We investigated the phenotypic variation of five morphological needle characters of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in three populations. Two of the populations occurred in bogs and the third one formed a degraded fresh pine forest showing some features of a dry pine forest. The greatest variation was found in characters a (needle length), b and d, denoting the number of stomatal rows respectively on the convex and flat sides of the needle. Conversely, characters c and e (average number of stomata per 2 mm of needle length on the convex and the flat side of the needle) were stable, with little interindividual variation. The two bog populations and the dryland population exhibited different sets of character correlations. The interpopulation differentiational detected on the basis of morphological character expression was markedly influenced by both the different edaphic conditions, and the distinct genetic structure of the studied populations.
The present study was carried out in the lower middle Western Himalayan streams in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh of the three river basins namely the Ghaggar, the Sutlej and the Yamuna. The main aim was to study fish assemblage structure/composition, fish diversity in different habitats and the habitat preference of the fishes. The different habitats like pools, riffles, runs and rapids were sampled over a 2 km stretch at all the sites with the help of cast net of 1 cm mesh size having a diameter of I-2 meter on a fixed day every month between mid morning and late afternoon. All the sites when broadly delineated at level-I fall into type - B except site II that is an F - type stream. A total of 23 species belonging to four orders were recorded of which the cyprinids were the most dominant group. According to Shannon-Weaver diversity index, the pool habitat supports greater diversity (H' = 0.72-0.97). Runs (H' = 0.24-0.87) and riffles (H' = 0.22-0.81) have diversity very near to each other at all the sites whereas rapids have significantly lower fish diversity (H' = 0.00-0.58). The pool is the preferred habitat for most of the cyprinid fishes recorded in the present study especially the minnows.
Reproductive performance of gulls depends on a variety of factors, but food abundance and its availability are among the most important. Clutch and egg sizes in gulls are found to be strongly influenced by food availability, thus better reproductive performance in the colony with greater fish availability (near fish ponds) was expected in that study. We compared the reproductive traits (clutch size, volume of eggs in the full clutch, relative volume of the C-egg (the third egg in gull's clutches) and hatching success) of Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans in five inland colonies in Poland located at a gravel pit, a lake, a river and two dam reservoirs. Differences in the clutch size between sites were found, with the lowest at a lake. We found similar clutch volume in all studied colonies. C-eggs were slightly smaller than A- and B- eggs, in all colonies and all study years, but the relative volume of C-egg in colonies located near fish ponds (<10 km) was significantly greater compared to colonies located far away. This may be explained by high fish availability in fishponds in comparison to other habitats. However hatching success (the ratio of the number of hatched chick to the number of eggs laid) was highest in the colony at the lake. This indicates that both inland habitats a gravel pit and a lake offered good food conditions for large gulls when fish ponds are nearby.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the stomach chambers of Zielonogorskie (Z) and Bieszczady (B) red deer (Cervus elaphus L. 1758) from different foraging habitats in South-West and South-East Poland. Thirteen calves, ten hinds and bulls were shot in Z and B, and examination of the carcasses indicated the substantial impact of foraging strategies in various habitats on polygastric parameters. Differences (P<0.05) in stomach content (SC), fresh and dry matter of stomach tissue (FSTM, DSTM) and total stomach area (TSA) were noted between the deer of Z and B. Additionally, some indexes (IA, IB) of FSTM, DSTM in relation to body mass (carcass weight, C) were relatively higher in each category of deer from the B region. Comparisons of ID (ratio DSTM to TSA), IE (DSTM to metabolic body mass - C0.75) and IF (TSA to C0.75 ) indicated a relatively thicker stomach tissue wall, and its larger overall area and volume of some stomach chambers in deer from the B vs. Z region. The study indicates that the carrying capacity of habitats, and conditions such as the quality and abundance of plants (their structure and nutritional value) considerably influence modifications within the digestive system, and mainly the stomach chambers in polygastric wild ruminants.
The changes in echolocation behaviour and the structure of calls ofPipistrellus pygmaeus (Leach, 1825) were studied in different habitats of a floodplain forest in south-eastern Moravia (Czech Republic) in 2001–2002. Calls (403 observations) were recorded in different sites between April and mid June (before weaning) using a time expansion bat-detector. Three signals per individual were analysed and descriptive statistics of variables of calls were presented. Association of signal types with habitat structure (cluttered, side-cluttered, semi-cluttered and uncluttered space) was found in echolocation sequences of the search phase of flight.P. pygmaeus used mainly narrowband signals (bandwidths less than 15 kHz) in uncluttered space and wideband signals (more than 15 kHz) in cluttered space. Almost 6% of the inter pulse intervals of signals were twice (or more) longer than usual inter pulse intervals (mainly in uncluttered space). In general, temporal variables of signals reached higher values in uncluttered spaces (except for inter pulse interval) than in cluttered ones. On the contrary, spectral variables of signals reached lower values in uncluttered habitats in comparison with cluttered ones. In addition, the signals were less variable in open spaces while in cluttered and partly-cluttered habitats different and higher variability was found. We also studied the accuracy of identification of pipistrelles by call parameters and possible misidentifications in relation to habitat structure. Multivariate discriminant analyses were carried out on the time and frequency parameters of calls produced by pipistrelles.
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