Natural Conditions Research Articles

Physiological, transcriptomic and metabolomic insights of three extremophyte woody species living in the multi-stress environment of the Atacama Desert.

In contrast to Neltuma species, S. tamarugo exhibited higher stress tolerance, maintaining photosynthetic performance through enhanced gene expression and metabolites. Differentially accumulated metabolites include chlorophyll and carotenoids and accumulation of non-nitrogen osmoprotectants. Plant species have developed different adaptive strategies to live under extreme environmental conditions. Hypothetically, extremophyte species present a unique configuration of physiological functions that prioritize stress-tolerance mechanisms while carefully managing resource allocation for photosynthesis. This could be particularly challenging under a multi-stress environment, where the synthesis of multiple and sequential molecular mechanisms is induced. We explored this hypothesis in three phylogenetically related woody species co-occurring in the Atacama Desert, Strombocarpa tamarugo, Neltuma alba, and Neltuma chilensis, by analyzing their leaf dehydration and freezing tolerance and by characterizing their photosynthetic performance under natural growth conditions. Besides, the transcriptomic profiling, biochemical analyses of leaf pigments, and metabolite analysis by untargeted metabolomics were conducted to study gene expression and metabolomic landscape within this challenging multi-stress environment. S. tamarugo showed a higher photosynthetic capacity and leaf stress tolerance than the other species. In this species, a multifactorial response was observed, which involves high photochemical activity associated with a higher content of chlorophylls and β-carotene. The oxidative damage of the photosynthetic apparatus is probably attenuated by the synthesis of complex antioxidant molecules in the three species, but S. tamarugo showed the highest antioxidant capacity. Comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses among the species showed the differential expression of genes involved in the biosynthetic pathways of key stress-related metabolites. Moreover, the synthesis of non-nitrogen osmoprotectant molecules, such as ciceritol and mannitol in S. tamarugo, would allow the nitrogen allocation to support its high photosynthetic capacity without compromising leaf dehydration tolerance and freezing stress avoidance.

Assessing catchment-scale groundwater discharge: Optimal tracers and factors analysis

Identifying streamwater-groundwater interactions (SGI) is crucial for effective water resource management, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Despite the effectiveness of tracers in detecting these interactions, their large-scale application is challenged by the variability in tracer characteristics and natural conditions. This study addresses these challenges through extensive research across seven watersheds (7636−60,916 km2) in China's Loess Plateau (CLP). We utilized multiple physicochemical and stable isotope tracers (δ2H and δ18O) to elucidate the spatiotemporal variations and controlling factors of SGI, and to estimate uncertainties in quantifying SGI using various indicators during unidirectional water exchange periods. Our findings indicated that groundwater discharge into streamwater dominates SGI in the CLP, with mean discharge ratios (the percentage of river flow that originates from groundwater discharge) varying from 10% to 57%. Significant spatial variability was observed both across and within watersheds. The central watersheds exhibited lower discharge ratios (23 ± 11%) compared to the northern (29 ± 12%) and southern (25 ± 13%) watersheds. The upper reaches showed higher discharge ratios (28 ± 12%) compared to the middle and lower reaches (22 ± 8%). Loess thickness and vegetation primarily limit groundwater discharge by affecting groundwater storage and water flow velocity. The utilization of individual isotopic or hydrochemical indicators introduces large uncertainties in quantifying groundwater discharge ratios due to isotope fractionation or water-rock interaction, while the combination of these two indicators can reduce uncertainties in quantifying SGI. This study provides valuable insights for selecting environmental tracers to quantify SGI, contributing to sustainable water resource management in arid and semi-arid regions.

Matching in Networks: Structure of the Set of Stable Allocations

Matching models with contracts have been extensively studied in the last years as a generalization of the classical matching theory. Matching in networks is an even more general model in which firms trade goods via bilateral contracts constituting a supply chain. Hatfield and Kominers ([2012] Matching in networks with bilateral contracts, Am. Econ. J., Microecon. 4(1), 176–208, doi:10.1257/mic.4.1.176) showed that a natural substitutability condition characterizes the maximal domain of firm preferences for which the existence of stable allocations is guaranteed in such a model, if the set of all existent contracts is acyclic. Moreover, they asserted that these conditions are sufficient to obtain a suitable lattice structure for the set of all stable allocations. In this paper, we exhibit an inconsistency in the last point through an example, and introduce an additional condition over firm preferences that allows to recover an appropriate lattice structure.

