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Biologia Futura
Number of Followers: 0  Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)ISSN (Print) 2676-8615 - ISSN (Online) 2676-8607 Published by Springer-Verlag  [2468 journals]
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- Wild silk insect of Simlipal biosphere and its molecular genetic diversity
for conservation-
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Abstract: Abstract Designated silkworms (Antheraea mylitta D.) are found in the Smilipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) and consist of four ecological groups. This study examined the genetics of eight ethnic groups from four ecological groups (Modal, Nalia, Bogai and Jata) using RAPD and ISSR markers. The RAPD primer produced 127 bands, of which 41 out of 116 polymorphic regions had a PIC value above 0.45. ISSR markers assigned PIC data values to 57 of 127 polymorphic sites. Cluster analysis revealed genetic differences between ecological populations, with markers separating ecological populations into groups. Low testicles and high genetic diversity indicate that these individuals are at different levels. If adequate protection is not provided, the risk of extinction of ecospecies designed in SBR increases. This study shows that the combined use of RAPD + ISSR markers can improve the results of the technology in identifying different diseases in situations where genomic information is limited.
PubDate: 2024-08-07
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- Effect of salt stress on plant regeneration efficiency in primed and
non-primed seed’s calli of rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety Swarna-
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Abstract: Abstract This study leads with the primed seeds of rice (var. Swarna) with distilled water (D.W.) and various concentrations of Mg(NO3)2 (0–8 mM)/Kinetin (0–5 ppm) alone or in combination with screen out the regeneration medium induced tolerance level of NaCl. To fulfill the objective, the primed and non-primed rice seeds were inoculated in MS medium supplemented with 30 gL−1 maltose + 1 gL−1 casein hydrolysate and 2 mgL−1 of 2,4-D for callus induction and cultured up to 45 days in two sets: one set for regeneration purpose in NaCl-induced regeneration medium and another set was used to study the physiological potentiality of the callus. The 45-day-old calli were transferred into regeneration medium MSR (MS medium for regeneration) (BAP: NAA: Kinetin = 4:1:1) containing NaCl with a concentration range of 0 to 300 mM. The number of regenerating calli and shoot regeneration percentage, number of plantlets obtained from one callus, recovery of plantlets from each concentration of NaCl and proline estimation from the leaf of the regenerated plantlets were determined from one set obtained after 45 days. The calli obtained from another set after 45 days, the frequencies of total and embryogenic calli induction percentage, fresh and dry weights, proline content, nitrate reductase and superoxide dismutase activities were measured. The calli obtained from 2.5 ppm kinetin + 4 mM Mg(NO3)2 primed seeds were showed best result as compared to the other treatments for the above-mentioned parameters in different concentrations of NaCl-induced medium and survive up to 200 mM concentrations of NaCl.
PubDate: 2024-07-31
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- Field test of a bioaugmentation agent for the bioremediation of
chlorinated ethene contaminated sites-
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Abstract: Abstract Chlorinated ethenes are toxic compounds that were widely used in the past, and their improper handling and storage caused notable pollutions worldwide. In situ bioremediation by reductive dechlorination of bacteria is a cost-effective and ecologically friendly way to eliminate these pollutions. During the present study, the efficiency of a previously developed bioaugmentation agent combined with biostimulation was tested under field conditions in contaminated soil. Furthermore, the preservation of dechlorinating ability was also investigated in a long-term experiment. Initially, aerobic conditions were present in the groundwater with possible presence of anaerobic micro-niches providing habitat for Brocadia related anammox bacteria. “Candidatus Omnitrophus” was also identified as a dominant member of community then. Significant changes were detected after the biostimulation, anaerobic conditions established and most of the dominant OTUs were related to fermentative taxa (e.g. Clostridium, Trichococcus and Macillibacteroides). Dominant presence of vinyl-chloride coupled with the lack of vinyl-chloride reductase gene was observed. The most notable change after the bioaugmentation was the significant decrease in the pollutant quantities and the parallel increase in the vcrA gene copy numbers. Similar to post-biostimulation state, fermentative bacteria dominated the community. Bacterial community composition transformed considerably with time after the treatment, dominance of fermentative—mainly Firmicutes related—taxa decreased and chemolithotrophic bacteria became abundant, but the dechlorinating potential of the community remained and could be induced by the reappearance of the pollutants even after 4 years.
