Studies on insects and mites causing galls on the leaves of purple willow Salix purpurea L. in the Ojców National Park in Poland

Analytical studies were conducted on the species composition of galls occurring on the leaves of Salix purpurea L. in the Ojców National Park in 1999?–?2000. The species composition of galls was identical in two consecutive years. Galls were caused by 5?species (a total of 480?galls). The most numerous species in both years was Pontania viminalis (L.). Index of occurrence frequency and Agrell's index of species co-existence have been calculated. This index reached the highest values in case of Pontania dolichura (Thoms.) and P. viminalis (L.) in 1999 as well as Phyllocolpa leucaspis (Tischb.) and P. viminalis (L.) in 2000.     

Loss in macronutrient pools in bilberry and lingonberry in mesic Scots pine forests after Northern red oak introduction

Forest transformation from coniferous monocultures to mixed stands is being promoted worldwide, including the introduction of fast-growing broadleaved tree species within native stands. Here, we studied how enrichment of temperate European Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest by North-American northern red oak Quercus rubra impacted macronutrient concentrations in two long-lived and dominant components of the forest understory: bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and lingonberry V. vitis-idaea. Study sites were located in forest complexes (central Poland) which occupy continuously reforested lands (hereafter ancient forests) as well as post-agricultural lands (recent forests), all suitable for mesic pine forests. Samples of bilberry and lingonberry leaves, stems, and fruits were collected in pine stands and in adjacent Scots pine-red oak stands, in both ancient and recent forests. Concentrations of macronutrients (C, N, P, K, Ca, S, and Mg) in aboveground biomass components were analysed using standardized chemical procedures. The study revealed intra- and interspecific (bilberry vs. lingonberry) differences in concentrations of all nutrients in leaves, stems, and fruits, except for invariable C concentrations. Macronutrient accumulations in plants were decreased by land-use discontinuity and favoured by enrichment of tree stands by Q. rubra. The estimated macronutrient pools were much higher for V. myrtillus than V. vitis-idaea in all forest types studied. They were lower in forests enriched with Q. rubra, both ancient (up to 25.5% for bilberry and 99.9% for lingonberry) and recent (46.9% and 99.9%, respectively), as well as in recent pine forest (46.6% and 81.1%, respectively) than in ancient pine forest. Higher K and S pools (39.3% and 6.5%, respectively) noted for bilberry in an ancient forest with Q. rubra were exceptions. Despite more effective accumulations of elements at the species level, macronutrient pools of Vaccinium myrtillus and V. vitis-idaea decreased significantly in the presence of introduced Q. rubra due to negative impacts of this broadleaved tree on bilberry and lingonberry cover and biomass. Therefore, the limitation of alien Q. rubra planting in sites of mesic pine forest with the abundant occurrence of V. myrtillus and/or V. vitis-idaea is recommended.

Graphic abstract

     

The variation of tree-ring widths of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) affected by air pollution

Using eight populations of Scots pine growing in foothills of the Sudetes (southern Poland) as an example, the character and causes of annual ring variation in 1900–1999 were studied. The climate had a short-term effect on radial growth during the whole period investigated. A long-term decrease of radial growth occurred after 1960, but only in some localities. It was probably caused by non-climatic factors, most likely by industrial pollution. The decline of trees during that period is mainly evidenced by a high variation of width of annual rings, a small similarity of chronologies of annual ring widths, and a lack of signal years. After 1990, the tree recovery process was evident. It was most intensive in localities where the earlier stress was the most severe. Then, trees started to produce wide annual rings, homogeneity of the growth reaction increased, and the signal years began to occur.     

Studies on the population frequency of insects and mites causing galls on the leaves of the sycamore maple<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Acer pseudoplatanus</Emphasis> L. in southern Poland

Species composition of galls on the leaves of Acer pseudoplatanus L. was analysed in 2002 in three localities: the Wolski Forest, near an urban agglomeration of Kraków, the Ojców National Park and the Andrychów Forest District. A total of 12,013 galls were found. The galls were caused by six insect or mite species. The species composition of the galls was identical in the three localities. Artacris cephaloneus (Nalepa) was the most abundant species. The index of occurrence frequency and Agrells index of species co-occurrence were calculated. The index of occurrence frequency (F) value was highest in the case of A. cephaloneus (1.277) and the lowest value, i.e. 0.00005—both from the Wolski Forest. The highest value for Agrells index of species co-occurrence, i.e. 0.900, was found in the case of Eriophyes pseudoplatani Corti and Drisina glutinosa Giard (Ojców National Park), and the lowest,0.050, for D. glutinosa and Coptophylla gymnaspis (Nalepa) (Wolski Forest; Andrychów FD) and for D. glutinosa and Dasineura irregularis (Bremi) (Andrychów FD).     

Influence of oral co-administration of a preparation containing calcium and magnesium and food on enrofloxacin pharmacokinetics

The objective of this study has been to determine the influence of food and ions on the pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin (ENRO) in turkeys, administered per os at a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight (b.w.). Co-administration of ENRO with ions or with food significantly retarded its absorption, and the interaction was more pronounced when the drug was given together with food. The bioavailability of ENRO was 65.78 ± 7.81% and 47.99 ± 9.48% with ions and food, respectively. The maximum concentration (C_max) in plasma of animals exposed to ions reached 0.87 ± 0.26 μg/ml in a t_max of 2.07 ± 0.76 h; in animals which were fed while medicated, the analogous parameters were 0.36 ± 0.13 μg/ml and 8.06 ± 3.08 h. The PK/PD analysis demonstrated that a decrease in the concentration of ENRO in turkeys’ blood due to the interaction with ions or food might impair the drug's clinical efficacy toward some pathogenic microorganisms in turkeys if a routine dose of 10 mg ENRO/kg b.w. is administered.     

