Production Areas Research Articles

Assessing the Impact of Ship-Sourced Marine Pollution on Filyos Port

In 2021, Turkiye launched the Filyos Valley Project, a strategic initiative with the potential to serve as both a central hub for the transfer of Central Asian oil to the West and as a logistical bridge between China and Europe. Located near the city of Zonguldak in northern Turkiye, this project encompasses a range of logistical components, including the extensive and high-capacity Filyos Port, which is the third-largest port in the country. The port is situated in close proximity to the Sakarya gas field in the Western Black Sea, Turkiye's largest natural gas production area, and currently serves as a base for natural gas drilling ships and their support vessels. Filyos Port plays a crucial role in Turkiye's energy security due to its strategic location near the Istanbul Strait, a key convergence point for maritime traffic in the Black Sea. However, this proximity also poses a significant risk; pollution from a maritime accident along the approach routes to the Strait could severely disrupt the port's operational capabilities. This study aims to analyze the behavior and spread patterns of ship-sourced oil pollution near Filyos Port and to determine the timeframe within which the port would be exposed to such pollution. This research offers a comprehensive framework for port authorities to develop effective contingency plans, ensuring operational sustainability and enhancing the region’s energy security by mitigating the risks of marine pollution.

Community structure of soil microorganisms and endophytes of honeysuckle at different ecological niche specificities

BackgroundThe plant microbiome is one of the key determinants of healthy plant growth. However, the complexity of microbial diversity in plant microenvironments in different regions, especially the relationship between subsurface and aboveground microorganisms, is not fully understood. The present study investigated the diversity of soil microorganisms in different regions and the diversity of microorganisms within different ecological niches, and compared soil microorganisms and endophytic microorganisms.Methods16 S and ITS sequencing was used to sequence the soil and endophytes microbiome of honeysuckle. Alpha diversity analysis and principal component analysis (PCoA) were used to study the soil and endophyte microbial communities, and the function of endophyte bacteria and fungi was predicted based on the PICRUST2 process and FUNGuild.ResultsIn total, there were 382 common bacterial genera and 139 common fungal genera in the soil of different producing areas of honeysuckle. There were 398 common bacterial genera and 157 common fungal genera in rhizosphere soil. More beneficial bacteria were enriched in rhizosphere soil. Endophytic bacteria were classified into 34 phyla and 770 genera. Endophytic fungi were classified into 11 phyla and 581 genera, among which there were significant differences in the dominant genera of roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, as well as in community diversity and richness. Endophytic fungal functions were mainly dominated by genes related to saprophytes, functional genes that could fight microorganisms were also found in KEGG secondary functional genes.ConclusionMore beneficial bacteria were enriched in rhizosphere soil of honeysuckle, and the microbial network of the rhizosphere is more complex than that of the soil. Among the tissues of honeysuckle, the flowers have the richest diversity of endophytes. The endogenous dominant core bacteria in each part of honeysuckle plant have a high degree of overlap with the dominant bacteria in soil. Functional prediction suggested that some dominant core bacteria have antibacterial effects, providing a reference for further exploring the strains with antibacterial function of honeysuckle. Understanding the interaction between honeysuckle and microorganisms lays a foundation for the study of growth promotion, quality improvement, and disease and pests control of honeysuckle from the perspective of microorganisms.

Breeding Rice to Increase Anthocyanin Yield Per Area through Small, Black Grain Size and Three Grains per Spikelet

