Effect of seasonal diet composition changes on the characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract contents of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber).

The goal of the study was to compare chemical and physical parameters of the content of various gastrointestinal (GI) tract segments of adult beavers and to relate the obtained results to seasonal changes in the composition of natural diet. The study was conducted on 36 adult beavers originated from the natural environment that were captured in winter, summer and autumn. The obtained results demonstrated that pH, redox potential (Eh), dry matter (DM), short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and distribution of food particles varied along the beaver GI tract during the year. The lowest value of pH was observed in stomach whereas the highest in the small intestine and cecum. The reverse pattern of changes was found for the value of redox potential. The research indicated that anaerobic conditions were predominant in the cecum and so contributed to development of microbial population. Also, the increase in the SCFA contents in the cecum and colon indicated that beavers belong both to hindgut fermenters as well as to the mixed moderate type animals. In summary, the obtained results indicated that seasonal changes in the diet composition affected physical and chemical parameters as well as microbial activity of the GI tract of beaver

Seasonal variations of the digestive tract of the Eurasian beaver castor fiber.

Forage availability for wild rodents varies with season. In turn, the composition of food can affect morphometric parameters of the digestive tract. This study was performed in Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) whose population was close to extinction in most Eurasian countries, but has now increased. Due to the previous low number of studies, information about the effect of forage availability on the digestive tract morphology has previously been lacking. This study was performed using beavers captured from the natural environment during three seasons of different forage availability: winter, summer and autumn. It was found that the diet of the beaver varied during the year; in winter it was dominated by woody material consisting of willow shoots, whereas in summer the diet was primarily herbs, grass and leaves. Season also affected the mass of digested contents of the digestive tract. The digestive content increased in the caecum and colon in winter and autumn, when poor-quality food dominated the beaver's diet. The results indicated that the digestive tract parameters of beavers varied based on the composition of available forage

Epiphytic bryophytes of Norway spruce in selected forest communities of Białowieza National Park, NE Poland

The epiphytic bryoflora of Norway spruce in four forest communities of Białowieża National Park consists of 27 species, including 5 liverworts. The first factor differentiating the distribution of the bryophytes is the surrounding forest community and the other − the tree section. Composition of facultative epiphytes on the tree trunk basis reflects the influence of forest association on epiphytic bryoflora on spruce, with the acidity of habitat being the main differentiating factor

Do large-scale forest regenerations offer to deer more atractive fodder than mature forest: A case of burnout forest in Rudy Raciborskie

Impact of ungulates on forest communities is determined by food availability and structure of the community. Both food and structure are formed among others by large disturbances i.e. wildfires. The biggest wildfire in Poland occurred in August 1992 in Rudy Raciborskie forest district. The study on food availability on burnt area was carried out in July and August 2004. Phytosociological releves were made on 100 plots on burnt area and 100 in unburnt forest. Comparisons were made between burnt and unburnt area, between burnt and unburnt area in dominating forest types, and on burnt area between areas with natural regeneration and reforested and between areas covered with pine and birch stands. Availability of food is better in unburnt forest than on burnt area and in self−regenerated than in reforested stands. Food availability can not substantiate the view of greater ungulates impact on burnt area

Badania procesu peletowania poprodukcyjnych odpadów cebuli

The aim of the research was to analyse the process of onion waste pelleting in terms of its use as a fodder additive. The paper assesses the influence of the moisture content of shredded onion waste on the energy consumption of the pelleting system and the density and kinetic durability of the obtained pellets. The tests of the pelleting process were carried out on an SS-4 stand, whose main component was the P-300 pellet mill with a flat rotating die with an opening diameter of 8 mm and an opening length of 28 mm, working with a set of two densification rolls. In the course of the tests, the influence of the moisture content of shredded onion waste (17.1%, 19.1% and 24.0%) on the energy consumption of the power mill, the temperature of the working system during pelleting, and the kinetic durability of the obtained pellets were tested. The tests of the pelleting process were carried out at a mass flow rate of shredded onion waste of Q=20 kg·h-1, a rotational speed of the set of densification rolls of nr=170 rpm-1 and a gap between the rolls and the die of hr=0.4 mm. On the basis of the performed tests, it was concluded that as the moisture content of the onion waste increases from 17.1 to 24.0%, the energy consumption of the power mill decreases by 22.6%, along with a decrease in density of approx. 15%, at a minimum reduction in kinetic durability of pellets of approx. 0.5%.Celem badań była ocena procesu peletowania (granulowania) odpadów cebuli w aspekcie jego wykorzystania jako dodatku do pasz. W pracy oceniono wpływ wilgotności rozdrobnionych odpadów cebuli na zapotrzebowanie na moc układu granulującego oraz na gęstość i wytrzymałość kinetyczną otrzymanego granulatu. Badania procesu procesu peletowania (granulowania) przeprowadzono na stanowisku SS-4, którego głównym elementem jest granulator P-300 z wykorzystaniem płaskiej obrotowej matrycy o średnicy otworów 8 mm i długości otworów 28 mm, współpracującej z układem dwóch rolek zagęszczających. W trakcie badań określono wpływ wilgotności rozdrobnionych odpadów cebuli (17,1, 19,1 i 24,0%) na zapotrzebowanie granulatora na moc, temperaturę układu roboczego w trakcie procesu granulowania oraz na gęstość i wytrzymałość kinetyczną otrzymanego granulatu. Badania procesu granulowania przeprowadzono przy masowym natężeniu przepływu rozdrobnionych odpadów cebuli Q=20 kg·h-1, przy prędkości obrotowej układu rolek zagęszczających nr=170 obr⋅min-1oraz przy szczelinie między rolkami a matrycą hr=0,4 mm. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań stwierdzono, że wraz ze zwiększeniem wilgotności odpadów cebuli od 17,1 do 24,0% następuje spadek zapotrzebowania na moc granulatora o 22,6% oraz spadek gęstości o ok. 15% przy minimalnym spadku wytrzymałości kinetycznej granulatu o ok. 0,5%

Analysis of the gear pumps used for pumping food industry fluids in the context of the pressure reduction in the vaulted spaces

Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie wyników badań eksperymentalnych pomp zębatych P100, P101 oraz P102 wykorzystywanych do przetłaczania cieczy spożywczych o lepkości powyżej 0,5 Pa·s. W badanych pompach zmieniono konstrukcje pokryw bocznych przez stosowanie rowków odciążających różnych wymiarów. Pompa P100 nie posiadała rowków, pompa P101 – posiadała rowki wykonane zgodnie z danymi literaturowymi, w pompie P102 zwiększono wymiary rowków odciążających. W badaniach wykazano, że zmiana wielkości rowków odciążających ma istotny wpływ na zakres pracy pomp zębatych. Pompa P100 nie przetłoczyła cieczy o lepkości 6 Pa·s, pompa P101 przetłoczyła ciecz o lepkości 6 Pa·s, niestety nie przetłoczyła cieczy o wyższych lepkościach, natomiast pompa P102 przetłoczyła ciecz o ponad 2 razy wyższej lepkości (13 Pa·s).The article describes analysis of the experimental gear pumps P100, P101 and P102 used for pumping food industry fluids with a viscosity above 0.5 Pa • s. In the studied pumps a structure of the side covers was changed by the use of different dimensions of pressure relief grooves. The P100 pump didn’t have grooves, the P101 pump had relief grooves designed in accordance with the literature, in the P102 pump dimensions of relief grooves were increased. Studies have shown that resize of the relief grooves have a significant impact on the scope of the gear pumps working conditions. P100 pump failed to force fluids with viscosity 6 Pa·s, P101 pump pumped fluid with viscosity equal to 6 Pa·s, unfortunately, failed to force fluids with greater viscosity, whereas P102 pump forced fluid with more than two times greater viscosity (13 Pa·s)

Badania procesu zagęszczania pozbiorowych odpadów tytoniowych

This paper presents the results of tests of the densification process of a mixture of plant-type post-harvest tobacco waste and a mixture of post-harvest tobacco waste and a binder in the form of potato pulp. Initial densification tests were carried out on a modernized SS-3 stand, with a working system of the “open densification chamber-densifying piston” type, employing an open chamber with a diameter of 8 mm. During the tests, susceptibility to densification of shredded tobacco waste and a mixture of shredded tobacco waste with potato pulp were assessed, by determining the maximum densifying pressures for the material and the density of the obtained pellets. On the basis of the performed tests, it was concluded that the tested tobacco waste is characterized by a high susceptibility to densification, as indicated by the obtained low values of maximum densifying pressures during its densification. Adding potato pulp to tobacco waste had a positive impact on the mixture's susceptibility to densification and an increase in the quality of pellets. The tested pellets from tobacco waste are a material of high energy qualities.W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań procesu zagęszczania mieszaniny roślinnych pozbiorowych odpadów tytoniu oraz mieszaniny pozbiorowych odpadów tytoniu i lepiszcza w postaci wycierki ziemniaczanej. Badania wstępne zagęszczania przeprowadzono na zmodernizowanym stanowisku SS-3, z układem roboczym „otwarta komora zagęszczania-tłok zagęszczający”, używając komory otwartej o średnicy 8 mm. W trakcie badań określono podatność na zagęszczanie rozdrobnionych odpadów tytoniowych oraz mieszaniny rozdrobnionych odpadów tytoniowych i wycierki ziemniaczanej, poprzez określenie maksymalnych nacisków zagęszczających surowiec oraz gęstości uzyskanego granulatu. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań stwierdzono, że badane odpady tytoniowe są materiałem charakteryzującym się wysoką podatnością na zagęszczanie, o czym świadczą uzyskane niewielkie wartości maksymalnych nacisków zagęszczających w trakcie jego zagęszczania. Zastosowanie dodatku wycierki ziemniaczanej do odpadów tytoniowych, wpłynęło na polepszenie podatności mieszanki na zagęszczanie oraz poprawę jakości granulatu

