The genetic structure of moose population (Alces alces) in the Biebrza valley

Wydział Biologiczno-Chemiczny. Instytut Biologii.Jedną z ważniejszych konsekwencji zmian zasięgów gatunków, jakie dokonywały się w czwartorzędzie, jest obecność populacji reliktowych, określanych jako „żywy” zapis w postaci potomków osobników, którzy przetrwali pewien niekorzystny okres. Relikty stanowią odrębne od pozostałych populacje/gatunki, charakteryzujące się małą liczebnością i/lub silnie ograniczonym zasięgiem geograficznym. W celu zidentyfikowania reliktowego charakteru populacji łosi w dolinie Biebrzy, określiłam jej strukturę genetyczną za pomocą różnych klas markerów molekularnych: mtDNA, sekwencji chromosomu Y, genu MHC II DRB oraz loci mikrosatelitarnego DNA. U łosi w dolinie Biebrzy stwierdziłam unikalny haplotyp mtDNA H1. Jest on zasadniczym elementem gałęzi Biebrza na drzewie filogenetycznym i stanowi dowód, że populacja łosi w dolinie Biebrzy jest autochtoniczna, a osobniki posiadające ten wariant genetyczny zróżnicowały się od pozostałych łosi europejskich przed ostatnim zlodowaceniem. W populacji biebrzańskiej zidentyfikowałam także unikalne allele MHC II DRB i mikrosatelitarnego DNA, jak również haplotyp H2-DBY14, które stanowią ślady pozostawione przez łosie z populacji autochtonicznej, które skolonizowały dolinę Biebrzy po LGM. Populacja łosi w dolinie Biebrzy powinna zostać wyróżniona, jako specjalna jednostka zarządzania. Zachowała ona swoją odrębność genetyczną i jest w znacznym stopniu izolowana, a przez co demograficznie niezależna od innych populacji. Wyróżnia się relatywnie niedużą liczebnością, ograniczonym zasięgiem geograficznym, które reprezentują cechy właściwe populacjom reliktowym.One of the major consequences of changes in species ranges, which were taking place in the Quaternary, is the presence of a relict populations, referred to as a "living" descendants of individuals, whose survived a some negative period. Relicts are distinct from other populations/species, characterized by small sample size and/or heavily restricted geographical range. In order to identify the nature of the relict population of moose in the Biebrza valley, I decide to described the genetic structure of this population using different classes of molecular markers: mtDNA, Y chromosome sequences, MHC II DRB gene and microsatellite loci. In the moose population in the Biebrza valley I found an unique mtDNA haplotype H1. It is an essential element of the Biebrza branch of the phylogenetic tree of moose and provides evidence that the population in the Biebrza valley is indigenous, and individuals possessing this genetic variant differentiated from other European moose before the last glaciations. In this population I also identified unique MHC II DRB and microsatellite DNA alleles as well as H2-DBY14 haplotype, which are the traces left by moose from indigenous populations that have colonized the Biebrza marshes after LGM. The moose population in the Biebrza valley should be featured as a special management unit. It still retains its genetic individuality and is substantially isolated, and thus independent of other demographic population. Stands out is relatively modest abundance, limited geographical coverage, which represent specific characteristics of relict populations.Niniejsza praca była finansowana z grantu Ministerstwa Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego N304024134, projektu finansowanego ze środków Narodowego Funduszy Ochrony Środowiska i Gospodarki Wodnej na zlecenie Ministra Środowiska 326/09/Wn50/NE-PR-Tx/D oraz grantu finansowanego z działalności statutowej (BMN)

Species Diversity of Mycoplankton on the Background of Selected Indicators of Water Quality in Stratified Mesotrophic Lakes

The aim of the study was to determine mycoplankton species diversity in relation to the physico-chemical parameters of lake waters. The research was carried out in the summer months in 15 mesotrophic lakes and showed a high ecological significance index for Rhodotorula glutinis, Epicoccum nigrum, Fusarium sporotrichioides, and Trichophyton violaceum. Mycoplankton abundance and species diversity decreased with the depth of water, which coincided with a decrease in oxygen content and organic matter concentration. A high concentration of nitrogen compounds (total nitrogen—TN and dissolved nitrogen—DN) limited the development of mycobiota in the hypolimnion. In the metalimnion, the intensive development of organisms, especially bacteria, limited mycoplankton abundance despite perfect physical and chemical conditions for its development. Finally, mycoplankton functioned the best in slightly alkaline waters

The physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of honey from the region of Podlasie

Przeprowadzono jakościową ocenę 11 wybranych odmian miodów pszczelich pochodzących z terenów Podlasia, określając: wartość pH, kwasowość, liczbę diastazową (LD) oraz zawartość 5-hydroksyfurfuralu (HMF). Zbadano również wpływ poszczególnych miodów na bakterie chorobotwórcze Escherichia coli oraz Staphylococcus aureus. Wprawdzie wszystkie miody spełniały wymagane normy jakościowe, jednak najaktywniejsze enzymatycznie okazały się miody ciemne: gryczany, wrzosowy, miód ze spadzi iglastej oraz leśny. Odmiany te wyróżniały się także największą aktywnością przeciwdrobnoustrojową.A qualitative evaluation of 11 selected varieties of honeys originating from the areas of Podlasie was conducted. It was based on examination of the following factors: pH, acidity, diastase number (LD) and level of 5-hydroxymethylofurfural (HMF). Examined was also individual influence of honeys towards pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. All honeys fulfill the required quality standards, however it proved that dark honeys: buckwheat, heather, honeydew with fir trees and forestry honey were the most active enzymatically. These varieties stand out also the most active antimicrobials

Simultaneous Infection of Elaphostrongylus Nematode Species and Parasite Sharing between Sympatrically Occurring Cervids: Moose, Roe Deer, and Red Deer in Poland

