Search Results (725)

Bombus haematurus (Hymenoptera: Apidae), which arrived from the Balkan Peninsula, was first reported in Italy in 2020 in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region (FVG) (northeastern Italy) near the border with Slovenia. To study the spread and biology of the species, a survey was conducted at several sites of the FVG in the period 2023–2025. Bombus haematurus was recorded at 22 new sites across all four districts of the FVG (Trieste, Gorizia, Udine, and Pordenone), indicating its expansion towards the west. Bumblebees of this species were detected in plain and hilly areas at sites between 10 and 364 m a.s.l. They were observed more frequently at forest edges, undergrowth paths or clearings and meadows adjacent to woods, confirming the species is hylophilous. The activity of adults from February to July confirms that the bumblebee is an univoltine spring species. Specimens were observed foraging on the flowers of 19 wild and ornamental plants belonging to 12 families (in particular, Lamiaceae), confirming that the species is polylectic. The data collected indicate that B. haematurus are permanently established in the FVG and that a further spread of the species towards the west in the neighbouring Veneto region is likely. Full article

Apiculture is among the most weather-dependent sectors of agriculture; however, quantifying the impact of meteorological factors remains challenging. Beehive weight has long been recognized as an important indicator of colony health, strength, and food availability, as well as foraging activity. Atmospheric influences on hive weight dynamics have been a subject of research since the early 20th century. This study aims to estimate hourly hive weight variation by applying linear time-series models to hive weight data collected from active apiaries during intensive foraging periods, considering atmospheric predictors. We employed a rolling 24 h forward ARIMAX and SARIMAX model, incorporating meteorological variables as exogenous factors. The median estimates for the study period resulted in model RMSE values of 0.1 and 0.3 kg/h. From numerous meteorological variables, the hourly maximum temperature was found to be the most significant predictor. ARIMAX model results also exhibited a strong diurnal cycle, pointing out the weather-driven seasonality of hive weight variations. Full article

Leaves, the main by-product of lingonberry harvesting, can be effectively used as a functional feed additive due to their health-promoting properties. This study evaluated the effects of lingonberry leaf (LL) supplementation on rumen fermentation, protozoal populations, and gastrointestinal morphology in sheep. Eight one-year-old Polish Mountain Sheep ewes (mean body weight: 33 kg) were allocated to a control (basal diet; forage-to-concentrate ratio 60:40) or an experimental group (basal diet + 9.30 g/kg DM dried LLs) in a completely randomised design (n = 4 per group) over 34 days. Both diets were formulated to be isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. LL additive significantly reduced Isotrichidae protozoal counts (p < 0.001) and ruminal pectinolytic activity (p = 0.043), without altering short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) or methane concentrations (p > 0.1). Histological analyses showed increased ruminal papilla width and surface area (p < 0.001) and decreased duodenal villus height and muscular layer thickness (p < 0.01). Inflammatory lesions (reddish foci) were identified in the liver in both groups. These findings demonstrate that LL supplementation affected specific protozoal population, fibrolytic activity, and gastrointestinal morphology. Further study on a larger number of animals is recommended to validate the effects and assess the safety and efficacy of LLs as a dietary additive in ruminant nutrition. Full article

