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The Balanites aegyptiaca tree is widely used in many countries where it occurs. However, in Morocco its nutritional properties and chemical composition have not been extensively studied. This study aims to investigate its potential health benefits, focusing on bioactive compounds found in the fruit, including the pulp, shell and kernel. The fatty acid composition, phytosterol content, triacylglycerols and tocopherol levels of the lipid fraction extracted from different parts of Balanites fruit were analyzed using chromatographic techniques. Additionally, the antioxidant activity was assessed through the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Results showed that the pulp, shell and kernel are rich in oleic acid, with percentages of 47.2%, 45.9%, and 41.9%, respectively. The linoleic acid content was consistent across all three parts. The shell had the highest phytosterols content, with β‐sitosterol being the most abundant in all three parts. The analysis revealed some variability in the identification of tocopherols, with the kernel containing the highest content of tocopherols, mainly α‐Tocopherol at 399 mg kg−1. The fruit, in its entirety, exhibits antioxidant activity as evaluated by three different methods: DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP. Overall, the study demonstrates that the fruit of B. aegyptiaca growing in Morocco possesses properties that could be utilized in the food and medical industries. Practical Application: The fruit parts of the Balanites tree (Balanites aegyptiaca) are rich in fatty acids, tocochromanols, and phytosterols, exhibiting significant antioxidant capacity. This study reveals the potential of the bioactive compounds of the fruit, which offers substantial practical applications as a natural source of antioxidants in food formulations and nutraceuticals. By leveraging the bioactive compounds identified in this study, researchers and industries can investigate the development of functional food and cosmeceuticals formulations to enhance human health and well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activated carbon is an attractive adsorbent for capturing various environmental pollutants, including CO2. Herein, an optimal synthesis and impressive performance of activated carbon made from Balanites aegyptiaca (Desert date) seed shells is reported, which is an abundant agricultural waste in the Middle East and Africa. The synthesis route involved pretreating the biomass with KOH and heating it under a suitable temperature profile. An optimal KOH‐to‐biomass ratio and multi‐stage carbonization yielded activated carbon with a surface area above 3000 m2/g and an average pore size of nearly 4.1 nm. At 0 °C, this activated carbon exhibited CO2 uptake of 11.3 mmol g−1 that surpassed the uptake capacity of previously reported activated carbons. The selectivity towards CO2 was also found to be significantly higher compared to other gases. Thus, the present approach demonstrates an efficient conversion of agricultural waste to activated carbon for capturing CO2 and other environmental contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectiveness of Balanites aegyptiaca conservation and sustainable exploitation requires a better knowledge of the intrinsic environmental factors linked with its current and future geographic distribution. This study aimed to map suitable areas for the conservation and domestication of B. aegyptiaca under present‐day and future climate conditions in Benin. A total of 424 occurrence records of B. aegyptiaca were combined with the environmental variables of two climatic scenarios (optimistic RCP 4.5 and pessimistic RCP 8.5) following the biodiversity modeling approach (biomod2). Findings were that under current and future climate conditions (RCP 4.5 and 8.5), almost one‐third of the country's area (protected and non‐protected areas), mainly located in the semiarid zone, presents a high probability of suitable areas for the conservation and domestication of B. aegyptiaca by 2055 time horizon. Exceptionally, a fine portion of medium suitable area for its distribution was found in the coastal area. Whatever the future climatic scenarios, a probable potential extension of the suitable areas (2.52% for RCP 4.5 and 0.43% for RCP 8.5) will be noted, thus emphasizing a positive impact of climate changes on the species. These findings are timely and could be used for setting appropriate management policies targeting the species in Benin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balanites aegyptiaca is a drought‐tolerant tree naturally distributed in Africa and has a high potential for biofuel production and livelihood. To understand the plant tolerance to drought stress, B. aegyptiaca plants collected from five provenances were subjected for 4 weeks to drought stress through different regimes of soil volumetric water content (VWC, i.e. 25% control, 15% as moderate and 5% as a severe drought stress) followed by 2‐week recovery. Morpho‐physiological responses as well as the changes in antioxidant defences under water stress and recovery were investigated. Drought stress significantly reduced plant biomass‐related parameters, stomatal conductance, quantum efficiency and increased leaf temperature. Each provenance showed specific patterns of stress response reactions that were detected in a cluster analysis. The large leaf area and a high level of lipid peroxidation in Cairo provenance increased its sensitivity to severe drought. For provenances El‐Kharga and Yemen, the highest tocopherol contents and the highest catalytic activities of ascorbate peroxidase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) were recorded. These traits contributed to the high drought tolerance of these two provenances in comparison with the other provenances. All plants recovered from stress and showed specifically increased activity of glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) as a repair mechanism. Results showed that the drought tolerance level in B. aegyptiaca is provenance‐dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. is a widely distributed xerophytic multipurpose tree. The mesocarp of the fruit of B. aegyptiaca has detergent properties due to the presence of saponins. The stability potential of this biosurfactant at varying pH, temperature, and salinity has not been explored so far. In the present study, the relative surface tensions of five different concentrations of the biosurfactant were studied at different temperatures, salinity, and under pH conditions. This study reveals that this biosurfactant retains its activity over a wide range of pH (3–11) and at high salinity (7% NaCl). It is a thermostable cationic surfactant; surfactant activity was recorded