Algal growth control by a barley straw extract

In recent years, there has been an apparent increase in the occurrence of harmful algal blooms occurring in potable waters. The potential of a simple barley straw extract to inhibit algal growth was assessed. Algal growth in lakewater was inhibited by the addition of barley straw (1% w/v), with the chlorophyll a concentration remaining below the original level (40 micrograms l-1) throughout the experiment. In contrast, in the presence of wheat straw, algal biomass increased, reaching a final chlorophyll a concentration of 1160 micrograms l-1 after 28 days. Analysis of the remaining particulate straw at the end of the experiment showed that the lignin content of barley straw had increased significantly from 10-33% (w/w). Further, a preparation of a simple aqueous extract from the decomposed-barley straw was found to inhibit the cyanobacteria Microcystis sp. and the algal species Scenedesmus, with chlorophyll a levels some 10-fold lower than in untreated flasks. This study shows that a decomposed-barley extract, even in a very dilute concentration (0.005%) was capable of inhibiting the growth of Microcystis sp., a commonly occurring cyanobacterium which produces the toxin microcystin and has been responsible for some of the most serious pernicious algal blooms in the UK.     

An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Straw as an Algal Inhibitor in an Upland Scottish Loch

The control of algal blooms caused by a colony of black-headed gulls in an upland loch in central Scotland was attempted using bales of barley straw. The initial evidence suggests that the release of the inhibitory substance commenced 6-10 months after placement of the bales and was sustained for at least 18 months. The moored bales provided a useful substrate for benthic invertebrates, acting as a shelter and detritus trap. Algal diversity appeared not to be affected by the bales, but the cell numbers of the main species were affected.     

Factors affecting degradation of barley straw in sacco and microbial activity in the rumen of cows fed fibre-rich diets: III. The amount of supplemental energy

A basic diet composed of 76.2% untreated barley straw +23.8% grass hay was given to three non-lactating cows at 90% of ad libitum intake; the diet was supplemented with fishmeal to make the ration up to 12% protein on dry matter basis, a mineral–vitamin mixture and either 1.5 kg; 3.0 kg or 4.5 kg of rolled barley/cow×day in a Latin Square design. The inclusion of rolled barley affected the degradability of DM, OM and individual components of the cell wall of barley straw incubated in nylon bags for up to 72 h. The higher the energy level of supplementation, the lower the digestion of the cell wall components. The amount of starch influenced rumen pH, ammonia and VFAs concentrations, ATP and protozoal numbers, but no treatment effect could be detected upon the outflow rate of liquid or particulate phases. The ATP and DNA concentrations found inside the nylon bags suggest the presence of an inactive or less active population towards the substrate after 24 h of incubation.     

Chemical characterization of the aqueous algistatic fraction of barley straw (Hordeum vulgare) inhibiting Microcystis aeruginosa

The algistatic properties of aqueous barley straw (Hordeum vulgare) extracts have been observed in laboratory studies and in situ. This reported algistatic property has been used by farmers and horticulturists to control algal blooms in various systems and has become standard practice in some areas. However, both inhibition and stimulation of algal growth in freshwater and marine species have been demonstrated. While the number of taxa known to be inhibited by barley straw has increased, comparatively little has been done to isolate and classify the compound(s) responsible for this algistatic effect. A microplate assay system using Microcystis aeruginosa was developed to isolate and identify the inhibitory components of barley straw extract. M. aeruginosa was selected for the bioassay because it is consistently inhibited by barley straw extract in studies conducted by our laboratory and others. The 24-well plate assay utilizes in vivo fluorescence monitoring with a TECAN GENios plate reader to determine chlorophyll-a levels in each culture. Fractionation and partial chemical characterization of inhibitory extracts suggests that the inhibitors are polyphenolics with molecular weights (MW) between 1,000 and 3,000 Da. Percolation of the aqueous extract through a Polyamide CC6 resin or through various MW cutoff filters resulted in the loss of algistatic activity, which confirms this assertion, while hydrolysis resulted in little change in the activity profile. Fractionation by HPLC methods yielded a highly potent multi-compound fraction, showing toxicity at 353 mg L⁻¹ and algistatic activity between 11.1 and 3.53 mg L⁻¹.     