Phosphorus (P) availability is a major constraint on plant growth in many forest ecosystems, yet the strategies by which different tree species acquire and utilize various forms of soil phosphorus remain poorly understood. This study investigated how coexisting tree species with contrasting mycorrhizal types, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations, respond to different phosphorus forms under field conditions. An in situ root bag experiment was conducted using four phosphorus treatments (control, inorganic, organic, and mixed phosphorus) across four subtropical tree species. A comprehensive set of fine root traits, including morphological, physiological, and mycorrhizal characteristics, was measured to evaluate species-specific phosphorus foraging strategies. The results showed that AM species were more responsive to phosphorus form variation than ECM species, particularly under inorganic and mixed phosphorus treatments. Significant changes in root diameter (RD), root tissue density (RTD), and acid phosphatase activity (RAP) were observed in AM species, often accompanied by higher phosphorus accumulation in fine roots. For example, RD in AM species significantly decreased under the Na₃PO₄ treatment (0.94 mm) compared to the control (1.18 mm), while ECM species showed no significant changes in RD across treatments (1.12–1.18 mm, p > 0.05). RTD in AM species significantly increased under Na₃PO₄ (0.030 g/cm³) and Mixture (0.021 g/cm³) compared to the control (0.012 g/cm³, p < 0.05), whereas ECM species exhibited consistently low RTD values across treatments (0.017–0.020 g/cm³, p > 0.05). RAP in AM species increased significantly under Na₃PO₄ (1812 nmol/g/h) and Mixture (1596 nmol/g/h) relative to the control (1348 nmol/g/h), while ECM species showed limited variation (1286–1550 nmol/g/h, p > 0.05). In contrast, ECM species displayed limited trait variation across treatments, reflecting a more conservative acquisition strategy. In addition, trait correlation analysis revealed stronger coordination among root traits in AM species. And AM species exhibited high variability across treatments, while ECM species maintained consistent trait distributions with limited plasticity. These findings suggest that AM and ECM species adopt fundamentally different phosphorus acquisition strategies. AM species rely on integrated morphological and physiological responses to variable phosphorus conditions, while ECM species maintain stable trait configurations, potentially supported by fungal symbiosis. Such divergence may contribute to functional complementarity and species coexistence in phosphorus-limited subtropical forests. Full article

Crop fidelity is a desirable trait for managed pollinators and is influenced by factors like competing forage sources and colony knowledge of the surrounding environment. In European honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), colonies deployed when the crop is flowering display the highest fidelity. We tested for a similar outcome using a stingless bee species that is being increasingly used as a managed pollinator in Australian macadamia orchards. We observed Tetragonula carbonaria (Smith) colonies deployed in macadamia orchards at three time points: (1) before crop flowering (“permanent”), (2) early flowering (“early”), and (3) later in the flowering period (“later”). We captured returning pollen foragers weekly and estimated crop fidelity from the proportion of macadamia pollen they collected, using light microscopy. Pollen foraging activity was also assessed via weekly hive entrance filming. The early and later introduced colonies initially exhibited high fidelity, collecting more macadamia pollen than the permanent colonies. In most cases, the permanent colonies were already collecting diverse pollen species from the local environment and took longer to shift over to macadamia. Pollen diversity increased over time in all colonies, which was associated with an increase in the proportion of pollen foragers. Our results indicate that stingless bees can initially prioritize a mass-flowering crop, even when flowering levels are low, but that they subsequently reduce fidelity over time. Our findings will inform pollinator management strategies to help growers maximize returns from pollinator-dependent crops like macadamia. Full article

The germin-like protein (GLP) family plays vital roles for plant growth, stress adaptation, and defense; however, its evolutionary dynamics and functional diversity in halophytes remain poorly characterized. Here, we present the genome-wide analysis of the GLP family in the halophytic forage alkaligrass (Puccinellia tenuiflora), which identified 54 PutGLPs with a significant expansion compared to other plant species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed monocot-specific clustering, with 41.5% of PutGLPs densely localized to chromosome 7, suggesting tandem duplication as a key driver of family expansion. Collinearity analysis confirmed evolutionary conservation with monocot GLPs. Integrated gene structure and motif analysis revealed conserved cupin domains (BoxB and BoxC). Promoter cis-acting elements analysis revealed stress-responsive architectures dominated by ABRE, STRE, and G-box motifs. Tissue-/organ-specific expression profiling identified root- and flower-enriched PutGLPs, implying specialized roles in stress adaptation. Dynamic expression patterns under salt-dominated stresses revealed distinct regulatory pathways governing ionic and alkaline stress responses. Functional characterization of PutGLP37 demonstrated its cell wall localization, dual superoxide dismutase (SOD) and oxalate oxidase (OXO) enzymatic activities, and salt stress tolerance in Escherichia coli, yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae INVSc1), and transgenic Arabidopsis. This study provides critical insights into the evolutionary innovation and stress adaptive roles of GLPs in halophytes. Full article

Sorghum is a versatile crop that serves as a major source of food, feed, fodder and biofuel globally. Lignin content in sorghum affects multiple important traits, including lodging resistance, forage digestibility and the efficiency of bioenergy production. However, the genetic regulation of lignin content in sorghum remains poorly understood. In this study, we combined transcriptomic and comparative genomic approaches to uncover the genetic network underlying lignin biosynthesis in sorghum. Through comparative genomic analysis, we identified 104 candidate genes involved in lignin biosynthesis. Transcriptome analysis of four sorghum accessions with contrasting lignin contents identified 6132 differentially expressed genes with an enrichment of genes related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and cell wall biogenesis. The 104 lignin biosynthesis candidates were significantly enriched (p-value < 0.01) in these differentially expressed genes, with most differentially expressed candidate genes related to monolignol biosynthesis and polymerization being up-regulated in high-lignin accessions. These up-regulated genes are related to all key enzymes involved in lignin biosynthesis, suggesting that the elevated lignin content in these accessions results from a collective increase in enzyme activity. Sequence analysis revealed a significant reduction in genetic diversity across lignin biosynthesis genes in cultivated sorghum compared to wild sorghum. Moreover, selection signals during domestication were identified in 30 lignin biosynthesis genes, 22 of which were differentially expressed, further supporting the functional relevance of these differentially expressed genes in lignin biosynthesis. Overall, our findings uncover the lignin biosynthesis gene network in sorghum and offer potential targets for future functional studies and trait manipulation. Full article

Wild-growing edible mushrooms are known to bioaccumulate radionuclides from their environment, particularly the natural isotope potassium-40 (⁴⁰K) and anthropogenic cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs). However, region-specific data for commercially relevant species in north-eastern Poland remain limited, despite the cultural and economic importance of mushroom foraging and export. This study aimed to assess the radiological safety of wild mushrooms intended for human consumption, with particular attention to regulatory compliance and potential exposure levels. In this study, 230 mushroom samples representing 19 wild edible species were analyzed using gamma spectrometry, alongside composite soil samples collected from corresponding foraging sites. The activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in mushrooms ranged from 0.94 to 159.0 Bq/kg fresh mass (f.m.), and that of ⁴⁰K from 64.4 to 150.2 Bq/kg f.m. None of the samples exceeded the regulatory limit of 1250 Bq/kg f.m. for ¹³⁷Cs. The highest estimated annual effective dose was 2.32 µSv from ¹³⁷Cs and 0.93 µSv from ⁴⁰K, with no exceedance of regulatory limits observed in any sample. A strong positive correlation was observed between ¹³⁷Cs activity in soil and mushroom dry mass (Spearman’s Rho = 0.81, p = 0.042), supporting predictable transfer patterns. Additionally, the implications of mushroom drying were assessed considering Council Regulation (Euratom) 2016/52, which mandates radionuclide levels in dried products be evaluated based on their reconstituted form. After such adjustment, even the most contaminated dried samples were found to comply with food safety limits. These findings confirm the radiological safety of wild mushrooms from north-eastern Poland and contribute novel data for a region with limited prior monitoring, in the context of current food safety regulations. Full article

In recent years, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) technology has significantly contributed to advancements in aquaculture techniques, system iterations, and increased production yields within intelligent feeding systems for Penaeus vannamei. However, current PAM-based intelligent feeding systems do not incorporate environmental factors into the decision process, limiting the improvement of monitoring accuracy in complex environments such as ponds. To establish a connection between environmental factors and the feeding acoustics of P. vannamei, this study utilized PAM technology combined with video analysis to investigate the effects of three key environmental factors—temperature, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrite nitrogen—on the feeding behavioral characteristics of shrimp, with a specific focus on acoustic signals “clicks”. The results demonstrated a significant correlation between the number of clicks and feed consumption in shrimp across different treatments, establishing this stable relationship as a reliable indicator for assessing shrimp feeding status. When water temperature increased from 20 °C to 32 °C, shrimp feed consumption showed an elevation from 0.46 g to 0.95 g per 30 min, with the average number of clicks increasing from 388 to 2947.58 and sound pressure levels rising accordingly. Conversely, ammonia nitrogen at 12 mg/L reduced feed consumption by 0.15 g and decreased click counts by 911.75 pulses compared to controls, while nitrite nitrogen at 40 mg/L similarly suppressed feed consumption by 0.15 g and the average number of clicks by 304.75. A rise in water temperature stimulated shrimp behaviors such as feeding, swimming, and foraging, while elevated concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen significantly inhibited shrimp activity. Redundancy analysis revealed that temperature was the most prominent factor among the three environmental factors influencing shrimp feeding. This study is the first to quantify the specific effects of common environmental factors on the acoustic feeding signals and feeding behavior of P. vannamei using PAM technology. It confirms the feasibility of using PAM technology to assess shrimp feeding conditions under diverse environmental conditions and the necessity of integrating environmental monitoring modules into future feeding systems. This study provides behavioral evidence for the development of precise feeding technologies and the upgrade of intelligent feeding systems for P. vannamei. Full article

