BIOREpository (Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade)
Not a member yet
7983 research outputs found
Sort by
Toward the Development of the Trojan Female Technique in Pest Insects: Male-Specific Influence of Mitochondrial Haplotype on Reproductive Output in the Seed Beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus
No full textBiocontrol techniques that impair reproductive capacity of insect pests provide opportunities to control the dynamics of their populations while minimizing collateral damage to non-target species and the environment. The Trojan Female Technique, or TFT, is a method of the trans-generational fertility-based population control through the release of females that carry mitochondrial DNA mutations that negatively affect male, but not female, reproductive output. TFT is based on the evolutionary hypothesis that, due to maternal inheritance of mitochondria, mutations which are beneficial or neutral in females but harmful in males can accumulate in the mitochondrial genome without selection acting against them. Although TFT has been theoretically substantiated, empirical work to date has focused only on Drosophila melanogaster populations, while the existence of male-biased mutations and the TFT approach in economically important pest species remain unexplored. Here, we examined the sex-specific effects of three distinct and naturally occurring mitochondrial haplotypes (MG1a, MG1d, and MG3b) on several reproductive and life history traits in the seed beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus. Our results revealed that males harboring the MG3b mitotype exhibited lower early fecundity and fertility, while there were no effects on females or longevity in either sex. Our experiments provide support for the existence of the mitochondrial variant that specifically impairs male reproductive output in pest insects. These results can be harnessed to further develop TFT as a novel form of biocontrol with broad applicability to economic pests and disease vector insects.M213,5e70065171
enoprotective effect of Scutellaria altissima L. extracts against H2O2-induced oxidative damage
No full textpage 109M3
Benthic macroinvertebrates in a tufa-depositing environment: a case study of highly vulnerable karst lotic habitats in Southeast Europe
No full textKarst freshwater ecosystems are considered biodiversity hotspots, highlighting their sensitivity and vulnerability to environmental change. However, our understanding of the distribution and ecology of macroinvertebrates in lotic karst habitats is still incomplete. Therefore, to fill the knowledge gaps, the current study was conducted in the Dinaric and Carpathian–Balkan Mountains in Serbia, Southeastern Europe. We studied aquatic macroinvertebrates and their relationship with environmental parameters at 25 sampling sites in three habitat types (springs, the upper reaches, and tufa barriers) in 12 rivers and streams in Serbia, seasonally, between 2019 and 2022. We recorded 85,072 individuals within 206 taxa. Most environmental variables were comparable among the three habitat types, which most probably resulted in comparable abundance and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates. However, taxa richness was lower in springs compared to upper reaches and tufa barriers. Environmental parameters had a greater impact than spatial effects on shaping the macroinvertebrate community. Moreover, IndVal analysis revealed a list of 30 indicator taxa associated with specific habitat types. We emphasized that highly specialized species support vulnerable functions in high-diversity karst freshwater ecosystems. Therefore, this study establishes a scientific foundation for implementing effective management strategies for these unique aquatic ecosystems.M212.6476147798511
Cozy den or winter walk: the effects of climate and supplementary feeding on brown bear winter behavior
No full textHibernation is a key adaptation for coping with unfavorable climatic conditions and low food availability in areas with severe winter conditions. While understanding the physiology and phenology of this adaptation has received considerable attention, comparatively little information is available on how hibernation will be affected by changing climate conditions. We used GPS telemetry data from 20 free-ranging brown bears monitored over 31 winters between 2007 and 2022, to identify behavioral strategies of bears during winter. We applied behavioral change point analysis to quantify brown bears’ hibernation phenology in a population close to the bear's southern latitudinal range limit in Europe where supplementary food is available to bears year-round. We observed winter behavior patterns that varied across age and reproductive classes but also within individuals between winters. Among 31 winter events, we