PubDate: 2024-07-29
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- Changes in the taxonomic composition of soil bacterial communities under
different inter-row tillage managements in a sloping vineyard of the
Balaton Uplands (Hungary)-
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Abstract: Abstract The common grape (Vitis vinifera L.) has been cultivated for thousands of years. Nowadays, it is cultivated using a variety of tillage practices that affect the structure of the soil microbial communities and thus the health of the vine. The aim of this study was to explore and compare the effects of tillage (shallow tillage with bare soil) and no-tillage (perennial grass cover) practices on soil physical and chemical properties and soil bacterial community diversities in a small catchment. Soil samples were taken in July and October 2020 at different slope positions of two vineyards exposed to erosion. The two sampling sites were separated by the agricultural inter-row management type: tilled and no-tilled slopes. The taxonomic diversity of bacterial communities was determined using 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing method on Illumina MiSeq platform. Based on the examined soil properties, the sampling areas were separated from each other according to the positions of the upper and lower slopes and the sampling times. Both the tilled and no-tilled soil samples were dominated by sequences assigned to phyla Pseudomonadota, Acidobacteriota, Bacteroidota, Verrucomicrobiota, Actinobacteriota, and Gemmatimonadota. The results showed that tillage had no significant effect compared to the no-tilled samples in the studied area. Water runoff and seasonally changed soil physical and chemical properties affected mainly the bacterial community structures.
PubDate: 2024-07-29
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- Soil bacterial communities affected by land-use types in a small catchment
area of the Balaton Uplands (Hungary)-
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Abstract: Changes resulting from different tillage practices can affect the structure of microbial communities, thereby altering soil ecosystems and their functioning. The aim of this study was to explore and compare the physical, chemical properties and bacterial community composition of soils from different land use types (forest, grassland, vineyard, and arable field) in a small catchment. 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing was used to reveal the taxonomic diversity of summer and autumn soil samples taken from two different slope positions. The greater the anthropogenic impact was on the type of land use, the greater the change was in soil physical and chemical parameters. All sample types were dominated by the phyla Pseudomonadota, Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota and Verrucomicrobiota. Differences in the relative abundance of various bacterial taxa reflected the different land use types, the seasonality, and the topography. These diversity changes were consistent with the differences in soil properties. Graphical abstract
PubDate: 2024-07-27
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- Drug-degrading bacteria isolated from the effluent water of a sewage plant
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Abstract: Abstract Endocrine disruptors are potential environmental contaminants that can cause toxicity in aquatic ecosystems, so the Water Framework Directive has established limits for these compounds. During our research, 41 bacterial strains were isolated and identified from sewage effluent and tested for their degradation capacities for bisphenol A, 17β-estradiol, and nonylphenol. All the isolated bacteria belonged to the Gammaproteobacteria class of Pseudomonadota phylum (members of Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Kluyvera, Leclercia, Raoultella, Shigella. Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, and Pseudomonas genera). During the experiments, only strains HF17, HF18 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and HF31 (Citrobacter freundii) were unable to grow on these compounds, all other bacterial strains could grow in the presence of the investigated endocrine disruptors. Based on the genomic analysis of the type strains, a set of genes involving aromatic compound degradation was detected, among the peripheral metabolic pathways, the quinate and benzoate degradation pathways proved to be widespread, among the central aromatic intermediates metabolism, the catechol branch of the beta-ketoadipate pathway was the most dominant. Pseudomonas fulva HF16 strain could utilize the investigated endocrine disruptors: bisphenol A by 34%, 17β-estradiol by 52%, and nonylphenol by 54%.
PubDate: 2024-07-26
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- The impact of stagnation on the microbial quality of constructed water
systems after COVID-19 shutdowns-
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Abstract: Abstract In response to COVID-19 pandemic, governments all over the world limited the movement of people and mandated temporary closure of different institutions. While, these measures helped to reduce the spread of COVID-19, stagnant water can cause water quality deterioration. Stagnation is considered in context with the proliferation of pathogenic and facultatively pathogenic bacteria which pose potential health risks to humans. The objective of this study was to document the hygienic microbiological status of different water systems after the first shutdowns (between 18th March 2020 and 18th May 2020) in Hungary in comparison with a reference period (between 3rd January 2020 to 17th March). During the reference period drinking waters were compliant > 95% of total samples to the parametric values. After the short period shutdowns, the ratio of tnon-compliant drinking water samples was 6.6%: mainly Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7%) and coliform bacteria (5%) resulted poor water quality. The microscopic analysis of drinking waters showed that after low water demand the values of non-compliant samples also increased due to the proliferation of Amoebozoa and other Protozoa species. The compliant pool waters’ ratio was also high in the reference period (97–99%), while after the shutdowns more samples were positive in both pool operation type (fill-and-drain pools and pools with recirculation) due to the proliferation of P. aeruginosa (14%) and micrococci (12%). Legionella non-compliant samples in hot tap water did not show significant difference during both studied periods (15%) although after stagnation the Legionella CFU (colony forming unit) values of the samples increased markedly.
