Search results for "conservation."

Influences of landscape structure on diversity of beetles associated with bracket fungi in Brazilian Atlantic Forest

2015

Abstract Brazilian Atlantic forest ecosystem is a global biodiversity hotspot. We studied the effects of area, connectivity and habitat quality of conservation areas on the diversity of beetles associated with basidiomes of wood-decaying fungi. Moreover, we analyzed the beetles' composition to verify what the process that produces the differentiation between the patches (β diversity). Species richness of fungivorous beetles increased the larger the area and the better the connectivity of conservation areas; however, neither area nor connectivity had an independent effect on beetle richness. Furthermore, the fungivorous beetle community was affected by the reduction in resource availability …

Management diversity begets biodiversity in production forest landscapes

2022

How to manage forest for biodiversity conservation is an ongoing debate. We argue that maximizing biodiversity in managed forest landscapes requires a diversity of forest management regimes in space and time. This will generate high levels of habitat heterogeneity at a landscape scale, which in turn will support various groups of forest species. Based on concepts from landscape ecology, we formulate five hypotheses on how management diversity, i.e. combining various management approaches can benefit overall biodiversity across a production forest landscape. First, management diversity will increase habitat diversity and, therefore, beta diversity (the habitat diversity hypothesis). Second, …

Water balance and pollutant removal efficiency when considering evapotranspiration in a pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland in…

2016

Abstract In constructed wetland systems (CWs) for wastewater treatment, the performance of the system is affected by evapotranspiration (ET). This study shows the results of a series of water balance and pollutant removal efficiency analyses taken from a pilot horizontal-subsurface flow system (HSSFs) in the West of Sicily (Italy). The system comprised three separate units, one planted with Cyperus alternifolius L., one planted with Typha latifolia L. and an unplanted unit. The system was fed with urban wastewater from an activated-sludge wastewater treatment plant. The aims of the study were to determine water balance and pollutant removal rates when considering evapotranspiration in two r…

Cassava starch processing at small scale in North Vietnam

2008

International audience; In Northern Vietnam, small-scale cassava starch processing is conducted in densely populated craft villages, where processors face difficulties to expand their activities. Three different processing systems were studied among a cluster of three communes in the Red River Delta, producing up to 430 t of starch (at 55% dry matter) per day. The first system, type A, is a cylindrical rasper and a manual sieve, the second, type B, is a cylindrical rasper and stirring-filtering machine and the third, type C, used equipment for both the rasping and filtering stages. Moisture, starch, crude fibers and ash content analysis were carried out on samples collected from the A-B-C m…

Essential Oils as Natural Biocides in Conservation of Cultural Heritage

2020

Essential oils (EOs) have been known for a long time, and they are used in several fields such as medicine and aromatherapy, as well as in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In the last decade, EOs have also been applied to contrast the biodeterioration of cultural heritage, representing a powerful resource in green conservation strategies. In this study, an integrated approach based on microscopic observation, in vitro culture, and molecular investigation was preliminarily employed to identify biological systems colonizing wooden artworks. In order to contrast the biodeterioration processes induced by fungal colonization (Aspergillus flavus) or insect infestation (Anobium punctatum), …

Formulation of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Controlled Release of Antimicrobials for Stone Preventive Conservation

2020

The biotic deterioration of artifacts of archaeological and artistic interest mostly relies on the action of microorganisms capable of thriving under the most disparate environmental conditions. Thus, to attenuate biodeterioration phenomena, biocides can be used by the restorers to prevent or slow down the microbial growth. However, several factors such as biocide half-life, its wash-out because of environmental conditions, and its limited time of action make necessary its application repeatedly, leading to negative economic implications. Sound and successful treatments are represented by controlled release systems (CRSs) based on porous materials. Here, we report on the design and developm…

New biocides based on imidazolinium-functionalised hybrid mesoporous silica nanoparticles

2022

Here, we report the development of a new biocide based on hybrid mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN). The MSN was synthesized by condensation method in emulsion followed by grafting with two different silylated ionic liquid moieties, namely butyl imidazolinium bromide and imidazolinium propansulfonate betaine. Features of nanoparticles were characterized by Thermogravimetry, Infrared and ss-NMR Spectroscopy, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. The antibacterial properties were tested against a Gram-positive bacterial strain previously isolated from artefacts of interest in the field of Cultural Heritage. Interestingly, the hybrid material presents an antibacterial activity higher than i…

Cold-active molecules for a sustainable preservation and restoration of historic-artistic manufacts

2016

In the last decades biotechnology research provides sustainable alternatives to traditional procedures for preventive preservation of cultural assets. Recently, bioactive molecules (BMs) isolated from marine invertebrate organisms have been isolated and tested for bioremoval of protein layers (BMP) or to controlling microbial colonization (BMA), acting at temperature lower than 30°C. The Protease or Antimicrobial activity was tested on ad hoc assembled specimens and on different historic-artistic manufacts. In bio-removing protocol BMP molecules were applied as gelled solutions, in order to guarantees a selective action, respectful of constitutive materials and manufact integrity. Peculiari…

Raccolta, conservazione e caratterizzazione agrobotanica delle antiche cultivar di Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabaceae) nel comprensorio dei Nebrodi (Sic…

2015

Biocultural diversity and naturalness of rural landscape in Sicily

2017

Rural landscapes are a relevant palimpsest of biocultural diversity, as a tangible example of the symbiosis between natural processes and human activities. Sicilian rural landscape, due to the history of the territory and the resulting social and economic context, are configured in a heterogeneous mosaic rich in residual naturalness, which enhance connectivity of ecological network and support a high diversity of species. The present-day natural traits and biological diversity of Sicilian environment are the legacy of the historical land uses, which has generated a variegated mosaic of rural landscapes. They play an important role in the conservation of endemic, rare and threatened plant sp…