While many practitioners and experts understand the risks associated with low urban tree diversity, they often lack the ability to rectify issues they encounter on their own. The current system of tree production and procurement is complex – shaped by market pressures, nursery and site constraints, local governance, and differing professional objectives among those who grow, specify, and plant trees. To understand this complexity as well as constraints to- and opportunities for increasing urban tree diversity, we conducted a series of focus groups comprised of nursery growers, landscape architects, and urban foresters. Our results highlight a significant list of considerations and constraints to diversity (both shared among green industries and some specific to growers or purchasers). More importantly, in discussing our findings we outline actionable strategies for increasing urban tree diversity.

The experiment assessed the impact of the interaction of two care treatments on the growth and flowering of two varieties of Panicle Hydrangea bushes. The first treatment considered was plant pruning. The second simultaneous treatment was one of the three mentioned, root application of Trichoderma atroviride and BlackJak biostimulator and foliar application of a multi-component fertilizer. The strongest impact on improving the length of hydrangea shoots compared to the control (18%) had their simultaneous pruning and inoculation of the plants with Trichoderma atroviride mycelium. These two treatments used together also increased the number of flowers (16-47% depending on the variety) and the fresh weight of plants (10-28%) compared to the control. The application of T. atroviride alone improved the number of flowers in both varieties (19-24%) and the diameter of inflorescences in the 'Silver Dollar' one (17%). Foliar nutrition in particular increased the mass of plants, depending on the variety and pruning, from 7 to 57%, as well as the diameter and number of inflorescences, but only in one of the varieties considered. Combined with pruning, it intensified the growth of shoots of both varieties (5-10%). The use of the BlackJak biostimulator gave ambiguous results. When pruning plants, the length of shoots improved (15%) for one of the tested varieties and the fresh weight for the other (18%). Without pruning, it increased the number of flowers (16%) and the diameter of inflorescences (9%) in one of the varieties considered, as well as the fresh weight of plants in both varieties (19-21%). Pruning the plants, regardless of the other treatments used, increased the length of the shoots and the fresh mass of the plants. On the other hand, it reduced the number of flowers and their diameter. In most cases, positive effects of the use of biostimulants and foliar fertilization on improving the growth and flowering of plants were obtained. After their use in combination with plant pruning, an improvement in the growth of hydrangea bushes was observed, while the number and diameter of flowers were reduced. The most beneficial care treatments for the growth and flowering of panicle hydrangea were the simultaneous application of T. atroviride and pruning of plants during container cultivation in a nursery.

The black soldier larvae meal (BSFLM) has been the most extensively studied insect protein source in shrimp nutrition. However, both the availability and prices of BSFLM are still a constraint for its widespread use as an ingredient in animal feeds. The present study investigated the growth and economic performance of post-larval (PL) P. vannamei fed nursery diets with a progressive replacement of fish meal (FML) for BSFLM at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. These replacements corresponded to a dietary inclusion (% of the diet, as-is) of FML and BSFLM of 16.50 and 6.33%, 11.00 and 13.04%, 5.50 and 19.74%, and 0 and 26.46%, respectively. A total of 102,647 shrimp at the age of PL15 with 2.7 ± 0.2 mg body weight (BW) were stocked in fifty 1.5-m3 tanks under 1,369 PLs/m3 (2,053 ± 33 PLs/tank) and reared for 42 days. Final shrimp survival (90.5 ± 7.6%), daily weight gain (14.7 ± 1.1 mg/day), and apparent feed intake (0.67 ± 0.03 g of feed per stocked shrimp) were unaffected by dietary treatment. The highest gained yield (791 ± 52 and 776 ± 38 g/m3) and final BW (621 ± 7.2 and 632 ± 7.2 mg) were attained when FML was replaced for BSFLM at 50 and 75% with the lowest at 0% (726 ± 34 g/m3 and 598 ± 8.1 mg, respectively). Shrimp fed diets with 0 and 100% replacement of FML exhibited the highest feed conversion ratio (1.25 ± 0.04 and 1.24 ± 0.08) compared to those fed a diet with 50% (1.16 ± 0.06). At a price of USD 2.00/kg, BSFLM demonstrated a favorable ROI (Return of Investment) when compared to FML, irrespective of the replacement level. With 25 and 50% replacement, BSFLM remained cost-competitive up to 3.50 USD/kg. At 75% FML replacement, there were no significant differences in ROI with a price range of 2.00 up to 3.04 USD/kg. At full replacement, ROI dropped significantly at a BSFLM price of 2.50 USD/kg and beyond. It can be concluded that FML can be fully replaced for BSFLM in well-balanced nursery diets for P. vannamei. While the full replacement of FML for BSFLM was successfully accomplished, the competitive ROI was sustained only when the price of BSFLM did not exceed 3.04 USD/kg at its dietary highest inclusion of 19.74%. Further research may be necessary to fine-tune cost-effective inclusion levels of BSFLM to optimize the economic outcomes while considering the fluctuating prices of FML.