The territorial system of the kob antelope (Kobus kob kob) in the Comoé National Park, Côte d'Ivoire

The territorial system of kob antelopes in the Comoé National Park, Côte d'Ivoire, was studied from March 1993 until April 1997. Whereas size and shape of territories remained constant between 1993 and 1994, the number of territories decreased from 1994 onwards. A decline of the population density probably led to the decline in territory numbers and also to variations in size and shape of the remaining territories. The decline of kob numbers is the result of heavy poaching in the study area. Whereas a lekking system was present in the study area prior to 1975 when the population density was approximately 14.4 kobs/km², males switched to the resource defence territorial system present today after the population density decreased to 12.5/km² in 1993 and finally to 2.3/km² in 1997. Compared to other research areas with higher population densities, territories in the Comoé National Park are larger, almost all adult males are capable to defend a territory, fights over territories are rare and loss of territory tenureship is almost exclusively due to the death of the territorial male. We suggest that those differences can all be related to the low population density in the study area.     

On the concentration of acetic acid in straw and soil

Summary Freshly harvested wheat straw contained 0.096 g water g^–1 dry straw and 180 mM acetic acid. The straw absorbed water more rapidly from wet soil. The concentration of acetic acid fell to about 10 mM within 6 h of incorporation of straw in the soil and then remained relatively constant for a period of 12 days, irrespective of soil moisture content. In soil at its maximum water holding capacity after gravitational drainage, the decline in acetic acid concentration (c) with distance (d) from wheat or barley straw was exponential, with c=c_o e^–nd where c_o is the concentration of acetic acid at the straw surface and n is a constant (0.46 for barley and 0.42 for wheat straw). The presence of acetic acid seems to be a major cause of poor establishment and growth when seeds and seedling roots come into contact with straw.     

Influence of barley straw (Hordeum vulgare L.) extract on phytoplankton dominated by Scenedesmus species in laboratory conditions: the importance of the extraction duration

The response of a natural phytoplankton assemblage dominated by algae of the genus Scenedesmus to the addition of barley straw extract was studied in a laboratory experiment. The aim of the study was to compare the inhibiting effect of water extracts obtained by soaking the straw for 1, 2 and 3 months. We analysed the response of four species, Scenedesmus subspicatus, Scenedesmus ecornis, Scenedesmus quadricauda and Scenedesmus acuminatus, during 14 days of their exposure to different types of barley straw extract. S. subspicatus and S. ecornis responded with decreasing numbers only to the addition of the 3-month solution (ANOVA; F?=?290.1, p <0.001; and F?=?11.8, p <0.01, respectively); the two other species were inhibited by all types of extracts. The results indicate the need for more research on the importance of extraction duration to the inhibitory abilities of barley straw which can be applied in the management of water quality in water bodies.     

Total mixed ration pellets for light fattening lambs: effects on animal health

Fifty male Merino lambs (6 to 8 weeks, 14.1 kg; n=10 per group) were used to study the effect of feeding system: barley straw in long form and concentrate pellets in separate troughs (Control), ad libitum alfalfa supplemented with concentrate in separate troughs (Alfalfa) or including various levels of ground barley straw in concentrate pellets (B05, B15 and B25 for 50, 150 and 250 g barley straw/kg), on rumen characteristics, acid-base status, blood cell counts and lymphocyte stimulation. Alfalfa lambs had the heaviest digestive tract contents, highest rumen pH values, lowest volatile fatty acid concentration, highest papillae counts and best mucosa colour and the greatest blood pCO₂ values, lowest sodium and chloride and highest potassium concentrations (P<0.05). Including ground barley straw in the concentrate pellet or providing straw in long form separately from the concentrate reduces rumen pH and darkens ruminal mucosa as compared with alfalfa-fed lambs, thus affecting acid-base status.     

