“Waffle” pools in ditched salt marshes: assessment,potential causes,and management

Wetlands Ecology and Management - Ditching is one of the most widespread forms of anthropogenic impact on tidal marshes but its effects remain poorly understood. Recently, the phenomenon of...     

Breeding bird dynamics in a primaeval temperate forest: long–term trends in Biatowieza National Park (Poland)

Numerical vanation of the breeding bird community, its ecological subunits (guilds) and the 26 most numerous constituent species is analysed over 20 yr period (1975–1994), and related to variation in supply of defoliating caterpillars, tree seed crop, numbers of rodents and winter weather Maximum rates of increase between two years were less than twofold in most species Changes in numbers of individual species/guilds were either independent of each other or in parallel The pattern of numerical vanation was not related to taxonomic affinities, type of nest site, food types, or migratory habits Whole bird community and 13 of 26 species showed long–term increasing trends, only three species declined Numbers remained basically stable during the first decade, increases were concentrated to the second decade Except tropical migrants (no long–term change) other migratory groups increased in numbers None of the measured environmental vanables showed parallel trends, which could account for the recorded trends Long–term trends and year–to–year fluctuations were not correlated The short–term variation in bird numbers was to some extent correlated with (in decreasing order of importance) abundance of defoliating caterpillars, winter seventy, and changes in rodent numbers No correlation with tree seed crop was found Overall, a substantial part of the vanation in breeding bird numbers could not be explained by that set of factors This could be due to birds using wider spectrum of food sources than those measured, varying predator pressure and/or strong influences from outside the forest, swamping local relationships     

Quantifying Vegetation and Nekton Response to Tidal Restoration of a New England Salt Marsh

Tidal flow to salt marshes throughout the northeastern United States is often restricted by roads, dikes, impoundments, and inadequately sized culverts or bridge openings, resulting in altered ecological structure and function. In this study we evaluated the response of vegetation and nekton (fishes and decapod crustaceans) to restoration of full tidal flow to a portion of the Sachuest Point salt marsh, Middletown, Rhode Island. A before, after, control, impact study design was used, including evaluations of the tide‐restricted marsh, the same marsh after reintroduction of tidal flow (i.e., tide‐restored marsh), and an unrestricted control marsh. Before tidal restoration vegetation of the 3.7‐ha tide‐restricted marsh was dominated by Phragmites australis and was significantly different from the adjacent 6.3‐ha Spartina‐dominated unrestricted control marsh (analysis of similarities randomization test, p < 0.001). After one growing season vegetation of the tide‐restored marsh had changed from its pre‐restoration condition (analysis of similarities randomization test, p < 0.005). Although not similar to the unrestricted control marsh, Spartina patens and S. alterniflora abundance increased and abundance and height of Phragmites significantly declined, suggesting a convergence toward typical New England salt marsh vegetation. Before restoration shallow water habitat (creeks and pools) of the unrestricted control marsh supported a greater density of nekton compared with the tide‐restricted marsh (analysis of variance, p < 0.001), but after one season of restored tidal flow nekton density was equivalent. A similar trend was documented for nekton species richness. Nekton density and species richness from marsh surface samples were similar between the tide‐restored marsh and unrestricted control marsh. Fundulus heteroclitus and Palaemonetes pugio were the numerically dominant fish and decapod species in all sampled habitats. This study provides an example of a quantitative approach for assessing the response of vegetation and nekton to tidal restoration.     

Liver and kidney concentrations of selenium in wild boars (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sus scrofa</Emphasis>) from northwestern Poland

The aim of this study was to determine liver and kidney concentrations of selenium in wild boars from the northwest part of Poland, depending on season of the year, age, sex, and body weight. Altogether, samples of livers and kidneys from 172 wild boars that were shot in 2005–2008 were investigated. Liver and kidney concentrations of selenium were determined using spectrofluorometric method. In all the animals studied, selenium concentration was several times lower in the liver than in the kidneys. Selenium concentration averaged 0.19 μg/g wet weight (w.w.) in the liver and 1.20 μg/g w.w. in kidneys. The present study showed that season (P ≤ 0.05), age (P ≤ 0.01), and body weight (P ≤ 0.01) have a significant effect on selenium concentration in the liver of wild boars. Liver selenium concentration was the highest in spring (0.23 μg/g w.w.) and the lowest in autumn (0.16 μg/g w.w). Young animals (up to 1 year of age) and those with the lowest body weight (up to 20 kg) were characterized by a slightly lower selenium concentration in the liver compared to older and heavier animals. No significant differences were found in organ selenium concentration between males and females. According to biochemical criteria for the diagnosis of selenium deficiency in pig liver, which were used to evaluate selenium concentration in the liver of wild boars, no individuals were found to have optimal levels. Considering that in Se deficiency higher selenium concentrations are found in kidneys than in the liver, it can be presumed that the wild boars had Se deficiency. However, this is difficult to state conclusively because there are no reference values for this species.     

Immunohistochemical Localization of Phosphodiesterase 2A in Multiple Mammalian Species

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) comprise a family of enzymes that regulate the levels of cyclic nucleotides, key second messengers that mediate a diverse array of functions. PDE2A is an evolutionarily conserved cGMP-stimulated cAMP and cGMP PDE. In the present study, the regional and cellular distribution of PDE2A in tissues of rats, mice, cynomolgus monkeys, dogs, and humans was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. A polyclonal antibody directed to the C-terminal portion of PDE2A specifically detected PDE2A by Western blotting and by immunohistochemistry. The pattern of PDE2A immunoreactivity (ir) was consistent across all species. Western blot analysis demonstrated that PDE2A was most abundant in the brain relative to peripheral tissues. PDE2A ir was heterogeneously distributed within brain and was selectively expressed in particular peripheral tissues. In the brain, prominent immunoreactivity was apparent in components of the limbic system, including the isocortex, hippocampus, amygdala, habenula, basal ganglia, and interpeduncular nucleus. Cytoplasmic PDE2A staining was prominent in several peripheral tissues, including the adrenal zona glomerulosa, neurons of enteric ganglia, endothelial cells in all organs, lymphocytes of spleen and lymph nodes, and pituitary. These studies suggest that PDE2A is evolutionarily conserved across mammalian species and support the hypothesis that the enzyme plays a fundamental role in signal transduction. (J Histochem Cytochem 57:933–949, 2009)     

Studien über die Plasmakomponenten (Golgi-Apparat u.a.) an vitalgefärbten männlichen Geschlechtszellen einiger Säuger (Cavia,Lepus, Mus)

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Ochratoxin A and other mycotoxins in Polish cereals and foods

In 1990–2000 selected Polish cereals, cereal products and some different commodities collected in several regions of Poland were analysed for ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins. The frequency and the level of contamination of Polish cereals and cereal products by ochratoxin A seem to be similar as in most European countries. Aflatoxins in cereals and their products does not seem to be a problem in Poland, however the attention should be pay to some imported products like peanuts.