Catch-neuter-vaccinate-release (CNVR) programmes for free-roaming dogs (FRD) are humane and effective in controlling dog populations in developing countries. However, each component, from capture to release, can impact an individual animal’s welfare. This study aimed to develop a standardised welfare assessment scoring system for evaluating the welfare of dogs undergoing routine CNVR procedures at a veterinary training facility in Goa, India and to assess the impact of a targeted staff training intervention by comparing welfare assessment scores before and after its implementation. A score-based protocol was designed, incorporating 22 animal-, resource-, and management-based parameters covering six key steps of the CNVR procedure: catching/transport; cage/holding area; pre-operative period; surgery; post-operative period; and release. Eighty-two dogs were assessed initially. Areas for improvement were identified and informed the design of a targeted staff training intervention involving theory-based lectures and interactive sessions. Knowledge was assessed before and after receiving the intervention, with total scores on the assessment improving. The welfare assessment was repeated on another 81 dogs. Total welfare scores for individual dogs improved significantly after the staff intervention compared with before. This study demonstrates that a welfare assessment tool can be used to assess the welfare of individual dogs in a busy CNVR programme; furthermore, it can inform the compilation and delivery of a targeted staff training intervention and demonstrate improvements in dog welfare after such an intervention.

Seabirds are excellent ecosystem indicators and are amongst the most threatened taxa globally. Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles, supports significant breeding colonies of seabirds, especially red-footed boobies Sula sula. The population was surveyed by boat during 1968–1969 and in 2000, over which period the population grew from c. 6,500 to 10,000 breeding pairs. In 2022–2023, we monitored five subcolonies across Aldabra to determine breeding phenology and breeding success. In August 2022 and February 2023, we surveyed the atoll-wide population using the boat-based survey methodology followed in earlier studies. We also carried out unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys in February 2023 to compare the results with the boat-based counts and to quantify inland colonies undetectable by boat. Boat surveys revealed that Aldabra’s red-footed booby population had grown to 36,720 pairs by 2023, an increase that is intrinsically possible based on our population model but only if the much lower count in 2000 was an underestimate. The UAV and boat counts were closely aligned in our study, and aerial images captured a similar number of nests to boat surveys for shoreline colonies. However, UAV surveys revealed several undocumented inland colonies. An additional 5,574 inland breeding pairs of red-footed boobies were counted from images captured inland during aerial surveys in the 2023 wet season, bringing the atoll-wide population to at least 45,817 pairs. We recommend UAVs for surveys of large, conspicuous seabird species at low-lying mangrove colonies. Our study highlights the global importance of Aldabra as the most significant red-footed booby colony in the Indian Ocean and possibly the world.

In 1988, meteorological measurements started at the Spanish research station Juan Carlos I (JCI) on Livingston Island. A second station - Gabriel de Castilla (GdC) - was installed in 2005 on Deception Island. These long-term measurements improved our climatological understanding of the western region of the South Shetland Islands (SSI), a region that has received less attention than the more station-populated King George Island in the central SSI. Here, we present a complete climatological analysis of these stations after undertaking a full quality control process of the data. This analysis covers temperature, wind, precipitation, radiation, relative humidity and pressure, as well as trends and variability. The results show: 1) the stations along the western SSI coastline, particularly JCI, are warmer than those on the central SSI, especially in summer, 2) at GdC, winters are colder due to stagnant cold air pooling within the Deception Island caldera, 3) the importance of island orography in shaping local climatology, especially regarding wind patterns, and 4) the critical need to correct precipitation measurements for undercatchment of solid precipitation by common pluviometers. This study provides a climatological framework to support further research conducted in the region.

Cover crops (CC) play a critical role in developing and maintaining agroecosystem resiliency. However, current research indicates an inconsistent effect of CC on soil health indicators and the relationship of soil health with crop yield and quality parameters. Hence, a long-term CC experiment established in 2007 at Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada was used to evaluate the CC effects on soil health indicators (56 indicators collected from 0 to 15 cm depth) and tomato fruit marketable yield and quality in 2019. To determine the association of soil functionality with tomato fruit yield and quality (i.e., plant compounds associated with human health), soil health indicator(s) were grouped into six critical soil functions. The CC treatments used to assess the soil health indicators and associated soil functions were winter cereal rye, radish, a mixture of radish and rye (radish + rye), and a no cover crop control (no-CC). Cover crops significantly enhanced 22 indicators by 2–35% than the no-CC treatment with the majority associated with nutrient supply. Fruit yield was greater with long-term cover crop, but there was no evidence that CC adoption would influence phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities of processing tomato. Among the tested CCs, greater values for most of the soil health indicators were observed for radish + rye ≥ radish > rye. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated a clear separation of no-CC plots from the long-term CC species for the soil functions of erosion control, nutrient supply, and climate regulation; thus, confirming the implications of long-term CCing on increasing soil functioning and building resilient production systems.

This short report provides the first observations of deep-sea corals belonging to the class Octocorallia and order Antipatharia surveyed during the KM24-03 Leg 2 cruise in the waters around Minamidaito and Kitadaito Islands in Okinawa, Japan between approximately 200 and 1,000 m. It also lists and illustrates the specimens that were collected. Based on field observations, deep-sea corals occupied the niches inside and around caves and crevices, as well as non-cave environments such as flat seabeds and slopes. Our morphological and phylogenetic analyses of the collected specimens revealed the presence of Callogorgia cf. korema, Pleurocorallium inutile, and Acanthopathes undulata. We provide the first documentation of deep-sea corals found in this area, as well as extend the known geographic distribution of these species. In particular, the black coral A. undulata, which until now has only been reported from the western and central Pacific Ocean, is reported for the first time in the northwestern Pacific. Our preliminary findings warrant further investigation and more stringent protection of the deep-sea species and habitats found in the waters around these karstic islands from anthropogenic impacts, perhaps with inclusion in regional Marine Protected Areas.

This study evaluated the effect of sweet whey fermented by Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus NCFB 2772, an exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing lactic acid bacterium (LAB), on the yield and quality of Requeson, a traditional Mexican fresh cheese, further supplemented with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei 431. Fermentation of the whey at 42°C for 48 hours resulted in the production of 1.126 ± 0.12 mgeq dextran/mL of EPS. The incorporation of this EPS-rich whey led to a marked (∼230%) increase in cheese yield and significantly enhanced textural properties, including greater hardness, cohesiveness and elasticity. Furthermore, L. casei 431 maintained viability above 107 cfu/g throughout 21 days of refrigerated storage (4°C), with no detectable microbial contamination. Although formulations containing EPS were slightly preferred in sensory evaluations, they exhibited improved stability and retained overall acceptable sensory quality. These results highlight the potential of EPS-producing LAB and probiotics to improve the technological, nutritional and functional attributes of fresh cheese, while contributing to the valorisation of dairy by-products.

To address the complexity and excessive reliance on expert experience in tuning fuzzy Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller parameters, this study proposes a variable-rate spraying control system that integrates an improved Beetle Antennae Search (IBAS) algorithm with fuzzy PID control. To evaluate the feasibility of the system, a mathematical transfer function of the variable-rate spraying system was constructed, and a flow control simulation platform was established for simulation analysis. To overcome the limitations of conventional BAS, which is prone to premature convergence and limited search precision, the IBAS algorithm was developed. The improvements include a hybrid disturbance strategy to enhance individual search capability and a simulated annealing mechanism to prevent the algorithm from being trapped in local optima. Using the IBAS algorithm, the proportional and quantization factors of the fuzzy PID controller were optimized offline to obtain the optimal parameters. The IBAS-fuzzy PID controller was then compared in simulation with conventional PID, fuzzy PID, and BAS-optimized fuzzy PID controllers. The simulation results demonstrated that the IBAS-fuzzy PID algorithm achieved higher flow control accuracy than existing methods. To further validate the effectiveness of the improved algorithm under practical conditions, field experiments were conducted. The results indicated that the IBAS-optimized fuzzy PID controller outperformed the three other control methods in terms of flow control accuracy. Overall, both simulation and field results confirm that the proposed IBAS algorithm for fuzzy PID parameter optimization significantly enhances response speed, control precision, and overshoot reduction, providing a novel approach and potential application for variable-rate spraying technology.

Diflufenican is a selective phenyl ether, Group 12 herbicide. There is limited information on the weed control efficacy of diflufenican and the potential improvement in weed control when co-applied with isoxaflutole. Three field studies were conducted in Ontario to evaluate isoxaflutole, diflufenican, and their combinations applied preemergence (PRE) for weed control in corn. Isoxaflutole at 52.5, 79, and 105 g ai ha⁻¹ provided effective control of velvetleaf (83-89%, 91-98%, and 92-97%), green pigweed (73-85%, 85-91%, and 94-97%), common ragweed (81-86%, 93-97%, and 95-97%), and common lambsquarters (88-89%, 96-99%, and 98-100%) evaluated at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after treatment (WAT), respectively. Diflufenican alone at 75-150 g ai ha⁻¹ provided ≤3% control of velvetleaf, ≤38% of green pigweed, ≤7% of common ragweed, and ≤20% of common lambsquarters. Isoxaflutole + diflufenican mixtures generally provided similar control to isoxaflutole applied alone. For barnyardgrass, isoxaflutole alone provided 16-75% control, while diflufenican was ineffective (<3%). The co-application of isoxaflutole + diflufenican improved control to 34-86%, with synergistic effects observed with barnyardgrass control at several rates and timings. Isoxaflutole and diflufenican, applied alone, controlled green foxtail at 15-72% and 0-12%, respectively. The co-application of isoxaflutole + diflufenican improved green foxtail control to 25-89% with synergistic responses at some rates and evaluation timings. There was minimal corn injury with the treatments evaluated. Weed interference reduced corn yield up to 69%. Weed interference with diflufenican alone resulted in corn yields of 4.57-4.75 T ha⁻¹ which were similar to the nontreated control (3.33 T ha⁻¹). Reduced weed interference with isoxaflutole alone and in mixtures with diflufenican resulted in corn yields of 8.36-10.83 T ha⁻¹ which were higher than both the nontreated control and diflufenican treatments. Overall, isoxaflutole provided consistent broadleaf weed control, while synergistic interactions with diflufenican enhanced barnyardgrass and green foxtail suppression.

Host specificity in symbionts is a key factor driving their phylogenetic diversification. However, since the host utilization of symbionts can be influenced by environmental heterogeneity and the presence of potential hosts, a careful evaluation is necessary to clearly determine the host specificity. Stylochoplana parasitica is an acotylean flatworm that inhabits the mantle groove of the intertidal chiton Liolophura japonica around Japan. The Stylochoplana flatworms, including this species, are suggested to have evolved host specificity that has influenced their phylogenetic divergence. In this study, host specificity was examined based on field and laboratory observations. A field survey revealed that S. parasitica was exclusively found on L. japonica and not on the sympatric chiton Acanthochitona defilippii. A laboratory experiment confirmed that S. parasitica selectively attached to L. japonica, with significantly fewer individuals attaching to A. defilippii. These results suggest that the host specificity of S. parasitica is not shaped by environmental factors, but is likely the result of host adaptation. This study emphasizes the importance of combining field surveys and laboratory experiments in evaluating host specificity.

We analysed the composition, richness, diversity, abundance, and spatial and seasonal structure of zooplankton microcrustaceans (Cladocera and Copepoda) in a marginal lake of the Paranapanema River to assess how these organisms are affected by the expansion of macrophyte cover during the dry season. The community was monitored through quarterly collections, during the dry and rainy seasons, at nine sampling stations. We expected that (1) microcrustacean richness is higher during the rainy season due to the expansion of aquatic habitats and (2) the presence of macrophytes increases the richness and abundance of microcrustaceans by providing shelter and greater environmental stability. During the study, 31 microcrustacean taxa were recorded, displaying a clear seasonal distribution pattern. A clear seasonal distribution pattern was observed. Cladocera richness was highest during the dry season, which coincided with extensive macrophyte cover. In contrast, Copepoda abundance peaked during the rainy season, when macrophytes were absent. Macrophyte presence influenced abundance and diversity, with distinct taxonomic responses between the groups. The results suggest that seasonality and habitat heterogeneity are key factors in structuring the community in tropical lakes. These findings indicate that macrophytes play an important role in modulating the microcrustacean community, affecting structure, dynamics of abundance, and diversity. The interaction between seasonality and emergent aquatic vegetation is crucial for understanding the dynamics of marginal aquatic systems.

The retreat of the Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet since the Last Glacial Maximum provides key insights into ice-sheet dynamics, climate interactions and sea-level fluctuations. Terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) dating of glacial deposits on the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) offers valuable temporal and spatial information regarding this retreat. However, many erratic deposits are found near the present sea level on the WAP archipelagos, limiting the applicability of TCN dating. This is because some of these deposits were previously submerged and later emerged due to ongoing post-glacial isostatic uplift and global sea-level rise. Here, for the first time on the Antarctic Peninsula, we present TCN dating results for emerged erratic boulders and bedrock samples located below the post-glacial marine limit of the WAP. Samples were collected from three islands along a latitudinal range from 64°S to 68°S: Nansen Island in Wilhelmina Bay (n = 4), Galindez Island in the Argentine Islands-Kyiv Peninsula region (n = 5) and Horseshoe Island on the northern coast of Marguerite Bay (n = 1). Our study indicates that nearshore boulder emergence occurred sometime between 1.4 ± 0.3 and 3.8 ± 0.3 ka ago on the WAP. The bedrock samples on Galindez Island provide somewhat older ages (17.9 ± 2.8 and 11.8 ± 1.9 ka), indicating the earliest emergence following deglaciation of the WAP. We discuss the challenges associated with sampling emerged erratic boulders along the Antarctic Peninsula shorelines and propose methods for overcoming these complications.

Species of the genus Rauschiella are trematodes of frogs and snakes in the Americas. The taxonomy of the group is complex, and most of the 18 currently valid species are known only from the original description. Moreover, genetic data are available only for two North American species (Rauschiella tineri and Rauschiella poncedeleoni). In this context, integrative taxonomy studies are necessary for Rauschiella spp. found in South America. Herein, during a long-term herpetological and helminthological study conducted in Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, between 2016 and 2019, 296 anurans from 17 species were necropsied. A plagiorchioid trematode found in the intestine of 7/12 Leptodactylus macrosternum, 10/106 Leptodactylus podicipinus, and 13/20 Pseudis platensis was subject to morphological and molecular characterisation. Samples of the trematodes were studied by optical and scanning electron microscopies and identified as Rauschiella proxima (Freitas, 1941), here reported in new anuran hosts and geographical area. Sequences of the nuclear gene 28S rDNA (1148 bp) were generated and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Our isolates of R. proxima from Brazil grouped in a well-supported clade with R. poncedeleoni and R. tineri, and genetic divergences to these species were low (0.45% and 0.54%, respectively), supporting the congeneric status among them. However, the addition of a South American representative of Rauschiella and the construction of more comprehensive phylogenetic analyses, including 78 plagiorchioid species from 15 families, did not result in advances concerning the familial level of classification of this genus, which remains as incertae sedis in the superfamily Plagiorchoidea.

Food wastes are thought to be a substantial source of bioactive components with many functions and varying biological activities, therefore, numerous studies have been conducted on the use of these wastes to maximize their benefits. Nano-materials have been demonstrated that have higher bioavailability, functionality and effectiveness in the food systems. This study was conducted to determine how the nutritional value and quality characteristics of ice cream would be affected by the use of nano-powders made from apricot (Prunus sp.) and peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) kernels, watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) rind and banana (Musa spp.) peel as functional additives (1%).

The tested nano-waste powders significantly (P < 0.05) increased the total solids, protein, fat and ash contents distinctly with apricot kernels (AK) and peach kernels (PK). The physiochemical properties of ice cream mix and the final product were also affected with a significant increase of viscosity and overrun. Watermelon rind (WMR) and banana peel (BP) boosted the total phenolic content and diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity (%) as compared to the control and other wastes. The added nano-waste powders, except for BP, enhanced the meltability, microstructure properties and improved the sensory attributes of the resultant ice cream during 30 days of storage compared to control. The study recommends utilization of the tested nano fruit wastes as value added components to create innovative and higher-quality ice cream.

The goal of this study was to assess starch degradability, protein fractionation and fermentation profile of wet brewers grain (WBG) ensiled with maize or sorghum grains. Two treatments were prepared: maize + WBG, maize rehydrated with WBG; and sorghum + WBG, sorghum rehydrated with WBG, with 10 replications per treatment, adjusted to 55% dry matter (DM). Data were analysed in a completely randomised design using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Losses and pH were lower in maize + WBG; however, it also presented higher lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, moulds and lactic acid (P < 0.001). Acetic acid did not differ, but propionic acid was lower in maize + WBG. The DM and EE were higher in maize + WBG, whereas ash, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and crude protein were lower in this treatment. Starch concentration was similar, however with higher degradability in maize + WBG. The A1, A2 and C protein fractions were higher for maize + WBG, while B1 and B2 were lower. Overall, WBG ensiled with maize showed higher A1 (ammonia) and A2 (soluble protein) protein fractions and higher starch degradability compared with sorghum silages rehydrated with WBG.

For many invasive plants, seed dormancy and persistence facilitate population expansion. These traits also complicate control efforts, as new seedlings may continue to emerge for years after the removal of existing plants. The maximum longevity of invasive plant seeds may range from years to decades. However, few seeds emerge after such a long time under field conditions. We conducted a field experiment testing the impact of seed burial depth on emergence of meadow knapweed (Centaurea × moncktonii C.E. Britton) and spotted knapweed [Centaurea stoebe L. ssp. micranthos (Gugler) Hayek] over 3 yr. For C. × moncktonii, emergence (raw data corrected for seed viability) was 57% at 0 cm, 28% at 2 cm, 3% at 4 cm, and 0% at 8 cm. For C. stoebe, emergence was 84% at 0 cm, 11% at 2 cm, 4% at 4 cm, and 0% at 8 cm. The primary flush of seedlings, averaged over Centaurea species and burial depths, occurred during the first few months of the study in fall 2018. Little emergence occurred after spring/summer 2019, although the study continued through spring/summer 2021. Our findings clarify the maximum burial depth from which these Centaurea species can emerge and demonstrate that emergence is concentrated in the first year after seed production.