Search Results (19)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary resveratrol supplementation on fermentation characteristics, microbial diversity, and community composition of feces from Hu sheep. A total of 20 three-month-old Hu sheep with similar body weights (20.62 ± 0.51 kg) were randomly divided into the control group (fed a basal diet, CON) and the treatment group (fed a basal diet supplemented with resveratrol at 100 mg/kg of feed, RES), with 10 sheep in each group, and lasted for 75 days. Feces were collected from each sheep at twenty-four time points for fecal fermentation characteristics determination and microbial analysis. The results showed that the pH value was higher in the RES group than in the CON group (p < 0.05), while the concentration of ammonia nitrogen was lower, showing a 10.6% reduction compared to the CON group (p = 0.013). The richness, Shannon index, and inverse Simpson index of fecal microbiota were higher in the CON group than in the RES group (p < 0.05). The relative abundances of Planctomycetota, Bacteroides, Alistipes, and NK4A214 group were higher in the CON group than in the RES group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the relative abundance of the glycan biosynthesis and metabolism pathway was higher in the CON group (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Prevotella was lower in the CON group than in the RES group (p < 0.05). Principal co-ordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed no overlap between the two groups, and analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) showed significant differences between the CON and RES groups (R = 0.4560, p = 0.012). Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis identified 27 microbial biomarkers, with the RES group having more beneficial bacteria and the CON group having more potentially harmful bacteria. The study demonstrated that dietary resveratrol supplementation reduced the concentration of ammonia nitrogen in feces, decreased microbial diversity, and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria. The findings of this research provide a post-digestion perspective for evaluating the application of resveratrol in ruminant production. Full article

The impact of long-term organic (ECO) versus conventional (CON) agricultural management on subsurface soil microbiota diversity and soil physicochemical properties remains unclear in Mediterranean vineyards. This study evaluated long-term ECO and CON effects in the Alt Penedès terroir (Spain), focusing on subsurface soil microbial diversity and soil characteristics. ECO increased the fungal-to-bacterial ratio and ammonium-oxidizing bacteria but reduced total subsurface soil bacterial populations and soil organic carbon. While ECO did not enhance annual yield production in the vineyard, fungal abundance, and ammonium-oxidizing archaea, it slightly increased the overall alpha diversity (Shannon and Inverse Simpson indexes) and significantly altered taxa composition in subsurface soil with a more robust and modular community. Crop management, soil texture, training system, and rootstock, but not vine variety, significantly influenced beta diversity in subsurface soil. The Mantel test revealed subsurface soil texture, Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ ratio, and salinity as the main key soil drivers shifting the microbial community (beta diversity), while C/N and topsoil organic matter significantly correlated with bacterial abundance; NH₄⁺ correlated with fungal abundance; and N-Kjeldahl, pH, and Mg²⁺/K⁺ correlated with alpha diversity. Integrating soil microbiota and physicochemical monitoring allowed us to confirm the positive effect of long-term agroecological practices on subsurface soil health and to identify the critical factors shaping their microbial communities in Mediterranean vineyards. Full article

The stand structure of ancient tea tree (Camellia taliensis) communities is critical for maintaining their structural and functional stability. Therefore, this study employed backpack laser scanning (BLS) technology to extract individual tree parameters (diameter at breast height, tree height, relative coordinates, etc.) in seven sample plots (25 m × 25 m each) to analyze their spatial and non-spatial structure characteristics. Firstly, the accuracy of diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height (TH) estimations using BLS resulted in a root mean square error (RMSE) of 4.247 cm and 2.736 m and a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.948 and 0.614, respectively. Secondly, in this community, trees exhibited an aggregated spatial distribution (average uniform angle > 0.59), with small differences in DBH among adjacent trees (average dominance > 0.48) and a high proportion of adjacent trees belonging to different species (average mingling > 0.64). Ancient tea trees in the 5–15 cm diameter class face considerable competitive pressure, with values ranging from 14.28 to 179.03. Thirdly, this community exhibits rich species composition (more than 7 families, 8 genera, and 10 species, respectively), strong regeneration capacity (with an inverse J-shaped diameter distribution), uniform species distribution (Pielou evenness index > 0.71), and high species diversity (with a Shannon–Wiener diversity index ranging from 1.65 to 2.47 and a Simpson diversity index ranging from 0.71 to 0.91), and the ancient tea trees maintain a prominent dominant status and important value ranging from 19.36% to 49%. The results indicate that, under the current conditions, the structure and function of this community collectively exhibit relatively stable characteristics. BLS provides a powerful tool for the research and conservation of rare and endangered species. Full article