Effects of straw disposal and tillage on spread of barley yellow dwarf virus in winter barley

The effects of straw baling or incorporation, combined with ploughing, non-inversion tillage, or direct drilling on the incidence of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), were investigated in plots of winter barley. Virus infection was more prevalent after ploughing (> 40% of the plot area damaged) than after non-inversion tillage (9 – 24%) or direct drilling (< 3%). For each cultivation method, more infection was associated with straw baling than with straw incorporation. There was a strong negative correlation between plot yields and the incidence of BYDV(r= -0.87). Monthly pitfall sampling of non-specific aphid predators showed that the population activity of several taxa (e.g. Linyphiidae, and the larger species of adult and larval Carabidae and Staphylinidae) declined for a short period in autumn-winter following cultivation. The overall treatment-ranking for numbers of predators in autumn (direct drilled > non-inversion > ploughed) was the opposite of subsequent virus infection. The possible roles of aphid predators and other biological mechanisms in determining the observed effects on BYDV, are briefly discussed.     

西藏中部地区退化土壤秸秆还田的微生物变化特征及其影响

于西藏中部地区秸秆还田条件下,研究了土壤微生物区系及其主要生理类群的变化特征和土壤微生物对土壤肥力的影响及其相互关系。结果表明,不同秸秆还田方式,特别是秸秆覆盖和高茬方式较高的土壤水分、土壤温度及其耦合效应,为土壤微生物繁殖与活动提供了重要的土壤环境保障,有助于以细菌为主导的各类土壤微生物的相对均衡生长,对加速土壤有机残体分解,大幅度提高土壤有机质含量,促进土壤团粒结构形成和土壤养分转化均具重要作用,表明在西藏中部生态条件下,退化土壤具有在相对较短时间内实现结构重建与肥力恢复的可能性及其潜力。     

Assessment of Environmental Conditions That Favor Hepatotoxic and Neurotoxic Anabaena spp. Strains Cultured under Light Limitation at Different Temperatures

Abstract Toxic cyanobacterial mass occurrences have caused animal poisonings worldwide and may pose a health hazard for humans. Strains of the genus Anabaena are either non-toxic or produce hepatotoxins, microcystins (MCYST), or neurotoxins (such as anatoxin-a). In order to study which growth conditions favor hepatotoxic vs neurotoxic strains and how production of toxins varies, we compared the responses of two microcystin- and two anatoxin-a-producing Anabaena strains in continuous turbidostat cultures, at different temperatures, under growth-limiting light levels. Growth rates consistently remained <0.8 divisions per 24 h. Differences were strain-specific and not associated with hepatotoxicity or neurotoxicity. Thus, differential adaptation of strains to temperature and to growth-limiting light levels cannot explain why, in some cyanobacterial water blooms, hepatotoxic strains, and in others, neurotoxic ones become dominant. A statistical analysis of field data showed that the most significant discriminating factors between different types of blooms were the concentrations of dissolved PO₄-phosphorus and NO₃-nitrogen. Anabaena blooms with unknown neurotoxicity associated with low PO₄-phosphorus and high NO₃-nitrogen concentrations. Among other Anabaena blooms, the hepatotoxic ones associated with the lowest, and most of the non-toxic ones with higher concentrations of PO₄-phosphorus. Anabaena blooms that contained anatoxin-a and hepatotoxic Microcystis blooms showed tendencies towards the highest concentrations of PO₄-phosphorus. Non-toxic blooms dominated by genera other than Anabaena occurred over a wide range of growth conditions. In turbidostat cultures, maximal production of microcystins correlated with maximal growth rates. Light regulated the production of MCYST-LR variants, and temperature affected the production of MCYST-RR variants. Anatoxin-a seemed to be produced most under temperatures and light levels slightly suboptimal for growth. Under low light, considerable amounts of extracellular anatoxin-a were detected while microcystins consistently remained intracellular. Received: 25 August 1997; Accepted: 2 December 1997     

Differing growth responses of major phylogenetic groups of marine bacteria to natural phytoplankton blooms in the western North Pacific Ocean

