Search Results (91)

In post-mortem genetic identification, teeth represent one of the most reliable sources of nuclear DNA when other biological samples are unavailable, owing to their ability to protect genetic material from autolysis, microbial degradation, and environmental insults. The present study describes a forensic veterinary case report involving a Staffordshire Bull Terrier litter in which the appearance of blue-coated offspring from a phenotypically black sire and a blue dam prompted parentage verification. The sire died before formal ante-mortem sampling could be carried out. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009, Article 15, the carcass was interred in the owner’s garden. Before burial, two teeth were collected as the sole biological material available for identification by the official veterinarian, ensuring an unambiguous chain of custody from death certification to laboratory analysis. DNA extraction was performed using two independent protocols: Method A, a silica-membrane-based purification (QIAamp DNA Kit, Qiagen), applied to dental pulp, and Method B, a decalcification-based workflow (T-Bone Ex Kit) followed by DNA extraction using EZ2 Connect Instruments (Qiagen). Quantification of the DNA samples obtained were done by fluorometry. Short Tandem Repeat (STR) genotyping was performed using the Canine Genotypes™ Panel 1.1 by Applied Biosystems (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) targeting the 18 autosomal ISAG-recommended microsatellite loci. Parentage assignments were carried out against reference STR profiles obtained from peripheral blood of the dam and offspring. The two methods, considering a different biological matrix and different operating conditions, allowed us to obtain the STR profile, but Method B showed quality electropherograms, improving the confidence and interpretation of all the markers analyzed. The differences observed between the two approaches may reflect a combination of factors, including the different dental matrices analysed, the quantity and quality of the starting material, tooth identity and tissue preservation, and differences inherent to the extraction procedures themselves; therefore, in this case, the more complete and clearer STR profile obtained with Method B should be considered a case-specific observation rather than evidence of a direct effect of the extraction method. Overall, regardless of the DNA extraction method used, the results did not exclude the biological paternity of the blue-mantled offspring. Furthermore, this case report provides practical methodological guidance for DNA recovery from canine teeth and supports their use as a reliable source of post-mortem DNA for STR-based parentage testing. Full article

Excessive N application in Camellia oleifera plantations exacerbates soil acidification and N₂O emissions, intensified by the input of Al-accumulating litter. Biochar is a promising amendment, yet how litter decomposition interacts with N and biochar to modulate acidification and greenhouse gas emissions remains unclear. To understand how decomposition of Al-accumulating litter interacts with N and biochar in the soil acidification process and gas emissions, a twelve-month laboratory incubation study was conducted using a fully factorial, three-factor completely randomized design to examine litter decomposition. The experimental factors included nitrogen fertilization, biochar amendment, and litter input level. The results showed that litter transiently activated biochar alkalinity, raising pH to 5.7–6.3, but subsequent organic acid release drove sustained re-acidification (ΔpH −0.4 to −0.5). This pH trajectory controlled denitrification: early high pH favored complete denitrification (nosZ > nirK), while later acidification inhibited N₂O reductase, boosting N₂O emissions under single litter and N. Litter-C primed native soil organic carbon, doubling cumulative CO₂ emissions. Biochar further elevated CO₂ emission rate by 7.6% under double litter input treatment via porous-microsite priming. These results demonstrated that litter quantity dictates a temporal switch from biochar alkali activation to organic acid overrun, creating an acid rebound that amplifies N₂O while sustaining CO₂ release. Optimizing litter retention and biochar application timing is essential to break the acid-N₂O feedback in intensively managed C. oleifera systems. Full article

The size and stability of the soil carbon pool depend on the balance between plant litter input and soil organic carbon mineralization. As an important source of soil organic carbon, litter input plays a key role in the decomposition of soil organic carbon through the priming effect and ultimately affects soil carbon balance. Litter quality is a key factor affecting the decomposition and transformation of soil organic carbon. However, uncertainties remain regarding the effects of different-quality litters on soil mineralization and priming. In this study, we used an indoor incubation method to label China fir leaf litter and Acacia leaf litter with the isotope ¹³C. The effects of different-quality litters on the intensity and direction of soil priming effects were studied by adding different-quality litters to soils in different subtropical regions. The results show that, compared with China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) litter (low-quality, high C/N), Acacia (Acacia confusa) litter input (high-quality, low C/N) promotes soil mineralization and decomposition. By contrast, low-quality litter produces higher quantities of litter source C, which returns to the atmosphere through CO₂. Different-quality litters could regulate the direction and intensity of the soil priming effect. The priming effect of the Acacia litter addition treatment was higher than that of the China fir litter addition treatment. The addition of high-quality litter promotes the generation of a positive soil priming effect. The addition of Acacia litter to different regions of soil had a positive priming effect, while the addition of China fir litter had a negative priming effect for a period of time. Furthermore, the correlation analysis results showed a significant connection between soil physical and chemical indicators and litter C/N and soil mineralization and priming effects. The random forest analysis showed that litter C/N (p < 0.01) is one of the main factors affecting the soil priming effect, indicating that litter quality has a higher relative importance to the priming effect. These findings underscore the critical role of litter quality in regulating subtropical soil carbon dynamics and providing pivotal datasets for predicting terrestrial carbon sink potential. Full article