Rice varieties with high anthocyanin content are often recognized for their vibrant colors and health benefits. The demand for rice with high anthocyanin is increasing domestically and internationally due to consumers becoming more health-conscious. However, the current increase in yield might not raise the anthocyanin content due to its location in the grain pericarp and seed coat, which are relative to the grain surface area. This study aims to develop rice lines to increase anthocyanin yield per production area by improving rice varieties with small, black, and three grains per spikelet. Accordingly, six rice recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were bred by crossing Niaw Dam Chaw Mai Pai 49 (NDCMP49) with Khao Nok (LLR059). The grain color, size, and number of grains per spikelet were selected from the F1 to the F4 population through the pedigree selection method. Six RILs and their parents were assigned in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications under field conditions during the rainy season of 2021 and 2022 in four locations. The results showed statistically significant differences in environmental conditions, affecting productivity and the yield components of rice lines. Consequently, the rice lines adapted to a specific environment, and there were significant differences in genotype. This study identified three RILs with higher yield performance (13-1 (3842 kg/ha), 374-1 (3699 kg/ha), and 903-3 (3550 kg/ha)) compared with the parent NDCMP49 (1996 kg/ha). However, the grain yields were unstable in the three top-yielding RILs due to varying environmental conditions, indicating that selective breeding requires a specific, narrow environment. Based on grain yield and grain size, the RILs performed better in the grain surface area than in the parent NDCMP49. Moreover, only two RILs (374-1 and 903-3) produced the highest anthocyanin content and yield, although this was lower than in the parent NDCMP49. However, the 374-1 and 903-3 RILs produced more grains, black grains, and three grains per spikelet with high yield and moderate anthocyanin content. They can, therefore, be backcrossed to the parent NDCMP49 to increase the accumulated anthocyanin content with a stable, high yield. This work provides a resource of small grains, black grains, and three grains per spikelet in the rice breeding line for breeding programs in the future.

Using remote sensing data to study anthropogenic land degradation in Khulna Division, Bangladesh for SDG indicator 15.3.1

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include a goal on land degradation: indicator 15.3.1 (proportion of degraded land over total land). It is not always easy to monitor the SDGs, and remote sensing could be an effective tool for monitoring several SDGs. This study assessed land degradation in Bangladesh's Khulna Division over the past two decades. The Trends.Earth toolset was used to assess land degradation during the baseline period (2001–2015) and the reporting period (2016–2020). Inputs include data from the United Nations Convention on Desertification, and outputs include three sub-indicators: land productivity, land cover change, and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Over the past 20 years, the land use and land cover, land productivity, and SOC content of the study area have undergone substantial changes. A significant change was observed in croplands, water bodies, and built-up areas. Croplands have been converted into settlements and tree cover. Nonetheless, there is an increase in land productivity in the area (>64 %) accompanied by a small percentage of decreasing productivity (approximately 9 %). Accordingly, the SOC in major land areas (84.68 %) is stable with 66,475 tons of carbon lost from croplands. Overall, this area reveals substantial progress in SDG indicator 15.3.1 with a clear transformation of degraded land (from 10.38 % to 8.46 %) into stable land (32.09 %–64.01 %). Land degradation is mostly seen in Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Kushtia, and Jashore areas. Land covers change for urbanisation, developments, water logging, and salinity intrusion cause land degradation. Despite poor representation of the SOC and normalised difference vegetation index datasets in the waterlogged areas, the Trends.Earth-generated results are informative and stand alone. With the results of this study, policymakers may be able to develop more appropriate land management plans by better understanding the complex interconnections of land change processes.

The impact of e-sports championships on stock prices of sponsoring companies

This paper studies the impact of esports matches results on the dynamics of sponsoring companies shares. Statistics on three main esports leagues is reviewed: Defense of the Ancient 2, League of legends and Counter Strike: Global Offensive, with Samsung, MegaFon, Intel, HTC corporation, MSI, Asus, Comcast Xfinity, Logitech, Lenovo, BMW, Honda, AMD and a number of several lesser-known companies as sponsors. The study will test the assumption concerning the growth of share prices of the companies sponsoring esports events. Another purpose of the study is to identify the most profitable esports teams and championships. The work will also include an event analysis designed to answer the question of which leagues for which sponsor companies may be preferable in terms of return on investment and why. In particular, the event window will be considered in the context of the teams in middle places, as well as in the context of the winners and losers in a particular esports league. In addition, all sponsors will be divided into their production areas to track the impact of the industry factor. The main result is that the profitability of companies associated with the video game industry will have low correlation with the outcomes of matches of esports teams. The findings show that if a team has the least number of sponsors, there is a greater return on shares than for other teams with a greater number of sponsors.

Can Pest Management and Cultivar Affect Phytoptus avellanae Infestations on Hazelnut?

