Moussab/ORKG-training-evaluation-set huggingface dataset:
Research field: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Title: Phenotypic plasticity of an invasive acacia versus two native Mediterranean species
Abstract: <jats:p>

The phenotypic plasticity and the competitive ability of the invasive Acacia longifolia v. the indigenous Mediterranean dune species Halimium halimifolium and Pinus pinea were evaluated. In particular, we explored the hypothesis that phenotypic plasticity in response to biotic and abiotic factors explains the observed differences in competitiveness between invasive and native species. The seedlings’ ability to exploit different resource availabilities was examined in a two factorial experimental design of light and nutrient treatments by analysing 20 physiological and morphological traits. Competitiveness was tested using an additive experimental design in combination with 15N-labelling experiments. Light and nutrient availability had only minor effects on most physiological traits and differences between species were not significant. Plasticity in response to changes in resource availability occurred in morphological and allocation traits, revealing A. longifolia to be a species of intermediate responsiveness. The major competitive advantage of A. longifolia was its constitutively high shoot elongation rate at most resource treatments and its effective nutrient acquisition. Further, A. longifolia was found to be highly tolerant against competition from native species. In contrast to common expectations, the competition experiment indicated that A. longifolia expressed a constant allocation pattern and a phenotypic plasticity similar to that of the native species.
</jats:p>
Extracted statement — Specific traits: 20 physiological and morphological traits
Research field: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Title: Morphological differentiation of introduced pikeperch (Sander lucioperca L., 1758) populations in Tunisian freshwaters
Abstract: Summary In order to evaluate the phenotypic plasticity of introduced pikeperch populations in Tunisia, the intra- and interpopulation differentiation was analysed using a biometric approach. Thus, nine meristic counts and 23 morphological measurements were taken from 574 specimens collected from three dams and a hill lake. The univariate (anova) and multivariate analyses (PCA and DFA) showed a low meristic variability between the pikeperch samples and a segregated pikeperch group from the Sidi Salem dam which displayed a high distance between mouth and pectoral fin and a high antedorsal distance. In addition, the Korba hill lake population seemed to have more important values of total length, eye diameter, maximum body height and a higher distance between mouth and operculum than the other populations. However, the most accentuated segregation was found in the Lebna sample where the individuals were characterized by high snout length, body thickness, pectoral fin length, maximum body height and distance between mouth and operculum. This study shows the existence of morphological differentiations between populations derived from a single gene pool that have been isolated in separated sites for several decades although in relatively similar environments.
Extracted statement — Specific traits: Nine meristic counts and 23 morphological measurements
Research field: Energy Systems
Title: Optimal Sizing and Scheduling of Hybrid Energy Systems: The Cases of Morona Santiago and the Galapagos Islands
Abstract: Hybrid energy systems (HESs) generate electricity from multiple energy sources that complement each other. Recently, due to the reduction in costs of photovoltaic (PV) modules and wind turbines, these types of systems have become economically competitive. In this study, a mathematical programming model is applied to evaluate the techno-economic feasibility of autonomous units located in two isolated areas of Ecuador: first, the province of Galapagos (subtropical island) and second, the province of Morona Santiago (Amazonian tropical forest). The two case studies suggest that HESs are potential solutions to reduce the dependence of rural villages on fossil fuels and viable mechanisms to bring electrical power to isolated communities in Ecuador. Our results reveal that not only from the economic but also from the environmental point of view, for the case of the Galapagos province, a hybrid energy system with a PV–wind–battery configuration and a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) equal to 0.36 $/kWh is the optimal energy supply system. For the case of Morona Santiago, a hybrid energy system with a PV–diesel–battery configuration and an LCOE equal to 0.37 $/kWh is the most suitable configuration to meet the load of a typical isolated community in Ecuador. The proposed optimization model can be used as a decision-support tool for evaluating the viability of autonomous HES projects at any other location.
Extracted statement — Levelized cost of energy: 0.36 $/kWh
Research field: Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology
Title: The Effect of Rhizosphere Soil and Root Tissues Amendment on Microbial Mineralisation of Target 14C–Hydrocarbons in Contaminated Soil
Abstract: The effect of rhizosphere soil or root tissues amendments on the microbial mineralisation of hydrocarbons in soil slurry by the indigenous microbial communities has been investigated. In this study, rhizosphere soil and root tissues of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), channel grass (Vallisneria spiralis), blackberry (Rubus fructicosus) and goat willow (Salix caprea) were collected from the former Shell and Imperial Industries (ICI) Refinery site in Lancaster, UK. The rates and extents of 14C–hydrocarbons (naphthalene, phenanthrene, hexadecane or octacosane) mineralisation in artificially spiked soils were monitored in the absence and presence of 5% (wet weight) of rhizosphere soil or root tissues. Respirometric and microbial assays were monitored in fresh (0 d) and pre–incubated (28 d) artificially spiked soils following amendment with rhizosphere soil or root tissues. There were significant increases (P < 0.001) in the extents of 14C–naphthalene and 14C–phenanthrene mineralisation in fresh artificially spiked soils amended with rhizosphere soil and root tissues compared to those measured in unamended soils. However, amendment of fresh artificially spiked soils with rhizosphere soil and root tissues did not enhance the microbial mineralisation of 14C–hexadecane or 14C–octacosane by indigenous microbial communities. Apart from artificially spiked soil systems containing naphthalene (amended with reed canary grass and channel grass rhizosphere) and hexadecane amended with goat willow rhizosphere, microbial mineralisation of hydrocarbons was further enhanced following 28 d soil–organic contaminants pre–exposure and subsequent amendment with rhizosphere soil or root tissues. This study suggests that organic chemicals in roots and/or rhizosphere can enhance the microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in freshly contaminated soil by supporting higher numbers of hydrocarbon–degrading populations, promoting microbial activity and/or enhancing bioavailability of organic contaminants.
Extracted statement — Has method: In this study, rhizosphere soil and root tissues of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), channel grass (Vallisneria spiralis), blackberry (Rubus fructicosus) and goat willow (Salix caprea) were collected from the former Shell and Imperial Industries (ICI) Refinery site in Lancaster, UK. The rates and extents of 14C–hydrocarbons (naphthalene, phenanthrene, hexadecane or octacosane) mineralisation in artificially spiked soils were monitored in the absence and presence of 5% (wet weight) of rhizosphere soil or root tissues. Respirometric and microbial assays were monitored in fresh (0 d) and pre–incubated (28 d) artificially spiked soils following amendment with rhizosphere soil or root tissues.
Research field: Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology
Title: The Effect of Hydroxycinnamic Acids on the Microbial Mineralisation of Phenanthrene in Soil
Abstract: The effect of hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, ferulic and p-coumaric acids) on the microbial mineralisation of phenanthrene in soil slurry by the indigenous microbial community has been investigated. The rate and extent of 14C–phenanthrenemineralisation in artificially spiked soils were monitored in the absence of hydroxycinnamic acids and presence of hydroxycinnamic acids applied at three different concentrations (50, 100 and 200 µg kg-1) either as single compounds or as a mixture of hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, ferulic and p-coumaric acids at a 1:1:1 ratio). The highest extent of 14C–phenanthrene mineralisation (P 200 µg kg-1. Depending on its concentrationin soil, hydroxycinnamic acids can either stimulate or inhibit mineralisation of phenanthrene by indigenous soil microbial community. Therefore, effective understanding of phytochemical–microbe–organic contaminant interactions is essential for further development of phytotechnologies for remediation of PAH–contaminated soils.
Extracted statement — Has method: The rate and extent of 14C–phenanthrenemineralisation in artificially spiked soils were monitored in the absence of hydroxycinnamic acids and presence of hydroxycinnamic acids applied at three different concentrations (50, 100 and 200 µg kg-1) either as single compounds or as a mixture of hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, ferulic and p-coumaric acids at a 1:1:1 ratio).
