Institutional Repository of Nature Research Centre
Not a member yet
1487 research outputs found
Sort by
Four new yellow-spotted Hapsimachogonia from Congolian lowland forests (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae, Lasiocampinae, Argudini) /
No full textTwo new species of the genus Hapsimachogonia Prozorov & Zolotuhin, 2016 are described: Hapsimachogonia laura sp. n. and Hapsimachogonia anne sp. n. from the Central African Republic and Hapsimachogonia marialara sp. n. and Hapsimachogonia romy sp. n. from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The species are compared to the earlier described four species of the genus
Įžvalgos ir nauji duomenys apie Nepticulidae įvairovę pagal ankstesnių lauko darbų Armėnijoje rezultatus.
No full textIn the current paper, we provide a complete list of 32 Nepticulidae species discovered in Armenia, along with photographic samples of detected leaf mines. For the first time, we include photographic documentation of the male genitalia structures of the Armenian Glaucolepis melanoptera (van Nieukerken & Puplesis) and the previously little-known, formerly Central Asian Stigmella klimeschi Puplesis and S. kuznetzovi Puplesis. Moreover, our molecular analyses have confirmed the occurrence of S. aceris (Frey) and Glaucolepis melanoptera in Armenia and justified the description of two species, Stigmella inopinoides Dobrynina, 2024 and Etainia caucasi Remeikis, 2024
Multicomponent assessment of the impact of hydropower cascade on fish metrics /
No full textThe water sector is one of the priority areas of the European Union; therefore, legislation encourages the development of methods to protect the river ecosystem. The key to this is the characterization of the river's physical features with respect to ecological quality. Rivers are a complex system in which geomorphic conditions, hydrological regime, and ecological indicators interact. The group of hydropower plants (HPPs) that forms a hydropower cascade disturbs the natural continuity of river system components. Analysis of the spatial and temporal alterations in the river environment is important for understanding the potential impact of the hydropower cascade on ecological indicators. In a current study, the multicomponent assessment was used to evaluate the impact of the hydropower cascade of five HPPs on fish metrics as ecological indicators in the case study Varduva River. The research involved field surveys to collect hydrological data in highly affected ungauged river to estimate indicators of hydrologic alterations under HPPs operation, use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and digital photogrammetry to map geomorphic units, fish sampling to estimate composition of fish species and guilds, and fish habitat availability modelling based on the collected data and the conditional habitat suitability criteria using the MesoHABSIM modelling approach. Results revealed that the technical characteristics of HPPs determined their individual operation mode, which had a crucial impact on the hydrologic alterations of the river and, together with the distance between the dams, on the variation of fish metrics in the hydropower cascade. The intensive operation of the hydropower cascade created adverse effects for intolerant fish but was advantageous for tolerant fish species. The proposed HPP multimetric correlated with the fish metrics and showed similar tendencies between HPPs as habitat integrity index (IH), derived from MesoHABSIM modelling
Evidence for mitochondrial heteroplasmy in the freshwater bug Aphelocheirus aestivalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Insecta: Heteroptera): a challenge for future studies based on mtDNA markers /
No full textThe mitochondrial genome of Metazoa is predominantly maternally inherited, providing a valuable genetic marker in various fields such as phylogenetics and phylogeography. However, mitochondrial heteroplasmy, where multiple copies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) coexist within an individual or even cell, presents a challenge to the use of mtDNA markers. This phenomenon may arise from replication errors, mutagenic processes, or paternal leakage. In this study, we investigated mitochondrial heteroplasmy in the freshwater bug Aphelocheirus aestivalis (Fabricius, 1794) using both Sanger and Illumina sequencing approaches. Our analyses confirmed the presence of diverse mtDNA variants within individual specimens collected from various locations across Europe. Signals of mitochondrial heteroplasmy were observed in chromatograms derived from both female and male individuals, indicating a prevalent phenomenon across A. aestivalis populations in general. Further comparative analyses of COI (partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) haplotypes indicated their high similarity and complex phylogenetic relationships. In turn, Illumina sequencing of a single male specimen revealed 102 heteroplasmic sites across the protein-coding sequences of mitogenome. Our results suggest the widespread and heritable nature of mitochondrial heteroplasmy in A. aestivalis, highlighting its importance for future phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies
Checklist of gasteroid fungi from Lithuania.
