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Long-term toxicity of chlorpromazine, diclofenac and two lanthanides on three generations of Ceriodaphnia dubia /
No full textAmultigenerational study on Ceriodaphnia dubia was carried out by exposing three subsequent generations to pharmaceuticals chlorpromazine (CPZ) and diclofenac (DCF), and two lanthanide chlorides, gadolinium as GdCl3 and europium as EuCl3. As the treatments, environmentally relevant concentrations were chosen (0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 mg/L for CPZ; 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/L for DCF; 0.425, 4.25 and 42.5 µg/L for Gd and 0.41, 4.1 and 41 µg/L for Eu). Survival, population growth and reproduction success were evaluated at 21 and 30 days of exposure, and the whole observation period lasted 40 days. The least sensitive to all selected substances was the first daphnid generation (F1). Within 21-day exposure, no significant effects of the psychotropic drug CPZ on C. dubia survival were observed in generations F1–F3. The anti-inflammatory drug DCF did not affect survival in the F1 generation; however, it significantly reduced survival in the F3 generation at 1–10 mg/L. Both lanthanides did not affect survival in the F1 and F2 generations of C. dubia but considerably decreased survival in the F3 at 4–42 µg/L. Both pharmaceuticals stimulated the reproduction of C. dubia in the F1 generation, while inhibition occurred at the highest tested concentrations in generations F2 and F3. The inhibitory effect on the reproductive success of lanthanides in the F2 generation resembled that for CPZ but not for DCF. The dynamics of adverse effects during the 21–30-day period revealed that despite increased mortality in the controls (up to 30%), concentrations used in the study minified, in most instances, the survival and aggravated population growth and reproduction success of C. dubia. Our data suggest that C. dubia as a test organism can be used for 21 days in multigenerational investigations, especially when testing close to environmental concentrations. In this respect, the standard C. dubia chronic toxicity assay seems limited since prolonged observations and several generations of daphnids are required to obtain reliable information for the risk assessment of potentially aggressive chemicals
Platoplusia florianii, a new species from north-western Yunnan, China (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) /
No full textA new species of the genus Platoplusia Ronkay, Ronkay & Behounek, 2008, Platoplusia florianii sp. n. is described from Yunnan Province (continental China). The new species is the second known member of the genus Platoplusia which was considered to be monotypic. Adults and male genitalia are illustrated
Geological map of Antony Karol Giedroyc of the territory of Lithuania in the context of geological cartography of the 19th century /
No full textThe history of geological cartography of the present territory of Lithuania starts with a map published by Jean Etienne Guettard in 1764 and followed by maps by Stanislaw Staszic in 1806, Ignacy Domeyko in 1837, and Frederic Dubois de Montpereaux in 1830. A new period of investigations and compilation of geological maps starts about 1840 and is closely related with the development of stratigraphic knowledge; therefore, this period marks the beginning of mapping using the stratigraphic concept (Helmersen 1841). The Geological Committee in St. Petersburg, founded in 1882, at the very beginning of its activities started the compilation of a geological map including the present territory of Lithuania. The works of Antony Karol Giedroyc (Antanas Karolis Giedraitis) were published in 1895 (Giedroyc 1895), and the volume included a map which displays the occurrences of Quaternary and Pre-Quaternary (Tertiary, Cretaceous, and Jurassic) sediments and rocks. The map is constructed on the basis of direct observations and descriptions of outcrops and exposures of Quaternary sediments and Pre-Quaternary rocks carried out by the author, also based on evidence by local people. The main occurrences (provinces) of Pre-Quaternary rocks mapped by Giedroyc are confirmed by the modern geological mapping of the 20th century; therefore, the map of Giedroyc (1895) is regarded as a pioneering work of modern geological mapping using international stratigraphic standards
The Black Sea–Eastern Mediterranean flyway of the globally threatened European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) /
No full textThe European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur (hereafter turtle dove), is a widespread species in the Palearctic. Due to a large and rapid decline in its abundance, it was classified as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List in 2015 and is now regarded as a globally threatened species. The objective of this study was to provide new information on the flyways of this turtle dove population by analyzing available ring recoveries and citizen science sightings data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. A new flyway (possibly stretching through the Black and Caspian Seas, Turkey, the Middle East, and Egypt toward the Eastern Sahel) is suggested for turtle doves breeding in Northern and Eastern Europe
Molecular identification of Sarcocystis rileyi and Sarcocystis sp. (closely related to Sarcocystis wenzeli) in intestines of mustelids from Lithuania /
No full textThe genus Sarcocystis is a group of numerous protozoan parasites having a two-host life cycle. Based on laboratory experiments and/or phylogenetic analysis results it was shown that seven Sarcocystis spp. producing sarcocsyts in bird tissues are transmitted via predatory placental mammals. To date the role of small mammals of the family Mustelidae in the distribution of avian Sarcocystis spp. have not been studied. During the current investigation, intestinal mucosa scrapings of 115 mustelids belonging to five species were tested for S. albifronsi, S. anasi, S. rileyi, and S. wenzeli infecting anseriforms and chickens. Microscopically, free sporocysts, sporulating oocysts, and loose oocysts were found in 61 samples (53.0%). Using nested PCR targeting the ITS1 region and sequencing, S. rileyi was confirmed in eight American minks, two European polecats and single European badger. Sarcocystis sp. was identified in one American mink and one European pine marten. Based on the partial ITS1 region this parasite showed that 100% identity to pathogenic Sarcocystis sp. caused a fatal infection in backyard chickens from Brazil. Phylogenetically, the Sarcocystis sp. identified in our study was most closely related to S. wenzeli parasitising domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus)