Research field: Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology
Title: The Effect of Rhizosphere Soil and Root Tissues Amendment on Microbial Mineralisation of Target 14C–Hydrocarbons in Contaminated Soil
Abstract: The effect of rhizosphere soil or root tissues amendments on the microbial mineralisation of hydrocarbons in soil slurry by the indigenous microbial communities has been investigated. In this study, rhizosphere soil and root tissues of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), channel grass (Vallisneria spiralis), blackberry (Rubus fructicosus) and goat willow (Salix caprea) were collected from the former Shell and Imperial Industries (ICI) Refinery site in Lancaster, UK. The rates and extents of 14C–hydrocarbons (naphthalene, phenanthrene, hexadecane or octacosane) mineralisation in artificially spiked soils were monitored in the absence and presence of 5% (wet weight) of rhizosphere soil or root tissues. Respirometric and microbial assays were monitored in fresh (0 d) and pre–incubated (28 d) artificially spiked soils following amendment with rhizosphere soil or root tissues. There were significant increases (P < 0.001) in the extents of 14C–naphthalene and 14C–phenanthrene mineralisation in fresh artificially spiked soils amended with rhizosphere soil and root tissues compared to those measured in unamended soils. However, amendment of fresh artificially spiked soils with rhizosphere soil and root tissues did not enhance the microbial mineralisation of 14C–hexadecane or 14C–octacosane by indigenous microbial communities. Apart from artificially spiked soil systems containing naphthalene (amended with reed canary grass and channel grass rhizosphere) and hexadecane amended with goat willow rhizosphere, microbial mineralisation of hydrocarbons was further enhanced following 28 d soil–organic contaminants pre–exposure and subsequent amendment with rhizosphere soil or root tissues. This study suggests that organic chemicals in roots and/or rhizosphere can enhance the microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in freshly contaminated soil by supporting higher numbers of hydrocarbon–degrading populations, promoting microbial activity and/or enhancing bioavailability of organic contaminants.
Extracted statement — Result and Conclusion: There were significant increases (P < 0.001) in the extents of 14C–naphthalene and 14C–phenanthrene mineralisation in fresh artificially spiked soils amended with rhizosphere soil and root tissues compared to those measured in unamended soils. However, amendment of fresh artificially spiked soils with rhizosphere soil and root tissues did not enhance the microbial mineralisation of 14C–hexadecane or 14C–octacosane by indigenous microbial communities. Apart from artificially spiked soil systems containing naphthalene (amended with reed canary grass and channel grass rhizosphere) and hexadecane amended with goat willow rhizosphere, microbial mineralisation of hydrocarbons was further enhanced following 28 d soil–organic contaminants pre–exposure and subsequent amendment with rhizosphere soil or root tissues.
Research field: Environmental Sciences
Title: Assessment of Cadmium and Lead Distribution in the Outcrop Rocks of Abakaliki Anticlinorium in the Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria
Abstract: This study investigates the distribution of cadmium and lead concentrations in the outcrop rock samples collected from Abakaliki anticlinorium in the Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria. The outcrop rock samples from seven sampling locations were air–dried for seventy–two hours, homogenized by grinding and pass through < 63 micron mesh sieve. The ground and homogenized rock samples were pulverized and analyzed for cadmium and lead using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer. The concentrations of heavy metals in the outcrop rock samples ranged from < 0.10 – 7.95 mg kg–1 for cadmium (Cd) and < 1.00 – 4966.00 mg kg–1 for lead (Pb). Apart from an anomalous concentration measured in Afikpo Shale (Middle Segment), the results obtained revealed that rock samples from all the sampling locations yielded cadmium concentrations of < 0.10 mg kg–1 and the measured concentrations were below the average crustal abundance of 0.50 mg kg–1. Although background concentration of <1.00 ± 0.02 mg kg–1 was measured in Abakaliki Shale, rock samples from all the sampling locations revealed anomalous lead concentrations above average crustal abundance of 30 mg kg–1. The results obtained reveal important contributions towards understanding of heavy metal distribution patterns and provide baseline data that can be used for potential identification of areas at risk associated with natural sources of heavy metals contamination in the region. The use of outcrop rocks provides a cost–effective approach for monitoring regional heavy metal contamination associated with dissolution and/or weathering of rocks or parent materials. Evaluation of heavy metals may be effectively used in large scale regional pollution monitoring of soil, groundwater, atmospheric and marine environment. Therefore, monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in soils, groundwater and atmospheric environment is imperative in order to prevent bioaccumulation in various ecological receptors.