even at 100 °C with the lowest relative surface tension of 0.47. High oil displacement (18.00 mm) was observed when studied with petrol. This biosurfactant was found to have a high emulsification index (E24) of 70% with mustard oil. These results indicate that biosurfactant derived from B. aegyptiaca may find use in a wide range of sectors such as textile, food, cosmetics, oil recovery, and healthcare under a wide range of physical and chemical conditions. It offers an efficient, economically viable, and plant‐derived alternative to synthetic detergents and adds a way to maintain a sustainable environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of amplified nifH gene fragments was used to study the diazotrophic community of soil samples under Acacia tortilis ssp. raddiana (legume tree) and Balanites aegyptiaca (non-legume tree), two dominant plant species growing naturally in the dryland part of Senegal. Samples were taken along transects from the stem up to 10 m distance from it, at depths of 0–0.25 m and 0.25–0.50 m. Sampling was done in the dry season (25 June 1999) and in the rainy season (28 August 1999). The community structure and diversity of the bacterial groups from the different samples was analysed further using different techniques, such as statistical analysis and diversity index evaluation of the band patterns. Diazotrophic diversity was lower under B. aegyptiaca than under A. tortilis ssp. raddiana. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis and ANOSIM tests showed a significant effect of the tree on the diazotroph assemblages. SIMPER analysis showed that the major elements responsible for the dissimilarity are a member of the genus Sinorhizobium, which is characteristic of the samples taken under A. tortilis ssp. raddiana and a member of the cluster Bradyrhizobium for the samples taken under B. aegyptiaca. Forty-four major bands were partially sequenced, yielding 33 different nifH sequences, which were used in phylogenetic reconstructions. Most sequences were affiliated with the alpha- beta- and gamma-proteobacteria. Five nifH sequences were identical to those of Pseudomonas stutzeri, and one sequence showed 100% similarity to that of Azotobacter vinelandii. Four bands were affiliated with the Cyanobacteria and a single one with the Firmicutes. For both trees, there were also clear differences between the samples taken in the dry and rainy seasons. Only for the samples taken under A. tortilis ssp. raddiana was a significant difference found between the two sampling depths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R299 --> Introduction: The stem bark extract of Balanites aegyptiaca L. (Zygophyllaceae) has been extensively used in traditional medicine as an antiulcer, antiviral and anti‐inflammatory agent. Previous scientific studies has established its potency in the treatment of ulcer. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antiulcer activity of the n‐butanol fraction of the stem bark extract of Balanites aegyptiaca in Wistar rats and to analyse its components through Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Materials and methods: Preliminary phytochemical studies were carried out following standard procedures. Oral acute toxicity test to determine the LD50 of the fraction was evaluated in female Wistar rats using OECD 425 guidelines at a limit dose of 2000 mg/kg. The antiulcer activity of the fraction (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated in ethanol and indomethacin‐induced ulcer models in rats. Rats were divided into five groups (n=5). Group I received distilled water and served as the control while group II received omeprazole 20 mg/kg and served as the standard group. Groups III‐V were the fraction treatment groups. At the end of the experiment, mean ulcer indices and percentage ulcer inhibition were assessed. The results were expressed as mean±standard deviation. Statistical analysis was performed by one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett's post hoc test. Difference between means were considered statistically significance at p<0.05. The fraction was subjected to further analysis using GC‐MS to identify its major components. Results: In phytochemical studies, n‐butanol fraction of Balanites aegyptiaca showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates and glycosides. The acute toxicity test at oral limit test dose of 2000 mg/kg produced neither mortality nor changes related to behavioural, neurologic, autonomic and physical profiles during the short and long term periods. In the ethanol and indomethacin‐induced ulcer models, the fraction showed a dose dependent decrease in the mean ulcer inhibition. It was significantly (**p<0.01 and *p<0.05) lower than the control at all dose levels except at 125 mg/kg in the indomethacin induced ulcer model (Figure 1). The GC‐MS analysis revealed a total of 17 compounds of which the major ones were Dimethylsulfoxide‐D6 (57.53%), Dibutylphthalate (14.19%), n‐Hexadecanoic acid (7.62%), 1,2‐Benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2‐methylpropyl) ester (3.69%), Benzaldehyde, 3‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxy (2.17%) and Octadecanoic acid, 2‐methylpropyl ester (1.69%). Conclusion: The LD50 of n‐butanol fraction of Balanites aegyptiaca was found to be greater than 2000 mg/kg and therefore considered safe. The fraction contained alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates and glycosides. The data obtained from this study confirmed that the fraction possesses antiulcer activity and contains various bioactive compounds that may be of phytopharmaceutical importance. More studies are on‐going to isolate the agent(s) responsible for the activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acute toxicity of water extracts of the barks of two molluscicidal and piscicidal plants, Balanites aegyptiaca and Kigelia africana, to the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), was investigated using static bioassays and continuous aeration over a period of 96 h. The 96-h LC50, opercular ventilation rates and tail beat frequency were determined. Extract of B. aegyptiaca was observed to be more toxic than that of K. africana. Opercular ventilation and tail fin beat increased sharply with exposure to both extracts and then declined as the fish became fatigued. Death is believed to be due to both fatigue and direct toxic effects of the plant extracts on the fish tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the study of the ecology of acacia mellifera, seyal and balanites aegyptiaca in relation to land clearing. Investigation of land clearing methods in acacia mellifera thicket; Discussion of land clearing methods in acacia mellifera thicket; Relationship between the vegetation and grass fires.