The big bud mite Phytoptus avellanae is a resurgent pest of hazelnut, Corylus avellana, causing substantial yields reductions in many productive areas. Mites colonise and develop within healthy buds which become swollen, with subsequent alteration to the plant's development. To date, there has been limited knowledge on how the cultivar and pest management strategies affect infestations. This study explored these aspects through two ad hoc experiments carried out in central Italy. In the first experiment, the susceptibility of 11 cultivars with different geographic origins was tested in a germplasm hazelnut collection. The second experiment assessed the infestation level in orchards with integrated pest management (IPM) and organic pest management strategies and in a renaturalised environment (a former agricultural area now converted in a natural park). The results showed that the most and the least susceptible cultivars were Tonda Gentile and Nocchione, respectively. No significant differences were found between IPM and organic management, but they were both different to the renaturalised environment. The outcomes of this research can serve as a valuable reference and can be applied to all current or potential hazelnut cultivation areas characterised by the same environmental conditions.

Soil organic carbon sequestration can be promoted through the improvement of landscape configuration heterogeneity in typical agricultural regions of northeast China

Landscape heterogeneity is considered a promising option for building resilient and sustainable agroecosystems. Understanding the relationships between farmland soil organic carbon (SOC) and landscape heterogeneity can support soil carbon sequestration and better serve food security and climate change. However, the influence extent and optimal scale of farmland landscape heterogeneity (i.e. landscape composition and landscape configuration heterogeneity) on SOC remains unclear. In this study, we established the relationships between multi-scale landscape heterogeneity and SOC in a typical grain-production county of northeast China. Stepwise regression results showed that when the buffer radius was 2000 m, the interpretation of SOC by landscape heterogeneity was the largest. The effects of landscape composition and landscape configuration on SOC were further decomposed by Variance Partitioning Analysis, and we found that independent interpretation ability of landscape configuration (8%) exceeded landscape composition (7%). The result of soil mapping combined with landscape indexes also showed that landscape configuration contributed more to the increased accuracy. Moreover, we found that correlation between configuration indexes and SOC at the class level was less related than that at the landscape level, among which the two most important indexes were Mean Fractal Dimension Index (FRAC_MN) and Number of Patches (NP). FRAC_MN was even more important than natural factors, indicating the validity of landscape as an indicator of human activities should not be ignored when considering farmland SOC. Overall, the results of this study revealed that the negative effects of agricultural intensification on SOC can be buffered to a certain extent by increasing the complexity of patch shape and reducing the degree of landscape fragmentation at the landscape level, providing hope for the sustainable development in intensive agricultural areas. In addition, due to the scale effect of landscape heterogeneity on farmland SOC, we suggest that decision makers should consider the spatial scale in landscape allocation and planning. This study provides a scientific reference for realizing the balance between grain production and ecological function in intensive agricultural areas.

ОПТИМІЗАЦІЯ ІННОВАЦІЙНИХ БІЗНЕС-ПРОЦЕСІВ В СИСТЕМІ УПРАВЛІННЯ ЛАНЦЮГАМИ ВАРТОСТІ

The article examines applied aspects of implementing the strategy of clustering the national economy based on the optimization of integrated value chains in the context of globalization challenges. The peculiarities of organizational-procedural and communicative-network support of business processes under the conditions of clustering of socio-economic systems are determined. The components of managing the processes of administration and implementation of the innovative potential of integrated production chains in the context of digital development and the format of optimization parameters were formed: intellectual capital; entrepreneurial potential; dominant technologies (level and possibilities of technology development in this area); industry localization (industry environment, market segments); information innovation infrastructure (environment of targeted integrated interaction). The evolution of the concept of integrated value chains in the context of their application in partnership activities of enterprises was considered, their mutual influence and combination, features and advantages were studied. The expediency of using the theory of digital business process management systems in business network structures and value chains is substantiated. The prospects for the use of integrated solutions are outlined, which allow creating a significant synergy of innovative network concepts, ensuring the overcoming of information asymmetry, and moving to an emergent level of business process management. Thus, the integrated value chain gradually expands from the production area to system processes in marketing, scientific and technical activities, financial support, sales process and service activities. A positive characteristic of this is the acquisition of invaluable experience in the systematic management of business processes and the implementation of innovative solutions to optimize the processes of increasing the value of enterprises in the strategic sector of the economy. Therefore, taking into account the current trends in the manifestation of innovative business processes in the digital administration system, one should possess the tools of the analog and digital management model when determining the profile of the business processes of filling the integrated value chain.

