Degradation of juvenogens by termites and soil bacteria

Considering a potential application of selected biochemically activated insect hormonogen substances (juvenogens) against pest termite species, we aimed this study to describe the metabolism of these compounds by termites and soil bacteria and to evaluate the potential impact of their metabolites on the environment. Radiolabelled derivatives of the juvenogens cis- and trans-isomers of ethyl N-{2-[4-(2-butanoyloxycyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy}ethyl carbamate were metabolized by the termite Reticulitermes flavipes and the bacteria Bacillus simplex and Bacillus sp., strain 05 (GenBank EU399813) giving rise to different numbers of metabolites. The trans-isomer of the juvenogen was metabolized by both Bacillus species into its parent synthetic structure, ethyl trans-N-{2-[4-(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)methyl]phenoxy}ethyl carbamate, while the cis-isomer was metabolized into further products. Both racemic juvenogens were metabolized bytermites, affording mainly the parent juvenoids. In terms of ecotoxicity, the trans-juvenogen shows a significantly lower toxicity than the cis-juvenogen. In contrast, the toxicity of the cis-juvenoid (main degradation product of cis-juvenogen) is higher than the toxicity of trans-juvenoid (main degradation product of trans- juvenogen). The precursors of the two juvenogens cis- and trans-2-(4-hydroxybenzyl)cyclohexanol were also tested but exhibited a low toxicity. The results demonstrate that bacteria can metabolize the juvenogen in liquid media culture and have implications for the development of a strategy for bioremediation of soil. Moreover, the products of the biodegradation exhibited low toxicity. Both juvenogens have a high juvenilizing effect, cause low mortality and are stable within a period of two weeks.     

System approach to drainage,irrigation and soil conservation related to water quality problems

The system approach and combination of simulation and optimization models to the problems of water quality in public water supply basins influenced by agricultural activities, drainage, irrigation and soil conservation are presented. The methodological aspects of the problem are analysed.     

Computer-assisted image analysis in the evaluation of fish wounding by cormorant [Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (L.)] attacks

Fish that have escaped from a cormorant’s (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (L.)) grasp and/or which could not be swallowed due to their size suffer from various injuries resulting in consecutive infections and subsequent increased mortality. Computer-assisted image analysis was applied to describe the extent of such injuries. Two-year-old mirror carp, Cyprinus carpio L. (TL 200–300 mm, W 200–300 g) showed injuries ranging over approximately 10% of the total body surface. Immediately after wounding, the damaged epithelium (scars) cover 5–35%, and deeper subdermal wounds caused by the beak tip pervading into muscle tissue cover an area of 1–2% of the total body surface. On the side impacted by the cormorant’s lower mandible, extensive areas of epidermal contusions (scars) occur. As time progresses, these ratios change—deeper necroses represent up to 10% of the total body surface and healing epithelial scars comprise just 1–2%. In wounded silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Val. (300–400 mm, W 500–700 g), the share of subdermal wounds usually does not exceed 0.5% due to their compact scaly cover. During pond draining due to fish harvesting, the size spectrum of wounded fish increases and may also often include bigger fish (e.g., European catfish, Silurus glanis L.) up to 2.2 kg.     

Production potential,biodiversity and soil properties of forest reclamations: Opportunities or risk of introduced coniferous tree species under climate change?

European Journal of Forest Research - In the time of ongoing climate change and the increasing area of post-mining landscape, the successful afforestation of reclamation sites by suitable adaptive...     

Bioaccumulation of gold in macrofungi and ectomycorrhizae from the vicinity of the Mokrsko gold deposit, Czech Republic

Samples of macrofungi collected in the vicinity of the Mokrsko gold deposit were analyzed for Au by INAA and ICP-MS. Ectomycorrhizal fungi yielded from 0.88 to 564 μg kg⁻¹ Au (dry weight) in 79 samples. Saprobic fungi (75 samples) from the same locations yielded significantly higher concentrations: 3-7739 μg kg⁻¹ Au (dry weight), with the highest contents in Lycoperdon perlatum. These are the highest recorded concentrations of Au in naturally-occurring fungi/vascular plants. Concentrations of Au in ectomycorrhizae were approximately 4-10 times higher than those in fine roots. It appears that saprobic fungi, namely several terrestrial saprobes of the genera Agaricus and Lycoperdon, are more efficient than ectomycorrhizal fungi at taking up Au, probably assisted by other microbiota and/or by a range of naturally-occurring compounds that have yet to be identified. The present data demonstrate that macrofungi are involved in the biogeochemical cycling of Au.     

