Search Results (41)

Locusts have always been among the important hazards affecting crop growth and the grassland ecological environment. Accurate and timely detection of locusts is crucial for effective control of insect development. Aiming at the problem of false detection and missed detection caused by locust occlusion and background similarity in complex field environments, this paper proposes a lightweight Attention-based Target Detection (ATD) model while constructing the dataset Real-Locust with the theme of Locusta migratoria ssp. manilensis. By introducing to attention mechanism and lightweight design, the model achieves a mean average precision (mAP) of 90.9% on the Real-Locust dataset, and the precision and recall rate are increased by 0.6% and 4.3%, respectively. At the same time, the number of parameters and computational complexity are reduced by 27.4% and 22.9%, showing that this provides an efficient solution for real-time monitoring of locusts. Full article

This study evaluated six agrobyproducts (oak, jujube, apple, pear, peach, black locust) as alternative substrates for Lentinula edodes cultivation to mitigate oak dependency. Twelve substrate formulations were tested, including individual and mixed sawdust combinations. Results demonstrated successful mycelial colonization across all treatments, with treatment PAS (78% pear sawdust, 20% wheat bran, 1.5% gypsum, and 0.5% lime) exhibiting the fastest mycelial growth (4.70 mm/day) and full colonization in 105 days. Treatment BLS (78% black locust sawdust, 20% wheat bran, 1.5% gypsum, and 0.5% lime) achieved the highest biological efficiency (97.26%) and productivity (0.85 kg/bag). Nutrient analysis revealed substrate-specific enhancements: PAS maximized vitamin C (4.88 mg/100 g) and iron, while PAS + OS (39% peach sawdust, 39% oak sawdust, 20% wheat bran, 1.5% gypsum, and 0.5% lime) elevated protein (3.88%), phosphorus, and zinc. PCA highlighted distinct nutritional profiles for BLS- and jujube-based mushrooms. Correlation analyses identified the third (r = 0.838) and fourth flushes (r = 0.922) as critical for total yield, with selenium and zinc significantly linked to growth rates. Black locust and peach substrates outperformed or complemented oak, offering sustainable alternatives. These findings underscore the potential of agrowaste utilization to reduce ecological strain while maintaining high yields and nutritional quality, aligning with global agricultural sustainability goals. Full article

Drought threatens the stability of artificial black locust forests on the Loess Plateau, yet there is limited research on the physiological and metabolic responses of mature black locust to drought stress. This study employed a throughfall exclusion system—i.e., moderate drought (40% throughfall reduction), extreme drought (80% throughfall reduction), and 0% throughfall reduction for control—to analyze leaf microstructure, relative water content (RWC), osmotic adjustment substances, hormone levels, and flavonoid metabolites in black locust under controlled drought stress. The results demonstrated that as drought stress intensified, stomatal aperture and density decreased, while trichome density and length exhibited significant increases. MDA, proline, IAA, and osmotic adjustment substances (soluble protein, reducing sugar, and total sugar) first increased and then decreased as drought stress intensified. A total of 245 flavonoid compounds were identified through metabolomic analysis, among which 91 exhibited differential expression under drought treatments. Notably, 37 flavonoids, including flavonols and glycosylated derivatives, were consistently upregulated. These findings suggest that drought stress can lead to the accumulation of flavonoids. This study explored the physiological and metabolic responses of mature black locust trees to drought stress, offering insights for selecting drought-resistant species in vegetation restoration and informing ecological management practices in arid regions. Full article

Yunnan is located on the southwest border of China, with a complex geographical environment and rich biodiversity, which is the first stop for many migratory pests to enter China. In recent years, Ceracris kiangsu has migrated into China through the China–Laos border line. The migratory C. kiangsu has shown typical characteristics of migratory locusts, which has seriously jeopardized the ecological security, biosecurity and food security of China. In order to prevent and control C. kiangsu from the source as soon as possible, this study used hotspot analysis and trajectory analysis to clarify the migration dynamics, source regions and migration corridors of C. kiangsu. The results showed that the migratory C. kiangsu was mainly distributed in the towns of Jiangcheng County, and the source regions were concentrated in Phongsaly, Laos. There are three cross-border migration corridors of C. kiangsu, among which the Laos–Niuluohe border migration corridor running through the entire migration cycle is the most important corridor. The study answered three key questions about the prevention and control of C. kiangsu. Ascertaining when C. kiangsu arrived at Yunnan, where it came from, and where the population then went will greatly improve the efficiency of the prevention and control of C. kiangsu as well as provide a theoretical basis for subsequent monitoring and early warning. Full article

This study employed an integrated approach combining multi-source remote sensing data and the MaxEnt model to systematically assess the ecological niche characteristics of the oriental migratory locust (Locusta migratoria manilensis) in Hainan Island, while projecting the evolution of its suitable habitats under both historical and future climate scenarios (up to 2040). Firstly, we synthesized traditional climate, soil, and topography data with remote sensing data to characterize the suitable areas of the oriental migratory locust based on MaxEnt model (with high accuracy of AUC = 0.935 and TSS = 0.76). Subsequently, six dominant environmental variables—precipitation in April (PRE04), precipitation in September (PRE09), maximum temperature in August (TMAX08), minimum temperature in December (TMIN12), NDVI in February (NDVI02), and NDVI in May (NDVI02)—were identified as key predictors. Their threshold values were determined, with PRE04, PRE09, TMAX08, and TMIN12 ranging from 39 to 44 mm, 196 to 223 mm, 31.1 to 32.2 °C, and 17.7 to 18.0 °C in high-suitability zones, respectively. Finally, these six predictors were used to assess habitat suitability across Hainan Island for both the 2001–2020 and 2021–2040 periods. Under historical climate conditions, highly suitable areas (505 km², 1.41% of total land area) were concentrated in the western and northeastern regions, particularly in Dongfang City (46.27%), Ledong Li Autonomous County (32.91%), and Changjiang Li Autonomous County (18.39%). Future projections indicate significant habitat expansion, with total suitable areas increasing by 13.4–42.0% and highly suitable areas reaching 571–831 km² by 2040. The study highlights the critical Dongfang–Danzhou–Ledong region for targeted locust control, providing scientific support for pest management in tropical island ecosystems under climate change. Full article

Essential amino acids and essential fatty acids are vital nutrients that must be obtained from the diet. However, traditional sources face limitations amid increasing global food security and sustainability challenges. This study aims to evaluate the nutritional potential of novel foods, including microalgae (e.g., spirulina and chlorella), fungi (e.g., oyster and shiitake mushrooms), edible insects (e.g., mealworms and migratory locusts), and unconventional plants (e.g., water lentils and canihua). The study will compare their amino acid and fatty acid profiles with those of conventional animal and plant sources. The comparative analysis conducted in this study reveals that these innovative foods offer balanced and high-quality protein and lipid profiles, and contribute essential nutrients needed to prevent deficiencies and support metabolic health. Significantly, the integration of these novel foods into established dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, has the potential to enhance nutritional quality while promoting environmental sustainability. In conclusion, the adoption of these innovative food sources provides a viable strategy to meet nutritional demands and address global health and ecological challenges, paving the way toward a more resilient and sustainable food system. Full article

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), one of the major afforestation species adopted in vegetation restoration, is notable for its rapid root growth and drought resistance. It plays a vital role in improving the natural environment and soil fertility, contributing significantly to soil and water conservation and biodiversity protection. However, compared with natural forests, due to the low diversity, simple structure and poor stability, planted forests including Robinia pseudoacacia L. are more sensitive to the changing climate, especially in the aspects of growth trend and adaptive range. Studying the ecological characteristics and geographical boundaries of Robinia pseudoacacia L. is therefore important to explore the adaptation of suitable niches to climate change. Here, based on 162 effective distribution records in China and 22 environmental variables, the potential distribution of suitable niches for Robinia pseudoacacia L. plantations in past, present and future climates was simulated by using a Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model. The results showed that the accuracy of the MaxEnt model was excellent and the area under the curve (AUC) value reached 0.937. Key environmental factors constraining the distribution and suitable intervals were identified, and the geographical distribution and area changes of Robinia pseudoacacia L. plantations in future climate scenarios were also predicted. The results showed that the current suitable niches for Robinia pseudoacacia L. plantations covered 9.2 × 10⁵ km², mainly distributed in the Loess Plateau, Huai River Basin, Sichuan Basin, eastern part of the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, Shandong Peninsula, and Liaodong Peninsula. The main environmental variables constraining the distribution included the mean temperature of the driest quarter, precipitation of driest the quarter, temperature seasonality and altitude. Among them, the temperature of the driest quarter was the most important factor. Over the past 90 years, the suitable niches in the Sichuan Basin and Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau have not changed significantly, while the suitable niches north of the Qinling Mountains have expanded northward by 2° and the eastern area of Liaoning Province has expanded northward by 1.2°. In future climate scenarios, the potential suitable niches for Robinia pseudoacacia L. are expected to expand significantly in both the periods 2041–2060 and 2061–2080, with a notable increase in highly suitable niches, widely distributed in southern China. A warning was issued for the native vegetation in the above-mentioned areas. This work will be beneficial for developing reasonable afforestation strategies and understanding the adaptability of planted forests to climate change. Full article