Insect conservation in agricultural landscapes needs both high crop heterogeneity and semi-natural habitats

Identifying landscapes that are suitable for both biodiversity conservation and agricultural production is a major challenge. Traditionally, much research has focused on biodiversity conservation outside of agricultural production areas, e.g., in semi-natural habitats. In contrast, recent research has mainly focused on the potential of crop heterogeneity. This includes both compositional (crop diversity) and configurational heterogeneity (field border density). However, if and how crop heterogeneity, and semi-natural habitats interact to shape insect diversity in agricultural landscapes remains poorly understood. Here we investigated the combined effects of crop diversity, field border density, and semi-natural habitats (i.e., grassland proportion, hedge density) on insect diversity. We sampled insect communities from 14 – 17 June 2021 with pan traps in 27 study landscapes (500 m x 500 m) covering independent gradients of these landscape variables and identified a total of 587 insect species with DNA metabarcoding. We found that field border density mediated the effects of crop diversity, grassland proportion, and hedge density on insect richness. At low levels of field border density (i.e., landscapes with mostly large fields), effects were either neutral (crop diversity), negative (grassland proportion) or weakly positive (hedge density). By contrast, at high levels of field border density, crop diversity, grassland proportion, and hedge density all exerted positive effects on insect richness. Responses to crop heterogeneity and semi-natural habitat differed among trophic groups of insects (decomposers, herbivores, parasitoids, predators). While variation in richness of herbivorous insects followed the patterns of the overall richness, decomposer richness was not related to any of the investigated variables. Predator richness increased with hedge density in landscapes, whereas parasitoid richness increased when high levels of field border density and grassland proportion coincided. Our study shows that increasing crop heterogeneity is a viable strategy for promoting insect diversity in agricultural landscapes. However, the effects of the amount of remaining semi-natural habitats, such as grassland or hedges, are mediated by configurational heterogeneity, and vary between trophic groups. Efforts to conserve insects in agricultural landscapes must therefore focus on both increasing the heterogeneity of the crop matrix by promoting crop diversity and increasing the density of field borders, while also maintaining or restoring semi-natural habitats as important source habitats for insect species.

Correlation of Plantation Area and Palm Oil Production in Sumatra and Kalimantan Regions

This study aims to analyze the correlation between the area of oil palm plantations and oil palm production in Indonesia, especially in the Sumatra and Kalimantan regions which are the centers of oil palm plantation distribution. Data collection using secondary data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), this study aims to determine the relationship between the increase in land area and oil palm plantation production over the past 10 years. This study uses a quantitative method with a correlative approach. Data analysis was carried out using a bivariate correlation Pearson correlation test to determine the positive relationship between plantation area and oil palm production. The results of the analysis showed a significant positive relationship between the land area variable and oil palm production in both the Sumatra and Kalimantan regions, this is indicated by a positive number and a strong correlation of 0.852 for the Sumatra region and very strong, namely 0.996 for the Kalimantan region. In addition, the results of the interpretation of the correlation by looking at Sig. (2-tailed) also show that between the land area variable and production there is a significant correlation, namely 0.002 for the Sumatra region and a value of 0.000 for the Kalimantan region. Although the correlation between land area and production shows a positive value and has a very strong correlation, there are still other factors such as technology, climate, and management practices that also play a role in influencing palm oil production results.

Productivity of the Bakchar bog plant communities in the initial stages of pyrogenic succession (southern taiga of Western Siberia)

The results of a study on the productivity of plant communities after a crown fire in a drained oligotrophic bog in the southern taiga of Western Siberia are presented. A quantitative assessment of biological productivity in areas with varying degrees of pyrogenic disturbance is given. The reserves of the grass-shrub and moss layers in the most disturbed area in the second year of restoration amounted to 1220 g/m2, production was 324 g/m2 per year; in the third year, reserves increased to 1635 g/m2 and production increased to 1038 g/m2 per year due to the growth of blueberries, while the production in the control site with high reserves of living phytomass (2200 g/m2) amounted to 745 g/m2 per year. There was a change in the structure of the phytomass, compaction of the deposit by 34%, and an increase in the mortmass of vascular plants by three times. The living mass of roots in the disturbed area concentrated in the upper layer of 0–10 cm, while it was distributed in the control area in the layer of 10–30 cm. It was found that the roots of dead pines retain the morphological characteristics of living ones during the first two years and pass into the fraction of dead roots on the third year of pyrogenic succession. Carbon losses during burning of the top layer of tow up to 20 cm amounted to 3016 g C/m2, 500 g/m2 of which can be buried as a layer of coal in peat.

