scholarly journals Mineral Fertilizers Influence the Macrofauna of Soils Under Cocoa Trees in the South-Western Côte d’Ivoire

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Hypolith K. Kouadio ◽  
Alain Jacques A. Kotaix ◽  
Sydiki Bakayoko ◽  
Emmanuel K. Kassin ◽  
Aïdara Sékou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
First Year ◽  
Mineral Fertilization ◽  
Soil Macrofauna ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Soil Monolith

A study on mineral fertilization of soils was carried out for two years in three cocoa farms in the Nawa region of south-western Côte d’Ivoire. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of mineral fertilizers on soil macrofauna. The experimental design was Fisher block with four treatment with three repetitions. The treatments were control without fertilizer (T0), NPK 0-23-19 fertilizer (T1), NPK 0-15-15 + 17 CaO + 5 MgO + 1 B2O3 + 0.5 Zn (T2) and NPK 4-10-10 + 19 CaO + 4 MgO + 0.8 B2O3 + 0.3 Zn (T3). Twelve soil monoliths were made per treatment and per site, to count the macrofauna of the soil. Each soil monolith was subdivided into three strata 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm. The organisms were counted and classified into functional groups. The abundance, species richness and diversity indices of Shannon-weaver and Piélou were determined. The analysis of variance of the numbers of individuals in the macrofauna did not show a significant difference between the treatments on different strata of the monoliths during the second year of the trial. However, during the first year, all the treatments with fertilizer in the 0-10 cm stratum had a more abundant macrofauna than that of the control without fertilizer at Soubré and Mayo. Multivariate analyses (AFC) showed links between functional groups of organisms and treatments. Myriapods and earthworms were linked to the T2 and T3 treatments, microarthropods to T1 and other organisms to T0. As for macrofauna diversity, the highest value of species richness (7 species), Shannon-weaver (2) and Piélou (1) indices were found in the fertilized treatments. Mineral fertilizers thus presented better conditions for the expansion of macrofauna. A reasoned application of mineral fertilizers creates a favourable living environment for certain soil organisms.

scholarly journals Sponge-Associated Amphipod Communities as Bioindicators for Pollution

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ronja Hauke
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Sex Ratios ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Life Cycle Stage ◽  
Sponge Species ◽  
Pollution Level ◽  
Sponge Tissue ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Significant Difference

<p>Pollution negatively impacts organisms across all marine ecosystems. Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to pollution due to their proximity to human settlements. Amphipods are commonly used as bioindicators to monitor pollution burdens, due to their high sensitivities and their ubiquity. Pollution can reduce amphipod abundance, species richness, evenness and diversity. Community structure, proportionality of adults to juveniles and sex ratios may also be affected. Sponges often harbour high densities of amphipods, offering food, refuge and nurseries to their symbionts. Sponge-associated amphipods differ in their level of specialization on their host. This study provides first insights into the usefulness of sponge-associated amphipod communities as bioindicators. For this, it hypothesized that amphipod densities, species diversity, community structure, sex ratio and age proportionality will differ according to pollution levels.  To test this, sponges were collected from three sites with varying degrees of pollution in Wellington Harbour. The sponges were weighed, and their volume was measured. They were dissected and their amphipods were identified to species level, counted, measured (length) and their sex and life cycle stage (adult or juvenile) were recorded. From this data, amphipod densities, species richness, evenness and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices were calculated and compared among pollution levels. Community structure was also compared between sites and sponge species. Pollution level significantly affected species richness, evenness, diversity and community structure. The highest values for species richness, evenness and diversity were found in sponges from the least polluted. The lowest levels of these factors were found in sponges from the most polluted site. Sponges from the intermediate site generally harboured moderate richness, evenness and diversity compared to the other sites. Community composition was significantly affected by pollution, although effect sizes differed between sponge species. Higher pollution levels seemed to favour dominance of species that are better adapted to living in sponges. Generalists seemed to thrive in low to intermediate pollution levels. The majority of sex ratios measured had a female bias, which appeared to increase with increasing pollution although the difference was not statistically significant. The proportion of adults also showed a non-significant increase with pollution level. There was no significant difference in amphipod abundance per litre of sponge tissue between pollution levels, possibly because pollution levels may have been too low to cause a reduction in amphipod density. These results show that sponge-associated amphipod communities are useful as bioindicators, as amphipod diversity, richness and evenness were significantly reduced by pollution and the sponge association allows for these community-scale comparisons to be made within an easily measurable framework. Species evenness in particular provided an accurate indication of different pollution levels.</p>