The main aim of this study was to utilize remote sensing data to establish regression models through machine learning to predict locust density in the upcoming year. First, a dataset for monitoring grassland locust density was constructed based on meteorological data and multi-source remote sensing data in the study area. Subsequently, an SVR (support vector regression) model, BP neural network regression model, random forest regression model, BP neural network regression model with the PCA (principal component analysis), and deep belief network regression model were built on the dataset. The experimental results show that the random forest regression model had the best prediction performance among the five models. Specifically, the model achieved a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.9685 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.0144 on the test set, which were the optimal values achieved among all the models tested. Finally, the locust density in the study area for 2023 was predicted and, by comparing the predicted results with actual measured data, it was found that the prediction accuracy was high. This is of great significance for local grassland ecological management, disaster warning, scientific decision-making support, scientific research progress, and sustainable agricultural development. Full article

Soil salinization has become an ecological and environmental problem that cannot be ignored. Tetraploid black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is a leguminous tree with characteristics of drought and saline-alkali tolerance. Rhizosphere bacteria are the primary functional microorganisms within the plant root system, and they play a crucial role in regulating plant growth and enhancing stress tolerance. However, there is still a lack of research on the effect of saline-alkali stress on the bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere of black locusts. In this study, we applied 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM NaHCO₃ stress to diploid (2×) and tetraploid (4×) black locusts for 16 days. We used 16S rDNA sequencing to investigate the changes in the rhizosphere bacterial communities. Furthermore, we evaluated soil enzyme activity and plant physiological characteristics to explore the response of rhizosphere bacteria to NaHCO₃ stress. The results demonstrated that the 4× plant exhibited superior alkali resistance compared to its 2× plant counterpart under NaHCO₃ stress. Simultaneously, it was observed that low concentrations of NaHCO₃ stress notably increased the abundance of rhizosphere bacteria in both plant types, while reducing their diversity. The impact of stress on the rhizosphere bacterial community weakened as the stress concentration increased. The application of NaHCO₃ stress caused a significant change in the composition of the bacterial community in the rhizosphere. Additionally, alkaline salt stress influences the diversity of rhizosphere bacterial communities, which are linked to soil enzyme activities. These data will help us better understand the relationship between the dominant rhizosphere bacterial community and black locust. They will also provide a reference for further improving the alkali resistance of black locust by enhancing the soil bacterial community. Full article

Locust plagues inflict severe agricultural damage. Climate change-induced extreme events like rainfall and droughts have expanded locust habitats. These new areas, often beyond routine monitoring, could become potential high-risk locust areas (PHRLA). Quantitatively understanding the outbreak mechanism driving drought and flood dynamics is crucial for identifying PHRLA, but such studies are scarce. To address this gap, we conducted a case study on locust outbreaks in Xiashan Reservoir, the largest reservoir in Shandong Province, China, in 2017 and 2018. Using time series satellite imagery and meteorological products, we quantitatively analyzed how drought–flood dynamics and temperature affect locust habitats, reproduction, and aggregation. Employing an object-oriented random forest classifier, we generated locust habitat classification maps with 93.77% average overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient of 0.90. Combined with meteorological analysis, we found that three consecutive drought years from 2014 to 2016 reduced the water surface area by 75%, expanding suitable habitats (primarily reeds and weeds) to cover 60% of the reservoir. Warm winters and high temperatures during locust key growth periods, coupled with expanding suitable habitats, promoted multi-generational locust reproduction. However, substantial flooding events in 2017 and 2018, driven by plentiful rainfall during key growth periods, reduced suitable habitats by approximately 54% and 29%, respectively. This compression led to high locust density, causing the locust plague and high-density spots of locusts (HDSL). Our study elucidates locust plague outbreak mechanisms under dynamic drought and flood environments. Based on this, we propose an approach to identify PHRLA by monitoring changes in drought and flood patterns around water bodies and variations in suitable habitat size and distribution, as well as surrounding topography. These findings hold significant implications for enhancing locust monitoring and early warning capabilities, reducing pesticide usage, and ensuring food and ecological security and sustainable agriculture. Full article

The continued exploration of the diversity of lactic acid bacteria in little-studied ecological niches represents a fundamental activity to understand the diffusion and biotechnological significance of this heterogeneous class of prokaryotes. In this study, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Lpb. plantarum) strains were isolated from Tunisian vegetable sources, including fermented olive and fermented pepper, and from dead locust intestines, which were subsequently evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli O157:H7 CECT 4267 and Listeria monocytogenes CECT 4031, as well as against some fungi, including Penicillium expansum, Aspergilus niger, and Botrytis cinerea. In addition, their resistance to oro-gastro-intestinal transit, aggregation capabilities, biofilm production capacity, adhesion to human enterocyte-like cells, and cytotoxicity to colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line were determined. Further, adhesion to tomatoes and the biocontrol potential of this model food matrix were analyzed. It was found that all the strains were able to inhibit the indicator growth, mostly through organic acid production. Furthermore, these strains showed promising probiotic traits, including in vitro tolerance to oro-gastrointestinal conditions, and adhesion to abiotic surfaces and Caco-2 cells. Moreover, all tested Lpb. plantarum strains were able to adhere to tomatoes with similar rates (4.0–6.0 LogCFU/g tomato). The co-culture of LAB strains with pathogens on tomatoes showed that Lpb. plantarum could be a good candidate to control pathogen growth. Nonetheless, further studies are needed to guarantee their use as probiotic strains for biocontrol on food matrices. Full article