Extracted statement — Discussion: Apart from an anomalous concentration measured in Afikpo Shale (Middle Segment), the results obtained revealed that rock samples from all the sampling locations yielded cadmium concentrations of < 0.10 mg kg–1 and the measured concentrations were below the average crustal abundance of 0.50 mg kg–1. Although background concentration of <1.00 ± 0.02 mg kg–1 was measured in Abakaliki Shale, rock samples from all the sampling locations revealed anomalous lead concentrations above average crustal abundance of 30 mg kg–1.
Research field: Environmental Sciences
Title: Assessment of Cadmium and Lead Distribution in the Outcrop Rocks of Abakaliki Anticlinorium in the Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria
Abstract: This study investigates the distribution of cadmium and lead concentrations in the outcrop rock samples collected from Abakaliki anticlinorium in the Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria. The outcrop rock samples from seven sampling locations were air–dried for seventy–two hours, homogenized by grinding and pass through < 63 micron mesh sieve. The ground and homogenized rock samples were pulverized and analyzed for cadmium and lead using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer. The concentrations of heavy metals in the outcrop rock samples ranged from < 0.10 – 7.95 mg kg–1 for cadmium (Cd) and < 1.00 – 4966.00 mg kg–1 for lead (Pb). Apart from an anomalous concentration measured in Afikpo Shale (Middle Segment), the results obtained revealed that rock samples from all the sampling locations yielded cadmium concentrations of < 0.10 mg kg–1 and the measured concentrations were below the average crustal abundance of 0.50 mg kg–1. Although background concentration of <1.00 ± 0.02 mg kg–1 was measured in Abakaliki Shale, rock samples from all the sampling locations revealed anomalous lead concentrations above average crustal abundance of 30 mg kg–1. The results obtained reveal important contributions towards understanding of heavy metal distribution patterns and provide baseline data that can be used for potential identification of areas at risk associated with natural sources of heavy metals contamination in the region. The use of outcrop rocks provides a cost–effective approach for monitoring regional heavy metal contamination associated with dissolution and/or weathering of rocks or parent materials. Evaluation of heavy metals may be effectively used in large scale regional pollution monitoring of soil, groundwater, atmospheric and marine environment. Therefore, monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in soils, groundwater and atmospheric environment is imperative in order to prevent bioaccumulation in various ecological receptors.
Extracted statement — Has result: The concentrations of heavy metals in the outcrop rock samples ranged from < 0.10 – 7.95 mg kg–1 for cadmium (Cd) and < 1.00 – 4966.00 mg kg–1 for lead (Pb).
Research field: Environmental Sciences
Title: Assessment of Cadmium and Lead Distribution in the Outcrop Rocks of Abakaliki Anticlinorium in the Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria
Abstract: This study investigates the distribution of cadmium and lead concentrations in the outcrop rock samples collected from Abakaliki anticlinorium in the Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria. The outcrop rock samples from seven sampling locations were air–dried for seventy–two hours, homogenized by grinding and pass through < 63 micron mesh sieve. The ground and homogenized rock samples were pulverized and analyzed for cadmium and lead using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer. The concentrations of heavy metals in the outcrop rock samples ranged from < 0.10 – 7.95 mg kg–1 for cadmium (Cd) and < 1.00 – 4966.00 mg kg–1 for lead (Pb). Apart from an anomalous concentration measured in Afikpo Shale (Middle Segment), the results obtained revealed that rock samples from all the sampling locations yielded cadmium concentrations of < 0.10 mg kg–1 and the measured concentrations were below the average crustal abundance of 0.50 mg kg–1. Although background concentration of <1.00 ± 0.02 mg kg–1 was measured in Abakaliki Shale, rock samples from all the sampling locations revealed anomalous lead concentrations above average crustal abundance of 30 mg kg–1. The results obtained reveal important contributions towards understanding of heavy metal distribution patterns and provide baseline data that can be used for potential identification of areas at risk associated with natural sources of heavy metals contamination in the region. The use of outcrop rocks provides a cost–effective approach for monitoring regional heavy metal contamination associated with dissolution and/or weathering of rocks or parent materials. Evaluation of heavy metals may be effectively used in large scale regional pollution monitoring of soil, groundwater, atmospheric and marine environment. Therefore, monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in soils, groundwater and atmospheric environment is imperative in order to prevent bioaccumulation in various ecological receptors.