Many marine species use different habitats at different stages of their life cycle. Functional connectivity, the degree to which the seascape facilitates or impedes movement between habitat patches, is poorly studied in marine systems. We reviewed the scientific literature to explore the various barriers preventing functional connectivity between marine habitats and how the removal of these barriers may restore connectivity. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to investigate functional connectivity between life cycle habitats for a range of marine species. A total of 4,499 records were identified and screened, leaving 69 publications eligible for review. The results highlighted a range of distances between nursery and adult habitats that limited functional connectivity for a number of species, predominantly reef fishes. For some species, adults were absent on reefs >9km from the closest nursery habitat, suggesting a threshold for connectivity. Similarly, increased distance between spawning and settlement habitats decreased settling success of larvae of various taxa. Pelagic larval duration, seascape topography and climate change were also shown to impact functional connectivity during the larval phase. The removal and mitigation of barriers preventing functional connectivity, including dams and habitat fragmentation, restored connectivity between disconnected life cycle habitats, but the efficacy of these approaches differed between species and studies. The results of this review deepen our understanding of marine functional connectivity between life cycle habitats via larval, juvenile, and adult dispersal. These findings have implications for the design and management of marine reserve networks.

The purpose of the research was to obtain information about the necessity and efficiency of the application of localized irrigation to some qualitative indices of plum trees in the nursery, against the background of different fertilization treatments. The expected results to be obtained by applying differentiated rules of irrigation and fertilization will consist in obtaining a healthy, vigorous fruit tree planting material, increasing production in the nursery. With fruit trees in the nursery, as with all cultivated plants, the growth process depends to the greatest extent on the climate and soil conditions available to them. The use of fertilizers in tree culture becomes necessary to renew the reserve of nutrients consumed by plants or leached in depth, then to improve the physical condition, the chemical composition, and the overall state of fertilization of the soil. It is necessary to intervene every year, in several rounds, with fertilizations that ensure, on the one hand, the achievement of a certain level of production, and on the other hand, a certain level and ratio of nutritional elements by returning the amounts of elements easily accessible nutrients extracted with the harvest to be able to maintain, in this way, the fertility of the soil in accordance with the age of the plantation and the level of production. The two varieties of plum studied were Stanley and Cacanska Lepotica, two valuable varieties for the quality of the fruit. During the research, the fertilization treatments had the highest contribution (34.50 %) on the stem diameter, compared to irrigation (20.67 %) and respectively the variety (5.63 %), considering that the variety did not significantly influence the increase in diameter of the grafted trees.

The Chile-Peru subpopulation (CPe) of the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) is classified as critically endangered following intense whaling in past centuries. Due to their very low abundance, information on breeding and feeding grounds is also scarce. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly applied in marine mammal research thanks to their low cost and relative ease of use. This case study documents a southern right whale nursing in Bahía Moreno (23ºS), Antofagasta, northern Chile, through high-resolution images taken by UAV of a lone adult in July 2019 and the same (photo-identified) whale with a neonate in August, confirming local parturition. Combined with earlier data we hypothesize that the Antofagasta Region may be a calving and nursing ground for the CPe subpopulation. Given the intense shipping traffic and fishing activities around the Mejillones Peninsula and Antofagasta port, priorly recommended marine spatial planning to help avoid net entanglements and vessel collisions of fin and humpback whales would also contribute to the conservation of the CPe stock of southern right whale.

