Winter Bird Assemblages in Rural and Urban Environments: A National Survey

Urban development has a marked effect on the ecological and behavioural traits of many living organisms, including birds. In this paper, we analysed differences in the numbers of wintering birds between rural and urban areas in Poland. We also analysed species richness and abundance in relation to longitude, latitude, human population size, and landscape structure. All these parameters were analysed using modern statistical techniques incorporating species detectability. We counted birds in 156 squares (0.25 km2 each) in December 2012 and again in January 2013 in locations in and around 26 urban areas across Poland (in each urban area we surveyed 3 squares and 3 squares in nearby rural areas). The influence of twelve potential environmental variables on species abundance and richness was assessed with Generalized Linear Mixed Models, Principal Components and Detrended Correspondence Analyses. Totals of 72 bird species and 89,710 individual birds were recorded in this study. On average (±SE) 13.3 ± 0.3 species and 288 ± 14 individuals were recorded in each square in each survey. A formal comparison of rural and urban areas revealed that 27 species had a significant preference; 17 to rural areas and 10 to urban areas. Moreover, overall abundance in urban areas was more than double that of rural areas. There was almost a complete separation of rural and urban bird communities. Significantly more birds and more bird species were recorded in January compared to December. We conclude that differences between rural and urban areas in terms of winter conditions and the availability of resources are reflected in different bird communities in the two environments

Do Queens of Bumblebee Species Differ In Their Choice Of Flower Colour Morphs Of Corydalis Cava (Fumariaceae)?

International audienceAbstractBumblebee queens require a continuous supply of flowering food plants from early spring for the successful development of annual colonies. Early in spring, Corydalis cava provides essential nectar and pollen resources and a choice of flower colour. In this paper, we examine flower colour choice (purple or white) in C. cava and verify the hypothesis that bumblebee queens differ in their choice of flower colour. A total of 10,615 observations of flower visits were made in spring 2011 and spring 2014 near Poznań, western Poland. Our results suggest that Bombus lucorum/cryptarum used purple flowers less, while Bombus terrestris used purple flowers more and Bombus hortorum showed no preference. Therefore, the colour morphs of C. cava are probably co-evolutionary adaptations to the development of another part of the insect community which has different colour preferences

Urban and rural habitats differ in number and type of bird feeders and in bird species consuming supplementary food

Bird feeding is one of the most widespread direct interactions between man and nature, and this has important social and environmental consequences. However, this activity can differ between rural and urban habitats, due to inter alia habitat structure, human behaviour and the composition of wintering bird communities. We counted birds in 156 squares (0.25 km(2) each) in December 2012 and again in January 2013 in locations in and around 26 towns and cities across Poland (in each urban area, we surveyed 3 squares and also 3 squares in nearby rural areas). At each count, we noted the number of bird feeders, the number of bird feeders with food, the type of feeders, additional food supplies potentially available for birds (bread offered by people, bins) and finally the birds themselves. In winter, urban and rural areas differ in the availability of food offered intentionally and unintentionally to birds by humans. Both types of food availability are higher in urban areas. Our findings suggest that different types of bird feeder support only those species specialized for that particular food type and this relationship is similar in urban and rural areas. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11356-015-4723-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

The Institute for Building, Mechanization and Electrification in Agriculture (IBMER) after 60 years of its activity

Przedstawiono rolę i zadania IBMER w zakresie badania, wdrażania i upowszechniania postępu naukowo-technicznego w rolnictwie i w jego infrastrukturze. Opisano potencjał naukowy i możliwości badawcze oraz cele strategiczne Instytutu.Paper discussed the role and tasks of the Institute in the sphere of scientific and technical progress implementation and dissemination in agriculture and in rural infrastructure. Scientific potential, research possibilities as well as the strategic objects of the Institute were also presented

Kojce dla trzody chlewnej minimalizujące emisję amoniaku

Porównano trzy rozwiązania konstrukcyjne kojców dla tuczników, w których zastosowano jednoznaczny podział powierzchni kojców na strefy legowiskową, żywieniową oraz gnojową. Stosunek powierzchni poszczególnych stref w kojcach na 12 tuczników wynosił odpowiednio 57%, 17% i 26%, a w kojcach na 24 tuczniki 73%, 10%, 17% oraz w wersji zmodyfikowanej w trakcie badań 67%, 13%, i 20%. Uzyskane wielkości emisji amoniaku pozwalają rozwiązania dwóch rodzajów badanych kojców uznać za proekologiczne, ponieważ produkcja NH₃ w przeliczeniu na stanowisko do tuczu wynosiła poniżej 1,5 kg w ciągu 325 dniowego okresu wykorzystania stanowisk do tuczu.Three designs for fattener pens have been compared, in which the pen area was, clearly partitioned into resting, feeding and defecating zones. The area ratio of the zones in pens for 12 fatteners was 57%, 17%, and 26%, in those for 24 ones - 73%, 10% and 17%, and in pens modified pending the tests - 67%, 13% and 20% respectively. The values of ammonia emission obtained in two kinds of the pens point to their being pro-ecological, as production of HN₃ per a fattening stand within 325 days' period of the experiment was below 1,5 kg. Besides, the designs appeared to secure cleanliness of the animals and of the resting and feeding zones in the pens