Plants are frequently exposed to various abiotic stresses, among which low-temperature stress markedly impairs growth and physiological functions. WRKY transcription factors are key regulators in plant responses to abiotic stress. In this study, a novel WRKY transcription factor gene, TrWRKY79, was cloned from white clover. Functional characterization revealed that the full-length TrWRKY79 protein possesses typical features of transcription factors, including transcriptional activation activity located at its C-terminal domain. Heterologous expression of TrWRKY79 in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly enhanced cold tolerance under low-temperature stress. Physiological assays showed that the transgenic lines exhibited higher chlorophyll content and elevated activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) compared to wild-type plants. Furthermore, Protenix was employed to predict the potential target genes of TrWRKY transcription factors, and their expression profiles were analyzed to help elucidate the regulatory network underlying cold tolerance. qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that several cold-responsive genes, such as COR47 and ABI5, were significantly upregulated in the transgenic lines. Collectively, these findings indicate that TrWRKY79 plays a positive regulatory role in enhancing cold tolerance, providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of cold resistance in white clover and offering promising candidate genes for improving stress resilience in forage crops. Full article

Activity patterns constitute a critical adaptive trait in large carnivores, enabling them to manage interspecific competition, enhance their foraging efficiency, and adapt to fluctuating environmental conditions. At the community level, elucidating the temporal activity allocation of sympatric large carnivores is essential for understanding species coexistence mechanisms. However, the activity patterns of most large carnivores remain inadequately explored. In this study, spanning a survey period from June 2014 to April 2024, we employed infrared camera technology to collect a total of 3312, 352, 240, and 79 independently validated photographs of snow leopards (Panthera uncia Schreber, 1775), wolves (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758), brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758), and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx Linnaeus, 1758), respectively, across six distinct regions in the Sanjiangyuan Region (SR) and during different monitoring time periods. We utilized kernel density estimation and the coefficient of overlaps to assess diel activity pattern overlap and competitive intensities through pairwise comparisons among these four large carnivores. An analysis of the diel activity rhythm curves revealed that all four large carnivores predominantly exhibited nocturnal behavior, although their peak activity periods differed notably. Furthermore, the diel activity rhythm overlap between each pair of species showed moderate to high intensity throughout the year (0.5 ≤ Δ < 1), including during both the cold and warm seasons. Specifically, the diel activity rhythms of snow leopards and wolves, snow leopards and Eurasian lynx, and wolves and Eurasian lynx exhibited high levels of overlap annually and during the cold season (0.8 ≤ Δ < 1) but only moderate overlap during the warm season (0.5 ≤ Δ < 0.8). Our findings suggest that the diel activity rhythms of these four large carnivore species exhibited considerable overlap, potentially intensifying interspecific competition. This study advances our knowledge on the competitive and coexistence mechanisms of large carnivores in high-altitude mountainous ecosystems, offering critical data for their conservation and management. Full article

