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Publications

NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.

2012

Abstract

Groundwater pollution by agrochemicals, degradation of soil quality and pollution of aquatic ecosystems by agricultural drainage waters have become an issue in the last decades. Flow processes in the vadose zone are closely related to these problems. In general, water flow in soils can be classified into two major categories: uniform and non-uniform (preferential) flow (In: U.S. National Committee for Rock Mechanics, Conceptual Models of Flow and Transport in the Fractured Vadose Zone, 2001, pp.149-187). The former describes a relatively slow movement of water through the porous soil matrix and can be modelled by Richard”s equation. The latter comprises all flow types where water bypasses a portion of the soil matrix and flows through localised (i.e. preferential) paths. Unlike uniform flow, preferential flow is hardly predictable because the assumptions of Richard”s equation of a homogeneous representative elementary volume characterised by a single value of water potential, water content and hydraulic conductivity are frequently violated (Eur J Soil Sci, 2007; 58:523-546)....

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Abstract

The relative frequency of Therrya fuckelii and T. pini fruiting on dead branches of Scots pine was investigated in southern Norway by examining lightning-damaged and wind-fallen trees, randomly collected branches and Nordic herbarium collections of these ascomycetes representing the order Rhytismatales. Ascus, ascospore, and subhymenium characteristics were used as criteria for species identification, while a sequence analysis of ITS rDNA gene cluster was performed to compare the relatedness of the species to each other and to corresponding fungal sequences available at the NCBI GenBank Sequence Database. In a few cases, the two Therrya species co-occurred on the same branch, but in general, whether field or herbarium material, T. fuckelii was clearly more common than T. pini.Within the Nordic countries, both species occurred throughout the natural distribution area of Scots pine. The ITS rDNA sequence of T. pini strains was 91% similar to T. fuckelii strains, the differences locating both within the internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2 and the 5.8 S rDNA gene. More variation in the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequence was observed among T. pini than T. fuckelii samples; genetic implications of this finding are discussed. Upon sequence analysis, we discovered that a T. pini sequence has been deposited in the NCBI GenBank under a false identity. We emphasize the importance of co-examining strains that originate from mature fruit bodies with fully developed morphologic features as reference samples.

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Abstract

Pelagic marine oxygen-depleted zones often exhibit a redox gradient, caused by oxygen depletion due to biological demand exceeding ventilation, and the accumulation of reduced chemical species, such as hydrogen sulfide. These redox gradients harbour a distinct assemblage of epsilonproteobacteria capable of fixing carbon dioxide autotrophically in the dark and potentially of utilizing hydrogen sulfide chemolithotrophically by oxidation with nitrate. Together, these two processes are referred to as chemolithoautotrophic denitrification. The focus of this study was the recently isolated and cultivated representative strain of pelagic epsilonproteobacteria, 'Sulfurimonas gotlandica' strain GD1, specifically dark carbon dioxide fixation and its substrate turnovers during chemolithotrophic denitrification. By connecting these processes stoichiometrically and comparing the results with those obtained for dark carbon dioxide fixation and nutrient concentrations measured in pelagic redox gradients of the Baltic Sea, we were able to estimate the role of chemolithoautotrophic denitrification in the environment. Evidence is provided for a defined zone where chemolithoautotrophic denitrification of these epsilonproteobacteria allows the complete removal of nitrate and hydrogen sulfide from the water column. This water layer is roughly equivalent in thickness to the average overlapping region of the two substrates, but slightly larger. Such a difference may be explained by a variety of reasons, including, e.g. utilization of substrates present at concentrations below the detection limit, alternative usage of other substrates as thiosulfate or nitrous oxide, or comparable activities of other microbes. However, the combined results of in vitro and in situ studies strongly suggest that epsilonproteobacteria are primarily responsible for hydrogen sulfide and nitrate removal from pelagic Baltic Sea redox gradients.

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Abstract

Approximately 70% of shrimp consumed globally is farmed. India is ranked among the top five shrimp farming countries globally, and occurs mainly in the eastern coastal state of Andhra Pradesh (AP). More than 90% of the farms are less than 2 ha and are farmer owned, operated and managed. The objective of this study was to increase our understanding of climatic and socio-economic factors influencing this sector, through a survey of 300 shrimp farmers in AP in 2009/10. The farming communities were divisible into two groups: members of a society/cooperative and those operating individually. The latter were large scale adopting more intensive practices. The average production cost was Indian Rupees (IRS) 80,186 ha-1 and net income in summer and winter was IRS 221,901 and IRS 141,715, respectively. The mean technical efficiency estimated using Stochastic frontier function was 7% and 54%. The present study attempts to explain the difference in efficiencies using socio-economic and climatic variables, the latter being a novel approach. Among socio-economic variables, farming experience and membership in society were found to have a significant influence to improve technical and economic efficiencies. Further improvements in identifiable facets of the practices and a consequent increase in technical efficiency will make the sector less vulnerable to climatic change impacts.