Scientifica最新文献

{"title":"Biodiversity and Structural Analysis of Woody Plant Species of Home Gardens in Basona Worana District, North Shoa Zone of Central Ethiopia.","authors":"Almaz Woldeyohannes, Admasu Moges","doi":"10.1155/2024/5563636","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/5563636","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of this study was to investigate the biodiversity and structure of woody plants of HGs in the Basona Worana district (BWD). For this, six kebeles and 138 HGs from three agroecologies of BWD were selected using various sampling techniques. The plot size used per HG was 400 m². Diversity and important value indices (IVIs) were computed. For their structural analysis, the diameter at breast height (DBH) and height were also measured for trees and shrubs fulfilling the standards (diameters at breast height (DBH) ≥2.5 cm and height >2 m). Thus, a total of 42 woody species belonging to 37 genera and 26 families were identified. Fabaceae was the most abundant family, followed by Euphorbiaceae. Trees were the dominant habit. The richness in Kola HGs (33) was higher than Dega (14) and Woinadega (19) HGs, with an overall mean richness of 4.14 per HG of BWD. The Shannon, Simpson, and evenness indices for HGs in the district were 1.05, 0.55, and 0.75, respectively, showing their moderate diversity with even distribution. The Sorenson's similarity of HGs between Dega and Woinadega, Kola and Dega, and Kola and Woinadega were 40%, 28%, and 32%, respectively. The multiple site similarities of woody species among three ecological zones (36%) were still <50%, showing no similarity. The overall DBH and height classes' patterns of the woody species individuals abruptly decreased towards their highest classes. Similar DBH and height classes' patterns of woody species individuals were also observed in Kola and Woinadega agroecologies, indicating their selective tree cutting. The mean values of DBH, height, basal, and crown areas of the woody species in the district were ∼14 cm, ∼6 m, ∼29 m²·ha^-1, and 5 m², respectively. Based on IVI, most of the HGs were dominated by <i>Eucalyptus</i> globules (93.35), followed by <i>Eucalyptus camaldulensis</i> (45.04), <i>Rhamnus prinoides</i> (22.4), and <i>Cupressus lusitanica</i> (22.33). Hence, actions should be taken to promote the diversity and managing of HGs' woody species of BWD.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2024 ","pages":"5563636"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10869191/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139741988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does Faeces Excreted by Moxidectin-Treated Sheep Impact Coprophagous Insects and the Activity of Soil Microbiota in Subtropical Pastures?","authors":"Susana Gilaverte Hentz, Felix Guillermo Reyes Reyes, Glaciela Kaschuk, Leandro Bittencourt de Oliveira, Maria Angela Machado Fernandes, Alda Lúcia Gomes Monteiro","doi":"10.1155/2024/1960065","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/1960065","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Moxidectin (MOX) is used to control helminth parasites in ruminant livestock. It is released through feces and remains in the environment for a long period. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of faeces excreted by moxidectin-treated sheep on soil biodiversity (coprophagous insects, soil microbial biomass, and activity) to establish environment-related guidelines regarding the use of MOX in sheep livestock. The study consisted of two experiments. In the first one, faeces from MOX-treated (subcutaneous dose of 0.2 mg·kg^-1 body weight) and nontreated rams were placed on an animal-free pasture field, protected or not against rain, for 88 days. Then, coprophagous insects were captured, identified, and counted, and faeces degradation was evaluated by measuring dry weight and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents over time. Diptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, and Coleoptera were equally encountered in faeces from MOX-treated and nontreated animals. Faecal boluses of MOX-treated animals (with higher N content) not protected against rain degraded faster than faecal boluses of nontreated animals (with lower N content). In the second experiment, faeces from nontreated animals were amended with increasing amounts of MOX (75 to 3,000 ng·kg^-1 faeces), mixed with soil samples from animal-free pasture (1.9 to 75 ng·kg^-1 soil), and incubated in a greenhouse for 28 days. Increasing concentrations of MOX did not prevent the growth of cultivable bacteria, actinobacteria, or fungi in culture media. However, even the lower MOX concentration (1.9 ng·kg^-1 soil) abruptly decreased soil microbial biomass, basal respiration, and N mineralization. Thus, the results indicate that faeces excreted from sheep treated with MOX under the experimental conditions of this study are not harmful to the coprophagous insects. However, adding MOX to faeces from drug-free sheep had a negative impact on soil microbial activity and biomass.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2024 ","pages":"1960065"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10866637/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139736005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Control of Alternaria Leaf Spot of the Common Bean (<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.) Using Soil-Derived Biological Agents.","authors":"Stella Karonji, Nixon Odiwuor Odhiambo, Joshua Kiilu Muli, Julius Mugweru, Romano Mwirichia","doi":"10.1155/2024/3896663","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/3896663","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L. is considered one of the most essential legume crops in Kenya. <i>Alternaria alternata</i> is an economically significant plant pathogen that causes Alternaria leaf spot which accounts for over 70% yield losses of beans in Kenya. Chemical fungicides based on copper and sulfur are used to control Alternaria leaf spot in bean plants, but their prolonged use has adversely affected the environment and the health of workers. Herein, we tested the biocontrol potential of bacterial agents from soil planted with Rosecoco bean plants infected with <i>A. alternata</i>. Using bacterial suspensions at different time intervals, we evaluated the putative bacterial biocontrol activity against <i>A. alternata</i> under greenhouse conditions. <i>B. subtilis</i> and <i>B. velezensis</i> bacterial biocontrol agents significantly suppressed disease severity by 20% and 21.2% on the 45^th day, respectively. Our study demonstrates that <i>B. subtilis</i> and <i>B. velezensis</i> are promising biocontrol agents that could be integrated in the management of Alternaria leaf spot.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2024 ","pages":"3896663"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10864046/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139730409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Ripple Effect of Climate Change: Assessing the Impacts on Water Quality and Hydrology in Addis Ababa City (Akaki Catchment).","authors":"Thandile T Gule, Binyam Tesfaw Hailu, Brook Lemma","doi":"10.1155/2024/8824622","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/8824622","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This research aimed to evaluate the effects of climate change on the hydrology and water quality in the Akaki catchment, which provides water to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This was performed using the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model and an ensemble of four global climate models under two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) emission scenarios from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). The climate data were downscaled and bias-corrected using the CMhyd tool and calibrated and validated using the SWAT-CUP software package. Change points and patterns in annual rainfall and temperature were determined using the homogeneity test and Mann-Kendell trend test. Water quality data were obtained from Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA), and more samples were taken and analyzed in accordance with APHA recommended procedures. The SWAT model output was then used to assess the impacts of climate change on hydrological components and water quality. Rainfall increased by 19.39 mm/year under SSP2-4.5 and 12.8 mm/year under SSP8.5. Maximum temperature increased by 0.03°C/yr for SSP2-4.5 and 0.04°C/yr for SSP5-8.5. Minimum temperature increased by 0.03°C/yr under SSP2-4.5 and 0.07°C/yr under SSP5-8.5. This warming will augment the evapotranspiration rate which in turn will have a negative impact on the freshwater availability. Streamflow will increase by 5% under SSP2-4.5 and 9.49% under SSP5-85 which may increase sporadic flooding events. Climate change is expected to contribute to the deterioration of water quality shown by 61%, 36%, 79%, 115%, and 70% increased ammonia, chlorophyll-a, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphorus loadings, respectively, from 2022. The increase in temperature results in increases in nutrient loading and a decrease in dissolved oxygen. Overall, this research demonstrated the vulnerability of the catchment to climate change. The findings of this research can offer vital knowledge to policymakers on possible strategies for the sustainable management of water.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2024 ","pages":"8824622"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10807949/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139547015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of Chitosan versus Natural Aloe Vera on Candida Adherence in Denture Soft Lining Material","authors":"Muhammad Rizwan Memon, Hina Memon, Mehwish Shoro, Humera Bhurgri, Rakhi Issrani, Azhar Iqbal, O. Khattak, Mosa Altassan, Afaf A. Almabadi, S. Sultan, Hussein Abdelfatth Ismail, Muhammad Nadeem Baig, Namdeo Prabhu","doi":"10.1155/2024/9918914","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/9918914","url":null,"abstract":"Background. Soft denture lining materials act as a cushion between the denture base and tissues. Alongside having many advantages, its main problem is candida growth due to its rubbery and porous texture. Many interventions have been performed to halt the growth of