registered six cases in which bears exhibited a single hibernation/stationary period and 19 events where hibernation was split into up to five stationary periods. Moreover, six winter events did not show behaviors consistent with hibernation and individuals remained partly or completely active throughout winter. The movement of these active bears decreased with increasing snow depth. In addition, these winter-active bears showed higher fidelity to supplementary feeding sites during the winter period compared to the rest of the year. Our data suggest that an abundance of human-provided food resources during winter may facilitate the emergence of different wintering strategies in brown bears. Furthermore, supplemental feeding sites in combination with predicted mild winters and prolonged natural food availability suggest that the use of hibernation as an energy-saving strategy to overcome severe environmental conditions may decrease in the future.292304323
Insights into the natural activation mechanism of the CRISPR-Cas immune system in Escherichia coli from a computational modeling analysis
No full textM34151
First Insights into Seasonal Variability of Epidermal Thickness and Pigmentation in Bat Flight Membranes: Effects of Sex and Body Condition
No full textM349
Bio-electrochemical potential and mineralogy of metal rich acid mining lake sediment: the “Robule” lake case study
No full textMining for base metals and some critical raw materials is associated with acid, sulphate, and metal-rich waters (AMD). At the points where these waters are accumulated or discharged, the secondary minerals are precipitated, mostly iron-oxyhydroxides, forming characteristic orange sediments toxic to the environment. The sediment or sludge is prone to leaching of metals and sulphate, thus requiring proper disposal to maintain the waste stability. In this study, we assessed the AMD lake “Robule” sediment electrochemical properties and associated mineralogy in sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC). The SEM–EDS and XRPD analysis revealed schwertmannite, jarosite, goethite and gypsum as the most abundant mineral forms with efflorescent sulphates salts precipitated on top of the air-open cathode. In the acid lake mine water dominant aquatic species are SO42−, Mg2+, AlSO4+, and Fe3+ iron mostly as various sulphate complexes. Although oxidized forms prevail in the lake water and sediment, the possibility of generating electrical current is, to our knowledge, for the first time registered for this type of mining waste. A closed-circuit voltage of 439 ± 60 mV (at 220 Ω external resistance), an average current density of 210 ± 28.6 mA/m2 and a maximal power density of 29 mW/m2 was measured. The absence of sulphide minerals suggests that the biological oxidation of organic molecules at the anode and the iron cycle drives electricity production. The stability of the SMFC environment and the absence of hydrogen sulphide build-up while generating electrical current opens new directions for sustainable management of AMD and the associated sediment.M223.
Antimicrobial potential of spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe L., Asteraceae) from Serbia
No full textBook of abstracts, p. 136M3
Plant Products for Musculoskeletal, Respiratory, Circulatory, and Genitourinary Disorders in Eastern and South-Eastern Serbia – Folk Uses Comparison with Official Recommendations
No full textEastern and south-eastern Serbia is a cultural crossroads between East and West, and due to its economic underdevelopment, the traditional use of medicinal plants remains crucial in healthcare even today. This study aimed to collect and preserve ethnopharmacological knowledge about musculoskeletal, respiratory, circulatory, and genitourinary disorders, which are common in the local population. Information was collected using semi-structured anonymous ethnobotanical interviews with location informants. According to respondents, monographs of official international authorities (European Pharmacopoeia, ESCOP, WHO, EMA, and PDR) have been reviewed to confirm the traditional use of medicinal plants. Out of a total of 161 respondents, 58 (36%) declared that they use plants to treat musculoskeletal diseases, 147 (91.3%) to treat respiratory diseases, 113 (70.19%) to treat circulatory diseases, and 25 (15.53%) to treat genitourinary diseases. Among the plants that are traditionally used for the treatment of diseases of these organ systems, the following are highlighted for future research: Verbascum phlomoides, Inula helenium, and Rosmarinus officinalis for musculoskeletal; Ocimum basilicum, Robinia pseudoacacia and Primula vulgaris for respiratory; Urtica dioica, Allium ursinum, and Rosa canina for circulatory and Apium graveolens, Zea mays and Calendula officinalis for treatment of genitourinary system.M221.515218