Micropropagation of Zuccagnia punctata, an argentine medicinal plant, by means of “in vitro” technology to promove its conservation and the sustainable production of bioactive compounds

Zuccagnia punctata Cav. (“jarilla poposa”) is a monotypic argentine native medicinal plant used by indigenous communities for the treatment of several pathologies. The pharmacological properties have been scientifically validated and its potential use in phytocosmetic and pharmaceutic industry as antiaged, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antioxidant, antibacterial and antimicotic has been previously demonstrated. However, the species has a low propagation rate in natural conditions and has been included in the preliminary red list of endangered plants in category 3. Therefore, it is necessary to develop methodologies leading to its conservation and propagation to achieve its sustainable use. The objective of this work is to perform a micropropagation protocol for Z. punctata species for the sustainable use and conservation of this species. Furthermore, the study evaluated also the impact of “in vitro” propagation on the content of bioactive compounds of ethanolic extracts obtained from Z. punctata plants obtained “in vitro” with collected wild plants. Seeds have been used as mother material. The seed germination to obtain explants were performed on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) without plant growth regulators (PGRs) containing sucrose, agar, and ascorbic acid. The same medium was employed for the multiplication of shoots. “In vitro” rooting was achieved in liquid and semisolid medium, and a higher yield was obtained in the latter. The plants were transferred into commercial substrate and acclimatized in a greenhouse. The micropropagated plants (MP) had a high content of total phenolic compounds similar to those obtained from wild adult plants (WAP) collected in the Monte Desert. The flavonoid content of MP was higher than that of WAP. The main chalcones identified in WAP, 2′,4′ dihydroxychalcone (DHC) and 2′,4′-dihydroxy-3′-methoxychalcone (DHMC) were also present in the MP with a rate 1/1, and 1/3 in WAP. The extracts obtained from the MP showed antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antimicrobial activity, similar to WAP. The “in vitro” propagation and acclimatization of Z. punctata constitutes a fundamental tool to achieve large-scale multiplication of this species in the future and the sustainable production of bioactive compounds with commercial applications. Reimplantation in the natural habitat could prevent the loss of this medicinal genetic resource.

Comparative Study of the Technological Potential of Durum Wheat Varieties after Natural Aging

Background: Durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.) Husn.] is one of the most essential cereal species and is cultivated worldwide over almost 17 million ha, with a global production of 38.1 million tonnes in 2019 (Ioannis et al., 2020). Cereal grains have always been the main source of food for humans and domestic animals. In Algeria, cereal products, mainly wheat, play a strategic role in the food system and the national economy. Knowledge of the phenomena governing their preservation and mastery of storage techniques are crucial to the survival of the world’s population. The world human population is increasing day by day and estimated to reach 8.0 billion by 2025 and 8.9 billion by 2050. Methods: The ideal of this work was to study the effect of natural aging on the viability and technological quality of four kinds of durum wheat, saved for two years under two storage conditions, favorable conditions in the cold room, temperature (-04°C); moisture (12%) and inimical conditions (medium), temperature estimated between 11 and 37°C and relative moisture of 30 to 85 83%. To do this, a study of morphological, physiological, biochemical and technological parameters was initiated on the seed and on the whole factory. Result: The protein content values recorded are low compared to the control under both conditions (favorable, inimical) of natural aging; the differences are veritably largely significant. A significant increase in proline situations in seeds subordinated to natural aging compared to the control. Under good natural aging conditions, we notice that the different genotypes tested record low answerable sugar contents compared to the control; whereas under inimical NA conditions, we note a significant increase in answerable sugar content; the differences are veritably largely significant. The results attained show that, in general, the kinds are more sensitive to inimical conditions of natural aging, while without favorable conditions, the effect is less drastic.

