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Jūros kranto smėlio granuliometrinės sudėties kaita Palangos ir Preilos hidrotechninių įrenginių poveikio zonose /
No full textSunkiųjų mineralų sankaupų sudėties paplūdimių smėlio sąnašose pasiskirstymo išilgai Lietuvos Baltijos jūros kranto tyrimas /
No full textTrends of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) mtDNA ATP6 region genetic diversity within the hydro-systems of the Eastern part of the Baltic Sea in the Anthropocene /
No full textThe intraspecific genetic diversity of freshwater fish inhabiting hydro-systems of the macrogeographic area spreading from the Black to Baltic Seas requires comprehensive investigation from fundamental and practical perspectives. The current study focused on the involvement of the mtDNA ATP6 region in the adaptability and microevolution of Perca fluviatilis within phylogeographic and anthropogenic contexts. We sequenced a 627 bp fragment encompassing the ATP6 region and used it for genetic analysis of 193 perch caught in Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine, representing natural and anthropogenically impacted populations. We evaluated patterns of intraspecific genetic diversity in the ATP6 region and phylogeographic trends within the studied area compared with previously established D-loop trends. Evaluation of ATP6 coding sequence variability revealed that among 13 newly detected haplotypes, only two were caused by non-synonymous substitutions of amino acids of the protein. PCoA revealed three genetic groups (I–III) based on the ATP6 region that encompassed four previously described genetic groups established based on the mtDNA D-loop. The two mtDNA regions (D-loop and ATP6) have microevolved at least partially independently. Prolonged anthropogenic impacts may generate new point mutations at the ATP6 locus, but this phenomenon could be mainly concealed by natural selection and reparation processes
Lockdown's silver lining? Different levels of roadkill during the COVID-19 times in Lithuania /
No full textThe impact of COVID-19 restrictions on human and vehicular mobility on the number of roadkills of wild mammals, and roe deer in particular, was assessed in Lithuania. We statistically analyzed the distribution of all mammals and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) as the most abundant species annually from 2002 to 2022 and monthly from 2020 to 2021, including during the two restriction periods. Notably, there was a marked decrease in roadkill incidents on main, national and regional roads, particularly in April–May 2020 (the beginning of lockdown period I) and November–December 2020 (the beginning of lockdown period II), 5.1–20.8% and 33.6–54.4%, respectively. During these months, collisions with mammals on the A14 main road were reduced by 75–90%. However, there was a significant increase in the number of roadkills in urban areas, resulting in the total number of mammal–vehicle and roe deer–vehicle collisions in 2020 and 2021 being higher than expected based on long-term trends. However, after restrictions were eased, collision numbers with wildlife on the main, national and regional roads increased again and became higher than expected
Mammal roadkills in Lithuanian urban areas: a 15-year study /
No full textWe investigated roadkills in urban areas in Lithuania from 2007 to 2022, including two periods with COVID-19 restrictions on people’s movement. We analyzed the proportions of wild and domestic animals in roadkill, annual trends, the predominant species involved, and monthly changes during the restrictions. Urban roads were characterized by a low species diversity of roadkilled mammals, with roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) dominating. Total numbers increased exponentially during the study period. The proportion of domestic animals, 12.2%, significantly exceeded that on non-urban roads in the country. The proportion of domestic animals decreased from over 40% in 2007–2009 to 3.7–5.4% in 2020–2022, while the proportion of wild mammals increased from 36.1–39.6% to 89.9–90.6%, respectively. During the periods of COVID-19 restrictions, the number of roadkills in urban areas was significantly higher than expected based on long-term trends. Compared to 2019, the number of roadkilled roe deer in 2020–2021 almost doubled from 700 to 1281–1325 individuals. These anthropause effects were, however, temporary. The imbalance between the roadkill number and transport intensity might require new mitigation strategies to sustain mammal populations in urban areas, at least through improving driver awareness on the issue
Cryptic species in ecotoxicology /
