Data in this report were synchronously sampled by experienced voluntary observers from stationary... more Data in this report were synchronously sampled by experienced voluntary observers from stationary points on January 28, 2012 since 9:00 till 14:00. Census was realized in favourable weather conditions with good visibility. Points were distributed along Danube banks (river km 1863-1708 with observer-free gaps between rkm 1740-1729 and rkm 1722-1716) and dikes of Gabčíkovo hydro power plant (GHPP) storage lake and head-and tail-water canal in pattern providing optimal range of vision from each point. In Danube river sections and water bodies of GHPP were recorded 42 individuals of White-tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758)) (from that 9 adults and 15 juvenils/subadults). Sites with the highest concentration of wintering population were river sections of the Danube river at rkm 1821-1835 (16 eagles-4 adults, 7 juvenils/subadults; observed 2 soaring groups of 10 and 4 individuals), rkm 1756-1750 (8 eagles-2 adults, 4 juvenils/subadults; observed soaring group of 6 ind...
Data on wintering population of white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla Linnaeus, 1758) pres... more Data on wintering population of white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla Linnaeus, 1758) presented in this report were synchronously sampled by experienced voluntary observers from 50 stationary points on 26.
European bee-eater ( Merops apiaster Linnaeus, 1758; Coraciiformes: Meropidae) is known as a bee-... more European bee-eater ( Merops apiaster Linnaeus, 1758; Coraciiformes: Meropidae) is known as a bee-predator, but its food spectrum is variable and depends on the current supply. This is the first study focused on the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as important prey in the diet of the European bee-eater. In 2017, 9,604 insect prey was obtained from pellets gained from two colonies breeding: (1) underground of a grazed sand dune (Radvaň nad Dunajom) and (2) in the sandy wall (Gabčíkovo) without pasture, both in southern Slovakia. Five ant taxa were identified, the list of ants in the bee-eater’s diet was expanded by three taxa Lasius sp., Camponotus vagus (Scopoli, 1763) and Liometopum microcephalum (Panzer, 1798). In summary, ants represent the second most abundant family (12.35 %) of total prey. Compared to adults, nestlings (15.04 %) ate significantly more ants than adults (10.97 %). To study the ants’ composition in the diet of bee-eater near to different types of habitats, the pellets of nestlings were chosen because they more accurately reflect the sources of insect during the breeding season. Differences in the feeding of the European bee-eater nestlings between the grazed and the non-grazed locality were confirmed, where Lasius sp. and Tetramorium sp. highly correlated with grazing site. Moreover, nestlings ate significantly more ants in the area, where an open habitat was managed by grazing (6.55 vs. 15.04 %). The presented research indicates the importance of traditional pastures in the country for ants and also for bee-eaters. These ecosystem engineers are likely to find more microhabitats on the pastures, which has also been reflected in the diet of the nestlings breeding on the grazed site.
Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) is a natural pathogen that infects murid rodents which serve ... more Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) is a natural pathogen that infects murid rodents which serve as hosts for Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes ricinus ticks. For the first time, MHV-68 was detected in immature I. ricinus ticks feeding on lizards trapped in Slovakia. Later on, MHV-68 infection was detected in D. reticulatus and Haemaphysalis concinna ticks collected on vegetation, which supported the idea that ticks can acquire the virus from feeding on infected hosts. Here, we report MHV-68 infection, which was detected by nested PCR, in D. reticulatus and I. ricinus adult ticks and I. ricinus nymphs collected in five geographically isolated localities, in west, southwest, south and central Slovakia. Viral incidence in ticks was 46.7% (121/259) without considering the season, site of collection and tick species and their life stage. MHV-68 infection was detected in all five localities investigated and in both tick species. Here, for the first time, we report MHV-68 infection in I. ricinus nymphs collected from the vegetation. The finding of virus in ticks from five separated localities suggested that ticks became infected with MHV-68 via feeding on infected rodents; thus, this virus might be a newfound natural pathogen in ticks.