scholarly journals Sponge-Associated Amphipod Communities as Bioindicators for Pollution

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ronja Hauke
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Sex Ratios ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Life Cycle Stage ◽  
Sponge Species ◽  
Pollution Level ◽  
Sponge Tissue ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Significant Difference

<p>Pollution negatively impacts organisms across all marine ecosystems. Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to pollution due to their proximity to human settlements. Amphipods are commonly used as bioindicators to monitor pollution burdens, due to their high sensitivities and their ubiquity. Pollution can reduce amphipod abundance, species richness, evenness and diversity. Community structure, proportionality of adults to juveniles and sex ratios may also be affected. Sponges often harbour high densities of amphipods, offering food, refuge and nurseries to their symbionts. Sponge-associated amphipods differ in their level of specialization on their host. This study provides first insights into the usefulness of sponge-associated amphipod communities as bioindicators. For this, it hypothesized that amphipod densities, species diversity, community structure, sex ratio and age proportionality will differ according to pollution levels.  To test this, sponges were collected from three sites with varying degrees of pollution in Wellington Harbour. The sponges were weighed, and their volume was measured. They were dissected and their amphipods were identified to species level, counted, measured (length) and their sex and life cycle stage (adult or juvenile) were recorded. From this data, amphipod densities, species richness, evenness and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices were calculated and compared among pollution levels. Community structure was also compared between sites and sponge species. Pollution level significantly affected species richness, evenness, diversity and community structure. The highest values for species richness, evenness and diversity were found in sponges from the least polluted. The lowest levels of these factors were found in sponges from the most polluted site. Sponges from the intermediate site generally harboured moderate richness, evenness and diversity compared to the other sites. Community composition was significantly affected by pollution, although effect sizes differed between sponge species. Higher pollution levels seemed to favour dominance of species that are better adapted to living in sponges. Generalists seemed to thrive in low to intermediate pollution levels. The majority of sex ratios measured had a female bias, which appeared to increase with increasing pollution although the difference was not statistically significant. The proportion of adults also showed a non-significant increase with pollution level. There was no significant difference in amphipod abundance per litre of sponge tissue between pollution levels, possibly because pollution levels may have been too low to cause a reduction in amphipod density. These results show that sponge-associated amphipod communities are useful as bioindicators, as amphipod diversity, richness and evenness were significantly reduced by pollution and the sponge association allows for these community-scale comparisons to be made within an easily measurable framework. Species evenness in particular provided an accurate indication of different pollution levels.</p>

scholarly journals Intercontinental comparison of ferns community assemblages in Malaysian and Nigerian tropical forests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gbenga Festus Akomolafe ◽  
Rusly Binti Rosazlina ◽  
Zakaria Rahmad ◽  
Fatai Oloyede
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
The Other ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fern Species ◽  
Community Assemblages

Research on ferns ecology has gained attention in the last decade, yet there is paucity of information on the intercontinental comparison of ferns community across two continents. This study focused on comparing the ferns community assemblages in tropical forests of Malaysia and Nigeria, thereby assessing the patterns of the species richness and diversity across the two continents. The diversity and taxonomic compositions of ferns were assessed using 180 plots of size 10 m x 10 m in each country. The species richness and other diversity indices were determined using the combined forests data for each country and for the individual forests. The observed and rarefied–extrapolated fern species richness are significantly higher in Malaysian forests than Nigerian forests. Also, the other diversity indices (Simpson index, Margalef index, and Fisher’s alpha) are significantly higher in Malaysian forests except Shannon index which showed no significant difference between the two biogeographic regions. There is a very low similarity in the taxonomic composition of ferns between the two biogeographic areas, although the similarity in composition increased with increasing taxonomic levels (genus and family levels). Terrestrial and epiphytic ferns are more dominant than the other life forms in the two countries. Since the two countries receive varying degrees of environmental factors, we then hypothesize that these observed differences are due to climatic differences as well as historical and evolutionary processes.