Fragments of urban forests can host a remarkable diversity of insects, even in environments that have been greatly transformed. This study evaluates the diversity, abundance, and composition of insects that belong to seven families in four urban forest fragments near Panama City, i.e., Ciudad del Saber (CDS), Parque Natural Metropolitano (PNM), Corozal (COR), and Albrook (ALB). A total of 2038 individuals were collected via Malaise traps and categorized into 403 morphospecies, 75 genera, and 43 subfamilies. The highest richness of morphospecies was observed in CDS (223), whereas PNM exhibited the highest abundance of individuals (862). The alpha diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener > 4.3; Margalef > 21; Pielou ≈ 1.0; and Simpson’s inverse > 0.95) reflected communities that were characterized by high levels of diversity and equity. The level of similarity observed among the fragments was moderate (Diserud–Odegaard index = 0.543), thus indicating differences among the sites evaluated as part of this research in terms of their taxonomic composition. These results provide evidence concerning the variability of entomological communities in tropical urban landscapes and the role of forest fragments as possible reservoirs of biodiversity. Full article

Due to intensive crop cultivation, soil depletion has increased interest in intercropping, cover crops, and permanent land use. In our experiment, we investigated the effect of growing oats alone or together with vetch and green manure on the structure of the rhizosphere bacteriome. As a control, we used the bacteriome of bulk soil before sowing, during the growing season, and three months after green manure. The results revealed that its composition and structure change significantly due to the type of cultivation and the presence of plants. Plant roots had a significant impact by reducing pH and mobilizing nutrients. It was more evident in intercropping compared to the cultivation of oats alone. The rhizosphere bacteriome structure significantly differed from that of bulk soil. The different habitats in the rhizosphere and bulk soil led to a decrease in the representation of Proteobacteria and an increase in that of Actinobacteria. Intercropping contributed significantly to increased alpha diversity compared to the cultivation of oats alone and increased availability of nitrogen and potassium. The richness and inverse Simpson diversity index in the rhizosphere ranged from 7.361 to 8.015 across soils subjected to traditional oat cultivation or intercropping. However, the bacteriomes of the rhizosphere soil clustered together and were significantly different from those of the bulk soil. Our study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the influence of roots and cultivation type on bacteriome structure. It offers novel insights for soil management and plant health by reducing pathogens present in soil. Full article

The development of carbon sequestration projects in plantation forests has the potential to offer win–win outcomes for the environment and economy. The Climate, Community, and Biodiversity (CCB) Standards ensure that a particular forest project will deliver tangible climate, community, and biodiversity benefits. According to the CCB Standards, it is necessary to assess community diversity in plantation forests. Our study provides indicators of community diversity based on Forest Integrity Assessment (FIA) according to the CCB Standards for carbon sequestration projects in Tianshui City, Gansu Province, China, which is located in the western Qinba Mountains. Herein, we estimated plantation forest conditions based on a forest condition assessment. Linear regression models were used to explore the relationships between FIA scores and community diversity (such as species richness, Shannon–Wiener index, inverse Simpson’s index, and Pielou’s evenness index quantified by species abundance) in plantation forests managed under carbon sequestration projects. The high community diversity reaches the CCB Standards. FIA scores were closely associated with Pielou’s evenness index of plant communities in plantation forests managed under carbon sequestration projects (R² = 0.104; mean square error = 0.014; standard error = 0.104; p = 0.012). A complex topography had positive effects on species richness, while a rich standing condition had negative effects on the Shannon–Wiener index. Forest conditions have been used as indicators of community diversity in plantation forests managed under carbon sequestration projects. The occurrence of climber and animal species should be used as indicators for enhancing community diversity to meet the CCB Standards. Furthermore, plant species richness benefits from a complex topography. However, our study had the limitation that the FIA could not cover the full range of environmental conditions. Our study provides a practical reference for applying the CCB Standards to plantation forests managed under carbon sequestration projects. Full article

