Kniha M. Kottelata a J. Freyhofa Handbook of European Freshwater Fishes (Cornol a Berlin 2007) je recenzována s rozsáhlým komentářem a je poukázano na její vpravdě „revoluční“ pojetí. Kniha jasně ukazuje na předtím netušenou velkou diverzitu evropských sladkovodních ryb a dokumentuje existenci téměř 550 původních a 33 nepůvodních druhů ryb, kde každý druh v knize doprovází popis, diagnostické znaky a většinou dokonalé fotografie. Význačným poselstvím knihy je také upozornění na různý stupeň ohrožení u téměř 40 % existujících druhů., The Handbook of European Freshwater Fishes by M. Kottelat and J. Freyhof (Cornol and Berlin 2007) is reviewed with extensive comments showing its indeed “revolutionary” concept. The book clearly demonstrates the previously unexpected great diversity of European freshwater fishes and documents the occurrence of nearly 550 autochthonous and 33 alien species (each species is described, diagnosed, in most cases accompanied by excellent photos). The significant message of the book is also the fact that almost 40 % of recorded species are under various degrees of threat., Petr Ráb., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Předkládaný článek přináší stručný průřez problematiky studia taxonomie štírů rodu Euscorpius. Evropským štírům byla věnována pozornost již od poloviny 18. století. Po bezmála 250 letech zkoumání se tento rod stále nedočkal vyřešení otázky své komplikované taxonomie. Zdá se ovšem, že současné studie kombinující morfologické, genetické a cytogenetické znaky mohou být klíčem pro odhalení skutečné druhové diverzity., This article briefly summarizes the last two and a half centuries of taxonomic research into the European genus of scorpions commonly known as small wood scorpions (Euscorpius). Despite the fact that taxonomists have been focusing on this genus since the mid-18th century, their taxonomy is not yet sufficiently resolved. However, present studies seem to be on the right track, and looking into a combination of morphological, genetic and cytogenetic features may hold the key to revealing the true diversity of the species., and Jana Plíšková.
Pokles kyselé atmosférické depozice od 90. let minulého století a rovněž postupné oteplování klimatu bylo prokazatelně doloženo i pro horské ekosystémy v nejvyšších slovenských pohořích. Výzkumy epigeické aktivity mnohonožek (Diplopoda) v letech 1992-1993, 1997-1998, 2007-2008 a pokračující sledování v současnosti svědčí o rozmanitosti společenstev těchto půdních bezobratlých včetně přítomnosti řady karpatských endemitů v závislosti na odlišném geologickém podloží (žula a vápenec) a typu vegetace. Pozorovaný ústup chladnomilných endemitů i nárůst podílu eurytopních adaptabilních druhů lze dávat do souvislosti s probíhajícími změnami v chemismu půd i změnami klimatu., The decline of acid deposition since the 1990s, together with subsequent climate warming, was confirmed also for mountain ecosystems in the highest Slovak mountains. The study of epigeic activity of millipedes (Diplopoda) in the periods 1992-93, 1997-98 and 2007-08, and continuing recent research refer to the high diversity of their communities including the presence of Carpathian endemic species on different geological bedrocks (granite and limestone) as well as different vegetation covers. The observed decline of cold tolerant endemics and the increasing portion of eurytopic species may be connected with changes in soil chemistry as well as with climate changes., and Karel Tajovský.
Článek představuje dlouhodobý výzkum vodního hmyzu, především jepic (Ephemeroptera), pošvatek (Plecoptera) a chrostíků (Trichoptera), v České republice. V jeho více než stoleté historii jsou určitými milníky období přelomu 19. a 20. stol. a práce F. Klapálka a druhá polovina minulého století, kdy probíhal organizovaný faunistický výzkum vedený V. Landou a M. Zelinkou. Data a materiál nashromážděné během celého tohoto období nyní umožňují provést unikátní porovnání výskytu druhů v současnosti a minulosti na stovkách lokalit po celé České republice. Jeho výsledky přinášejí cenné informace o vývoji společenstev vodního hmyzu., This article presents long-term investigation into aquatic insects, particularly mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Ephemeroptera) and caddisflies (Trichoptera), in the Czech Republic. Within its more than hundred-year history, two milestones can be recognised: the turn of the 20th century with the famous work of F. Klapálek, and the second half of the last century with extended faunistic research conducted by V. Landa and M. Zelinka. The data and material gathered during the entire period enable us to compare species distribution at hundreds of localities covering the whole Czech Republic over the hundred years. The results show valuable information on the development of communities of aquatic insects., and Tomáš Soldán ... [et al.].