Long-term heavy metal accumulation in sediment dust of schools in Vilnius: a case study /
No full textThis study aims to determine concentrations of chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), and copper (Cu) their contamination characteristics, in the samples of dust collected from eleven different schools in the Vilnius region and were investigated. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry was used to analyze the collected dust samples. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and pollution load index were used to determine the contamination level (PLI). The average concentrations distributed as follows: Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > As > Hg. Ni and Cd were below the detection threshold. Average Igeo values of schools’ show that above 3 class observed. Only in three schools that Hg was detected and for these schools Igeo values shows no contamination according to index classes. The levels of Cu, Zn in all schools exceeded the contamination limit of Igeo value class 6, and the levels of Pb, Cr in some schools also exceeded this limit. As for PLI values, in all the other schools, were above 1, indicating a decrease in the quality of the site. Only for Hg it was below 1
Thirteen new species of the genus Miltochrista Hübner from Indochina, China, Myanmar and India (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini) /
No full textThirteen new species of the genus Miltochrista Hübner, [1819] are described: M. lampra sp. n. (Vietnam), M. nuiba sp. n. (Vietnam), M. soloma sp. n. (Vietnam), M. ehyrosta sp. n. (Vietnam, Thailand), M. conthytera sp. n. (China: Sichuan, Hubei, Jiangxi and Fujian), M. qingchenga sp. n. (China: Sichuan), M. primaria sp. n. (Vietnam), M. swanni sp. n. (northern Myanmar), M. tsimphida sp. n. (Northeast India: Assam), M. asphida sp. n. (Laos and Vietnam), M. tumida sp. n. (Vietnam), M. tenuiprocessa sp. n. (Northern Vietnam, China (Hainan Isl.), Northern Thailand, northern Myanmar and Northeast India, Assam), and M. cataplictica sp. n. (Laos and Vietnam). Adults as well as male and female genitalia of the new and the similar species are illustrated
Four new species of Leptometa Aurivillius from African tropical forests /
No full textThree species of the genus – Leptometa matuta Schaus, 1893; Leptometa sapelensis Aurivillius, 1927; and Leptometa hintzi Hering, 1928 – are briefly reviewed. Four new species are described from African tropical forests with the type locality of Ekongo camp, Mai-Ndombe, DRC: Leptometa knudlarseni sp. nov., Leptometa adalensis sp. nov., Leptometa sophiae sp. nov., and Leptometa editae sp. nov. Eggs, exochorion ultrasculpture and early larval stages are described for two out of the four new species
Identification of urban and wildlife terrestrial corridor intersections for planning of wildlife-vehicle collision mitigation measures /
No full textRoadkill and other impacts of roads on wildlife create pressures on society and the environment, requiring the implementation of mitigation measures in response. Due to various natural and anthropogenic causes, the locations of wildlife–vehicle collisions are not stable in time and space. The identification of urban and wildlife corridor intersections can help anchor collision locations along high-risk road sections. Urban and wildlife corridors and their intersections were identified in a case study of Lithuania using a landscape connectivity identification method based on circuit theory. A strong relationship was found between the numbers of urban–wildlife corridor intersections and the numbers of wildlife–vehicle collisions. Short road sections were characterised by the number of urban–wildlife corridor intersections, mammal–vehicle collisions, and the presence of fencing. Multi-criteria analyses identified the road sections where wildlife fencing is, simultaneously, the longest, and the number of mammal–vehicle collisions and the number of urban–wildlife corridor intersections are highest. The results show that identifying wildlife and urban corridor intersections can reinforce locations for permanent roadkill mitigation measures. The identification of crossing structure type and location within shortlisted road sections and evaluation of their efficiencies remain the challenges for field research
Probiotics, proline and calcium induced protective responses of Triticum aestivum under drought stress /
No full textn order to increase plants tolerance to drought, the idea of treating them with stress-protecting compounds exogenously is being considered. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the impact of exogenous calcium, proline, and plant probiotics on the response of winter wheat to drought stress. The research was carried out under controlled conditions, simulating a prolonged drought from 6 to 18 days. Seedlings were treated with ProbioHumus 2 mu L g(-1) for seed priming, 1 mL 100 mL(-1) for seedling spraying, and proline 1 mM according to the scheme. 70 g m(-2) CaCO3 was added to the soil. All tested compounds improved the prolonged drought tolerance of winter wheat. ProbioHumus, ProbioHumus + Ca had the greatest effect on maintaining the relative leaf water content (RWC) and in maintaining growth parameters close to those of irrigated plants. They delayed and reduced the stimulation of ethylene emission in drought-stressed leaves. Seedlings treated with ProbioHumus and ProbioHumus + Ca had a significantly lower degree of membrane damage induced by ROS. Molecular studies of drought-responsive genes revealed substantially lower expression of Ca and Probiotics + Ca treated plants vs. drought control. The results of this study showed that the use of probiotics in combination with Ca can activate defense reactions that can compensate for the adverse effects of drought stress