Supplementary feeding with thermally treated cereals in common carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis> L.) pond farming and its effects on water quality,nutrient budget and zooplankton and zoobenthos assemblages

To test the influence of supplementary feeding with thermally treated cereals on nutrient budget and environmental and biotic variables, three different treatments were applied in four experimental ponds: two with thermally treated cereals, one with raw cereal and a control with no supplementary feeding. Water parameters, zooplankton and zoobenthos were analysed from May to October over two consecutive years (2012 and 2013). In addition, nitrogen and phosphorus budgets were calculated as the difference between input (feed, stocked fish) and output (harvested fish). The results showed that type of supplementary feed had no influence on water quality, aside from water transparency. Ponds with added thermally treated cereal had significantly (P < 0.05) lower turbidity and suspended solids (and increased Secchi depth) compared with control. While no significant differences were observed in zooplankton assemblages between the experimental ponds and the control, macrozoobenthos density and biomass were considerably lower in the control pond. High seasonal fluctuations resulted in significant differences in density in 2012 only. The use of thermally treated cereal led to improved carp growth and nutrient budget, with an increase in carp yield and nutrient removal per hectare of pond surface. This result is a win–win situation with 10 % lower feed conversion ratio, increased profits and lower environmental impact.     

Do oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida) show a higher preference for ubiquitous vs. specialized saprotrophic fungi from pine litter?

Previous studies of oribatid mite feeding preferences for different saprotrophic fungi were limited to ubiquitous fungal species, whereas saprophytes specialized to decompose particular substrates have been neglected. We examined the preference of seven oribatid mite species (Adoristes ovatus, Eniochthonius minutissimus, Eueremaeus silvestris, Nothrus silvestris, Oppiella subpectinata, Porobelba spinosa and Spatiodamaeus verticillipes) for nine autochthonous saprotrophic fungi from Scots pine litter (Pinus sylvestris). Among the fungal species offered were specific coniferous litter colonizers (Allantophomopsis lycopodina, Ceuthospora pinastri, Hormonema dematioides, Scleroconidioma sphagnicola, Verticicladium trifidum, Marasmius androsaceus and Sympodiella acicola) and two ubiquitous species (Cladosporium herbarum and Oidiodendron griseum). The fungi were inoculated on fragments of pine needles and offered simultaneously and separately to the mites. Our main hypothesis, that oribatid mites (usually occurring in more than one type of ecosystems) would prefer the ubiquitous fungal species rather than those specific to pine litter, was supported only partly. The ubiquitous C. herbarum was highly preferred by all studied mites, but most of them preferred one or more of the specialized fungi with similar intensity. The basidiomycete M. androsaceus along with sterile needles were consistently avoided by all mites in all experiments. Our results do not support the hypothesis, that the “true” fungivorous oribatid mites in traditional sense are more selective fungal feeders than are the “unspecialized” panphytophagous ones. We observed no gradation in preference of fungi for oribatid mites as a group, but rather a discontinuous and dynamic mosaic with particular mites preferring particular fungal species. This heterogeneous mosaic shapes the feeding niches occupied by particular oribatid mite species and probably reduces competition for food source among numerous species coexisting in a given habitat and time.     

The impact of carp pond management upon macrozoobenthos assemblages in recipient pond canals

Impact of carp pond management upon macrozoobenthos assemblages was studied in inlet and outlet carp pond canals in South Moravia (Czech Republic). Four ponds (two eutrophic and two hypertrophic ones) with different types of fish farming management and intensification measures were selected for the evaluation of the impact of inlet water quality, discharge rate and pond stocking management upon the outlet water quality determinants based on macrozoobenthos evaluation during April–September 2009. Five inlet and four outlet canals were sampled by “kick–sampling” approach and also by using the artificial substrates. The pattern of water quality changes after the flow through the pond was predominantly influenced by inlet water quality. In ponds supplied with worsened inflow water quality with the saprobic index (SI) according to macrozoobenthos corresponding to alpha-mesosaprobity (SI 2.82–2.89), the outflow water quality was significantly improved by approximately half of the saprobic degree on SI 2.38–2.42. On the contrary, the inflow water quality corresponding to beta-mesosaprobity (SI, 2.32) was significantly (p < 0.01) deteriorated to alpha-mesosaprobity in the pond outflow. Macrozoobenthos diversity and the number of taxa reflected the flow through the pond identically with saprobic determinants. In ponds with poor inflow water quality, the number of macrozoobenthos taxa and its diversity increased in the outlet canals, and vice versa, in ponds with good-quality inflow water, the number of taxa and macrozoobenthos diversity decreased in outlet canals.