Growth and productivity of phytoplankton substantially change organic matter characteristics, which affect bacterial abundance, productivity, and community structure in aquatic ecosystems. We analyzed bacterial community structures and measured activities inside and outside phytoplankton blooms in the western North Pacific Ocean by using bromodeoxyuridine immunocytochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization (BIC-FISH). Roseobacter/Rhodobacter, SAR11, Betaproteobacteria, Alteromonas, SAR86, and Bacteroidetes responded differently to changes in organic matter supply. Roseobacter/Rhodobacter bacteria remained widespread, active, and proliferating despite large fluctuations in organic matter and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations. The relative contribution of Bacteroidetes to total bacterial production was consistently high. Furthermore, we documented the unexpectedly large contribution of Alteromonas to total bacterial production in the bloom. Bacterial abundance, productivity, and growth potential (the proportion of growing cells in a population) were significantly correlated with Chl-a and particulate organic carbon concentrations. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that organic matter supply was critical for determining bacterial community structures. The growth potential of each bacterial group as a function of Chl-a concentration showed a bell-shaped distribution, indicating an optimal organic matter concentration to promote growth. The growth of Alteromonas and Betaproteobacteria was especially strongly correlated with organic matter supply. These data elucidate the distinctive ecological role of major bacterial taxa in organic matter cycling during open ocean phytoplankton blooms.     

HPLC pigment records provide evidence of past blooms of Aureococcus anophagefferens in the Coastal Bays of Maryland and Virginia, USA

Concentrations of the accessory phytoplankton pigment 19′-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin (but-fuco), derived from archived high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) data from the Atlantic coastal bays of Maryland and Virginia (1993–1995 and 1999–2002), were used to determine the presence of Aureococcus anophagefferens at 18 stations. Paired data of direct cell counts of A. anophagefferens and but-fuco concentration data from 2000 to 2002 were linearly regressed (R² = 0.78). This regression was used to estimate historical cell densities from 1994 to 1995 and to improve the spatial resolution from 1999 to 2002. Although the HPLC method used did not permit quantification of but-fuco before 1994, the records indicate that qualitatively A. anophagefferens was present in 1993. Quantitative measurements grouped into bloom index categories showed that annually, peak densities occurred in May to July. Severe Category 3 blooms (>200,000 cells ml⁻¹) were found in 1995, 2001, and 2002. Spatially, concentrations of but-fuco were higher in the northern extent of the study region than in the lower Chincoteague Bay, and along the western shore of Chincoteague Bay than on the eastern side. On an interannual basis, it appeared that A. anophagefferens became more geographically widespread and blooms more intense throughout the study period.     

Dispersal of Rhynchosporium secalis conidia from infected barley leaves or straw by simulated rain

Simulated rain (mean drop diameter c. 1 or 3 mm) was allowed to fall for 10 – 15 min on to barley leaves or straw infected by Rhynchosporium secalis (leaf blotch). The leaves were supported on a mesh through which run-off water drained and the straw was supported on a rigid surface on which run-off water collected. The numbers of R. secalis conidia and spore-carrying splash droplets collected by horizontal samplers (microscope slides and pieces of photographic film) decreased rapidly with increasing distance from and increasing height above the sources, with half-distances of 2 – 10 cm. Less than 10% of the spores or droplets reached heights of more than 30 cm. Incident drops 3 mm in diameter produced more spore-carrying droplets and dispersed more conidia than did 1 mm drops. The size category of splash droplets with the greatest proportion of the spore-carrying droplets dispersed by 3 mm drops was 200 – 400 μm, whether the source was infected barley leaves or barley straw. For leaves or straw the greatest proportions of spores were carried in droplets > 1000 μm in diameter. The mean diameter of spore-carrying droplets (478 μm) dispersed from free-draining leaves was less than that of droplets from straw plus run-off water (563 μm). However, the leaf source had more spores cm^-2 and the mean number of spores per droplet was greater (113 as opposed to 6·8) than for the straw source.     

