Research of golden jackal (Canis aureus) in the Nature park Lonjsko polje by acoustic and camera traps methods

Naglo širenje područja obitavanja čaglja, ali i povećanje gustoće populacije, govori o visokom stupnju prilagodlji­vosti te vrste različitim stanišnim uvjetima. Prije 15-tak godina, pojava čaglja na području Parka prirode (PP) Lonj­sko polje bila je sporadična, dok danas na tom području nedvojbeno egzistiraju teritorijalni čopori. U razdoblju od 2012. do 2015. godine provedeno je istraživanje s ciljem utvrđivanja broja i minimalne prosječne teritorijalne gustoće čopora čagljeva na području PP Lonjsko polje primjenom akustične metode i metode fotozamki.Akustičnom metodom je procijenjeno da je na području PP Lonjsko polje u istraživanom razdoblju obitavalo 14 teritorijalnih čopora čagljeva, područje odaziva čagljeva bilo je od 186,30 do 214,50 km2 te se minimalna procijenjena gustoća čopora čagljeva kretala u rasponu od 0,65 do 0,75 na 10 km2. U usporedbi s drugim istraživanim područjima u Hrvatskoj teritorijalna gustoća čopora čagljeva procijenjena akustičnom metodom na području PP Lonjsko polje je nešto manja, a jedan od mogućih razloga je činjenica da su određeni dijelovi PP Lonjsko polje u nekim razdobljima nedostupni čagljevima zbog poplava, što bi moglo imati utjecaj na njihovo korištenje prostora.U razdoblju od 2012. do 2015. godine metodom fotozamki je prikupljeno 437 (8,8 %) fotografija/video isječaka na kojim su zabilježeni čagljevi. Nakon uklanjanja triplikata preostalo je 336 događaja čaglja odnosno fotografija/video isječaka na kojima je ukupno zabilježeno 359 jedinki čaglja, bez mogućnosti determinacije na razini jedinke. Od ukupnog broja događaja, jedna jedinka je zabilježena u 94,64 % događaja, a u 0,30 % događaja zabilježen je najveći broj jedinki, odnosno 5 jedinki na istoj fotografiji/video isječku. Uporabom metode fotozamki je utvrđeno da je najveći stupanj aktivnosti čagljeva noću (73,51 % od ukupnog broja događaja) i u sumrak (19,64 %), ali su zabilježene i dnevne aktivnosti (6,85 %). Najveći broj događaja, zabilježen je između 3 i 5 sati. Tijekom dana, u četiri godine primjene metode fotozamki, nikada nije snimljena fotografija čaglja između 14 i 16 sati te 17 i 18 sati. Čagalj iskorištava resurse koje mu omogućavaju ljudske aktivnosti i naseljena područja. Međutim, ako na području obitavanja čaglja prevladavaju mozaici poljoprivrednih površina, gdje plijena ima u izobilju, ali je ograničena mogućnost dnevnog zaklona, čagljevi se pretežito kreću noću, što smanjuje rizik od susreta s ljudima.Golden jackal (Canis aureus Linné, 1758) belongs to the family Canidae, which is characterized by opportunism and life in a pack. The rapid dispersion of golden jackal, as well as the increase of population density, indicates a high degree of ability of this species to adjust to different habitat conditions. Only 15 years ago, the appearance of the golden jackal in the Lonjsko polje Nature Park (NP) was sporadic. Today, territorial packs in this area are widespread and confirmed. Lonjsko Polje NP is located in the alluvial plain of the central Sava river basin, with mosaics of diffe­rent habitats typical for flooded areas such as flooded forests, marshes, swamps, meadows and agricultural lands. Except insects, which make a significant proportion of fauna of this area, and mammal species related to aquatic and terrestrial habitats, more than 70% of all bird species recorded in Croatia inhabit NP Lonjsko polje. Small rodents, insects, birds and bird eggs, are highly represented in the diet of golden jackals.During the research period from 2012 to 2015, the minimum number and minimum density of golden jackal territorial packs were estimated in the area of Lonjsko polje NP by acoustic and camera trap methods.Using the acoustic (playback) method, we confirmed the existence of 14 territorial packs in Lonjsko polje NP (Figure 1). From each calling station a recorded group yip-howl was broadcasted, and the GPS locations where the jackal’s response was heard, were recorded. For the calculation of the packs territory, around each recorded GPS location, the circle of 1.8 and 2 km radius was created. Outside of this radius human ear is not able to hear the sound of golden jackals howling. For the pack number estimation Point Cluster and Heatmap analysis in Q GIS 3.4. were used. By the use of the Q GIS function “Dissolve” in the Geoprocessing tools the total effective area of the response of the packs was calculated and it ranged from 186.30 to 214.50 km2. The minimum density of territorial packs per 10 km2 was calculated as a ratio of the number of packs and the total area of response of jackals and ranged from 0.65 to 0.75 packs per 10 km2. If compared to other areas in Croatia, the territorial density of the jackal packs estimated by the acoustic method in the area of NP Lonjsko Polje was slightly smaller. This is probably due to land unavailability caused by floods which impacts the pattern of space use of animals. As part of this research, in the period from 2012 to 2015, five camera traps had been set and were afterwards periodically relocated to the places where the occurrence of golden jackals was expected. The golden jackal was recorded on 437 (8.8% from all photos with recorded animal or humans; Figure 3) photos or video clips. After the removal of the triplicates, 336 events of golden jackal photos or video clips were confirmed (Table 1). Without distinguishing individuals from each other, altogether, 359 individuals were recorded. In 94.64% of all events, only one individual was recorded. The largest number of individuals, 5 individuals on the same photo/video clip, was recorded in 0.30% of events. To analyze daily/night/twilight activity and circadian rhythm, photos/videos were sorted by date and time in to 3 categories: day, night and twilight (Figure 4). Student’s T-test for two variables confirmed the highest activity of golden jackal during the night (73.51% from all events, p <0.01) and twilight (19.64%, p <0.05). Daily activity was recorded as well (6.82% from all events). The maximum number of events was recorded between 3 and 5 AM. During the day, in the four years of application of the camera trap method, a photo of the jackal was never taken between 2 and 4 PM and 5 and 6 PM. Golden jackal exploits the resources out coming from human activities, especially in the areas inhabited by humans. However, if mosaics of cultivated areas are a dominant habitat type, where prey is abundant but the possibility of daytime cover is limited, the jackal mostly move at night, reducing the risk of encountering humans. Hence, the high incidence of nocturnal photographs of golden jackal is probably the consequence of the prevailing human-dominated landscape, the presence of large areas of wet meadows in the Nature Park Lonjsko Polje and the increased risk of suffering due to human activities (traffic, hunting, direct persecution)

