Can wild ungulate carcasses provide enough biomass to maintain avian scavenger populations? An empirical assessment using a bio-inspired computational model

Background: The reduction in the amount of food available for European avian scavengers as a consequence of restrictive public health policies is a concern for managers and conservationists. Since 2002, the application of several sanitary regulations has limited the availability of feeding resources provided by domestic carcasses, but theoretical studies assessing whether the availability of food resources provided by wild ungulates are enough to cover energetic requirements are lacking. Methodology/Findings: We assessed food provided by a wild ungulate population in two areas of NE Spain inhabited by three vulture species and developed a P System computational model to assess the effects of the carrion resources provided on their population dynamics. We compared the real population trend with to a hypothetical scenario in which only food provided by wild ungulates was available. Simulation testing of the model suggests that wild ungulates constitute an important food resource in the Pyrenees and the vulture population inhabiting this area could grow if only the food provided by wild ungulates would be available. On the contrary, in the Pre-Pyrenees there is insufficient food to cover the energy requirements of avian scavenger guilds, declining sharply if biomass from domestic animals would not be available. Conclusions/Significance: Our results suggest that public health legislation can modify scavenger population trends if a large number of domestic ungulate carcasses disappear from the mountains. In this case, food provided by wild ungulates could be not enough and supplementary feeding could be necessary if other alternative food resources are not available (i.e. the reintroduction of wild ungulates), preferably in European Mediterranean scenarios sharing similar and socio-economic conditions where there are low densities of wild ungulates. Managers should anticipate the conservation actions required by assessing food availability and the possible scenarios in order to make the most suitable decisions.

Engineered Trx2p industrial yeast strain protects glycolysis and fermentation proteins from oxidative carbonylation during biomass propagation

Background: In the yeast biomass production process, protein carbonylation has severe adverse effects since it diminishes biomass yield and profitability of industrial production plants. However, this significant detriment of yeast performance can be alleviated by increasing thioredoxins levels. Thioredoxins are important antioxidant defenses implicated in many functions in cells, and their primordial functions include scavenging of reactive oxygen species that produce dramatic and irreversible alterations such as protein carbonylation. Results: In this work we have found several proteins specifically protected by yeast Thioredoxin 2 (Trx2p). Bidimensional electrophoresis and carbonylated protein identification from TRX-deficient and TRX-overexpressing cells revealed that glycolysis and fermentation-related proteins are specific targets of Trx2p protection. Indeed, the TRX2 overexpressing strain presented increased activity of the central carbon metabolism enzymes. Interestingly, Trx2p specifically preserved alcohol dehydrogenase I (Adh1p) from carbonylation, decreased oligomer aggregates and increased its enzymatic activity. Conclusions: The identified proteins suggest that the fermentative capacity detriment observed under industrial conditions in T73 wine commercial strain results from the oxidative carbonylation of specific glycolytic and fermentation enzymes. Indeed, increased thioredoxin levels enhance the performance of key fermentation enzymes such as Adh1p, which consequently increases fermentative capacity.

A spatial modelling framework for assessing climate change impacts on freshwater ecosystems: Response of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) biomass to warming water temperature

Mountain regions worldwide are particularly sensitive to on-going climate change. Specifically in the Alps in Switzerland, the temperature has increased twice as fast than in the rest of the Northern hemisphere. Water temperature closely follows the annual air temperature cycle, severely impacting streams and freshwater ecosystems. In the last 20 years, brown trout (Salmo trutta L) catch has declined by approximately 40-50% in many rivers in Switzerland. Increasing water temperature has been suggested as one of the most likely cause of this decline. Temperature has a direct effect on trout population dynamics through developmental and disease control but can also indirectly impact dynamics via food-web interactions such as resource availability. We developed a spatially explicit modelling framework that allows spatial and temporal projections of trout biomass using the Aare river catchment as a model system, in order to assess the spatial and seasonal patterns of trout biomass variation. Given that biomass has a seasonal variation depending on trout life history stage, we developed seasonal biomass variation models for three periods of the year (Autumn-Winter, Spring and Summer). Because stream water temperature is a critical parameter for brown trout development, we first calibrated a model to predict water temperature as a function of air temperature to be able to further apply climate change scenarios. We then built a model of trout biomass variation by linking water temperature to trout biomass measurements collected by electro-fishing in 21 stations from 2009 to 2011. The different modelling components of our framework had overall a good predictive ability and we could show a seasonal effect of water temperature affecting trout biomass variation. Our statistical framework uses a minimum set of input variables that make it easily transferable to other study areas or fish species but could be improved by including effects of the biotic environment and the evolution of demographical parameters over time. However, our framework still remains informative to spatially highlight where potential changes of water temperature could affect trout biomass. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.-

Status of biomass gasification

Kaasutuksen kannattavuus ja toteutustapa on ollut tarkea ja useiden tutkimuksien kohde. Biomassan kaasutuksen ja siina kaytettavien laitteiden nykytila on epavarma. Niinpa lisatutkimukselle ja tarkasteluille on edelleen tarvetta. Tama tyo keskittyy nykyisin kaytettavien kaasutusprosessien ja laitteiden tarkasteluun. Tyossa kaydaan lapi useita uusimpia kaasutusprojekteja ja esitetaan niista tutkimustarpeita. Lisaksi kaasutusprosessissa pitaa saada hallintaan niille tyypillisia ongelmia kuten kaasun puhdistus, kaasun kasittely, biomassan kasittely ja kaasuttimen muuraus, joista esitetaan lisatietoa. Edelleen esitetaan kaasutusprosessien taydellinen luokittelu. On huomattava etta biomassan kaasutusta tarvitaan jotta saadaan toteutettua EUn hahmotteleman ja saataman energiapolitiikan vaatima kasvu ja kehitys.

Fouling tendency in biomass-fired boilers

Although it is well known that firing biomass fuels leads to increased deposition buildup on heat transfer surfaces in boiler compared with firing coal, existing empirical knowledge about combustion of different types of biofuels is limited. The aim of this study is to give greater awareness and understanding of the circumstances which are able to decrease considerably deposition build up on heat transfer surfaces when firing different types of biofuels. The crucial part of this thesis is experimental investigation of fouling tendency while firing biomass fuels, such as straw, bark, and peat having different chemical composition. In order to give comprehensive overview of ash deposition phenomena the number of not less important issues such as mechanisms of ash deposition, effect of fouling on heat transfer, and design of boilers subjected to ash buildup were examined as well. The answers obtained in this study may be a step towards a better knowledge of firing biofuels as separately as in mixtures, and may provide solutions for successful combustion technique of biomass fuels.

Pienen mittakaavan CHP-laitokset osana hiilineutraalia maaseutuyhteiskuntaa

Maapallon ilmasto lämpenee koko ajan kasvihuonekaasujen määrän lisääntyessä ilmakehässä. Merkittävin ihmisten aiheuttama päästöjen lähde on fossiilisten polttoaineiden käyttö energiantuotannossa ja liikenteessä, jonka vuoksi on tärkeää lisätä uusiutuvien energialähteiden käyttöä. Tämän diplomityön tavoitteena oli selvittää esimerkkialueena olevan maaseutuyhteiskunnan mahdollisuutta olla energiaomavarainen ja materiaalikierroiltaan suljettu, jos alueen tarvitsema sähkö ja lämpö tuotettaisiin paikallisilla biomassavaroilla kahdella rinnakkaisella pienen mittakaavan CHP-laitoksella. Tarkastellut laitokset olivat anaerobisen mädätyksen ja polttokennojen yhdistelmä sekä termisen käsittelyn ja ORC-prosessin yhdistelmä. Työssä tehdyt laskelmat osoittivat, että esimerkkialue saisi tuotettua omilla biomassavaroillaan tarvitsemastaan sähköstä 75 % ja lämmöstä 90 % esimerkkilaitosten avulla. Laskelmissa ei kuitenkaan huomioitu kesä- ja talvikuukausien välistä eroa lämmön kulutuksessa, jonka vuoksi molemmat laitokset eivät voisi toimia koko ajan täydellä teholla. Lisäksi tuotetun lämmön hyötykäyttöä rajoittaa riittävän laajan kaukolämpöverkon puuttuminen esimerkkialueelta. Nykyisen kaukolämpöverkon avulla saataisiin hyödynnettyä vain kolmasosa ORC-prosessilla tuotetusta lämpöenergiasta. Laskelmat osoittivat myös, että alueen kasvihuonekaasupäästöt pienenisivät 21 % eli noin 6 000 hiilidioksidiekvivalenttitonnia vuodessa, jos suurin osa energiasta tuotettaisiin omista biomassavaroista CHP-laitosten avulla ja mädätyksen seurauksena syntyvä reaktorijäännös korvaisi kemiallisten lannoitteiden käytön.

Use of Biomass Gasification for Transport

This thesis represents an overview of biomass gasification technology together with some practical aspects of this technology application for transport in Finland. The main aim of this work is an assessment whether this technology is perspective in the nearest future for the wide use on transport or not. The first part of the thesis is a kind of survey of the previous works and materials con-cerning the usage of biomass gasification for transport. The second part concentrates more on the practical moments of its use for mobile applications in Finland (taxation, emissions, etc.).