Influence of ingested forage on the composition of rumen microfauna in fallow deer

The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between ingested forage and composition of microfauna in the rumen of fallow deer. Rumen content of six specimens was obtained from the Bolimowska Forest during 2011/12 hunting season. Protozoa of the Entodinium and Epidinium genera belonging to the Ophryoscoleciade family were identified in analysed samples. Density of Entodinium population was positively correlated with percentage share of forage rich in starch. It was also reversely and equally strongly correlated to the share of forage rich in cellulose (p>0.05). Share of volume and biomass of Epidinium population was correlated negatively with the share of acorns in the forage (p>0.1). Differences in number and share of protozoa of the Entodinium and Epidinium genera in the rumen of fallow deer coexisting in the same place and time indicate feeding opportunism of this ruminant

Proces zagęszczania poprodukcyjnych odpadów tytoniowych

The paper presents the research results of the agglomeration process of post-production tobacco waste arising during the cigarette production process at British-American Tobacco in Augustów. The agglomeration process tests were carried out on the SS-3 station with the "open compaction chamber-compacting piston" working system, having an open chamber with a diameter of 8 mm. Investigations of agglomeration of post-production tobacco waste were carried out according to the Hartley experiment plan PS/DS-P: Ha4, where the input values were: waste moisture (9, 12 and 15%), process temperature (60, 80 and 100°C), mass of the sample (0,3; 0,6 and 0,9 g) and the matrix hole length (37, 42 and 47 mm). During the tests, the susceptibility to compacting the tested tobacco waste was determined by determining the maximum pressures for agglomerating the raw material and the obtained granulate density. On the basis of the conducted tests, it was found that the tested tobacco waste is a material characterized by high compaction susceptibility, as it was evidenced by the obtained low values of maximum compaction pressures during its compaction. Moisture content of tobacco waste and the process temperature are the parameters having the greatest impact on the values of maximum compaction pressures and the density of granules obtained from tobacco waste. The most advantageous temperature range for carrying out the agglomeration process of tobacco waste from the point of view of the work system load is 60-70°C. The high granulate density obtained during the tests (733,3-1313,32 kg∙m-3) is a very advantageous feature of the product.W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań procesu zagęszczania poprodukcyjnych odpadów tytoniu powstałe w trakcie procesu produkcyjnego papierosów w British-American Tobacco w Augustowie. Badania procesu zagęszczania przeprowadzono na stanowisku SS-3, z układem roboczym „otwarta komora zagęszczania-tłok zagęszczający”, z komorą otwartą o średnicy 8 mm. Badania zagęszczania poprodukcyjnych odpadów tytoniu przeprowadzono według planu eksperymentu Hartleya PS/DS-P: Ha4, gdzie wielkościami wejściowymi były wilgotność odpadów (9, 12 i 15%), temperatura procesu (60, 80 i 100°C), masa zagęszczanej próbki (0,3; 0,6 i 0,9 g) oraz długość otworu w matrycy (37, 42 i 47 mm). W trakcie badań określono podatność na zagęszczanie badanych odpadów tytoniowych przez określenie maksymalnych nacisków zagęszczających surowiec oraz gęstości uzyskanego granulatu. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań stwierdzono, że badane odpady tytoniowe są materiałem charakteryzującym się wysoką podatnością na zagęszczanie, o czym świadczą uzyskane niewielkie wartości maksymalnych nacisków zagęszczających w trakcie jego zagęszczania. Wilgotność odpadów tytoniowych i temperatura procesu to parametry mające największy wpływ na wartości maksymalnych nacisków zagęszczających i gęstości granulatu otrzymanego z odpadów tytoniowych. Najkorzystniejszy zakres temperatury prowadzenia procesu zagęszczania odpadów tytoniowych z punktu widzenia obciążenia układu roboczego to zakres 60-70°C. Uzyskana w trakcie badań wysoka gęstość granulatu (733,3–1313,32 kg∙m-3) jest bardzo korzystną cechą otrzymanego produktu