The kernel cake produced from Balanites aegyptiaca fruit of Israeli origin was analysed for its saponin constituents using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The HPLC was equipped with a reversed-phase C18 column and a refractive index detector (RID), and elution was isocratic with methanol and water (70:30). The MS system was equipped with electrospray ionisation (ESI). Nine compounds were chromatographically separated, their masses were determined in the negative ion mode and subsequent fragmentation of each component was carried out. From the nine components, six saponins with molecular masses of 1196, 1064, 1210, 1224, 1078 and 1046 Da were identified, with the compound of mass 1210 Da being the main saponin (ca. 36%). Saponins with masses of 1224 and 1046 Da have not been previously reported in B. aegyptiaca. In all saponins, diosgenin was found to be the sole aglycone. This study shows that HPLC-ESI/MS is a quick and reliable technique for characterizing the saponins from kernel cake of B. aegyptiaca. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lalob fruit from the Sudan has been examined by modern chemical and physical methods. The kernels which amount to 9 to 10% of the fruit contain approximately 46% oil. Extraction of the ground kernels with commercial hexane yields a light yellow oil, having a composition calculated from iodine-thiocyanogen values corresponding to 43.8% linolein, 30.5% olein, 23.7% saturated acid glycerides, and 2.0% unsaponifiable matter. Calculation of the composition from ultraviolet absorption measurements gave results in fairly close agreement with those obtained by the iodine-thiocyanogen method. It was shown that the color of the crude oil was due almost entirely to the presence of a-carotene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of African Journal of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Human activities and climate change pose a significant threat to the dry Afromontane forests in Ethiopia, which are essential for millions of people both economically and ecologically. In Ethiopia, trees are planted elsewhere even if they are not likely to be well suited to the area. This study aims to identify the suitable habitat for the most exploited Juniperus procera (J. procera) and Olea europaea (O. europaea) tree species in northern Ethiopia. As inputs, least correlated temperature, moisture, soil, and topographic variables were selected through a stepwise procedure. The study evaluated five individual and ensemble models using the area under the curve (AUC) and true skill statistic (TSS) values. The ensemble model outperformed with mean AUC of 0.95 and TSS of 0.78 for J. procera, while securing the second position for O. europaea with an AUC of 0.88 and TSS of 0.71. Climatic factors emerged as the most influential, followed by soil and topography. Suitable areas for both species were found when Isothermality (Bio3) values range from 52% to 62%, temperature seasonality (Bio4) of 16–29°C. Moreover, well drained soils with soil texture not heavier than sandy clay, and soil organic carbon ranging from 5 to 42 g kg−1 were found suitable. The optimal suitable altitude for J. procera and O. europaea was determined to be 2200–2600 and 2100–2500 m.a.s.l., respectively. The suitable areas for J. procera and O. europaea were estimated to be 3130 and 3946 km2, respectively. Furthermore, potential plantation areas were identified beyond Desa'a and Hugumbirda Grat‐Kahsu protected forests, covering 2721 km2 (86.9%) for J. procera and 3576 km2 (90.6%) for O. europaea. These findings hold significance for the conservation and sustainable management of these valuable tree species in northern Ethiopia. We recommend implementing a similar approach for other locally restricted dry Afromontane tree species with wider potential distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in vitro ruminal gas production study was conducted to assess the effect of yeast supplementation on rumen fermentation of tanniniferous tropical browse mixtures prepared by mixing Berchemia discolor with Acacia brevispica, Acacia elatior, Acacia mellifera, Balanites aegyptiaca, Grewia bicolor or Zizyphus mucronata in a 1:1 dry weight ratio. The six browse mixtures were incubated with buffered rumen fluid alone or supplemented with dried Japanese Sake yeast (JSY) or polyethylene glycol (PEG). Ruminal gas production characteristics were evaluated using the Gompertz equation. The JSY addition increased gas production volume ( P < 0.05) and numerically increased the maximum gas production rate constant. Time to reach the maximum gas production rate was shortened by PEG addition as compared to the JSY and control treatments. It is possible that JSY promoted the rumen microbial activity in addition to forming complexes with tannins thereby upgrading the in vitro ruminal digestion of tropical browse mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interannual variability in climatic drivers can have a strong impact on dryland ecosystem functioning globally. While interannual variations in dryland ecosystem processes are mainly driven by rainfall, other global change drivers such as CO2 fertilization and rising temperatures can play an increasingly important role for these ecosystems. Yet, the high complexity of dryland ecosystems makes it difficult to unravel the individual and interactive impacts of these different drivers. In this work we study the impacts of interannual climatic variability on the dryland ecosystems of the Sudano‐Sahel region for the period 1950–2022. By using a dynamic vegetation model (LPJ‐GUESS v4.0), we show that the year‐to‐year variability in dryland ecosystems that originates from interannual variability in rainfall is modulated by effects of CO2 fertilization, which can strongly impact woody encroachment and resource competition between vegetation types. In contrast, we found that increased temperatures had a relatively low influence at the ecosystem level. We also show that this response varies with aridity subtype, depending on the amount and type of woody cover. By untangling the impacts of climatic drivers on dryland vegetation, this study helps us to understand the