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Parasites may negatively affect hosts condition, especially when infection intensity is high. Species introduced to a new habitat are often less exposed to a parasite pressure but may accumulate parasites in time. American mink (Neovison vison) introduced to Europe, Asia, and South America is an example of such invasive species. We analysed nematode prevalence and digestive tract infection intensity in 796 feral American mink from Poland. The analyses were performed separately for stomach, duodenum, small intestine and large intestine. Parasite species identification was performed using molecular methods based on highly conserved nuclear 18S rRNA gene and supplemented with morphological analysis. In total, we collected 26,852 nematodes and 98.6% of them were isolated from mink stomachs. We found positive association between infection intensity in stomach and other parts of digestive tract. Nematode prevalence was estimated at 63.8% and average infection intensity per one American mink at 52.9 (range from 1 to 1118). If the stomach results were theoretically and intentionally omitted the prevalence was 5 times lower (12.7%) and infection intensity 14 times lower (3.7; range 1–50). We identified two nematode species in digestive tracts of American mink: Aonchotheca putorii and Molineus patens. The 18S rRNA gene sequence of Molineus patens has been reported for the first time. The results showed that Aonchotheca putorii is a dominating nematode in the invasive American mink and that it inhabits stomach intensively and preferably., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Parasitic infection monitoring in the wild is the important indicator of the population condition. • Aonchotheca putorii is a dominating nematode in the invasive American mink. • Aonchotheca putorii inhabits mink stomach intensively and preferably. • Molecular identification of Molineus patens has been reported for the first time. • The importance of using of the whole digestive tract in parasitological monitoring has been emphasized.

Lethal carnivore management is a prevailing strategy to reduce livestock predation. Intensity of lethal management varies according to land-use, where carnivores are more intensively hunted on farms relative to reserves. Variations in hunting intensity may result in the formation of a source-sink system where carnivores disperse from high-density to low-density areas. Few studies quantify dispersal between supposed sources and sinks-a fundamental requirement for source-sink systems. We used the black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) as a model to determine if heterogeneous anthropogenic mortality induces a source-sink system. We analysed 12 microsatellite loci from 554 individuals from lightly hunted and previously unhunted reserves, as well as heavily hunted livestock- and game farms. Bayesian genotype assignment showed that jackal populations displayed a hierarchical population structure. We identified two genetically distinct populations at the regional level and nine distinct subpopulations at the local level, with each cluster corresponding to distinct land-use types separated by various dispersal barriers. Migration, estimated using Bayesian multilocus genotyping, between reserves and farms was asymmetric and heterogeneous anthropogenic mortality induced source-sink dynamics via compensatory immigration. Additionally some heavily hunted populations also acted as source populations, exporting individuals to other heavily hunted populations. This indicates that heterogeneous anthropogenic mortality results in the formation of a complex series of interconnected sources and sinks. Thus, lethal management of mesopredators may not be an effective long-term strategy in reducing livestock predation, as dispersal and, more importantly, compensatory immigration may continue to affect population reduction efforts as long as dispersal from other areas persists.

To investigate genetic diversity and the population structure of the European moose (Alces alces), we analyzed 14 microsatellite loci for 694 samples collected across 16 localities. The highest genetic diversity was detected in Belarus and Russia and the lowest was found in Scandinavia. Two major genetic clusters existed, Scandinavian and continental, and some further spatial structure was detected. There was high concordance between the spatial distribution of microsatellite clusters analyzed in the present study and previously recognized mitochondrial DNA clades of moose. The split of genetic lineages calculated using approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) occurred at the beginning of the Last Glacial Maximum: approximately 29 000 and 28 000 years BP. A range-wide bottleneck detected by ABC took place 1800–1200 years BP, although a more recent decline in moose numbers was also documented in the 18th to early 20th Century. Genetic differentiation in European moose increased with geographical distance, and the Baltic Sea appeared to be a barrier to gene flow. We conclude that isolation in different glacial refugia, postglacial colonization, and declines of range and numbers in Holocene shaped the present pattern of genetic diversity of European moose. Based on genetic divergence and a lack of apparent gene flow, the contemporary Scandinavian and continental subpopulations should be treated as separate management units.

W literaturze starożytnej obecne są dwa, biegunowo odmienne, motywy podania o Cyklopie: epicki, znany z IX ks. Odysei, przywołany później i poddany modyfikacji przez Eurypidesa w dramacie satyrowym Cyklop oraz liryczno-erotyczny spopularyzowany przez Teokryta w XI sielance, Skargi Cyklopa. Wersję Teokryta rozbudował Owidiusz w XIII ks. Metamorfoz. Pomostem między obydwoma wariantami mitycznymi jest tzw. dytyramb Filoksenosa z Kytery. Mit Polifema, głównie w postaci, jaką nadał mu Owidiusz, przewija się przez hiszpański wiek XVI aż do początku kolejnego stulecia, znajdując wielu naśladowców i tłumaczy. Pod koniec XVI wieku sięga do niego również Lope de Vega w powieści pasterskiej La Arcadia (1598), nadając mu formę tradycyjnej hiszpańskiej strofy romance. Mit stanowi odbicie historii będącej przedmiotem narracji, wzbogacając powieść o elementy perspektywy autobiograficznej. W Fábula de Polifemo (1612) Luisa de Góngory mit ulega całkowitej transformacji. W jego interpretacji przeważają barokowe kontrasty i hiperbola. Struktura dzieła oparta jest na zbieżności przeciwieństw: potworności Polifema i piękna Galatei. Mit staje się też okazją do transpozycji koncepcji piękna, wywodzącej się od petrarkizmu: obserwować można dominantę planu metaforycznego, zastępującego elementy rzeczywistości.