Evolution of global water footprints of crop production in 1990–2019

Abstract Crop production has the largest water footprint (WF) of all economic sectors and ranks as a leading cause of water scarcity. Despite this, our understanding of historical changes in global WFs of crops remains limited. In this study, we analyse the recently published dataset on green and blue WFs of 175 individual crops in 1990–2019. We explore the main changes in unit WFs (expressed in m3t−1 yr−1) and WFs of production (m3 yr−1) and connect the observed changes to various physical and socio-economic drivers. We find that nearly 80% of crops reduced global average unit WFs (required less water per tonne) as crop yields improved and cultivation centred around more productive areas. However, the total WF of crop production increased by 30% as these productivity gains were insufficient to compensate for cropland expansion of mostly water-intensive crops. Close to 90% of the increase occurred between 2000–2019 likely driven by accelerated economic growth, globalisation, changing diets, and production of first-generation biofuels. Among crops, we observe the largest increases for oil palm fruit, soya beans, and maize as they became the main providers of crop-based nutrients, animal feed, and biofuels for the modern economy. Among regions, most of the increase occurred across the tropics, mainly in Indonesia, Brazil, and Nigeria. However, India, China, and the USA had the largest WFs of production over the study period. Humanity consumed 6.8 trillion m3 of water (87.1% green) to produce crops in 2019. This number is likely to increase in the future which may exacerbate already existing environmental and socio-economic issues. Thus, it is important to transition to more water-sustainable agrifood systems. Much potential still exists in increasing crop water productivity, shifting production to less water-scarce geographies, and rethinking our dietary and industrial consumption patterns.

Enhancing Soil Health and Crop Productivity in Andisol Through Wheat- Fabaceae Intercropping

ABSTRACT Andisols are the least extensive soil order, accounting for less than 1% of Earth´s surface. Chile occupies 50% of the country´s land area for cereal production and is of great importance to agriculture. However, few studies have investigated the performance of cereal production under intercropping in P-deficient Andisols. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different Fabaceae species and wheat in an intercropping system on root morphology and soil properties. A 2-year field experiment was conducted using a completely randomized block experimental design with a factorial arrangement with two different phosphorus levels and cropping systems (wheat monoculture, wheat/lupine, and wheat/chickpea intercropping). Bulk soil samples were collected from a field that had been cultivated with wheat. Chemical properties, basal soil respiration, and enzymatic activity were measured. The morphological characteristics of wheat roots and crop yield were also determined. According to the multiple linear regression model (p < .001), this relative yield was related to an increase in phosphatase activity and root biomass. Furthermore, the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) of the wheat/lupine intercrop surpassed 1 in both seasons, indicating improved soil and nutrient utilization. In contrast, the wheat/chickpea intercrops had LER values lower than one during the second season. This confirmed that wheat/lupine intercropping is a recommended practice for enhancing ecosystem services and agricultural production in Andisols.

Better preparedness for invasive crop pests in changing climate: Assessing the risk of western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) colonization in global maize growing regions and future spread dynamics

AbstractThe establishment and spread of alien species in new areas pose a potential threat to global food security. Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte is an invasive maize pest originally from Mexico, causing substantial economic damage to maize production across extensive areas of the United States and Europe. However, it has not yet invaded Asia or other regions. We used the Ensemble Model and Cellular Automaton to analyze the establishment and spread risk of this pest. The pest has not explored novel climates during past invasions, and the climatic ecological niche it occupied in Europe constitutes only a fraction of that in North America, indicating that the species still possesses the potential to spread further in Europe in the future. Currently, approximately 34% of global maize‐growing areas are at risk, with 25.5% facing a high establishment risk. By 2060, a significant northward spread is projected to occur in North America and Europe, while only a sporadic spread is expected in South America, Asia, Africa, or Oceania. Therefore, the adaptation of transnational management strategies may be necessary to prevent and control the risk of introduction and spread of this important maize pest into new areas of global maize production.

