BLACK FLY SURVEY OF A WHOOPING CRANE REINTRODUCTION AREA IN EASTERN WISCONSIN

Nest desertion due to harassment by black flies (Simulium annulus and S. johannseni) during incubation has been a major factor inhibiting success of the reintroduced Eastern Migratory Population of whooping cranes (Grus americana). To avoid this problem, which was prevalent in the core reintroduction area in central Wisconsin, the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership changed the primary reintroduction area to eastern Wisconsin in 2011. However, a 2010 assessment of black flies in that area had concentrated predominantly on the southern portion of the new area. In 2017-2018, we collected the first samples of black flies in Green Lake County, including a new primary reintroduction site on White River Marsh (WRM), by sweep-netting over taxidermic crane mounts on artificial nests. In 2017, peak mean numbers of S. johannseni per sample at WRM and Grand River Marsh were 3,077 (maximum 6,838) and 891specimens, respectively. Numbers of black flies of this magnitude (and lower) collected during sampling by the same technique have been associated with nest desertion at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in the core area. Numbers of S. johannseni were much lower in Green Lake County in 2018, and S. annulus was not abundant in either year. In contrast, an additional survey of black flies at WRM in 2021 recorded numbers of S. annulus potentially large enough to affect whooping crane nesting. Multi-year studies of black flies at WRM and other new reintroduction sites, coordinated with monitoring of whooping crane nesting, are needed to ascertain the impact of black flies and implement plans to promote success of this whooping crane population

Geophysics

Contains research objectives and reports on three research projects

Ocena właściwości mechanicznych tętnic ludzkich poddanych procesowi wyjałowienia oraz kontrolowanego zamrażania przy wykorzystaniu krioprotektora

Background: Assessment of the mechanical properties of human arteries after cryopreservation processing protocol including antibiotic sterilisation and controlled freezing with the use of cryoprotector (10% DMSO). Material and methods: 12 aortic and 9 femoral artery segments were investigated; the donor age ranged from 18 to 42 years, the time of the storage in the liquid nitrogen vapours was from 1 to 36 months. The stretching tests of vessel specimens (using INSTRON tensile testing machine) and manometric investigations were performed. The mechanical resistance (breaking stress) and elastic moduli were evaluated (at maximal stress value and at the stress of 300 kPa). The results were compared with fresh homograft specimens. Results: The mechanical resistance (breaking stress) of the investigated cryopreserved aortic segments ranged from 1.5 MPa (± 0.34) (if stretched perpendicular to the vessel long axis) to 1.05 MPa (± 0.3) (if stretching was performed in parallel). For the femoral artery specimens the respective values were 2.4 MPa (± 0.93) and 1.35 MPa (± 0.5). Elastic moduli at the stress of 300 kPa in aortic specimens achieved 1.38 (± 0.4) and 1.8 (± 0.85). For the attained femoral arteries respective values were 2.83 (± 1.34) and 1.47 (± 0.9). There were no significant differences concerning mechanical properties between fresh and cryopreserved aortic wall segments. Conclusions: 1. Cryopreserved allogenic arteries (aorta, femoral arteries) maintain high mechanical resistance against breaking stress and intra-arterial pressure. 2. Despite vessel preparation (including sterilisation and control freezing protocols), cryopreserved arteries maintain elastic properties, justifying an implementation of this material in human circulatory system. 3. The use of arterial segments with low number of collaterals and their correct suture or ligation can influence the allograft mechanical stress resistance

The position of graptolites within Lower Palaeozoic planktic ecosystems.

An integrated approach has been used to assess the palaeoecology of graptolites both as a discrete group and also as a part of the biota present within Ordovician and Silurian planktic realms. Study of the functional morphology of graptolites and comparisons with recent ecological analogues demonstrates that graptolites most probably filled a variety of niches as primary consumers, with modes of life related to the colony morphotype. Graptolite coloniality was extremely ordered, lacking any close morphological analogues in Recent faunas. To obtain maximum functional efficiency, graptolites would have needed varying degrees of coordinated automobility. A change in lifestyle related to ontogenetic changes was prevalent within many graptolite groups. Differing lifestyle was reflected by differing reproductive strategies, with synrhabdosomes most likely being a method for rapid asexual reproduction. Direct evidence in the form of graptolithophage 'coprolitic' bodies, as well as indirect evidence in the form of probable defensive adaptations, indicate that graptolites comprised a food item for a variety of predators. Graptolites were also hosts to a variety of parasitic organisms and provided an important nutrient source for scavenging organisms

Host specificity and species colouration mediate the regional decline of nocturnal moths in central European forests

The high diversity of insects has limited the volume of long-term community data with a high taxonomic resolution and considerable geographic replications, especially in forests. Therefore, trends and causes of changes are poorly understood. Here we analyse trends in species richness, abundance and biomass of nocturnal macro moths in three quantitative data sets collected over four decades in forests in southern Germany. Two local data sets, one from coppiced oak forests and one from high oak forests included 125K and 48K specimens from 559 and 532 species, respectively. A third regional data set, representing all forest types in the temperate zone of central Europe comprised 735K specimens from 848 species. Generalized additive mixed models revealed temporal declines in species richness (−38%), abundance (−53%) and biomass (−57%) at the regional scale. These were more pronounced in plant host specialists and in dark coloured species. In contrast, the local coppiced oak forests showed an increase, in species richness (+62%), while the high oak forests showed no clear trends. Left and right censoring as well as cross validation confirmed the robustness of the analyses, which led to four conclusions. First, the decline in insects appears in hyper diverse insect groups in forests and affects species richness, abundance and biomass. Second, the pronounced decline in host specialists suggests habitat loss as an important driver of the observed decline. Third, the more severe decline in dark species might be an indication of global warming as a potential driver. Fourth, the trends in coppiced oak forests indicate that maintaining complex and diverse forest ecosystems through active management may be a promising conservation strategy in order to counteract negative trends in biodiversity, alongside rewilding approaches