different sensitivities of dryland ecosystems to climatic variability under global change. Plain Language Summary: Dryland ecosystems are globally important as they cover 40% of Earth's land surface and house a third of the human population. While the functioning of these ecosystems is mainly driven by rainfall, other global change drivers such as CO2 fertilization and rising temperatures can play an important role for these ecosystems. However, it is difficult to separate the individual influence of each driver. This study tries to resolve this problem by using an ecosystem model, applied to the Sahel region. We isolated the effect of year‐to‐year variations in each driver on the Sahel vegetation by artificially turning off the variations in all other drivers. We found that CO2 fertilization can have a large impact on these rainfall‐driven ecosystems. Our model showed that increased CO2 can promote woody plant cover in the Sahel, while negatively influencing grass cover by competition for resources. We also showed that this influence is more pronounced in wetter parts of the region. By untangling the impacts of climatic drivers on dryland vegetation, this study helps us to understand the different sensitivities of dryland ecosystems to climatic variability under global change. Key Points: By using a dynamic vegetation model we untangled the impacts of interannual climatic variability on dryland ecosystemsCO₂ fertilization strongly modulates woody encroachment and resource competition between dryland vegetation typesDryland vegetation has a contrasting response to interannual variability in the climatic drivers along an aridity gradient [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT After decades of drought in the Sahel, several studies have reported a '(re)greening' of the area. However, most of these studies were based on large scale climatological or remotely sensed observations, with little or no ground truthing. The aim of this study was to assess the local perceptions of the distribution of socio-economically important tree species in the Sub-Sahel of Burkina Faso. Semi-structured interviews were performed with 87 groups of informants from 20 villages belonging to three ethnic groups (Mossi, Fulani and Samo). Univariate and multivariate statistics were used to compare perceptions between the targeted ethnic groups. According to the locals, more than 80 per cent of the 90 listed species were declining, with over 40 per cent identified as threatened, including numerous plants of great economic value. Increasing species were mostly drought-tolerant plants such as Balanites aegyptiaca. A few species were listed as locally extinct. Gender and age did not significantly affect local knowledge, whereas ethnicity did. The major causes of species decline were identified to be drought, deforestation and bushfires. In all ethnic groups, informants observed a southward shift in species distribution. Local perceptions suggest a general decline in woody vegetation. Thus, the alleged (re)greening in the Sahel might not have reversed the degradation of woody species in the area. Data derived from local ecological knowledge were consistent with that of many ecological studies, suggesting the reliability of people's knowledge for obtaining ecological data. Information from this study can be used as baseline for conservation of species identified as threatened. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous fruits constitute an important part of human diets in many sub-Saharan African countries, particularly in rural areas and during droughts. In order to promote and expand the utilisation of these fruits, knowledge on their nutritional composition is essential. This review presents the results of a literature research of the nutritional composition of ten selected indigenous fruits from sub-Saharan Africa. Species were selected based on their current importance as well as their future potential for nutrition, processing and cash income generation. Compositional data were compiled and mean values of components per species were calculated. Most papers were compiled for Adansonia digitata (26) and Dacryodes edulis (16), followed by Tamarindus indica (ten), Balanites aegyptiaca (nine), Sclerocarya birrea (nine), Ziziphus mauritiana (nine), Vitex doniana (seven) and Irvingia gabonensis (five), and least for Uapaca kirkiana (three) and Syzygium guineense (three). Fruits were found to be mainly analysed for macronutrients and minerals. Vitamins, apart from vitamin C, were rarely reported. Substantial compositional differences were found among as well as within the different fruit species. The results of this study emphasise the need to generate more high-quality data on a wider spectrum of components of the selected indigenous fruits in sub-Saharan Africa. © 2013 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries many people depend on woody resources for their livelihoods. Monitoring human impact on the populations of socio-economically important species is therefore important for the conservation of vulnerable plants. In order to assess and compare the population structure and regeneration patterns of three multipurpose species, namely Acacia seyal Del., Balanites aegyptiaca Delile and Pterocarpus lucens Lepr. in four ethnic areas of the sub-Sahel of Burkina Faso (Samo, Gourmantché, Fulani and Mossi), we used the size-class distribution method (SCD) (Condit et al., ). Diameter at breast height (Dbh) of adult individuals of each species were sampled on 1000 m2 (20 m × 50 m) plots in each ethnic domain. Recorded Dbhs were distributed among eight size-classes of 5 cm intervals. For each species, the slope of the regression of the SCD was considered to be an indicator of the population structure. Seedlings and saplings were recorded on five nested 25 m2 plots and fell into five height classes of 0·5 m intervals. The target species had significant ( p < 0·001) negative SCD slopes with an inverse J-shape distribution in all ethnic areas; indicating stable populations with good regeneration. Kruskal-Wallis test for the SCDs of A. seyal, B. aegyptiaca and P. lucens did not differ significantly among the ethnic areas ( p > 0·1). This suggests that