Assessing Nitrate Leaching in Crop Production through the Application of Crop Simulation Models with Experimental Data from Florida

Lysimeters are often used in research concerning nutrient leachate all over the globe. However, due to factors such as Florida's high water table (a condition when the water level stays relatively close to the soil surface) in some production areas, the assessment and collection of leachate are not feasible. Another obstacle to the use of lysimeters in field research is the fact that several types of irrigation methods are used in Florida (e.g., subirrigation with seepage or drain-tile, overhead, microsprinkler, and drip irrigation) requiring different strategies for leachate assessment. This publication focuses on the use of crop models as alternatives to estimate nitrate leaching from cropping systems at a field scale. This publication's target audience is growers, extension agents, crop consultants, representatives of the fertilizer industry, state and local agencies, students, instructors, researchers, and interested Florida citizens.

Utilizing HPLC-DAD, multivariate analysis, molecular docking, and in vitro validation methods to investigate phenolic compounds with potential antidiabetic properties in Fraxinus mandshurica

This comprehensive study utilized response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize extraction conditions for total flavonoids and phenols from F. mandshurica. Optimal conditions for flavonoids were 75 % ethanol, 63 °C, and 84 min, yielding 14.98 ± 0.13 mg/g. For phenols, it was 70 % ethanol, 66 °C, and 87 min, resulting in 26.04 ± 0.22 mg/g. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS identified 68 constituents in F. mandshurica, categorized into groups. HPLC-DAD established a method for quantitative analysis of 12 target compounds. Geographical distribution analysis highlighted the northeast region as the main production area. Fingerprinting of 30 samples and multivariate analysis identified five active compounds. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed differences in active compounds based on origin. In vitro antidiabetic evaluation demonstrated α-glucosidase inhibitory effects. Molecular docking studies were conducted between 12 active compounds and the antidiabetic-related protein 8A27. Esculetin had the highest binding affinity. The study examined extraction methods, analyzed samples, and explored antidiabetic effects, providing data support and insights for F. mandshurica as a natural industrial product and for extracts and active compounds as antidiabetic sources.

Advances in the Characterization of Creole Cattle from Nayarit, Chihuahua, and Baja California Sur.

Objective. This manuscript aims to contribute to disseminating the research conducted on creole cattle from Nayarit, Chihuahua, and Baja California, as these regions have been the focus of numerous studies. These studies include identifying the areas of opportunity that need to be addressed for the conservation of this zoogenetic resource present in Mexico. Description. Cattle farming in Mexico began with the arrival of the first bovines from the Iberian Peninsula to New Spain over 500 years ago. These cattle established itself in various regions of the country, developing specific characteristics that have allowed it to adapt primarily to harsh environmental conditions. As a result, these bovines are considered a productive alternative in various agroecological environments to address the challenges of climate change and mitigate the negative effects on the ecosystem. Limitations. To date, research on the morphological, productive, and genetic characterization, as well as the production environment of Creole cattle in Mexico, remains limited. Therefore, it is necessary to develop studies in this area to contribute to the conservation of this resource and, above all, to identify mechanisms for its rational use that justify its existence in a modern economic and productive environment. Conclusions. The documentary review conducted to present the current state of research on creole cattle herds in Nayarit, Chihuahua, and Baja California Sur revealed that the studies have primarily focused on productive aspects in various environments. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage research directed towards other productive areas of cattle, such as reproduction, animal health, and adaptation, in order to develop strategies that contribute to the conservation of this zoogenetic resource.

