Bartłomiej Gołdyn

Influence of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes, Linnaeus 1758) on the distribution and number of breeding birds in an intensively used farmland

This study tested the hypothesis that small birds at their nest sites avoid areas around dens of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes, Linneaus 1758) in an intensively used farmland. Birds were counted at 18 points (radius 100 m) located near dens, as well as at 18 control points that were located at least 600 m away from the nearest den. These two types of points did not differ with respect to the number of recorded bird species. However, a negative effect of the proximity of fox dens on the total density of the bird community was observed. This effect was also recorded for the most abundant bird species, the skylark (Alauda arvensis, Linneaus 1758). In agreement with our expectations, these results indicate a negative impact of fox presence on a breeding bird community in an open farmland.

Distribution and diversity of Tardigrada along altitudinal gradients in the Hornsund, Spitsbergen (Arctic)

Two transects were established and sampled along altitudinal gradients on the slopes of Ariekammen (77°01′N; 15°31′E) and Rotjesfjellet (77°00′N; 15°22′E) in Hornsund, Spitsbergen. In total 59 moss, lichen, liverwort and mixed moss–lichen samples were collected and 33 tardigrade species of Hetero- and Eutardigrada were found. The α diversity ranged from 1 to 8 per sample; the estimated number of species based on all analysed samples was 52±17 for the Chao 2 estimator and 41 for the incidence-based coverage estimator. According to the results of detrended canonical correspondence analysis, altitude and type of substratum were the most important factors influencing tardigrade communities in the investigated area. Macrobiotus crenulatus, M. hufelandi hufelandi and Hypsibius pallidus dominated in the lower elevations, whereas Echiniscus wendti and E. merokensis merokensis prevailed in samples from higher plots. Macrobiotus islandicus islandicus was collected most often from mosses collected from rock whereas Isohypsibius coulsoni from mosses collected from soil. Analyses of covariance were employed to test for differences in species richness between the transects in relation to altitude. Contrary to expectations, there were significant differences in species richness between the transects, but richness was not significantly related to altitude. Interestingly, significant effects of colonies of seabirds, little auk (Alle alle), on the tardigrades communities were detected. Additionally, in one of the samples first ever males of Milnesium asiaticum were found. Their measurements and microphotographs are provided herein.

Heavy metal contents in the sediments of astatic ponds: Influence of geomorphology, hydroperiod, water chemistry and vegetation

The contents of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) were analysed in the bottom sediments of 30 small, astatic ponds located in the agricultural landscape of Western Poland. The samples were collected from 118 stations located in patches of four vegetation types. Relationships between the contents of particular elements and four groups of factors (geomorphology, hydroperiod, water quality and vegetation) were tested using Redundancy Analysis (RDA). The most important factors influencing the heavy metal contents were the maximum depth and area of the pond, its hydroperiod, water pH and conductivity values. In general, low quantities of heavy metals were recorded in the sediments of kettle-like ponds (small but located in deep depressions) and high in water bodies of the shore-bursting type (large but shallow). Moreover, quantities of particular elements were influenced by the structure of the vegetation covering the pond. Based on the results, we show which types of astatic ponds are most exposed to contamination and suggest some conservation practices that may reduce the influx of heavy metals.

Location and habitat characteristics of the breeding nests of the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in the reed-beds of an intensively used farmland

Occurrence of harvest mouse breeding nests in relation to reed-bed structure was studied in 2000-2001. This study took place in midfield marsh patches and drainage ditches in an intensively used farmland of western Poland. A total of 88 nests was found. 98% of them were attached to reed stems at a mean height of 48 (± 41 SD) cm. Harvest mice favoured reed-beds with low, thin and sparse stalks, with a high ratio of Carex/grass. Areas with a high density of herbaceous vegetation were avoided as nest sites.

Predation of migratory Little Stint (Calidris minuta) by Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides) is dependent on body mass and duration of stopover time

Shorebird (Charadriiformes) migration phenology is critically synchronised with prey availability at traditional staging sites that allows the birds to stage and complete the migrations. These stopovers, usually in large concentrations, make the migrants vulnerable to local predators. The body mass gained or maintained is considered to be the result of the trade-off between the risks of starvation and predation. Theoretically, heavier birds should be less adept at escaping predators, and experimental evidence showed that flight performance is impaired in heavier birds. During three migration seasons we searched pellets and prey remains taken by a pair of Barbary Falcons (Falco pelegrinoides). We discovered that many pellets contained rings from the ringing program in Eilat, Israel, and the overwhelming majority belonged to Little Stints (Calidris minuta). We checked if the body mass and length of the stopover as expressed by ringing status of the Little Stints in a particular migration season was related to the risk of predation by Barbary Falcons. We found the chance that a heavier bird would be predated was lower than that of a lighter individual, and that Stints retrapped during the same migration season were significantly more endangered by predation than those recorded only once.