Assessing urban renewal opportunities by combining 3D building information and geographic big data

ABSTRACT The assessment of urban renewal (UR) potential aims to prioritize areas for UR, which are essential for sustainable urban revitalization. However, conventional data sources often fall short in encompassing diverse urban characteristics in the evaluation process, such as urban three-dimensional (3D) building information and the intensity of human activities. To address this gap, this study integrated 3D building data and geographic data to create a comprehensive set of 28 indicators spanning four dimensions: natural environmental conditions, land use, socio-economic factors, and building conditions. These indicators take into account vertical dimensions, dynamic aspects, and fine-scale details. Leveraging the existing UR practices as a positive example, we established an UR potential assessment model at street block scale using Presence and Background Learning combined with extreme gradient boosting algorithms (PBLXGBoost). Our findings revealed that the highest accuracy in evaluating industrial UR potential was achieved in Shenzhen (F pb _ avg = 0.80, RMSE avg = 0.21), followed by residential and commercial UR potential assessments. Conversely, other type UR exhibit lower accuracy. Street blocks with significant UR potential are predominantly located in Bao’an, Longgang, and Longhua Districts. Furthermore, employing the SHAP model to elucidate the evaluation results uncovered intricate hierarchical, positive-negative, and overlapping relationships among various factors and different UR types, where geographic big data and 3D building information showed strong correlations. The methodology proposed in this study enables objective and precise assessments of UR potential, offering valuable support for UR practice and sustainable urban development.

Strong heterologous electron sink outcompetes alternative electron transport pathways in photosynthesis.

Improvement of photosynthesis requires a thorough understanding of electron partitioning under both natural and strong electron sink conditions. We applied a wide array of state-of-the-art biophysical and biochemical techniques to thoroughly investigate the fate of photosynthetic electrons in the engineered cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a blueprint for photosynthetic biotechnology, expressing the heterologous gene for ene-reductase, YqjM. This recombinant enzyme catalyses the reduction of an exogenously added substrate into the desired product by utilising photosynthetically produced NAD(P)H, enabling whole-cell biotransformation. Through coupling the biotransformation reaction with biophysical measurements, we demonstrated that the strong artificial electron sink, outcompetes the natural electron valves, the flavodiiron protein-driven Mehler-like reaction and cyclic electron transport. These results show that ferredoxin-NAD(P)H-oxidoreductase is the preferred route for delivering photosynthetic electrons from reduced ferredoxin and the cellular NADPH/NADP+ ratio as a key factor in orchestrating photosynthetic electron flux. These insights are crucial for understanding molecular mechanisms of photosynthetic electron transport and harnessing photosynthesis for sustainable bioproduction by engineering the cellular source/sink balance. Furthermore, we conclude that identifying the bioenergetic bottleneck of a heterologous electron sink is a crucial prerequisite for targeted engineering of photosynthetic biotransformation platforms.

Understanding the Dairy Sector in Slovenia: A Modeling Approach for Policy Evaluation and Decision Support

This study investigates the dairy sector in Slovenia, focusing on farm heterogeneity, efficiency in resource utilization, and policy implementations. Through a modeling approach, we explore the differences among dairy farms, considering factors such as herd size, farm management, natural conditions, and production potential. Based on 32 typical dairy farms, representing the entire dairy sector, composed of 6400 dairy farms, the analysis was performed using the farm model (SiTFarm). We emphasize the importance of accurate assessments, given the variability of policy impacts across farm types. While medium-to-large, specialized farms dominate milk production, smaller farms, particularly in less favored areas, hold social and environmental importance despite facing competitive challenges. Addressing environmental sustainability could involve promoting practices that improve milk yield and include grazing, as this tends to lower greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of milk (−5%). Dairy farms contribute about one-third of the generated revenue in Slovene agriculture, of which a good half goes to farms located in less favored areas. They manage a good quarter of permanent grassland in Slovenia, and it is certainly the sector that can achieve the highest return on these areas. In 75% of the farms, the gross margin is higher than 1756 EUR/ha and using best practices they exceed 3400 EUR/ha. The model results indicate that the average hourly rate on dairy farms during the observed period falls within the range of EUR 7.3 to 17.4 of gross margin for most farms, with the top-performing ones exceeding 24 EUR/h. However, due to the significant reliance on budgetary payments (on average, 58% of the gross margin), the implementation of the common agricultural policy strategic plan generally leads to a deterioration in the economic indicators of dairy farms. This impact is particularly pronounced on medium-sized and larger farms, increasing the effect on income due to the substantial fixed costs involved. Our findings underscore the interplay between policy interventions, farm characteristics, and sectoral outcomes, offering valuable insights for policy-makers and stakeholders.