candida within soft lining materials such as the use of antifungal therapy and strict oral and denture hygiene but there are consequences such as recurrence, drug resistance, and toxicity related to these interventions. Since natural agents such as aloe vera and chitosan have been proven to have antibacterial and antifungal properties with minimum adverse effects, this study aimed to study the effectiveness of chitosan and aloe vera powders incorporated within denture soft lining materials against candida adherence. Methodology. A total of 60 soft-lining material samples were prepared that were equally divided into three groups, viz., group 1 (chitosan incorporation), group 2 (aloe vera incorporation), and group 3 (control). Candida was obtained from the microbiology lab to form a candidal suspension, diluted in 0.9% NaCl to match the McFarland standard bacteriologic solution. Samples were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours in test tubes containing 100 mL of the candidal suspension and 9.9 mL of the previously prepared Sabouraud dextrose agar. Crystal violet stain was used to stain the adhering cells by fixing them with methanol 80%. For each sample, the adhering candida cells were counted on three standard fields by using an inverted light microscope, and the mean of those fields was recorded. Results. The mean value for samples containing aloe vera was 41.15, while the mean values for samples containing chitosan and the control group were 16.05 and 79.1, respectively. Of all the three groups, aloe vera powder had a significant efficacy against candida growth as compared to the chitosan and control groups (P value = 0.001). Conclusion. Both herbal agents were effective against candida growth. In comparison, aloe vera was more effective against candida growth compared to chitosan.","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"5 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139446707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Comprehensive Exploration of the Fatty Acids Profile, Cholesterol, and Tocopherols Levels in Liver from Laying Hens Fed Diets Containing Nonindustrial Hemp Seed","authors":"Youssef Rbah, Yassin Taaifi, Aymane Allay, K. Belhaj, R. Melhaoui, N. Houmy, Abdessamad Ben Moumen, Embarek Azeroual, M. Addi, F. Mansouri, H. Serghini-Caid, A. Elamrani","doi":"10.1155/2024/8848436","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8848436","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigates the impact of dietary nonindustrial Moroccan hemp seed (HS) on the fatty acid profile, cholesterol, and tocopherol levels, in the liver of 120 Lohmann brown laying hens aged 22 weeks during 12 weeks of treatment. The hens are randomly allocated into four treatment groups, each subdivided into six replicates with five birds in each replicate. The dietary treatments consist of 0% HS (control), 10% HS, 20% HS, and 30% HS. Results indicate a substantial increase p<0.01 in polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega 3 (n-3) and omega 6 (n-6) types, with the inclusion of HS in the diet. The n-6/n-3 ratio is significantly reduced p<0.01, and there is a significant reduction p<0.01 in saturated fatty acids only for the 30% HS treatment, indicating a more favorable fatty acid composition. Cholesterol levels remain largely unaffected by HS inclusion, except for the 10% HS group, which shows a significant decrease p<0.05. Moreover, hepatic tocopherol levels are significantly elevated p<0.01 in subjects receiving the HS diet, with the 30% HS group exhibiting the highest tocopherol content. In summary, incorporating HS into the diet up to 30% appears to offer promising benefits for hepatic lipid composition, particularly in terms of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, the n-6/n-3 ratio, and tocopherol levels, while having minimal impact on cholesterol levels.","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"66 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139387130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protein Hydrolysate from Waste of Catfish Fillet Processing for Snakehead Fish Feed Formulation","authors":"Mulyasari, Subaryono, Bagus Sediadi, Bandol Utomo, Imam Taufk, Muhamad Yamin, I. I. Kusmini, Tri Marwati","doi":"10.1155/2023/2815122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/2815122","url":null,"abstract":"The negative impact of fish processing industry waste needs to be minimized, by processing it into valuable products, one of which is fish feed. The objectives of this research were to determine the optimum dose of crude extract of B. cereus RGL.1.1 enzyme in hydrolyzing protein from the waste of catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) fillet processing and to evaluate the effectiveness of using protein hydrolysate in snakehead fish (Channa striata) feed. There were four doses of enzyme treatment for protein hydrolysis designed in a completely randomized design, namely, 0, 4, 6, and 8% (v/w) with three repetitions. Furthermore, to assess the quality of protein hydrolysate, an analysis of soluble protein level, hydrolysis degree, amino acid content, fatty acid content, and digestibility was carried out. The percentage