Abstract

We compared different bark traits of the common hazel ( Corylus avellana L.) in four different months during the vegetation season (September, November) and out of the vegetation season (January, February) to get an insight into

the changes in bark morphological, biochemical, and optical properties. Since bark of woody plants contains a layer of chlorenchyma, which can harvest transmitted light and perform photosynthesis, we also measured bark potential photochemical efficiency of photosystem II. The values of the latter parameter decreased during the research period, ranging from 0.77 in September to 0.22 in February. This could be attributed to low temperatures. The shapes of the bark reflectance curves were similar between the four samplings, with a peak in red and pronounced reflectance in the near-infrared spectrum. However, the level of reflectance differed between the four samplings. Regarding the time of the season, we obtained the most pronounced changes in the green, yellow, and red reflectance spectra. Light reflectance in these regions was positively related with chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents, while it was negatively related with anthocyanins and UV-B–absorbing substances. Transmittance spectra showed less variability between the four samplings. Regarding the studied pigments, the most pronounced changes were obtained for anthocyanin and UV-B–absorbing substances contents, which decreased in accordance with decreasing environmental temperatures.

On the contrary, the level of photosynthetic pigments remained high, thus enabling undisturbed primary metabolism.

Keywords

Corylus avellana , optical properties, pigments, potential photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm)

Abstract

In the present study, we tested the antifungal activity of ethanol, methanol and acetone extracts of stinkwort against pathogenic fungus grown from ecological wheat grain, molecularly identified as Fusarium poae . Its susceptibility to the stinkworth extracts was tested in vitro with agar dilution method. The results of antifungal effect of the organic stinkwort extracts showed that the growth of F. poae was significantly reduced by these extracts compared to the control and that the antifungal activity is dose-dependent. The methanol extract showed stronger inhibition than the ethanol and acetone ones at all three concentrations. All organic extracts showed a similar antifun gal activity against F. poae as a broad-spectrum fungicide azoxystrobin. We tested the effects of stinkwoth extracts on the germination of radish seeds. The methanol extract delayed the germination of the radish seeds during the first 24 hours, but thereafter all three organic extracts had a comparable germination rate as the control seeds. Despite the delayed germination of the radish seeds, the methanol extract did not reduce the final germination rate and at the same time reduced the fungal infection by almost 50%. These results indicate that the methanol stinkwort extract has the potential to be used as a biofungicide in organic farming.

Keywords

Dittrichia graveolens , Fusarium poae , antifungal activity, seed germination

Abstract

Chestnut honey is well-described in terms of sensory properties, pollen and chemical composition. Specific bitter taste is accompanied with other typical sensory properties derived from its chemical composition, especially in the nectar of

sweet chestnut. Compounds from other sources of nectar and honeydew, especially linden, fir and spruce, with smaller amounts from meadow plants, create the specific sensory and chemical properties of Slovene chestnut honey. Based on the chemical composition of the honey, especially the content and proportions of different inorganic ions, it is possible to track the geographical origin of the pasture. Bees contribute significantly to recognized antimicrobial properties of honey by secretion of enzymes and antimicrobial peptides via the food processing glands. When the honey is used for medical purposes, we have to take precautions to avoid microbial and chemical contamination. For the planning of specific use of honey as a medical application we need to explore in detail specific pharmacological properties of single compounds from

the chestnut honey and its contribution to the whole activity during wound treatment. In this paper we present a review of most distinct properties of chestnut honey important for its medical application.

Keywords

antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, kynurenic acid, honey contamination, melissopalinology, organic honey

Abstract

In 2007 and 2019, a quantitative inventory of the butterfly fauna was conducted in the central part of the Poček military training area, with the aim of comparing the fauna from both periods and evaluating the impact of military activities on the butterfly diversity. Using a standardized linear transect method and covering all habitat types represented in the military area, a total of 73 species were observed in both years (2007: 62, 2019: 61), including 11 threatened species (2007: 9, 2019: 8). The fauna of both sampling periods differed significantly in composition but not in species diversity,

average population density of species on single transects, and in average population density of species in the area. The difference in the faunal composition is the result of species turnover and changes in the size and spatial distribution of the population densities of the species at an individual transects. Among species whose population density decreased in 2019 compared to 2007, those with the highest densities in forest vegetation types in 2007 prevailed. On the other hand, the predominantly grassland species became more abundant in 2019. This means that regular, but temporally and spatially uneven military activities, represent heterogeneous disturbances that maintain an extremely diverse mosaic of habitat types, in which large scale extensively main tained dry calcareous grasslands and dry grasslands in the early stages of succession have the greatest conservation value. Military activities thus make an important contribution to the conservation of the biodiversity and landscape diversity of the area.

Keywords

butterflies, transect monitoring, species richness, species composition, Lepidoptera

Abstract

Following the extirpation from Central and Southeastern Europe by the

end of the 19 th century, Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx ) was reintroduced in the Alps and

Dinarics. The recovering population sizes fluctuated over the years; however, they

remained relatively small and isolated since their distribution after the establishment

has not significantly expanded by natural colonization. One of the most radical

changes to the landscape of Europe over the past centuries has been the creation of

vast urban and agricultural areas and subsequent extension of infrastructure, causing

increasingly fragmented landscape, especially for weak dispersers like lynx. There

is a pressing need to establish greater connectivity between the genetically isolated

populations, particularly throughout the Alps and Dinarics, to achieve a viable metapopulation

structure. In the paper, we review scientific knowledge on Eurasian lynx

spatial requirements and behaviour, and critically evaluate the methods used. Apart

from habitat suitability and connectivity studies, we also provide a review of lynx

home range sizes and movement activity, including dispersion. We present habitat

suitability model constructed to examine suitable habitat for recovering Dinaric - SE

Alpine population and compare home range sizes of lynx from Dinarics in Slovenia

with other lynx populations in Europe. Future considerations for lynx conservation

should include the impact of climate change, protection of corridor areas, reducing

impact of barriers and, if needed, “complement” dispersal via translocations to achieve

viable pan-European lynx metapopulation in the future.

Keywords

connectivity, conservation management, dispersal, Eurasian lynx, fragmentation, habitat suitability, home range, Lynx lynx

Abstract

The paper investigates how different field conditions and sample characteristics

influence genotyping success in field-collected brown bear scat samples.

Genotyping performance of 413 samples collected in a pilot study in southern Slovenia

was evaluated, and statistical modelling was used to control confounding between predictor

variables and to quantify their specific effects on genotyping success. The best

predictors of genotyping success were subjectively estimated scat age, sampling month,

and contents of a scat. Even when the other confounded variables were controlled for,

genotyping success dropped rapidly with the age estimate, from 89% (82-94%) for

0-day scats to 33% (19-52%) for scats estimated to be 5 days old. Sampling month

was also an important predictor, and samples collected during the bear hyperphagia

period in late summer / autumn performed considerably better (90%, 78-96%) than the

samples collected in spring / early summer (66%, 57-74%). This effect was stronger

for fresh than for older samples. Effects of different food types were also considerable,

but less important for practical use. Since noninvasive genetic sampling already

became the key method for surveying wild populations of many species, efficiency of

studies is becoming increasingly important. Understanding the effect of the month of

sampling allows the field season to be timed for maximum genotyping success, while

subjective scat age provides a useful metric that indicates a sample’s viability for

genotyping, allowing for prioritization of samples and culling of non-viable samples

before resources are wasted for their analysis. This provides higher useful data yields

per invested resources and may ultimately lead to better study results.

Keywords

genetics, genotyping success, molecular ecology, noninvasive sampling, scat sampling, Ursus arctos