First evidence of the presence of Multixenobiotic Resistance Mechanism activity in freshwater invasive species, signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana, 1852)

Background and Purpose: The signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana, 1852) is one of the most successful invasive species of crayfish in European freshwaters, an extremely diverse though endangered group of ecosystems. The main goal of this study was to functionally characterize multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) mechanism defense activity in P. leniusculus tissues for the first time. MXR mechanism protects the cell from a wide variety of toxic compounds, and it is mediated by the transport activity of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) proteins. Materials and Methods: MXR transporter activity dye assay was performed by using fluorescent model substrate rhodamine B (RB) in combination with inhibitors of MXR efflux pumps: MK571 and Verapamil, known to inhibit multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRP) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp), respectively. In this assay, the increase in intracellular fluorescence of the substrate dye, indicates inhibition of MXR efflux protein pumps. The assay was performed in three different tissues (gills, hepatopancreas, tail muscle). Additionally, tissues were exposed to selected heavy metals – mercury (HgCl2) and zinc (ZnCl2), known to occur in open freshwaters as pollutants. Results: Optimal time for RB accumulation in gills and hepatopancreas was determined to be 30 minutes. RB efflux in gills was inhibited by MK571 and in hepatopancreas by Verapamil, suggesting that multidrug resistanceassociated proteins are dominant in gills of P. leniusculus, and P-glycoprotein in hepatopancreas. Finally, inhibitory effect of mercury (HgCl2: 10 and 20 μM) and zinc (ZnCl2: 5–20 μM) on multixenobiotic resistance mechanism activity in gills, and only mercury in hepatopancreas, was detected. Conclusions: The results for the first time demonstrate the presence of multixenobiotic resistance mechanism efflux activity as an important tissue specific defense mechanism in P. leniusculus and provide the basis for future molecular and toxicological studies of this invasive and adaptable species

