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Historical data on the vascular plant flora of the Šepeta mire.
No full textT he paper presents data on the flora of the Šepeta mire, one of the formerly largest raised bogs in Lithuania. The data on the vascular plant species analysed in this paper are taken from the most important publications of the interwar period, mainly from the vascular plant species lists presented therein (Hryniewicki 1933, Wojtusiakowa 1938, Brundza 1940). Data on the specimens of vascular plant species stored in the herbaria of Warsaw and Vilnius Universities (WA, WI), Nature Research Centre, and in that of the Institute of Botany (BILAS) are also included in the analysis. In total, the above-mentioned publications list 255 species (or taxa of other ranks) of the plants inventoried in the Šepeta bog and its surroundings over the 1926–1936 period. T he plant collections assembled in the interwar period and preserved in WA and WI herbaria are rather small. The WI herbarium contains 27 specimens of 7 species collected between 1926 and 1936. The plant collection stored in the WA herbarium includes 50 specimens representing 32 species that were collected between 1932 and 1934. The smallest collection consisting of only 13 vascular plant specimens of 11 species, assembled after the Second World War, mainly in 1959, is kept in the BILAS herbarium. T he monograph on the Šepeta raised bog (Brundza 1940) provides data on the distribution of the currently protected and threatened species of Lithuania
The abundance and dynamics of small mammals and their predators: an editorial /
No full textSmall mammals (rodents and insectivores) represent an eclectic group of numerous species of different phylogenetic origins that share similar biological/ecological characteristics derived from their small size [...]
Competitive interaction in headwaters: slow upstream migration leads to trophic competition between native and non-native amphipods /
No full texthe spread of non-native species is one of the outcomes of global change, threatening many native communities through predation and competition. Freshwater ecosystems are particularly affected by species turnover with non-native species. One species that has been established in Central Europe for many decades – or even a few centuries – is the amphipod crustacean Gammarus roeselii. Although G. roeselii is nowadays widespread in major river systems, there have been recent reports of its spread into smaller streams that are typically inhabited by the native species Gammarus fossarum. Due to their leaf shredding ability, G. fossarum takes up a key position in headwater streams. This raises the important question, to what extent G. roeselii can equivalently take over this function. To answer this question, we collected both species from nine different sites in a mid-mountain river system (Kinzig catchment, Hesse, Germany) and investigated their functional similarity using a combination of stable isotope analysis, gut content and functional morphology. The species hardly differed in morphological characteristics, only females showed differences in some traits. Gut content analysis indicated a broad dietary overlap, while stable isotopes showed a higher trophic position of G. roeselii. The observed functional overlap could intensify interspecific competition and allow the larger and more predaceous G. roeselii to replace G. fossarum in the future as a headwater keystone species. However, the differentiation in the stable isotopes also shows that co-existence can occur by occupying different trophic niches. Moreover, the wide range of inhabited sites and exploited resources demonstrate the omnivorous lifestyle of G. roeselii, which is likely to help the species succeed in rapidly changing environments
Revealing a novel potential pest of plum trees in the Caucasus: A species resembling the European leaf-mining Stigmella plagicolella, Nepticulidae /
No full textIn instances of severe infestations, Nepticulidae larvae can inflict damage on cultivated plants. Previously, it was assumed that the Prunus-feeding Nepticulidae have continuous distribution from Europe to the neighboring Caucasus. During recent fieldwork in the Caucasus, leaf mines were found on plum trees that initially resembled those of Stigmella plagicolella (Stainton) in Europe. However, upon rearing the adults, significant differences emerged, leading to the hypothesis that a different Prunus-feeding species exists in the Caucasus; this challenges previous records in Western Asia. This paper presents the outcomes of our morphological, molecular, and statistical investigations, unveiling S. colchica sp. nov., a previously unknown potential plum-tree pest. Distinguished by male genitalia characteristics, the new species differs from S. plagicolella. The inter- and intraspecific divergences between S. colchica sp. nov. and S. plagicolella range from 3.5% to 6.02%. Moreover, the utilized delimitation algorithms reliably clustered two species separately, as does our mitotype network. A statistical analysis also shows a discernible trend between the leaf mines of S. colchica sp. nov. and S. plagicolella. This unexpected discovery not only documents a new potential pest, enhancing our understanding of the Caucasian fauna, but also contributes to the broader biological inventory
Distribution, diversity and diversification from DNA barcoding perspective: The case of Gammarus radiation in the ancient Lake Ohrid /
No full textAim: A detailed, comparative DNA-barcoding and morphospecies-based overview of the vertical and horizontal distribution of Lake Ohrid's endemic Gammarus species flock is provided. Re-evaluation of the time frame for the onset of the species flock and identification of events that putatively influenced diversification processes. Location: Lake Ohrid, Balkan Peninsula, Europe. Taxon: Gammarus species flock (Amphipoda, Crustacea). Methods: Extensive sampling and DNA barcoding of 600 individuals was carried out. DNA sequences were analysed using species delimitation methods, haplotype network reconstructions, Bayesian molecular dating and demographic analyses. The COI-based species delimitation results were validated with nuclear 28S RNA data. Results: The species flock distribution has a weak horizontal but clear vertical structure. The diversity along bathymetric gradients correlates with temperature and salinity; and the highest diversity is observed in sublittoral and springs on the lake's shore. Two new molecular units representing putatively new species are revealed and supported also by the nuclear marker. The onset of flock radiation overlaps with the time of lake formation. The COI gene shows signs of positive selection and an acceleration in substitution rate. The demographic changes within the flock happened during the last thousands years. Main Conclusions: Distribution of the Gammarus species flock is vertically structured, reflecting habitat zonation. Parapatric speciation is one of the possible mechanisms behind the flock's diversification. Detection of new MOTUs suggests that the flock's diversity is still not fully revealed. Simultaneously, failure to collect three previously known MOTUs suggests a loss of gammarid diversity in the lake. This represents, together with the current threats to the lake ecosystem (i.e. climate changes, development of tourism), a clear call for conservation efforts. The speciation events and demographic changes within the flock relate presumably to glacial and postglacial water level changes and to the colonisation of new depth ranges and the associated springs