This study aims to develop a forest landscape stability assessment framework that integrates structure, function, and resilience to assess forest landscape stability under different landform types on the Loess Plateau, and to propose differentiated optimization strategies. Remote sensing images and ground survey data were combined to compare the effectiveness of different machine learning models in aboveground biomass (AGB) inversion. Meanwhile, forest fragmentation and landscape multifunctionality were assessed, and a Landscape Stability Index (LSI) was proposed to quantify regional forest landscape stability. The main findings are as follows: (1) between 2000 and 2022, the degree of forest fragmentation and multifunctionality in the hilly gully region improved significantly, and the Simpson’s Diversity Index (SDI) value showed an increasing trend; the plateau gully region showed a decreasing trend in the SDI value. The degree of forest fragmentation in the hilly gully region was higher and showed significant changes, while the plateau gully region was more stable, with the “Interior” and “Dominant” types dominating. (2) The eXtreme Gradient Boosting model outperformed other models in AGB estimation, with R² = 0.81 and RMSE = 24.67 ton ha⁻¹. (3) The LSI of the hilly gully region generally increased, especially in Yanchang, showing a significant increase in ecological stability; the LSI of the plateau gully region generally decreased, especially in Baishui, showing a trend of weakening stability. Based on the assessment results, optimization strategies for different stabilities were proposed, including the hierarchical management of fragmentation, multi-objective management to improve the SDI, and adaptive management for AGB. The forest landscape stability assessment framework proposed in this study can effectively assess the stability of forest landscapes, reveal the differences in ecological restoration in different regions, and provide new perspectives and strategies for forest landscape management and optimization in the Loess Plateau. Full article

Plant diversity plays an important role in maintaining the stability of ecosystem functioning. Based on field surveys and indoor analyses, this study investigated the relationship between species diversity and community stability at different stages of bare patch succession in degraded alpine meadow ecosystems. Results show that: (1) Using the ICV (the Inverse of the Coefficient of Variation) method to analyze changes in plant community stability, community stability was generally ranked as follows: Long-term recovered patches > Healthy alpine meadow > Degraded alpine meadow > Short-term recovered patch > Bare Patches. (2) Using factor analysis to construct an evaluation system, the stability ranking based on species diversity was as follows: Healthy alpine meadow > Long-term recovered patches > Degraded alpine meadow > Short-term recovered patches > Bare Patches. (3) The community stability index was significantly positively correlated with vegetation coverage, height, biomass, species richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity index, species evenness, and Simpson’s diversity index (p < 0.05). Therefore, a positive correlation exists between plant diversity and community stability, such that plant communities with a higher species diversity tend to be more stable. To maintain the plant diversity and community stability of alpine meadow ecosystems, it is necessary to consider the characteristics of grassland plant composition and community structure, as well as their influencing factors, and promote the positive succession process of grasslands. Full article

This study examines the gut bacterial communities of four necrophagous fly species: Lucilia illustris, L. caesar, Chrysomya megacephala, and C. pinguis. The gut bacterial communities exhibited significant variation across species, showcasing a diverse range of bacterial phyla, classes, and genera. Each species harbored a unique set of bacteria, yet there was considerable overlap in taxa among species. Species richness was comparable across all species. However, measures that account for both richness and evenness, such as the Shannon diversity index and the inverse Simpson’s diversity index, indicated significant differences between species, especially between L. illustris and C. pinguis. The functional profiles of the gut bacterial communities mainly centered on metabolic and environmental information processing functions, with no marked differences between species. While this study had limitations in data collection, it still revealed a significant correlation between the phylogenetic distances of some fly species and the distances of their gut bacterial communities. This supports the hypothesis that the gut microbiota is not random but is influenced by the host’s evolutionary history or seasons. We confirmed that an association between phylogeny and gut bacterial community structure, as determined through entanglement analysis, exists. The study focused on only five individuals from the four fly species sampled during spring and summer, which might affect the generalizability of the results. Future research would benefit from replicating this study with a larger sample size across various seasons to ensure the more widespread applicability of the findings. Full article