Urban plant communities are widely regarded as important nature-based solutions for climate mitigation, yet their actual carbon benefits remain uncertain: vegetation growth is accompanied by carbon emissions from construction and long-term maintenance, and existing assessments rarely integrate community succession, interspecific competition, and maintenance-related emissions within a consistent life-cycle framework. To address these limitations, this study developed a dynamic succession-based life-cycle simulation model to project the 50-year carbon source–sink transitions of 150 typical urban plant communities in Tianjin, China. The model updates plant structural attributes—diameter at breast height, crown width, and tree height—iteratively by linking individual plant growth to environmental suitability and neighborhood competition through a Plant Health Index. Simulated structural trajectories were coupled with biomass equations and carbon content coefficients to estimate aboveground carbon sequestration, while construction and maintenance emissions were quantified using life cycle assessment, enabling evaluation of modeled net carbon balance rather than gross carbon sequestration alone. Under the modeled 50-year scenario, most communities were projected to act as carbon sources during the early stage but gradually shifted toward carbon sinks as biomass accumulated; 86.1% of the communities were projected to become net carbon sinks after 50 years (a scenario-based projection under specified growth, maintenance, and emission assumptions). The highest modeled net carbon balance reached 3186.08 kg·C·ha⁻¹, whereas the weakest community remained a slight carbon source at −81.21 kg·C·ha⁻¹. Vertical structural complexity and species richness were the strongest positive predictors of modeled net carbon balance, followed by three-dimensional green quantity and canopy closure. Among maintenance processes, fertilization was the dominant emission source, followed by pesticide application and irrigation; comparative scenario analysis showed that resource-saving maintenance consistently improved projected net carbon balance relative to high-maintenance management. These results suggest that low-carbon planting design should prioritize locally adapted species, multi-layered vertical structures, and adaptive maintenance over simply maximizing planting density or minimizing inputs. The results represent scenario-based projections of aboveground vegetation carbon balance; belowground biomass, soil carbon, litter carbon, dead organic matter, and parameter uncertainty were not fully incorporated, and future studies should address these limitations to improve the robustness and transferability of the proposed framework. Full article

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) is one of the most important fast-growing timber species in southern China and plays a critical role in regional carbon sequestration and timber production. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key component of the terrestrial ecosystem carbon pool, and its content, composition, and stability directly affect soil fertility, ecosystem service functions, and the ability to cope with climate change. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which density regulation and conifer–broadleaf mixed forest management affect the content, fractions and stability of SOC in Chinese fir plantations. Density regulation changes stand structure, litterfall, and roots, which can impact soil microbial activity, litter decomposition, and mineralization of soil organic matter. Conifer–broadleaf mixed planting and broader mixed-forest reconstruction, through introducing functionally distinct tree species, can optimize stand microenvironments, increase species diversity, improve litter quantity and quality, and diversify root exudates. These changes further regulate soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and its physicochemical stability. Based on the latest literature reports, we demonstrate that mixed-species stands with a moderate broadleaf proportion significantly enhance SOC sequestration relative to pure stands, driven by improved litter quality and soil pH neutralization that promote microbial necromass formation and aggregate-associated carbon stabilization. Optimal density regulation complements these benefits by facilitating understory development and root carbon input. Current research indicates that both density reduction and species mixing, as two independent silvicultural measures, can individually enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) stability in Chinese fir plantations. This review identifies key research gaps and provides theoretical foundations for carbon-oriented sustainable management of Chinese fir plantations. Full article

