Arthropod species richness in the Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) canopy along an elevation gradient

Norway Spruce is the economically most important tree species in Europe and has been cultivated in plantations on a large-scale at low elevations, far outside its natural range. In the Bohemian Forest, it naturally occurs in pure stands above 1150 m a.s.l. and as a mixed tree species from 650 to 1150 m a.s.l. An understanding of natural distributions and the diversity along temperature gradients at various elevations is important for conservation, pest management, and predictions of future species assemblages by global warming. Here we investigated the species richness of canopy arthropods in spruce trees along a gradient from 300 to 1300 m a.s.l. using flight-interception traps. We analyzed species richness by combining diversity partitioning with a moving window approach after standardizing sample size per plot. Total richness decreased linearly as the elevation increased, which reflected declining temperatures and a declining regional species pool. Phytophages (herbivores excluding xylophages) were the most influenced. Richness did not peak at the transition zones of the three ecological elevation zones, neither for all species, nor for any of the separate functional groups. However, the proportion of both beetle and true bug spruce specialists significantly increased with elevation and actually doubled in richness above 1000 m a.s.l., where spruce is naturally dominating. Our results indicate that even planted spruce trees at lower elevations maintain high levels of species richness. Further climate warming will promote overall species richness, especially of phytophages, at all elevations. However, spruce specialists may be seriously threatened by global warming.     

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.     

Detection of Anaplasma dna in Ixodes ricinus ticks: pitfalls

A total of 150 nymphal Ixodes ricinus (L., 1758) (Acari: Ixodidae) from the Czech Republic were examined for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Foggie, 1949) Dumler et al., 2001 by PCR using EHR521/747 primers: 22 of 50 pools were positive (minimum prevalence, 14.7%). However, sequencing of the PCR products did not show complete homology with A. phagocytophilum (91%) while the closest relationship (95%) was found to "Candidatus Ehrlichia walkefii". The results indicate a need for care in interpretation of Anaplasma PCR results and for PCR optimization for detecting A. phagocytophilum in ticks.     

Lectin binding analysis of Argas polonicus tissue glycoproteins

Proteins of the Malpighian tubules (MT), midgut tissue (MG), salivary glands (SG), internal reproductive organs (RO), epidermis (EP), cerebral ganglion (CG), rectal ampulla (RA) and larval homogenate (LA) of Argas (Argas) polonicus were studied for their antigenicity and lecin affinity using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), immunoblotting, lectin affinoblotting and enzyme-linked lectin sorbentassay (ELLSA) techniques. A glycoprotein of 305 kDA was found in all tissues studied. All low molecular weight antigenic proteins recognized by anti-larval immune pigeon serum, except for one of 35 kDA, i.e. the 19-, 21-, 23-, 27-, 34-, and 46- kDa proteins, were shown to be glycoproteins. The glycosylation was shown to be N-linked in all of these antigens, but O-type glycosylation was also demonstrated in the 34-kDa glycoprotein. The correlation between the glycosylation and antigenicity of these proteins is also discussed.     

Field maple and hornbeam populations along a 4-m elevation gradient in an alluvial forest

Tree species composition of Central European alluvial hardwood forests has changed with the arrival of flood-intolerant and mesic species. Within this group of tree species, a dominant role is played by field maple (Acer campestre) and European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). This study was performed in the Lanzhot natural forests at the confluence of the Morava and the Dyje Rivers, which are considered to be one of the most natural alluvial hardwood forests in Central Europe and where the absence of the direct influence by humans for 75 years has allowed spontaneous development. Our basic research questions were as follows: (1) does the mutual proportion and structure of field maple and hornbeam populations change along an elevation gradient of 4 m in an alluvial forest and (2) does the tree spatial pattern of field maple and hornbeam change along this gradient? The study found significant differences in the development of hornbeam and field maple populations with increasing elevation in an alluvial hardwood forest. While the strength of the hornbeam population clearly increases with increasing elevation, the field maple population does not. Compared to hornbeam, field maple is closer to the r-strategy side of the K-r continuum on alluvial sites. Our study reveals that field maple and hornbeam are mainly distributed in clusters on alluvial sites. Both species are concentrated at places with lower flooding intensity, i.e. to higher elevation sites. The study shows that tree spatial patterns could change dynamically along a short elevation gradient in alluvial hardwood forest.     

Tree species composition influences differences in water use efficiency of upland forested microwatersheds

Water use efficiency (WUE) was compared in three upland South Moravian forested microwatersheds in the light of effects of global climate change on forest ecosystems (GCC). The experimental catchments were characterized as upland headwater forested microwatersheds of similar size and morphology and silvicultural system, but each with different dominant tree species in the stands (over 50% of forest stand composition in living stock): Norway spruce, European beech and mixed forest. WUE was evaluated according to mean daily streamflow reduction, measured at the discharge points of the recipients of the individual catchments in precipitation-free periods lasting more than 5 days. During these times, streamflow dynamics are mainly influenced by evapotranspiration processes occurring in the forest stands. Four precipitation-free periods were observed, two in the middle of the growing season and two at its end. Two of these periods were long (15 days or more), and two were shorter (6 days). The results indicated that WUE of upland forested catchments can be very different, depending upon the dominant tree species and the seasonal phase. Highest WUE at the catchment scale (never decreasing below 80%) was exhibited by beech predominating site. WUE of mixed forest was high as well, never decreasing below 69%. The lowest WUE was exhibited by spruce predominating site, especially during a long precipitation-free period in the summer where it decreased down to 39%. In the context of the landscape, upland microwatersheds with pure spruce stands could cause its accelerated dry out in the summer and pose a significant threat to sustainable water and forest management of these areas. In comparison, mixed forests stands where spruce is not the dominant species or beech stands should still be a viable option even under the effects of GCC.     

Isolation of TBE virus from the tick Ixodes hexagonus

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus was isolated from a sample of Ixodes hexagonus ticks collected from the hair of the western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) which had been captured on the edge of a new housing estate in Ceské Bud?jovice at the end of September 1986. This was the first isolation of TBE virus from this vector, supporting the previous experimental results. The virus was identified in immunofluorescent and plaquereduction neutralization tests.     

Tree layer dynamics of the Cahnov–Soutok near-natural floodplain forest after 33 years (1973–2006)

The paper deals with the issue of the spontaneous development of Central-European floodplain forests. The research object was the Cahnov–Soutok National Nature Reserve situated on the confluence of Dyje R. and Morava R. in the Czecho–Slovak-Austrian borderland area. This locality has been left to spontaneous development since the beginning of the 1930s. In the years 1973, 1994 and 2006, the surveyed site was subjected to the measurement of standing and lying, live and dead trees reaching a diameter at breast height of 10 cm and the whole area regeneration of woody species. The work objective is to describe the most pronounced trends in tree layer changes having occurred in the period of study and to capture changes in the total tree volume and production of dendromass during the disintegration of the old grazing oak layer. The survey into the near-natural floodplain forest of Cahnov–Soutok showed that (1) the most significant trend is a decreased representation of Quercus robur in all monitored indicators and conversely an expanding representation of Acer campestre, Carpinus betulus and Tilia cordata and (2) that the floodplain forest ecosystem demonstrates a high-level stability in the total volume of tree biomass with an essential change in the tree species composition, spatial structure and average stem volume of individual trees.     

Changes in fish production effectivity in eutrophic fishponds—impact of zooplankton structure

Fishponds were and are purposeful water structures. Fish production is their main function and rational management is an inevitable condition for their existence. The present high level of fishpond eutrophication results in nutrients overloading. The effect of the high level of nutrients is emphasized by top-down control of zooplankton by high fish stock densities. Currently the zooplankton is represented by small species such as nauplii, small cyclopoid copepods, small species of Cladocera and rotifers that are not so effective filtrators. The high eutrophic level brings about high primary production (mostly with predominance of inedible Cyanophytes) which cannot be used by this type of zooplankton. The main consequences of high eutrophication are large fluctuations in basic environmental parameters and a decrease in production effectivity. It is expected that the utilization efficiency of the enormous primary production through zooplankton into fish production is low. Therefore, maintaining ecological stability and healthy, sound functioning of the ecosystem, meaning without considerable fluctuations, represents an important task in sustainable fishpond management.     

Tree spatial patterns of Abies alba and Fagus sylvatica in the Western Carpathians over 30 years

The decline of Abies alba (fir) in natural fir–beech forests in Europe has fascinated scientists for over a century. During this period, Fagus sylvatica (beech) became the dominant species in this forest type. We hypothesised that (1) the success of beech over fir is significantly connected with the fact that beech suffers less than fir from the presence of conspecific neighbours; that (2) shade tolerance is not a factor which favours beech over fir; and that (3) this is due to a significantly reduced proportion of litter treethrow mounds with suitable conditions for the successful regeneration of fir. We investigated these hypotheses by means of tree spatial pattern analysis. Eight rectangular plots (2–8 ha) were analysed in mountain fir–beech forests of the Outer Western Carpathians, Czech Republic. Various types of the pair correlation function and L function were used to describe the tree density variability of trees with DBH ≥10 cm. The analyses were carried out on datasets from the 1970s, 1990s and 2000s. Our results suggest that negative density dependence is not responsible for the current decline of fir. It seems that a higher shade tolerance of the advanced regeneration could be one of the factors which favour beech over fir. It is evident that fir trees have a markedly stronger positive association to mounds than beech trees.