Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2025
Authors
Alexander Oliver Jüterbock Hin Hoarau Heemstra Karin Andrea Wigger Bernardo Duarte Christian Guido Bruckner Annelise Chapman Delin Duan Aschwin Engelen Clement Gauci Griffin Goldstein Hill Zi-Min Hu Prabhat Khanal Ananya Khatei Amy Leigh Mackintosh Heidi Meland Ricardo Melo Anne Margrete Leiros Nilsen Leonore Olsen Ralf Rautenberger Henning Reiss Jie ZhangAbstract
How to build a sustainable seaweed industry is important in Europe’s quest to produce 8 million tons of seaweed by 2030. Based on interviews with industry representatives and an expert-workshop, we developed an interdisciplinary roadmap that addresses sustainable development holistically. We argue that sustainable practices must leverage synergies with existing industries (e.g. IMTA systems, offshore wind farms), as the industry develops beyond experimental cultivation towards economic viability.
Authors
Laurie C. Hofmann Janina Brakel Inka Bartsch Gabriel Montecinos Arismendi Ricardo Bermejo Manuela I. Parente Emeline Creis Olivier De Clerck Bertrand Jacquemin Jessica Knoop Maike Lorenz Levi Pompermayer Machado Neusa Martins Sotiris Orfanidis Ian Probert Cecilia Rad Menendez Michael Ross Ralf Rautenberger Jessica Schiller Ester A. Serrao Sophie Steinhagen Ronan Sulpice Myriam Valero Thomas WichardAbstract
Biobanking (also known as germplasm banking) of genetic material is a well-established concept for preserving plant genetic diversity and also contributes to food security, conservation and restoration. Macroalgae currently represent a very small percentage of the strains in publicly accessible European germplasm banks, despite the increasing recognition of their contribution to achieving several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. There is no strategic coordination of existing macroalgal strains, which could have severe ecological and economic implications as species and their genetic diversity disappear rapidly due to local and global environmental stressors. In this opinion paper, we stress the importance of a coordinated European effort for preserving macroalgal genetic diversity and suggest the development of a three-pillared system to safeguard European macroalgal genetic material consisting of (1) a European Board of Macroalgal Genetic Resources (EBMGR) to provide supervision, support and coordination, (2) a network of germplasm banks consisting of currently existing and newly established infrastructures and (3) an interoperable databank integrating existing databanks. While it will be the task of the EBMGR to identify and coordinate priorities, we offer initial recommendations for preserving macroalgal genetic material, discuss the risks of inaction, and highlight the challenges that must be overcome. Highlights • A coordinated European effort is crucial to preserve macroalgal genetic diversity, addressing rapid species and genetic loss due to environmental stressors. • The initiative should include a European Board of Macroalgal Genetic Resources for oversight, a network of existing and new germplasm banks and an interoperable databank integrating current resources. • The effort supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Authors
Jan Phillipp Geißel Noé Espinosa-Novo Luis Giménez Nicole Aberle-Malzahn Gro Ingleid van der Meeren Ralf Rautenberger Steffen Harzsch Gabriela TorresAbstract
Aim This study sets out to understand the variability in larval traits of dispersive life stages of a famous invader, the European shore crab Carcinus maenas, in its native distribution range. Location North East Atlantic coast from the Norwegian Arctic to the southern European distribution limit of C. maenas in Southern Spain. Taxon European shore crab Carcinus maenas (Crustacea, Decapoda). Methods We quantified latitudinal patterns in larval body mass, elemental composition (C and N content), and thermal tolerance of the first larval stage. We collected crabs from four populations spanning 25° of latitude (Vigo in Northern Spain; Bergen, Trondheim, and Bodø in Norway) and reanalysed published and unpublished data of body mass and elemental composition of additional populations from Germany, Wales, France, and Southern Spain. Furthermore, we used two laboratory experiments to test the thermal tolerance limits of the first larval stage from Vigo and the Norwegian populations. In the first experiment, we reared larvae from hatching to Zoea II at seven temperatures (9°C–27°C) and from hatching to LT50 at 6°C. In the second experiment, we exposed freshly hatched larvae acutely to increasing or decreasing temperatures (up to 40°C and down to 3°C). Results Across the entire European range, we found a substantial increase in dry mass and carbon and nitrogen content of freshly hatched larvae with latitude. Norwegian populations exhibited higher survival at 9°C than the Vigo population. Furthermore, LT50 at 6°C increased from South to North. All populations showed high survival in the range 12°C–24°C but low survival at 27°C. Main Conclusions Larval tolerance quantified by using survival to Zoea II is not clearly related to the tolerance quantified with the acute experiments, indicating that each method assesses different aspects of thermal tolerance. Tolerance to low temperature correlated positively to tolerance to high temperature, suggesting that variation among females in larval responses reflects a general physiological quality rather than trade-offs. We provide evidence for potentially adaptive variations in larval body mass and thermal tolerance across a latitudinal gradient for C. maenas.