With significance in improving and developing local design culture as well as in supplementing global design history, this essay describes a study on the past and a clear prediction of the future by exploring Taiwan’s design history from approximately the 1960s to 2020 based on the evolution of theme, diversity, and sustainability. In this research, the Python programming language is used to apply three algorithms of term frequency–inverse document frequency (TF-IDF), Simpson’s diversity index (SDI), and latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) to conduct a text exploration of design journals. The results show the following: in the 1960s–1980s, the evolution of theme focused on evaluation strategies, technical practices, and foreign cultures, on digital design, multiculturalism, and design aesthetics in the 1990s, and on emotional human factors, intelligent technology, and local culture since the beginning of the 21st century. Local culture and intelligent technology are the main driving forces of the current design industry. Regarding diversity, after a period of rapid change and stable rising, it has shown a downward trend in recent years. This indicates that current design needs to be stimulated by external environmental variations. Sustainability was focused on technology, the market, and education during the 1960s–1980s; on consumers, design education, and eco-design during the 1990s; and on integration across fields during the 2000s–2020. In order to gain a wider perspective of the complete design context of Chinese culture, the results show the current and future trends of the academic community, in addition to a reference for the study of the design histories of other areas in the world. Full article

This study aimed to explore the dynamic variations of rumen fermentation characteristics and bacterial community composition during a 24 h in vitro fermentation. A total of twenty-three samples were collected from original rumen fluid (ORF, n = 3), fermentation at 12 h (R12, n = 10), and fermentation at 24 h (R24, n = 10). Results showed that gas production, concentrations of microbial crude protein, ammonia nitrogen, and individual volatile fatty acids (VFA), as well as total VFA and branched-chain VFA concentrations, were higher in R24 when compared with R12 (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in acetate to propionate ratio and fermentation efficiency between R12 and R24 (p > 0.05). Bacterial diversity analysis found that Shannon index and Simpson index were higher in R24 (p < 0.05), and obvious clusters were observed in rumen bacterial community between R12 and R24. Taxonomic analysis at the phylum level showed that the abundances of Proteobacteria and Fibrobacteres were higher in R12 than that in R24, and inverse results were observed in Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Lentisphaerae, and Synergistetes abundances. Taxonomic analysis at the genus level revealed that the abundances of Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Succiniclasticum, Prevotellaceae UCG-003, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Ruminococcaceae UCG-002, Veillonellaceae UCG-001, and Ruminococcaceae NK4A214 group were higher in R24, whereas higher abundances of Succinivibrionaceae UCG-002, Ruminobacter, and Fibrobacter, were found in R12. Correlation analysis revealed the negative associations between gas production and abundances of Proteobacteria, Succinivibrionaceae UCG-002, and Ruminobacter. Moreover, the abundances of Firmicutes, Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-002 positively correlated with VFA production. These results indicate that both rumen fermentation characteristics and bacterial community composition were dynamic during in vitro fermentation, whereas the fermentation pattern, efficiency, and bacterial richness remained similar. This study provide insight into the dynamics of rumen fermentation characteristics and bacterial composition during in vitro fermentation. This study may also provide a reference for decision-making for the sampling time point when conducting an in vitro fermentation for bacterial community investigation. Full article

This study aimed to determine how the microbiota profile might be predisposed to a better response in blood lipid profiles due to dietary fibre supplementation. A three-arm intervention study that included three different fibre types (mainly insoluble, soluble, and antioxidant fibre) supplemented (19.2 g/day) during 2 months in individuals with hypercholesterolemia was developed. Changes in faecal microbiota and blood lipid profile after fibre supplementation were determined. In all volunteers, regardless of fibre type, an increase in the abundance of Bifidobacterium was observed, and similarly, an inverse relationship between faecal propionic acid and blood LDL-cholesterol, LDL particle size, and LDL/HDL particle ratio (p-values 0.0067, 0.0002, and 0.0067, respectively) was observed. However, not all volunteers presented an improvement in lipid profile. The non-responders to fibre treatment showed a decrease in microbiota diversity (Shannon and Simpson diversity index p-values of 0.0110 and 0.0255, respectively) after the intervention; where the reduction in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) producing bacterial genera such as Clostridium XIVa and Ruminococcus after dietary fibre treatment was the main difference. It was concluded that the non-responsiveness to dietary fibre treatment might be mediated by the lack of ability to maintain a stable SCFA producing bacteria diversity and composition after extra fibre intake. Full article

