The chemical composition of the meat of fat dormice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glis glis</Emphasis> L.)

The fat dormouse (Glis glis) is a traditional game species in the Republic of Croatia. Although today the fat dormouse is not frequently caught as game, it is still a source of animal protein in human nutrition in certain rural areas of Croatia. In this paper the chemical analysis of fat dormouse meat is presented. The average values for the quantity of water, fat, protein and ash in dormouse meat are comparable with the chemical composition of the meat of rabbits and brown hares, except for the important fact that rabbit and hare meat contains a greater quantity of fat on average. According to our results, the meat of fat dormice can be categorised as dietary food, characterised by a small percentage of fat (mean 2.83%) and a high amount of protein (mean 21.01%).     

The role of fat dormouse (Glis glis L.) as reservoir host for spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the region of Gorski Kotar, Croatia

To determine whether some of the B. burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies associate with fat dormouse as a reservoir host, we investigated the prevalence of infection in questing animals. A total of 45 adult fat dormice (30 female and 15 male) were captured by hunters during their hunting season in the region of Gorski Kotar, Croatia. Dead animals were aseptically dissected, and the urinary bladder tissue was used for isolation attempt and for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction. Out of 45 DNA samples extracted from urine bladder tissue, we found four (8.88%) to be polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive. The RFLP analysis of the PCR product after cleavage with DraI and MseI distinguished between the three major genospecies: B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii and B. afzelii. All positive samples were typed as B. afzelii with a unique DraI or MseI pattern. The results of the analysis of urinary bladder tissue samples culture for the presence of Borrelia were negative. Results showed that a prevalence of the Borrelia infection among population of fat dormice indicated their epizootiological involvement as a reservoir of Borrelia spirochetes. Furthermore, this work is an initial step in the investigation of the molecular epidemiology/epizootiology of Lyme borreliosis in Croatia.     

喀斯特石山生境中熊猴的雨季食物组成

开展食物组成研究为人们了解灵长类对栖息地的反应提供了很好的途径,对深刻理解动物的行为可塑性及适应性具有重要意义。猕猴属(Macaca)为果食性灵长类,但是不同种类的食性差异很大;即使便同一物种,其不同地理种群也因其栖息环境不同,食物组成存在差异。一般说来,热带地区的种类比生活在较高纬度的种类采食更多的果实。于2012年7—9月,采用瞬时扫描法对广西弄岗自然保护区石山中的两群熊猴(Macaca assamensis)进行了跟踪和观察,对猴群的雨季食物组成及其日时段变化规律进行了研究。结果表明:研究期间熊猴共采食45种植物,其中乔木30种,灌木3种,藤本11种,草本1种。平均每月采食植物22.3种。嫩叶和果实是熊猴的主要食物,分别占食物组成的52.4%和46.1%(其中未成熟果实占21.3%,成熟果实占24.8%)。另外,花占食物组成的0.9%,成熟叶和其它部位分别占0.3%。石山特有植物芸香竹(Bonia saxatilis)的嫩叶提供了43.8%的食物。9种主要植物分别占食物组成的2%,共为猴群提供了85.5%的食物。分析还发现熊猴并不是严格按照环境中的植物生物量来选择食物。嫩叶在弄岗熊猴的食物中的比例高于其他地理种群,而果实低于其他地理种群,这可能与喀斯特石山中果实的丰富度和可利用性较低有关。熊猴一天中不同时间段的食物组成并不相同,主要表现在:熊猴上午时间段对成熟果实和总果实的采食比例高于下午时间段,而嫩叶的采食比例低于下午时间段。另外,不同时间段的食物组成受外界温度的影响,表现为温度与嫩叶的觅食比例成正比,与成熟果实和总果实的觅食比例成反比。这可能与猴群采取的能量平衡策略有关。对熊猴的食物组成的日时段变化规律进行首次报道,研究结果将有助于深入理解熊猴对喀斯特石山生境的适应策略。     

Home range of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in three contrasting French populations

