1. Three decades of understorey vegetation change in Quercus-dominated forests as a result of increasing canopy mortality and global change symptomsJanez Kermavnar, Lado Kutnar, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: Questions The long-term response of understorey vegetation to increasing tree mortality has rarely been addressed in resurvey studies. For two Quercus-dominated forest types, we asked: (a) How did overstorey alterations, induced by canopy mortality, affect understorey diversity and composition? (b) Is there a signal of global change effects on understorey communities? (c) Are these assemblages experiencing a homogenization process? Location Five sites in Quercus robur (QR) and four sites in Q. petraea (QP) forests, Slovenia. Methods We studied changes in vascular plants in the understorey layer from 1992/1993 to 2023 across 45 permanent 20 m × 20 m plots in QR and QP forests, respectively. Vegetation surveys were carried out following the standard Braun-Blanquet method. We compared original surveys with recent resurveys using multivariate analysis, ecological indicator values (EIV), plant traits and methods that quantify changes in individual species. Results Since the early 1990s, tree layer cover decreased from 95% to an average of 55% in QR, whereas it remained relatively high (77%) in QP plots. This resulted in denser understorey vegetation and a significant increase in plot-level species richness in QR forests, but a slight decrease in QP forests. The extensive loss of canopy cover and disturbance effects in QR forests caused significant changes in species composition. Species turnover in QR was driven by colonization of new disturbance-tolerant taxa characterized by ruderal traits, whereas the compositional shift in QP was to a greater extent due to species losses. We detected a process of vegetation thermophilization (increase in EIV-temperature), suggesting an effect of rapid climatic warming. Understorey communities are now more similar to each other than 30 years ago, indicating a decrease in beta-diversity (floristic homogenization). Conclusions Despite some common trends, vegetation responses were forest type-specific. Our study presents evidence of understorey vegetation changes triggered by increased canopy mortality (a strong local driver particularly in QR plots) and also points to the signal of global change symptoms (thermophilization, homogenization), which acted rather independently from the observed decline in tree layer cover. Ključne besede: floristic homogenization, forest disturbances, permanent vegetation plots, Quercus robur, Quercus petraea, resurvey study, Slovenia, thermophilization, tree layer cover Objavljeno v DiRROS: 11.11.2024; Ogledov: 183; Prenosov: 205 Celotno besedilo (18,09 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
2. LAMP assay and rapid sample preparation method for on-site detection of flavescence dorée phytoplasma in grapevinePolona Kogovšek, Jennifer Hodgetts, J. Hall, Nina Prezelj, Petra Nikolić, Nataša Mehle, Rok Lenarčič, Ana Rotter, M. Dickinson, Neil Boonham, Marina Dermastia, Maja Ravnikar, 2015, izvirni znanstveni članek Povzetek: In Europe the most devastating phytoplasma associated with grapevine yellows (GY) diseases is a quarantine pest, flavescence dorée (FDp), from the 16SrV taxonomic group. The on-site detection of FDp with an affordable device would contribute to faster and more efficient decisions on the control measures for FDp. Therefore, a real-time isothermal LAMP assay for detection of FDp was validated according to the EPPO standards and MIQE guidelines. The LAMP assay was shown to be specific and extremely sensitive, because it detected FDp in all leaf samples that were determined to be FDp infected using quantitative real-time PCR. The whole procedure of sample preparation and testing was designed and optimized for on-site detection and can be completed in one hour. The homogenization procedure of the grapevine samples (leaf vein, flower or berry) was optimized to allow direct testing of crude homogenates with the LAMP assay, without the need for DNA extraction, and was shown to be extremely sensitive. Ključne besede: flavescence dorée, homogenization, loop-mediated isothermal amplification, on-site application, validation Objavljeno v DiRROS: 26.07.2024; Ogledov: 386; Prenosov: 293 Celotno besedilo (483,90 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
3. Fibre reinforced alkali-activated rock woolMajda Pavlin, Barbara Horvat, Vilma Ducman, 2022, objavljeni znanstveni prispevek na konferenci Povzetek: Mineral wool, i.e. rock and glass wool, represents considerable challenge after its functional-time runs out due to its small density leading to large volume consumption during transport and in landfills where it usually ends. Because rock wool is mineralogically and chemically a promising precursor material for alkali-activation, it was milled from few centimetres-decimeters long fibres to micron-sized fibres. Since fibres in alkali-activated materials generally show an increase in mechanical strength, especially the bending strength, 1 m% of additional fibres (basalt, cellulose (2 types), glass, polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol and steel fibres) was used in the alkali mixture, that was curred at 40 °C for 3 days. Time dependence of the mechanical strengths of alkali- activated materials with and without additional fibres was followed. Maximal increase of compressive and bending strength after 28 days was reached with polypropylene fibres, i.e. it was 20% and 30% higher than compressive and bending strength of alkali- activated material without additional fibres respectively. Ključne besede: secondary raw material, alkali activated material, foaming, homogenization, mechanical strength Objavljeno v DiRROS: 21.12.2023; Ogledov: 638; Prenosov: 269 Celotno besedilo (8,39 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
4. Influence of homogenization of alkali-activated slurry on mechanical strengthBarbara Horvat, Mark Češnovar, Katja Traven, Majda Pavlin, Katja Koenig, Vilma Ducman, 2022, objavljeni znanstveni prispevek na konferenci Povzetek: Alkali-activated materials are promising materials for the construction industry due to the accessibility of the precursors, which are mainly secondary industrial by-products, and their cost- effective and energy-efficient production. Although these materials are not new, some of the parameters in the technological process are not yet fully understood and tested. Therefore, in this paper in the means of mechanical strength, the preparation of alkali-activated pastes by using a three-roll mill homogenization method is discussed. The influence of homogenization of alkali- activated slurry has been evaluated on different waste materials (fly ash, fly ash with metakaolin, slag mixture (electric arc furnace slag and ladle slag), glass wool, waste green ceramics), which are treated with different alkali activators (NaOH, commercial sodium silicate solution, laboratory-produced alkali activators based on waste cathode- ray tube glass) with different curing regimes (60 °C and 70 °C) and different drying methods (drying at room temperature, drying at 105 °C). The viscosity of the slurry before homogenization was higher than after homogenization, the distribution of elements was more uniform and the compressive strength higher in all homogenized alkali activated materials, regardless of other parameters. Ključne besede: secondary raw material, alkali activated material, foaming, homogenization, mechanical strength Objavljeno v DiRROS: 21.12.2023; Ogledov: 599; Prenosov: 256 Celotno besedilo (15,82 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |