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Traditional uses of medicinal plants in South-Western part of Lithuania /
No full textChanges in people's dependence on the resources of the immediate natural environment and in the ways in which information is transmitted may result in the loss of some of the traditional knowledge of plants and their uses. In order to investigate and preserve this knowledge, a comprehensive ethnobotanical study was carried out in a little-studied ethnographic region. Knowledge about the plants used for treatment was collected through open-ended and semi-structured interviews in villages and small rural settlements in southwestern Lithuania. In total, 30 informants reported 103 plant and 1 lichen species. Although the survey was carried out in a small area, up to five local names per species were recorded. The most frequently used species were Matricaria chamomilla, Tilia cordata, Artemisia absinthium and Plantago major. The largest number of plant species was used to treat digestive and respiratory system disorders. Wild plants were mentioned in 71.0% of all use reports, while a relatively higher proportion of cultivated plants was recorded among the new uses. Decoction and infusion were the most commonly used, while some unusual preparations have been recorded in past uses. Research showed that the diversity of plant species used for healing has declined over the last 20 years and that part of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge is disappearing.v
Nesting behaviour and description of mature larva of Lindenius albilabris (Fabricius, 1793) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) /
No full textNesting habits of the digger wasp Lindenius albilabris (Fabricius, 1793) at two localities in Poland were studied. The female hunts nymphs or adults of plant bugs Lygus rugulipennis Poppius, 1911 and L. pratensis (Linnaeus, 1758), depositing up to 10 individuals per cell, depending on their size. Nests are built in a wide variety of sandy habitats, on dirt roads, and in wastelands. The nest consists of a 10–12 cm long main burrow and one to three cells. Males are usually found on flowers of wild carrots Achillea millefolium, Daucus carota, Peucedanum oreoselinum, Pimpinella sp. and Tanacetum vulgare. The nest kleptoparasite Metopia argyrocephala was recorded in nests of this species. The mature larva is first described in this study and its morphology is compared with other species of the genus
Metals in lake sediments as indicators of human activities in prehistory: Case study of the southeastern Baltic, Kamyshovoe Lake /
No full textThis paper presents the results of geochemical research on the Kamyshovoe Lake sediments (Kaliningrad oblast, Russian Federation). The study of Pb, Ni, Zn, As, Co and Cu concentration and enrichment factors (EF) combined with the results of the lithological, geochronological, magnetic susceptibility and microcharcoal studies revealed possible anthropogenic sources of metals in southeastern Baltic lake sediments from the Neolithic to the Medieval period. Increasing Co EF value and peaks of the Pb EF in Kamyshovoe Lake sediments, starting from ~6000 cal yr BP in the Neolithic, probably show the growing role and usage of metals as dyes and fixatives. Since ~3100 cal yr BP, in the end of the Bronze Age, a simultaneous increase in the content of indicators of metallurgical production Pb, Ni, Zn and As, coinciding with growth of the microcharcoal curve, can show a growing demand for metal objects in the southeastern Baltic region and the input of the local or regional ancient metallurgy into the metal pollution of the lake sediments
Digenean trematodes infecting the frigate tuna Auxis thazard (Scombriformes, Scombridae) off the Rio de Janeiro coast, Brazil, including molecular data /
No full textBien que certains efforts parasitologiques aient porté sur l’auxide Auxis thazard (Lacepède) (Scombriformes : Scombridae) au Brésil, la faune de ses digènes reste mal connue. En combinant des méthodes morphologiques et moléculaires, nous avons étudié la diversité des trématodes digènes d’ A. thazard collectés dans les eaux côtières au large de l’État de Rio de Janeiro, Brésil en 2021. Six espèces appartenant à quatre familles ont été répertoriées : le Bucephalidae Rhipidocotyle cf. angusticolle Chandler, 1941, le Didymozoidae Didymocystis sp. 6 sensu Louvard et al. (2022), le Fellodistomidae Tergestia sp., et trois Hemiuridae, Dinurus euthynni Yamaguti, 1934, Lecithochirium floridense (Manter, 1934) et L. synodi Manter, 1931. L’étude actuelle porte le nombre total d’espèces de trématodes digènes parasitant A. thazard au Brésil à huit, les Hemiuroidea étant les plus diversifiés. Auxis thazard est un nouveau signalement d’hôte pour L. floridense , L. synodi et potentiellement R. angusticolle . La répartition géographique de plusieurs espèces trouvées dans notre étude semble être plus large que ce que nous savions auparavant. Notre étude est la première à appliquer une approche basée sur l’ADN à la diversité des digènes chez les poissons marins au Brésil et nous pensons que les descriptions morphologiques et les données de séquence moléculaire fournies dans notre étude aideront les recherches futures évaluant la diversité des trématodes digènes d’ A. thazard et d’autres poissons marins du Brésil