Despite their pest status in numerous areas throughout the World, the populations of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) have strongly decreased in South Western Europe since the mid-20th century. Such a decrease constitutes a major threat on top predators and calls for a better understanding of its mechanisms to provide suitable management responses. Infectious diseases have been invoked as the main responsible factors, but they cannot by themselves explain the magnitude of this decrease. Habitat fragmentation may indeed act as a synergetic factor, and habitat use studies are needed to better understand the impact of fragmentation on rabbit population dynamics. We investigated the variability of home range size with respects to age, sex and season in three wild populations of rabbits using telemetry. Home ranges were smaller in the highest density populations (7333 and 6878 vs. 20,492 m²) suggesting differences in habitat quality between the populations. In addition, home range sizes were larger during the reproductive season for both sexes, and adults tended to have smaller home ranges than juveniles. Clearly, the home range sizes reported here were smaller than those previously reported in rabbits.     

Ovipositor ultrastructure of the striped bitterling Acheilognathus yamatsutae (Teleostei: Acheilognathinae) during spawning season

The ovipositor of striped bitterling Acheilognathus yamatsutae was subjected to ultrastructure and histochemical analysis during spawning season using light and electron microscopy. Although the ovipositor of A. yamatsutae is a long cylindrical tube with smooth external surface, it was possible to confirm the presence of well-developed fingerprint structure using scanning electron microscopy. Internal aspect analysis of ovipositor revealed formation of 5–8 longitudinal folds. Cross section analysis revealed that the ovipositor is composed of an outer epithelial layer, a mid connective tissue layer, and an inner epithelial layer. The outer epithelial layer contains 7–9 cell layers composed mainly of epithelial and mucous cells. Result of AB–PAS (pH 2.5) and AF–AB reaction showed that mucous cells contained mainly acidic carboxylated mucosubstances. The connective tissue layer was loose and made mainly of collagen fibers and some muscle fibers, along with blood vessels and a small number of chromatophores. The inner epithelial layer, which is a single layer, is composed of columnar epithelia. Observation under transmission electron microscope enabled distinction of the outer epithelial layer into superficial, intermediate and basal layers. Although the types of cells in the superficial tissue layer were diverse, they all shared the development of glycocalyx covered microridges. The majority of epithelial cells in the intermediate layer were cuboidal shaped, while those in the basal layer were columnar. Two types (A and B) of secretory cells were observed in the outer epithelial layer. The connective tissue layer had two types of chromatophores including xantophore and melanophore, in addition to a well-developed nerve fiber bundles. Columnar epithelial cells, mitochondria-rich cells and rodlet cells were observed in the inner epithelial layer. Microvilli were well developed on the free surface of columnar epithelial cells.     

Seasonal changes in territorial behaviour of hazel grouse ( Bonasa bonasia) in a temperate forest of South Korea

We studied the seasonal changes in territorial behaviour of hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia) from December 1999 to July 2001 in a temperate forest of South Korea. The study was based on the use of radio telemetry. Territory size and degree of overlap increased after the breeding period, and index of advertisement and border disputes decreased. In spring, the territory was defended by both males and females. During autumn and winter, this behaviour was relaxed to such a degree that hazel grouse cannot be considered territorial, but as forming a home range.     

庐山香果树毛竹混交林空间格局研究

为了解庐山毛竹入侵对香果树的影响,采用Ripley’sK(t)函数分析香果树毛竹混交林群落空间分布格局和种间关联关系。结果表明:香果树幼树在较小的尺度上呈聚集分布,较大尺度上随机分布直至均匀分布;香果树成年树在较小的尺度上呈随机分布,较大尺度上聚集分布;毛竹在所有的研究尺度上为显著聚集分布,且随着尺度的增大,聚集强度增加。毛竹与香果树幼树在较小的尺度上没有明显关联性,在较大的尺度上呈显著负相关;毛竹与香果树成年树在一系列尺度上均表现为显著负相关。根据空间关联性分析结果,应从幼龄起对生长有香果树的森林群落进行必要的管理,伐除毛竹及一些影响较大的其它乔木树种,挖除地下竹鞭,为香果树提供良好的生长环境,进而恢复其种群的天然合理配置。否则,香果树这一珍贵的植物资源在庐山将有灭绝的危险。     