Among the semi-natural elements in agricultural landscapes, wildflower strips sown at field margins or within fields are potential habitats for the natural enemies of insect pests. As insects are sensitive to a variety of flower traits, we hypothesized that mixtures with high functional diversity attract and support a higher abundance and species richness of aphid flower visiting predators than mixtures with low functional diversity. During a field experiment, repeated over two years (2014 and 2015) in Gembloux (Belgium), aphid predators (i.e., lacewings, ladybeetles and hoverflies) were pan-trapped in five sown flower mixtures (including a control mixture, with three replicates of each mixture) of low to high functional diversity based on seven traits (i.e., flower colour, ultra-violet reflectance and pattern, start and duration of flowering, height and flower class, primarily based on corolla morphology). In both years, the species of flowering plants in the sown mixtures (i.e., sown and spontaneous flowers) were listed, and the realized functional diversity in each plot calculated. Over the two years, a high functional diversity was not associated with high abundance and richness of aphid predators. Moreover, ladybeetles, which made up the majority of the predators trapped, were more abundant in mixtures with very low or intermediate functional diversity at sowing, especially in 2014. We hypothesize that certain flowers, which were abundant in certain mixtures (and not in those exhibiting the highest functional diversity), attracted predators and were sufficiently abundant to support them. Our results present novel information that could be used for developing flower mixtures that provide effective ecosystem services, such as pest control., Séverin Hatt, Roel Uyttenbroeck, Thomas Lopes, Pierre Mouchon, Julian Chen, Julien Piqueray, Arnaud Monty, Frédéric Francis., and Obsahuje bibliografii
There are records of glands that produce sexual pheromones that are released into the environment or applied directly on sexual partners. Within Opiliones (Arachnida), several harvestmen in the suborder Laniatores have sexually dimorphic glands on legs I and IV, the mode of use of which is recorded only in two species but their function is unknown: while walking, males rub the glands against the substrate or against their body. Here we test an alternative and non-exclusive hypothesis that the glands present on the legs of male Gryne perlata (Cosmetidae) produce contact pheromones used in mating. We predicted that males would touch the females with the gland openings or with other male body parts previously rubbed by these glands. We also predicted that there are chemoreceptors on those parts of the females where males touch them. We analyzed 13 videos of G. perlata mating, a species in which the males have glands on legs I and IV of unknown function. We also analyzed 14 videos of Discocyrtus pectinifemur (Gonyleptidae) mating as a control, a species that lacks these glands. Finally, we looked for chemoreceptors on the legs of female G. perlata using a scanning electron microscope. During copulation, males of both species rubbed the legs of females with their first pair of legs, but not with the regions of these legs where the openings of the glands are. The fourth pair of legs were only used to support the body. Rubbing other body parts of the female by males with their glands was not observed during mating. Setae on the legs of the female did not have tip pores and therefore do not seem to be chemoreceptors. We therefore did not find any evidence that these sexually dimorphic glands in G. perlata release contact pheromones during mating., Jéssica M. Dias, Rodrigo H. Willemart., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Parasitic plants growing on tree branches may be a novel niche and phytoresource for arthropods. The spatial continuity between hosts and their parasites in canopies might provide a homogeneous environment for arthropod communities, but differences in mistletoe leaves and host needles could be exploited by different species of arthropods. Therefore, it is important to determine insect-community assemblages in order to discover the role of parasitic plants as a different habitat for arthropods. Thus, we aim to evaluate the level of similarity between the arthropod community on mistletoe (Viscum album) and that on its two principal pine