Landscape patterns of variation in blood glucose concentration of nestling blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Integration of landscape ecology and conservation physiology has been recommended as a potentially useful way to investigate consequences of human-induced changes in habitats for animal populations. A central goal of this paper was to examine if a simple physiological parameter displays any consistent patterns of spatio-temporal variation. Blood glucose concentration in birds reflects their high metabolic demands and may be influenced by a number of environmental factors. Therefore we present results concerning variation in glucose concentration in the blood of c. 14-day-old nestling blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in central Poland in an 8-year period, 2005–2012, in two landscapes: an urban parkland and a deciduous forest. The most important findings of the study were: (1) mean levels of blood glucose varied markedly among years, most probably due to variable weather conditions, (2) glucose concentrations were significantly higher in the parkland study site than in the forest site, (3) heavier nestlings had lower glucose levels, and (4) high glucose levels were negatively correlated with fledging and breeding success. Thus we have confirmed that a consistent spatio-temporal pattern really exists.     

Effects of different diets on juvenile tench, Tinca tinca (L.) reared under controlled conditions

In a laboratory experiment at 28 °C, four commercial starters (Carp Starter, Uni Starter, Perla Plus, Asta) were fed intensively to 11-month-old juvenile tench Tinca tinca of initially 41 mm TL and 0.70 g BW, over a period of 120 days. Frozen chironomid larvae were fed to fish below satiation as a reference diet for comparison of the fish body chemical composition. Final survival rates of 99–100% and satisfactory growth were attained with all dry diets, ranging from 73.3 (Carp Starter) to 84.8 mm TL (Asta) and from 5.39 (Carp Starter) to 8.09 g BW (Perla Plus). External body deformities of up to 96.4% specimens appeared in those fed Uni Starter, Carp Starter and Perla Plus, whereas 0% were recorded for Asta and chironomids. Fish in groups with deformities showed significantly elevated lipid content in their bodies, lower ash content and higher condition coefficient values. Juveniles in groups without deformities did not substantially change lipid content, but the ash content increased. Thus, among four dry diets studied, only Asta starter can be fed effectively and safely to juvenile tench reared intensively under controlled conditions.     

Compositional Differences in Anthocyanins from Blue‐ and Purple‐Grained Spring Wheat Grown in Four Environments in Central Saskatchewan

Anthocyanins are important dietary components that play significant roles in human health because of their antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. In the present study nine anthocyanin‐pigmented spring wheat lines grown at two sites in central Saskatchewan, Canada, were evaluated in terms of anthocyanin composition in comparison with four wheat checks over a two‐year period. The genotypes studied were blue‐aleurone and purple‐pericarp wheat. The anthocyanin pigments were quantified and identified with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Two anthocyanin profiles were identified in the breeding lines, namely, blue profile and purple profile. Wheat lines with a purple profile had overall higher anthocyanin concentrations and more pigments than the blue‐aleurone lines. The purple profile was also characterized by the presence of acylated anthocyanins containing malonyl and succinyl substituents, but no acylated pigments were found in the blue profile. Delphinidin was the dominant aglycone in the blue profile, whereas cyanidin was the principal anthocyanidin in the purple profile. Genotype and interactions among genotype, year, and location were found to significantly influence content and composition of anthocyanin pigments. These differences in anthocyanin content and composition reflect various color characteristics and bioactivity for purple or blue wheat when utilized.     

The effect of mycorrhizal inoculation and phosphorus application on the growth and mineral nutrient status of apple seedlings

Apple seedlings cv. Antonovka were grown in soil taken from an orchard with a distinctive specific apple replant disease. The influence of the different available soil phosphorus (P) level (0, 20, 40 and 80 mg P dm^?3 of soil) and arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) inoculation on the vegetative growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, and the frequency of mycorrhizae were assessed. Moreover, leaf and root mineral composition was ascertained by means of the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. The inoculation with AMF influenced seedlings growth as well as the biomass production and partitioning. The method of inoculation (granular, quick root dip or irrigation) had a great impact on the frequency of mycorrhizae (83.3, 98.8 and 100%, respectively) as well as on the abundance of arbuscules (36.4, 62.9 and 67.3%) as compared to the control (11.7%). The beneficial effect of AMF on leaf PSII efficiency was established. AMF inoculated plants had a significantly higher content of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and boron (N, K, P and B) in the shoots and a higher content of nitrogen, sulfur, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and titanium (N, S, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and Ti) in the roots. Although roots showed a higher concentration of aluminium, barium, lithium, cadmium, lead and vanadium (Al, Ba, Li, Cd, Pb, and V) but upon AMF inoculation, the concentration of these cations was much lower.