of protein hydrolysate applied in the feed formula was 0, 15, 30, and 45% (v/w), which was designed in a completely randomized design with three replications. Absolute weight growth, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, feed efficiency, and snakehead fish survival were measured to evaluate the effects of the feed formula. Results showed that the crude extract of B. cereus RGL.1.1 enzymes at a concentration of 6% (v/w) enhanced the availability of soluble proteins, amino acids, fatty acids, and feed digestibility. Protein hydrolysate application in snakehead fish feed formula up to 45% (v/w) can improve the growth performance (8.03%), protein efficiency ratio (25.66%), and feed efficiency (23.41%).","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"107 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139147015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In Vitro Hypoglycemic and Antioxidant Activities of Dichloromethane Extract of Xerophyta spekei","authors":"Michael Musila Ndile, W. Makori, C. Kibiti, M. Ngugi","doi":"10.1155/2023/6652112","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/6652112","url":null,"abstract":"Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder which has greatly led to an increase in morbidity and mortality globally. Although Xerophyta spekei is widely used for the management of diabetes among the Embu and Mbeere communities in Kenya, it has never been empirically evaluated for its hypoglycemic activity. This study was carried out to verify the hypoglycemic activity of dichloromethane (DCM) extract of Xerophyta spekei as well as its antioxidant activity using various in vitro techniques. Phytochemicals associated with its antioxidant activity were identified through GC-MS. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics and expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (X̄ ± SEM). Comparison between various variables was performed by using unpaired Student’s t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test. The confidence interval was set at 95%. The obtained results were presented in tables and graphs. Results showed that there was no difference in α-amylase inhibition activity between the plant extract and the standard (IC50 525.9 ± 12.34 and 475.1 ± 9.115, respectively; p > 0.05). Besides, the glucose adsorption activity of the extract increased with an increase in glucose concentration (from 5.89 to 32.64 mg/dl at 5 mmol and 30 mmol of glucose, respectively; p < 0.05). The extract also limited the diffusion of glucose more than the negative control (7.49 and 17.63 mg/dl, respectively; p < 0.05). It also enhanced glucose uptake by yeast cells. In addition, the studied plant extract showed notable antioxidant activities. The therapeutic effects exhibited by this plant in managing diabetes mellitus and other ailments could be due to its antioxidant as well as its hypoglycemic activity. The study recommends the evaluation of X. spekei for in vivo hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities. Besides, the isolation of bioactive phytochemicals from the plant may lead to the development of new hypoglycaemic agents.","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"7 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139147860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trophic Interactions of European Hake <i>Merluccius merluccius</i> (Linnaeus, 1758) in Benthic Communities off the Moroccan Mediterranean Coastline: Seasonal and Ontogenetic Shifts.","authors":"Douaa Slimani, Souad Abdellaoui, Najib El Ouamari, Nassir Kaddouri, Khaoula Kasmi, Rajae Mouedden, Mostafa Layachi, Jamal Settih, Khalid Chaabane","doi":"10.1155/2023/8865128","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2023/8865128","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The European hake, &lt;i&gt;Merluccius merluccius&lt;/i&gt; (Linnaeus, 1758), is one of the most important resources for Mediterranean fisheries. Due to its pivotal role in energy transfer from lower to higher trophic levels, this species is a crucial component of the ecosystem's functioning. The ecological role of &lt;i&gt;Merluccius merluccius&lt;/i&gt;, off the Moroccan Mediterranean Sea (southern Alboran Sea), was investigated, exploring seasonal and ontogenetic shifts, geographical variations in prey composition, and feeding strategy. Between November 2020 and July 2022, a total of 402 hake specimens were collected by oceanographic bottom trawl surveys (MEDITS) that were carried out during warm and cold seasons to assess their diet and feeding habits. The sample was analyzed according to fish sizes and seasons, and qualitative/quantitative feeding indices were calculated. The trophic spectrum of &lt;i&gt;Merluccius merluccius&lt;/i&gt; included 24 prey items in total, mainly belonging to &lt;i&gt;Osteichthyes&lt;/i&gt; (12), &lt;i&gt;Crustacea&lt;/i&gt; (10), &lt;i&gt;Cephalopoda&lt;/i&gt; (1), and &lt;i&gt;Polychaeta&lt;/i&gt; (1), suggesting a generalist behavior of this predator as in numerous regions of the Mediterranean Sea, with several species that occasionally occurs in its diet. In the Moroccan Mediterranean Sea, &lt;i&gt;Osteichthyes&lt;/i&gt; proved to be the most