hosts, Black pine (Pinus nigra) and Scots pine (P. sylvestris), on a Mediterranean mountain. Our results reveal that, irrespective of the species of pine host, V. album has a stable, independent and simple arthropod trophic web, composed mainly of two specialist hemipteran herbivores, Cacopsylla visci (Psyllidae) and Pinalitus viscicola (Miridae), and a hemipteran predator, Anthocoris visci (Anthocoridae). Despite this, the composition of the arthropod communities differed significantly on both host species, with a greater richness and diversity on Scots than Black pine and these differences are not reflected in the community on mistletoe. Overall, we conclude that, although Viscum album is considered to be a pest of pine, its presence increases the heterogeneity of the forest canopy by providing a novel habitat for a new and specific community of arthropods. In addition, this is a new record for and most probably an extension of the southernmost limit of the known geographical distribution of the arthropod community inhabiting V. album., Alba Lázaro-González, José A. Hódar, Regino Zamora., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Z geobotanického hlediska je popsána subalpinská a alpinská vegetace v horách jihovýchodní Brazílie. Přirozené požáry tam ovlivňují strukturu rostlinných společenstev. Jsou zmíněny zajímavé životní způsoby, jako je mykorhiza, hemiparazitismus a masožravost. Jedním z nejzajímavějších fenomenů je symbióza mezi masožravou rostlinou Utricularia cornigera (bublinatkou růžkatou) a růžicovitými rostlinami Vriesea atra nebo Eryngium fluminense. Je diskutováno o problému srovnávání popsané brazilské vegetace a páramos v Andách. Pojem "brazilská páromos" je odmítnut., The subalpine and alpine vegetation in mountains of south-eastern Brazil is described from the botanical point of view. Natural fires affect the structure of plant communities there. Interesting life strategies, such as mycorrhiza, hemiparasitism and carnivory, are mentioned. One of the most interesting is the symbiosis between carnivorous Utricularia cornigera and rosette plants of Vriesea atra or Eryngium fluminense. Brazilian vegetation and páramos in the Andes are compared., and Miloslav Studnička.
We hypothesized that decreased stomatal conductance (gs) at elevated CO2 might decrease transpiration (E), increase leaf water potential (ΨW), and thereby protect net photosynthesis rate (PN) from heat damage in maize (Zea mays L) seedlings. To separate long-term effects of elevated CO2, plants grew at either ambient CO2 or elevated CO2. During high-temperature treatment (HT) at 45°C for 15 min, leaves were exposed either to ambient CO2 (380 μmol mol-1) or to elevated CO2 (560 μmol mol-1). HT reduced PN by 25 to 38% across four CO2 combinations. However, the gs and E did not differ among all CO2 treatments during HT. After returning the leaf temperature to 35°C within 30 min, gs and E were the same or higher than the initial values. Leaf water potential (ΨW) was slightly lower at ambient CO2, but not at elevated CO2. This study highlighted that elevated CO2 failed in protecting PN from 45°C via decreasing gs and ΨW., M. N. Qu, J. A. Bunce, Z. S. Shi., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Perinatal cerebral hypoxia represents a major cause of obstetric complications and the resulting transient oxygen deficiency might belong to early risk factors for schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible long-term behavioral changes induced by one hour of continuous bilateral common carotid artery occlusion in 12-day-old male rats. Post-ischemic behavioral disturbances were evaluated in social (play) behavior on postnatal day 22 (PND 22), open field test (PND 35 and 50) and prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex (PND 50). Transient ischemia in neonatal rats was not significantly altered in social dyadic interactions evaluated in pre-weaning pups, but resulted in enhanced locomotor activity in pubertal rats (PND 35) and impaired prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex in post- pubertal males (PND 50). These behavioral alterations suggest that perinatal hypoxic/ischemic insults may represent a risk factor for later manifestation of specific features relevant to schizophrenia in predisposed individuals., F. Tejkalová, M. Kaiser, J. Klaschka, F. Šťastný., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy