Worldwide diversity of endophytic fungi and insects associated with dormant tree twigs

International trade in plants and climate change are two of the main factors causing damaging tree pests (i.e. fungi and insects) to spread into new areas. To mitigate these risks, a large-scale assessment of tree-associated fungi and insects is needed. We present records of endophytic fungi and insects in twigs of 17 angiosperm and gymnosperm genera, from 51 locations in 32 countries worldwide. Endophytic fungi were characterized by high-throughput sequencing of 352 samples from 145 tree species in 28 countries. Insects were reared from 227 samples of 109 tree species in 18 countries and sorted into taxonomic orders and feeding guilds. Herbivorous insects were grouped into morphospecies and were identified using molecular and morphological approaches. This dataset reveals the diversity of tree-associated taxa, as it contains 12,721 fungal Amplicon Sequence Variants and 208 herbivorous insect morphospecies, sampled across broad geographic and climatic gradients and for many tree species. This dataset will facilitate applied and fundamental studies on the distribution of fungal endophytes and insects in trees

Climate, host and geography shape insect and fungal communities of trees.

Non-native pests, climate change, and their interactions are likely to alter relationships between trees and tree-associated organisms with consequences for forest health. To understand and predict such changes, factors structuring tree-associated communities need to be determined. Here, we analysed the data consisting of records of insects and fungi collected from dormant twigs from 155 tree species at 51 botanical gardens or arboreta in 32 countries. Generalized dissimilarity models revealed similar relative importance of studied climatic, host-related and geographic factors on differences in tree-associated communities. Mean annual temperature, phylogenetic distance between hosts and geographic distance between locations were the major drivers of dissimilarities. The increasing importance of high temperatures on differences in studied communities indicate that climate change could affect tree-associated organisms directly and indirectly through host range shifts. Insect and fungal communities were more similar between closely related vs. distant hosts suggesting that host range shifts may facilitate the emergence of new pests. Moreover, dissimilarities among tree-associated communities increased with geographic distance indicating that human-mediated transport may serve as a pathway of the introductions of new pests. The results of this study highlight the need to limit the establishment of tree pests and increase the resilience of forest ecosystems to changes in climate

Yellow necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), Eurasian harvest mouse (Micromys minutes) genetic diversity researches

Using inter-simple sequence repeat and polymerase chain reaction technique 125 Apodemus flavicollis speciments were studied and 11 Apodemus sylvaticus from eighteen different populations from two different countries of Europe (Norway, Lithuania). In the work nine molecular markers were tested: (E8S (exone 8) Ep8-1 (exone 8), c-myc-1 (exone 3), Ap-1, AP-2, AP-3, AP-4, AP-5, AP- 6), to choose the suitable markers for Apodemus genus species identification. Also from these nine molecular markers three were choosen (AP-1, AP-2, AP-5) to study genetic diversity. Data analysis was perform by PopGene3.2, TREECON GenAlEx 6b4 computer programs. Genetic variability, DNA polymorphism, polymorphic locus, allele and unique allele numbers, genetic diversity was estimated within populations and among populations. Phylogenetic trees of populations using data results were paintedBiologijos katedraGamtos mokslų fakultetasKauno Tado Ivanausko zoologijos muziejusVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Genetic diversity Apodemus sylvaticus and Apodemus flavicollis in Lithuania

Mice of genus Apodemus are wide spred in Europe, western Asia and North Africa. Twenty one species are now recognized, but morfological similarity makes difficulties to recognize these species. Therer is a requirement of molecular markers to clear species identification. The aim of our investigation was to evalute genetic diversity of A. sylvaticus and A. flavicollis in Lithuania using ISSR markers. For DNA research was captured 45 mices from Kaunas district, 13 from Zemaitija National park, 130 rodents from Neringa, 13 from Kaisiadoriai district, and 49 from Juodkrante. Also for research using other mouse from previos Vytautas Magnus University Natural science falculty expeditions from Norway, where were captured 15 Apodemus genus mouse. Using chloroform method „Genomic DNA Purification Kit“(Fermentas, K0512). DNA was extracted from ears and muscules for genome studies. Chosen primers: AP-1 (5‘-(CAG)5GC-3‘), AP-2 (5‘-(CAG)4AC-3’), AP-5 (5‘-(G)6GC-3’), E8S(5‘-TAAATGGGACAGGTAGGACC-3’) and Ep8 1 (5‘CCTTACTGCCTCTTGCTTC-3’). For PCR data analysis used horizontal 1,5% agarose gels. The size of the fragments ranged from 300 to 1700 bp. The primers AP-2, AP-5 and E8S were the most informative to study genetic diversyti of genus ApodemusBiologijos katedraTado Ivanausko zoologijos muziejusVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Tick born pathogens in rodents in Lithuania

Wild rodents have been implicated as natural reservoirs for the tick-borne agents. In Europe, rodents are involved in the transmission of a number of diseases to animals and humans, in particular Lyme borreliosis, tick-borne encephalitis, anaplasmosis and babesiosis. The aim of this research was to investigate the prevalence of Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s. l., Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum in small rodents. A total of 118 rodents captured in the Curonian Spit were investigated. The captured rodents were identified as Apodemus flavicollis., Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis and Micromys minutus. For pathogens identification were used PCR, multiplex and nested PCR with genus and species specific primers. Results of analysis showed that rodents were infected with Babesia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilumBiologijos katedraTado Ivanausko zoologijos muziejusVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Screening of microorganisms for antagonistic activity against pathogenic fungi of Pinus spp

Pine (Pinus) stands cover more than 34% of the forest area and it is one of the most ecologically and economically important trees in Lithuania. However, more than 1% of pine trees are damaged by fungal diseases every year [1]. Therefore, effective control measures should be applied. Biological control is an alternative to conventional management. For this purpose, in this study, pine needles, buds and twigs were collected in 2018. Healthy plant material and (or) with symptoms similar to those caused by Neocatenulostroma germanicum, Lophodermium pinastri and Dothistroma septosporum, was analysed. 340 fungal isolates from native and introduced Pinus spp. trees (P. sylvestris ‘Beuvronensis’, P. mugo ‘Frisia’, P. strobur, P. nigra, P. banksiana xp contorta, P. ponderosa var. scopulorum and P. parviflora ‘Glauca’) were obtained. 102 fungal isolates belonging to 50 morphological groups were subjected for analysis. 23 isolates had a high antagonistic activity against plant pathogenic fungi. As screening of potential biocontrol agents is essential for their further development and suitability to use them for disease management, further research will be followed with effects of the pathogen in vivoBiologijos katedraGamtos tyrimų centrasVilniaus universitetasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in the northern boundary of the distribution in Central Europe

Biologijos katedraGamtos mokslų fakultetasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Bartonella infection in small mammals and their ectoparasites in Lithuania

Biologijos katedraGamtos mokslų fakultetasGamtos tyrimų centrasKauno Tado Ivanausko zoologijos muziejusVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Gender influences differentiation of chitin among body parts

eISSN: 1520-6327Earlier reports have established that chitin isolates from each body part of an insect cuticle can exhibit diverse physicochemical properties. But it is still unknown if the gender of the insect can influence characteristics of chitin isolates from different body parts. The present study addresses this question. As a result, important physicochemical differences in the chitin samples from different body parts of Melolontha sp. were recorded on the basis of sex. The chitin samples were extracted from eight different body parts (antennae, head, eyes, thorax, abdomen, elytra, hindwings, and legs) of female and male. The most remarkable variations in the chitin isolates from female and male body parts were recorded in chitin content, crystallinity, thermal stability, and surface morphology. And also it was wondered these chitin isolates from different body parts of female and male could find different applications. To check this hypothesis, the chitin samples from female and male were interacted with bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein and important variations were observed. (C) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, IncBiologijos katedraVytauto Didžiojo universiteta