PubDate: 2024-07-24
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- Stable-isotope probing combined with amplicon sequencing and metagenomics
identifies key bacterial benzene degraders under microaerobic conditions-
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Abstract: Abstract The primary aim of the present study was to reveal the major differences between benzene-degrading bacterial communities evolve under aerobic versus microaerobic conditions and to reveal the diversity of those bacteria, which can relatively quickly degrade benzene even under microaerobic conditions. For this, parallel aerobic and microaerobic microcosms were set up by using groundwater sediment of a BTEX-contaminated site and 13C labelled benzene. The evolved total bacterial communities were first investigated by 16S rRNA gene Illumina amplicon sequencing, followed by a density gradient fractionation of DNA and a separate investigation of “heavy” and “light” DNA fractions. Results shed light on the fact that the availability of oxygen strongly determined the structure of the degrading bacterial communities. While members of the genus Pseudomonas were overwhelmingly dominant under clear aerobic conditions, they were almost completely replaced by members of genera Malikia and Azovibrio in the microaerobic microcosms. Investigation of the density resolved DNA fractions further confirmed the key role of these two latter genera in the microaerobic degradation of benzene. Moreover, analysis of a previously acquired metagenome-assembled Azovibrio genome suggested that benzene was degraded through the meta-cleavage pathway by this bacterium, with the help of a subfamily I.2.I-type catechol 2,3-dioxygenase. Overall, results of the present study implicate that under limited oxygen availability, some potentially microaerophilic bacteria play crucial role in the aerobic degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons.
PubDate: 2024-07-24
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- Bacterial community composition of Hungarian salt-affected soils under
different land uses-
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Abstract: Abstract Salinization and sodification are serious and worldwide growing threats to healthy soil functions. Although plants developed a plethora of traits to cope with high salinity, soil bacteria are also essential players of the adaptation process. However, there is still lack of knowledge on how other biotic and abiotic factors, such as land use or different soil properties, affect the bacterial community structure of these soils. Therefore, besides soil chemical and physical investigations, bacterial communities of differently managed salt-affected soils were analysed through 16S rRNA gene Illumina amplicon sequencing and compared. Results have shown that land use and soil texture were the main drivers in shaping the bacterial community structure of the Hungarian salt-affected soils. It was observed that at undisturbed pasture and meadow sites, soil texture and the ratio of vegetation cover were the determinative factors shaping the bacterial community structures, mainly at the level of phylum Acidobacteriota. Sandy soil texture promoted the high abundance of members of the class Blastocatellia, while at the slightly disturbed meadow soil showing high clay content was dominated by members of the class Acidobacteriia. The OTUs belonging to the class Ktedonobacteria, which were reported mostly in geothermal sediments, reached a relatively high abundance in the meadow soil.