Valorization of pineapple leaves: effective conversion of agro waste to textile materials /
No full textThe demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly practices by reducing the usage of virgin materials and minimizing the environmental impact associated with textile production has increased. However, due to the subjectivity of reuse and recycling for waste management, developing textiles with sustainable and quality yarn characteristics remains a challenge. The main goal of this experiment is to produce a new sustainable blended open end (OE)‐rotor yarn by using pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and recycled waste fiber (RWF). OE‐rotor yarns are made in various proportions from RWFs generated from clothing wastes and bleached PALF at 20%, 50%, and 80%, respectively. To provide a more accurate evaluation, the properties of 100% PALF OE‐rotor yarns versus PALF‐RWF blended OE‐rotor yarns are compared. The evaluation of various physical properties led to the discovery that rotor yarns with up to 80% RWF‐PALF blended yarns had an acceptable number of physical attributes. The findings were encouraging given that the created yarns from RWF with PALF blended are less expensive than the yarns produced from standard raw materials. It also has a dual‐benefit for the manufacturers that it allows them to make money from the waste while also addressing zero waste management and disposal challenges
Sonitha adetoun – a new species from the Congolian lowland forests (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae, Lasiocampinae, Gastropachini) /
No full textA new species Sonitha adetoun sp. n. is described from the Congolian lowland forests. It is compared with closely related Sonitha lila Zolotuhin & Prozorov, 2010 and Sonitha integra Zolotuhin & Prozorov, 2010. Adults, genitalia and maps with collecting sites are illustrated
Brain parasites and misorientation of migratory birds /
No full textHaemoproteus blood parasites of birds are thought to be relatively benign. Recent findings show that infections may develop in the brain of birds, possibly distorting their orientation sense. Misdirected migration may lead migrants outside their range where they are recognized as vagrants and can transmit parasites to novel hosts
A snapshot of alien cyanobacteria found in northeastern European freshwaters-Lithuania case /
No full textIn recent years, cyanobacterial invasions have increased in European temperate lakes. Climate warming is highlighted as a key driver of the distribution and establishment of alien cyanobacteria, and water bodies in poor ecological status, characterized by mesoeutrophic conditions, are underlined as a suitable habitat for invasion. The establishment of newly arrived species is directly related to fluctuating physicochemical factors such as temperature, and nutrient concentrations, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, or biotic factors such as competition. Cyanobacterial invasions can have profound ecological impacts, such as displacing native species, causing the biodiversity loss of local communities, and modifying the ecosystem’s cyanotoxins profile. This study presents the occurrence of four alien bloom-forming potentially toxic cyanobacteria-Chrysosporum bergii, Cuspidothrix isstaschenkoi, Raphidiopsis raciborskii and Sphaerospermopsis aphanizomenoides-in the northern parts of their current range in temperate Europe and provides insights into their ecology. Special attention was paid to the lakes of Lithuania (Simnas, Jieznas and Gineitiškės), which is the northernmost location of distribution zone for some alien cyanobacteria and provides as a dispersion route to Norther Europe via the continental area. We i) described dynamics of indigenous cyanobacteria community invaded by alien cyanobacteria; ii) assessed concentrations of cyanotoxins in field and culture samples, and suggested toxin producers; and iii) detailed the correlation between the biomass of alien cyanobacteria and environmental conditions. These species were found in three human-affected shallow hyper-eutrophic lakes during warm period of the year; however, their biomass was low. We assume that present temperatures do not limit the occurrence of these alien species but are insufficient for their successful proliferation. In addition, we provided the first evidence of anatoxin-a production by isolated strains of C. issatschenkoi in Lithuania. Alien cyanobacteria were detected at an early stage of their development, however, a rise in global temperatures and the spread of strains with toxigenic potential could lead to increased proliferation and further northward expansion of these alien species
What factors determine the natural fruit set of Cephalanthera longifolia and Cephalanthera rubra? /
No full textThe reproduction of rare and endangered plant species is one of the most important factors determining the stability and survival of their populations, and knowledge of the barriers to successful reproduction is essential for species conservation. Habitat loss and slow reproduction due to low fruit set are usually considered the main threats to Cephalanthera longifolia and C. rubra (Orchidaceae). The aim of this study was to analyse the natural fruit set of these species during three consecutive years in Lithuania in the northern part of the temperate zone of Europe. Six populations of C. longifolia and three populations of C. rubra were studied each year from 2021 to 2023. During the study period, 49.3% to 54.4% of C. longifolia and 40.0% to 54.3% of C. rubra individuals produced no fruit. Over the three-year period, fruit set in individual populations of C. longifolia ranged from 5.2% to 19.5%, whereas fruit set in populations of C. rubra ranged from 4.1% to 18.8%. Significant weak or moderate correlations were found between plant height, inflorescence length and the number of flowers in the inflorescence and fruit set of both species. Flower position in the inflorescence had a significant effect on fruit set in both species, and the fruit set rate of lower flowers was higher than that of upper flowers. Significant but weak correlations were found between the fruit set and most of the environmental factors analysed. The results of this study suggest that the fruit set of C. longifolia and C. rubra is dependent on insect pollination of the flowers, which in turn is affected by habitat conditions