The role of selected tree species in industrial sewage sludge/flotation tailing management

The aim of the study was to estimate the ability of ten tree and bush species to tolerate and accumulate Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As species [As(III), As(V), and total organic arsenic] in industrial sewage sludge extremely contaminated with arsenic (almost 27.5 g kg^?1) in a pot experiment. The premise being that it will then be possible to select the most promising tree/bush species, able to grow in the vicinity of dams where sewage sludge/flotation tailings are used as landfill. Six of the ten tested tree species were able to grow on the sludge. The highest content of total As was observed in Betula pendula roots (30.0 ± 1.3 mg kg^?1 DW), where the dominant As species was the toxic As(V). The highest biomass of Quercus Q1 robur (77.3 § 2.6 g) and Acer platanoides (76.0 § 4.9 g) was observed. A proper planting of selected tree species that are able to thrive on sewage sludge/flotation tailings could be an interesting and promising way to protect dams. By utilizing differences in their root systems and water needs, we will be able to reduce the risk of fatal environmental disasters.     

Sexual aggression by intruders in hooded crow <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corvus cornix</Emphasis>

The hooded crow Corvus cornix is a west Palaearctic, solitary nesting, monogamous corvid. In the breeding season, populations are characterized by a social organization wherein breeding pairs are territorial and non-breeding individuals, called floaters, live in flocks. During a study of the breeding ecology of the hooded crow, conducted in a protected flooded area, we monitored nests with video cameras. We recorded two separate incidents when intruders attacked a female at the nest. We believe that she remained in the nest in order to prevent the strangers cannibalizing the nestlings by mantling over the brood. The spatio-temporal occurrence of these attacks suggests that the observed behaviour is intraspecific sexual aggression wherein non-breeding males mounted an immobilized female.     

Effect of temperate forest tree species on soil dehydrogenase and urease activities in relation to other properties of soil derived from loess and glaciofluvial sand

We investigated the effects of several tree species on dehydrogenase and urease activities in soils derived from two different parent materials (glaciofluvial sand and loess) in forested areas in southern Poland. We hypothesized that coniferous forests (pine, spruce) alter the soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) and decrease soil pH and, therefore, might decrease soil enzyme activities compared with broadleaf species growing on similar soils. Eight paired plots (12 × 12 m) were established on glaciofluvial sand in pine (Pinus sylvestris) + oak (Quercus robur) and spruce (Picea abies) + pine stands, as well as on loess-derived soils: beech (Fagus sylvatica) + pine and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) + pine stands. Each plot was a 4 × 4 m grid with 16 sampling points. In soil samples pH, soil texture, and organic carbon, nitrogen, base cation contents, dehydrogenase and urease activities were determined. On both parent materials, the soil pH was lower under coniferous species than under broadleaf species. The acidifying effect of tree species on sandy soil was in the order of spruce = pine > oak, while that on loess was pine > beech > hornbeam. Hornbeam and oak increased the soil pH and stimulated enzyme activity in the soil. The content of fine fraction enhanced potential enzyme activities in soils, thus the loess soils had greater dehydrogenase and urease activity. The results suggest that pine stores more soil organic C in association with silt increasing the pool of stabilized soil organic C.     

A biotrophic fungal infection of the great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis indirectly affects caterpillar performance of the endangered scarce large blue butterfly Phengaris teleius

Interactions between ecological communities of herbivores and microbes are commonly mediated by a shared plant. A tripartite interaction between a pathogenic fungus-host plant-herbivorous insect is an example of such mutual influences. In such a system a fungal pathogen commonly has a negative influence on the morphology and biochemistry of the host plant, with consequences for insect herbivore performance. Here we studied whether the biotrophic fbngus Podosphaera ferruginea, attacking the great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, affects caterpillar performance of the endangered scarce large blue butterfly Phengaris teleius. Our results showed that the pathogenic ftmgus affected the number and size of inflorescences produced by food-plants and, more importantly, had in direct, plant-mediated effects on the abun dance, body mass and immune response of caterpillars. Specifically, we found the relationship between caterpillar abundance and variability in inflorescence size on a plant to be positive among healthy food-plants, and negative among infected food-plants. Caterpillars that fed on healthy food-plants were smaller than those that fed on infected food-plants in one studied season, while there was no such difference in the other season. We observed the relationship between caterpillar immune response and the proportion of infected great burnets within a habitat patch to be positive when caterpillars fed on healthy food-plants, and negative when caterpillars fed on infected food-plants. Our results suggest that this biotrophic fungal infection of the great burnet may impose a significant indirect influence on P. teleius caterpillar performance with potential consequences for the population dynamics and structure of this endangered butterfly.     

Assessment of cartilage invasion in case of laryngeal cancer by means of longitudinal sectioning for histopathology – Clinical implications

AimThe aim of the study was to assess the accuracy of radiological diagnosis of laryngeal cartilage infiltration by histopathological examination of laryngeal specimen after total laryngectomy.BackgroundDespite the development of new medical technologies and significant clinical advances allowing early diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal cancer, mortality is still on the rise. Neoplastic infiltration of the laryngeal cartilages is the most common source of error in the assessment of cancer staging. Furthermore, cartilage invasion is listed as a contraindication to partial surgical techniques as well as radiotherapy.Materials and methodsThe study was carried out on 21 larynges following total laryngectomy. Before taking the decision to perform surgery, high-resolution CT scans were performed in all cases. An extended histopathological examination was conducted using a unique vertical cross-section of the whole larynx.ResultsPathology reported 2 cases of arytenoid cartilage invasion, 5 cases of cricoid cartilage invasion, 12 cases of thyroid cartilage penetration, 1 case of internal cortex invasion and 9 cases of extra-laryngeal spread. CT imaging identified 8 of 13 cases (61.5%) of pathologically proven invasion of thyroid cartilage and only 2 cases (2/9, 22%) of extra-laryngeal spread. According to CT results, arytenoid cartilage invasion was correctly identified in 2 cases, cricoid cartilage invasion in 4 (4/5, 80%). The positive predictive values for thyroid, cricoid and arytenoid cartilage invasion and penetration were 80%, 66.7% and 50%, respectively. In case of pre-laryngeal spread the positive predictive value was 100%.ConclusionDespite increasingly advanced methods involved in the diagnosis of laryngeal cancer, many discrepancies may be observed between the radiological and histopathological assessments. CT imaging has limitations especially in thyroid cartilage penetration and extra-laryngeal spread assessment in advanced laryngeal cancer cases. An extended histopathological examination, involving vertical cross-sections of the whole larynx is a very precise study that allows a precise determination of local cancer staging (T).