the dynamics of each of the three species is similar across ethnic domains and the sub-Sahel. Data from P. lucens depicted an apparent stable population structure which contrasted with our field observations, perception of local people and previous studies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sahel region of West Africa is an important wintering ground for Palearctic migrants. It is, however, undergoing significant anthropogenic degradation that is likely to reduce its value in this regard. Despite there being evidence that the populations of several Palearctic species may be determined by conditions on their Sahelian wintering grounds, there are almost no baseline data on their habitat use there and so the effects that habitat change might have on their future density and distribution cannot be determined. This study measured which habitat variables were associated with the presence of Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis, Lesser Whitethroat S. curruca and Subalpine Warbler S. cantillans by carrying out point counts and habitat measurements at 1861 points at 16 sites in northern Nigeria during the winters of 2001 and 2002. Common Whitethroats were most common at intermediate tree heights and densities of Salvadora persica (with this effect strongest in the pre-migratory period), and increased as Balanites aegyptiaca density increased initially, although this effect levelled off at higher Balanites densities. Subalpine Warblers were most common at intermediate tree heights and Balanites densities, increased as Acacia and Salvadora density increased, decreased with tree density and were least common at intermediate shrub densities. Lesser Whitethroats were most common at intermediate tree heights, Acacia and Salvadora densities, increased with Balanites density, and decreased with tree density and diversity. The shallow slopes of the significant relationships found between Palearctic warbler species and habitat parameters suggest that the group may be robust to habitat degradation, with densities remaining relatively constant across a wide range of habitat types. Common Whitethroats, in particular, appear to be able to survive in extremely degraded habitats, yet may be vulnerable to the disappearance of Salvadora, the fruit of which may allow pre-migratory fattening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SummaryThe sandfly Phlebotomus orientalis Parrot (Diptera: Psychodidae) is the vector of visceral leishmaniasis in eastern and Upper Nile regions of Sudan, where vector infection rates of over 7% have been reported. Sugars are known to be important for development of the parasite and for increasing the survival and oviposition rates of several species of sandflies. In the present study we have analysed the sugars present in the guts of individuals and groups of male and female P. orientalis and compared these with sugars from several potential local plant sources: Acacia seyal, Balanites aegyptiaca and Combretum kordofanum. The distribution of these trees in Sudan is closely correlated with that of P. orientalis. Only 20% of individually analysed female sandflies had significant amounts of sugars present suggesting that P. orientalis either digest their sugar meal quickly or do not require regular sugar meals. Interestingly, the sugars present in the males were significantly different to those found in the females, indicating that they had fed on different sugar sources. There was evidence that fruit sugars from Balanites aegyptiaca, Combretum kordofanum and aphid or coccid honeydew are utilized by male and female P. orientalis. There was evidence to indicate that female P. orientalis feeds directly on honeydew. There was no evidence to indicate that direct feeding on leaves is a typical source for the sugar meal. There was no melizitose and only a very small amount of turanose present in the male, suggesting that honeydew was not an important sugar source for males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the rising global demand for cheese, the high cost and limited supply of calf rennet, and consumer choices have increased research into new alternatives to animal or recombinant chymosins for cheese making. Plant proteases with caseinolytic activity (CA) and milk‐clotting activity (MCA) have been proposed as alternatives for milk clotting to obtain artisanal cheeses with new organoleptic properties. They have been named vegetable rennets (vrennets). The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of two Solanum tuberosum aspartic proteases (StAP1 and StAP3) as vrennets for cheese making and to obtain a statistical model that could predict and optimize their enzymatic activity. RESULTS: To optimize the CA and MCA activities, a response surface methodology was used. Maximum values of CA and MCA for both enzymes were found at pH 5.0 and 30–35 °C. Analysis of the degradation of casein subunits showed that it is possible to tune the specificity of both enzymes by changing the pH. At pH 6.5, the αS‐ and β‐ subunit degradation is reduced while conserving a significant MCA. CONCLUSION: The statistical models obtained in this work showed that StAP1 and StAP3 exert CA and MCA under pH and temperature conditions compatible with those used for cheese making. The casein subunit degradation percentages obtained also allowed us to select the best conditions for the degradation of the κ‐casein subunit by StAPs. These results suggest that StAP1 and StAP3 are good candidates as vrennets for artisan cheese making. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use land cover (LULC) changes are caused by natural and human alterations of the landscape that could largely affect forest biodiversity and the environment. The study aimed to analyze LULC change dynamics and driving forces in the western escarpment of the rift valley of the Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Digital satellite images, which are downloaded from USGS, were analyzed using ERDAS Imagine (14) and Arc GIS 10.2 software and supervised image classification was used to generate LULC classification, accuracy assessment, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Drivers of LULC change were identified and analyzed. Four land classes were identified such as forest, farmland, settlement, and water‐wetlands. Settlement and farmlands have increased by 8% and 6%, respectively. On the other hand, both forest and water‐wetlands decreased by aerial coverage of 9% and 5%, respectively. The overall accuracy of the study area was 92.86%, 94.22%, and 94.3% with a kappa value of 0.902, 0.92, and 0.922, respectively. NDVI values ranged between −0.42 and 0.73. Agricultural expansion (31.4%), expansion of settlement (25.7%) and Fuelwood collection and Charcoal production (22.9%) were the main driving forces that affected the biodiversity of the vegetation in the study area. Integrated land use and policy to protect biodiversity loss, forest degradation and climate changes are deemed necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of African Journal of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of African Journal of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

SummaryAbundances of Phlebotomus orientalis, P. papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) and other sandflies were investigated in relation to different types of vegetation associated with endemic foci of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in eastern Sudan. Sandfly collection sites were in Umsalala Village (Galabat Province) and Dinder National Park (Dinder Province). Sandfly species found in the area were P. orientalis, P. papatasi, Sergentomyia africana, S. antennata, S. clydei, S. schwetzi and S. squamipleuris. Among the types of trees in the Dinder area, P. orientalis was more abundant in forests dominated by Acacia seyal than where Combretum kordofanum, Balanites aegyptiaca, Hyphaena thaibaica or Ziziphus spinachristi were the dominant trees. At Umsalala, P. papatasi was more abundant in the village than at any site with dense vegetation, but P. orientalis was uncommon. Sergentomyia spp. were distributed fairly evenly amongst most types of vegetation investigated at both localities. The ecological distribution of sandflies and epidemiology of kala-azar in Sudan are discussed with emphasis on the association of P. orientalis with A. seyal woodlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews indigenous Beninese food resources as potential ingredients for complementary infant foods with the aim to develop affordable formulations for low-income households in each agro-ecological zone of the country. Potential ingredients were selected on their documented nutritional value. The selected foods encompass 347 food resources, namely 297 plant products from home gardens or collected from natural vegetation and 50 animals, either domesticated or from the wild. The compiled data reveal that the distribution of the available food resources was unbalanced between agro-ecological zones. Only a few animal ingredients are obtainable in northern Benin. Most resources are seasonal, but their availability may be extended. A high variation was observed in energy and nutrient contents. Antinutritional factors were identified in some resources, but processing techniques were reported to reduce their presence in meals. In general, ingredients from local tree foods ( Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa) were adequate as sources of nutrients for complementary infant foods. Based on this review, local foods for the development of complementary food formulas for Beninese infants and children may be selected for each agro-ecological zone. The approach used is exemplary for other sub-Saharan African countries in need of complementary infant foods. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the soils and vegetation of Fung area located at the East Central Sudan. The author mentions that Fung region consists of tropical and continental climate and topographically, it has monotonous alluvial plain. The soils of the region are form from the clay deposit of Abyssinian origin. The author describes that the principal soils of the region consists of montmorillontic clay and they are also non-saline. The region's vegetation includes Acacia mellifera-Cadaba rotundifolia thicket and bushland, Acacia seyal-A. fistula-Balanites aegyptiaca woodland and broad-leaf deciduous woodland.

This work aimed to study the physicochemical, nutritional, and antioxidant characteristics of the pulp and seeds of the jackfruit collected in the East Cameroon region to reduce the malnutrition problems encountered in the said region. To achieve this work, we first administered a survey. We observed that 50 people from Bertoua knew the fruit among the 200 people surveyed. After that, the physicochemical characteristics and nutritional value of Artocarpus heterophyllus pulp and seeds from Bertoua were evaluated. Finally, the antioxidant compounds (total phenolic and flavonoid contents) and the antioxidant activities were evaluated through the DPPH free radical scavenging capacity, the ability to reduce ferric ions, and the hydroxyl radical scavenging ability using the aqueous, ethanolic, and hydro‐ethanolic extracts of these samples (pulp and seeds). Results (means ± standard deviation) were obtained in triplicate and analyzed statistically by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) at the 0.05 probability level. The results revealed that the jackfruit pulp has a water content (89.85% ± 0.49) significantly higher than that of seeds (60.075% ± 0.12). The pH of jackfruit pulp (5 ± 0) is significantly lower than that of seeds (6 ± 0). Jackfruit pulp had a carbohydrate content (54.39% ± 0.47) significantly higher than that of seeds (49.01% ± 0.43). The protein content of jackfruit pulp (18.35% ± 0.04) is lower than that of the seeds (21.66% ± 0.31). For mineral content, the maximum contents of K (848 mg/100 g ± 10.34) and Na (69.53 mg/100 g ± 0) were identified in the jackfruit pulp while those of Ca (132 mg/100 g ± 9.42), Mg (43.73 mg/100 g ± 9.12), and P (101.51 mg/100 g ± 4.02) were found in the seeds. However, all extracts possessed both antioxidant compounds (phenols and flavonoids) and antioxidant activities. In conclusion, the jackfruit appears to be a fruit that can improve the nutritional status of the populations of eastern Cameroon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of exclosures on restoring degraded lands may vary with soil type, exclosure age, and conditions before the establishment of exclosures. Yet, studies investigating the effectiveness of exclosures in restoring degraded lands under different environmental conditions are lacking. This study aims at investigating the changes in woody species richness and diversity, and ecosystem carbon stocks after implementing exclosures in the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia. Vegetation and soil data were gathered from 120 nested plots established in exclosures of eight and 30‐years‐old and adjacent grazing lands. Results showed that exclosures contained a higher number of economically important woody species compared to their respective adjacent grazing lands. However, the exclosures and respective adjacent grazing lands did not differ significantly in the diversity of tree and shrub species, and both the exclosures and adjacent grazing lands were dominated by few tree and shrub species. The older exclosure (30 years old) displayed significantly (p < 0.01) higher soil organic carbon and soil total nitrogen content and stocks than the adjacent grazing land, whereas the youngest exclosure (8 years old) did not show a significant difference in these variables. The results suggest that a longer time (e.g., ≥10 years) is needed to detect significant differences in soil organic carbon and total soil nitrogen. However, exclosures could bring considerable changes in woody species density in a relatively shorter period (e.g., ≤10 years) and support to restore degraded native woody species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanisation is rapidly transforming terrestrial environments, especially in the tropics. Many squirrel species tolerate urbanisation, but studies are biased towards temperate regions. We quantify the distribution and abundance of squirrels and (ecologically similar) tree‐shrews along an urbanisation gradient in a rapidly urbanising tropical mega‐city (Bangkok, Thailand) located within the Indo‐Burma biodiversity hotspot. We used repeated point counts in 150 1 km cells, selected using random stratification across the urbanisation gradient. We quantified species responses to (i) urbanisation intensity (measured using impervious surface cover), (ii) environmental conditions (woodland quantity and quality, human disturbance and predation pressure from free‐ranging cats and dogs) and (iii) urbanisation impacts on hybridisation between congeneric Callosciurus squirrels. Three of the six species from the regional species pool were extremely rare or absent within our study region (Tamiops macclellandi, Callosciurus caniceps and Menetes berdmorei). Of the three more widespread species (Tupaia belangeri, Callosciurus finlaysonii and Callosciurus erythraeus) only C. finlaysonii had a higher abundance in more urban locations. The increasing intensity of urbanisation has thus markedly reduced squirrel diversity and abundance, contrasting with the perception from temperate regions that squirrels typically tolerate urbanisation. Urbanisation is thus likely to have reduced important ecological functions provided by squirrels, such as seed dispersal. Models of species responses to environmental conditions suggest that improving habitat quality by increasing tree cover and diversity at local and landscape scales and reducing human disturbance and numbers of feral dogs would partially mitigating adverse impacts of urbanisation on tropical squirrels and tree‐shrews. Urban infrastructure (bridge construction across the Chao‐Praya River) appears to have increased the permeability of a geographic barrier that previously separated C. finlaysonii and C. erythraeus distributions, increasing hybridisation rates. Our study enhances understanding of the ecological impacts of urbanisation in biodiverse tropical regions and the action required to mitigate these impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable water management in semi‐arid agriculture practices requires quantitative knowledge of water fluxes within the soil‐vegetation‐atmosphere system. Therefore, we used stable‐isotope approaches to evaluate evaporation (Ea), transpiration (Ta), and groundwater recharge (R) at sites in Senegal's Groundnut basin and Ferlo Valley pasture region during the pre‐monsoon, monsoon, and post‐monsoon seasons of 2021. The approaches were based upon (i) the isothermal evaporation model (for quantifying Ea); (ii) water and isotope mass balances (to partition Ea and Ta for groundnut and pasture); and (iii) the piston displacement method (for estimating R). Ea losses derived from the isothermal evaporation model corresponded primarily to Stage II evaporation, and ranged from 0.02 to 0.09 mm d−1 in the Groundnut basin, versus 0.02–0.11 mm d−1 in Ferlo. At the groundnut site, Ea rates ranged from 0.01 to 0.69 mm d−1; Ta was in the range 0.55–2.29 mm d−1; and the Ta/ETa ratio was 74%–90%. At the pasture site, the ranges were 0.02–0.39 mm d−1 for Ea; 0.9–1.69 mm d−1 for Ta; and 62–90% for Ta/ETa. The ETa value derived for the groundnut site via the isotope approach was similar to those from eddy covariance measurements, and also to the results from the previous validated HYDRUS‐1D model. However, the HYDRUS‐1D model gave a lower Ta/ETa ratio (23.2%). The computed groundwater recharge for the groundnut site amounted to less than 2% of the local annual precipitation. Recommendations are made regarding protocols for preventing changes to isotopic compositions of water in samples that are collected in remote arid regions, but must be analysed days later. The article ends with suggestions for studies to follow up on evidence that local aquifers are being recharged via preferential pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translocations have become an essential tool in animal conservation for establishing and maintaining viable populations. Yet, the viability of a population is implicitly based on the individual fitness, that is on the survival and reproduction of individuals. Individual‐based assessments of post‐translocation fitness are challenging in the wild while conservation breeding