Litter decomposition regulates the quantity and quality of plant-derived carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) inputs to soil and is closely associated with microbial community structure. However, how elevated ozone (O₃) and nitrogen (N) addition interactively affect residual litter inputs and their associations with soil microbial communities remains poorly understood, especially in agroforestry systems. Here, we conducted a 12-month in situ litter decomposition experiment using two poplar clones (107 and 546) under ambient or elevated O₃ with or without N addition (60 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) at an O₃-FACE platform in northern China. Litter mass and chemical traits were measured during decomposition, and endpoint soil microbial community structure was characterized using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiling. Treatment effects and litter–microbe associations were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models, correlation analysis, and redundancy analysis (RDA). Endpoint litter mass remaining was significantly affected by O₃, clone identity, and their interactions with N addition, while endpoint litter chemical traits showed trait-specific responses. PLFA-derived microbial community indices also showed treatment- and clone-dependent responses, particularly in bacterial groups, AM fungi, and the fungal-to-bacterial ratio. Endpoint litter mass remaining showed the strongest statistical association with PLFA-derived microbial community structure, whereas individual nutrient concentrations showed weaker independent effects. These findings suggest that O₃- and N-induced changes in residual litter quantity and quality are associated with shifts in PLFA-derived microbial community structure. Because PLFA characterizes microbial community structure rather than process rates, these findings should be interpreted as evidence of structural microbial reorganization associated with altered residual litter inputs, rather than direct evidence of changes in C or N cycling rates. Full article

In recent decades, the issue of marine litter has emerged as a major environmental concern, particularly with regard to plastic litter. The European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC) requires member states to monitor marine litter along the coast, in the water, and on the seabed. Since 2014, beach litter monitoring has been carried out in Italy’s coastal regions, an activity entrusted to the Regional Environmental Agencies System (ARPA). ARPA Puglia is responsible for monitoring the Apulian coastline, and this paper summarizes the main results obtained from 2014 to 2023. The monitoring, which was repeated twice a year, consists of a visual census of litter items along a 100-meter stretch of beach in six different locations across the Puglia region. During this period, an average of 506 litter items per 100 m were observed on the six target beaches in Puglia, 90% of which were plastic ones. Among these, single-use plastic items (SUPs) accounted for 37%. A trend analysis reveals a decline in the aggregate quantity of marine litter on Apulian beaches over the past decade, a phenomenon that is particularly evident when considering the SUP subcategory in isolation. This decreasing trend is consistent with the overall pattern observed along the Italian coastline and the coastlines of European seas. Consequently, it can be hypothesized that an increase in awareness of the issue, in conjunction with the implementation of European Directive 2019/904 for the reduction in single-use plastics, has resulted in more responsible practices. However, further efforts are needed to achieve the goal of 20 litter items per 100 m of beach to attain the Good Environmental Status under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The findings emphasize the importance of constant monitoring of litter items along the shoreline, as well as the integration of new and alternative methodologies (e.g., drone surveys) to evaluate the efficacy of European regulatory implementation. Full article

In the ecologically fragile western Shanxi Loess region, stand density regulation of artificial Robinia pseudoacacia L. forests plays a crucial role in sustaining the water regulation functions of the litter-soil system, yet multi-scale mechanistic analyses remain scarce. To address this gap, we established six stand density classes (ranging from 1200 to 3200 stems/ha) and quantified litter water-holding traits and soil physicochemical properties. We then applied principal component analysis (PCA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine density-litter-soil relationships. Low-density stands (≤2000 stems/ha) exhibited significantly higher litter accumulation (6.08–6.37 t/ha) and greater litter water-holding capacity (maximum 20.58 t/ha) than the high-density stands (p < 0.05). Soil capillary water-holding capacity decreased with increasing density (4702.63–4863.28 t/ha overall), while non-capillary porosity (5.26–6.21%) and soil organic carbon (~12.5 g/kg) were higher in high-density stands (≥2800 stems/ha), reflecting a structural-carbon optimization trade-off. PCA revealed a primary hydrological function axis with low-density stands clustering in the positive quadrant, while high-density stands shifted toward nutrient-conservation traits. SEM confirmed that stand density affected soil capillary water-holding capacity indirectly through litter accumulation (significant indirect path; non-significant direct path), highlighting the central role of litter quantity. When density exceeded ~2400 stems/ha, litter decomposition rate decreased by ~56%, coinciding with capillary porosity falling below ~47%, a threshold linked to impaired balance between water storage and infiltration. These findings identify 1200–1600 stems/ha as the optimal density range; in this range, soil capillary water-holding capacity reached 4788–4863 t/ha, and available phosphorus remained ≥2.1 mg/kg, providing a density-centered, near-natural management paradigm for constructing “water-conservation vegetation” on the Loess Plateau. Full article

