Search results for "Production"
showing 10 items of 7600 documents
Behaviour of cyclic bank voles under risk of mustelid predation: do females avoid copulations?
1993
Mustelid odours have been shown to suppress breeding in captive bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) from cyclic populations (Ylonen 1989; Ylonen and Ronkainen 1994). The mechanism behind the suppression is unknown. Based on a series of behavioural trials and breeding experiments with pairs of bank voles in breeding condition, we suggest that the primary cause for breeding suppression is a change in female mating behaviour. Experimental female-male pairs (n=34) exposed to mustelid odour decreased their general activity compared to control pairs (n=34). When encountering males in behavioural trials, females exposed to stoat odour were more aggressive and actively avoided precopulatory behavi…
Sex ratio and spatial distribution of male and female Antennaria dioica (Asteraceae) plants
2011
Sex ratio, sex spatial distribution and sexual dimorphism in reproduction and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation were investigated in the dioecious clonal plant Antennaria dioica (Asteraceae). Plants were monitored for five consecutive years in six study plots in Oulanka, northern Finland. Sex ratio, spatial distribution of sexes, flowering frequency, number of floral shoots and the number and weight of inflorescences were recorded. In addition, intensity of mycorrhizal fungi in the roots was assessed. Both sexes flowered each year with a similar frequency, but the overall genet sex ratio was strongly female-biased. The bivariate Ripley’s analysis of the sex distribution showed that within…
The role of the Krauss's organ in sound production in Pamphagidae (Caelifera: Orthoptera)
2012
Abstract In Pamphagidae, the Krauss's organ is located on both sides of the 2nd tergite and its function is superficially known. It has been proposed to have a stridulatory function. This organ can be found in all Pamphagidae except the apterous genera. Rearing specimens of some species and observing mounted pamphagids allowed the author to observe that when the Krauss's organ is absent (most apterous species) the tympanum is also absent; further, he discovered specialized stridulatory structures on hind femurs of some taxa for sound emission. By rearing two Pamphagidae belonging to different genera, fragments of stridulations involving the Krauss's organ and specialized structures on the h…
The relationship of hydraulic conductance to root system characteristics of peach (Prunus persica) rootstocks
2006
Specific rootstocks can differentially influence the vegetative growth and development of fruit trees. However, the physiological mechanism involved in this phenomenon has been elusive. Recent research comparing different peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) rootstocks suggests that the rootstock effect on vegetative growth in peach trees is associated to water relations and more specifically to differences in rootstock hydraulic conductance. This study was intended to confirm differences in hydraulic characteristics of similar size peach trees grafted on different rootstocks and to examine root system characteristics that could be associated with rootstock hydraulic limitations. Trees on roots…
Thermophilic hydrogen production from cellulose with rumen fluid enrichment cultures: Effects of different heat treatments
2011
Elevated temperatures (52, 60 and 65 °C) were used to enrich hydrogen producers on cellulose from cow rumen fluid. Methanogens were inhibited with two different heat treatments. Hydrogen production was considerable at 60 °C with the highest H2 yield of 0.44 mol-H2 mol-hexose -1 (1.93 mol-H2 mol-hexose-degraded-1) as obtained without heat treatment and with acetate and ethanol as the main fermentation products. H2 production rates and yields were controlled by cellulose degradation that was at the highest 21%. The optimum temperature and pH for H2 production of the rumen fluid enrichment culture were 62 °C and 7.3, respectively. The enrichments at 52 and 60 °C contained mainly bacteria from …
STUDIO PROPEDEUTICO PER LA REDAZIONE DI UN PIANO DI GESTIONE FORESTALE DEL BOSCO TARDARA, SUGHERETA PURA DEL COMUNE DI TUSA (MESSINA)
2019
La Sicilia è la seconda regione d’Italia per estensione delle formazioni naturali a Quercus suber (L.).Sugherete più o meno degradate sono presenti in tutte le province, il cui stato qualitativo oggi risulta carente a causa dei frequenti incendi, pascolo eccessivo e mancanza di adeguate cure colturali, ma certamente tra tutte le cause la principale è l’assenza di pianificazione. Da questa premessa affiora la necessità di conoscere e governare in modo congruo la superficie boscata siciliana attraverso la redazione di Piani di Gestione Forestale, mirando al ripristino dell’efficienza, della funzionalità e, in particolar modo, della produzione sostenibile dei boschi a sughera. Con il presente …
Relationships between economic profitability and habitat quality of Siberian jay in uneven-aged Norway spruce forest
2012
Abstract In the southern and central parts of Finland, Siberian jay (Perisoreus infaustus) lives in large non-fragmented spruce-dominated forests. Due to the reduction of such forests, Siberian jay has disappeared from the southern parts of Finland. This study analyzed continuous-cover uneven-aged forest management as a way to maintain Siberian jay habitats simultaneously with timber production. Continuous cover management is able to provide the necessary spatial and temporal continuity of forest features important to the viability of Siberian jay populations. The study analyzed the relationship between habitat quality of Siberian jay and profitability of uneven-aged management of Norway sp…
Effect of grafting on yield and quality of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)
2013
Eggplants have fruits with different sizes, shapes and colours, according to the cultivar. Skin colour is due to anthocyanins, pigments located in the cell vacuole of fruit skin that belong to phenolic flavonoids, a powerful antioxidants group. Environmental conditions and growing techniques may influence fruits characteristics and their content of phenolic compounds. Grafting is a non chemical alternative for overcoming the effects of intensive and continuous cropping. The rootstocks preferred for eggplant are hybrids of tomato or tomato KVFN. Also species taxonomically close, as Solanum torvum, have been used and showed good vigour, compatibility and resistance to wilt disease. Informatio…
Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to 15 Essential and Toxic Elements in Spanish Women of Reproductive Age: A Case Study
2021
This case study investigates the exposure of 119 Spanish women of reproductive age to 5 essential (Co, Cu, Mn, V, Zn) and 10 toxic (Ba, Be, Cs, Ni, Pb, Pt, Sb, Th, Al, U) elements and assesses their risk. The essential elements (Co, Cu, Mn, V, and Zn) showed average concentrations (GM: geometric mean) of 0.8, 35, 0.5, 0.2, and 347 μg/L, respectively. Five of the toxic elements (Ba, Cs, Ni, Al, U) exhibited detection frequencies of 100%. The GM concentrations of the novel toxic elements were 12 μg/L (Al), 0.01 μg/L (Pt), 0.02 μg/L (U), 0.12 μg/L (Th), 0.009 μg/L (Be) and 4 μg/L (Cs). The urine analysis was combined with a survey to assess any variations between subgroups…
Contributo per una visione contemporanea dell’azienda agricola: tra sostenibilità e sfide del mondo digitale
2023
Le sfide che l’umanità sta affrontando e da cui dipende la sopravvivenza del pianeta, il diffondersi nell’ambito dell’attività agricola di tecnologie digitali sempre più avanzate e la necessità di adottare un approccio sostenibile che preservi le risorse a tutela delle generazioni future hanno condotto l’azienda agricola a cambiare gradualmente volto. Questo libro mira a contribuire a un’aggiornata riflessione sul ruolo dell’imprenditore agricolo e dell’azienda da lui condotta, osservandone l’organizzazione e composizione alla luce delle regole che oggi la disciplinano e guardando alle innovazioni necessarie a garantire il raggiungimento dei pressanti obiettivi climatici e ambientali verso …