Diversity and Functional Traits of Lichens in Ultramafic Areas: A Literature Based Worldwide Analysis Integrated by Field Data at the Regional Scale

While higher plant communities found on ultramafics are known to display peculiar characteristics, the distinguishability of any peculiarity in lichen communities is still a matter of contention. Other biotic or abiotic factors, rather than substrate chemistry, may contribute to differences in species composition reported for lichens on adjacent ultramafic and non-ultramafic areas. This work examines the lichen biota of ultramafics, at global and regional scales, with reference to species-specific functional traits. An updated world list of lichens on ultramafic substrates was analyzed to verify potential relationships between diversity and functional traits of lichens in different Köppen–Geiger climate zones. Moreover, a survey of diversity and functional traits in saxicolous communities on ultramafic and non-ultramafic substrates was conducted in Valle d’Aosta (North-West Italy) to verify whether a relationship can be detected between substrate and functional traits that cannot be explained by other environmental factors related to altitude. Analyses (unweighted pair group mean average clustering, canonical correspondence analysis, similarity-difference-replacement simplex approach) of global lichen diversity on ultramafic substrates (2314 reports of 881 taxa from 43 areas) displayed a zonal species distribution in different climate zones rather than an azonal distribution driven by the shared substrate. Accordingly, variations in the frequency of functional attributes reflected reported adaptations to the climate conditions of the different geographic areas. At the regional scale, higher similarity and lower species replacement were detected at each altitude, independent from the substrate, suggesting that altitude-related climate factors prevail over putative substrate–factors in driving community assemblages. In conclusion, data do not reveal peculiarities in lichen diversity or the frequency of functional traits in ultramafic areas

Novel Angular and Polarization Independent Band-Stop Frequency Selective Surface for Ultra-Wide Band Applications

A novel compact band-stop frequency selective surface (FSS) with angular and polarization stability performance for ultra-wide band (UWB) applications is presented in this paper. The presented FSS consists of square loop element and a crossed dipole with ring aperture element. The novel unit cell size is miniaturized to 0.047λ × 0.047λ, where λ is free-space wavelength corresponding to the lowest frequency of the UWB band. The -3dB bandwidth of the proposed FSS is between 3.05 GHz and 10.73 GHz frequencies which are cover the whole UWB band that is defined by FCC. Due to compact size of unit cell, the presented FSS has good angular stability up to 60° incident angles both perpendicular (TE) and parallel (TM) polarization. The resonance frequency deviation is maximum 1.75% for TE polarization. In addition, proposed FSS has excellent stable resonant frequency. The designed FSS is fabricated and experimental measurements are done. There is consistency between numerical simulations with measurement results

Effect of spraying Pekin duck eggs obtained from different breeder age on hatchability

Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280; kocakaya, afsin/0000-0003-2023-8895WOS: 000343650800001The objective of this study was to determine the effect of spraying Pekin duck eggs obtained from different breeder age on hatchability. Hatching eggs used in this study were obtained from Pekin breeder flock. A total of 560 eggs were collected at 30 and 38-wk of breeder age at the farm. Ten eggs from each breeder age group were used to determine eggshell thickness. The other eggs for determination of hatchability and embryo development were stored for 3 d at 17 degrees C and 75% relative humidity. Eggs were incubated in the same incubator and turned from 1 to 25 days of incubation once an hour. On the 4(th) d of incubation, eggs were assigned to three treatment groups: control, spraying once a day ( Group 1), and spraying twice a day ( Group 2). Each group comprised 90 eggs which have been set to one tray each. Eggs of Group 1 and 2 were taken out of the incubator once a day and two times a day, sprayed with warm water ( 25-28 degrees C) and placed back to the incubator after 20 minutes, respectively. On the 25(th) day of incubation, all eggs were transferred singly into pedigree hatching baskets. On the 28(th) day of incubation, healthy ducklings were removed and sex and weight of the chicks was recorded. Fertility, embryonic dead and hatchability were determined. Egg weight increased ( P < 0.001) and eggshell thickness decreased ( P < 0.01) with increasing breeder age. Embryonic mortality was lower and hatchability was higher in sprayed groups than in control group ( P < 0.05) in eggs from 30 wks old hens. Increasing hen age increased the ratio of duckling weight to egg weight ( P < 0.001). Spraying of eggs affected the ratio of duckling weight to egg weight ( P < 0.001). Control and Group 1 were similar in the ratio of duckling weight to egg weight. However spraying of eggs twice a day with warm water from 4 to 25 days of incubation negatively affected the ratio of duckling weight to egg weight. It was concluded that spraying of duck eggs is partly linked to breeder hen age

Production performance, use of nest box, and external appearance of two strains of laying hens kept in conventional and enriched cages

kocakaya, afsin/0000-0003-2023-8895; Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280; UNAL, NECMETTIN/0000-0001-5250-7063WOS: 000353347100001PubMed: 25667426The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in production performance, use of nest box, and external appearance of 2 strains of laying hens kept in conventional and enriched cages. Lohmann Brown Classic (LB, n = 532) and Lohmann LSL Classic (LW, n = 532) hens were housed from 16 to 73 wk in either conventional cages or enriched cages. Enriched cages had a nesting area, scratch pad, perch, and nail shortener. Body weight (BW), hen-day egg production, egg weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), cracked and dirty eggs, use of nest box for lay, and external appearance were determined. Laying period influenced the hen-day egg production, egg weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Cage type affected the hen-day egg production and feed conversion ratio, while strain affected the egg weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Laying period x cage type and laying period x strain interactions affected egg production, egg weight, and feed conversion ratio. Both strains preferred to lay in the nest box. Percentages of cracked and dirty eggs of LW hens in enriched cages were higher than that in conventional cages. Most of the dirty eggs laid by both strains were found outside of the nest box. The LW hens laid more dirty eggs than the LB hens. Cage type and cage type x strain interaction were important for total feather score. Final claw length was affected by cage type, strain, and cage type x strain interaction. This study suggests that cage type, strain, and also cage type x strain and period x strain interactions should be considered when alternative housing systems are used.Ankara UniversityAnkara University [BAP-10A3338005]This study was supported by Ankara University (Grant No. BAP-10A3338005)

Effect of Yucca schidigera additions to different litter materials on broiler performance, footpad dermatitis and litter characteristics

kocakaya, afsin/0000-0003-2023-8895; Onbasilar, Ebru/0000-0002-1321-0280; UNAL, NECMETTIN/0000-0001-5250-7063WOS: 000343649800001The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different levels of Yucca schidigera additions to different litter materials on broiler performance, footpad dermatitis and litter characteristics. A total of five hundred seventy six 1-d-old male broiler chicks (ROSS-308) was randomly assigned to 48 pens. Chicks were randomly allocated to 2 litter and 4 Yucca schidigera treatments (0, 4, 8, 12%) with 6 replication pens. Each pen consisted of 12 chicks. Performances of broilers, ratio of footpad dermatitis and litter characteristics were not affected by Yucca schidigera additions to the litter materials. However, body weight gain and feed conversion from 1 to 21 days, total feed intake, total colony counts and number of Enterobacteriaceae in the litter were changed by litter material. Litter material by level of Yucca schidigera interaction was significant for body weight gain and feed conversion. Further studies will be done with different doses and applications of Yucca schidigera additions to the litter.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [110O933]A part of this study was supported by TUBITAK Fund (Project No: 110O933). We thank the Beypilic for supplying chicks and Ekol Gida for supplying Yucca schidigera extract to us