Linking landscape structure, floral resource distribution, pollen use and movement distances of a generalist predator

Abstract Understanding the habitat use and movement patterns of natural enemies in agricultural landscapes is essential for enhancing biological pest control. Since many natural enemies rely on floral resources, the distribution of these resources in combination with movement behaviour likely influence biological control in field crops. Nevertheless, few studies have assessed natural enemy movement at the landscape scale. Here we estimated minimal movement distances of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea based on consumed pollen and the spatial distribution of the respective plant species in 24 agricultural landscapes (500 m radius). Lacewings were sampled using sticky traps in the centre of each landscape, and the consumed pollen were identified. The location of the most important pollen‐providing plants was mapped in each landscape. Distances to potential sources of pollen consumed by 346 lacewings were used to derive minimal movement distances. Lacewings consumed mostly pollen from insect‐pollinated plants that were present within 500 m from the sampling location. The distance to the nearest source of consumed pollen exceeded 200 m in 31% of lacewing individuals, demonstrating the relevance of the landscape scale to understand their population dynamics. Distances were shorter to insect‐pollinated than to wind‐pollinated plants, and shorter early than late in the season. Mean and median distances to pollen sources were negatively associated to flower availability and edge density in the landscape, but this was not the case for minimal distances. Synthesis and applications. Our findings suggest that the spatial distribution of flowering wild plants can inform movement patterns of lacewings and other flower‐visiting insects in agricultural landscapes. In addition, the location of floral resources in the landscape is important for its capacity to sustain natural enemies. Given the strong reliance of lacewings on pollen from nearby insect pollinated woody plants, the promotion of native shrubs and trees, such as Prunus, Salix and Castanea, should be prioritized for natural enemy enhancement in agricultural landscapes. Doing this in the form of hedgerows or agroforestry systems would lead to only minimal reduction in production areas and provide additional benefits such as biodiversity conservation.

The use of highly functional phytobiotic additives in the feeding of sturgeon

Growing fish in artificial ecosystems increases the relevance of the issue of intoxication of the body under constant stress with high planting density, as well as the negative impact on the metabolic processes of low-quality feed. This affects the intensity of metabolic processes and reduces productivity, preventing the realization of genetic growth potential. It is possible to increase the efficiency of sturgeon fish cultivation by including phytobiotics in the feed. At the moment, this is a promising area of feed production, since the active ingredients of phytobiotic additives are involved in the protection of feed lipids, preventing autooxidation reactions. At the same time, there is no chemical load and no negative effect on metabolic processes in the body of fish, which positively affects the factor of environmentally safe fish products. Thus, phytobiotics, as natural plant components, have antioxidant properties. During the study, the effectiveness of the Flavitol dietary supplement was tested when introducing various concentrations of the drug into sturgeon feed in addition to vitamin E (50.0 mg/kg). The positive result of using this drug containing dihydroquercin (a flavonoid with high antioxidant activity obtained from Siberian larch) was confirmed by higher growth rates (18.9–22.3% higher than the control group) and survival (100.0%) with a lower feed ratio (1.4 units). The obtained data from physiological and biochemical blood tests indicate a positive effect of the source of dihydroquercetin — dietary supplement Flavitol and vitamin E on the metabolic processes of cultured fish, which is confirmed by the compliance of the ESR level with the normative values (2.03–2.64 mm/h), higher (by 9.4–12.7%) hemoglobin level (58.07–60.32 g/l) and the amount of total whey protein (30.7–32.46 g/l).

Evaluating the radioactivity and health risks in oil and gas production areas: insights from Titas Gas Field, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Conducting comprehensive studies of radioactivity and associated risk assessments in the oil and gas industry is crucial due to the potential accumulation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in production operations. This pioneering study investigates radioactivity levels in surface soil from the Titas Gas Field area in Bangladesh by a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector, a crucial resource of the nation’s energy infrastructure. In surface soil, the activity of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K varied from 18–41 Bq/kg, 28–62 Bq/kg, and 280–600 Bq/kg, respectively. Particularly, the levels of 232Th exceeded the global average value for soil. These elevated 232Th levels are likely attributed to a combination of natural geological processes of enriching thorium bearing minerals, geochemical processes favouring thorium retention and human activities selectively impacting these radionuclides. The estimated of radiological risk reveals that some indices exceed recommended limits, hence pose a concern for public health. The study recommends periodic monitoring, public awareness campaigns, remediation efforts, and long-term management strategies to protect environmental and public health. The findings of this research underscore the critical need to recognise and address radiological hazards associated with gas extraction activities to safeguard the health and safety of workers and nearby communities in Bangladesh.