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Record of palaeoecological changes in the sediments of the Čepkeliai bog based on Cladocera analysis (SE Lithuania) /
No full textData on the investigation of gut yeasts in hermit beetle (Osmoderma barnabita Motschulsky, 1845) Larvae in Lithuania /
No full textIn this study, yeasts from the gut of O. barnabita larvae were isolated and molecularly identified. It is worth noting that this research provides the first analysis of the gut yeast community in O. barnabita larvae in Lithuania, which is a significant contribution to the field. Two hermit-like L3-praepupa instars were collected from a decaying oak log in Lithuania. The isolation, morphology, biochemistry, and physiology of the yeast isolates were characterized using standards commonly employed in yeast taxonomy studies. The isolates were identified by sequencing the large subunit (26S) rDNA (D1/D2 domain of the LSU). All gut compartments were colonized by the yeast. A total of 45 yeast strains were obtained from the gut of both O. barnabita larvae, with 23 strains originating from Larva 1, 16 strains from Larva 2, and 6 strains from the galleries. According to our identification results of the 45 yeast strains, most of the species were related to Ascomycota, with most of them belonging to the Saccharomycetales order. Yeasts of the genera Candida, Debaryomyces, Meyerozyma, Priceomyces, Schwanniomyces, Spencermartinsiella, Trichomonascus, and Blastobotrys were present in gut of O. barnabita larvae. Species of the Trichosporonales order represented the Basidiomycota phylum
The 2030 Declaration on Scientific Plant and Fungal Collecting /
No full textSocietal Impact Statement: Biological samples and their associated information are an essential resource used by scientists, governments, policymakers, practitioners and communities to ensure that biodiversity can be appropriately protected and sustainably used. Yet, considering the enormous task of documenting the vast numbers of as-yet-unknown plant and fungal species, greater international coordination for biological collecting and recording is necessary, built on equitable collecting practices and standards. Here, we propose five commitments to accelerate and enhance scientific knowledge of plant and fungal diversity, while increasing collaboration, benefit sharing and efficiency. Summary: Almost all life depends on plants and fungi, making knowledge of their diversity and distribution—primarily derived from biological collections—fundamental to national and international conservation, restoration and sustainable use commitments. However, it is estimated that some 15% of all plant species and over 90% of all fungal species have not yet been scientifically described, hampering our ability to assess and demonstrate the impact of efforts to halt biodiversity loss. In addition, organisations and researchers around the world lack a concerted strategy for increasing complementarity and avoiding overlap in botanical and mycological research, particularly in relation to the collection of specimens. We here present the 2030 Declaration on Scientific Plant and Fungal Collecting, summarising a commitment towards such a necessary strategy. Its components were identified from discussions during and after a series of four workshops and plenary discussions at the 2023 State of the World's Plants and Fungi symposium convened by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and were then consolidated into the present form by the authors. The Declaration was subsequently opened up for endorsement by signatories. Collectively, we agree on a set of five commitments for cataloguing the world's flora and funga, designed to maximise efficiency, facilitate knowledge exchange and promote equitable collaborations: (1) use evidence-based collection strategies; (2) strengthen local capacity; (3) collaborate across taxa and disciplines; (4) collect for the future; and (5) share the benefits. This Declaration is a first step towards increased global and regional coordination of scientific collecting efforts
Quantification of the edible dormouse Glis glis (Linnaeus, 1766) calling activity for biodiversity surveys: Comparison of core and peripheral populations /
No full textThe edible dormouse Glis glis is known to emit typical calls during the night. These calls were used in various studies for the detection of species presence or habitat occupancy as well as for quantifying abundance estimates. However, to date, we lack rigorous data on the quantification of the call activity throughout the night and within-season changes in calling activity. To fill this gap, we compared the calling activity of the edible dormouse in core and peripheral populations using voice recorders. During the summer when dormice are active, we deployed voice recorders at three sites with high dormice densities in the Czech Republic and three localities with low densities in Lithuania. We found that calling activity during night varied considerably but seasonally it peaked in August. It was lower in July and lowest in September. Rainy or windy nights significantly reduced call frequencies. Edible dormice started calling around sunset and the intensity increased within two hours, with a peak 4–6 hours after sunset. The frequency of calling decreased before sunrise. Call frequencies per hour were slightly lower in Lithuania. The duration of calls ranged from 1 to 1147 seconds and was significantly shorter at the Lithuanian sites. Our study shows that edible dormice call at a high rate even in peripheral populations and offers promising support for biodiversity surveys and acoustic monitoring
Sexual body size dimorphism in small mammals: A case study from Lithuania /
No full textWe studied the differences in body size between males and females of 14 small mammal species in Lithuania. By measuring standard physical traits in voles, mice, and shrews from a large collection of long-term surveys, we updated information published 35 years ago and compared our results with data from other countries. Our results showed that males were larger than females in the yellow-necked mouse, root vole, and three other meadow voles, especially among adults. This pattern is consistent with Rensch’s rule, which refers to how size differences between the sexes change with total body size. In contrast, females were larger than males in bank voles and four mouse species, although this was less consistent across age groups. Shrews and the smallest mouse species, the herb field mouse, showed no significant size differences between sexes. In some species, these size differences changed as the animals grew. We are adding data on less common species such as the sibling vole and northern birch mouse, which have not been studied extensively. Our research provides new baseline data for small mammals in the boreal mid-latitudes and serves as a foundation for future studies of how animals adapt to changing ecological conditions or climate change