No full textThe advent of genetic methods has led to the discovery of an increasing number of species that previously could not be distinguished from each other on the basis of morphological characteristics. Even though there has been an exponential growth of publications on cryptic species, such species are rarely considered in ecotoxicology. Thus, the particular question of ecological differentiation and the sensitivity of closely related cryptic species is rarely addressed. Tackling this question, however, is of key importance for evolutionary ecology, conservation biology, and, in particular, regulatory ecotoxicology. At the same time, the use of species with (known or unknown) cryptic diversity might be a reason for the lack of reproducibility of ecotoxicological experiments and implies a false extrapolation of the findings. Our critical review includes a database and literature search through which we investigated how many of the species most frequently used in ecotoxicological assessments show evidence of cryptic diversity. We found a high proportion of reports indicating overlooked species diversity, especially in invertebrates. In terrestrial and aquatic realms, at least 67% and 54% of commonly used species, respectively, were identified as cryptic species complexes. The issue is less prominent in vertebrates, in which we found evidence for cryptic species complexes in 27% of aquatic and 6.7% of terrestrial vertebrates. We further exemplified why different evolutionary histories may significantly determine cryptic species' ecology and sensitivity to pollutants. This in turn may have a major impact on the results of ecotoxicological tests and, consequently, the outcome of environmental risk assessments. Finally, we provide a brief guideline on how to deal practically with cryptic diversity in ecotoxicological studies in general and its implementation in risk assessment procedures in particular. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1889–1914. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC
Establishing of an axenic Lemna minor line as a model organism for a wide spectre of biological and environmental investigations /
No full textCommon duckweed (Lemna minor L.) is a widely used plant for phytoremediation and environment monitoring of wastewater in vivo, as this plant can be efficiently grown in Petri dishes and quickly multiplied in laboratory conditions. It is also a valuable test object to study the impact of various environmental factors by measuring growth and biochemical parameters. Our goal was to establish an axenic diploid line of L. minor free from symbionts, for use as a model plant to obtain reproducible results in experiments. In this work, we used 29 L. minor clones collected in natural conditions in Lithuania and Latvia, which were naturally inhabited with bacteria and algae. The L. minor clone entitled Sta2 was found to be best to fit requirements to establish a laboratory line suitable for testing of the genetic and physiological influence of environmental factors. Application of flow cytometry, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and sequencing of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase genes proved that the selected and specifically sterilised line Sta2 was diploid and free from symbiotic bacteria or algae. Media for storage and for rapid propagation of L. minor biomass were also developed. The axenic line Sta2 can be maintained in sterile laboratory conditions and can be used as a model organism in a wide spectrum of biological and environmental investigations
Prolonged repellent activity of plant essential oils against dengue vector, Aedes aegypti /
No full textRepellents are effective personal protective means against outdoor biting mosquitoes. Repellent formulations composed of EOs are finding increased popularity among consumers. In this study, after an initial screening of 11 essential oils (EOs) at the concentration of 33 μg/cm2, five of the most repellent EOs, Perovskia atriplicifolia, Citrus reticulata (fruit peels), C. reticulata (leaves), Mentha longifolia, and Dysphania ambrosioides were further investigated for repellent activity against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in time span bioassays. When tested at the concentrations of 33 μg/cm2, 165 μg/cm2 and 330 μg/cm2, the EO of P. atriplicifolia showed the longest repellent effect up to 75, 90 and 135 min, respectively, which was followed by C. reticulata (peels) for 60, 90 and 120 min, M. longifolia for 45, 60 and 90 min, and C. reticulata (leaves) for 30, 45 and 75 min. Notably, the EO of P. atriplicifolia tested at the dose of 330 μg/cm2 showed complete protection for 60 min which was similar to the commercial mosquito repellent DEET. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analyses of the EOs revealed camphor (19.7%), limonene (92.7%), sabinene (24.9%), carvone (82.6%), and trans-ascaridole (38.8%) as the major constituents of P. atriplicifolia, C. reticulata (peels), C. reticulata (leaves), M. longifolia, and D. ambrosioides, respectively. The results of the present study could help develop plant-based commercial repellents to protect humans from dengue mosquitoes