The article presents the characteristic features of the worldwide wolf spider family (Lycosidae) and describes how its study has affected Czech arachnology, which takes credit for resolving several issues. Among the 38 families of spiders living in the Czech Republic, wolf spiders are remarkable for their ecology. Wolf spider vital signs are so prominent that every observer inevitably notices their constant movement. In addition to history of the research into the wolf spider family, some faunistic issues are also presented. and Jan Buchar.
The second part of this article on the wolf spider family (Lycosidae) and the importance of Czech arachnologists in its study deals with various questions involving the taxonomy, zoogeography, ecology, bioindications and protection of these spiders, as well as their etology and cytogenetics. and Jan Buchar.
Nosorožci tuponosí (Ceratotherium simum) a Cottonovi (Ceratotherium cottoni) mají nejvyvinutější sociální systém ze všech druhů nosorožců, přesto toho o jejich sociálním chování a především komunikaci bylo donedávna známo jen málo. V článku jsou popisovány výsledky čtyř recentních studií, které se zabývaly sociálním chováním a vokální a olfaktorickou komunikací obou druhů v rezervacích v Jihoafrické republice i v zoologických zahradách., The Northern and Southern White Rhinos (Ceratotherium cottoni and C. simum) have the most developed social system among all the rhinoceros species. Until recently, little has been known about their communication and social behaviour. This paper presents the results of four recent studies involving research into the social behaviour and vocal and olfactory communication of these species both in the wildlife reserves in South Africa and in zoological gardens., and Ivana Cinková.
Studie sociálního chování vlků arktických se zaměřuje především na etologii tohoto druhu, ale také na adaptaci přirozených vzorců chování na umělé podmínky. Poskytuje stručné informace o obecné hierarchii smečky, způsobu života a umožňuje náhled na jednotlivé projevy dominance a submise. Analýza byla prováděna na základě pozorování dvou smeček chovaných v Zoo Brno a Zoo Olomouc., This study of the social behaviour of Arctic Wolves (Canis lupus arctos) focuses on the ethology of this species, and the adaptation of its natural behaviour to artificial conditions. It provides brief information about the general hierarchy of a pack and its way of life and presents photographs of the individual manifestations of dominance and submission. The analysis is based on observations of two packs kept in Brno Zoo and Olomouc Zoo., and Dobromila Malíková.
To investigate how bisulfite promotes photosynthesis, a pot experiment was conducted with rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants to determine Rubisco activity and content, and Rubisco activase (RCA) gene expression after spraying NaHSO3 on rice leaves. The NaHSO3 treatment promoted significantly net photosynthetic rate (PN), carboxylation efficiency, maximum carboxylation rate, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate regeneration rate, initial Rubisco activity, and RCA protein and mRNA concentrations. Therefore, the NaHSO3 enhancement of PN could be directly attributed to induction of RCA gene expression both at the transcription and translation levels. Thus, the increased RCA regulated the initial Rubisco activity in vivo., Y. Chen, J.-H. Jin, Q.-S. Jiang, C.-L. Yu, J. Chen, L.-G Xu, D.-A. Jiang., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Soil metal contamination leads to a decrease in a yield of crops and is a threat to human health. In the present study, the properties (i.e., photosynthetic pigments, gas-exchange parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, biomass, leaf area, leaf mass per area) of three green vegetables (i.e., Brassica chinensis, Chrysanthemum coronarium, Brassica alboglabra) grown under various Cu treatments [0, 200, 400, and 600 mg(Cu) kg-1] were measured and analysed. The results showed that soil Cu contamination resulted in the damage of photosynthetic pigments, negative effects on gas exchange, and hampered growth of all three vegetables. However, it did not significantly influence PSII functions of the three vegetables. It indicates that soil Cu contamination negatively affected photosynthesis particularly due to stomatal factors, but not due to the damage of photosynthetic apparatus., M.-Z. Lin, M.-F. Jin., and Obsahuje bibliografii
A field trial was conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen-enriched biochar on soil water content, plant’s photosynthetic parameters, and grain yield of spring wheat at the Dingxi Experimental Station during the 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons. Results showed that biochar applied with nitrogen fertilizer at a rate of 50 kg ha-1 of N (BN50) increased soil water content in the 0-30 cm depth range by approximately 40, 32, and 53% on average at anthesis, milking, and maturity, respectively, compared with
zero-amendment (CN0). Stomatal conductance and net photosynthetic rate after the BN50 treatment increased by approximately 40 to 50% compared to CN0. Soil water content and photosynthetic traits also increased in other treatments using straw plus nitrogen fertilizer, but to lesser extent than that of BN50. Grain yields were highest (1905 and 2133 kg ha-1 in 2014 and 2015, respectively) under BN50. From this, biochar appears to have a potential for its use with N-fertilizer as a cost-effective amendment for crop production in semiarid environments., S. Yeboah, R. Zhang, L. Cai, L. Li, J. Xie, Z. Luo, J. Wu, D. L. Antille., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Four plant species, Elymus mollis Trin., Carex kobomugi Ohwi, Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ex Miq., and Vitex rotundifolia L.f., are dominant perennial species in coastal sand dunes of Korea. We examined a physiological adaptation of these species by measurements of diurnal variation in photosynthesis and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence and solute patterns in leaves during one season (June), which is favorable for plant growth of all four species. All four species adopted different strategies in order to utilize radiation and to maintain water status under a fluctuating microclimate. Although the lowest water contents among four plant species was found, E. mollis with a high Chl and K+ content showed better photosynthetic performance, with high stomatal conductance (gs), net photosynthetic rate (PN), instantaneous carboxylation efficiency (CE), and water-use efficiency. Midday depression of PN in E. mollis and G. littoralis, without a reduction of gs, was associated with a reduction in CE and maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, indicating nonstomatal limitation. Photosynthesis depression in both C. kobomugi and V. rotundifolia, with relatively low gs values, could be attributed to both stomatal and nonstomatal limitations. The high storage capacity for inorganic ions in E. molli, C. kobomugi, and G. littoralis may play an efficient role in regulating photosynthesis and maintaining leaf water status through stomatal control, and can also play an important role in osmotic adjustment., J.-S. Hwang, Y.-S. Choo., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Some ethological aspects of the interrelations between ants and the larvae of Blasticotoma filiceti Klug, 1834 were investigated in the Altai Republic and Novosibirsk Region in 2006-2008. The interactions of ants with the larvae of this sawfly are determined by the concealed way of life style of B. filiceti. The majority of the ant-sawfly encounters occurred near holes in fern fronds at the moment when larvae excreted liquid or left their tunnels before descending to the soil prior to overwintering. Sawfly larvae visited by more aggressive ants, such as Formica s. str., leave the fern fronds slowly, which enables them to avoid inciting attacks by ants. The behaviour of the ants while collecting the larval excretion is similar to their behaviour at sugar troughs. The organisation of the collecting larval excreta by ants was investigated in detail in the cases of Formica polyctena Förster, 1850 and Myrmica rubra Linnaeus, 1758. The individual fern plants with sawfly larvae are attended by relatively constant groups of foragers in both cases. However, the highly social red wood ants interact with sawfly larvae in a more complex way. While the working groups of M. rubra tending sawfly larvae consist only of non-aggressive "unspecialized" foragers, those of F. polyctena include also a few "on duty" ants that protect the trophobionts, at least from the other ants. and Tatiana A. NOVGORODOVA, Olga B. BIRYUKOVA.