Stress Reactivity and Coping in Horse Adaptation to Environment

“Coping” or “coping strategy”, defined as the behavioral and physiological efforts of animal to master the situation, is more and more in interest of researchers dealing with applied animal behavior and welfare. Knowledge about “coping styles” may be helpful in understanding individual adaptive capacity to stressful events. At least two types of animal coping strategy (or coping style) can be involved: (1) active copers (proactive) and (2) passive copers (reactive). The individual differences in stress response to threatening situations have been found in horses, and these animals can show specific coping strategies such as other species. This article reviews the set of behavioral, psychoneuroendocrine, and psychoneuroimmune mechanisms involved in animal adaptation to environmental challenges and discusses the relationship between behavioral and physiological factors involved in stress response of the horse. Exploring coping strategies in horses and in any captive animal can be successful when a multidimensional approach including behavioral, neural, hormonal, and hematological measures is considered. Knowledge on stress coping styles can provide valuable information to predict the behavior of individuals during response to specific challenging situations. Moreover, assessing individual differences in adaptation strategies can be useful in horse selection to different exploitation tasks and reproduction.     

The Effect of Different Physical Exercise on Plasma Leptin,Cortisol, and Some Energetic Parameters Concentrations in Purebred Arabian Horses

Leptin is a hormone that coordinates food intake, energy expenditure, and metabolic rate; it is, however, unknown how exercise influences plasma leptin concentration in horses. The aim of the study was to evaluate the exercise-induced changes in plasma leptin concentration in purebred Arabian horses competing in races and endurance rides. A total number of 26 horses (12 purebred Arabian racehorses aged 3–5 years and 14 endurance horses aged 7–14 years) were studied during performing routine physical exercise. From each horse, blood samples were collected at rest and immediately after the exercise session. Concentrations of plasma leptin, cortisol, lactic acid, uric acid, triacylglycerols, glycerol and free fatty acids were determined. Exercise-induced increase in cortisol and free fatty acid values were higher in endurance horses than in racehorses. Neither endurance nor race exercises influenced the plasma leptin concentration. Further research is needed to elucidate the effects of different types of exercise on leptin synthesis and secretion in horses.     

Leptin and ghrelin levels in colostrum,milk and blood plasma of sows and pig neonates during the first week of lactation

Radioimmunology was used to determine leptin and ghrelin levels in sow colostrum and milk in relation to those in sow and neonatal pig blood plasma and to the body weight of piglets during the first week of lactation. The highest concentration of leptin was found in colostrum on the second day of lactation (69.3 ± 6.3 ng/mL). Leptin concentrations in sow plasma were significantly lower than in colostrum/milk (2.19 ± 0.9 ng/mL, P = 0.7692) and were stable in the first 7 days of lactation. Total and active ghrelin concentrations in colostrum/milk were stable in the measured time points (6734 ± 261 pg/mL, P = 0.3397; 831 ± 242 pg/mL, P = 0.3988, respectively). Total ghrelin concentrations in sow plasma were lower than in colostrum/milk. These results indicate that pigs follow a unique species‐specific pattern of leptin and ghrelin synthesis, release and existence, and that the mammary gland is an important source of leptin and ghrelin contained in colostrum/milk.     

Serum neopterin levels in female dogs with malignant mammary tumours

In this study, we have determined serum neopterin levels in female dogs with primary malignant mammary tumours. The study involved 50 female dogs which had a malignant mammary tumours removed surgically (32 animals with carcinoma, 12 animals with sarcoma and 6 animals with carcinosarcoma) and 10 clinically healthy female dogs. Serum neopterin levels were determined using a commercial ELISA kit. The mean neopterin levels were lower in the malignant tumour groups than in healthy animals but differences were statistically significant only in carcinoma and sarcoma groups. The decrease of neopterin levels in animals with malignant mammary tumours may suggest their decreased cellular immunity. Moreover, it might indicate that decreased activity of cellular mechanisms of the anti‐neoplastic response is one of the factors associated with the development and course of malignant mammary tumours in female dogs; however, further studies are necessary.     

Response of a Juvenile Cyprinid,Lake Minnow <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eupallasella perenurus</Emphasis> (Pallas), to Different Diets

Three commercial starters (Carp Starter, Uni Starter and Perla Plus) and one non-commercial, with frozen Chironomidae larvae as a reference diet, were evaluated for the intensive rearing of juvenile lake minnow Eupallasella perenurus, a cyprinid fish that is critically endangered in Poland. The growth, condition, survival, body deformities, and chemical body composition were studied. The 90-day laboratory experiment was performed at 22 °C with fish that were initially 24.6 mm (mean total lenth (TL)) and 0.11 g (mean body weight (BW)). Satisfactory fish growth was attained with all of the diets; however, the largest (p ≤ 0.05) final size (48.5 mm TL, 1.55 g BW) and the lowest condition coefficient (K = 1.34) were noted in fish fed the non-commercial starter. The final survival rates were very high (97.5–100%). Skeletal deformities (in 74 to 92% fish) were recorded exclusively in fish fed commercial starters. All commercial starters resulted in considerably higher lipid content and lower ash content than did the non-commercial starter and the reference diet. This suggests that both these factors might be responsible for body deformities. The present results proved that only the non-commercial starter is suitable for juvenile E. perenurus rearing under controlled condition, and that none of the commercial starters can be recommended.