First evidence of the P-glycoprotein gene expression and multixenobiotic resistance modulation in earthworm

Multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) is an important mechanism of cellular efflux mediated by ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters that bind and actively remove toxic substrates from the cell. This study was the first to identify ABC transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp/ABCB1) as a representative of the MXR phenotype in earthworm (Eisenia fetida). The identified partial cDNA sequence of ABCB1 overlapped with ABCB1 homologues of other organisms from 58.5 % to 72.5 %. We also studied the effect of five modulators (verapamil, cyclosporine A, MK571, probenecid, and orthovanadate) on the earthworm’s MXR activity by measuring the accumulation of model substrates rhodamine B and rhodamine 123 in whole body tissue of the adult earthworm. MK571, orthovanadate, and verapamil significantly inhibited MXR activity, and rhodamine 123 turned out to better reflect MXR activity in that species than rhodamine B. Our results show that E. fetida can serve well as a test organism for environmental pollutants that inhibit MXR activity

Efficacy of Caffeic Acid on Diabetes and Its Complications in the Mouse

Diabetic dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia contribute to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to deleterious complications, such as nephropathy, atherosclerosis and cardiac dysfunction, and target major organs in the body. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of caffeic acid (CA) on mouse weight and survival, serum level of fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum lipid parameters and atherogenic indices, oxidative damage in blood, liver and kidney tissue, pathophysiological changes and their function markers in healthy and alloxan-induced type 1 diabetic mice. Diabetes was induced in mice with a single intravenous injection of alloxan (75 mg/kg). Two days later, CA (50 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally for seven days in diabetic mice. Diabetes affected glucose level, lipid profile, hematological and biochemical parameters, induced DNA damage and apoptotic/necrotic death in whole blood cells, liver and kidney, leading to weight loss and a decreased lifespan. CA treatment of diabetic mice revealed a protective effect on the liver and kidney, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties and high protection against atherogenic outcomes. The obtained results suggest that CA is a safe and potent agent against diabetes that acts as an effective antioxidant in reducing serum glucose, lipid profile and atherogenic indices, leading to increased lifespan in mice

Camera Traps on Wildlife Crossing Structures as a Tool in Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) Management - Five-Years Monitoring of Wolf Abundance Trends in Croatia.

The conservation of gray wolf (Canis lupus) and its coexistence with humans presents a challenge and requires continuous monitoring and management efforts. One of the non-invasive methods that produces high-quality wolf monitoring datasets is camera trapping. We present a novel monitoring approach where camera traps are positioned on wildlife crossing structures that channel the animals, thereby increasing trapping success and increasing the cost-efficiency of the method. In this way we have followed abundance trends of five wolf packs whose home ranges are intersected by a motorway which spans throughout the wolf distribution range in Croatia. During the five-year monitoring of six green bridges we have recorded 28 250 camera-events, 132 with wolves. Four viaducts were monitored for two years, recording 4914 camera-events, 185 with wolves. We have detected a negative abundance trend of the monitored Croatian wolf packs since 2011, especially severe in the northern part of the study area. Further, we have pinpointed the legal cull as probable major negative influence on the wolf pack abundance trends (linear regression, r2 > 0.75, P < 0.05). Using the same approach we did not find evidence for a negative impact of wolves on the prey populations, both wild ungulates and livestock. We encourage strict protection of wolf in Croatia until there is more data proving population stability. In conclusion, quantitative methods, such as the one presented here, should be used as much as possible when assessing wolf abundance trends

Cost-efficiency of various camera trapping studies.

<p>Cost-efficiency of various camera trapping studies.</p

Abundance trends of wolf packs using monitored viaducts.