Utilisation of biomass for energy production in the North-West Russian forest industry

Traditionally, fossil fuels have always been the major sources of the modern energy production. However prices on these energy sources have been constantly increasing. The utilization of local biomass resources for energy production can substitute significant part of the required energy demand in different energy sectors. The introduction of the biomass usage can easily be started in the forest industry first as it possesses biomass in a large volume. The forest industry energy sector has the highest potential for the fast bioenergy development in the North-West Russia. Therefore, the question concerning rational and effective forest resources use is important today as well as the utilization of the forestry by-products. This work describes and analyzes the opportunities of utilising biomass, mainly, in the form of the wood by-products, for energy production processes in general, as well as for the northwest Russian forest industry conditions. The study also covers basic forest industry processes and technologies, so, the reader can get familiar with the information about the specific character of the biomass utilization. The work gives a comprehensive view on the northwest forest industry situation from the biomass utilisation point of view. By presenting existing large-scale sawmills and pulp and paper mills the work provides information for the evaluation of the future development of CHP investments in the northwest Russian forest industry.

Market of biomass fuels in Finland : IEA Bioenergy Task 40 and EUBIONET III - Country report of Finland 2009

This study considered the current situation of solid and liquid biomass fuels in Finland. The fact that industry consumes more than half of the total primary energy, widely applied combined heat and power production and a high share of solid biomass fuels in the total energy consumption are specific to the Finnish energy system. Wood is the most important source of bioenergy in Finland, representing 20% of the total energy consumption in 2007. Almost 80% of the woodbased energy is recovered from industrial by-products and residues. As a member of the European Union, Finland has committed itself to the Union’s climate and energy targets, such as reducing its overall emissions of green house gases to at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, and increasing the share of renewable energy in the gross final consumption. The renewable energy target approved for Finland is 38%. The present National Climate and Energy Strategy was introduced in November 2008. The strategy covers climate and energy policy measures up to 2020, and in brief thereafter, up to 2050. In recent years, the actual emissions have exceeded the Kyoto commitment and the trend of emissions is on the increase. In 2007, the share of renewable energy in the gross final energy consumption was approximately 25% (360 PJ). Without new energy policy measures, the final consumption of renewable energy would increase to 380 PJ, which would be approximately only 31% of the final energy consumption. In addition, green house gas emissions would exceed the 1990 levels by 20%. Meeting the targets will need the adoption of more active energy policy measures in coming years. The international trade of biomass fuels has a substantial importance for the utilisation of bioenergy in Finland. In 2007, the total international trading of solid and liquid biomass fuels was approximately 77 PJ, of which import was 62 PJ. Most of the import is indirect and takes place within the forest industry’s raw wood imports. In 2007, as much as 21% of wood energy was based on foreign-origin wood. Wood pellets and tall oil form the majority of export streams of biomass fuels. The indirect import of wood fuels peaked in 2006 to 61 PJ. The foreseeable decline in raw wood import to Finland will decrease the indirect import of wood fuels. In 2004– 2007, the direct trade of solid and liquid biomass fuels has been on a moderate growth path. In 2007, the import of palm oil and export of bio-diesel emerged, as a large, 170 000 t/yr biodiesel plant came into operation in Porvoo.

Effect of extracts from citric biomass, rusted coffee leaves and coffee berry husks on Phoma costarricencis of coffee plants

Phoma leaf spot, caused by Phoma costarricensis poses a serious threat to coffee (Coffea arabica) production, especially in the highlands of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Extracts of citric biomass, coffee berry husks and coffee leaves severely affected by rust caused by Hemileia vastatrix, were evaluated against P. costarricensis. In an in vitro assay, aqueous extracts of rusted leaves and berry husks plus the commercial extracts based on citric biomass named Ecolife® and Agromil® were tested at various dilutions on the mycelial growth inhibition of P. costarricensis. In vivo, coffee seedlings maintained in glasshouse, were sprayed with these extracts seven days before inoculation of P. costarricensis. Only extracts from citric biomass had inhibitory effects on the fungus. In vivo, Ecolife® (5 ml/l), Agromil® (5 g/l) and the aqueous extract of rusted coffee leaves (dilution 1:6) reduced Phoma leaf spot. Both, Ecolife® and the extract of rusted coffee leaves were significantly more effective in reducing the area under the lesion progress curve when applied at lower doses, indicating a possible effect on the induction of resistance.