Environmental factors related to climate change can directly influence the spatial patterns of in... more Environmental factors related to climate change can directly influence the spatial patterns of insect distribution, including many “southern” elements in mild climate ecosystems. This paper deals with potential infiltration of thermophilous
In January 2014, the first ever comprehensive winter census of the Whitetailed Eagle Haliaeetus a... more In January 2014, the first ever comprehensive winter census of the Whitetailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla along the Danube River was conducted, using mostly point and transect counts. Altogether, 550-700 eagles were counted. The upper range of the estimate may in fact be more realistic because 615 km of the Danube were not surveyed. Birds were observed in every country along the Danube. Hotspots of occurrences were (1) the Central Danube floodplains - the area encompassing the lower Hungarian section (Danube- Drava National Park), Kopački rit Nature Park (Croatia), and the Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve (Serbia); and (2) the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. According to the Action Plan for the conservation of the White-tailed Eagle along the Danube, future winter counts should be made regularly, and lower variation in the resulting eagle numbers achieved by a higher degree of synchronization between individual countries. This study reinforces the importance of protected are...
Coraciiform birds hoopoe (Upupa epops), common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and European roller (Co... more Coraciiform birds hoopoe (Upupa epops), common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and European roller (Coracius garrulus) were examined for enterococci in their cloacae and uropygial glands. The enterococcal isolates were identified at the species level using several genomic and proteomic methods, screened for antibiotic susceptibility and genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Clonality of isolates from the common kingfisher was also assessed by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Using selective media, putative enterococcal isolates (n = 117) were recovered from 74 % (32 out of a total of 43) of the bird samples and 114 isolates were confirmed as enterococci. Overall, among the total of 6 different species detected, Enterococcus faecalis was dominant (59 %) in all three bird species. The second most frequently isolated species was Enterococcus casseliflavus (32 %). PFGE revealed great diversity of strains from different bird species and anatomic location. Closely related strains were found only from nestlings from the same nest. No genes conferring resistance to vancomycin (vanA, vanB, vanC1 and van C2/C3) or erythromycin (erm A, ermB and mefA/E) were detected. MLST analysis and eBURST clustering revealed that sequence types of E. faecalis from the common kingfisher were identical to those of isolates found previously in water, chickens, and humans.
Data in this report were synchronously sampled by experienced voluntary observers from stationary... more Data in this report were synchronously sampled by experienced voluntary observers from stationary points on January 28, 2012 since 9:00 till 14:00. Census was realized in favourable weather conditions with good visibility. Points were distributed along Danube banks (river km 1863-1708 with observer-free gaps between rkm 1740-1729 and rkm 1722-1716) and dikes of Gabčíkovo hydro power plant (GHPP) storage lake and head-and tail-water canal in pattern providing optimal range of vision from each point. In Danube river sections and water bodies of GHPP were recorded 42 individuals of White-tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758)) (from that 9 adults and 15 juvenils/subadults). Sites with the highest concentration of wintering population were river sections of the Danube river at rkm 1821-1835 (16 eagles-4 adults, 7 juvenils/subadults; observed 2 soaring groups of 10 and 4 individuals), rkm 1756-1750 (8 eagles-2 adults, 4 juvenils/subadults; observed soaring group of 6 ind...
Data on wintering population of white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla Linnaeus, 1758) pres... more Data on wintering population of white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla Linnaeus, 1758) presented in this report were synchronously sampled by experienced voluntary observers from 50 stationary points on 26.
European bee-eater ( Merops apiaster Linnaeus, 1758; Coraciiformes: Meropidae) is known as a bee-... more European bee-eater ( Merops apiaster Linnaeus, 1758; Coraciiformes: Meropidae) is known as a bee-predator, but its food spectrum is variable and depends on the current supply. This is the first study focused on the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as important prey in the diet of the European bee-eater. In 2017, 9,604 insect prey was obtained from pellets gained from two colonies breeding: (1) underground of a grazed sand dune (Radvaň nad Dunajom) and (2) in the sandy wall (Gabčíkovo) without pasture, both in southern Slovakia. Five ant taxa were identified, the list of ants in the bee-eater’s diet was expanded by three taxa Lasius sp., Camponotus vagus (Scopoli, 1763) and Liometopum microcephalum (Panzer, 1798). In summary, ants represent the second most abundant family (12.35 %) of total prey. Compared to adults, nestlings (15.04 %) ate significantly more ants than adults (10.97 %). To study the ants’ composition in the diet of bee-eater near to different types of habitats, the pellets of nestlings were chosen because they more accurately reflect the sources of insect during the breeding season. Differences in the feeding of the European bee-eater nestlings between the grazed and the non-grazed locality were confirmed, where Lasius sp. and Tetramorium sp. highly correlated with grazing site. Moreover, nestlings ate significantly more ants in the area, where an open habitat was managed by grazing (6.55 vs. 15.04 %). The presented research indicates the importance of traditional pastures in the country for ants and also for bee-eaters. These ecosystem engineers are likely to find more microhabitats on the pastures, which has also been reflected in the diet of the nestlings breeding on the grazed site.
Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) is a natural pathogen that infects murid rodents which serve ... more Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) is a natural pathogen that infects murid rodents which serve as hosts for Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes ricinus ticks. For the first time, MHV-68 was detected in immature I. ricinus ticks feeding on lizards trapped in Slovakia. Later on, MHV-68 infection was detected in D. reticulatus and Haemaphysalis concinna ticks collected on vegetation, which supported the idea that ticks can acquire the virus from feeding on infected hosts. Here, we report MHV-68 infection, which was detected by nested PCR, in D. reticulatus and I. ricinus adult ticks and I. ricinus nymphs collected in five geographically isolated localities, in west, southwest, south and central Slovakia. Viral incidence in ticks was 46.7% (121/259) without considering the season, site of collection and tick species and their life stage. MHV-68 infection was detected in all five localities investigated and in both tick species. Here, for the first time, we report MHV-68 infection in I. ricinus nymphs collected from the vegetation. The finding of virus in ticks from five separated localities suggested that ticks became infected with MHV-68 via feeding on infected rodents; thus, this virus might be a newfound natural pathogen in ticks.
Environmental factors related to climate change can directly influence the spatial patterns of in... more Environmental factors related to climate change can directly influence the spatial patterns of insect distribution, including many “southern” elements in mild climate ecosystems. This paper deals with potential infiltration of thermophilous
In January 2014, the first ever comprehensive winter census of the Whitetailed Eagle Haliaeetus a... more In January 2014, the first ever comprehensive winter census of the Whitetailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla along the Danube River was conducted, using mostly point and transect counts. Altogether, 550-700 eagles were counted. The upper range of the estimate may in fact be more realistic because 615 km of the Danube were not surveyed. Birds were observed in every country along the Danube. Hotspots of occurrences were (1) the Central Danube floodplains - the area encompassing the lower Hungarian section (Danube- Drava National Park), Kopački rit Nature Park (Croatia), and the Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve (Serbia); and (2) the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. According to the Action Plan for the conservation of the White-tailed Eagle along the Danube, future winter counts should be made regularly, and lower variation in the resulting eagle numbers achieved by a higher degree of synchronization between individual countries. This study reinforces the importance of protected are...
Coraciiform birds hoopoe (Upupa epops), common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and European roller (Co... more Coraciiform birds hoopoe (Upupa epops), common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and European roller (Coracius garrulus) were examined for enterococci in their cloacae and uropygial glands. The enterococcal isolates were identified at the species level using several genomic and proteomic methods, screened for antibiotic susceptibility and genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Clonality of isolates from the common kingfisher was also assessed by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Using selective media, putative enterococcal isolates (n = 117) were recovered from 74 % (32 out of a total of 43) of the bird samples and 114 isolates were confirmed as enterococci. Overall, among the total of 6 different species detected, Enterococcus faecalis was dominant (59 %) in all three bird species. The second most frequently isolated species was Enterococcus casseliflavus (32 %). PFGE revealed great diversity of strains from different bird species and anatomic location. Closely related strains were found only from nestlings from the same nest. No genes conferring resistance to vancomycin (vanA, vanB, vanC1 and van C2/C3) or erythromycin (erm A, ermB and mefA/E) were detected. MLST analysis and eBURST clustering revealed that sequence types of E. faecalis from the common kingfisher were identical to those of isolates found previously in water, chickens, and humans.
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