Nests of the black stork Ciconia nigra as a habitat for mesostigmatid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata)

We surveyed the Mesostigmatid mite fauna of nests of the black stork Ciconia nigra, to determine the role of these mites in the biology of their hosts. We present preliminary results obtained on the basis of material collected from 31 nests. A total of 1,615 mite specimens was recorded, belonging to 39 species. The most abundant species were Dendrolaelaps strenzkei, Apionoseius infirmus, Macrocheles merdarius and Macrocheles ancyleus, which constituted more than 65% of all the specimens recorded. The presence of large numbers of predatory mites could be beneficial to the birds, if they feed on the eggs and larvae of the bird’s parasites. It is likely that many of the mite species found in these nests were carried there by phoresy on insects, mainly Coleoptera.

Community structure variability of Uropodina mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in nests of the common mole, Talpa europaea, in Central Europe

Underground nests of Talpa europaea, known as the common mole, are very specific microhabitats, which are also quite often inhabited by various groups of arthropods. Mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) are only one of them. One could expect that mole nests that are closely located are inhabited by communities of arthropods with similar species composition and structure. However, results of empirical studies clearly show that even nests which are close to each other can be different both in terms of the species composition and abundance of Uropodina communities. So far, little is known about the factors that can cause these differences. The major aim of this study was to identify factors determining species composition, abundance, and community structure of Uropodina communities in mole nests. The study is based on material collected during a long-term investigation conducted in western parts of Poland. The results indicate that the two most important factors influencing species composition and abundance of Uropodina communities in mole nests are nest-building material and depth at which nests are located. Composition of Uropodina communities in nests of moles was also compared with that of other microhabitats (e.g. rotten wood, forest litter, soil) based on data from 4421 samples collected in Poland. Communities of this habitat prove most similar to these of open areas, especially meadows, as well as some forest types.

Needle in a Haystack: Predicting the Occurrence of Wetland Invertebrates on the Basis of Simple Geographical Data. A Case Study on Two Threatened Micro-Mollusc Species (Gastropoda: Vertiginidae) from Poland

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether simple geographical data can be used to predict the probability of the presence of two threatened snail species: Vertigo angustior and V. moulinsiana, occurring within wetland areas across their central European range. Our research was based on data from 226 localities across Poland fitting with the species requirements according to the current literature. We used Canonical Variance Analysis with variance partitioning and tree classifications to model relationships between the species presence/absence and rough geographic features describing each locality (landscape and geomorphological types and hydrography). Our results have shown that the localities of the studied species are related to particular types of landform and landscape and are not distributed uniformly. Both species occur predominantly in young postglacial lowland landscapes and are usually associated with particular succession stages of lakes, with V. moulinsiana occurring in earlier phases of habitat evolution. Results from modelling show that cost- and time effectiveness of surveying for these species could be substantially increased by avoiding particular location types. The prediction models presented will be a useful tool for planning future surveys of the vertiginids and in studies on their ecology and distribution.

Mesostigmatic mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in nests of the Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Croatia

We examined the species composition and community structure of mites of the order Mesostigmata (Acari) in nests of the Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus Hablizl, 1783) in Croatia. Material collected from 18 nests included 565 mites belonging to seven species. The most abundant species were Leiodinychus orbicularis (C.L. Koch, 1839) (Trematuridae) and Androlaelaps casalis (Berlese, 1887) (Laelapidae). The results were compared with the community structure and frequency of dominant species of Mesostigmata in nests of 32 other bird species. Leiodinychus orbicularis occurred in the nests of 13 species of birds. It is a typical nidicolous species which occurs most frequently in the perennial nests of birds of prey. In contrast, A. casalis rarely occurs in the nests of birds of prey.

Instances of erroneous DNA barcoding of metazoan invertebrates: Are universal cox1 gene primers too “universal”?

The cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene is the main mitochondrial molecular marker playing a pivotal role in phylogenetic research and is a crucial barcode sequence. Folmer’s “universal” primers designed to amplify this gene in metazoan invertebrates allowed quick and easy barcode and phylogenetic analysis. On the other hand, the increase in the number of studies on barcoding leads to more frequent publishing of incorrect sequences, due to amplification of non-target taxa, and insufficient analysis of the obtained sequences. Consequently, some sequences deposited in genetic databases are incorrectly described as obtained from invertebrates, while being in fact bacterial sequences. In our study, in which we used Folmer’s primers to amplify COI sequences of the crustacean fairy shrimp Branchipus schaefferi (Fischer 1834), we also obtained COI sequences of microbial contaminants from Aeromonas sp. However, when we searched the GenBank database for sequences closely matching these contaminations we found entries described as representatives of Gastrotricha and Mollusca. When these entries were compared with other sequences bearing the same names in the database, the genetic distance between the incorrect and correct sequences amplified from the same species was c.a. 65%. Although the responsibility for the correct molecular identification of species rests on researchers, the errors found in already published sequences data have not been re-evaluated so far. On the basis of the standard sampling technique we have estimated with 95% probability that the chances of finding incorrectly described metazoan sequences in the GenBank depend on the systematic group, and variety from less than 1% (Mollusca and Arthropoda) up to 6.9% (Gastrotricha). Consequently, the increasing popularity of DNA barcoding and metabarcoding analysis may lead to overestimation of species diversity. Finally, the study also discusses the sources of the problems with amplification of non-target sequences.