Stable isotopes and gut contents indicate differential resource use by coexisting asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)

Differential use of habitat and prey resources is an important mechanism that may allow coexistence of sympatric species. Unlike interactions between smaller cyprinid and percid fishes, the resource use by coexisting predatory asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is relatively unknown. Here, gut content and stable isotope analyses were used to study ontogenetic dietary shifts and interspecific trophic niche overlap between asp and pikeperch coexisting in two reservoirs. The hypothesis that both species show an ontogenetic dietary shift from small invertebrates to large fish prey, but at the same time use different prey resources to reduce potential competitive interactions, was validated. The isotopic niches of the two predators showed no, or only a moderate, degree of overlap (0%–65%). The ontogenetic changes in the degree of interspecific isotopic niche overlap were different in the two reservoirs, suggesting that trophic segregation can be dynamic and variable among systems. Gut contents revealed that small (<100 mm standard length) asp consumed mostly terrestrial invertebrates and emerged aquatic insects, whereas small pikeperch foraged on zooplankton, larval and pupal stages of aquatic insects and fish. Larger individuals (>100 mm) of both species were predominantly piscivorous, with asp consuming more cyprinid prey and pikeperch more percid prey. Coexisting asp and pikeperch populations are able to utilise different prey resources, thereby reducing potential negative competitive interactions.     

Associations of fish with various types of littoral habitats in reservoirs

Fish associations with different types of littoral habitats were studied in four canyon‐shaped reservoirs in the Czech Republic in years 2010 and 2011 by gillnets. Two to three habitats per reservoir–beaches (former meadows), stump fields (former forest) and rubble slopes–were defined and sampled along the longitudinal axis of reservoirs. Effects of reservoir, habitat and locality (position along longitudinal axis) on fish biomass, abundance and species structure were tested for juvenile and adult fish separately. Hierarchical analysis of variance revealed that habitats differed significantly in fish biomass and abundance. Redundancy analysis showed that analysed environmental variables had significant influence on fish community structure. Most variability in community structure was explained by reservoir and then by combination of habitat and slope steepness. Locality position had the smallest influence on community structure. For both adult and juvenile fish total abundance and biomass, the most inhabited habitat was beaches; rubble slopes were the least inhabited. Habitat associations differed among species. Among adults, bream Abramis brama, white bream Blicca bjoerkna and roach Rutilus rutilus were associated with beaches and stump fields, whereas perch Perca fluviatilis, ruffe Gymnocephalus cernuus, asp Aspius aspius and pike Esox lucius were associated with rubble slopes. Bream, white bream, bleak Alburnus alburnus, roach, ruffe and pikeperch Sander lucioperca were associated with beaches among juveniles, whereas the only juvenile associated with rubble slopes was perch. We showed that most common species are associated with distinct habitats and also that utilisation of various littoral habitats differs in general.     

Resistance of bamboo scrimber against white-rot and brown-rot fungi

ABSTRACT

Bamboo scrimber is one of the most emerging structural materials for future building applications and it possesses properties comparable to other natural wood-based engineered materials such as glulam, laminated veneer lumber and cross-laminated timber. The goal of this work was to study the decay resistance of bamboo scrimber against white-rot (Trametes versicolor) and brown-rot fungi (Serpula lacrymans). Bamboo scrimber samples were incubated in petri dishes with the wood-decaying fungi and the weight loss after 12 weeks was measured. The surface morphology of fungal-degraded bamboo scrimber was evaluated using optical microscopy. Based on the percentage weight loss, bamboo scrimber could be classified as highly resistant against bio-deterioration by white and brown-rot fungi.     

Impacts of population growth, economic development, and technical change on global food production and consumption

Over the next decades mankind will demand more food from fewer land and water resources. This study quantifies the food production impacts of four alternative development scenarios from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the Special Report on Emission Scenarios. Partially and jointly considered are land and water supply impacts from population growth, and technical change, as well as forest and agricultural commodity demand shifts from population growth and economic development. The income impacts on food demand are computed with dynamic elasticities. Simulations with a global, partial equilibrium model of the agricultural and forest sectors show that per capita food levels increase in all examined development scenarios with minor impacts on food prices. Global agricultural land increases by up to 14% between 2010 and 2030. Deforestation restrictions strongly impact the price of land and water resources but have little consequences for the global level of food production and food prices. While projected income changes have the highest partial impact on per capita food consumption levels, population growth leads to the highest increase in total food production. The impact of technical change is amplified or mitigated by adaptations of land management intensities.     

The use of RAPD technique for the identification and classification of Pisum sativum L. genotypes

Summary The genomic DNAs of 42 Pisum sativum genotypes, representing four wild and cultivated subspecies were used as templates in RAPD reactions. Amplification with eight decamer primers generated 149 polymorphic products. Genetic similarities of RAPD profiles were estimated via a coefficient of Jaccard and then the data were processed by cluster analysis (UPGMA). Each genotype was clearly identified and separated from the others. Our results show that RAPD technology is a rapid, precise and sensitive technique for identification of pea genotypes. However, the phylogenetic relationships within the Pisum sativum, which we tested by bootstrap analysis (Wagner parsimony), must be interpreted with caution.     

HPLC analysis of rosmarinic acid in feed enriched with aerial parts of Prunella vulgaris and its metabolites in pig plasma using dual-channel coulometric detection

This paper describes a sensitive isocratic HPLC/ECD method developed for the determination of rosmarinic acid (RA) in plant material, animal feed, and pig plasma. The plasma sample preparation only includes protein precipitation and adjustment of the pH. The applicability of the method was tested on plasma samples of pigs that were exposed to a 91-day oral intake of RA via feed enriched by aerial parts of Prunella vulgaris. The plasma was directly analyzed using the method described as well as after enzymatic hydrolysis. When no hydrolysis step was included, RA and caffeic acid (CA) were quantified in the plasma. In hydrolyzed plasma samples, several other metabolites were determined, including dihydrocaffeic, ferulic, and dihydroferulic acid. The dual-channel coulometric detection employed, as an alternative to mass spectrometry, offers good selectivity and sensitivity owing to the electrochemical properties of the phenolic constituents.     

Effect of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus uberis on apoptosis of bovine mammary gland lymphocytes

The aim of this study was to determine whether lymphocyte apoptosis is modulated by infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus uberis. Samples of cell populations were obtained by lavage of the mammary glands at 4 intervals (24, 48, 72 and 168 h) following infection. The percentage of apoptotic lymphocytes peaked at 168 h after challenge with S. aureus or S. uberis. Subsequent experiments focused on in vitro cultivation of mammary gland lymphocytes with S. aureus and S. uberis. These experiments showed a lower percentage of apoptotic lymphocytes following 3 h of cultivating cells with bacteria than after cultivation without bacteria. The results demonstrate that during both experimental infection of bovine mammary glands with S. aureus or S. uberis and during in vitro cultivation of lymphocytes with S. aureus or S. uberis, apoptosis of lymphocytes is delayed.