Polythene and plastic-degrading microbes in an Indian mangrove soil

Biodegradation of polythene bags and plastic cups was analyzed after 2, 4, 6, and 9 months of incubation in the mangrove soil. The biodegradation of polythene bags was significantly higher (up to 4.21% in 9 months) than that of plastic cups (up to 0.25% in 9 months). Microbial counts in the degrading materials were recorded up to 79.67 x 10(4) per gram for total heterotrophic bacteria, and up to 55.33 x 10(2) per gram for fungi. The microbial species found associated with the degrading materials were identified as five Gram positive and two Gram negative bacteria, and eight fungal species of Aspergillus. The species that were predominant were Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus (Gram +ve), Moraxella, and Pseudomonas (Gram -ve) and two species of fungi (Aspergillus glaucus and A. niger). Efficacy of the microbial species in degradation of plastics and polythene was analyzed in shaker cultures. Among the bacteria, Pseudomonas species degraded 20.54% of polythene and 8.16% of plastics in one-month period. Among the fungal species, Aspergillus glaucus degraded 28.80% of polythene and 7.26% of plastics in one-month period. This work reveals that the mangrove soil is a good source of microbes capable of degrading polythene and plastics.     

Litter-associated bacteria and fungi – a comparison of biomass and communities across lakes and plant species

1. We investigated the importance of lake water chemistry and substrate properties in regulating microbial decomposer communities on macrophyte litter. Ten lakes of differing water chemistry, including such variables as nutrient concentration, pH and dissolved organic carbon, were sampled in October 2003. Water chemistry was analysed, and litter from the macrophytes Phragmites australis, Schoenoplectus lacustris and Nuphar lutea was collected from both above and below the water surface. 2. The three plant species differed widely in carbon and nitrogen content. The aerial parts of P. australis had highest C : N ratio (mean value 125), while the lowest values were found in leaves of N. lutea (19.8). 3. Fungal carbon ranged from 0.15 to 6.4 mg g^?1 dry weight (DW), and was higher on aerial than on submerged plant parts. Fungal biomass was highest on S. lacustris and lowest on N. lutea. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed no differences in the number of fungal taxa between plant species or plant parts, with the limitation that no molecular analysis was possible for N. lutea. 4. In contrast, bacteria were most abundant on N. lutea, but showed no significant difference between leaf and stem parts. The number of bacterial taxa was highest on the submerged parts of P. australis. 5. The correlations between microbial variables and the properties of lakes and litter were analysed using multivariate statistics. In a principal component analysis, litter properties explained 78% of the variation in microbial variables. In contrast, redundancy analysis revealed that the explanatory power of lake water chemistry was only 20%, indicating that the properties of the growth substratum were more important than those of the lake water for the attached microbial communities.     

Determination of anti-microbial properties of Ocimum viride concentrations on Rhizopus stolonifer infection and germination of soybean (Glycine max L. Merill)

Investigation was conducted to determine the anti-microbial properties of different concentrations of Ocimum viride and germination of soybean. Analysis of variance recorded a highly significant difference on the percentage occurrence of different fungal diseases at 5% probability level. Ocimum viride at 0.04 ppm had the highest mycelia growth inhibition 77.0%, while 0.00 ppm (control) recorded the lowest mycelia inhibition 1.00% of Rhizopus stolonifer. Investigation revealed that spot recorded the highest percentage occurrence 50%, scab 34%, mould 43% and blight 31.0% recording the lowest. Also the microorganisms isolated from diseased soybean were Rhizopus stolonifer, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus species although the inhibition was very high on Rhizopus stolonifer, followed by Aspergillus sp, then mould when Fusarium sp was low. Also, Ocimun viride extract was observed to possess a high anti-microbial properties as it inhibited the growth of all the micro-organisms identified to be associated with the soybean sees. Result showed that seeds treated with crude extract of 0.04ppm had the highest percentage germination irrespective of the days of germination, followed by 0.03 ppm, then 0.02 ppm, when 0.00 ppm had the lowest. However, 0.01 and 0.02 ppm, respectively, recorded similar percentage germination 64%; 64% at 4 days after planting. Days of planting were highly significant on the percentage germination at 5% probability level, as germination of the soybean seeds increased with days of planting and highest percentage germination of 98% was recorded on the 6th day of planting while no germination was recorded from the 1st till the 4th day of planting.     

Assessing hunters’ ability to identify shot geese: implications for hunting bag accuracy

Reliable hunting bag statistics are a prerequisite for sustainable harvest management. Recently, Internet-based hunting bag reporting systems have been introduced in some European countries, e.g. Denmark, which may enable faster and more detailed reporting. However, reporting of waterfowl bags on a species-specific level may be biased from the individual hunters’ ability to correctly identify species, particularly because juvenile birds can only be identified from subtle differences. We assessed hunters’ ability to identify the five goose species huntable in Denmark. Identifications were made from a line-up of ten full-bodied geese including adults and juveniles. From a total of 2160 identifications made by active hunters, 85.5% were correct while 14.5% were assigned to a wrong species. Active hunters had on average an identification accuracy of 76.0%, highest for Canada goose (99.1%) and lowest for white-fronted goose (74.6%) and bean goose (73.7%). Identification accuracy was significantly lower for juvenile than for adult individuals of white-fronted and bean geese. Correcting the official Danish Bag Record (2013/2014) for identification accuracy, the bags of white-fronted and bean geese increase by 56.5 and 104.4%, respectively, while the bags of greylag and pink-footed geese decrease by 6.7 and 9.0%; the bag for Canada goose remains unchanged. Although identification accuracy is probably higher under field conditions, the study documents that inaccurate species identification is a source of bias in national bag statistics. Hence, improving identification skills by hunters is important to improve bag data accuracy when based on Internet reporting.     

The influence of invertebrates on the breakdown ofPotamogeton pectinatus L. in a coastal marina (Zandvlei,South Africa)

The influence of invertebrates upon the decomposition ofPotamogeton pectinatus L. in a coastal Marina system was examined over 112 days using litter bags. Invertebrate inclusion bags (2 mm mesh, 5 mm holes) registered a dry mass loss of 1% d^–1, while exclusion litter bags (80 µm mesh) produced a 0.4% mass loss d^–1 (a 2.5 fold difference). Losses of ash and N from inclusion bags were greater than those from exclusion bags (p < 0.05). There was a three fold difference between the two treatments in the time taken for litter to breakdown to half the initial stock: T_1/2 for inclusion bags = 43 d, exclusion bags = 130 d. In both treatments, minerals showed an expected rapid loss, due to leaching, with a subsequent slow increase relative to the dry material remaining. A total of nine invertebrate taxa was recorded from inclusion bags, with a peak biomass of 64 mg g^–1 dry massPotamogeton bag^–1 reached at 64 days after immersion. Grazing amphipods,Melita zeylanica Stebbing andAustrochiltonia subtenuis (Barnard), numerically dominated the litter bag fauna, whileM. zeylanica and nymphs of the zygopteran predatorIschnura senegalensis (Rambur) formed most of the biomass. Scanning Electron Microscopy indicated heavy grazing of micro-organisms by invertebrates, with major qualitative differences occurring 112 days after immersion. Invertebrates significantly accelerated the rate of litter breakdown through their feeding activities, assisting fragmentation and thus contributing to plant losses and also by increasing the surface area for microbial colonisation and attack.     

Phytostabilization of heavy metals by the emergent macrophyte Vossia cuspidata (Roxb.) Griff.: A phytoremediation approach

The present study was conducted to investigate the potential of Vossia cuspidata as a phytoremediator to accumulate heavy metals from polluted water bodies. Thirty-two quadrats, distributed equally in eight sites (six polluted sites along the Ismailia canal and two unpolluted sites along the Nile River) were selected seasonally for plant, water, and sediment investigations. Winter plants recorded the highest values of shoot height, diameter, and leaf width, but the lowest shoot density. Plants collected in autumn had the lowest values of leaf length, width, and area, while those collected in spring had the highest shoot density, with the lowest shoot height. Summer populations had the highest fresh and dry plant biomass, while winter plants had the lowest. Fresh production and dry biomass of V. cuspidata in the unpolluted Nile were significantly higher than those in polluted canals. Chlorophyll a and carotenoid concentrations were reduced under pollution stress. Spring plants accumulated the highest concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Pb in their root, and the lowest concentrations of Al, Cd, Cr, and Zn in their shoot. The bioaccumulation factor for most investigated metals, except Al, Cr, and Fe was greater than 1, while the translocation factor of all metals was less than 1, therefore this plant is considered to be a potential for these metals phytostabilization.     