Brown Tide blooms in Long Island's coastal waters linked to interannual variability in groundwater flow

There has been a widespread increase in the reporting of harmful and ‘nuisance’ algal blooms in the coastal ocean over the past few decades. On the global scale this is suspected to be a consequence of coastal eutrophication, however, on a case-by-case basis there is usually insufficient evidence to discriminate between the effects of human and natural causal factors. Intense blooms of the ‘Brown Tide’ unicellular algae (Aureococcus anophagefferens) have occurred sporadically since 1985 in coastal waters of Eastern Long Island and have devastated the local commercial scallop fishery. Analysis of an 11-year time-series dataset from this region indicates that bloom intensity is correlated with higher salinities and inversely correlated with the discharge of groundwater. Laboratory and field studies suggest that whereas salinity is unlikely to represent a direct physiological control on Brown Tide blooms, the addition of inorganic nitrogen tends to inhibit Brown Tide blooms. Budget calculations indicate that the inorganic nitrogen supply from groundwater is 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than any other external source of nitrogen for this ecosystem. Biweekly time series data collected in 1995 demonstrate that Brown Tide blooms utilize dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) for growth, as evidenced by a large decrease in DON parallel with an increase in cell abundance. On an interannual basis, bloom intensity was also positively correlated with mean DON concentrations. We hypothesize that bloom initiation is regulated by the relative supply of inorganic and organic nitrogen, determined to a large extent by temporal variability in groundwater flow. The 1980s and 1990s were characterized by exceptionally high and interannually variable groundwater discharge, associated with a large-scale climate shift over the North Atlantic. This, coupled with the time-lagged discharge of groundwater with high nitrate concentrations resulting from increased fertilizer use and population increase during the 1960s and 1970s, may have been a key factor in the initiation of Brown Tide blooms in 1985.     

Effects of treatment of barley straw with anhydrous ammonia and supplementation with heat-treated protein meals on feed intake and liveweight performance of growing lambs

Two feeding experiments were conducted in which lambs were given a basal diet of barley straw, supplemented with urea and minerals. The aim of the experiments was to increase lamb performance by (i) supplementation of the diet with protein meals that were largely undegraded in the rumen, (ii) treating the barley straw with anhydrous ammonia to increase its digestibility, or (iii) a combination of both.In Experiment 1, lambs were given the basal diet supplemented with 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 or 360 g heat-treated protein-meal/kg straw. At the 300 g/kg level of supplementation, the protein pellet increased liveweight gain by 82 g/day, intake of barley straw by 110 g/day, and wool growth by 3.3 g/day, in comparison with unsupplemented lambs.In Experiment 2, untreated barley-straw or barley straw treated with anhydrous ammonia (4% w/w) was given to growing lambs. Each diet was supplemented (g/kg straw diet) with 100, 200 or 300 of two heat-treated protein-meals. Ammoniation of the barley straw increased dry matter (DM) digestibility in vitro from 49 to 57%, and hemicellulose content was reduced by 20%. Total N content of the straw was increased from 4.6 to 9.8 gN/kg DM by ammoniation, 65% of the increased N being potentially degradable in the rumen. As a result of ammoniation, digestible dry-matter intake of lambs was increased by 60 g DM/day and liveweight gain increased by 15 g/day.There was no significant difference between the two protein supplements with respect to either total feed intake or liveweight gain. Liveweight gain was significantly increased by both supplements (71, 106 and 125 g/day for each level of supplementation, respectively), but neither supplement had a significant effect on the intake of barley straw.Supplementation of a low-protein, low digestible diet of barley straw with a pelleted protein-meal considerably increased liveweight gain of growing lambs and maintained straw intake. By comparison, treatment of barley straw with anhydrous ammonia increased its digestibility, but had only a minor effect on lamb performance.     

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of straw to ethanol using the thermotolerant yeast strain Kluyveromyces marxianus imb3

The thermotolerant, ethanol-producing yeast strain Kluyveromyces marxianus IMB3 was grown at 45°C on media containing 2, 4 and 6 % (w/v) pulverized barley straw and supplemented with 2% (v/v) cellulase. Maximum ethanol concentrations produced were 2, 3 and 3.6g/l, respectively. When the pulverized straw was replaced by NaOH pretreated straw (at 2, 4 and 6% (w/v); based on original untreated straw), ethanol concentrations increased to maxima of 3.9, 8, and 12g/l, respectively. The ethanol yields amount to 20g ethanol from 100g of straw.     