important prey item (%IRI = 78.56) among the different zoological groups, followed by &lt;i&gt;Crustacea&lt;/i&gt; (%IRI = 16.22). The other food items were occasionally and randomly consumed, and cannibalism was low (0.8%). Hierarchical cluster analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) showed different feeding habits of two main groups separated at 60% similarity: small specimens &lt;10 cm TL, primarily feed on zooplanktonic prey, while medium and large specimens hold a diet based on &lt;i&gt;Osteichthyes&lt;/i&gt; with crustaceans. Furthermore, a significant positive relationship between hake and fish prey size was confirmed. Seasonally, mesopelagic &lt;i&gt;Osteichthyes&lt;/i&gt; were the main food prey in the summer season, while pelagic species were predominant during the autumn. SIMPER analysis revealed that the prey items contributing the most to the differences between seasons and length classes were &lt;i&gt;Engraulis encrasicolus&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Micromesistius poutassou&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Boops boops&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;Macroramphosus scolopax&lt;/i&gt;, gobids, &lt;i&gt;Gadiculus argenteus&lt;/i&gt;, and most of &lt;i&gt;Crustacea&lt;/i&gt;. The diet does not appear to be influenced by sex (&gt;0.05). A trophic level (TROPH) of 4.1 was calculated, indicating that the species is a top predator (quaternary consumers). The TROPH values ranged between 2.58 and 4.38 from juveniles to adults, increasing asymptotically with the size of specimens. In contrast to what has previously been found in other Mediterranean regions, where ichthyophagous hake feed mostly on pelagic &lt;i&gt;Osteichthyes&lt;/i&gt;, such as &lt;i&gt;Engraulis encrasicolus, Sardina pilchardus&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;Micromesistius poutassou&lt;/i&gt;, the study points up the vital role played by Atlantic horse mack","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2023 ","pages":"8865128"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10764652/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139098633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seed Germination Enhancement of Two <i>Balanites</i> Species (<i>B. aegyptiaca</i> (L.) Del. and <i>B. rotundifolia</i> (Tiegh.) Blatt.) Using Different Presowing Treatments in Ethiopia.","authors":"Mohammed Adefa Seid, Tigist Wondimu, Asfaw Degu, Awol Assefa","doi":"10.1155/2023/5571489","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2023/5571489","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>B. aegyptiaca</i> and <i>B. rotundifolia</i> are known to be multipurpose trees with various uses and values. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the seed germination behaviours of <i>B. aegyptiaca</i> and <i>B. rotundifolia</i> under different presowing treatments. Hence, seeds were collected from the Central and Southern Ethiopian Rift Valley regions. Then, a total of 864 fruits (seeds) subjected to eight different presowing treatments and planted in pots arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) were tested for each species. The mean germination percentage (GP), mean daily germination percentage (GD), mean germination time (GT), and mean germination index (GI) were computed. One-way ANOVA showed the presence of significant GP, GD, GT, and GI among treatment groups at <i>p</i> < 0.05 under both <i>Balanites</i> species. For <i>B. aegyptiaca</i>, Tukey's HSD test showed that seeds soaked with 98% H₂SO₄ for 10 minutes (<i>98HSO10m</i>) and 20 minutes (<i>98HSO20m</i>) have the highest GPs (87 ± 8.8 and 82 ± 10.2, respectively) that are significant at <i>p</i> < 0.05. The seeds soaked in 75°C hot water for 10 minutes and subsequently cooled for 12 hours (<i>HW75d</i>), <i>98HSO10m</i>, and <i>98HSO20m</i> have the highest GDs (2%) that are significant at <i>p</i> < 0.05. Moreover, <i>98HSO20m</i>, <i>98HSO10m</i>, and seeds soaked in cold water for 48 hours at room temperature of 25°C (<i>CW48h</i>) have the shortest GTs (24 ± 2.2, 25 ± 0.5, and 25 ± 1.3, respectively), and <i>98HSO10m</i> and <i>98HSO20m</i> have the highest GIs (1.04 ± 0.09 and 1.01 ± 0.08, respectively) that are significant at <i>p</i> < 0.05. For <i>B. rotundifolia</i>, the control recorded the highest cumulative germination (i.e., 71), followed by CW48h (i.e., 51). However, Tukey's HSD tests generally indicated that no treatment group resulted in significant differences in the means of GP, GD, GT, and GI at <i>p</i> < 0.05. So, no treatment group was observed to enhance the germination of <i>B. rotundifolia</i> compared to the control. However, this study generally indicated potential seed enhancement technologies for <i>B. aegyptiaca</i> with greater implications for propagation, conservation, and sustainable utilization of the species in the agricultural and pastoral communities of Ethiopia.</p>","PeriodicalId":21726,"journal":{"name":"Scientifica","volume":"2023 ","pages":"5571489"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10761227/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139088183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}