scholarly journals THE INFLUENCE OF SEWAGE SLUDGE ON NORWAY SPRUCE (PICEA ABIES (L.) H. KARST.) SEEDLINGS GROWTH

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martynas KEMESIUS ◽  
Gerda SILINGIENE ◽  
Regina VASINAUSKIENE ◽  
Remigijus ZALKAUSKAS
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
First Year ◽  
Mineral Fertilization ◽  
Soil Fertilization ◽  
Fertilization Rates ◽  
The Impact

The usage of biodegradable waste as sewage sludge in a proper way for tree nurseries enable to seek for ecological, waste-less, alternative to mineral fertilization farming ways. The aim of this research is to investigate impact of sewage sludge fertilizers on Norway spruce (Picea abies) two years’ seedlings growth. Research has been done in 2013-2014 at Utena State Forest Enterprise nursery. The different fertilization rates (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 t/ha) of sewage sludge were investigated and compared with control – traditional fertilization with mineral fertilizers. The impact of sewage sludge was evaluated by seedlings biometric indicators, also dry mass of sample seedlings (medium seedlings by height and diameter). The bigger rates of sewage sludge showed almost better results in exception of seeds outlet. Sewage sludge has long lasting effect on seedlings growth and could successfully shift soil fertilization by mineral fertilizers. The obtained research results confirm the similar research carried out in 2011 in Rokiskis State Forest Enterprise nursery for first year Norway Spruce seedlings.

scholarly journals Relationships between soil organic matter and crop yield after biochar substrates application and their combination with mineral fertilizers on sandy soil

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Vladimír Šimanský ◽  
Dušan Šrank
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
First Year ◽  
Labile Carbon ◽  
Mineral Fertilization ◽  
The Third ◽  
Linear Relationships

Abstract In this field study, under the soil conditions of southern Slovakia (Dolná Streda, sandy Haplic Arenosol), there were quantified the effects of biochar substrates (1. Effeco 50:50; 2. Effeco 33:33:33) in two rates (10 and 20 t.ha−1) applied alone or in combination with mineral fertilization on soil organic matter (SOM) content and crop yields for period of 3 years (2018-2020) but also the linear relationships between SOM and crop yields depending on the application of biochar substrates and its combination with mineral fertilizers. The results showed that the content of soil organic carbon (SOC) increased from 8.5 g.kg−1 in unfertilized control to 13.8 g.kg−1 in Effeco 33:33:33 at 20 t ha−1. However, SOC decreased from 13.6 g.kg−1 in fertilized control to 10.1 g.kg-1 in Effeco 50:50 at 10 t.ha−1. Biochar substrates and their combination with mineral fertilizers did not have a significant effect on changes in labile carbon in the soil. The effect on the crop yields was diametrically different in the first year after the application of biochar substrates compared to the second and third year. In the second and third year, the same trend was observed in the reaction to substrates – including a more robust effect on the increase in crop yields in the third year after the application of biochar substrates and also biochar substrates with mineral fertilizers. The linear relationships between SOC and crop yields were found only in biochar substrates alone treatments.