It is important to assess the distribution of parasite species across wildlife populations, to design strategies for game management and effective disease control in nature. In this project we quantified the prevalence of Elaphostrongylus species in eight moose populations. We used molecular methods for identification of parasite species and host individual genotypes from fecal samples. We also demonstrated sharing of parasite species between three cervid hosts sympatrically occurring in the Biebrza River valley, North-Eastern Poland, which is occupied by the largest autochthonous, non-harvested moose population in Central Europe. Nematode species from the genus Elaphostrongylus are ubiquitous in the studied moose populations. The presence of a single parasite species (e.g., E. alces) in moose individuals was more common than simultaneous infection with E. alces and E. cervi. The prevalence of both E. alces and E. cervi was higher in males than females. The distribution of E. alces and E. cervi prevalence in moose, roe deer, and red deer were in accordance with the membership of a host to a subfamily. Simultaneous occurrences of both Elaphostrongylus species were significantly more frequently noted in red deer fecal samples than those collected from moose or roe deer. Thus, we consider red deer to play a dominant role in sharing of those nematodes to other cervids. Our findings promote applications of molecular methods of identifying parasite species and the assessment of the exchange of parasite community between wild ruminant species in management and health monitoring of game animal populations

The New Haplotypes of <i>Bartonella</i> spp. and <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> Sensu Lato Identified in <i>Lipoptena</i> spp. (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) Collected in the Areas of North-Eastern Poland

Deer keds are hematophagous ectoparasites (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) that mainly parasitize Cervidae. These flies are particularly important for animal health due to the occurrence of numerous pathogenic microorganisms. They may also attack humans and their bites may cause allergenic symptoms. The aim of the study was to identify the molecular characteristics of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Bartonella spp. pathogens detected in Lipoptena spp. sampled both from the hosts and from the environment. For identification of Bartonella spp and B. burgdorferi s. l., the primers specific to the rpoB and flaB gene fragments were used, respectively. The overall prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA in Lipoptena cervi was 14.04%, including 14.8% infection in the tested group of winged specimens. The overall prevalence of Bartonella spp. was 57.02%. The presence of these bacteria was detected in 53.5% of specimens of L. cervi and 75.7% of L. fortisetosa. The phylogenetic analysis showed five new haplotypes of the rpoB gene of Bartonella sp. isolated from L. cervi/Lipoptena fortisetosa. We also identified one new haplotype of B. afzelii and three haplotypes of B. burgdorferi isolated from winged specimens of L. cervi. This is the first study to detect the genetic material of B. burgdorferi s.l. in L. cervi in Poland and the first report on the identification of these bacteria in host-seeking specimens in the environment

Effects of abiotic climatic factors on genetic differentiation (as measured by <i>Φ</i>_ST values) among 30 red deer populations in Poland based on cr mtDNA.

<p>Effects of abiotic climatic factors on genetic differentiation (as measured by <i>Φ</i>_ST values) among 30 red deer populations in Poland based on cr mtDNA.</p

Purifying Selection, Density Blocking and Unnoticed Mitochondrial DNA Diversity in the Red Deer, <i>Cervus elaphus</i>

<div><p>The trajectories of postglacial range expansions, the occurrence of lineage patches and the formation and maintenance of secondary contact between lineages may mostly reflect neutral demographic processes, including density blocking, that may leave long-lasting genetic signatures. However, a few studies have recently shown that climate may also play a role. We used red deer, a large, mobile herbivore that is assumed to be sensitive to climate change, to test hypotheses of possible selection on the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome <i>b</i> gene (mtDNA cyt<i>b</i>) and competitive and/or density-blocking (using mtDNA control region). We searched for a possible link between the phylogeographic structure and abiotic climatic variables. Finally, we tested for isolation by distance and isolation by environment and assessed the impact of human-mediated translocations on the genetic structure of red deer. Our analysis of 30 red deer populations in Poland using the mtDNA control region (<i>N</i> = 357) and cytochrome <i>b</i> (<i>N</i> = 50) markers not only confirmed the presence of the Western and South-Eastern lineages of the species but also indicated the presence of a previously unnoticed, rare relic haplotype that grouped together <i>C</i>. <i>e</i>. <i>italicus</i> from Italy (the Mesola deer). No significant signs of positive selection were detected for the mtDNA cyt<i>b</i> gene in the studied red deer. However, a significant signal for purifying selection was found in our study that may explain the narrowness of the contact zone because gene flow between the Western and South-Eastern lineages should drive relatively strong mito-nuclear incompatibilities. MtDNA control region differentiation among red deer populations in Poland correlated with different abiotic climatic variables. Strikingly, the southernmost ice sheet limits during the Elsterian was the most important factor, and it explained the largest amount of variation. However, neither isolation by distance (IBD) nor isolation by environment (IBE) were recorded, and a very limited impact of human translocations was evident. The above-mentioned results suggest that in contemporary red deer populations in Poland, the phylogeographic pattern is well preserved, and long-term processes (density and/or competitive blocking) still play a major role.</p></div

Mitochondrial DNA control region diversity indices for 30 red deer populations studied in Poland.

<p>Mitochondrial DNA control region diversity indices for 30 red deer populations studied in Poland.</p

Median-joining network of mtDNA haplotypes from Poland belonging to the Western lineage, the South-Eastern lineage and the Mesola lineage.

<p>The network is based on an analysis of the concatenated control region and the cytochrome <i>b</i> sequences. Thirty-five haplotypes found in this study have a three letter code with a number, while the haplotype of <i>C</i>. <i>e</i>. <i>italicus</i> downloaded from GenBank is indicated by “C.e.i”. Missing haplotypes are indicated by a grey dot.</p