The research objectives was to determine the plants vegetation profile in forest revegetation and Mount Arjuna springs. The method used was descriptive method. While based on the techniques and tools used to research, the author uses the survey method to obtain facts that occur in the research area, namely in the area around the springs of Arjuna mount, Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia. Data obtained in the field are then processed and analyzed using GIS, ArcView 3.3 and Google Earth programs. The results of the study explain the profile of plant vegetation, namely plant stratification, bird wealth, taxonomic wealth and plant density have a significant effect on forest revegetation and springs in Arjuna mount. The forest vegetation profile has a positive and significant effect on the preservation of springs. The better the profile of forest vegetation, the preservation of springs will be better, and vice versa.

The basis of orchard production are rootstocks that reduce the vigor of sweet cherry trees. However, not all rootstocks for this species can be easily propagated using traditional methods by stooling or cutting. Some of these must be propagated using the in vitro culture method. This results in their high price and, consequently, the price of maiden sweet cherry trees. The experiment assessed the growth of maiden trees of selected sweet cherry varieties ('Bellise', 'Earlise', 'Lapins', 'Vanda') depending on the method of the semi-dwarf GiSelA 5 rootstock propagation. Additionally the intensity of life processes taking place in the obtained maiden trees was also examined. One type of this rootstock, obtained by cheaper method from softwood cuttings, was compared with the another propagated using the in vitro method. There were no significant differences in the percentage of maiden trees obtained in both types of rootstocks propagation method and in the two years of study. The efficiency of maiden trees varied little and ranged from 77.43% to 87.74% depending on the factors considered. The vigor of maiden trees growth in the first year of the study was stronger than in the second one. Only the diameter of maiden trees stem varied (from 7% to 39%), depending on the variety considered. With the exception of one variety, maiden trees produced on rootstock propagated from stem cuttings were characterized by a much larger diameter for the three varieties, ranging from 23% to 29% compare to in vitro. Also with this method of propagation, the rootstocks had a better developed root system and the maiden trees had a greater fresh mass. However, most often, no significant differences were found between the methods of propagation, only when comparing the years of research. The activity of life processes of maiden sweet cherry trees varied and no constant regularities were found. The only regularity observed was that maiden trees in the second year of the experiment were more often characterized by lower levels of the tested life parameters (Pn, E, C and Int.CO2), which was associated with worse growth results.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses to alter the way they operate. This includes, but may not be limited to, changing hours of operation, working with limited staff, and restricting customer access indoors. This could result in several challenges for businesses. In this study, we evaluate the impacts of COVID-19 on the horticultural industry and identify the challenges for businesses). Based on our research findings, the major challenges faced by businesses were not having enough employees and inventory to keep up with consumer demand during COVID-19. We also evaluate the effect of the pandemic on the sales of different plants, gardening products/services, and the overall revenues of businesses. For different types of plants included in the survey, landscape herbaceous flowers, landscape shrubs, and landscape trees showed the most significant increase in sales. In addition, for different gardening products/services, container plants, small plants, and soil & compost showed the most significant increase in sales. 64% of the businesses indicated higher overall sales compared to same season previous year. Over 46% of the businesses reported increased sales in 2020 under COVID-19. These findings imply a greater demand potential for plants and gardening products/services from consumers, in light of this pandemic.

This study attempted to explain the definition, objectives, and key stages in mud crab nursery activities. The nursery stages of Scylla spp was started from megalopa stage to several crablet instar stages or started from earlier crablet stage to several crablet stages. Direct stocking of megalopa into ponds is not recommended due to their sensitivity. Instead, nursery rearing is needed to produce mud crab of larger size before stocking. Individual nursery rearing results in higher survival rate (up to 100%), but with reduced growth rate, and a more complicated maintenance process compared with communal rearing. Nursery of mud crab can be done indoors, or outdoors, with adequate shelter and feed required to obtain good survival and growth performance. Artemia nauplii are the main, established nursery feed, particularly at megalopa stage, while survival rate may be improved if combined with artificial feed, such as micro bound diet formulations. Water quality parameters, identical to those proposed in tiger shrimp culture, can followed. Crablets may be transported to the pond location with, or without water. The provision of monosex seeds from mud crab hatcheries is expected to become more common, increasing seed price, and thus improving income of farmers. Numerous aspects of mud crab nursery, including nutrition, feeding strategies, understanding of their behaviour, i.e., cannibalism, control of environmental factors, and practical rearing techniques, still need further improvement.

We investigated the sleep-wake rhythm of nursery school children with the aim of supporting their health and balanced mental/physical development. We analyzed 4881 children from infant to 6 years of age, using 2-week sleep tables recorded by their guardians. The table contains sleep onset times, wake times, nighttime/daytime sleep duration, and the differences in these between weekdays and weekends. The total sleep decrement of children with age is due to a decrease in daytime sleep only, and nighttime sleep duration remains almost unchanged at about 10 hours, and is therefore called the nighttime basic sleep duration (NBSD). While sleep onset time stabilizes at around 9:30 pm by the age of 2, wake-up times to be before 7 am, resulted in weekdays sleep insufficiency. This lack of sleep is compensated by long naps on weekdays and by catching up sleep on weekends morning, which may be the background to future social-jet-lag. Guardians are encouraged to know their children's exact NBSD and set an ap-propriate bedtime to maintain it on weekdays, which prevent sleep dept and form a daily rhythm of waking up at the same time both on weekdays/weekends. These conditions are believed to maintain balance in mental/physical development and school-social-adaptation.

These studies address the challenge of post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in piglets, a common and costly health issue exacerbated by the recent European Union ban on therapeutic zinc oxide. The research evaluates whether spray-dried plasma (SDP), a sustainable and highly digestible protein source, can mitigate PWD without compromising piglet growth. Two concurrent studies were conducted on farms using either low-protein or normal-protein diets, with SDP included in varying phases of early piglet feeding. Diets with SDP improved growth rates and feed intake during critical post-weaning phases, particularly under normal protein levels and enhanced feed efficiency and reduced medication needs, indicating its potential to support piglet health while reducing dependency on pharmaceutical interventions. In conclusion, SDP in post-weaning diets helps balance growth and health, even when using low protein diets and offers a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional methods for managing PWD. This work highlights the role of SDP in promoting a circular economy by upcycling animal by-products and aligning with environmentally friendly farming practices.

The spatial and temporal variability in dietary preferences of juvenile three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus, was studied across typical coastal habitats of Keret Archipelago, Kandalaksha Bay, the White Sea. Sampling of fish using beach seine was implemented in late July-early August and in late August, and zooplankton samples were collected to make a quantitative evaluation of abundance of potential prey items. Similarity Percentage (SIMPER) analysis implemented over the data obtained from stomach content analysis revealed five planktonic taxa mostly contributing to the diet of juvenile sticklebacks, of which copepod Temora longicornis was the most important prey item at marine sites, while Acartia longiremis prevailed in diet of fishes in marine lagoon. Calculation of selectivity index demonstrated that some taxa (e.g., A. longiremis) were always avoided by juvenile fishes, others (e.g. Microsetella norvegica) were firstly avoided and then selected in late August. Calculation of selectivity index was implemented per sample and per individual fish indicated that taxa like T. longicornis and were selected during the whole period of study, fishes demonstrated pronounced individual variation in prey selectivity. In general, data on selectivity indicated that despite juvenile sticklebacks feed on mostly available prey items, they can demonstrate taxonomic and size-specific prey selectivity.