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Migratory birds modulate niche tradeoffs in rhythm with seasons and life history /
No full textMovement is a key means by which animals cope with variable environments. As they move, animals construct individual niches composed of the environmental conditions they experience. Niche axes may vary over time and covary with one another as animals make tradeoffs between competing needs. Seasonal migration is expected to produce substantial niche variation as animals move to keep pace with major life history phases and fluctuations in environmental conditions. Here, we apply a time-ordered principal component analysis to examine dynamic niche variance and covariance across the annual cycle for four species of migratory crane: common crane (Grus grus, n = 20), demoiselle crane (Anthropoides virgo, n = 66), black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis, n = 9), and white-naped crane (Grus vipio, n = 9). We consider four key niche components known to be important to aspects of crane natural history: enhanced vegetation index (resources availability), temperature (thermoregulation), crop proportion (preferred foraging habitat), and proximity to water (predator avoidance). All species showed a primary seasonal niche "rhythm" that dominated variance in niche components across the annual cycle. Secondary rhythms were linked to major species-specific life history phases (migration, breeding, and nonbreeding) as well as seasonal environmental patterns. Furthermore, we found that cranes' experiences of the environment emerge from time-dynamic tradeoffs among niche components. We suggest that our approach to estimating the environmental niche as a multidimensional and time-dynamical system of tradeoffs improves mechanistic understanding of organism-environment interactions
On the taxonomy of the genus Cteipolia Staudinger (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae) with descriptions of two new species from Transcaucasia and Central Asia /
No full textThe taxonomy of the genus Cteipolia Staudinger, 1896 is discussed, the revised check-list of the genus subdivided into species-groups is provided. Two new species are described: Cteipolia aloyani Saldaitis, Dûda, Volynkin & Benedek, sp. n. (SW Armenia) and Cteipolia belyalovi Volynkin, Titov, Saldaitis & Benedek, sp. n. (SE Kazakhstan: Altyn-Emel Range). The hitherto unknown female of Cteipolia mimetica (L. Ronkay, 1995) from Southeast Kazakhstan is illustrated and diagnosed. Adults as well as female and male genitalia of the species considered are illustrated
Grybų ir kitų mikroorganizmų sąveika grybinių produktų pagerinimui.
No full textUnder natural conditions, substrates are occupied by sets of different micro-organisms that interact with one another in synergistic or antagonistic relationships. These interactions can influence the growth, development, and biochemistry of economically important fungi, enhance their beneficial properties, stimulate the growth of fruiting bodies, or accelerate the growth of mycelium used for the production of various products and biotechnology processes where fungi are involved. The paper presents a literature review covering known interactions between fungi and bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes, and between different fungi that can be used to promote the production of fungal products or that need to be taken into account in order to avoid production losses. A brief overview of fungi and micro-organism co-culture strategies is provided as well
Ecological speciation without morphological differentiation? A new cryptic species of Diodontus Curtis (Hymenoptera, Pemphredonidae) from the centre of Europe /
No full textUpon exploring the mitotype diversity of the aphid-hunting wasp, Diodontus tristis, we revealed specimens with highly divergent mitotypes from two localities in Lithuania and nesting in clayey substrate, while the specimens with typical mitotypes were found nesting in sandy sites. The comparison of inter- and intra-specific distances and application of delimitation algorithms supported the species status of the clay-nesting populations. Using a set of DNA markers that included complete or partial sequences of six mitochondrial genes, three markers of ribosomal operon, two homeobox genes, and four other nuclear genes, we clarified the phylogenetic relationships of the new cryptic species. The endosymbiotic bacteria infestation was checked, considering the option that the divergent populations may represent clades isolated by Wolbachia infection; however, it did not demonstrate any specificity. We found only subtle morphological differences in the new clay-nesting species, D. argillicola sp. nov.; the discriminant analysis of morphometric measurements did not reliably segregate it as well. Thus, we provide the molecular characters of the cryptic species, which allow confident identification, its phylogenetic position within the genus, and an updated identification key for the D. tristis species group
Structural, ecological and biogeographical attributes of European vegetation alliances /
No full textThe first comprehensive phytosociological classification of all vegetation types in Europe (EuroVegChecklist; Applied Vegetation Science, 2016, 19, 3–264) contained brief descriptions of each type. However, these descriptions were not standardized and mentioned only the most distinct features of each vegetation type. The practical application of the vegetation classification system could be enhanced if users had the option to select sets of vegetation types based on various combinations of structural, ecological, and biogeographical attributes. Based on a literature review and expert knowledge, we created a new database that assigns standardized categorical attributes of 12 variables to each of the 1106 alliances dominated by vascular plants defined in EuroVegChecklist. These variables include dominant life form, phenological optimum, substrate moisture, substrate reaction, salinity, nutrient status, soil organic matter, vegetation region, elevational vegetation belt, azonality, successional status and naturalness. The new database has the potential to enhance the usefulness of phytosociological classification for researchers and practitioners and to help understand this classification to non-specialists
Progress, prospects and challenges of MXene integrated optoelectronics devices /
