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Simultaneously enhancing ecosystem services provided by biodiversity below and above ground is recommended to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and mineral fertilisers in agriculture. However, consequences for crop yield have been poorly evaluated. Above ground, increased landscape complexity is assumed to enhance biological pest control, whereas below ground, soil organic carbon is a proxy
Soil organic matter (SOM) constitutes the largest terrestrial C pool. An emerging, untested, view is that oxidation and depolymerization of SOM by microorganisms promote the formation of SOM-mineral associations that is critical for SOM stabilization. To test this hypothesis, we performed laboratory-scale experiments involving one ectomycorrhizal and one saprotrophic fungus that represent the two
Boreal trees rely on their ectomycorrhizal fungal symbionts to acquire growth-limiting nutrients, such as nitrogen (N), which mainly occurs as proteins complexed in soil organic matter (SOM). The mechanisms for liberating this N are unclear as ectomycorrhizal fungi have lost many genes encoding lignocellulose-degrading enzymes present in their saprotrophic ancestors. We hypothesized that hydroxyl
Land-use changes, pollution and climate warming during the 20th century havecaused changes in biodiversity across the world. However, in many cases, the environmental drivers are poorly understood. To identify and rank the drivers currentlycausing broad-scale floristic changes in N Europe, we analysed data from two vascularplant surveys of 200 randomly selected 2.5 9 2.5 km grid-squares in Scania,
Since the 1960s, product designers, architects, lighting planners, gamers and scientific visualizaiton specialists have craved the ability to work in real-time three-dimensional photorealistic virtual worlds. The authors, one specializing in making computer graphics more convincing and the other focusing on making them faster, present the achievements and challenges in the race for real-time photo
The term 'synergy' - from the Greek synergia - means 'working together'. The concept of multiple elements working together towards a common goal has been extensively used in neuroscience to develop theoretical frameworks, experimental approaches, and analytical techniques to understand neural control of movement, and for applications for neuro-rehabilitation. In the past decade, roboticists have s
A description of general models for adsorption kinetics is given. Combinations of the models are compared with adsorption data for the self-associating proteins β-lactoglobulin A and B, from Elofssonet al.(U. M. Elofsson, M. A. Paulsson, and T. Arnebrant,Langmuir,submitted). The adsorption onto methylated silica surfaces was measured by these authors by ellipsometry in phosphate buffer (0.01M,pH 7
A common approach to the conservation of farmland biodiversity and the promotion of multifunctional landscapes, particularly in landscapes containing only small remnants of non-crop habitats, has been to maintain landscape heterogeneity and reduce land-use intensity. In contrast, it has recently been shown that devoting specific areas of non-crop habitats to conservation, segregated from high-yiel
Understanding the effects of different agricultural practices on the mycorrhizal symbiosis is important for agricultural production and the sustainable use of soil. We investigated the composition and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soils from fields under different agricultural practices (conventional and organic cereal fields, leys and permanent pastures) in southern Sweden. T
Predatory arthropods contribute to biological control, but to become an integral part of agricultural management, it is essential to identify drivers of their spatio-temporal distribution at the landscape scale. This study focuses on how agricultural land use affects the community composition, emergence and dispersal tendency of predatory arthropods. The arthropods were collected in emergence trap
Background and aims: Decomposition and transformation of organic matter (OM) in forest soils are conducted by the concomitant action of saprotrophic and mycorrhizal fungi. Here, we examine chemical changes in OM after fungal colonization in nitrogen fertilized and unfertilized soils from a Norway spruce forest. Methods: Sand-filled bags amended with composted maize leaves were placed in the forest
Ectomycorrhizal fungi are thought to have a key role in mobilizing organic nitrogen that is trapped in soil organic matter (SOM). However, the extent to which ectomycorrhizal fungi decompose SOM and the mechanism by which they do so remain unclear, considering that they have lost many genes encoding lignocellulose-degrading enzymes that are present in their saprotrophic ancestors. Spectroscopic an
Bioenergy derived from agricultural biomass has potential to phase out fossil energy sources while strengthening the bioeconomy. To estimate the agricultural sector's potential to meet the rising demand for renewable energy sources, it is crucial to understand what motivate farmers to sustainably increasing agricultural feedstock production. Through eight semi-structured interviews, and online
Execution time is an important issue in the field of numerical analysis. Simulations are getting more and more complex and the execution times are rapidly increasing. In the scope of this thesis a time integration library is used to solve initial value problems. The aim of the thesis is to implement and investigate two different approaches to decrease the execution time for the library. The main f
During evolution the human brain has increased drastically in size compared to that of other primates. However, little is known about primate brain development as it is difficult to study human and primate brains in the laboratory due to the scarcity of tissues. Yet, it is essential to study primate brains and understand the molecular features leading to the human brain’s unique cognitive function
The upcoming implementation of the ReFuelEU Aviation Initiative presents both challenges and opportunities for the European aviation sector. Starting January 2025, the EU’s aviation fuel mix must include at least 2% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), leading to higher operating costs for airlines due to SAF’s higher price than fossil kerosene. Additionally, the entire fuel supply chain will need to
Identifying field management practices to promote crop production, while conserving soil health is essential to maintain long-term food production in a changing world. Also, providing experimental evidence to support the use of traditional agricultural practices is necessary to secure sustainable agriculture. Here, we conducted a long-term 12-year experiment to investigate the impact of different
