Search results for "Mass"
showing 10 items of 9693 documents
Drought and its legacy modulate the post-fire recovery of soil functionality and microbial community structure in a Mediterranean shrubland.
2019
The effects of drought on soil dynamics after fire are poorly known, particularly its long-term (i.e., years) legacy effects once rainfall returns to normal. Understanding this is particularly important for nutrient-poor soils in semi-arid regions affected by fire, in which rainfall is projected to decrease with climate change. Here, we studied the effects of post-fire drought and its legacy on soil microbial community structure and functionality in a Cistus-Erica shrubland (Spain). Rainfall total and patterns were experimentally modified to produce an unburned control (natural rainfall) and four burned treatments: control (natural rainfall), historical control (long-term average rainfall),…
Differences in the growth cycle ofRuppia cirrhosa(Petagna) Grande in a Mediterranean shallow system
2014
Ruppia cirrhosa growth cycle was analysed in a southern Mediterranean shallow system throughout 1 year. We examined the temporal variation in R. cirrhosa cover percentage, shoot density, biomass, leaf length, no. flowers m-2 and no. fruits m-2 in two groups of pond characterized by differences in some environmental parameters. Ponds were comparable for salinity and temperature but they differed for other environmental parameters such as water depth, level of suspended organic matter and chlorophyll a (CHL a). Biological parameter values were higher in B ponds, characterized by lower values of water depth, suspended organic matter and CHL a. A seasonal trend for all considered biological par…
Seed germination, salt stress tolerance and seedling growth of Opuntia ficus - indica (Cactaceae), invasive species in the Mediterranean Basin
2017
Abstract The present study, focuses on seed germination ecology and seedling growth of Opuntia ficus-indica (Cactaceae), a native species of arid and semi-arid regions of Mexico and invasive in the Mediterranean Basin. Shortly after collecting seeds in December 2014, scarification as well as the intra-specific variability in the responses of germination to light, temperature, salt stress and germination recovery were evaluated among three naturalized populations of this species in the Mediterranean. Moreover, seedling biomass production and the growth rate were measured. The most suitable method of scarification resulted the nail-clippers chipping. For all the populations, the germination t…
Carbon storage of Mediterranean grasslands
2016
Secondary grasslands are one of the most common vegetation types worldwide. In Europe, and in the Mediterranean basin, human activities have transformed many woodlands into secondary grasslands. Despite their recognized role in the global carbon cycle, very few data are available for estimating the biomass of Mediterranean grasslands. We developed linear regression models in order to predict the biomass of two native Mediterranean grasses (Ampelodesmos mauritanicus and Hyparrhenia hirta) and an invasive alien grass (Pennisetum setaceum). Ampelodesmos mauritanicus is very common throughout the Mediterranean basin, mostly on north-facing slopes, H. hirta characterizes thermo-xeric grasslands,…
Extraction of benzaldehyde from fermentation broth by pervaporation
1996
Abstract The application of pervaporation to extract benzaldehyde produced by microorganisms is considered. A model system was used to study the influence of different parameters and attempts to understand better the mass transfer of this flavour compound. Benzaldehyde was removed from a culture medium from which it was produced by Bjerkandera adusta . The performance of these processes is compared.
Use of microbial biostimulants to increase the salinity tolerance of vegetable transplants
2021
Vegetable plants are more sensitive to salt stress during the early growth stages
Grazing decreases N partitioning among coexisting plant species
2017
Herbivores play a key role in shaping ecosystem structure and functions by influencing plant and microbial community composition and nutrient cycling. This study investigated the long‐term effects of herbivores on plant resource acquisition. We explored differences in the natural δ15N signatures in plant, microbial and soil N pools, and examined mycorrhizal colonization in two tundra sites that have been either lightly or heavily grazed by reindeer for more than 50 years. The study examined changes in nutrient acquisition in five common tundra plants with contrasting traits and mycorrhiza status; the mycorrhizal dwarf shrubs, Betula nana, Vaccinium myrtillus and Empetrum hermaphroditum; a m…
No apparent effect of invasive alien goldenrod on soil microbial communities or soil fauna feeding activity
2020
Abstract Invasive alien species spreading in abandoned agricultural landscape may negatively affect native organisms, including plants and soil biota. This study assessed the effects of invasion by Solidago sp. (goldenrod) in southern Poland on soil fauna feeding activity and on soil microorganism activity, biomass, and functional and taxonomic diversity, in a comparisons of paired plots: goldenrod-invaded plots and nearby non-invaded plots of semi-natural grassland. Goldenrod-invaded plots had fewer vascular plant species (paired t-test) than non-invaded ones, and showed a distinct plant community composition (ANOSIM). Non-invaded and invaded plots did not differ in a range of measured soi…
Potential of an exploitation of acid-tolerant antimicrobial microorganisms evolving enzyme systems for the utilization of dairy by-products and ligno…
2016
Introduction Bioproduction of optically pure lactic acid (LA) has roused interest in the recent years due to its potential application in a wide range of fields, and there is a significant interest to further development of sustainable and cost-effective process. However, the efficient utilization of agro-industrial wastes for LA production still causes considerable challenges. The biotechnological LA production within the targeted cost still required the development of high-performance LA-producing microorganisms and the lowering of the costs of raw materials and fermentation process. Cheap biomass, such as starchy and cellulosic agricultural residues or by-products from the food industry,…
Non-conventional osmotic solutes (honey and glycerol) improve mass transfer and extend shelf life of hot-air dried red carrots: Kinetics, quality, bi…
2020
The effect of solutes (sucrose, honey and glycerol) on mass transfer kinetics, physico-chemical and biological quality, and shelf life of red carrot slices (RCSs) obtained by hot-air drying at 60 degrees C/6-8 h was studied. RCSs were osmosed for 24 h in sucrose (S), sucrose + honey (SH), honey (H) and sucrose + glycerol (SGL) before drying. Honey and glycerol enhanced the water loss (WL) and solute gain (SG), giving higher values for Peleg's model constants (k(1), WL = 6.9 and 6.5, for H and SGL, respectively; k(1), SG = 92.8 and 73.5, for H and SGL, respectively). Decreased viscosity of osmotic solutions corresponded with the solute effect on WL and SG, reaching equilibrium after 16 h. Di…