Numerical Analysis of Seepage Field Response Characteristics of Weathered Granite Landslides under Fluctuating Rainfall Conditions

The threat and destructiveness of landslide disasters caused by extreme rainfall are increasing. Rainfall intensity is a key factor in the mechanism of rainfall-induced landslides. However, under natural conditions, rainfall intensity is highly variable. This study focuses on the Fanling landslide and investigates the effects of varying rainfall intensity amplitudes, rainfall durations, and total rainfall amounts on landslide behavior. Three experimental groups were established, and ten rainfall conditions were simulated numerically to analyze the seepage field response of the landslide under fluctuating rainfall conditions. The results indicate that (1) there are positive correlations between the final pore pressure and both the amplitude and duration of rainfall intensity; (2) the pore water pressure response in the upper slope changes significantly, initiating deformation; and (3) the total rainfall amount is the most direct factor affecting the pore pressure response and landslide deformation. Compared to long-term stable rainfall, short-term fluctuating rainstorms are more likely to trigger landslides. These findings enhance our understanding of landslide mechanisms under fluctuating rainfall, providing valuable insights for disaster prevention and mitigation.

Encapsulated predatory bacteria efficiently protect potato tubers from soft rot disease.

Soft rot Pectobacteriaceae (SRP) are a group of destructive Gram-negative phytopathogens that can infect a wide range of plant hosts, including potatoes. There are no effective control agents available against SRP, making their management challenging. We have developed a novel approach to protect potato tubers against SRP. It makes use of encapsulated predatory Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus bacteria that upon release from a polymeric carrier, prey upon SRP. We applied a carrageenan-trehalose-based formulation containing a B. bacteriovorus HD100 predator to prevent soft-rot disease development in potato tubers, under various conditions. The dried formulation exhibited very high stability over an eighteen-month period at room temperature (˜25ºC), in contrast to unencapsulated suspensions of the predator, in which viability decreased rapidly below detection level. The rehydrated formulation was as efficient as freshly grown unencapsulated predators, and provided high protection in potted potato tubers, displaying an average of 50% reduction in disease parameters (e.g. tissue decay and disease index) under controlled conditions at 7-days post-inoculation and planting. The protective effect provided by this formulation was maintained in longer-term trials (28 days) conducted in larger vessels within a net-house under natural climate conditions, highlighting its potential for practical application in the field.

Microplastic pollution and nutrient enrichment shift the diet of freshwater macroinvertebrates

Microplastic pollution poses a global threat to freshwater ecosystems, with laboratory experiments indicating potential toxic impacts through chemical toxicity, physical abrasion, and false satiation. Bioplastics have emerged as a potential greener alternative to traditional oil-based plastics. Yet, their environmental effects remain unclear, particularly at scales relevant to the natural environment. Additionally, the interactive impacts of microplastics with other environmental stressors, such as nutrient enrichment, are poorly understood and rarely studied. Under natural conditions organisms might be able to mitigate the toxic effects of microplastics by shifting their diet, but this ability may be compromised by other stressors. This study combines an outdoor mesocosm experiment and stable isotope analysis to determine changes in the trophic niches of three freshwater invertebrate species exposed to conventional (HDPE) and bio-based biodegradable (PLA) microplastics at two concentrations, both independently and combined with nutrient enrichment. Exposure to microplastics altered the isotopic niches of two of the invertebrate species, with nutrient enrichment mediating this effect. Moreover, the effects of microplastics were consistent regardless of their type or concentration. Under enriched conditions, two of the species exposed to microplastics shifted to a specialised diet compared with controls, whereas little difference was observed between the isotopic niches of those exposed to microplastic and controls under ambient nutrient conditions. Additionally, PLA was estimated to support 24 % of the diet of one species, highlighting the potential assimilation of bioplastics by biota and possible implications. Overall, these findings suggest that the toxic effects of microplastics suggested from laboratory studies might not manifest under real-world conditions. However, this study does demonstrate that subtle sublethal effects occur even at environmentally realistic microplastic concentrations. The crucial role of nutrient enrichment in mediating microplastic effects underscores the importance of considering microplastic pollution in the context of other environmental stressors.