Ammonia-treated barley straw and rolled barley offered either together, in a mixed ration, or successively to beef steers

Barley straw treated with anhydrous ammonia at a rate of 40 g per kg of straw dry matter (DM) and rolled barley were offered to 20 steers weighing initially 350 kg. Each steer was offered in total approximately 600 kg of straw DM and approximately 525 kg of barley DM. Ten steers were offered the straw alone in the long form at the beginning of the trial followed by the rolled barley alone. The remaining 10 steers were offered straw which had been ground through a 40-mm screen and mixed with the rolled barley in a complete diet. Dry matter digestibility coefficients of the ammonia-treated straw and the mixed straw plus barley diet were 0.52 and 0.57 ± 0.026, respectively. The DM digestibility coefficient of rolled grain in the mixed diet was predicted from the digestibility of starch to be 0.78 and the DM digestibility of straw in the mixed diet, determined by difference, was 0.39. Although steers offered the straw followed by rolled barley took on average 39 days longer to consume their total food allowance, cold dressed carcass weights of the two groups were not significantly different nor was there any difference in the carcass composition of the two groups of steers as determined by specific gravity measurements. Maintenance energy requirements were calculated for the two groups of steers and although the same amount of food was consumed by both groups and the energy required for maintenance was higher in the group offered straw followed by barley, the depression in the energy available from straw offered in a mixed diet caused the same total amount of metabolizable energy to be available for carcass gain to both groups.     

Factors regulating bluegreen dominance in a reservoir directly influenced by the Asian monsoon

Current hypotheses, based on physical and chemical theory, that account for bluegreen-blooms in lakes were evaluated in Taechung Reservoir, Korea, during May 1993–November 1994. Seasonal patterns of chlorophyll (Chl) were similar in 1993 and 1994, but the taxonomic composition and size structure of the phytoplankton communities differed between years. During August–September 1994, bluegreens comprised >80% of total cell numbers and net-Chl (fraction of Chl>35 m) was 63% of total Chl, whereas in 1993, diatoms (Melosira) were the major taxa, and ultra-Chl (<11 m) dominated. The major factor influencing bluegreen dominance in 1994 was a weak monsoon which was directly linked to strong water column stability (>25 kg m^–2), high water temperature (>28°C), and reduced silica input. Low N/or N:P ratios and the concentration of monovalent cations (Na⁺ and K⁺) were not determining factors in this system, but light and pH seemed to act as secondary factors. Our study suggests that the magnitude and frequency of bluegreen blooms in Asian waterbodies may be reduced during an intense monsoon, but increased during a weak monsoon.     

Adhesion of cellulolytic ruminal bacteria to barley straw

Adhesion of the cellulolytic ruminal bacteria Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Fibrobacter succinogenes to barley straw was measured by incubating bacterial suspensions with hammer-milled straw for 30 min, filtering the mixtures through sintered glass filters, and measuring the optical densities of the filtrates. Maximum adhesion of both species occurred at pH 6.0 and during mid- to late-exponential phase. Adhesion was saturable at 33 and 23 mg (dry weight) g of straw for R. flavefaciens and F. succinogenes, respectively. Methyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose inhibited adhesion by 24 to 33%. Competition between species was determined by measuring characteristic cell-associated enzyme activities in filtrates of mixtures incubated with straw; p-nitrophenyl-beta-d-lactopyranoside hydrolysis was used as a marker for F. succinogenes, while either beta-xylosidase or carboxymethyl cellulase was used for R. flavefaciens, depending on the other species present. R. flavefaciens had no influence on F. succinogenes adhesion, and F. succinogenes had only a minor (<20%) effect on R. flavefaciens adhesion. The noncellulolytic ruminal bacteria Bacteroides ruminicola and Selenomonas ruminantium had no influence on adhesion of either cellulolytic species, although these organisms also adhered to the straw. We concluded that R. flavefaciens and F. succinogenes have separate, specific adhesion sites on barley straw that are not obscured by competition with non-cellulolytic species.