programs may provide vital insights. Long‐term breeding records of semi‐captive (fenced) small population of the Western Derby eland (Taurotragus derbianus derbianus) running in two fenced reserves in Senegal present a case study. This study shows that transport distance and the individual's age at translocation influence animal post‐translocation survival rates and individual reproductive performance. The most critical period for the antelope's post‐translocation survival was the first 2 years following the event, with higher mortalities reported after long‐distance transport in an ecologically novel environment. The first successful calving of translocated females was postponed by 1 year, but the life‐long reproductive performance was not affected. However, higher calf survival in a habitat similar to that in the wild suggests a non‐negligible effect of the habitat on individual fitness, thus crucial to conservation decisions on translocating threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Kiley (1966) found that species readily eaten by waterbuck were grass species such as I Heteropogon contortus i , I Chloris i sp., I Hyparrhenia i sp., and I Themeda triandra i in National Parks of Uganda and Kenya. Overall, we detected 15 species in waterbuck diets (Table 1), 11 (73.3%) grasses and four (26.7%) woody species implying that grasses made up most of the waterbuck diet in this study. Ungulates consume diverse food items in different sites due to variation in food density, composition, habitat, predation risk, and competition (Valeix et al., 2009) and are affected by the type and quality of food items available to them (Kassa et al., 2007). This is supported by Lopez (2018) at the Majete Wildlife Reserve, who observed waterbuck mainly consuming grass species connected to riparian zones and inferred that waterbuck mostly consume riparian plants. [Extracted from the article]

This study examines the effects of restoration of degraded lands on soils physicochemical properties and adaptability of planted woody species over a period of 4–6 years. It is based on: (1) Physicochemical analyses of soils (granulometry, calcimetry, and organic matter); (2) measures carried out for the dimensioning of anti‐erosion structures; (3) dendrometric measurements on planted woody species on a density from 96 to 625 plants/ha, and the excavations of their root systems. The soils are characterized by low levels of organic matter (<1%), and no calcium carbonate. Soil tillage through deep sub‐soiling resulted in an improvement in soils quality marked by average proportions of clay (28.3%), silt (27.3%) on the anti‐erosion structures, whereas the control sites are dominated by sand particles (64%) on average. The degradation mechanism of anti‐erosion structures is mainly controlled by natural factors including topography, rainfall, and sand content of the soils with strong positive correlations (r=0.84; r=0.79; r=0.63 respectively). Restoration activities have led to the reconstitution of vegetation cover on degraded soils. Eucalyptus camaldulensis groups showed better adaptation as evidenced by their high structural shape parametres including Lorey's mean height (5.16–8.03 m), and mean crown diameter (1.66–3.3 m) with a tracer‐type root system and high root density (74–88 roots) observed at 30 cm from the main stem. This study provides substantial information on the contribution of erosion control measures and their interactions with soil and vegetation resources. It constitutes a scientific tool that is well‐adapted to the Sahelian (Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania and Senegal) context indispensable for the implementation of sustainable development strategies. The results thus obtained can be used as a reference for the choice of woody species to be planted according to the toposequence and the nature of the anti‐erosion structures made, with a good control of their durability while taking into account the productivity of the soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Plants, People, Planet is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Animal self‐medication is thought to provide an adaptive advantage, as species would actively respond to a disease state or homeostatic imbalances. In wild nonhuman primates, it is challenging to differentiate plant use as part of the diet or as medication, especially because self‐medication can be preventive or therapeutic. Here, we aimed to compile the available potential evidence on primate self‐medication modes, investigating which proposed requirements are fulfilled for each plant species reported to date. We systematically reviewed the scientific literature on plant use for potential self‐medication in wild nonhuman primates. To construct the extensive database, we extracted data on the primate species, study area, plant/plant's part used, the requirement(s) met for demonstrating self‐medication modes, and self‐medicative behavioral patterns. We also updated available information on plant's biological compounds and/or physical characteristics, pharmacological properties, and ethnomedical uses. We identified 575 plant species (135 families), used by 25 primate species (9 families). Plants were used by Old World monkeys (46.5%, n = 268 plant species), followed by apes (41%, n = 235), New World monkeys (13.4%, n = 77), and prosimians (1%, n = 6). We found three general types of self‐medicative behaviors: ingestion (including, but not limited to, leaf‐swallowing, seed‐swallowing, and bitter pith chewing), topical (fur‐rubbing), and nest fumigation. Plant uses were associated with antiparasitic, antibacterial, antimalarial, anti‐inflammatory, insect repellent, among other properties. Self‐medication is widespread in nonhuman primate species across Central and South America, Africa, Madagascar, and Asia. Long‐term field research efforts and studies integrating different research sites and topics are urgent to advance our knowledge into the evolution of plant selection, medical traditions, and to bring insights into potentially novel medicinal plants and bioactive compounds to treat emergent or established primate and human diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]