A review of the nest protection hypothesis: does inclusion of fresh green plant material in birds’ nests reduce parasite infestation?

Parasitology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 142 (8) ◽  
pp. 1016-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAMES F. SCOTT-BAUMANN ◽  
ERIC R. MORGAN
Keyword(s):  
Mate Selection ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Green Plant ◽  
Observational Evidence ◽  
Aromatic Plants ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Cavity Nesting ◽  
Nest Protection ◽  
Parasite Infestation ◽  
Aromatic Herbs

SUMMARYThe use of aromatic plants and their essential oils for ectoparasite treatment is a field of growing interest. Several species of birds regularly introduce aromatic herbs into their nests putatively to reduce parasites. The behaviour is most often seen in cavity nesting birds and after nest building has finished. The plants are included in a non-structural manner and are often strongly aromatic. Various different hypotheses have been proposed regarding the function of this behaviour; from the plants altering some non-living factor in the nest (crypsis, water loss and insulation hypotheses) to them being involved in mate selection (mate hypothesis) or even having a beneficial effect, direct or indirect, on chicks (drug or nest protection hypothesis, NPH). Many studies have been carried out over the years observing and experimentally testing these hypotheses. This review focuses on studies involving the most popular of these hypotheses, the NPH: that plants decrease nest parasites or pathogens, thereby conveying positive effects to the chicks, allowing the behaviour to evolve. Studies providing observational evidence towards this hypothesis and those experimentally testing it are discussed.

Analysis of Serbian Production and Export of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

2022 ◽  
pp. 942-960
Author(s):  
Svetlana Ignjatijević ◽  
Drago Cvijanović
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Exchange ◽  
Comparative Advantage ◽  
Aromatic Plants ◽  
Earned Value ◽  
Medicinal And Aromatic Plants ◽  
Export Structure ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Exchange Value ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Long Time

The emphasis of the research in this chapter was put on the analysis of production and export/import of MAP (Medical and aromatic plants) from Serbia. After reading this chapter, readers will find out that the production of MAP in a long time period has been steady, although has been present fluctuations per years. They will know that indigenous and cultivated MAPs are equally present on the market, and will notice that they are equally present in export as well, i.e. that there is no such register. They will be familiar with the positive effects of planned production and the significance of scientific and technological achievements implementation. Readers will be able to recognize the dynamics of changes in export and import of MAP. They will find out which products are the most significant in export and import and will notice the connection between the export structure of MAP sector and earned value - foreign exchange inflow. They will be able to understand the character of exchange, value of export/import and the comparative advantage of export. Readers will be especially familiar with experiences and recommendations of other authors on the development of MAP sector and directives of authors for deepening the research within this chapter. They will know the connection between a low foreign exchange inflow and types of products in export and will understand the need for new organization models and education of manufacturers.

Development of nestling blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) is affected by experimental addition of aromatic plants

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 44-48
Author(s):  
Bárbara A Pires ◽  
Anabela DF Belo ◽  
Fernanda Diamantino ◽  
João E Rabaça ◽  
Santiago Merino
Keyword(s):  
Resource Competition ◽  
Aromatic Plants ◽  
Aromatic Plant ◽  
Tarsus Length ◽  
Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Nestling Development ◽  
Nestling Survival ◽  
Effect Of Treatment ◽  
Blue Tits

Some passerines incorporate aromatic plants in their nest cups, and several hypotheses have been formulated to explain this behaviour. One of those, the Drug Hypothesis, states that aromatic plants present in nests have positive effects on nestlings’ development through increased immune function. In this study, we aimed to examine if experimental addition of aromatic plants had positive effects on reproductive performance (the number of fledglings produced and nestling survival rate) and nestling development (weight and tarsus length). In addition, we study whether those potential effects were more noticeable in different brood sizes–small and large–through an observational approach. We expect that large broods, due to increased resource competition between nestlings, will benefit more from aromatic plant incorporation, as compared to small broods. Nestlings were significantly heavier in 2015 as compared to 2016 and 2017 and in small broods. No effect of treatment was observed in nestling weight. Although there was no overall effect of treatment on nestling tarsus length, nestlings from aromatic nests had significantly longer tarsi as compared to nestlings from control nests, in large broods.

An evaluation of cereal stubbles for sheep production

1976 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 881 ◽  
Author(s):  
JG Mulholland ◽  
JB Coombe ◽  
M Freer ◽  
WR McManus
Keyword(s):  
Plant Material ◽  
Green Plant ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Mineral Supplement ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Sheep Production ◽  
One Year ◽  
Cereal Residues ◽  
Stocking Rates

The production of young crossbred wethers grazing oat, barley and wheat stubbles was measured in each of three years at stocking rates ranging from 15 to 30/ha. In one year, production on 'weedy' stubbles was compared with that of 'clean' (weed-free) stubbles, and also the effect of a wheat–urea–mineral supplement on the production of sheep was measured on oat stubble. Liveweight change and wool production were significantly influenced by the availability of green plant material and by stocking rate, but not by supplementation. The maximum liveweight loss in any year was 7.5 kg and the maximum gain 6.0 kg, both recorded over 11 weeks' grazing. Mean daily clean wool production was 9.9 g/sheep at the lower stocking rate and 6.6 g/sheep at the higher rate, but production per hectare was 10–60% higher at the heavier stocking rate. The ranking of the crop stubbles with respect to animal production was not consistent from year to year. Intense selection for green plant material by sheep resulted in the proportion of green in the diet being nearly always greater than 80%, when the weight of this material on the plots was more than 40 kg dry matter/ha. It appeared that a low intake of nitrogen was not the main limitation to animal production. A maximum of only 36% of the crop residue which disappeared during the experiment could be accounted for as animal intake. Thus it is unlikely that the potential of cereal residues as a source of food for animal production will be realized with grazing sheep.

Diet selection and intake by sheep and cattle grazing together on stubbles of wheat, oats or barley

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (85) ◽  
pp. 224 ◽  
Author(s):  
JG Mulholland ◽  
JB Coombe ◽  
WR McManus
Keyword(s):  
Plant Material ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Diet Selection ◽  
Green Plant ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Cereal Residues ◽  
Daily Intakes

Single plots of wheat, oats and barley stubbles were grazed by sheep and cattle in common on a 19 day rotation for 76 days. Initially the stubbles contained 600-1200 kg dry matter ha-1 of green weeds and 3300-4800 kg dry matter ha-1 of cereal residues. Serial estimates were made of diet selection, in vitro digestibility and intake by both species. Sheep consistently selected a diet with a higher proportion of green material than did cattle, but neither species utilized the crop residues to any extent. The overall mean digestibilities of the diet were 68 and 54 per cent fop sheep and cattle respectively (P < 0.01) ; the mean N concentration in the faeces of sheep was 0.64 percentage units higher than for cattle (P < 0.01). Differences in selection by the animals were greatest at the lowest level of green plant material. Estimates of the mean daily intakes of DOM (g kg-1) per unit of metabolic liveweight (W0.9) were 32 and 15, and of dead plant material dry matter (g kg-1) 4.2 and 13.2 for sheep and cattle respectively. There were no differences in selection between stubble species. The results are discussed in relation to maximizing the use of cereal stubbles for animal production.

scholarly journals Which Aroma In Iranian Traditional Medicine Is Effective On Sleep Disorders?

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11
Author(s):  
Armaghan Sadat Keyhanmehr ◽  
Mina Movahhed ◽  
Shamim Sahranavard ◽  
Mostafa Hamdieh ◽  
Shahla Afsharpaiman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Sleep Disorders ◽  
Sleep Disorder ◽  
Aromatic Plants ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Iranian Traditional Medicine ◽  
Specific Performance ◽  
The World ◽  
Methods Of Treatment ◽  
Selection Of

Sleep disorder is considered as a common problem throughout the world. Aromatherapy is a kind of treatment performed by using essential oils of plants for improving disease. There is much evidence in the literature, including Iranian traditional medicine, which confirms its positive effects on improving sleep disorder. Related keywords searched some Iranian traditional medicine texts and some new valid databases. In Iranian traditional medicine, aromatherapy is one of the methods of treatment for improving sleep disorders and its done by the temperamental approach. Aroma temperament, brain mal-temperament and specific performance of aroma are three factors for selection of the plants. Fourteen aromatic plants are introduced that can be effective by hypnotic in insomnia and reducing sleep in oversleeping. Aromatherapy is an effective method to improve sleep disorders, and it can be used through various plants in the more specified way with fewer side effects using temperamental approach. [GMJ.2017;6(1):3-11]

scholarly journals Medicinal and Aromatic plants: “Natural bio-chemicals and medicine factories”

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 691-698
Author(s):  
Vandana ◽  
Rajesh Lather ◽  
Sridevi Tallapragada ◽  
Gurnam Singh
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Population ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Aromatic Plants ◽  
Medicinal And Aromatic Plants ◽  
The World

Since thousands years back approximately around 900 BC, medicinal plants are considered as a source of many biomolecules with therapeutic potential. Herbal medicines are considered as safer, better, physiologically compatible and costeffective. The oldest evidence of medicinal and aromatic plants depicts that with the emergence of human civilization, plants have been considered as the main source to heal and cure various serious ailments. It has been proven that the secondary metabolites e.g. alkaloid, glycosides, flavonoides, steroids etc present in the medicinal plants possesses ability to prevent occurrence of some of the diseases, means medicinal plants acts as a “preventive medicine”. Medicinal plants have a paramount importance and a great interest due to its pharmaceutical, cosmetic and nutritional values. Some plants are also considered as an important source of nutrition and are known to have a variety of compounds with potential therapeutic properties. India is the principal repository of large number of medicinal and aromatic plants or we can say India is one of the rich mega-biodiversity countries of the world. Medicinal plants are “backbone” of traditional medicinal system (TMS). Crude drugs are usually dried parts of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) such as roots, stems, wood, bark, seeds, fruits, flowers, leaves, rhizomes, whole plant etc. that form the essential raw material for the production of medicines in various systems of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Tibatian, Tribal and Homeopathy. According to the survey of the World Health Organization (WHO), about 80% of the world population are using herbs and other traditional medicines for their primary healthcare and have established three kinds of herbal medicines: raw plant material, processed plant material, and herbal products. Now days, variety of available herbs are used throughout the world and they continue to promote good health. As the benefits from medicinal and aromatic plants are recognized, these plants will have a special role for humans in the future. The present review on medicinal and aromatic plants revealed similar combination of studies.

scholarly journals Comparison of Traditional and Novel Drying Techniques and Its Effect on Quality of Fruits, Vegetables and Aromatic Herbs

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1261
Author(s):  
Ángel Calín-Sánchez ◽  
Leontina Lipan ◽  
Marina Cano-Lamadrid ◽  
Abdolreza Kharaghani ◽  
Klaudia Masztalerz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Material ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Drying Methods ◽  
Drying Techniques ◽  
Material Volume ◽  
Review Reports ◽  
Combined Technique ◽  
Aromatic Herbs

Drying is known as the best method to preserve fruits, vegetables, and herbs, decreasing not only the raw material volume but also its weight. This results in cheaper transportation and increments the product shelf life, limiting the food waste. Drying involves the application of energy in order to vaporize and mobilize the moisture content within the porous products. During this process, the heat and mass transfer occurs simultaneously. The quality of dehydrated fruits, vegetables, and aromatic herbs is a key problem closely related to the development and optimization of novel drying techniques. This review reports the weaknesses of common drying methods applied for fruits, vegetables, and aromatic herbs and the possible options to improve the quality of dried products using different drying techniques or their combination. The quality parameters under study include color, bulk density, porosity, shrinkage, phytochemicals, antioxidant capacity, sugars, proteins, volatile compounds, and sensory attributes. In general, drying leads to reduction in all studied parameters. However, the behavior of each plant material is different. On the whole, the optimal drying technique is different for each of the materials studied and specific conditions must be recommended after a proper evaluation of the drying protocols. However, a novel or combined technique must assure a high quality of dried products. Furthermore, the term quality must englobe the energy efficiency and the environmental impact leading to production of sustainable dried products.

Optimization of Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Sideritis raeseri, Sideritis scardica and Origanum vulgare

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-111
Author(s):  
Ioannis Sarakatsianos ◽  
Konstantinos Adamopoulos ◽  
Victoria Samanidou ◽  
Athanasia Goula ◽  
Elissavet Ninou
Keyword(s):  
Microwave Radiation ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Extraction Yield ◽  
Microwave Assisted Extraction ◽  
Aromatic Plants ◽  
Origanum Vulgare ◽  
Medicinal And Aromatic Plants ◽  
Microwave Assisted ◽  
Assisted Extraction ◽  
Phenolic Constituents

Background: Medicinal plants consist a rich source of natural pharmacologically active compounds. The aim of the current work, was the study and optimization of the extraction conditions of phenolic constituents from important medicinal and aromatic plants, id. Sideritis raeseri, Sideritis scardica and Origanum vulgare, implementing microwave assisted extraction technique. Methods: Optimization was based on various parameters affecting extraction procedure, such as the duration of microwave radiation, the ratio of plant material mass to the solvent, the type and the concentration of the solvent. Results: The results revealed that 10 min of microwave radiation provided the maximum extraction yield of the phenolic constituents. The ratio of the plant material mass and the solvent had minor effect to the extraction efficiency. Conclusion: The examined solvents provided an extraction yield of phenolic constituents following the order: EtOH<MeOH<H2O<MeOH:H2O (80:20, v/v)<EtOH:H2O (60:40, v/v), in the case of Sideritis raeseri and Sideritis scardica and the order: H2O<MeOH:H2O (80:20, v/v)<EtOH:H2O (60:40, v/v) < MeOH<EtOH in the case of Origanum vulgare.

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