Spatial behaviour in the Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) during mating and breeding

Summary The range use of both sexes of the Aquatic Warbler was studied during two breeding seasons by radio-tracking. Males used home ranges of up to 8 ha. These home ranges over-lapped by up to 74 %, (mean 51 %) between individuals. During the mating period and prior to nesting, females used isolated sites of 2.8 to 6.4 ha (mean: 4.2 ha) within activity ranges of 100 to 160 ha (mean: 120 ha). Home ranges of different females overlapped by up to 20 %. However, during nest-building and incubation, the average size of home ranges in females was only 1.6 ha. Since no constant ranges were observed, we conclude that Aquatic Warblers are not territorial in the breeding season.

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Räumliches Verhalten des Seggenrohrsängers (Acrocephalus paludicola) während Partnerfindung und Bebrütung

Zusammenfassung In zwei aufeinanderfolgenden Brutzeiten wurde die Raumnutzung von Seggenrohrsängern mittels Telemetrie untersucht. Die ermittelte Größe der Streifgebiete von Männchen betrug in der gesamten Brutzeit bis zu 8 ha. In dem Streifgebiet eines einzelnen Männchens wurden bis zu elf telemetrierte Männchen festgestellt. Die Überlappungen der Streifgebiete telemetrierter Männchen betrugen durchschnittlich 51 %, maximal 74 %. Weibchen nutzten während der Paarungszeit nicht zusammenhängende inselartige Areale von insgesamt 2,8 bis 6,4 ha (Mittelwert 4,2 ha) innerhalb von Aktionsräumen von 110 bis 160 ha (Mittelwert 120 ha). Diese Areale überlappten zu 20 % mit den Aufenthaltsgebieten anderer Weibchen. Während des Brütens sank die Größe der Streifgebiete der Weibchen auf durchschnittlich 1,6 ha. Da im Beobachtungszeitraum keine konstant genutzten Aufenthaltsgebiete vorlagen, schließen wir, daß sich Seggenrohrsänger in der Brutzeit nicht territorial verhalten.

     

Regions in theZ5 mating gene ofSchizophyllum commune involved in Y-Z binding and recognition

The A mating locus of the woodrotting fungusSchizophyllum commune encodes two multiallelic genes,Y andZ, which regulate the A-pathway of development. TheY alleles contain a homeobox, suggesting that the Y proteins may be DNA-binding regulatory proteins. During mating, development is induced when Y from one mating partner interacts with Z from the other mating partner; self combinations of Y and Z are inactive. Two-hybrid analyses indicate that nonself combinations of Y and Z form heteromultimers and self combinations do not. To understand Y-Z binding and self- nonself recognition further we used mutagenesis and chimeras to identify regions in one allele ofZ(Z5) that are involved in these processes. Here we report the results, which broadly define regions in Z5 that are essential for activity, Y-Z binding and Z5 allelic specificity.The sequence reported in this paper has been deposited in the Genbank database under accession number U22049     

The phylogenetic placement of Ostropales within Lecanoromycetes (Ascomycota) revisited

Results of molecular studies regarding the phylogenetic placement of the order Ostropales and related taxa within Lecanoromycetes were thus far inconclusive. Some analyses placed the order as sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes, while others inferred a position nested within Lecanoromycetes. We assembled a data set of 101 species including sequences from nuLSU rDNA, mtSSU rDNA, and the nuclear protein-coding RPB1 for each species to examine the cause of incongruencies in previously published phylogenies. MP, minimum evolution, and Bayesian analyses were performed using the combined three-region data set and the single-gene data sets. The position of Ostropales nested in Lecanoromycetes is confirmed in all single-gene and concatenated analyses, and a placement as sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes is significantly rejected using two independent methods of alternative topology testing. Acarosporales and related taxa (Acarosporaceae group) are basal in Lecanoromycetes. However, if the these basal taxa are excluded from the analyses, Ostropales appear to be sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes, suggesting different ingroup rooting as the cause for deviating topologies in previously published phylogenies.     