Food quality influences behavioural flexibility and cognition in wild house mice

Environmental change is frequent. To adjust and survive, animals need behavioural flexibility. Recently, cognitive flexibility has emerged as a driving force for adjusting to environmental change. Understanding how environmental factors, such as food quality, influence behavioural and/or more costly cognitive flexibility. Here, we investigate the effects of high-quality versus standard food as well as the effects of different housing conditions on both types of flexibility. Our results show that mice that experienced a poorer diet under seminatural conditions showed greater behavioural but not cognitive flexibility. For cage-housed mice, the results were less clear. However, mice fed a poorer diet performed better in innovative problem-solving, thus showing enhanced cognitive flexibility, which was not apparent in the reversal learning paradigm. The observed differences were most likely due to differences in motivation to obtain food rewards. Additionally, animals on poorer diet had lower brain volume, usually related to lower cognitive task performance at the between-species level. Thus, our study emphasises the importance of environmental conditions on behavioural flexibility at the within-species level, highlights that different test paradigms may lead to different conclusions, and finally shows that cage housing of wild animals may lead to patterns that do not necessarily reflect natural conditions.

All-natural, thermally conductive, flame-retardant electrical insulating lignocellulose-mica composite film fabricated via in-situ mineralization

Miniaturized, integrated, and functional electronic devices generate a large amount of heat accumulation during operation, which significantly affects the reliability, durability, and safety of electronic devices. In severe cases, it may even lead to fires. Therefore, the development of insulation composite materials with thermal conductivity and flame-retardant properties is particularly important. In this study, we propose an in-situ mineralization strategy to prepare insulation composite materials with thermal conductivity and flame-retardant properties. By dissolving and preparing a gel film, Al3+ and Zn2+ retained inside the lignocellulose are in situ mineralized to form Al(OH)3 and ZnO, and introducing inorganic blocks with high insulation performance (industrial waste mica tailings and synthetic mica). The prepared film has excellent tensile strength (117.4 MPa), low dielectric loss, high dielectric strength (83.8 kV mm−1), high insulation resistance, four times higher thermal conductivity than the unmineralized film, and excellent flame-retardant properties. Meanwhile, the environmental impact of the composite film is much lower than that of petrochemical-based plastic films and can easily degrade under natural conditions within 32 days. It is a composite material that meets the standards of the new electrical insulation field, and the in-situ mineralization strategy can also provide ideas for the preparation of high-performance lignocellulose-based materials.

Natural soundscapes of lowland river habitats and the potential threat of urban noise pollution to migratory fish

Migratory fish populations have experienced great declines, and considerable effort have been put into reducing stressors, such as chemical pollution and physical barriers. However, the importance of natural sounds as an information source and potential problems caused by noise pollution remain largely unexplored. The spatial distribution of sound sources and variation in propagation characteristics could provide migratory fish with acoustic cues about habitat suitability, predator presence, food availability and conspecific presence. We here investigated the relationship between natural soundscapes and local river conditions and we explored the presence of human-related sounds in these natural soundscapes. We found that 1a) natural river sound profiles vary with river scale and cross-sectional position, and that 1b) depth, width, water velocity, and distance from shore were all significant factors in explaining local soundscape variation. We also found 2a) audible human activities in almost all our underwater recordings and urban and suburban river parts had elevated sound levels relative to rural river parts. Furthermore, 2b) daytime levels were louder than night time sound levels, and bridges and nearby road traffic were much more prominent with diurnal and weekly patterns of anthropogenic noise in the river systems. We believe our data show high potential for natural soundscapes of low-land river habitat to serve as important environmental cues to migratory fish. However, anthropogenic noise may be particularly problematic due to the omnipresence, and relatively loud levels relative to the modest dynamic range of the natural sound sources, in these slow-flowing freshwater systems.

