10 urban green areas (123.5 ha) were studied in the years 1982-1991 in the city of Lublin (SE Poland). Counts in each area were made in at least three consecutive years. A combined variant of the mapping method was applied. A total of 93 species were reported from the areas studied, and 50 of these were found to breed. In individual areas the number of breeding species varied from 17 to 39. Columba palumbus, Pica pica, Oriolus oriolus, Parus major and Fringilla coelebs were found breeding in all areas. 23 species were dominants, making up over 5% of a total population. Included most often (at least in 5 areas) among these dominants were Streptopelia decaocto, Stumus vulgaris, Hippolais icterina and Carduelis chloris. The density of breeding pairs varied from 46.5 per 10 ha (in a cemetery on the periphery) to 238.5 per 10 ha (in a small park in the dty). Of the total number of breeding pairs in all areas, some 54% were of species nesting in the tree canopy and a height of more than 1.5 m in shrubs and bushes. In contrast, hole-nesting species were poorly represented (30% of breeding pairs). Characteristic of the parks and cemeteries of Lublin were the high densities of Streptopelia decaocto and Hippolais icterina. When set against the communities inhabiting the green space of other cities and towns, the avifauna of Lublin's parks and cemeteries is distinguished by its species-richness. Moreover, several species have appeared in recent years or have increased considerably in numbers.
Given the progressive expansion of Dermacentor reticulatus, including its infiltration into urbanized biotopes, an attempt was made to verify a hypothesis on a change in this species’ habitat preferences. Studies were conducted in 2004 to 2008, chiefly during the period of the tick’s greatest activity. A total of 73 one-hour sessions of collecting were conducted in forests, meadows and wastelands of the Lublin region (Table 1). The marsh tick (also called the ornate cow tick) was found most regularly and in greatest numbers in open areas or young tree stands. Urban wastelands with a distinctly xerothermic character were found to be a particularly characteristic biotope (Table 2). This contradicts previous reports that wetland areas are its optimal habitat. Because this tick is a carrier of babesiosis and – probably – borreliosis (Lyme disease), the findings suggest an increased epidemiological threat right within city borders.
Bird communities of 10 parks and cemeteries in Lublin (SE Poland) were studied in the winter seasons of the years 1988/89 to 1990/91. Each season, nine census visits were made to the study areas in the period November-February. A total of 44 species were recorded (of which 10-32 occurred in particular areas). Dominant were 11 species, which accounted for 77-93% of the populations studied. Commonest in all areas, and in all years, were Corpus frugüegus and Pants major. Densities of birds ranged from 36-62 individuals/10 ha (in peripheral areas) to 619 during one census visit to a small cemetery in the central part of the City. Permanent changes in the sizes of wintering populations were not noted in the course of the different seasons. In successive years, the species compositions and dominance structures in particular areas were either identical, or distinctly similar. In comparison to that of other towns and cities, the winter avifauna of Lublin is rich, and particularly notable for the significant representation of Picidae and Strigidae.
The studies were carried out on 90 male guinea pigs ot which 75 were infected per os with a dose of ca. 5000 invasive eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides suis. At the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th and 20th day ot intection blood was taken from experimental and control animals. The activity of LDH and its liver traction (spectrophotometric method), GGTP (circle test method) was determined. The level of glucose (orthotoluidin methhod) and alpha amino nitrogen (ninhydrin method was determined. In the course of larval ascariasis an increase in the values of the studied parameters was noted, especially at the 4th and 7th day of infection. The changes in the activity of the studied enzymes evidence disturbances of the structure and function of the liver of infected animals. The increased level of glucose and alpha amino nitrogen is probably associated with a disturbance of basic energy metabolism of the host organism.
The experiments were carried out on a group of 90 males of guinea pigs of 300 ± 50 g in weight. The animals were divided into 6 groups equal in numbers. 5 of them were infected per os with ca 5000 invasive eggs of Ascaris suum. The blood of both infected and control guinea pigs was controlled on 1, 2, 4, 7, and 20th day after infection. The level of total lipids (according to Swahn method), WKT (Dole titrimetric method), total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol (Błaszczyszyn method) and triglicerides (colometric method) was determined. During the invasion, the decrease in all studied indicators was observed, and was particularly apparent on 4th and 7th day after infection. Only in case of WKT and triglicerides a slight increase at initial stage of invasion was found. During larval ascariasis, as it appears, the metabolism of lipids is significantly disturbed. The changes are due to the break in liver function and, presumedly, changes in hormon secrection which are provoked by the presence of the parasite.
We investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of a breeding bird community in the urbanized landscape of Lublin city (150 km2, 0.5 million inhabitants, SE Poland). We conducted 211 separate territory mapping surveys during 26 years (1982–2007) in 24 green areas (0.2–30.1 ha in size), distributed along an urbanization gradient. We recorded a total of 16,151 territories of 65 species. According to the estimated species richness, we detected all the species present in the studied plots. The three species community indices (species richness, Shannon-Wiener index and abundance – number of breeding pairs in census plot) increased with increasing tree stand age and area of the site, while it decreased as the proportion of biologically inactive areas increased. The three indices showed significant negative trends as the study period progressed. The mean decreasing rate was 0.2 species and 2.3 territories per year. Distance to the city centre and understorey cover negatively affected bird abundance, while they positively affected species richness and the Shannon index. Tree stand age seems to be the most important of the three indices among the analyzed explanatory variables. Our results show that the diversity of breeding avifauna in an urbanized landscape can be significantly shaped by the proper management of vegetation and size of green areas in the city. The long term decline of the three diversity indices seems to be the most important outcome of our study and requires further research and monitoring.
From 1976 to 2000, were examined 2828 children for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites. Investigations were made by means of a standard coprological methods, Graham's method and immunoenzymatic method (Prospect Giardia) for the presence of coproantigen of Giardia. The following parasites were detected in 1299 children: Giardia lamblia 1,3%, Ascaris lumbricoides 3,0%, Trichuris trichiura 7,8%, Enterobius vermicularis 40.5%. The parasites were found most frequently in children from a home for mentally handicapped. The number of infected among children inhabiting country was higher than among those from the towns. There was no significant difference between boys and girls.
First arrival dates of birds to their breeding grounds can be a valuable biological trait reflecting global and local climate changes. Long-term trends in the first arrival dates of 28 common breeding bird species to Gułowskie Forests (eastern Poland) were studied for the period of 1970-2009. Only 6 species studied – Barn Swallow (18 days), Thrush Nightingale (28 days), Lesser Whitethroat (8 days), Golden Oriole (7 days), Common Blackbird (13 days), and Chaffinch (14 days) – demonstrated a statistically significant trend of earlier arrival. Short- and medium-distance migrants arrived significantly earlier (median date: March 22) than studied long-distance migrants (median: April 23).
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