PubDate: 2024-07-19
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- Taxonomic diversity and environmental tolerance of cultivable
extremophilic bacteria from a high-altitude meltwater pond on Ojos del
Salado (Chile)-
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Abstract: Earth harbors unique environments where only microorganisms adapted to extreme conditions, known as extremophiles, can survive. This study focused on a high-altitude meltwater pond, located in the Puna de Atacama, Dry Andes. The extremophilic bacteria of this habitat must adapt to a range of extremities, including cold and dry climate, high UV radiation, high daily temperature fluctuations, low-nutrient availability, and negative water balance. This study aimed to explore the taxonomic diversity of cultivable extremophilic bacteria from sediment samples of a desiccated, high-altitude, meltwater pond using media with different organic matter contents and different incubation temperatures. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates were identified as members of the phyla Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes. The most abundant genera were Arthrobacter and Pseudoarthrobacter. The isolates had oligocarbophilic and psychrotrophic properties, suggesting that they have adapted to the extreme environmental parameters of their natural habitats. The results indicate a positive correlation between nutrient concentration and temperature tolerance. Graphical abstract
PubDate: 2024-07-11
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- Temporal changes in the morphological and microbial diversity of biofilms
on the surface of a submerged stone in the Danube River-
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Abstract: Abstract Epilithic biofilms are ubiquitous in large river environments and are crucial for biogeochemical processes, but their community structures and functions remain poorly understood. In this paper, the seasonal succession in the morphological structure and the taxonomic composition of an epilithic bacterial biofilm community at a polluted site of the Danube River were followed using electron microscopy, high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and multiplex/taxon-specific PCRs. The biofilm samples were collected from the same submerged stone and carried out bimonthly in the littoral zone of the Danube River, downstream of a large urban area. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the biofilm was composed of diatoms and a variety of bacteria with different morphologies. Based on amplicon sequencing, the bacterial communities were dominated by the phyla Pseudomonadota and Bacteroidota, while the most abundant archaea belonged to the phyla Nitrososphaerota and Nanoarchaeota. The changing environmental factors had an effect on the composition of the epilithic microbial community. Critical levels of faecal pollution in the water were associated with increased relative abundance of Sphaerotilus, a typical indicator of “sewage fungus”, but the composition and diversity of the epilithic biofilms were also influenced by several other environmental factors such as temperature, water discharge and total suspended solids (TSS). The specific PCRs showed opportunistic pathogenic bacteria (e.g. Pseudomonas spp., Legionella spp., P. aeruginosa, L. pneumophila, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia) in some biofilm samples, but extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes and macrolide resistance genes could not be detected.
PubDate: 2024-07-06
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- Investigation of in vitro biological activity of young Hordeum vulgare
leaf in correlation with its bioactive compounds-
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Abstract: Abstract Young shoots of cereals are widely regarded as superfoods with health benefits attributed to their potential antioxidant activity and antioxidant-related effects (e.g. anticancer). The current study aimed to examine the chemical characteristics of Hordeum vulgare methanolic and aqueous extracts and assess their antioxidant activity using the DDPH and ORAC. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of xanthine oxidase was screened. TLC bioautography was employed to determine the polarity of the compounds present in the extracts that exhibited the most potent free radical scavenging activity. Total flavonoid content of the methanolic and aqueous extracts was 0.14 mg QE/g and 0.012 mg QE/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract was found to be more potent, with a value of 0.97 ± 0.13 mmol TE/g than the aqueous extract which had no activity. This study presents novel findings on the xanthine inhibitory activity of H. vulgare. The methanolic extract demonstrated moderate inhibition of xanthine oxidase with a value of 23.24%. The results of our study were compared with the phytochemical and pharmacological analysis of Triticum aestivum, and further comparison was made with the data reported in the literature. Inconsistencies were observed in the chemical and pharmacological properties of H. vulgare, which could be a result of using herbal material harvested in different vegetative phases and various methods used for extraction. The findings of our study indicate that the timing of the harvest and extraction method may play crucial role in attaining the optimal phytochemical composition of H. vulgare, hence enhancing its pharmacological activity.
PubDate: 2024-07-05
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- The effect of vitamin E on ethanol-induced liver damage in rats
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Abstract: Abstract Ethanol can have harmful effects on the development of the embryos. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin E, as an antioxidant, on changes in liver tissue damaged by ethanol in rats. Rats were divided into 11 groups, control, naive, sunflower oil (oil), ethanol, vitamin E (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), ethanol + vitamin E (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), and oily ethanol. In the experimental groups, rats received ethanol (v/v 40%) and vitamin E (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) orally once a day from gestational day 0 to 28 days after delivery. Then, we evaluated the weight of rats and their offspring, the number of offspring, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), as an index of lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), as antioxidant enzymes, in the liver tissue of the offspring. Vitamin E significantly increases in weight of pregnant mothers and their offspring on the 21st day of pregnancy. The level of MDA in the groups receiving vitamin E was significantly reduced compared to the ethanol group. The activity of GPx and SOD antioxidants enzymes was significantly increased in the offspring. Vitamin E could reduce ethanol-induced liver damage in male offspring by reducing oxidative stress.
PubDate: 2024-06-27
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- The effects of co-invasion by three Asteraceae invasive alien species on
plant taxonomic and functional diversity in herbaceous ruderal communities
in southern Jiangsu, China-
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Abstract: Abstract Invasive alien species can affect plant taxonomic and functional diversity. Multiple invasive alien species can co-invade the same plant community. However, the effects of such co-invasion on plant taxonomic and functional diversity are currently unclear. Our study aimed to estimate the effects of co-invasion by three Asteraceae invasive alien species (i.e., Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist, Conyza sumatrensis (S.F. Blake) Pruski and G. Sancho, and Solidago canadensis L.) on plant taxonomic and functional diversity in herbaceous ruderal communities in southern Jiangsu, China. The effects of these three invasive alien species under seven invasion combinations (including invasion by one invasive alien species, co-invasion by two invasive alien species, and co-invasion by these three invasive alien species) on plant taxonomic and functional diversity were investigated in a comparative field study of herbaceous ruderal communities. Niche differentiation mediated the functional divergence between these three invasive alien species and natives under all invasion combinations. These three invasive alien species significantly increased plant taxonomic diversity (especially plant diversity and richness) and plant functional diversity (especially Rao’s quadratic entropies) under all invasion combinations. The relative abundance of invasive alien species was significantly positively associated with plant functional diversity (especially community-weighted mean trait values and Rao’s quadratic entropy). The number of invasive alien species was significantly positively associated with plant taxonomic diversity (especially plant diversity and richness) and plant functional diversity (especially Rao’s quadratic entropies). Thus, co-invasion by these three invasive alien species may synergistically increase plant taxonomic diversity (especially plant diversity and richness) and functional diversity (especially Rao’s quadratic entropies).
PubDate: 2024-06-01
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- Growth of two invasive cichlids (Perciformes: Cichlidae) in a natural
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Abstract: Abstract The outflow of the natural thermal Lake of Hévíz is habitat of several fish species, with conservation relevance. In the past few years, numerous thermophile (tropically originated) fishes were reported in this waterbody, from which two species Parachromis managuensis (Günther, 1867), Vieja melanurus (Günther, 1862) characterized with strong, self-sustaining population. The aim of our research was to provide basic population data and to study their individual growth. The standard length of jaguar cichlid ranged from 37 to 283 mm (mean SL = 110.21 ± 65.4 mm), the redhead cichlid standard length varied between 30 and 203 mm (mean SL = 93.91 ± 40.0 mm). Slightly positive allometry (b > 3) was found in the case of both species. The von Bertalanffy Growth Function can be described as the following Lt = 343.6[1 − e−0.196(t+0.973)] in jaguar cichlid and Lt = 298.9[1 − e−0.113(t+0.997)] in the case of redhead cichlid. The Bertalanffy growth equations show slow growth for both species. Fulton’s condition factor (K) values varied between 1.376 and 2.11 (mean K = 1.701 ± 0.17) in the case of jaguar cichlid, and between 1.391 and 3.033 (mean K = 2.237 ± 0.24) for redhead cichlid. These baseline population biology data from the first known self-sustaining, temperate-zone populations of two tropical cichlids provide information e.g., for future ecological risk assessments or comparative growth analyzes.
PubDate: 2024-06-01
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- Emerging role of osmoprotectant glycine betaine to mitigate heavy metals
toxicity in plants: a systematic review-
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Abstract: Abstract Heavy metals (HMs) toxicity has become one of the major global issues and poses a serious threat to the environment in recent years. HM pollution in agricultural soil is caused by metal mining, smelting, volcanic activity, industrial discharges, and excessive use of phosphate fertilizers. HMs above a threshold level adversely affect the cellular metabolism of plants by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), which attack cellular proteins. There are different mechanisms (physiological and morphological) adopted by plants to survive in the era of abiotic stress. Various osmoprotectants or compatible solutes, including amino acids, sugar, and betaines, enable the plants to counteract the HM stress. Glycine betaine (GB) is an effective osmolyte against HM stress among compatible solutes. GB has been shown to improve plant growth, photosynthesis, uptake of nutrients, and minimize oxidative stress in plants under HM stress. Additionally, GB increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT (catalase), SOD (superoxide dismutase), and POD (peroxidase), which are effective in scavenging unwarranted ROS. Since not all species of plants can naturally produce or accumulate GB in response to stress, various approaches have been explored for introducing them. Plant hormones like salicylic acid, ABA (abscisic acid), and JA (jasmonic acid) co-ordinately stimulate the accumulation of GB inside the cell under HM stress. Apart from the exogenous application, the introduction of GB pathway genes in GB deficient species via genetic engineering also seems to be efficient in mediating HM stress. This review complied the beneficial effects of GB in mitigating HM stress and its role as a plant growth regulator. Additionally, the review explores the potential for engineering GB biosynthesis in plants as a strategy to bolster their resilience to HMs.
