1. Bracken-induced increase in soil P availability, along with its high P acquisition efficiency, enables it to invade P-deficient meadowsAntun Jelinčić, Nina Šajna, Željka Zgorelec, Aleksandra Perčin, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Changes in soil chemistry after invasion by bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) have been studied in heathlands, but comparable studies in meadows are lacking. We investigated if bracken invasion into P-deficient meadows alters the soil nutrient-resource pool, as well as the mechanisms behind it linked to soil processes and bracken nutrition. Furthermore, we investigated how community composition responds to differences in soil chemistry before and after the invasion. Soil and plant material sampling, along with vegetation survey, were performed during bracken peak biomass. Data analyses included analysis of variance and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Bracken invasion increased soil P availability, soil organic C concentration, as well as C:N, C:S and N:S ratios, while decreasing Fe and Co concentrations. Bracken pinnae were rich in P, and its rhizomes were rich in K, whereas N:P of pinnae and rhizomes was low. CCA showed contrasting abundance patterns of frequent meadow species related to P and K availability. Holcus lanatus exhibited competitive advantage under extremely low P availability. Increase in P availability under bracken may have occurred through promoting the leaching of Fe and Al. By increasing P availability for its growth and increasing N limitation for other species, bracken can gain a competitive advantage from the soil resource-niche perspective. Its ability to increase soil P availability, along with the physiological mechanisms behind its high P acquisition efficiency, seem to differentiate bracken from other species of competitive ecological strategy, which are mainly confined to nutrient-rich environments. This enabled bracken to invade P-deficient meadows.
Ključne besede: vegetation succession, invasive species, biogeochemical processes, soil ecology, plant invasion
Objavljeno v DKUM: 17.06.2024; Ogledov: 152; Prenosov: 21
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2. The importance of thermally abnormal waters for bioinvasions - a case study of Pistia stratiotesNina Šajna, Tina Urek, Primož Kušar, Mirjana Šipek, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Thermally abnormal waters represent safe sites for alien invasive plants requiring warmer conditions than provided by the ambient temperatures in the temperate zone. Therefore, such safe sites are frequently inhabited by tropical and sub-tropical plants. By performing a literature review we assessed that at least 55 alien aquatic plant taxa from 21 families were found in thermally abnormal waters in Europe. The majority of these taxa are submerged or rooted macrophytes. Six taxa are listed as quarantine pests according to EPPO. Among these, Pistia stratiotes is present in seven European countries, most of the records of this presence being recent. We studied P. stratiotes in a thermally abnormal stream where a persistent population was able to survive harsh winters. Models showed that the optimum temperature for P. stratiotes biomass was 28.8 ± 3.5 ◦C. Here, we show that air temperatures had a higher influence on the photosynthetic efficiency of P. stratiotes, estimated by chlorophyll fluorescence measurements, than did water temperatures. Generally, growth, and consequently surface cover for free-floating plants, cannot be explained solely by thermally abnormal water temperatures. We conclude that even though the majority of thermophile alien plant occurrences resulted from deliberate introductions, thermally abnormal waters pose an invasion risk for further deliberate, accidental, or spontaneous spread, which might be more likely for free-floating macrophytes.
Ključne besede: macrophytes, alien invasive plants, chlorophyll fluorescence, plant mass, temperature gradient
Objavljeno v DKUM: 05.06.2024; Ogledov: 158; Prenosov: 32
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3. Eco-finishing of cotton with chitosan and giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea Aiton) aqueous extract for development of antioxidant and UV protective textilesSebastijan Šmid, Anja Verbič, Lidija Fras Zemljič, Marija Gorjanc, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Giant goldenrod (S. gigantea Aiton) is considered an invasive weed in Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. In this research, the untreated and chitosan-treated cotton fabrics were functionalized with goldenrod inflorescences aqueous extract, at room temperature and 95°C. Zeta potential of fabrics was determined as a function of pH and the results showed an increased isoelectric point from 2.50 to 5.25 and amphoteric character of the chitosan-treated sample. The antioxidant activity (AA) of extract and functionalized fabrics was determined using DPPH analysis, while color and ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) were determined spectroscopically before and after wash and lightfastness testing. The chitosan pretreatment and dyeing of cotton at higher temperature increased AA (from 41.19 ± 0.28 to 56.08 ± 0.25), UPF (from 33.05 to 51.59) and color strength (K/S) (from 1.74 to 2.21), providing dyed cotton with excellent UV protection and a free radical inhibition activity. The samples had good wash fastness in terms of color (ΔEab* < 1), but not in terms of UV protection (UPF value decreased after washing to 23.47). The overall lightfastness was good to excellent (the UPF values of chitosan and dyed samples did not change much after lightfastness test (UPF = 51.75).
Ključne besede: Goldenrod, invasive plant, eco-functionalisation, cotton, antioxidant activity, UV protection
Objavljeno v DKUM: 25.03.2024; Ogledov: 255; Prenosov: 28
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4. Life Cycle Assessment of Pilot-Scale Bio-Refining of Invasive Japanese Knotweed Alien Plant towards Bio-Based Bioactive CompoundsRobert Hren, Katerina Naumoska, Urška Jug, Lidija Čuček, Blaž Likozar, Uroš Novak, Annamaria Vujanović, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Japanese knotweed is an invasive alien plant species with characteristic rapid expansion in Europe and North America and resistance to extermination. It displaces autochthonous biodiversity and causes major damage to infrastructure, thus causing global ecological and economic damage. The Japanese knotweed plant is usually eradicated using various chemical, biological, or mechanical techniques, which at a large scale include heavy equipment, usually followed by incineration. Therefore, excavation is preferred to eradication techniques, and as a biomass waste recovery method due to the extraction of high-value biocompounds. This is supported by the fact that the Japanese knotweed possesses various bioactive compounds with beneficial effects on human health. Its rhizome bark extract produces strong and stable antioxidant activity over time, as well as apoptotic, antibacterial, and other beneficial activities. In this work, an environmental impact assessment, including greenhouse gas footprint, acidification, eutrophication, and ecotoxicity for extraction route of the Japanese knotweed rhizome bark, is performed. A comparative case study between the lab-based and proposed pilot-scale production of active added-value extract was evaluated. The results show the pilot-scale production exhibits lower environmental burdens, mainly due to greater electricity requirements for the lab-scale alternative.
Ključne besede: Japanese knotweed rhizome bark extract, invasive alien plant species, bioactive compounds, lab-scale, pilot-scale, life cycle assessment (LCA), environmental burden assessment
Objavljeno v DKUM: 19.03.2024; Ogledov: 236; Prenosov: 20
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