Genomic organization of multiple genes coding for rhodotorucine A,a lipopeptide mating pheromone of the basidiomycetous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides

Rhodotorucine A, a lipopeptide mating pheromone, is secreted from mating type A cells of Rhodosporidium toruloides and induces sexual differentiation of the opposite mating type a cells. Genome of A-type cells contains three homologous genes (RHA1, RHA2, and RHA3) encoding rhodotorucine A. Genomic Southern blot analysis using RHA1 DNA as a probe showed that RHA1 strongly hybridize with A-type genomic DNA but weakly with a-type, suggesting that the sequences of RHA genes were dissimilar in the opposite a-type genome. The range of dissimilar regions in a-type genome was searched using RHA-flanking DNA segments as probes. The result suggests that a-type genome lacks sequences coding for rhodotorucine A and its 5 upstream but contains its 3 non-coding sequences. The absence of mating pheromone genes in the opposite mating type genome suggests that the expression of mating-type-specific genes in R. toruloides is not controlled trans-criptionally, as shown in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

Molecular phylogeny of the Acre clade (Crassulaceae): Dealing with the lack of definitions for Echeveria and Sedum

The phylogenetic relationships within many clades of the Crassulaceae are still uncertain, therefore in this study attention was focused on the “Acre clade”, a group comprised of approximately 526 species in eight genera that include many Asian and Mediterranean species of Sedum and the majority of the American genera (Echeveria, Graptopetalum, Lenophyllum, Pachyphytum, Villadia, and Thompsonella). Parsimony and Bayesian analyses were conducted with 133 species based on nuclear (ETS, ITS) and chloroplast DNA regions (rpS16, matK). Our analyses retrieved four major clades within the Acre clade. Two of these were in a grade and corresponded to Asian species of Sedum, the rest corresponded to a European–Macaronesian group and to an American group. The American group included all taxa that were formerly placed in the Echeverioideae and the majority of the American Sedoideae. Our analyses support the monophyly of three genera – Lenophyllum, Thompsonella, and Pachyphytum; however, the relationships among Echeveria, Sedum and the various segregates of Sedum are largely unresolved. Our analyses represents the first broad phylogenetic framework for Acre clade, but further studies are necessary on the groups poorly represented here, such as the European and Asian species of Sedum and the Central and South American species of Echeveria.     

寒温带兴安落叶松和白桦生长季水分利用特征

植物水分利用在生态系统水文循环及其生产力中起着重要作用。气候变化下寒温带森林水分胁迫逐渐加剧,对其典型树种水分利用特征的研究有助于理解寒温带森林生态系统的稳定性及可持续性。以大兴安岭北部典型树种兴安落叶松(Larix gmelinii)(L)和白桦(Betula platyphylla)(B)为研究对象,利用稳定同位素技术测定降雨、木质部水和土壤水中氢氧稳定同位素值(δD和δ¹⁸O),揭示不同水源δD和δ¹⁸O值的分布特征,并利用多源线性混合模型及树干边材液流通量,分析不同水源对2树种的利用率和利用量,揭示生长季兴安落叶松和白桦生长季水分利用特征变化。结果表明：(1)研究区的大气降雨和土壤水同位素均受蒸发的影响发生了一定程度的分馏,且土壤水同位素分馏程度存在树种间的差异,兴安落叶松分馏程度大于白桦。(2)降雨和蒸发对2个林分土壤含水率和土壤水稳定同位素值在上层土壤(0—10cm)影响强烈,而对中下层影响较小,且各层土壤水稳定同位素值表现出显著差异(P<0.05)。(3)在5月和9月兴安落叶松和白桦主要利用上层土壤水分,对上层土壤水分的利...