ORC-prosessin käyttö sähköntuotannossa

Tässä energiatekniikan kandidaatintyössä tarkastellaan ORC-prosessia ja -tekniikkaa, sen erilaisia osa-alueita, ORC:n käyttökohteita, markkinoita sekä tulevaisuuden haasteita. Työssä selvitetään myös millaisia teknisiä ratkaisuja valmistajilla on tarjota tällä hetkellä. Työn tavoitteena on tehdä selvitys ORC-teknologian nykytilasta. ORC-prosessilla (Organic Rankine Cycle) tarkoitetaan Rankine-prosessia, jossa kiertoaineena veden sijaan on käyttökohteeseen sopiva orgaaninen fluidi. Orgaanisen kiertoaineen käyttö mahdollistaa verrattain matalalla lämpötilatasolla vapautuvan lämmön hyödyntämisen, mikä olisi muuten vaikea tai mahdoton hyödyntää perinteisellä vesihöyryprosessilla. Huoli energian riittävyydestä, kasvavista polttoainekustannuksista, päästörajoitusten tiukentumisesta sekä vihreän ajattelutavan yleistyminen ovat lisänneet mielenkiintoa tuottaa sähköä hyödyntämällä matalamman lämpötilatason lämpöä. ORC:n periaate on ollut jo vuosikymmeniä hyvin tiedossa. Monia uusia menetelmiä on kehitetty tuottamaan sähköä matalammista lämpötiloista, mutta kaikista sovelluksista ORC-prosessi on yleisin.

Dry biomass distribution in a cerrado sensu stricto site in Brazil central

The Cerrado has been the main source of firewood and charcoal in Brazil, but despite being one of the hot spots for conservation of the world's biodiversity, neither plantations of native species nor sustainable management has been adopted in the region. The aim of this work was to investigate the biomass distribution and the potential for energy production of the cerrado species. The study was conducted in a cerrado sensu stricto site at the Água Limpa Farm (15º 56'14'' S and 47º 46'08'' W) in the Cerrado Biosphere Reserve. An area of 63.54ha was divided in 20 x 50m plots and, a random sample consisting of ten of these plots, representing 1.56% of the study-site, was assessed. All woody individuals from 5 cm diameter at 30 cm above ground level were identified and measured. Each individual was felled, the twigs thinner than 3cm were discarded while the larger branches and the trunks, both with bark, were weighted separately. After that, 2.5cm transverse sections of the trunk with bark were taken at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the length. A similar sample was also taken at the base of each branch. A total of 47 species in 35 genera and 24 families were found, with an average density of 673 individuals per ha. The diameter distribution showed a reversed-J shape with 67% of the individuals up to 13cm, while the maximum diameter was 32.30cm. Seven species represented 72% of the total biomass. In general, the species with higher production per tree were among those with higher production per ha. This content was distributed by diameter classes, reaching a maximum of 2.5ton/ha between 9 to 13cm and then, decreasing to 0.96 ton/ha between 29 to 33cm diameter. Carbon sequestering was 6.2ton/ha (until the actual stage of cerrado) based on an average 50% carbon content in the dry matter. The heat combustion of the wood varied from 18,903kj/kg to 20,888kj/kg with an average of 19,942kj/kg. The smaller diameter classes fix more carbon due to the large number of small plants per ha. But, for a species that reached larger dimensions and contained individuals in all diameter classes, Vochysia thyrsoidea, one can verify an increase in carbon fixation from 1.41 kg/ha in the first class (5 to 9cm) to 138,3kg/ha in the last (25 to 33cm). That indicates that it is possible to select species that reach larger size with a higher capacity of carbon accumulation per plant. The species that reached larger dimensions, with a production per tree above average and had high calorific power values were Dalbergia miscolobium, Pterodon pubescens and Sclerolobium paniculatum. These species have potential for use in fuelwood plantations and sustainable management.

Forest Biomass Resources and Technological Prospects for the Production of Second-generation Biofuels in Finland by 2020

Introduction of second-generation biofuels is an essential factor for meeting the EU’s 2020 targets for renewable energy in the transport sector and enabling the more ambitious targets for 2030. Finland’s forest industry is strongly involved in the development and commercialising of second-generation biofuel production technologies. The goal of this paper is to provide a quantified insight into Finnish prospects for reaching the 2020 national renewable energy targets and concurrently becoming a large-scale producer of forest biomass based second-generation biofuels feeding the increasing demand in European markets. The focus of the paper is on assessing the potential for utilising forest biomass for liquid biofuels up to 2020. In addition, technological issues related to the production of second-generation biofuels were reviewed. Finland has good opportunities to realise a scenario to meet 2020 renewable energy targets and for large-scale production of wood based biofuels. In 2020, biofuel production from domestic forest biomass in Finland may reach nearly a million ton (40 PJ). With the existing biofuel production capacity (20 PJ/yr) and national biofuel consumption target (25 PJ) taken into account, the potential net export of biofuels from Finland in 2020 would be 35 PJ, corresponding to 2–3% of European demand. Commercialisation of second-generation biofuel production technologies, high utilisation of the sustainable harvesting potential of Finnish forest biomass, and allocation of a significant proportion of the pulpwood harvesting potential for energy purposes are prerequisites for this scenario. Large-scale import of raw biomass would enable remarkably greater biofuel production than is described in this paper.