Rafał Łopucki

How small cities affect the biodiversity of ground-dwelling mammals and the relevance of this knowledge in planning urban land expansion in terms of urban wildlife

Fundamental principles regarding urban biodiversity are based on studies conducted in large cities. However we cannot know whether the same phenomena occur in smaller cities or how small cities affect biodiversity. Small cities are an inherent element of urbanization and in the future, most global urban growth is expected to take place in small and medium-sized cities. Understanding the effects of small cities on biodiversity will be an important aspect in planning urban land expansion. Our study examined the effects of a small city on communities of small ground-dwelling mammals on 41 sites arranged in a four step gradient of urbanization. In 6700 trap-days, we caught 2333 individuals comprising 15 species. In the downtown area the same phenomena as those described for large cities were observed: a reduction in species richness and diversity, a decline in the abundance of urban sensitive species and an increase in synurbic species. However, in contrast to large city studies, green areas outside the downtown area did not differ from rural sites in small mammal population parameters. This phenomenon of relatively unchanged fauna outside the downtown area shows that small cities have the potential to maintain a high level of diversity of small ground-dwelling mammals if appropriate planning of further building expansion is implemented. More studies of small cities are needed to better assess their impact on biodiversity. This knowledge can then be applied in better planning for urban wildlife. Generalizations based solely on large city studies are inadequate and may lead to incomplete or inappropriate conservation strategies for small cities.

Properties of Artificial Phospholipid Membranes Containing Lauryl Gallate or Cholesterol

Lauryl gallate (LG) is an antioxidant agent. However, it exhibits poor solubility in water. Its interactions with the membrane result in structure evolution thus affecting the membrane functionality. In this paper the Brewster angle microscope coupled with the Langmuir trough was applied to determine the morphology, phase behaviour, thickness and miscibility of ternary Langmuir monolayers with equal mole fractions of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC); 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and an increasing mole fraction of LG. The results were discussed as regards analogous systems where cholesterol (Chol) was the third component. Moreover, the phosphatidylcholine–lauryl gallate (PC–LG) interactions were monitored by the attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Besides lipid composition, the addition of LG was found to be a significant factor to modulate the model membrane properties. The LG molecules adjust themselves to the PC monolayer structure. The hydrophobic fragment is dipped into the membrane interior while the hydroxyl groups of phenolic gallate moiety associate with the polar groups of PC mainly through hydrogen bonding inducing the compacting effect. LG is found to be deeply submerged within DOPC, closer to the double bonds, and its insertion practically does not affect the DPPC/DOPC membrane fluidity. This is crucial for getting more profound insight into the role of LG in stabilizing the non-raft domains, mostly exposed to oxidation in which LG can co-localize and serve its antioxidant function.

Community attitudes to the European bison Bison bonasus in areas where its reintroduction is planned and in areas with existing populations in northeastern Poland

The main aim of the study was to assess the attitudes of communities in northeastern Poland to the European bison Bison bonasus. Four forest complexes were analyzed: two sites to which animals will be reintroduced in the near future (Augustowska and Romincka forests) and two sites where European bison subpopulations already exist (Knyszyńska and Borecka forests). We also analyzed the factors affecting these attitudes. The survey was based on direct interviews with respondents, and answers were transformed onto a 7-point Likert scale. The results showed that respondents living in areas where reintroduction is planned had more negative attitudes than those living in the vicinity of forest complexes where European bison already lives. The difference was probably a result of myths about the E. bison and crop damage by wildlife. We conclude that proper management of the European bison may lead to higher societal acceptance levels, especially among farmers. Moreover, management and acceptance of the wisent could also influence attitudes to state forests. Negative attitudes to the E. bison can be minimized by workshops that can clarify underlying issues and increase trust towards conservation authorities. The workshops should be aimed at farmers with larger farms and more towards women than men.

Micro-X-ray fluorescence spectrometer with x-ray single bounce metallic capillary optics for light element analysis (Conference Presentation)

In the last 20 years, , due to the rapid development of X-ray optics, micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (micro-XRF) has become a powerful tool to determine the spatial distribution of major, minor, and trace elements within a sample. Micro-X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) spectrometers for light element analysis (6 ≤ Z ≤ 14) using glass polycapillary optics are usually designed and applied to confocal geometry. Two such X-ray optics systems are used in this setup. The first one focuses the primary beam on the sample; the second restricts the field of view of the detector. In order to be able to analyze a wider range of elements especialy with (6 ≤ Z ≤ 14), both sample and detector are under vacuum. Depth resolution varies between 100 μm at 1 keV fluorescence energy (Na-Kα) and 30 μm for 17.5 keV (Mo-Kα) [1,2]. In order to improve resolution at energies below 9 keV, our group designed similar spectrometer (in cooperation with PREVAC) but instead of primary polycapillary optics we applied single bounce metallic capillaries optics , designed and manufactured in our Laboratory. The vacuum chumber is currently under construction and is expected to be fully operational in September this year. Single bounce gold capillaries with elliptic internal shape have recently been redesigned and developed in our Laboratory. Surface roughness was reduced up to 0.5 nm and slope error to 0.3 mrad. For these capillaries an expected depth resolution varies from 3 μm (1 keV) and 10 µm for 9 keV (Cu-Kα). The spectrometer equipped with gold capillaries offers the possibility of elemental analysis with better depth resolution than is offerred by glass polycapillaries at energies below 9 keV. Furthermore, we will compare the capabilities and limitations of this spectrometer with others, that use laboratory and/or synchrotron sources. Acknowledgments: This work was supported and co-funded by the European Union as part of the Operational Programme Development of Eastern Poland for 2007–2013, Priority I Innovative Economy, Measure I.3. Support for Innovations and The National Centre for Research and Development, Project no. TANGO1,267102/NCBR/2015