Polish Journal of Natural Sciences

EVALUATING SURFACE WATER QUALITY VARIATION IN PHU MY SPECIES-HABITAT CONSERVATION IN KIEN GIANG PROVINCE, VIETNAM

Thanh Giao Nguyễn — 2023-12-31

The study aimed to assess the evolution of surface water quality in Phu My Species-Habitat conservation area in the period of 2019-2022. Fourteen water quality indicators including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity (Turb), salinity (Sal), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), oxygen demand chemical (COD), ammonium (NH₄⁺-N), nitrate (NO₃^--N), orthophosphate (PO₄^3--P), total phosphorus (TN), iron (Fe²⁺) and aluminum (Al³⁺) were used for the assessment. Pearson analysis and CA analysis were performed to find out the correlation between surface water environmental parameters and locations with similar physical and chemical characteristics of water. The results showed that the surface water in Phu My Species-Habitat reserve is acidic characterized by low pH and high concentrations of Fe²⁺and Al³⁺. NO₃^--N and PO₄^3--P are relatively low. The amounts of organic substances (BOD, COD) and nutrients (NH₄⁺-N, NO₃^--N and PO₄^3--P) in the study area are not high, suitable for aquatic organisms. Salinity sometimes increases in the dry season. Surface water quality is being well managed for the development of key species of in Phu My Species-Habitat conservation area, Lepironia and Eleocharis species. Pearson analysis results show that organic matters and nutrients in water have a positive linear correlation, having the same origin formed from the degradation of organic matters from dying flora and fauna and agricultural activities in the study area. The CA analysis results show that maintaining at least seven locations for surface water quality monitoring in the study area is essential.

ASSESSMENT THE EFFECT OF SEX ON SELECTED MORPHOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS AND SLAUGHTER YIELDS OF AFRICAN CATFISH (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS BURCHELL, 1822)

Iwona Chwastowska-Siwiecka — 2023-12-31

This study was aimed at analyzing results of morphometric measurements and slaughter yield of carcass of African catfish depending on gender. The experimental material included 60 fish, with a gender ratio of 1:1 (females ♂ : males ♀), cultured in the intensive system (pond culture). The all fish were fed manually (every 3 h) with pelleted feed prepared at the farm. Morphometric measurements (body weight, total length, body length, side length of the head, head height, the smallest and the largest height of the body and body width) were performed in live fish, whereas post mortem determinations were carried out for contents of particular elements of carcass (head, viscera, fins, skin, bones and fillets). Results achieved demonstrated that male fish were characterized by greater body length, side length of the head and body height compared to females. They were also characterized by higher body weight, yield of carcass and fillets without skin, and by higher contents of head, fins and bones in the total body weight. The statistical analysis showed effect of gender on morphometric measurements and the selected parts of body of catfish.

PRODUCTIVITY, EGG QUALITY, AND EGG COMPOSITION OF QUAIL SUPPLEMENTED WITH CASSAVA LEAF PASTE

La Jumadin — 2023-12-31

Cassava leaf paste contains macro, micro, and bioactive mineral nutrients that improve physiological performance. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding cassava leaf paste on the productivity and quality of quail eggs. The parameters measured were performance, egg quality, and quail egg composition. The results showed that the application of cassava leaf paste increased quail body weight gain. The average quail eggshell that received cassava leaf paste was thicker than the control group. The percentage of quail egg whites and egg yolks that received cassava leaf paste treatment was higher than the control. This study concluded that quail treated with cassava leaf paste resulted in higher quail performance such as body weight gain and egg mass. Giving cassava leaf paste causes the quail to be healthier by producing a higher egg composition such as the percentage of egg whites and yolks and thicker eggshells.

INTERSEXUAL DIFFERENCES IN BODY TRAITS IN SELECTED COCKROACH SPECIES

Marcin Górecki — 2023-12-31

In cockroaches sexual dimorphism in body size is common and all patterns are exhibited, however female size bias predominates. The aim of present study was to evaluate intersexual differences in body dimension and weight in 12 cockroach species: Blaberus craniifer, Blaberus discoidalis, Blaberus boliviensis, Eublaberus posticus, Eublaberus distanti, Archimandrita tessellata, Blaptica dubia, Panchlora nivea, Nauphoeta cinerea, Phoetalia pallida, Shelfordella lateralis and Periplaneta americana. Fifty males and fifty females imagines of each species were weighted and their body length, length and width of pronotum and length of antennae were measured. In all species female-biased sexual size dimorphism was shown: female were significantly heavier and their pronota were longer and wider. Also females body length obtained higher values in 10 out 12 species. In other two species intersexual differences in body length appeared to be insignificant. On the other hand, males antennae were significantly longer in majority of studied species, with exception of P. nivea, P. pallida and N. cinerea. Thus, in majority of studied species although males were smaller, they had longer antennae. Female-biased sexual size dimorphism is common in invertebrates and possession of longer antennae by males can be explained by their need of detecting female pheromones.

EVALUATION OF ECO-EXTRACTION METHODS OF ANTIOXIDANTS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES FROM RETAMA RAETAM TWIGS

Oussama zaoui — 2023-12-31

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of five different conventional (maceration, reflux, and soxhlet) and non-conventional (microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE)) techniques of extracting secondary metabolites (total phenols, total flavonoid and total condensed tannin Contents) and their antioxidant activity (2,2-diphényl 1-picrylhydrazyle free radical-scavenging ability, and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay) obtained from Retama Raetam twigs using two green solvents (water and ethanol 70%). The aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts obtained by MAE revealed the highest contents of total phenols (168.24 ± 0.79 and 182.6 ± 1.29 mg EAG / g DR, respectively), and flavonoids (12.,28 ± 0.92 and 39.97 ± 1.11 mg EC/ g DR, respectively), and exhibited a significant capacity to scavenge free radicals with median inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of 0.45± 0.75 and 0.34 ± 0.39 mg/mL, and a significant iron reducing power with median effective concentrations (EC₅₀) of 0.358 ± 0.2 and 0.28 ± 0.1 mg/mL for the aqueous and hydro-ethanolic extracts, respectively. The MAE was proven to be the most efficient extraction technique for the extraction of antioxidants from Retama Raetam twigs.