The application of nanotechnology to the agricultural practice

Wszystkie funkcje tlenków katalitycznych z udziałem nanocząsteczek srebra (Ag) oraz fotokatalizatorów z nanocząsteczkami tytanu (TiO2) mogą znaleźć zastosowanie do sanitacji i dezodoryzacji budynków inwentarskich oraz zmniejszenia emisji gazów, głównie amoniaku (o około 50%) i podtlenku azotu (od 68 - 75%). Wymaga to zmian konstrukcji wielu elementów budynku w celu zwiększenia powierzchni styku „zagrożeń” z powłokami katalitycznymi. Nieznane ciągle są interakcje pomiędzy preparatami zawierającymi nanocząsteczki, a zwierzętami, owadami i drobnoustrojami, które przebywają w budynkach dla zwierząt oraz ich wpływ na produkty pochodzenia zwierzęcego, zwłaszcza mleko.All functions of catalytic oxides with portion of nanomolecules of silver (Ag) and photocatalysts with nanomolecules of titanium (TiO2) can be applied to sanitation and deodorization of livestock buildings as well as to decrease the emission of gases, especially ammonia (by about 50%) and nitrous oxide (by 68 - 75%). It requires some constrictive changes of many elements of the building in order to enlarge the surface of contact of "risks" with catalytic coats. The interactions between preparations containing nanomolecules and animals, insects and microorganisms which are present in buildings for animals are still unknown as well as their influence on the animal products, especially milk

Comparison of the properties of fatty acid methyl esters from various feedstocks

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki analizy porównawczej charakterystyki estrów metylowych z różnych surowców. W oparciu o dostępną wiedzę określono wpływ własności surowców na poszczególne parametry biodiesla. Analizowano właściwości fizykochemiczne surowców m.in. profil kwasów tłuszczowych, poziom wolnych kwasów tłuszczowych, wody, zanieczyszczeń itp. Ponadto porównano takie parametry jak: liczba cetanowa, temperatura zapłonu, mętnienia i blokady zimnego filtra oraz stabilność oksydacyjna otrzymywanych estrów, które są uzależnione od długości łańcuchów i poziomu nasycenia kwasów tłuszczowych.The aim of this work was the comparison of characteristics of fatty acid methyl esters from various feedstocks. Based on the available knowledge the influence of the various raw materials on biodiesel properties was determined. The physicochemical properties of raw materials such as fatty acid profile, the level of free fatty acids, water content, pollution, etc. was analyzed. Further, the parameters which depend on chain length and saturation level of fatty acids, such as cetane number, flash point, cloud point, cold filter plugging point and oxidative stability of esters were compared

Initial cooling of milked milk and reduction of carbon dioxide emission

Szukanie i dopracowywanie nowych metod prowadzących do redukcji emisji CO2 jest istotnym zadaniem w ramach zobowiązań Dyrektyw UE w zakresie ochrony środowiska. Produkcja energii w Polsce uzależniona jest głównie od spalania paliw kopalnych. Zmniejszenie zużycia energii elektrycznej lub zmniejszenie energochłonności niektórych procesów, zwłaszcza w produkcji zwierzęcej, poprzez zastosowanie systemów odzysku energii lub obniżenie jego zużycia, może prowadzić w dalszym etapie do redukcji emisji CO2. Celem badań jest wykazanie wpływu systemów wstępnego chłodzenia udojonego mleka i odzyskanego ciepła na obniżenie zużycia energii elektrycznej w trakcie głównego chłodzenia mleka w schładzalnikach. Wyniki przeprowadzonej analizy wskazują, że wdrożenie istniejących i przebadanych już systemów wstępnego schładzania mleka powodują zmniejszenie nakładów energetycznych o ok. 50% podczas schładzania mleka oraz emisji CO2 o ok. 0,02% w skali całej emisji dwutlenku węgla w Polsce w roku.Looking for and finishing up the new methods leading to reduction of emission of CO2 is the essential task in frames of obligations of UE Directives in range of protection of environment. The energy production in Poland mainly depends on burning the mineral fuels. The decrease the waste of electric energy or decrease energy consumption of some processes, especially in animal production, by using systems of salvage energy or lowering waste of energy, can lead to reduction of emission of CO2 . The aim of the study is to demonstrate the impact of pre-cooling systems of milked milk and recovered heat to reduce electricity consumption during the main cooling milk container. Analysis of the results of examination the existing installations and systems of preliminary cooling of milk showed already the decrease the energetistic expenditures about 50% during cooling process as well as the emission CO2 about 0,02 % in scale of whole emission of dioxide carbon in Poland per year