A new blood parasite of the accentor birds: Description, molecular characterization, phylogenetic relationships and distribution /
No full textHaemoproteus bobricklefsi sp. nov. (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) was found in the dunnock Prunella modularis and represents the first blood parasite described in accentor birds of the Prunellidae. The description is based on the morphology of blood stages and includes information about a barcoding segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (lineage hDUNNO01) and the full mitochondrial genome, which can be used for identification and diagnosis of this infection. The new parasite can be readily distinguished from described species of haemoproteids parasitizing passeriform birds due to markedly variable position of nuclei in advanced and fully grown macrogametocytes. Illustrations of blood stages of the new species are given, and phylogenetic analyses based on partial mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences and the full mitochondrial genome identified the closely related lineages. DNA haplotype networks showed that transmission occurs in Europe and North America. This parasite was found in the dunnock in Europe and several species of the Passerellidae in North America. It is probably of Holarctic distribution, with the highest reported prevalence in the UK. The parasite distribution seems to be geographically patchy, with preference for areas of relatively cool climates. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that H. bobricklefsi sp. nov. belongs to the Parahaemoproteus subgenus and is probably transmitted by biting midges belonging to Culicoides (Ceratopogonidae). The available data on molecular occurrence indicate that this pathogen is prone to abortive development, so worth attention in regard of consequences for bird health
Blood parasites (Haemosporida, Trypanosomatida) in Culex pipiens: A study and review of hibernating and active mosquitoes /
No full textCulex pipiens mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are widespread during warm periods and actively feed on blood while serving as vectors for various human and animal pathogens. Culex mosquitoes overwinter as adults in temperate zones, raising the question of whether hibernating Cx. pipiens can act as pathogen reservoirs. In this study, hibernating mosquitoes and mosquitoes collected during the warm season were tested for the presence of trypanosomatids and avian haemosporidian parasites using PCR. Midgut preparations were made from Cx. pipiens females in order to search for trypanosomatids morphologically. In total, 1037 Cx. pipiens mosquitoes (556 collected during the warm season and 481 overwintering mosquitos) were investigated. The parasite prevalence differed for mosquitoes collected during the warm season and hibernating ones for both Haemosporida (2.9% in warm-season and no infections in overwintering mosquitoes) and Trypanosomatida (1.6% and 0.4%, respectively) parasites. A phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the trypanosomatids found in hibernating mosquitoes were monoxenous and were not parasites of vertebrates. The peak prevalence of Haemosporida parasites was detected in July (4.9%) and August (2.8%), and for Trypanosomatida, it was detected in May (3.5%). The results of the present study show that overwintering Cx. pipiens mosquitoes are questionable reservoirs for avian haemosporidian parasites, but some monoxenous trypanosomatids can be found in overwintering females
Water bugs (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha, Nepomorpha) of the Caucasus ecoregion /
No full textThe Caucasian fauna of water bugs (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha, Nepomorpha) is reviewed based on data originating from literature survey, museum and private collections, and extensive field sampling. The diversity of Caucasus ecoregion is quite significant with 77 species and subspecies framed within 25 genera (17 in Nepomorpha, 8 in Gerromorpha), and 13 families (8 in Nepomorpha, 5 in Gerromorpha). Micronecta anatolica anatolica Lindberg, 1922, Sigara iranica Lindberg, 1964, S. samani tigranes Jansson, 1986, Velia kiritshenkoi Tamanini, 1958, and Gerris asper (Fieber, 1860) are reported for the first time from Georgia, M. anatolica anatolica, Notonecta maculata Fabricius, 1794, Mesovelia thermalis Horváth, 1915, and Gerris lacustris (Linnaeus, 1758) represent new records for Armenia, and Microvelia macani Brown, 1953 is new for Azerbaijan. A chorological and similarity analysis highlighted the connections with and between adjacent countries, with Caucasus ecoregion having the highest similarity of the water bug fauna with Turkey, whereas Iran and Russia (European territory) have the lowest. The largest number of shared species/subspecies was found between the Caucasus and Turkey (64 taxa), while the lowest was between Iran and Russia (40 taxa). Our results indicate that the Caucasus represents a composite of various faunal elements of different origin, ranging from Caucasian endemics to Afrotropico-Indo-Mediterranean and Holarctic
Evaluation of the salmonid sensitivity of the pathogenic oomycetes at the early development stage /
No full textThe distribution and activity of the invasive raccoon dog in Lithuania as found with country-wide camera trapping /
No full textThe raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides Gray, 1834) is an invasive mammal widespread in northern, eastern, and central Europe, where it damages biodiversity and carries a wide range of pathogens. Surveys of this species in Lithuania ceased before 2000, so there is a lack of scientific information on its distribution and relative abundance. In 2019-2022, we carried out a nationwide recording of raccoon dogs using camera traps (101 sites, sampling effort of 15,563 trapping days). The species was found at 64 sites (63.4% of the sites surveyed), with an average relative shooting frequency of 4.30 photographs per 100 days. The frequency of raccoon dogs was higher at camera sites where lynx (Lynx lynx Linnaeus, 1758) or wolves (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) were recorded compared to sites where predators were absent (7.95 vs. 3.21 photos/100 days, p < 0.05). The highest raccoon dog activity (69.5% of records) was observed at night and at temperatures between -3 and +5 & DEG;C. Below -15 & DEG;C, animals were not active, while above 25 & DEG;C, there was very little activity. Diurnal activity (36.1% of daytime records in April-June) increased during estrus, gestation, and rearing of pups. We conclude that wide-scale camera trapping is a suitable method for raccoon dog surveys