No full textRecently, the emerging 2D materials MXene have gained a surge of attention to the production of optoelectronics devices such as solar cells, plasmonic, phototransistors, photodetectors, light-emitting diodes, photothermal therapy, and so on. Its outstanding optical and electrical characteristics, unique structure, and large specific surface area make it suitable for future use in modern optoelectronics including ultrafast lasers, light emitters, modulators, and plasmonic generators. There is a lack of critical analysis on the prospects, challenges, overview of synthesis methods, mechanisms, and future research directions of MXene despite having some reviews have been published on the applications of MXene. Therefore, this study critically analyzed the existing challenges of MXene, such as poor stability in an oxygen environment, inadequate mechanical properties, ease of stacking, temperature barrier, and so on. In addition, the fundamentals, preparation techniques, properties, and applications of MXene have been summarized. The mechanism, limitations, and benefits of different preparation methods have been mentioned. A comprehensive analysis and guidelines have been provided to improve the existing synthesis methods. The ways to overcome these challenges, prospects, and future markets of the MXene-based optoelectronic devices have been described
Chemical composition of essential oils from natural populations of Artemisia scoparia collected at different altitudes: Antibacterial, mosquito repellent, and larvicidal effects /
No full textThe current study aimed to evaluate the presence of chemical variations in essential oils (EOs) extracted from Artemisia scoparia growing at different altitudes and to reveal their antibacterial, mosquito larvicidal, and repellent activity. The gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric analysis of A. scoparia EOs revealed that the major compounds were capillene (9.6–31.8%), methyleugenol (0.2–26.6%), β-myrcene (1.9–21.4%), γ-terpinene (1.5–19.4%), trans-β-caryophyllene (0.8–12.4%), and eugenol (0.1–9.1%). The EO of A. scoparia collected from the city of Attock at low elevation was the most active against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria (minimum inhibitory concentration of 156–1250 µg/mL) and showed the best mosquito larvicidal activity (LC50, 55.3 mg/L). The EOs of A. scoparia collected from the high-altitude areas of Abbottabad and Swat were the most repellent for females of Ae. aegypti and exhibited repellency for 120 min and 165 min, respectively. The results of the study reveal that different climatic conditions and altitudes have significant effects on the chemical compositions and the biological activity of essential oils extracted from the same species
First observations of buzzards (Buteo) as definitive hosts of Sarcocystis parasites forming cysts in the brain tissues of rodents in Lithuania /
No full textRepresentatives of the genus Sarcocystis are worldwide distributed apicomplexan parasites characterised by two-host prey-predator relationships. Sarcocystis spp. produce sarcocysts in the muscles and brains of intermediate hosts and develop sporocysts in the intestines of definitive hosts. Two species, Sarcocystis glareoli and Sarcocystis microti, previously assigned to the genus Frenkelia, form cysts in the brains of rodents and are transmitted through the common buzzard (Buteo buteo). In our study, brain samples of 694 small mammals caught in different regions of Lithuania were examined for Sarcocystis spp. Additionally, 10 B. buteo and two rough-legged buzzards (Buteo lagopus) were tested for sporocysts of the analysed parasites. Sarcocystis species were identified based on 28S rRNA sequence comparison. Of the eleven species of small mammals tested, Sarcocystis parasites were observed only in the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus). Cysts of S. glareoli were detected in 34 out of 374 C. glareolus (9.1%, 95% CI = 6.4–12.5%). Molecular investigation showed the presence of only S. glareoli in the intestines of 50% of B. buteo. Furthermore, two species, Sarcocystis sp. Rod3 and Sarcocystis sp. Rod4, were confirmed in B. lagopus. Our results demonstrate the need for further studies on Sarcocystis cycling between rodents and birds
Time series of freshwater macroinvertebrate abundances and site characteristics of European streams and rivers /
No full textFreshwater macroinvertebrates are a diverse group and play key ecological roles, including accelerating nutrient cycling, filtering water, controlling primary producers, and providing food for predators. Their differences in tolerances and short generation times manifest in rapid community responses to change. Macroinvertebrate community composition is an indicator of water quality. In Europe, efforts to improve water quality following environmental legislation, primarily starting in the 1980s, may have driven a recovery of macroinvertebrate communities. Towards understanding temporal and spatial variation of these organisms, we compiled the TREAM dataset (Time seRies of European freshwAter Macroinvertebrates), consisting of macroinvertebrate community time series from 1,816 river and stream sites (mean length of 19.2 years and 14.9 sampling years) of 22 European countries sampled between 1968 and 2020. In total, the data include >93 million sampled individuals of 2,648 taxa from 959 genera and 212 families. These data can be used to test questions ranging from identifying drivers of the population dynamics of specific taxa to assessing the success of legislative and management restoration efforts
The genetic identification of numerous apicomplexan Sarcocystis species in intestines of Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) /
No full textThe common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) was previously shown to transmit two Sarcocystis species (S. glareoli and S. microti) forming cysts in the brains of rodents. Due to a lack of research, the richness of Sarcocystis species spread by these birds of prey is expected to be much higher. A total of 30 samples of the small intestine of the Common Buzzard were collected in Lithuania and subjected to Sarcocystis species identification based on nested PCR of 28S rRNA and ITS1, following the sequencing of amplified DNA fragments. Six known Sarcocystis spp., S. cornixi, S. glareoli, S. halieti, S. kutkienae, S. turdusi, and S. wobeseri, along with three genetically distinct species (Sarcocystis sp. Rod3, Sarcocystis sp. Rod4, and Sarcocystis sp. Rod5), were identified. Phylogenetically, these three potentially new species clustered with Sarcocystis spp. characterised by a rodents-birds life cycle. Sarcocystis spp. employing rodents and birds as their intermediate hosts were detected in 66.7% and 50.0% of samples, respectively. These findings are consistent with the diet preferences of Common Buzzards. Notably, co-infections with two or more species were observed in a half of the samples. Altogether, the obtained results indicate that the Common Buzzard could serve as definitive host of various Sarcocystis species