Evaluation of the spectral characteristics, purity and antioxidant activity of C-phycocyanin from the cyanobacteria collected in Kaunas Lagoon (Lithuania) /
No full textThe physicochemical characteristics of phycocyanin extracted from cyanobacteria collected in Kaunas Lagoon were studied (spectrum characteristics, C-PC content in the dry mass and chemical purity). It was determined that the tested concentrations of C-PC in purified water should be in the range of 0.02–0.16% for measuring C-PC content in the dry mass and its spectrum characteristics. The two clear absorption maxima were detected in the spectrum of C-PC at the wavelengths of 277 and 619 nm. The content of C-PC in the dry powder form was in the range of 7.25% to 9.30% depending on its concentration in the solution and type of spectrophotometer. Furthermore, a purity factor of 1.5 was calculated, which indicated the food qualification of the obtained biomass of C-PC. Finally, the analytical procedure for studying the pro- and anti-oxidant activity of C-PC was developed and the antioxidant activity of C-PC was measured for the available markers. It was revealed that C-PC has dual properties (pro- and anti-oxidant ones) depending on its concentration, more exactly, its content in reaction mixtures with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The following issues were resolved during the research: the concentration of ethanol in the DPPH solution was chosen in order to avoid precipitation of proteins in the reaction mixtures (50%); the ratio of the solution of C-PC to the DPPH solution was selected; the selected concentrations of the markers for the construction of their calibration curves were chosen for quercetin and for rutin. The antioxidant activity of the obtained C-PC sample was determined
Environmental and socio-economic assessment of the dams at the salmonid rivers of Lithuania /
No full textEU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 aims to restore 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers across Europe. The critical issue is which barriers should be prioritised for removal. In this study, a set of socio-economic and environmental criteria was chosen to rank the dams on salmonid rivers in Lithuania and recommend them for removal. As these criteria usually contradict themselves, the multi-criteria decision analysis tool was utilised. The results showed that the Anykščiai dam on the river Šventoji could be recommended to be removed first. The removal can significantly increase the salmonid population in the river Šventoji over a significant stretch of the river. Also, this dam is in a protected area, is not listed as a national heritage, and does not have a hydropower plant. Although, this study showed that dams with hydropower plants could also be recommended for removal
Hemiurid trematodes (Digenea: Hemiuridae) from marine fishes off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with novel molecular data /
No full textBrazil is a tropical country with remarkably diverse marine habitats that harbour a rich diversity of fish. Only a small portion of this fish diversity has been investigated for parasites, and thus the diversity of their trematode parasites remains unexplored. Moreover, only 5 out of 184 known digenean trematode species of marine fish in Brazil have been genetically characterised. The Hemiuridae Looss, 1899 is the second most speciose trematode family in marine fishes from Brazil but, in many ways, it remains a neglected group. Forty-three trematode specimens from nine fish species were collected from the coastal zone off Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Trematodes were found in the stomach of 14 specimens of 9 fish species belonging to 8 families (Carangidae, Clupeidae, Haemulidae, Muraenidae, Percophidae, Pinguipedidae, Trichiuridae, and Triglidae). Trematode specimens were studied using morphological and molecular genetic analyses. A total of eight hemiurid species from four genera, Ectenurus, Lecithochirium, Myosaccium, and Parahemiurus were identified. This paper reports on new host records for four species of hemiurids, adds a new record on the geographical distribution for one species, and provides the first DNA sequence data supplemented with the detailed description of morphology for five species. Phylogenetic analyses supported that the subfamily classifications of the Hemiuridae—based entirely on morphological characters—needs to be reconsidered, taking into account a wider range of information sources
Avian haemosporidian parasites of accipitriform raptors /
No full textBackground: The order Accipitriformes comprises the largest group of birds of prey with 260 species in four families. So far, 21 haemosporidian parasite species have been described from or reported to occur in accipitriform birds. Only five of these parasite species have been characterized molecular genetically. The first part of this study involved molecular genetic screening of accipitriform raptors from Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina and the first chromogenic in situ hybridization approach targeting parasites in this host group. The aim of the second part of this study was to summarize the CytB sequence data of haemosporidian parasites from accipitriform raptors and to visualize the geographic and host distribution of the lineages. Methods: Blood and tissue samples of 183 accipitriform raptors from Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina were screened for Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon parasites by nested PCR, and tissue samples of 23 PCR-positive birds were subjected to chromogenic in situ hybridization using genus-specific probes targeting the parasites’ 18S rRNAs. All published CytB sequence data from accipitriform raptors were analysed, phylogenetic trees were calculated, and DNA haplotype network analyses were performed with sequences from clades featuring multiple lineages detected in this host group. Results: Of the 183 raptors from Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina screened by PCR and sequencing, 80 individuals (44%) were infected with haemosporidian parasites. Among the 39 CytB lineages detected, 18 were found for the first time in the present study. The chromogenic in situ hybridization revealed exo-erythrocytic tissue stages of Leucocytozoon parasites belonging to the Leucocytozoon toddi species group in the kidneys of 14 infected birds. The total number of CytB lineages recorded in accipitriform birds worldwide was 57 for Leucocytozoon, 25 for Plasmodium, and 21 for Haemoproteus. Conclusion: The analysis of the DNA haplotype networks allowed identifying numerous distinct groups of lineages, which have not yet been linked to morphospecies, and many of them likely belong to yet undescribed parasite species. Tissue stages of Leucocytozoon parasites developing in accipitriform raptors were discovered and described. The majority of Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus lineages are specific to this host group, but most Plasmodium lineages were found in birds of other orders. This might indicate local transmission from birds kept at the same facilities (raptor rescue centres and zoos), likely resulting in abortive infections. To clarify the taxonomic and systematic problems, combined morphological and molecular genetic analyses on a wider range of accipitriform host species are needed
Exploring the ecological implications of microbiota diversity in birds: Natural barriers against avian malaria /
No full textNatural antibodies (Abs), produced in response to bacterial gut microbiota, drive resistance to infection in vertebrates. In natural systems, gut microbiota diversity is expected to shape the spectrum of natural Abs and resistance to parasites. This hypothesis has not been empirically tested. In this ‘Hypothesis and Theory’ paper, we propose that enteric microbiota diversity shapes the immune response to the carbohydrate α-Gal and resistance to avian malaria. We further propose that anti-α-Gal Abs are transmitted from mother to eggs for early malaria protection in chicks. Microbiota modulation by anti-α-Gal Abs is also proposed as a mechanism favoring the early colonization of bacterial taxa with α1,3-galactosyltransferase (α1,3GT) activity in the bird gut. Our preliminary data shows that bacterial α1,3GT genes are widely distributed in the gut microbiome of wild and domestic birds. We also showed that experimental infection with the avian malaria parasite P. relictum induces anti-α-Gal Abs in bird sera. The bird-malaria-microbiota system allows combining field studies with infection and transmission experiments in laboratory animals to test the association between microbiota composition, anti-α-Gal Abs, and malaria infection in natural populations of wild birds. Understanding how the gut microbiome influences resistance to malaria can bring insights on how these mechanisms influence the prevalence of malaria parasites in juvenile birds and shape the host population dynamics
The first record of Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier (Apiaceae) in Lithuania /
No full textNew occurrences in Lithuania of Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier, a species on the list of invasive alien species of European Union concern, are reported for the first time. Heracleum mantegazzianum was intentionally introduced in the 1990s and grown in a garden as an ornamental plant. After the abandonment of the homestead in ca. 1998, this plant gradually occupied open spaces and formed a dense stand around the place of cultivation and by mid-2000 it had begun to spread into the surrounding areas. The species was found at three sites in the vicinity of Bertau??iai village (Joni??kis district, North Lithuania) in 2020. In 2020, the species occupied a total area of 0.35 ha, with different densities within the three sites. Considering the recent records of H. mantegazzianum in the vicinity of Bertau??iai village and the newly invaded areas, this species should be treated as already naturalized in Lithuania with a high potential for further spread and invasion into new areas. Therefore, immediate control and eradication measures should be implemented