The availability of detritus is a key factor influencing aquatic biota and can significantly affect decomposition processes. In this study, we investigated how varying quantities of surrounding detritus impact leaf litter decay rates. It was tested in flowing and still-water microcosms to highlight context-dependent effects of surrounding detritus on leaf litter decomposition. To isolate the effect of detritus amount, experiments were conducted in laboratory microcosms simulating lotic and lentic ecosystems, each containing leaf fragments for decomposition assessments. Four detritus quantities were tested, with invertebrates either allowed or restricted from moving among detritus patches. Leaf decomposition rates were influenced by the amount of surrounding detritus, with slower decay observed at higher detritus conditions, regardless of invertebrate mobility. Detritivore distribution responded to both detritus quantity and oxygen availability, showing a preference for high detritus conditions. Additionally, detritus quantity affected microbial activity with a quadratic response, as indicated by leaf respiration rates. Overall, our findings indicate that the amount of surrounding detritus modulates leaf litter decomposition independently of invertebrate density, by influencing oxygen dynamics and, consequently, the activity of biological decomposers. Full article

The trial explored innovative low-protein diets for weaning piglets, testing the elimination of fish meal and blood derivatives. The trial compared three treatments, each with two post-weaning feeds: control feed with blood plasma and fishmeal; T1: low-protein feed with seven amino acids, fishmeal, and blood plasma; T2: low-protein feed with seven amino acids without fishmeal and blood plasma. The trial tested 180 weaned piglets, 24 days of age, evenly distributed by weight, age, and litter of origin. At the end of the first phase, T1 and T2 recorded a significantly higher average weight, ADG, and FCR compared with the control feed. At the end of the second phase, the T2 group maintained a significantly better weight, ADG, and FCR than the control group. Considering the entire test period (phase 1 and phase 2), the T2 thesis appears to have a significantly higher average weight, ADG, with a lower FCR compared to the control group. The T2 thesis fixed a significantly (p < 0.01) greater quantity of nitrogen compared to the T1 thesis and control feed (T2 58.71% vs. T1 54.13% and control 54.02%). In conclusion, a low-protein diet without raw materials of animal origin proved more efficient in terms of performance and nitrogen retention. Full article

The quantity, quality, and accumulation rate of plant litter play a key role in forest floor flammability and, by extension, fire regimes. The varying foliage properties of different tree species also determine litter’s decomposition and its accumulation on the forest floor. The removal of litter by soil fauna, i.e., bioturbation, depends on both the dominant tree species and the successional stage of the forest stand. This research involved laboratory mesocosm experiments aiming to determine the effects of litter quality and earthworm activity on the flammability of the forest floor material at different successional ages. The mesocosms simulated the planting of four tree species (the broadleaf species Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. (Black alder) and Quercus robur L. (English oak) and the conifers Picea omorika (Pančić) Purk. (Serbian spruce) and Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold (Austrian pine)) at a reclamation site near Sokolov (NW Czechia). The mesocosms contained litter from these different tree species, placed directly on overburden soil (immature soil) or on well-developed Oe and A layers (mature soil), inoculated or not inoculated with earthworms, and incubated for 4 months. The surface material in the mesocosms was then subjected to simulated burn events, and the fire path and soil temperature changes were recorded. Burn testing showed that litter type (tree species) and soil maturity significantly influenced flammability. Pine had longer burning times and burning paths and higher post-burn temperatures than those of the other tree species. The immature soil with earthworms had significantly shorter burning times, whereas in the mature soil, earthworms had no effect. We conclude that earthworms have a significant, immediate effect on the litter flammability of immature soils. Full article

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like fluoxetine, are increasingly used by women of a reproductive age, raising concerns about their impact on oocyte quality and early embryonic development. This study investigated the effects of chronic fluoxetine exposure on oocyte maturation, ovulation, and embryonic development in a mouse model. Female mice were administered fluoxetine via drinking water, and their reproductive outcomes were compared to those of control mice. Oocyte quantity and quality were assessed following superovulation, including the analysis of spindle morphology, chromatin configuration, and maturation markers. In vitro maturation assays were conducted to evaluate the developmental competence of oocytes exposed to fluoxetine. Finally, the impact of fluoxetine on blastocyst formation, litter size, offspring growth, and ovarian reserve was examined. The results show that fluoxetine treatment reduced the number of ovulated oocytes but did not significantly affect oocyte quality or meiotic spindle formation. Fluoxetine exposure impaired cytoplasmic maturation at the germinal vesicle stage, resulting in a lower proportion of fully mature oocytes and reduced in vitro maturation efficiency. While blastocyst numbers were modestly reduced in fluoxetine-treated mice, litter size and offspring ovarian reserve were unaffected. Unexpectedly, offspring of fluoxetine-treated mothers exhibited increased body weight. These findings suggest that while fluoxetine may impair oocyte developmental competence through disruptions in cytoplasmic maturation, it does not severely compromise overall reproductive outcomes or offspring fertility. Full article