A modified litter bag design for use in lentic habitats

A modified litter bag design and handling procedure were tested to establish whether these reduced the exaggerated fragmentation losses that occur with standard litter bags. The modified design was compared with standard coarse (5 mm) and fine (0.25 mm) mesh litter bags using Phragmitesleaf litter. All were positioned in a section of a reedbed subject to water level management but negligible water flow. Breakdown rates were significantly reduced with the modified design but these were still significantly greater than those in the fine mesh bags. Owing to the extended period, results were influenced by invertebrates colonising the fine mesh bags. The significance of bag design and invertebrate colonisation are discussed.     

不同材质果袋春夏季节套袋对黄瓜果实发育和品质的影响

以“冬冠3号”黄瓜品种为试材,于春夏生长季节（4—7月份）在日光温室中研究了白膜袋、鲜膜袋、白纸袋和黄纸袋4种套袋处理对黄瓜果实微环境、果实生长发育和营养品质及农药残留的影响。结果表明：不论晴天还是阴天,所有套袋处理的袋内光照强度降低,相对湿度增大,温度提高;白纸袋增温效果最好,鲜膜袋内相对湿度最高,黄纸袋内光照最弱。单株单瓜套袋和单株果实连续套袋试验均表明,套袋后果实鲜重增长加快,瓜长度增加,瓜皮色显著变浅。连续套袋后,单瓜重普遍提高,大头瓜率降低,但化瓜率、弯瓜率和尖头瓜率增加;游离氨基酸含量提高;维生素C含量无显著变化;叶绿素和类胡萝卜素的含量普遍降低;可溶性蛋白质含量白纸袋和鲜膜袋的提高,黄纸袋和白膜袋的降低,但与CK间的差异均未达到5％显著水平。套袋可有效降低果实中氧化乐果的残留量,其中黄纸袋效果最好,其次为鲜膜袋、白膜袋和白纸袋。综合考虑各指标,认为春夏季节黄瓜果实套袋栽培应优先选用白纸袋,鲜膜袋和白膜袋不适宜在该季节使用。     

Effect of fruit type and storage treatments on the biodeterioration of African pear (Dacryodes edulis (G. Don.) H. J. Lam.)

The storage potential of the African pear (Dacryodes edulis (G. Don.) H. J. Lam.) (Burseraceae) was investigated using four fruit types. At ambient temperatures (28·5–30°C), those enclosed in either paper or polythene bags could be stored satisfactorily for 3–8 days, after which they deteriorated rapidly. Storage life was increased at lower temperatures, but injury due to chilling was observed at −5°C. At 15°C, fruits dipped in palm oil before being packaged were of better quality and retained their firmness longer than fruits dipped in a 500 ppm benlate solution. Storage in moist sawdust, wood-shavings or water were the least effective in extending shelf-life. Variation among fruit types in their response to storage treatment was observed.     

套袋对越冬番茄果实微环境及产量和品质的影响

以‘L402’番茄为试材,研究了不同材质果袋内微环境变化规律及其对果实膨大与品质的影响.结果表明：套袋可改变番茄果实发育的微环境,促进果实发育,使果实提早成熟,增加单果质量.硫酸纸袋内光照、湿度介于塑料袋与无纺布袋之间,除上午温度低于塑料袋外,下午及夜间的温度均较高,其收获时单果质量较对照增加了15.34%.但套袋果实的可溶性固形物、可溶性糖、维生素C含量和糖酸比值均低于对照,说明套袋影响了果实营养品质,降低了果实风味.由于套袋阻隔了果实与农药的直接接触,除无纺布袋内果实毒死蜱含量高于对照外,硫酸纸袋及塑料袋处理的番茄果实毒死蜱残留量及高效氯氰菊酯残留量均显著低于对照.     