The utilization of the widely distributed saline–alkali lands by planting forage grasses is a hot topic. However, the promotion of plant growth remains a great challenge during the exploration of this stressful soil. While halotolerant bacteria are beneficial for plants against saline–alkali stress, their stable colonization on plant roots should be further strengthened. In this study, we investigated the effect of moss biochar on the root colonization of the exogenous halotolerant Halomonas salifodinae isolated from saline lake sediments. During the incubation with the bacteria, the biochar strongly bound the bacterium and induced biofilm formation on the biochar surface. When the biochar and the bacterium were added into the culturing soil of the forage grass Medicago sativa, the biochar remarkably assisted the root binding and biofilm formation of this bacterium on the plant roots. Under the biochar–bacterium combined treatment, the numbers of total bacteria, halotolerant bacteria, and nitrogen-fixing bacteria increased from 10^5.5 CFU/g soil to 10^7.2 CFU/g soil, from 10^4.5 CFU/g soil to 10^6.1 CFU/g soil, and from 10^4.7 CFU/g soil to 10^6.3 CFU/g soil, respectively. After 30 days of culturing, the biochar and the bacterium in combination increased the plant height from 10.3 cm to 36 cm, and enhanced the accumulation of chlorophyll a, reducing sugars, soluble proteins, and superoxide dismutase in the leaves. Moreover, the combined treatment increased the activity of soil enzymes, including peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, and urease. Meanwhile, the levels of various cations in the rhizosphere soil were reduced by the combined treatment, e.g., Na⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, etc., indicating an improvement in the soil quality. This study developed the biochar–halotolerant bacterium joint strategy to improve the yield of forage grasses in saline–alkali soil. Full article

Food-based environmental enrichment (EE) is a valuable strategy for stimulating foraging behaviour in fish under human care, as it increases the challenge of food acquisition and encourages prolonged engagement in this activity. Curimbas (Prochilodus argenteus) and pacus (Myleus micans) are fish species for which ex situ maintenance has become an important conservation measure. In this context, providing EE is essential to ensure high welfare standards. This study aimed to assess the effects of food enrichment on the behaviour of these two endemic species from the São Francisco River basin in Brazil. Behavioural data were collected across three experimental phases, including baseline, enrichment, and post-enrichment. Slow-dissolving food items known as “acorns” were introduced during the enrichment phase. Both species exhibited a marked reduction in inactivity throughout the study. For curimbas, the enrichment phase was associated with increased foraging, elevated agonistic interactions, and greater use of specific tank areas. Among pacus, inactivity significantly declined during the enrichment period. Additionally, the presence of visitors influenced behavioural patterns, promoting foraging activity while reducing inactivity and interactions with the enrichment device. These findings reinforce the value of incorporating environmental enrichment to promote the welfare of freshwater fish in public aquariums. Full article

There is a high demand for the development of new carriers for pharmaceutical forms for human, veterinary, and animal-feeding use. One of the solutions might be bioactive compound-loading pellets for animal forage. The aim of the work was to assess the physical and sensory properties of forage with the addition of onion peel and off-spec onions as a source of quercetin. The feed was prepared using an expanding process (thermal–mechanical expanding process). Quercetin content was evaluated in raw onion and in final-product feed mixture samples (before and after expanding, and pelleting). The obtained feed was subjected to sensory analysis, testing for expanded pellet uniformity, water absorption index (WAI), the angle of a slide, and antioxidant activity. The results confirmed a high recovery of the quercetin after the expanding process (approximately 80%), and a significantly reduced intensity of onion odor, which was confirmed compared to the non-expanded onion, which is beneficial. Furthermore, digital and optical microscopy were applied for structure analysis. Microscopic imaging results confirmed that the onion structures were visible in the whole length of feed material and analyzed cross-sections. The results can be an introduction to further research on developing products that use the expanding and pelleting process to exploit the peel and off-spec onions, as well as other waste raw materials. Full article

Background: Understanding canopy light interception is essential for optimizing forage production and improving the efficiency of grazing systems. Accurate quantification of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) intercepted by the canopy allows for better estimation of crop coefficients and growth dynamics. This study aimed to assess the forage mass and nutritional value of Guinea grass pastures managed under two grazing frequencies, defined by 90% and 95% light interception (LI) measured using AccuPar equipment, and two post-grazing stubble heights (30 and 50 cm). Evaluations were conducted during both the rainy season and a dry year to capture seasonal variability in pasture performance. Methods: The experimental design was of completely randomized blocks with four replications. Results: The treatment whit 90% LI resulted in higher values of crude protein and digestible. However, 95% LI resulted in higher values of neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen values in grass pastures Guinea. The highest value of forage mass in Guinea grass was reported with 95% LI in association with a post-grazing height of 30 cm. Conclusions: Management of light interception at 90% provided a reduced amount of forage with better nutritional value. Pasture management considering the light interception technology with the AccuPar equipment was efficient as a pattern for interrupting pasture regrowth in the vegetative phase. Full article