Suitability of dust and bioaerosols from a pig stable as inoculum for biological air filters

[Abstract] Biofiltration for removing ammonia and odour compounds from ventilation air of pig stables is a promising approach. In order to reduce the time for starting up a well-functioning biofilter a good inoculum suited for the environment is needed. In this study the microbial identity and quantity of dust and bioaerosols coming from a pig stable were analyzed for its suitability as inoculum. Inoculation of biofilters with dust had similar good ammonia removal capabilities as biofilters inoculated with activated sludge, although analysis of the microbial dust community revealed clear differences. The organic fraction of the dust particles seems to be important for mediating biofilm development on the filter material

The Microbiome of Animals:Implications for Conservation Biology

In recent years the human microbiome has become a growing area of research and it is becoming clear that the microbiome of humans plays an important role for human health. Extensive research is now going into cataloging and annotating the functional role of the human microbiome. The ability to explore and describe the microbiome of any species has become possible due to new methods for sequencing. These techniques allow comprehensive surveys of the composition of the microbiome of nonmodel organisms of which relatively little is known. Some attention has been paid to the microbiome of insect species including important vectors of pathogens of human and veterinary importance, agricultural pests, and model species. Together these studies suggest that the microbiome of insects is highly dependent on the environment, species, and populations and affects the fitness of species. These fitness effects can have important implications for the conservation and management of species and populations. Further, these results are important for our understanding of invasion of nonnative species, responses to pathogens, and responses to chemicals and global climate change in the present and future

A review of the occurrence of metals and xenobiotics in European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is a popular visitor in gardens and recreational areas all over Europe, but hedgehog populations are declining. Research exploring the causes of the decline, including exposure to potentially harmful pollutants and metals, may provide relevant information to improve conservation initiatives to protect this species in the wild. Hedgehogs are ground-dwelling mammals, feeding on a range of different food items such as insects, slugs, snails, and earthworms but also eggs, live vertebrates, and carrion, and therefore come into close contact with pollutants present in their habitats and in their prey. This review investigated published research on the occurrence of metals and pollutants in hedgehogs and found that a vast range of different pesticides; rodenticides; persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including organochlorine compounds and brominated flame retardants (BFRs); as well as toxic heavy metals could be detected in samples from hedgehogs representing different European countries. Due to their ecology, combined with the opportunity to apply non-invasive sampling techniques through the collection of spines as sampling material, we suggest that the European hedgehog is a relevant bioindicator species for monitoring the exposure of omnivorous terrestrial wildlife to potential toxicants in urban and rural environments