The high mountains stretch over 20.4% of Nepal’s land surface with diverse climatic conditions and associated vegetation types. An understanding of tree species and forest structural pattern variations across different climatic regions is crucial for mountain ecology. This study strived to carry out a comparative evaluation of species diversity, main stand variables, and canopy cover of forests with contrasting precipitation conditions in the Annapurna range. Firstly, climate data provided by CHELSA version 1.2, were used to identify distinct precipitation regimes. Lamjung and Mustang were selected as two contrasting precipitation regions, and have average annual precipitation of 2965 mm and 723 mm, respectively. Stratified random sampling was used to study 16 plots, each measuring 500 m² and near the tree line at an elevation range of 3000 to 4000 m across different precipitation conditions. In total, 870 trees were identified and measured. Five hemispherical photos using a fisheye lens were taken in each plot for recording and analyzing canopy cover. Margalef’s index was used to measure species richness, while two diversity indices: the Shannon–Wiener Index and Simpson Index were used for species diversity. Dominant tree species in both study regions were identified through the Important Value Index (IVI). The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was employed to determine the differences in forest structure and composition variables between the two precipitation regimes. In total, 13 species were recorded with broadleaved species predominating in the high precipitation region and coniferous species in the low precipitation region. Higher species richness and species diversity were recorded in the low precipitation region, whereas the main stand variables: basal area and stem density were found to be higher in the high precipitation region. Overall, an inverse J-shaped diameter distribution was found in both precipitation regions signifying uneven-aged forest. A higher proportion of leaning and buttressed trees were recorded in the high precipitation region. However, similar forest canopy cover conditions (>90%) were observed in both study regions. The findings of this research provide a comprehensive narrative of tree species and forest structure across distinct precipitation regimes, which can be crucial to administrators and local people for the sustainable management of resources in this complex region. Full article

Combining field collected and remotely sensed (RS) data represents one of the most promising approaches for an extensive and up-to-date ecosystem assessment. We investigated the potential of the so called spectral variability hypothesis (SVH) in linking field-collected and remote-sensed data in Mediterranean coastal dunes and explored if spectral diversity provides reliable information to monitor floristic diversity, as well as the consistency of such information in altered ecosystems due to plant invasions. We analyzed alpha diversity and beta diversity, integrating floristic field and Remote-Sensing PlanetScope data in the Tyrrhenian coast (Central Italy). We explored the relationship among alpha field diversity (species richness, Shannon index, inverse Simpson index) and spectral variability (distance from the spectral centroid index) through linear regressions. For beta diversity, we implemented a distance decay model (DDM) relating field pairwise (Jaccard similarities index, Bray–Curtis similarities index) and spectral pairwise (Euclidean distance) measures. We observed a positive relationship between alpha diversity and spectral heterogeneity with richness reporting the higher R score. As for DDM, we found a significant relationship between Bray–Curtis floristic similarity and Euclidean spectral distance. We provided a first assessment of the relationship between floristic and spectral RS diversity in Mediterranean coastal dune habitats (i.e., natural or invaded). SVH provided evidence about the potential of RS for estimating diversity in complex and dynamic landscapes. Full article

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease with a high impact on the comfort of those who are affected and long-term treated with corticosteroids with limited efficacy and a high prevalence of relapses. Because of the limited effectiveness of these treatments, new strategies for recovery from AD lesions are continually being explored. In this article, we describe the gut microbiome changes achieved in a recently published clinical trial with the probiotic formulation Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145, Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347, and Lacticaseibacillus casei CECT 9104 (formerly Lactobacillus casei CECT 9104), showing a significant improvement in SCORAD (scoring atopic dermatitis) index in children (4–17 years) with AD (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02585986). The present gut microbiome post hoc study showed no significant changes in diversity (Shannon and Simpson indexes) after probiotic consumption. In the probiotic group, genera Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, and Bifidobacterium significantly increased their levels while Faecalibacterium decreased, compared to the placebo group. Faecalibacterium showed the highest presence and significant positive correlation with AD severity (SCORAD index), whereas Abyssivirga, Bifidobacterium, and Lactococcus were inversely correlated. The results suggest that the consumption of the probiotic formulation here assayed modulates the gut microbiome with significant changes in genera Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium. In turn, the improvement in SCORAD correlates with a decrease in Faecalibacterium and an increase in Bifidobacterium, among others. Full article