Yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus) as zoomonitors of environmental contamination at a polluted area in Slovakia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Free-living wild rodents are often used as zoomonitors of environmental contamination. In the present study, accumulation of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in critical organs of yellow-necked mice (<it>Apodemus flavicollis</it>) and bank voles (<it>Myodes glareolus</it>) trapped in a polluted area in Nováky, Slovakia was investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Yellow-necked mice (n = 8) and bank voles (n = 10) were collected using standard theriological methods for wood ecosystems. All animals were adult males in good physical condition. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, and Zn in the liver, kidney, and bone were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The highest concentrations of Cd and Zn were found in the bone of both species while Cu and Fe accumulated mainly in kidney or liver. Significant higher concentrations of Cd and Cu were detected in the liver of bank voles than in yellow-necked mice. Similar significant higher levels of Cd and Zn were found in the bone of bank voles. In contrast, significant higher concentrations of Cu and Fe were present in the kidney of yellow-necked mice.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In the yellow-necked mouse and bank vole, bone seems to accumulate Cd and Zn following prolonged exposure. On the contrary, kidney and liver store Cu and Fe after a long-term environmental exposure. In the present study, bank voles seemed to be more heavy metal loaded zoomonitors than yellow-necked mice.</p

The influence of Cracow urban pollution on small forest areas

The impact of Cracow conurbation on small forest ecosystems was studied during the last four years (1998-2001). Seven sites located at different distances from the city and from busy road were selected. Lichen Hypogymnia physodes from unpolluted areas were transplanted 10 each of investigated sites for 6-month period (winter 1998/1999, 1999/2000, summer 2000). The quantity of litter fall with percentage cmposition of each species was estimated, also the input of litter and heavy metals to the forest floor were evaluated. Metal concentration (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe) in Hypogymnia physodes, leaves of common oak, hornbean and litter fall were determined in IL 251 flame AAS. Acute injuries of lichen thalli as well as concentrations of Pb, Zn, Fe and S were higher after winter transplantation and in sites located close to Cracow conurbation. High concentration of heavy metals were noticed in tree leaves from eastem transect as the effect of steel works emission as well as in those sites from southem transect situated nearby the city. Although air pollution har generally declined in the Malopolska district over the last few years the metal concentration and input to the forest flow in 2001 remains at the same level than in the previous years

The influence of Cracow urban pollution on small forest areas

The impact of Cracow conurbation on small forest ecosystems was studied during the last four years (1998-2001). Seven sites located at different distances from the city and from busy road were selected. Lichen Hypogymnia physodes from unpolluted areas were transplanted 10 each of investigated sites for 6-month period (winter 1998/1999, 1999/2000, summer 2000). The quantity of litter fall with percentage cmposition of each species was estimated, also the input of litter and heavy metals to the forest floor were evaluated. Metal concentration (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe) in Hypogymnia physodes, leaves of common oak, hornbean and litter fall were determined in IL 251 flame AAS. Acute injuries of lichen thalli as well as concentrations of Pb, Zn, Fe and S were higher after winter transplantation and in sites located close to Cracow conurbation. High concentration of heavy metals were noticed in tree leaves from eastem transect as the effect of steel works emission as well as in those sites from southem transect situated nearby the city. Although air pollution har generally declined in the Malopolska district over the last few years the metal concentration and input to the forest flow in 2001 remains at the same level than in the previous years

Ultrastructural changes, phenolics localization and heavy metals distribution in the leaf of Vaccinium myrtillus L. exposed to chromium in environment-preliminary observations

Leaves of Vaccinium myrtillus L. were collected from the forest site influenced by emission, containing chromium compounds in high amounts, from the chemical industry “Alwernia", located 20 km west of Krakow (Poland). As the control area the forest 10 km west of studied site was chosen. Three compartments of the leaf were distinguished: surface, when with together with embedded elements were removed by procedure of dipping in almost boiling water [1], inside the tissue but free ions, by extraction in 20% ethanol +1% acetic acid [2]; bound ions, which could be removed only by analysis of `leftover tissues'. Chromium and other element (Cu, Zn. Fe) levels were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry, in each of studied leaf compartments-to establish their possible interactions and localisation. Transmission Electron Microscopy revealed disturbances in cell organelle structures. Additionally with the histochemical method we localised phenolic compounds in the cell, considering their involvement in heavy metals detoxification

Mikrobiologiczne badania gleby, stawow rybnych i jeziora w poblizu mogilnika pestycydowego

Badano wodę i osady denne trzech stawów rybnych i jeziora Szeląg Wielki oraz glebę, w pobliżu i z mogilnika pestycydowego w Warlitach Wielkich k/Ostródy. Próby do badań pobierano, latem, jesienią i wiosną, z 12 stanowisk badawczych. Oznaczano ilościowo bakterie proteolityczne, amonifikacyjne, nitryfikacyjne, denitryfikacyjne, wiążące azot atmosferyczny (Azotobacter sp. i Clostridium pasteurianum), rozkładające mineralne i organiczne związki fosforu. We wszystkich badanych środowiskach, najwyższe liczebności drobnoustrojów stwierdzano jesienią lub latem, natomiast znacznie niższe wiosną. Najliczniej te mikroorganizmy występowały w środowisku glebowym (oprócz bakterii nitryfikacyjnych I i II fazy), natomiast mniej licznie stwierdzano je w zbiornikach wodnych. W wodzie stawowej oznaczano wyższe liczebności mikroorganizmów w porównaniu z wodą jeziorną. W osadach dennych natomiast uzyskiwano od 10 do 104 razy wyższe ich liczebności niż w wodach badanych zbiorników. Nie stwierdzono istotnego wpływu mogilnika pestycydowego w Warlitach Wielkich k/Ostródy na liczebność mikroorganizmów cyklu azotowego i fosforowego, występujących w badanych środowiskach.Samples of water and bottom sediments were collected from three fish ponds and the Szeląg Wielki Lake, while soil was sampled from a pesticide tomb located at Warlity Wielkie n/Ostróda and its vicinity. Samples to be used for microbiological analyses were collected in spring, summer and autumn at 12 research sites. Quantitative measurements were carried out for proteolytic, ammonifying, nitrifying, denitrifying and nitrogen fixing bacteria (Azotobacter sp., Clostridium pasteurianum) as well as for bacteria decomposing mineral and organic forms of phosphorus. In all samples, the highest numbers of bacteria were noted in autumn and summer, whereas considerably lower numbers were observed in spring. The highest bacteria populations were reported for soil bacteria (except for the nitrifying bacteria of the I and II phase), whereas the bacteria of water reservoirs appeared to be less numerous. In pond water, the numbers of bacteria were higher than in lake water. As compared with water 10 -104 times higher bacterial numbers were recorded in bottom sediments. No significant effect was observed of the pesticide tomb located at Warlity Wielkie n/Ostróda on the numbers of nitrogen - and phosphorus cycle bacteria occurring in the examined environments