Extracted statement — Has method: The outcrop rock samples from seven sampling locations were air–dried for seventy–two hours, homogenized by grinding and pass through < 63 micron mesh sieve. The ground and homogenized rock samples were pulverized and analyzed for cadmium and lead using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer.
Research field: Environmental Sciences
Title: Soil Organic Matter Prediction Model with Satellite Hyperspectral Image Based on Optimized Denoising Method
Abstract: In order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the hyperspectral sensors and exploit the potential of satellite hyperspectral data for predicting soil properties, we took MingShui County as the study area, which the study area is approximately 1481 km2, and we selected Gaofen-5 (GF-5) satellite hyperspectral image of the study area to explore an applicable and accurate denoising method that can effectively improve the prediction accuracy of soil organic matter (SOM) content. First, fractional-order derivative (FOD) processing is performed on the original reflectance (OR) to evaluate the optimal FOD. Second, singular value decomposition (SVD), Fourier transform (FT) and discrete wavelet transform (DWT) are used to denoise the OR and optimal FOD reflectance. Third, the spectral indexes of the reflectance under different denoising methods are extracted by optimal band combination algorithm, and the input variables of different denoising methods are selected by the recursive feature elimination (RFE) algorithm. Finally, the SOM content is predicted by a random forest prediction model. The results reveal that 0.6-order reflectance describes more useful details in satellite hyperspectral data. Five spectral indexes extracted from the reflectance under different denoising methods have a strong correlation with the SOM content, which is helpful for realizing high-accuracy SOM predictions. All three denoising methods can reduce the noise in hyperspectral data, and the accuracies of the different denoising methods are ranked DWT > FT > SVD, where 0.6-order-DWT has the highest accuracy (R2 = 0.84, RMSE = 3.36 g kg−1, and RPIQ = 1.71). This paper is relatively novel, in that GF-5 satellite hyperspectral data based on different denoising methods are used to predict SOM, and the results provide a highly robust and novel method for mapping the spatial distribution of SOM content at the regional scale.
Extracted statement — Has result: DWT > FT > SVD
Research field: Environmental Sciences
Title: Soil Organic Matter Prediction Model with Satellite Hyperspectral Image Based on Optimized Denoising Method
Abstract: In order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the hyperspectral sensors and exploit the potential of satellite hyperspectral data for predicting soil properties, we took MingShui County as the study area, which the study area is approximately 1481 km2, and we selected Gaofen-5 (GF-5) satellite hyperspectral image of the study area to explore an applicable and accurate denoising method that can effectively improve the prediction accuracy of soil organic matter (SOM) content. First, fractional-order derivative (FOD) processing is performed on the original reflectance (OR) to evaluate the optimal FOD. Second, singular value decomposition (SVD), Fourier transform (FT) and discrete wavelet transform (DWT) are used to denoise the OR and optimal FOD reflectance. Third, the spectral indexes of the reflectance under different denoising methods are extracted by optimal band combination algorithm, and the input variables of different denoising methods are selected by the recursive feature elimination (RFE) algorithm. Finally, the SOM content is predicted by a random forest prediction model. The results reveal that 0.6-order reflectance describes more useful details in satellite hyperspectral data. Five spectral indexes extracted from the reflectance under different denoising methods have a strong correlation with the SOM content, which is helpful for realizing high-accuracy SOM predictions. All three denoising methods can reduce the noise in hyperspectral data, and the accuracies of the different denoising methods are ranked DWT > FT > SVD, where 0.6-order-DWT has the highest accuracy (R2 = 0.84, RMSE = 3.36 g kg−1, and RPIQ = 1.71). This paper is relatively novel, in that GF-5 satellite hyperspectral data based on different denoising methods are used to predict SOM, and the results provide a highly robust and novel method for mapping the spatial distribution of SOM content at the regional scale.
Extracted statement — Result: DWT > FT > SVD