Maria Urbańska

The story of one clam. Probably the oldest location of the Chinese pond mussel Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) (Bivalvia, Unionidae) in Poland

The discovery of a shell of the Chinese pond mussel in 1998 and further confirmation of this species indicate that a reservoir with natural thermal conditions is the oldest species location in Poland. Growth increments of an archival shell do not fall within the ranges obtained by this species in Konin lakes. They are, however, close to population ranges from Hungary. In contrast to other specimens found, the analyzed shell has a very high H/L ratio and is thicker. The observed features might result from the founder effect or they might point to a considerable plasticity of the species.

The current invasion status of Anodonta woodiana (Lea, 1934) in Poland — study of habitat parameters

The study of fish ponds have confirmed the presence of nine new locations of Anodonta woodiana in Poland, with strong and vital populations. These are examples of Chinese pond mussels accidentally introduced along with fish imports. Comparison of known localities shows that more mussels are in eastern Poland, from which the migration path of A. woodiana progresses. Most often mussels settle in larger water reservoirs with elongated shapes. Older and longer mussels occur in deeper fish ponds. Moreover, the further south the location, the higher biomass can be obtained.The average age of mussels in a fish pond depends on its bed type and depth; however the latter has less influence. New locations of this species are also to be expected due to deliberate introduction; cases of resettlement of individual specimens of the Chinese pond mussel to new locations have been recorded.

DSC and electrophoretic studies on protein denaturation of Anodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834)

The aim of this study was to examine the thermal denaturation properties of proteins from fresh and frozen pond mussels Anodonta woodiana by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The A. woodiana (Lea, 1834) mussels were collected from the bottom of a lake located in West Poland. Three parts of the mussel: adductor muscle (AM), foot muscle (FO) and part of internal organs (IO), were taken for analysis. The DSC technique was used to characterize the stability of the protein system, and SDS-PAGE was applied for the separation and identification of proteins. Thermal analysis in all parts of the mussel revealed two main endothermic transitions: the first at 60–61xa0°C and the second at 69–70xa0°C. Denaturation transition occurred in the temperature range from 42 to 76xa0°C. The highest enthalpy of denaturation was observed for FO and was 15.75xa0Jxa0g−1 (per 1xa0g of protein) and 14.01xa0Jxa0g−1 for AM. The lower-temperature peak, related to myosin and paramyosin, accounted for approximately 70–80xa0% of the total area of transition. Electrophoretic analysis (SDS-PAGE) confirmed that the paramyosin, with a mass of approx. 98–107xa0kDa, constituted the largest percentage, i.e., 24xa0% in AM and 17xa0% in IO and FO. Two other main myofibrillar proteins were also present in significant amounts: myosin with a molecular mass of 230–245xa0kDa (12–14xa0%) and actin with a mass of 47xa0kDa (18–20xa0%). In this study, the effect of freezing on protein stability was also investigated. The results of DSC analyses revealed that the process of freezing did not have a significant influence on the first and second peak temperature. Significant differences in enthalpy between fresh and frozen samples were observed only for AM, for which the total enthalpy (ΔH) decreased by 33xa0%. This study provided insight into the biochemistry of A. woodiana meat and offers an area of scientific novelty. Recognizing quality properties of meat tissue from freshwater Chinese pond mussels collected from selected water ecosystems seems to be important with respect to the potential possibility of using it for feed, pet food or even in food products.

Co-occurrence of Sinanodonta woodiana with native Unionidae in the lower Oder

Abstract The Asiatic bivalve Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834), which is more and more widespread in all parts of Europe, in Poland has been mostly reported from lentic waters, especially fish ponds. In contrast to some other European countries, no data have been published on its presence in rivers of Poland. In 2015, monitoring was carried out in the lower Oder River and in the mouth of the Warta River, as a result of which S. woodiana was recorded there for the first time. This was possible due to prolonged drought, which led to extremely low water levels in most of the inland water bodies and watercourses, so that other research methods could be used. The presented results confirm that the species spreads easily by colonizing waters of various types, which in the future may lead to the formation of large populations.

A Software Tool of Technical and Financial-Economic Analysis for Acquistion of Broadband Radio PPDR Networks

Abstract In this paper, we present a software tool that allows preparing econometric analyses aiming at selection of optimal business models for acquisition of broadband mobile networks by PPDR organizations. Such agencies often and often need broadband services to improve operational activities in order to increase the safety, security, and their effectiveness in day-to-day and crisis situations. Upgrade or migration to broadband networks needs careful decisions so as to find a justified trade-off between CAPEX and OPEX. The network evolution can be based on different business models but any approach cannot degrade the reliability, security, and resilience required by PSC.

The Invasive Asian Clam Corbicula fluminea in Polish Rivers: The Importance of Thermal Discharge from Power Plants for Its Spread

ABSTRACT So far in Poland, the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea has been reported from the Oder (Odra) and Vistula River. Its new population has been discovered in the Warta-Gopło Canal in Konin (central Poland), where water temperature can reach 34°C, as the canal is a part of a power plant lake cooling system. The spatial distribution of C. fluminea was found to be very uneven and that is probably why this species was not found during earlier research. The highest density of C. fluminea was 78 ind.·m-2 at the site where water flow was the fastest (2.49 m·s-1), providing sufficient oxygenation of the water. The results suggest that existing information about the distribution of C. fluminea may be far from complete because the clam can be present also in the habitats that were not regarded as suitable for the species according to earlier reports, and therefore have not been monitored for its presence.

Effect of Washing on the Quality of Surimi-Like Preparation Obtained from Soft Tissue of Freshwater Mussel Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834)

ABSTRACT The research analyses the influence of the number of washings and different washing solutions, on the recovery of dry matter and protein in a preparation made from freshwater mussel Sinanodonta woodiana, (Lea, 1834). The study involved qualitative and quantitative characterisation of mussel protein preparation (MPP) obtained by electrophoretic separation and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The type of washing agent had the greatest influence on dry matter and protein content. Washing the homogenate with NaCl solutions and water was more effective on protein extraction than using only water. Two bands of proteins with molecular weights of 270–273 kDa and 42–43 kDa were characterized by the highest band intensity in electropherograms. The DSC analysis showed that on all denaturation curves of the samples there was one main peak of transformation ranging 56.69–62.94°C. The research revealed that washing homogenates with NaCl solutions caused the appearance of additional peaks at lower transformation temperatures, i.e. from 19.68°C to 36.45°C. The highest enthalpy value (4.53 Jg−1) was observed for the sample washed once NaCl solution and then water. The number of washings (1 or 2) and the use of a 0.5% NaCl solution or water were found to be the most favorable parameters for MPP production.

Rheophilic fish in oxbow lakes of the Warta River – the effect of environmental conditions on habitat selection

Abstract Oxbow lakes are typical elements of meandering watercourses and are considered to be key components of floodplains of natural rivers. A permanent connection with the river promotes the use of these water bodies by ichthyofauna as spawning grounds, shelter for fry, feeding and wintering grounds. The aim of this study was to determine which rheophilic species inhabit oxbow lakes and how environmental conditions affect habitat selection and fish behavior. Analyses were conducted on six oxbow lakes of the Warta River in the Koło-Poznań section. Fish and water samples were collected for three years, in spring, summer and late autumn. Variation in environmental conditions in the analyzed water bodies results in a considerable diversity of the ichthyofauna, including rheophilic species, in individual seasons of the year. In the course of the study, nine rheophilic fish species were recorded, including four from the lithophilic reproductive guild having the highest environmental requirements. Relative abundance of rheophilic species in the dominance structure ranged from 0 to 100%, depending on the reservoir and seasons, with an average of 7% for all catches. For comparison, their relative abundance in the adjacent parts of the river was 12 and 23%.