161. Influence of the calcination duration of ▫$g-C_3N_4/TiO_2$▫ veggie-toast-like photocatalyst on the visible-light triggered photocatalytic oxidation of bisphenol AMatevž Roškarič, Gregor Žerjav, Matjaž Finšgar, Janez Zavašnik, Albin Pintar, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Two commercially available TiO2 (hexagonal-like and spherical-like particles) were used to investigate the effect of g-C3N4 “melting” on the photocatalytic properties of g-C3N4/TiO2 composites. Improvement in the contact between the components was observed when they were thermally treated at 350 °C for an extended period of time (between 2 and 72 h) due to the partial melting and phase fusion of g-C3N4. Consequently, the enhanced contact between the phases allows easier injection of photogenerated electrons from the conduction band of g-C3N4 into TiO2, improving charge carrier separation. The prepared composites were tested for bisphenol A degradation under visible-light illumination, which showed that the components that had been calcined for 24 h performed better due to the improved charge carrier separation. Superoxide anionic radicals and photogenerated holes were identified as active species in the photooxidation experiments conducted under visible-light illumination. Keywords: titanium dioxide, photocatalyst, calcination time, photocatalysis under visible-light illumination, water remediation, bisphenol A Published in DiRROS: 17.03.2023; Views: 594; Downloads: 284 Full text (3,13 MB) This document has many files! More... |
162. Correlations between the catalyst properties and catalytic activity of Au on ▫$ZrO_2-CeO_2$▫ in the hydrogenation of ▫$CO_2$▫Hue-Tong Vu, Matjaž Finšgar, Janez Zavašnik, Nataša Novak Tušar, Albin Pintar, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: ▫$CO_2$▫ utilization, gold, mixed oxides, amorphous ▫$ZrO_2$▫, methanol synthesis Published in DiRROS: 16.03.2023; Views: 480; Downloads: 312 Full text (4,13 MB) This document has many files! More... |
163. Are ecological niche optimum and width of forest plant species related to their functional traits?Janez Kermavnar, Lado Kutnar, Aleksander Marinšek, Valerija Babij, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: The ecological niche is one of the central concepts in plant ecology. Understanding which biological traits influence plant niches remains limited, preventing large-scale generalizations. Using a representative pool of 94 herb-layer species frequently occurring in the Slovenian forest vegetation types and an extensive suite of 28 plant functional traits, we tested whether traits serve as predictors for the optimum and width of plant species ecological niche. Niche optimum (mean) and niche width (standard deviation) of each species were derived from community-level ecological indicator values for six environmental gradients, i.e., light, temperature, continentality, moisture, soil reaction and nutrients. We investigated relationships between niche parameters and functional traits through a random forest analysis to account for relatively high trait correlations. Our results suggest that niche optimum and width of forest plant species are related to their functional traits. The two niche parameters were best explained by similar set of traits; however, the relative importance of traits differed substantially. Traits associated with disturbances (frequency and severity), plant dispersal (seed mass, dispersal syndrome), leaf economics spectrum (specific leaf area) and life strategy (CSR scores) showed the highest overall significance in predicting niche optimum and width. Functional traits were, on average, better predictors for niche optimum (average variance explained across all six environmental factors: 20.2%) than for niche width (average variance explained: 7.7%). Intraspecific trait variability, not considered in this study, likely plays an important role in case of niche width. The analyses suggest that, while not all traits impact niche parameters to the same degree, it is crucial to consider traits representing different ecological dimensions and revealing leading patterns of trait coordination. We recommend that the relative importance of traits for species niche parameters should be tested on a larger spatial scale using broader pool of forest understory plants across Europe. Keywords: ecological gradients, Ellenberg indicator values, Slovenian forest types, trait-environment relationship, understory plants Published in DiRROS: 09.03.2023; Views: 509; Downloads: 287 Full text (2,37 MB) This document has many files! More... |
164. G-quadruplex binding of an NIR emitting osmium polypyridyl probe revealed by solution NMR and time-resolved infrared studiesKateřina Peterková, Mark Stitch, Rayhaan Z. Boota, Paul A. Scattergood, Paul Elliott, Michael Towrie, Peter Podbevšek, Janez Plavec, Susan J. Quinn, 2023, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 06.03.2023; Views: 369; Downloads: 222 Full text (1,73 MB) This document has many files! More... |
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166. Podlaga za izdelavo usmeritev pri gospodarjenju z navadno smreko v SlovenijiLuka Krajnc, Mitja Skudnik, Tom Levanič, Matjaž Čater, Aleksander Marinšek, Janez Zafran, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: V prispevku predstavimo podlago za izdelavo usmeritev pri gospodarjenju z navadno smreko v Sloveniji. Izvedli smo več ločenih analiz z istim ciljem: pripraviti strokovno utemeljene in s podatki podprte usmeritve za gospodarjenje z navadno smreko v Sloveniji v prihodnjih desetletjih. Tako smo v tem prispevku združili rezultate meritev nacionalne gozdne inventure, analizo priraščanja smreke, analize vrstne pestrosti ter pregled osnutkov načrtov za gozdnogospodarska območja. Namen tega prispevka je predstavitev rezultatov štirih ločenih sklopov analiz podatkov, ki so predstavljali osnovo za izdelavo usmeritev pri gospodarjenju z navadno smreko, objavljenih v naslednjem prispevku. Keywords: navadna smreka, podnebne spremembe, gospodarjenje Published in DiRROS: 20.02.2023; Views: 614; Downloads: 193 Full text (1,42 MB) |
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170. Assessing the heterogeneity and conservation status of the Natura 2000 priority forest habitat type Tilio–Acerion (9180*) based on field mappingJanez Kermavnar, Erika Kozamernik, Lado Kutnar, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Priority habitat types (HTs) within the Natura 2000 network are of the highest importance for conservation in Europe. However, they often occur in smaller areas and their conservation status is not well understood. One such HT is that of the Tilio–Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines (9180*). The Natura 2000 study site, Boč–Haloze–Donačka gora, in the Sub-Pannonian region of eastern Slovenia is characterized by a matrix of European beech forests and includes rather small, fragmented areas covered by Tilio–Acerion forests. The goal of this research was to examine the heterogeneity and conservation status of the selected HT through field mapping, which was performed in the summer of 2020. As the conservation of HT calls for a more detailed approach, we distinguished between the following four pre-defined habitat subtypes: (i) Acer pseudoplatanus-Ulmus glabra stands growing mostly in concave terrain, (ii) Fraxinus excelsior stands growing on slopes, (iii) Tilia sp. stands with thermophilous broadleaves occurring on ridges and slopes, (iv) Acer pseudoplatanus stands occurring on more acidic soils with an admixture of Castanea sativa. Field mapping information was complemented with the assessment of habitat subtype characteristics using remote sensing data. The results showed that habitat subtypes differed significantly in terms of area, tree species composition, forest stand characteristics, relief features and the various threats they experienced (e.g., fragmentation, tree mortality, ungulate browsing pressure). The differences between subtypes were also evident for LiDAR-derived environmental factors related to topography (i.e., terrain steepness and Topographic Position Index). This study provides a baseline for setting more realistic objectives for the conservation management of priority forest HTs. Due to the specificities of each individual habitat subtype, conservation activities should be targeted to the Natura 2000 habitat subtype level. Keywords: forest habitat subtype, monitoring, biodiversity conservation, LiDAR, Slovenia, NATURA 2000 Published in DiRROS: 03.02.2023; Views: 1007; Downloads: 279 Full text (9,53 MB) This document has many files! More... |