which may be reflected in the fitness value of offspring.     

枯草芽胞杆菌发酵玉米秸秆后对家蝇的饲养效果

作物秸秆是重要的农业资源,为有效利用作物秸秆,本文利用枯草芽胞杆菌发酵玉米秸秆,配制成人工饲料来饲养家蝇。从菌液加入量和发酵天数来考察对家蝇饲养效果的影响,结果表明:枯草芽胞杆菌菌液加入量为3 mL(3.2×10~(11)cfu/mL),发酵天数3d时对家蝇饲养效果较好,幼虫质量为16.91g,与不加菌液的对照组(13.30g)相比存在显著性差异(P0.05)。经过枯草芽胞杆菌发酵和家蝇幼虫处理后,玉米秸秆的纤维素、半纤维素、木质素的绝对含量都显著降低(P0.05)。经过家蝇取食后的饲料残渣,经检测,有机质等均达到国家标准。最优家蝇饲料配方为:枯草芽胞杆菌菌液加入量3mL(3.2×10~(11) cfu/mL),发酵天数3d,玉米秸秆和麦麸各125g,每250g饲料添加初孵幼虫200mg。本研究利用枯草芽胞杆菌发酵玉米秸秆,提高其营养价值,并进一步饲养家蝇,为秸秆的资源化利用和家蝇规模化饲养奠定了基础。