Avian monitoring – comparing structured and unstructured citizen science

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey T. Callaghan ◽  
John M. Martin ◽  
Richard E. Major ◽  
Richard T. Kingsford
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Urban Greenspace ◽  
Shannon Diversity ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Urban Greenspaces

Context Citizen science is increasingly used to collect biodiversity data to inform conservation management, but its validity within urban greenspaces remains largely unresolved. Aims To assess the validity of eBird data for generating biodiversity estimates within an urban greenspace. Methods We compared data from structured avian surveys with eBird data at an urban greenspace in Sydney during 2012–16, using species richness and Shannon diversity indices. We also compared community composition, using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and dissimilarities using non-parametric MANOVA. Key results Structured surveys had a lower overall species richness (80 versus 116) and Shannon diversity (3.64 versus 3.94) than eBird data, but we found no significant differences when using years as replicates. After standardising the richness and diversity indices by time spent surveying in a given year, structured surveys produced significantly higher biodiversity estimates. Further, when grouped into species occupying different broad habitats, there were no significant differences in waterbird or landbird species richness, or in Shannon diversity between data sources. Conclusions The most likely explanation for the larger magnitudes of the biodiversity indices from the eBird data is the increase in effort manifested in the number of observers, time spent surveying and spatial coverage. This resulted in increased detection of uncommon species, which in turn accounted for a significant difference (R2 = 0.21, P = 0.015) in overall community composition measured by the two methods. Implications Our results highlight the opportunities provided by eBird data as a useful tool for land managers for monitoring avian communities in urban areas.

scholarly journals Effect of physiographic factors on woody species diversity in oak forests (case study: Sardasht forest -Iran)

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 19-27
Author(s):  
J Eshaghi Rad ◽  
A Motallebpour ◽  
A Alijanpour
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Oak Forests ◽  
Woody Species Diversity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Richness Index

Research on species diversity in different gradients of altitudes, aspect and slope is attempting to understand the interactions of vegetation and the non-living environment. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of altitude, slope and aspect variation on the woody species diversity in the Oak forests of Zagros (northern of Iran). 178 samples were taken by using of transect method with a fixed length of 50 m. Altitude, slope, aspect, woody species and diameter at breast height of all trees was recorded in each transect. Margalef richness index, Shannon and Simpson diversity indices and Shannon evenness index were calculated. The Means of the different diversity indices were compared with Kruskal- Wallis test. Results showed that altitude had significant impact on the diversity, richness and evenness of woody species and the middle elevation class (1400 - 1600 m) allocated maximum values of indices. Also, the highest species richness was observed in the (0 - 20%) and (20 - 40%) slope classes but the slope hadn’t effected on the woody species evenness and diversity. The lowest amount of species richness was observed in the east aspect than other aspects. In general, it can be concluded that the altitude had a large proportion of diversity variation than slope and aspect in the research area.J. bio-sci. 23: 19-27, 2015

Assemblage Patterns of Hymenoptera at Different Elevations of Gunung Datuk, Rembau

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noor Nasuha Abd Aziz ◽  
Siti Khairiyah Mohd Hatta ◽  
Idris Abd Ghani ◽  
Saiyid Jalaluddin Saiyid Shaifuddin
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Index Site ◽  
Evenness Index ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Richness Index ◽  
Paired T Test ◽  
Malaise Traps

A study on abundance and diversity of Hymenoptera was conducted in Gunung Datuk, Rembau. Samplings were conducted from November 2014 to February 2015 using six Malaise traps. Three traps were placed at Site 1 at 700m height for high elevation and the remaining traps were placed at Site 2 at 200m height for low elevation. A total number of 221 Hymenopteran were collected which consist of nine families namely Ichneumonidae, Formicidae, Braconidae, Bethylidae, Evaniidae, Tiphiidae, Vespidae, Pompilidae and Apidae. In this study, 93 individuals were obtained from Site 1, comprising nine families and 43 morphospecies while 127 individuals were obtained from Site 2 with nine families and 45 morphospecies. Formicidae was the most dominant family collected from both sites with a total of 104 individuals while the least family recorded was Apidae with only one individual. Shannon’s Weiner Diversity Index (H’) showed Site 1 had the higher diversity value with H’ = 3.17 compared to Site 2 with value H’ = 3.12. For Evenness Index, Site 1 had higher value compared to Site 2 with E’ = 0.84 and E’ = 0.82 respectively. Moreover, for Margalef Richness Index, Site 1 recorded R’ = 9.24 while site two recorded R’ = 9.08 which concluded that Site 1 had higher species richness compared to Site 2. Paired t-test showed that both sites had no significant difference with p>0.05. Overall study showed that the diversity and abundance of Hymenoptera in Gunung Datuk were low since the value of H’ is less than 3.50.

INFLUENCE OF THE DIFFERENT SOIL PREPARATION METHODS ON THE PEA YIELD

2018 ◽  
pp. 16-20
Author(s):  
А. М. Grebennikov ◽  
А. S. Frid ◽  
V. P. Belobrov ◽  
V. А. Isaev ◽  
V. М. Garmashоv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Morphological Properties ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
First Year ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Soil Preparation ◽  
Multifactor Analysis ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Central Chernozem

The article assesses the relationships between the morphological properties of agrochernozems and yield of peas on the plots, experience with different methods of basic treatment (moldboard plowing at the depth of 20 - 22, 25 - 27 and 14 - 16 cm, moldboard plowing to a depth of 14 - 16 cm, combined midwater moldboard, mid-water subsurface, surface to a depth of 6 - 8 cm and zero tillage) is inherent in V.V. Dokuchaev Research Institute of Agriculture of the Central Black Earth strip, in the fall of 2014. The research was conducted in 2015 - 2016, with the application of mineral fertilizers (N60Р60К60) and unfertilized background. The highest pea yields in the fertilized as the background, and without the use of fertilizers was observed in dumping plowing and especially in the variant with deep moldboard plowing, which creates in comparison with other ways of handling the best conditions for the growth and development of peas. The lowest yield of pea was obtained with zero processing. Apparently legalistic migrational-mizelial agrochernozems the Central Chernozem zone of minimum tillage in the cultivation of peas are not effective, what is evident already in the first year after the laying of experience with different basic treatments. As shown by the results of applying multifactor analysis of variance studied the mapping properties of the soil can have the same significant impact on the yield of agricultural crops, as options for the field experiments aimed at assessing the impact of various treatments on yield.

Effects of Liming and Fertilization on the Dehydrogenase and Catalase Activities

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 3464-3468
Author(s):  
Alina Dora Samuel ◽  
Simona Bungau ◽  
Ilona Katalin Fodor ◽  
Delia Mirela Tit ◽  
Cristian Felix Blidar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Catalase Activity ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Farmyard Manure ◽  
Enzymatic Activities ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Mineral Fertilization ◽  
Favorable Conditions ◽  
Npk Fertilization

In this paper we provide new data about the soil enzyme activity as a biological process, which is an indicator for impacts of factorial combinations of lime and fertilizers applications. Five plots divided into fifteen subplots were sampled for determination of the enzymatic indicators of soil quality, based on the actual and potential dehydrogenase and catalase activities. The research revealed that limed soil samples, in comparison with unlimed ones, resulted in significantly higher soil enzymatic activities (p[0.05) in the upper (0-20 cm), while in the deeper (20-40 cm) layer, only catalase activity was significantly higher (at least at p[0.02). Mineral fertilization, in comparison with its farmyard manuring, led to an insignificant increase in each of the three enzymatic activities determined, excepting catalase activity which was significantly higher (0.05]p]0.02) in the 0-20 cm layer. Based on the absolute values of the enzymatic activities, the enzymatic indicators of soil quality (EISQ) were calculated. The mineral NPK-fertilization and low dose of lime in the 0-20 cm layer, and mineral NP-fertilization and low dose of lime in the 20-40 cm layer proved to be the best variants of fertilization. The enzymatic indicators of soil quality in these variants reached the highest values: EISQ=0.821 and EISQ=0.889, respectively, indicating the presence of high enzymatic activities. It should be emphasized that a balanced application of lime, mineral fertilizers and farmyard manure leads to the formation of favorable conditions for the development of microorganisms, growth of plants and for an intense and lasting enzymatic activity.

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