PubDate: 2024-06-01
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- Deleterious effect of LiCl on honeybee (Aphis mellifera) grubs and no
effect on Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) under normal beekeeping
management-
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Abstract: Abstract A 2-year field experiment was performed to test lithium chloride, LiCl, application in a normal beekeeping management system. The effect of LiCl on bee larval mortality, beehive weight (honey production) and Varroa mite mortality were tested. Spectrometric quantification of Li on honey and the larval body were made to test the effectiveness of the presence of LiCl. Li was detected in bee larval bodies and in honey over 2 years, from 2018 to 2019. According to the results, no effect of LiCl on mite mortality or bee larval mortality was detected in the first year of application. By assessing the weight variation of beehives, only one LiCl-treated hive showed a significantly higher weight, whereas no other differences were detected between treatments and control. The same trend seen in 2018 was repeated in 2019, while a total bee larval mortality was observed after the first LiCl application, and still no differences in Varroa mite mortality were observed. According to these results, it was concluded that LiCl has no effect on Varroa mite mortality during normal beekeeping practice; furthermore, the recommended amount of treatment (25 mM) had a lethal effect (i.e., total mortality) on larvae following repeated applications.
PubDate: 2024-06-01
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- Taxonomic diversity of extremophilic prokaryotes adapted to special
environmental parameters in Hungary: a review-
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Abstract: Abstract The taxonomic and metabolic diversity of prokaryotes and their adaptability to extreme environmental parameters have allowed extremophiles to find their optimal living conditions under extreme conditions for one or more environmental parameters. Natural habitats abundant in extremophilic microorganisms are relatively rare in Hungary. Nevertheless, alkaliphiles and halophiles can flourish in shallow alkaline lakes (soda pans) and saline (solonetz) soils, where extreme weather conditions favor the development of unique bacterial communities. In addition, the hot springs and thermal wells that supply spas and thermal baths and provide water for energy use are suitable colonization sites for thermophiles and hyperthermophiles. Polyextremophiles, adapted to multiple extreme circumstances, can be found in the aphotic, nutrient-poor and radioactive hypogenic caves of the Buda Thermal Karst, among others. The present article reviews the organization, taxonomic composition, and potential role of different extremophilic bacterial communities in local biogeochemical cycles, based on the most recent studies on extremophiles in Hungary.
PubDate: 2024-05-16
DOI: 10.1007/s42977-024-00224-4
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- Experiments with a set of cooperative enrichment devices used by groups of
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins-
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Abstract: Abstract Dolphins in the wild cooperate to find food, gain and maintain access to mating partners, look after their young ones, or for the sheer joy of play. Under human care, environmental enrichments provide mental and physical stimulation and opportunities for the dolphins to practice their natural abilities. In this review, I focus on a set of enrichment devices we designed for cooperative problem-solving. They allowed the dolphins to utilize and improve their cognitive skills, leading to improved socialization within the group. While the devices provided appropriate challenges to the dolphins, they also allowed the investigation of the impact of demographic and social factors on the cooperative actions. We found that age and relatedness had no impact on cooperation; in turn, cooperation increased with group size. In addition, during the use of these cognitive enrichments, partner preference and intersexual differences were revealed in cooperative actions. The novel multi-partner devices were not only used by dolphin pairs but also by dolphin trios and quartets, providing evidence for group-level cooperation. In addition, a novel food-sharing device was used prosocially by dolphin pairs. Finally, the introduction of these cognitive enrichments leads to measurable short- and long-term welfare improvement. Thus, the use of these cognitive enrichments paired with systematic data collection bridged science with welfare. Future studies will investigate intersexual differences in independent groups, the emergence and function of cooperative interactions, and the socio-dynamics using cognitive enrichments.
PubDate: 2024-05-06
DOI: 10.1007/s42977-024-00218-2
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- Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi promote growth and enhance the accumulation
of bioactive compounds in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)-
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Abstract: Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been known to enhance plant growth and nutrient uptake. In this study, we investigated the effects of Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices, and their co-inoculation on the growth and biochemical composition of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants. The findings demonstrated that the inoculation of AMF significantly enhanced shoot and root length, shoot and root dry weight, number of fruits per plant, as well as concentrations of anthocyanin, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants in tomato plants. Both individual and co-inoculation of AMF also significantly increased nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations in tomato plants. Our findings suggest that AMF can be used as a potential biofertilizer to enhance the growth and biochemical composition of tomato plants.
PubDate: 2024-04-05
DOI: 10.1007/s42977-024-00214-6
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