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No abstract has been registered
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2024
Authors
Thierry Chopin Barry Allen Costa-Pierce Max Troell Catriona L. Hurd Mark John Costello Steven Backman Alejandro H. Buschmann Russell Cuhel Carlos M. Duarte Fredrik Gröndahl Kevin Heasman Ricardo J. Haroun Johan Johansen Alexander Oliver Jüterbock Mitchell Lench Scott Lindell Henrik Pavia Aurora M. Ricart Kristina S. Sundell Charles YarishAbstract
No abstract has been registered
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No abstract has been registered
Authors
Kannan Mohan Sabariswaran Kandasamy Jayakumar Rajarajeswaran Thanigaivel Sundaram Marko Bjeljac Ramya Preethi Surendran Abirami Ramu GanesanAbstract
Future agricultural practices necessitate green alternatives to replace hazardous insecticides while distinguishing between pests and beneficial insects. Chitosan, as a biological macromolecule derived from chitin, is biodegradable and exhibits low toxicity to non-target organisms, making it a sustainable alternative to synthetic pesticides. This review identifies chitosan-derivatives for insecticidal activity and highlights its efficacy including genotoxicity, defense mechanism, and disruption of insect's exoskeleton at different concentrations against several insect pests. Similarly, synergistic effects of chitosan in combination with natural extracts, essential oils, and plant-derived compounds, enhances insecticidal action against various pests was evaluated. The chitosan-based insecticide formulations (CHIF) in the form of emulsions, microcapsules, and nanoparticles showed efficient insecticide action on the targeted pests with less environmental impact. The current challenges associated with the field-trial application were also recognized, by optimizing potent CHIF-formulation parameters, scaling-up process, and regulatory hurdles addressed alongside potential solutions. These findings will provide insight into achieving the EU mission of reducing chemical pesticides by 50 %.
Authors
Akshaya Vinukumar Mallikarjuna Swamy Shabanur Matada Guru Prasad Kuppuswamy Sreeram Jayan Kripa Vivek Surya Velappa Jayaraman Yuvaraj Sivalingam Noemi Tocci Abirami Ramu Ganesan Lorenza ConternoAbstract
The demand for environmentally friendly, reliable, and cost-effective electrodes for glucose sensor technology has become a major research area in the paradigm shift toward green electronics. In this regard, cellulose has emerged as a promising flexible biopolymer solution with unique properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, nontoxicity, renewability, and sustainability. Because of their large surface area and porous structure, fibrous cellulose substrates quickly adsorb and disperse analytes at detection sites. This work focuses on utilizing glyoxal-treated cellulose (derived from brewer’s spent grain (BSG)) for the fabrication of extended gate field-effect transistor (EGFET)-based glucose sensors. This investigation extends to the utilization of BSG-cellulose for glucose detection in biomimicking electrolytes (phosphate buffer saline) to facilitate glucose detection in human blood samples. The fabricated electrode demonstrates a linear range of glucose detection from 1 to 13.5 mM with a Langmuir adsorption coefficient (K) of 0.102. Also, its selectivity toward glucose over interfering molecules such as sucrose, fructose, ascorbic acid, and uric acid under physiological conditions has been demonstrated. This cellulose-based EGFET electrode exhibits a sensitivity of 6.5 μA mM−1 cm−2 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.135 mM. Computational studies by density functional theory calculations confirmed the higher binding affinity of glucose molecules with glyoxal-modified cellulose (−0.95 eV) than with pristine cellulose (−0.46 eV). Here, the novelty lies in the fabrication of electrodes with biodegradable catalysts and their integration into the EGFET configuration.
Abstract
The brown marine macroalga Alaria esculenta contains phlorotannins as polyphenolic compounds in its cell walls. This study aimed to understand their antioxidant effects on preserving the lipids in fillets of freshly-slaughtered farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). First, soluble phlorotannins were extracted from wild-grown population of A. esculenta in North Norway (Bodø) using solid/liquid extraction. A small-scale solid/liquid extraction (15 mg mL−1) with 70% acetone showed that 84% of total soluble phlorotannins (25.10 mg g−1 dry weight) were extracted after the first out of four extraction steps. In a large-scale extraction (3 mg 400 mL−1), the contents of soluble phlorotannins and the DPPH-based antioxidant capacities (measured as IC50) in 70% acetone- and water-based crude extracts were similar. Water is preferred extraction solvent for the following experiment because it complies with food safety standards, may minimise work procedures and is in accordance with the principles of Green Chemistry. Secondly, the antioxidant properties of the soluble phlorotannins were tested through incubating salmon fillets (Norwegian Quality Cuts) in water-based extracts. After six days of storage on ice, the peroxide value of Alaria-treated fillets was lower compared to the control (without Alaria-extract), while the p-anisidine and free fatty acid values remained unchanged. This indicates the phlorotannins’ inhibitory effect on the formation of primary rather than secondary lipid oxidation products. This study demonstrated that the antioxidant properties of the soluble phlorotannins extracted from A. esculenta using water can preserve the nutritional value of salmon fillets to extend the seafood’s shelf-life.