The relationship between insects and humans throughout history has always been complex and multifaceted. Insects are both a source of fascination and fear for humans and have played important roles in human culture, economy, and health. Nowadays, there is growing interest in using insects as a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of protein and other nutrients. Entomophagy can be seen as a new opportunity for the food industry and global food security. In fact, insects require far fewer resources than traditional livestock, and there are many references to insect consumption in human history. The ancient Romans are known to have eaten various insects, including beetles, caterpillars, and locusts. Insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, and ants have been eaten for centuries and are still considered a delicacy in many parts of the world, especially in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. Entomophagy has, thus, been a part of human history for thousands of years and continues to be an important food habit for many people around the world. These topics are explored in this article from a historical and cultural perspective (e.g., ecological, nutritional, spiritual, and socio-psychological), with a focus on the progressive acceptance of edible insects in Western societies, since this novel food has also its roots in the Western world. Full article

Soil moisture is a key factor controlling vegetation construction and ecological restoration in arid and semiarid areas. Understanding its spatiotemporal patterns and influencing factors is essential for effective vegetation water management. In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of black locust plants using field investigations and statistical analyses and determined the effects of the rainfall and plant characteristics on the soil moisture content (SMC) in a typical watershed in the Loess Plateau, China. The results show that the SMC increases with increasing distance from the tree trunk in the horizontal direction. The vertical profile of the SMC includes layers characterized by rapid decrease, decreased fluctuation, and slow increase. Temporal SMC changes exhibit higher variabilities in the surface layer than in deeper soil layers. Rainfall characteristics notably affect soil moisture. The influence of the rainfall amount is stronger than that of the rainfall duration and intensity. The diameter at breast height, tree height, and canopy width positively affects the soil moisture, whereas the leaf area index and canopy openness negatively affect it. The results of this study provide insights into soil moisture change mechanisms and theoretical references for sustainable plant water use management in arid and semiarid areas. Full article

The stability of symbiotic flora is an important indicator of the health of an organism. Symbiotic bacteria have been proven to be closely involved in the immune process of organisms. The pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana was studied in relation to symbiotic bacteria on the surface and inside of the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria). The results showed that the surface disinfection of test locusts contributed to the pathogenicity of B. bassiana to locusts. Most of the surface bacteria of L. migratoria caused some inhibition of B. bassiana growth, and LM5-4 (Raoultella ornithinolytica), LM5-2 (Enterobacter aerogenes), and LM5-13 (Citrobacter freundii) showed the highest inhibitory effect on the growth of B. bassiana. The inoculation of locusts with additional surface symbiotic bacteria reduced the virulence of B. bassiana to L. migratoria. Infection by different strains of B. bassiana caused similar changes in the symbiotic flora of migratory locusts. The inoculation of locusts with additional intestinal symbiotic bacteria (Enterobacter sp.) reduced the virulence of B. bassiana to L. migratoria. These findings illustrate the effect of bacterial communities on fungal infections in L. migratoria when seen from the perspective of ecology in a microenvironment. The active antifungal substances of such bacteria and their mechanisms of action need further study. Full article

This paper presents a study of the microbial abundance in post-bauxite-mining land soil from Zece Hotare, Bihor county, Romania. The soil samples were collected from 12 soil variants, in the year 2020, after 15 years of long-term restoration. Some chemical parameters and bacterial numbers of six groups of microorganisms were determined in the restored mining land, and these characteristics were compared with those of the soil from a beech forest situated in an adjacent area unaffected by bauxite exploitation. On the basis of the total number of microorganisms belonging to each group studied, the bacterial potential of the soil quality was assessed, calculating the bacterial soil quality index (BSQI), while the Shannon diversity index and the Jaccard distance were applied to show the level of bacterial diversity. The characteristics of the studied chemical and microbiological parameters determined in the beech adjacent area were very similar to those observed in the high-level plateau, low-level plateau, and Black locust areas, indicating similar soil conditions; therefore, the ecological reconstruction 15 years ago, had a very favorable impact on restoration in some affected areas. Full article