Co-infection dynamics of B. afzelii and TBEV in C3H mice: insights and implications for future research.

Ticks are important vectors of disease, particularly in the context of One Health, where tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are increasingly prevalent worldwide. TBDs often involve co-infections, where multiple pathogens co-exist in a single host. Patients with chronic Lyme disease often have co-infections with other bacteria or parasites. This study aimed to create a co-infection model with Borrelia afzelii and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in C3H mice and to evaluate symptoms, mortality, and pathogen level compared to single infections. Successful co-infection of C3H mice with B. afzelii and TBEV was achieved. Outcomes varied, depending on the timing of infection. When TBEV infection followed B. afzelii infection by 9 days, TBEV symptoms worsened and virus levels increased. Conversely, mice infected 21 days apart with TBEV showed milder symptoms and lower mortality. Simultaneous infection resulted in mild symptoms and no deaths. However, our model did not effectively infect ticks with TBEV, possibly due to suboptimal dosing, highlighting the challenges of replicating natural conditions. Understanding the consequences of co-infection is crucial, given the increasing prevalence of TBD. Co-infected individuals may experience exacerbated symptoms, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding through refined animal models. This study advances knowledge of TBD and highlights the importance of exploring co-infection dynamics in host-pathogen interactions.

Theobroma cacao L., land use conflict on the Ecuadorian coast

Cocoa cultivation is one of the sectors that most contributes to Ecuador’s GDP. The aim of this study is to determine the Land-Use Conflict (UC) for cocoa in 71 cities on the coast of Ecuador. Photointerpretation has been applied to locate the crop and geospatial modeling has been used to analyze Land Use Capacity (LUC) criteria, agroecological requirements and LUC at 1:5,000. Of the total study surface area, 4.65% is occupied by cocoa crops and of this value 66.03% is in adequate use (AU) and 33.97% in LUC, and the category of UC over lightly used is the most frequent with 17.25% of the total surface in LUC. In the coastal region, the province of Guayas has the lowest LUC in contrast to Los Rios; the predominant LUC for the crop is Class III 34.32%. The findings show that the LUC of cocoa has a low concordance with the national Agroecological Zoning (AZ), since this model considers the crop in natural conditions, the main limiting factor is the vegetative wet period and does not take into account whether the crop is present in the territory. The use of national AZ information to establish crops could limit their production, since it has been demonstrated that there are cultivated areas that are not in conflict and that are exploited by farmers. This study is replicable to other crops and scalable to any area.

HISTOMONAS MELEAGRIDIS INFECTIONS IN TURKEYS IN THE USA: A CENTURY OF PROGRESS, RESURGENCE, AND TRIBUTE TO ITS EARLY INVESTIGATORS, THEOBALD SMITH, ERNST TYZZER, AND EVERETT LUND.

Histomoniasis, caused by the protozoan, Histomonas meleagridis, is an economically important disease of turkeys, and it also affects several other species of domesticated and wild Galliformes, including chickens. Under natural conditions, the parasite is transmitted through eggs of a nematode, Heterakis gallinarum, that shares its hosts with Hi. meleagridis. The protozoan infects tissues of both male and female He. gallinarum and eventually is carried within the worm egg. Histomonas meleagridis more readily infects and develops in chickens, and the proximity of chicken farms is a major risk factor for outbreaks in turkeys. Chemoprophylaxis had controlled Hi. meleagridis in turkeys very successfully, but histomoniasis has recently reemerged in turkeys because anti-histomonal drugs are no longer permitted by the United States Food and Drug Administration because of the concerns for residual toxins in poultry meat. Horizontal transmission of the protozoan in the absence of worm eggs remains a mystery because the flagellate trophozoite excreted in the feces of turkeys is not viable for any length of time. A proposed resistant stage of the protozoan has not yet been conclusively demonstrated. Here we review the discovery of the protozoan and the current status of the disease and its control.

Analysis of Urban Expansion and Heat-Island Effect of Hefei Based on ENVI

Urbanization is one of the most significant features of current social progress. Using Landsat TM/OLI images from 1995, 2005, and 2018, the land-use change, vegetation coverage, and land surface temperature retrieval of Hefei are studied, and the driving force of Hefei’s expansion is analyzed. The influence of urban expansion and vegetation coverage on the intensity of the urban heat-island effect is discussed. As the city develops, various factors, such as natural conditions, economic growth, demographic changes, and policy decisions, are driving the expansion of construction land in Hefei. The overall performance shows expansion to the southwest of the main urban area, the surface temperature rises as the city expands, and the area of the heat-island effect also increases, showing the trend of multi-center distribution. There is a clear negative correlation between land surface temperature and vegetation coverage. Therefore, increasing the city’s green infrastructure can effectively alleviate the severe heat-island effect.

ВЕТЕРИНАРНО-САНИТАРНАЯ ЭКСПЕРТИЗА ПРОДУКТОВ УБОЯ В СТРУКТУРЕ ПАРАЗИТАРНЫХ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЙ В КАБАРДИНО-БАЛКАРСКОЙ РЕСПУБЛИКЕ

The purpose of research is to study the results of post-mortem examination of beef, to monitor parasitic diseases among the population of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The material for the study was the data obtained from post-mortem examinations from 2020 to 2022 and information from the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Office of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic for the same period. Recently, a significant part of productive animals in the territory of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic comes from the southern regions of the Russian Federation. Based on the results of reports conducted by the veterinary service for the period 2020–2022. 7,427 cattle carcasses were identified with affected organs and tissues by the following invasive diseases: Fasciolosis, Echinococcosis, Dicrocoeliasis. In 2020, the highest infection rate was due to Echinococcus granulosus infestation – 42.54 %, followed by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica – 32.52 %; the smallest – when infected with Dicrocoelium lanceatum – 24.94 %. In 2021, the highest level of infection was also due to infection by Echinococcus granulosus – 39.02 %, then Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica – 36.72 %, the lowest was due to infection by Dicrocoelium lanceatum – 24.24 %. In 2022, most of the culling occurred due to infestation: Echinococcus granulosus – 38.50 %, then Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica – 36.80 %, the least due to infection with Dicrocoelium lanceatum – 24.68 %. Favorable natural and climatic conditions, pasture animal husbandry, and peculiarities of the social structure of the population of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic lead to the interaction of the pathogen and host populations. Based on the results of epidemiological examinations of foci of invasive diseases of the population in the Russian Federation, the following results were obtained: over the past 5 years (2017–2021), 1,909 cases of infection with Echinococcus granulosus were identified. In total, 551 cases of infection with Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis were registered in the Russian Federation in 2022.

Prospects for Enhanced Growth and Yield of Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) Using Organomineral Fertilizers for Reclamation of Disturbed Forest Lands in European Part of Russia

This article presents the results of research on the use of a new granular organomineral fertilizer for growing plants of half-highbush cultivars of the lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.). The purpose of the research is studying the effect of a new granular organomineral fertilizer on the agrobiological characteristics of V. angustifolium plants on a peatland in the conditions of the north of the European part of Russia. The developed composition of organomineral fertilizer (NPK 8:8:8, Fe 0.5%, Zn 0.2%, Cu 0.4%) differs from existing fertilizers in a more balanced ratio of micro- and macroelements and the content of vermicompost containing spore forms of bacteria Bacillus subtilis H-13, B. mucilaginosus, and Azotobacter chroococcum. The use of a new organomineral fertilizer on high-moor peat (pH 2.9) contributed to the highest yield of V. angustifolium fruits (190.2 g/bush), which is 1.2 times more than other mineral fertilizers (NPK, etc.). The best morphophysiological indicators of V. angustifolium plants (leaf area, total and working surface of the roots, root weight) when using the developed organomineral fertilizer were noted in September. An increase of 1.2–1.3 times in the collection of dry matter and sugars in fruits was revealed, compared with other fertilizer options, while the vitamin C content practically did not change. New organomineral fertilizer contributes to the optimal supply of the necessary micro- and macroelements throughout the growing season and increases the productivity of V. angustifolium plants when growing depleted peat deposits in the natural and climatic conditions of the European part of Russia.