Database on eukaryotic symbionts of native and invasive gammarids (Crustacea, Amphipoda) in the Baltic region of Poland with information on water parameters for sampling sites.

This dataset documents the diversity of eukaryotic endo- and epibiotic organisms from 612 host individuals of seven gammarid (Amphipoda) species (Gammarus pulex, Gammarus zaddachi, Gammarus roeselii, Gammarus tigrinus, Dikerogammarus villosus, Pontogammarus robustoides, Echinogammarus ischnus) of native and invasive origin in the Baltic region of Poland. We identify 60 symbiotic species of nine phyla from 16 localities of freshwater and brackish habitats. Twenty-nine symbiotic species belonged to the Ciliophora, 12 to Apicomplexa, 8 to Microsporidia, 3 to Platyhelminthes, 2 to Acanthocephala, 2 to Nematoda, 2 to Rotifera, 1 to Choanozoa and 1 to Nematomorha. The material in this Data in Brief paper is composed of three Microsoft® Excel files. The first file represents the raw data on the number of individuals (infrapopulation size) of each eukaryotic symbiont taxa recorded in each host individual and location. The data set contains information on the assemblage of symbionts per host individual in one table-matrix; macro- (host) and symbiont taxa name, host length, the date of collection, the geographic coordinates and locality name in columns; and amphipod host specimens in lines. The second file reports the symbiont species list (the species breakdown by phyla in spreadsheets) with information on host species, sampling date, locality and geographic coordinates, infection site, obtained sequences (if the case), brief morphological characteristics and microphotographs. The third file reports measured water parameters, habitat features and host density per sample. We generate the present dataset to evaluate the richness, diversity, population and community features of symbiotic organisms in native and invasive gammarid hosts in Poland. Biological sciences: ParasitologyEnvironmental Science: Ecology; Hydrology and Water Quality.

Controlled-release NPK fertilizer encapsulated by polymeric membranes.

The commercial granular fertilizer NPK6-20-30 was coated using polysulfone (PSF), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and cellulose acetate (CA). The coatings were formed from the polymer solutions by the phase inversion technique. Measurements of the thickness and porosity of the prepared coatings and a microphotographic observation of the coatings were performed. The physical properties of the coatings influence the release rate of macronutrients which are present in the core of the coated fertilizer. In the case of PAN coating with 60.45% porosity, prepared from a 16% polymer solution, 100% of NH(4)(+) and P(2)O(5) was released after 4 h of test and 99.7% of K(+) after 5 h of test, whereas in the case of coating with 48.8% porosity, 31.8% of NH(4)(+), 16.7% of P(2)O(5), and 11.6% of K(+) was released after 5 h. In all experiments, different selectivities of the coatings in terms of the release of components were observed. The release of potassium through the coatings made of PSF and PAN was the slowest. The same tendency was observed for the release of nitrogen through a coating of CA. The release of fertilizer active components was the slowest in the case of PSF. The lowest porosity coating was prepared from the 18% PSF solution.

Use of polysulfone in controlled-release NPK fertilizer formulations.

Encapsulation of fertilizers in polymeric coatings is a method used to reduce fertilizer losses and to minimize environmental pollution. Polysulfone was used for a coating preparation for soluble NPK granular fertilizer in controlled-release fertilizer formulations. The coatings were formed by the phase inversion technique (wet method). The influence of the polymer concentration in the film-forming solution on the physical properties of the coatings was examined. The coating structure controls the diffusion of the elements from the interior of the fertilizer granule. It was experimentally confirmed that the use of polysulfone as a coating for a soluble fertilizer decreases the release rate of components. Moreover, the release rate of nutrients from coated granules decreases with the decrease of the coating porosity. In the case of coating with 38.5% porosity, prepared from 13.5% polymer solution after 5 h of test, 100% of NH(4)(+) was released, whereas only 19.0% of NH(4)(+) was released after 5 h for the coating with 11% porosity. In addition, coating of fertilizers leads to improvement of handling properties, and the crushing strength of all coated fertilizers was an average 40% higher than that for uncoated NPK fertilizer.