<p>Event—a photograph/movie of a wolf/wolves. Maximal number of wolves recorded in a single event for each year, i.e. minimal pack size, is marked above bars.</p

Priručnik za vježbe iz biologije 1

Sveučilišni priručnik za vježbe iz Biologije 1 autora: Lidija Šver, Ana Bielen, Ivana Babić, Tomislav Vladušić, Reno Hrašćan, Ksenija Durgo, Jasna Franekić detaljno je i pristupačno napisano djelo namjenjeno prvenstveno studentima prve godine Prehrambeno-biotehnološkog fakuteta, no zbog multidisciplinarnosti ovaj priručnik može biti koršten i na drugim srodnim fakultetima ili višim razredima gimnazije bilo kao izvor fundamentalnih znanja iz biologije, bilo kao vodič za izvođenje određenih vježbi koje su opisane u samom priručniku. Priručnik je napisan na 244 stranice, a uključuje poglavlja: Napuci za rad na praktikumu iz modula Biologija 1 gdje su date detaljne upute o pravilima rada i ponašanja u praktikumu, pisanju znanstvenih naziva rodova i vrsta te informacije o vođenju laboratorijskog dnevnika. Slijedeće poglavlje bavi se mikroskopom, te je objašnjena građa i funkcija svakog pojedinog dijela mikroskopa te su predložene vježbe koje se izvode kako bi se izvježbale tehnike pravilnog mikroskopiranja. Drugo poglavlje bavi se građom stanične membrane, objašnjeni su fenomeni prijenosa tvari kroz membranu te su navedene vježbe kojima se zakonitosti prijenosa tvari krozn membranu mogu dokazati. U trećem poglavlju detaljno je obrađena stanična stijenka te se predloženim vježbama dokazuje građa i funkcija stanične stijenke biljnih stanica, komunikacija među biljnim stanicama te sekundarne promjene stanične stijenke. Četvrto poglavlje se bavi citoskeletom eukariotske stanice, mikrotubulima i mikrofilamentima te aktinskim filamentima. U petom su poglavlju detaljno obrađeni plastidi, a predloženim praktičnim dijelom studenti se upoznaju s kromoplastima, leukoplastima te kloroplastima, njihovim smještajem i ulogom u stanici. U šestom poglavlju objašnjena je uloga i smještaj ulja i masti te ugljikohidrata u stanici, detaljno su opisani kvalitativni testovi za dokazivanje ugljikohidrata te su predloženi i detaljno objašnjeni testovi kojima studenti mogu dokazivati određene skupine. Sedmo je poglavlje posvećeno DNA molekuli, njenom otkriću, građi i replikaciji, osmo se poglavlje bavi RNA molekulama, mehanizmima njihovog nastanka, procesiranja mRNA u eukariotima te procesom translacije. Deveto se poglavlje bavi produktima translacije-proteinima te metodama kojima se protein mogu dokazati. U desetom i jedanaestom poglavlju detaljno su objašnjeni procesi mitoze i mejoze te su predložene vježbe kojima je moguće pratiti promjene stupnja kondenzacije, položaja i broja molekula DNA te broja kromosoma tijekom procesa mitoze i mejoze. U dvanaestom poglavlju objašnjeni su Mendelovi postulati nasljeđivanja te su opisane metode monohibridnog križanja, test križanja te dihibridnog križanja. U trinaestom poglavlju studenti se upoznaju s genomom, životnim ciklusom te tehnikama uzgoja vinske mušice koja se koristi kao eksperimentalni model višestaničnog eukariotskog organizma. Detaljno je opisan postupak dokazivanja mutacija i nasljeđivanja svojstava vezanih uz spol vinske mušice. Četrnaesto i petnaesto poglavlje obrađuje teme vezane za međudjelovanje gena i populacijsku genetiku

Benefits and limitations of camera traps on crossing structures used as a wildlife monitoring tool.

<p>Benefits and limitations of camera traps on crossing structures used as a wildlife monitoring tool.</p

Abundance trends of natural prey (roe deer, red deer and wild boar combined) on the monitored green bridges.

<p>Event—a photograph/movie of natural prey.</p