果实类蔬菜套袋技术效果评价

田间系统研究了不同袋型的套袋效果及不同果实类蔬菜最佳套袋的时期。室内测定分析了套袋果实蔬菜的营养物含量及农药残留量。结果表明：黄瓜、番茄、西葫芦、茄子套膜袋均有显著的增产效果,分别为16．4％、11．6％、10．1％、13．7％。套纸袋除番茄外亦均有明显增产效果。套膜袋VC含量增加22．0％～152．9％。畸形瓜(果)降低11．5％～32．3％,袋体有效阻隔了化学农药对果实类蔬菜直接接触污染。套膜袋黄瓜、番茄、茄子、西葫芦中农药残留量分别降低83．3％、84．5％、79．7％、85．7％,套纸袋依次降低73．2％、79．9％、70．9％、83．1％。套袋栽培协调了病虫防治与绿色食品蔬菜生产的矛盾。     

Evaluation of some fungal diseases and yield of groundnut in groundnut-based cropping systems

A study on the evaluation of some fungal diseases and yield of groundnut in groundnut-based cropping systems was conducted in 2002 and 2003 planting seasons. Analysis of variance indicated that intercropping was highly significant on leaf spot disease severity 0.76; 0.75, rust 2.75; 2.69, as well as percentage defoliation 78.42%; 78.10% in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Plant population was significant on leaf spot severity 4.52, 4.60 rust 2.76; 366 and defoliation 226.5; 441.1 fungal as well as yield, while interactions were not significant on the fungal diseases and yield. Sole groundnut recorded significantly high severity of the fungal diseases investigated but low yield, when groundnut was intercropped with maize and melon and recorded the lowest yield in 2002 and 2003 respectively. 250,000 plants/ha recorded the lowest severity of the diseases investigated, while 444,444 plants/ha recorded the highest. Sole groundnut also recorded the highest percentage defoliation 79.37%, 79.25% when groundnut was intercropped with maize recorded the lowest 77.06%; 77.60%. 250,000 plants/ha had the lowest defoliation when 444,444 plants/ha had the highest 80.75% 82.13% in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Sole groundnut recorded the lowest in the majority of yields when intercropped with maize and with melon recorded a high yield and yield components in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The microorganisms identified were Cercospora spp., Aspergillus linked and Blastomyces.     

凋落物分解过程中土壤微生物群落的变化

凋落物分解是生态系统碳循环和营养物质循环的关键过程, 受多种因素共同影响。土壤微生物是影响凋落物分解的重要因素, 其群落组成在一定程度上依赖于所处植物群落的特征。因此, 研究分解过程中微生物群落组成的变化及其对植物多样性的响应, 有利于对凋落物分解机制的理解。本文采用分解袋野外原位分解的方法, 对凋落物分解过程中微生物群落的变化及其对所处森林环境中树木的种类和遗传多样性的响应进行了研究。结果表明: (1)凋落物分解183天后, 土壤中微生物群落的多样性降低, 并且森林群落的物种多样性与微生物群落多样性呈负相关关系; (2)凋落物分解前后, 土壤中真菌和细菌群落的磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)量均有所增加, 说明凋落物分解为微生物生存和繁殖提供了养分; (3)地形因素是影响微生物群落变化最显著的因素, 可解释微生物群落变化的29.55%; 其次是凋落物的基质质量, 可以解释15.39%; 最后是森林群落的多样性, 可以解释8.45%; 这3种因素共同解释率为2.97%。综上所述, 与森林群落的植物多样性相比, 样地的地形因素与凋落物的基质质量对微生物群落的影响更显著。     

套袋对凤梨释迦袋内温光环境和果实品质的影响

探讨凤梨释迦Annona×atemoya套袋果实发育过程中不同类型果袋袋内温度、光参数变化,以及果袋类型对果实品质的影响。结果表明,不同类型果袋内温光环境差异大,果袋类型对果实外观及固形物含量存在显著影响。内黑外黄单层袋不透光,夜间袋温较高,果实固形物含量高于白色袋及半边透明白色袋,但果色较差,呈黄白色。白色袋具有一定透光性,白天袋内温度高于内黑外黄单层袋,果实呈浅绿色,果色较好。半边透明白色袋,袋内光强最大,其果实颜色、固形物含量与白色袋未见明显差异。不同类型果袋对果实大小,单果重,以及果柄的长度和粗度均未见显著影响。     

Long‐term persistence of horse fecal DNA in the environment makes equids particularly good candidates for noninvasive sampling

Fecal DNA collected noninvasively can provide valuable information about genetic and ecological characteristics. This approach has rarely been used for equids, despite the need for conservation of endangered species and management of abundant feral populations. We examined factors affecting the efficacy of using equid fecal samples for conservation genetics. First, we evaluated two fecal collection methods (paper bag vs. ethanol). Then, we investigated how time since deposition and month of collection impacted microsatellite amplification success and genotyping errors. Between May and November 2014, we collected feral horse fecal samples of known age each month in a feral horse Herd Management Area in western Colorado and documented deterioration in the field with photographs. Samples collected and dried in paper bags had significantly higher amplification rates than those collected and stored in ethanol. There was little difference in the number of loci that amplified per sample between fresh fecal piles and those that had been exposed to the environment for up to 2 months (in samples collected in paper bags). After 2 months of exposure, amplification success declined. When comparing fresh (0–2 months) and old (3–6 months) fecal piles, samples from fresh piles had more matching genotypes across samples, better amplification success and less allelic dropout. Samples defecated during the summer and collected within 2 months of deposition had highest number of genotypes matching among samples, and lowest rates of amplification failure and allelic dropout. Due to the digestive system and amount of fecal material produced by equids, as well as their occurrence in arid ecosystems, we suggest that they are particularly good candidates for noninvasive sampling using fecal DNA.     

套袋苹果不同类型果袋内温、湿度变化特征及其对果实外观品质的影响

研究了套袋苹果果实发育过程中不同类型果袋内温、湿度的变化以及果袋对果实外观品质的影响.结果表明:果袋内的温度和湿度变化呈负相关,一天中袋内温度从9:00开始迅速升高,最高温度在春秋季一般出现在13:00-14:00,盛夏一般出现在13:00-17:00,最低温度出现在5:00前后,最高湿度出现在6:00前后.不同类型的果袋温、湿度变化不同,特别在高温和阴雨天差异明显,最高温度表现为双层袋》单层袋,而最高湿度表现为单层袋》双层袋.高温往往伴随极度干燥,当袋内温度超过35 ℃时,微域湿度一般低于40%.套袋对苹果果实品质有重要影响,果实外观品质以双层袋较好、单层袋较差;而双层袋中又以XL袋效果最好.     

粤北地区溪流中的树叶分解及大型底栖动物功能摄食群

利用2种孔径(5mm的塑料网袋和0.1mm的布袋)的分解网袋对2种树叶在广东北部的横石水河的3级溪流中,进行了为期101d的树叶分解研究.结果表明:人面子树叶在网袋和布袋中的分解速率分别为0.0247d-1和0.0151d-1;而蒲桃树叶的分解速率则分别为0.0108d-1和0.0095d-1.说明2种树叶在布袋中的分解速率均比网袋慢,且人面子树叶的分解速率比蒲桃树叶快.定殖在2种树叶网袋中的功能摄食群以刮食者的比例最高(36%),其次是集食者(33%)和捕食者(25%),撕食者的比例最低(6%).在实验中后期,人面子树叶上的底栖动物个体总数、优势类群数和密度显著高于蒲桃树叶.说明在亚热带地区的中等级别的溪流中,由于撕食者种类减少,刮食者的类群数及密度对树叶分解速率具有显著影响.对微生物活动的抑制作用和对底栖动物取食的驱避作用使富含单宁成分的蒲桃树叶的分解速率下降.     

不同水分条件下混种密度对芦苇和反枝苋种间竞争的影响

与本地植物的种间竞争是影响外来植物能否成功入侵的关键因素之一,该研究通过受控模拟试验研究了本地植物芦苇(Phragmites australis)和外来入侵植物反枝苋(Amaranthus retroflexus)在淹水和干旱两种水分条件下混种密度(6∶2、4∶4和2∶6)对其种间竞争的影响。结果表明:(1)芦苇和反枝苋的相对产量与相对产量总和均小于1,即两种植物存在种间竞争。(2)种间竞争使芦苇和反枝苋的生长均受到了不同程度的抑制,表现在两者的株高和生物量均随着竞争者密度的增加而降低。(3)植株地上部分和地下部分的氮浓度表现出与株高和生物量相同的趋势,且在不同水分条件下存在差异。(4)芦苇和反枝苋分别在淹水和干旱环境下具有较强竞争力,但在各自较高混种密度下亦具有较强竞争力。可见,芦苇和反枝苋的种间竞争受到了水分和混种密度的影响。因此,在有反枝苋分布的湿地中,植物生长初期可通过增加土壤水分和/或增加芦苇等本地植物的种群密度以降低反枝苋的种群密度来限制其竞争能力,防止反枝苋在湿地中生长建群和扩散入侵。     

Leaching of plasticizers from and surface characterization of PVC blood platelet bags.

The leaching of phthalate plasticizers from four types of blood platelet bags was investigated. The anticoagulant solutions used in the blood collection bags had pH values of 5.64 +/- .04 and contained no detectable amounts of phthalates. Platelet bag materials from each bag were soaked in normal salines for up to 5 days. The salines were tested for the leached phthalates from the bags but none could be found. However, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) leached out of the PL-146 and Terumo bags into bovine calf serum used for soaking the bag materials. There was an increase in the amount of DEHP leached from about 1.1 mg at the end of one day to about 3.3 mg per gm of bag material at the end of a five day extraction with the serum. In PL-732 sets, a platelet bag made of a specialty polyolefin, the amount of DEHP leached out was less than 0.02 mg per g of bag material. CLX bags, which contained tri-(2-ethylhexyl) trimelliate (TETM) as a plasticizer, showed a negligible amount of it leaching into the calf serum. Infra-red spectra showed that PL-146 bags had been coated with a layer of a fatty acid amide while the Terumo bags contained a layer of a silicone fluid on their inner surfaces. CLX bags showed a coating of stearates, which were probably soaps of calcium or zinc. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the inner surfaces of each brand of the bag were distinctly different morphologically. The two PVC bags were very similar whereas the surfaces morphology of PL-732 was rougher. Terumo bag had a different surface morphology than those of the other bags whereas the CLX bags had a very regular surface pattern. The exact significance of the surface morphology is not certain but excessively rough surfaces may not be desirable for the bags.     

Ectomycorrhizal mycelial species composition in apatite amended and non-amended mesh bags buried in a phosphorus-poor spruce forest

We studied the effect of apatite amendment on ectomycorrhizal (EM) mycelial biomass production and species composition in a phosphorus-poor spruce forest using sand-filled mesh bags. Control and apatite-amended bags were buried in pairs in the lower part of the organic horizon for one growth season. DNA extraction, PCR of the ITS region, cloning and random sequencing were used to examine the fungal species composition in each bag. Sequences were identified by comparison with the UNITE database and GenBank. Our study confirmed previous results that the major fungal ingrowth in mesh bags was of EM origin. On average 13 species were detected in each bag. Tylospora fibrillosa, Amphinema sp., Tomentellopsis submollis, and Xerocomus badius made up almost 80 % of the EM sequences. High biomass was related to increased dominance of specific species. There were no statistically significant differences in biomass production estimated from PLFA 18:2ω6, 9, or between fungal communities of apatite-amended and control bags estimated from DNA after one growth season. The potential of the mesh bag method in studies of functional diversity of EM mycelia in the field is discussed.