Rearing broiler chickens generates large quantities of waste material in the form of bedding. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a technology that can be applied to this waste. This study aimed to evaluate the AD of broiler litter, either screened (S) or unscreened (US), from different flocks, collected from each production batch, totaling nine, from a commercial farm. Anaerobic digestion was conducted in batch biodigesters, and fraction separation was performed through screening prior to loading. The S substrate from the second and fifth flocks did not produce biogas. Reductions in total (TS) and volatile solids were highest for S substrates from the third flock (50.5% and 58.3%, respectively). Only the third flock’s S substrates showed greater reductions in solids than the US substrates. Potential biogas and methane production were also highest in the third flock’s bedding for both the S substrate (336.8 and 218.2 L/kg of TS, respectively) and the US substrate (296.8 and 213.4 L/kg of TS, respectively). The methane concentration in the S substrate was highest in the third flock (64.8%), while in the US substrate, it was highest in the third and fourth flocks (70.3%). Screening the litter reduced the process efficiency. We conclude that fraction separation is inadvisable for broiler litter. Full article

Marine litter (ML), encompassing human-made objects in marine ecosystems, poses significant threats to the coasts of some Adriatic islands, despite their remoteness and sparse populations. These islands, reliant on tourism, are particularly vulnerable to ML pollution. This study hypothesized that the natural features of the islands influence ML distribution. It employes an integrated geographic approach combining the results of field survey (via sea kayaking) with various indicators which include: (1) coastal orientation and number density of bays, (2) vegetation exposure and biomass share, (3) island area and number density of bays, (4) bay openness and ML quantity, and (5) bay openness and plastic prevalence in ML. Focusing on islands of Lošinj, Pašman, Vis, and the Kornati and Elaphiti archipelago, the study analyzed data collected over six years (2018–2023). Results highlighted that NW-SE and W-E coastal orientations are particularly susceptible to ML accumulation, especially in the southern Adriatic. Linear Fitting Regression analyses revealed a stronger correlation between number density of polluted bays and the surface area of smaller islands (<10 km²) compared to larger islands (>10 km²). The following findings underscore the need for international collaboration and stringent policies to mitigate ML pollution, ensuring the protection of Adriatic marine ecosystems and the sustainability of local communities. Full article

Land use patterns significantly influence the quantity and composition of litter in the soil humus layers, thereby affecting the dynamics of soil organic carbon. However, the differences in labile organic carbon fractions and the carbon sequestration index under different land use patterns, as well as their impact on soil carbon storage in the humus layers of mollisols—without migration loss and soil erosion—remain unclear. Labile organic carbon is classified into fractions such as dissolved organic carbon, easily oxidized carbon, particulate organic carbon, and microbial biomass carbon, which are identified through different chemical extraction methods. This study investigates the impact of long-term land use patterns on organic carbon dynamics, organic carbon pools, K_OS, and CPMI in mollisols across five treatments: SC (continuous soybean cultivation), MC (continuous maize cultivation), MSR (maize–soybean rotation), GB (grass belt), and FB (forest belt). It also selects three soil depths (0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, and 40–60 cm) over an 11-year period for analysis. The results indicate that soil organic carbon, labile organic carbon fractions (EOC, POC, DOC, and MBC), and CPMI decrease with soil depth, while K_OS increases. Non-tillage treatments enhance SOC accumulation in the humus layers, with FB exhibiting the highest organic carbon content, surpassing GB, MC, SC, and MSR by 22.88%, 52.35%, 60.64%, and 80.12%, respectively. Non-tillage treatments can enhance the accumulation of labile organic carbon fractions, aligning with the observed trends in soil organic carbon, with the FB treatment identified as optimal. Additionally, these treatments can increase labile organic carbon fractions and CPMI, thereby improving soil stability. To minimize SOC loss, land use patterns should encourage the conversion of farmland to grassland and forest, with the FB treatment recommended as the optimal strategy for the protection of mollisols and the sustainable development of these soils over the long term. This approach is significant for understanding the soil carbon cycle, rationally planning land use strategies, and providing a reference for enhancing soil quality and ecosystem carbon sinks. Full article