No full textT he article presents a list of the gasteroid fungi species found in Lithuania. A total of 67 species belonging to the 20 genera have been identified in Lithuania. The list includes the Latin names of the fungi in alphabetical order alongside their Lithuanian names. All names of the gasteroid fungi in Lithuania have been approved by the State Lithuanian Language Commission
Found after 70 years: morphology and DNA barcoding confirm the ongoing presence of Gammarus arduus Karaman, 1975 (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in Romania /
No full textHistory of the Šepeta raised bog conversion into the exploited peatland area based on cartographic material.
No full textT his paper discusses how the conversion of the Šepeta bog from a viable natural system into an exploited peatland area is reflected in the cartographic material available. T he Šepeta bog development has progressed through three phases, which differ in the intensity of human activity and its impact on the hydrological regime, vegetation and peat deposition. The aerial photograph of the Šepeta bog from circa 1938–1939 published in the respective monograph, i.e. „Šepeta. Monograph on the Raised Bog“ (1940), which was prepared by a team of co-authors and edited by K. Brundza, was chosen as a reference point for the analysis of changes that this bog has undergone. The exploitation of the Šepeta bog for peat extraction in the 1939–1953 period was relatively nonintensive: peat was mainly hand-dug. Besides, peat extraction was aggravated by WWII and the changing ownership of the peatland. The peat mining-induced changes in the approximately1,44 km2-large area of the bog were already recorded on the topographic map (M 1:25000) published in 1951–1952 in Russian. The impact of the intensive peat extraction development in the 1953–1990 period is reflected in the aerial photographs taken in 1960 and 1978. They clearly show that approximately ¾ of the bog area was affected. T hree orthophoto maps published in different years record the impact that the increased peatland exploitation since 1990 until now has exerted on the bog. The most recent map covering the period 2021–2023 shows that only a small, approximately 0.49 km2-large area of the former raised bog is extant. Although drained, the so-called “Green Zone”, still retains features characteristic of the raised bog vegetation
Plytų molio mišinių receptūros: XIII–XIV A. Vilniaus katedros ir Vilniaus žemutinės bei Lucko aukštutinės pilių mūrų geocheminių tyrimų įžvalgos /
No full textResponses of two entomopathogenic nematode species from the genus Steinernema to ethanol and 1-nonene /
No full textEntomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) parasitize insects in the soil and are applied as environmentally friendly means for pest control in agriculture. Knowledge of how EPN infective juveniles (IJs) find their prey can be used to increase their effectiveness. Chemical signals in the soil are undoubtedly important but exactly which ones is little known. We hypothesized that volatile compounds emitted by EPN-infected larval cadavers could act as such signals. The objective of the study was to test the behavioral effects of 1-nonene which is known as a volatile compound emitted by several EPN-infected insect cadavers. Behavioral tests revealed that 1-nonene was attractive to IJs of both Steinernema feltiae and S. carpocapsae. High concentrations of the compound were repellent to S. feltiae and attractive to S. carpocapsae IJs. Low concentrations were attractive to S. feltiae (those from 104 to 106 times lower than the repellent concentrations) but did not affect the behavior of S. carpocapsae. Ethanol (solvent used for control tests) was attractive to S. feltiae IJs and not to those of S. carpocapsae. Both compounds are new agents involved in the behavior control of these EPN species. Different responses of IJs of two taxonomically closely related EPN species to chemical compounds could indicate interspecific difference in foraging. Behavioral reactions of S. carpocapsae IJs are more in line with the strategy of the scavenger
Trends and characteristics of human casualties in wildlife–vehicle accidents in Lithuania, 2002–2022 /
No full textWe analyzed 474 human casualties in wildlife–vehicle accidents (WVAs) that occurred between 2002 and 2022 in Lithuania, which is a small northern European country. The study revealed the escalating trend of WVAs, since 2018 surpassing other transport accidents, although the number of casualties per WVA was ca. 100 times lower compared to other transport accidents. Moose was the primary contributor, responsible for 66.7% of fatalities and 47.2% of injuries, despite much lower species abundance compared to roe deer, which is the main species involved in WVAs without human casualties. Temporal patterns highlighted seasonal, daily, and hourly variations, with the majority of casualties occurring during dusk or dawn in May and September, on weekends, and between 20:00 and 22:00. Spatially, main roads with high traffic density exhibited the highest casualties per unit length. Most casualties occurred after hitting an animal directly with cars and motorcycles being most vulnerable vehicles. The effectiveness of WVA prevention measures was inconclusive: 9.5% of fatalities and 1.4% of injuries were registered in the area of the warning sign, and 10.4% of all casualties occurred on fenced road segments. These findings suggest the need for a critical evaluation of the current prevention strategies in reducing human casualties associated with WVAs