Publikacja jest zbiorem artykułów eksplorujących relacje między dziennikarstwem a literaturą z różnych perspektyw i w różnych obszarach językowych. Wobec postępującej w ostatnich dziesięcioleciach kontaminacji między dziennikarstwem a literaturą autorzy tekstów pochylają się nad historycznymi związkami między badanymi dziedzinami (począwszy od starożytności do czasów najbardziej współczesnych), stawiają pytania dotyczące kontekstów kulturowych determinujących badaną ekspresję, przyglądają się typowym dla niej środkom wyrazu, wychwytują nieuniknioną hybrydyzację form oraz kreślą sylwetki konkretnych dziennikarzy-pisarzy. Wartością dodaną jest zderzenie perspektyw badawczych w odniesieniu do różnych kręgów kulturowych (hiszpański, latynoamerykański, francuski, bułgarski, polski, amerykański, angielski, germański, klasyczny, włoski). Takie ujęcie prowadzi do wieloaspektowej problematyzacji niezwykle aktualnego wymiaru współczesnej kultury. Najstarsze greckie świadectwa literackie nie potwierdzają trenodycznego charakteru elegii. W zachowanym dorobku archaicznych poetów znajdują się utwory o tematyce bitewnej, miłosnej, parenetycznej, dydaktycznej, filozoficznej. W tę różnorodność treściową wpisuje się elegia publicystyczna Solona. Jego twórczość poetycka w głównej mierze jest związana z aktywnością w życiu społeczno-politycznym Aten VII/VI wieku p.n.e. Część wprowadzonych przez Solona reform, zmierzających do likwidacji głębokiego kryzysu wewnętrznego ateńskiej polis, nie spotkało się z akceptacją grup społecznych zaangażowanych w konflikt. Twórczość poetycka, w tym także elegijna, tego męża stanu stała się polem publicystycznej dyskusji z przeciwnikami politycznymi, a jego utwory instrumentem propagandy społecznej. The earliest texts written in ancient Greek language do not confirm mourning character of ancient elegy. Among the oldest surviving works of archaic period poets there are texts that focus on military, amatory, parenetic, didactic or philosophical themes. Solon’s works on social and political subjects may be also included in that miscellany of issues. Solon’s literary works result from his active participation within political and social community of Athens in the VII-VI centuries B. C. Some of his reforms to legislate against political, economic, and moral decline in archaic polis failed in the short term as they were not approved by the Athenians engaged in the conflict. Therefore his poetry became a way to defend his constitutional, economic and moral reforms and beliefs against political opponents. Thus, Solon’s elegy may be regarded an instrument of social and political discussion written not for pleasure but rather as patriotic propaganda.

De similitudinibus ad structuram pertinentibus inter Orationem Dominicam Evangelio secundum Mathaeum insertam ac frequentes in litteris Graecorum antiquorum preces ad deos disputatur. Cum supplicationes litterariae investigatae olim essent a K. Ausfeldo, demonstratum est eas plena forma ex partibus tribus constare, quas ille vir doctus invocationem, partem mediam et preces ipsas nominavit descripsitque. In Oratione Dominica eiusmodi elementa structurae inveniri possunt: Pater noster, qui es in caelis congruit ad invocationem cum epithetis laudantibus. Tres supplicationes sequentes quoque laudationis species putentur. Orationes a versu 11 ad finem consentiunt cum parte, quae preces ipsae vocatur. Versus autem sicut et nos dimmittimus debitoribus nostris, qui in formam dimismus corrigendus est, parti mediae responere potest.

Chromosome and allozyme variation of the common shrew was studied in three different habitats (dry meadows, wet sedge bogs, and floodplain forest) at Bialowieza, north-eastern Poland. Five karyomorphs of three polymorphic chromosome arm combinations, jl, gr, and mp, were found. There were clear differences in the frequency of the twin-acrocentric morphs between habitats. The frequency of the acrocentrics j and I was higher in dry meadows than in wet sedge bogs and in floodplain forest. In the case of two other polymorphic pairs, gr and mp, acrocentrics were found only in wet sedge bogs and in floodplain forest. Acrocentrics m and p occurred most often in floodplain forest. Of the 27 allozyme loci studied, 11 showed clear electrophoretic polymorphism. The mean number of alleles per locus and the percentage of polymorphic loci were higher in samples from floodplain forest than those in samples from dry meadows and wet sedge bogs. Analysis of F-statistics indicated significant differentiation for shrews among all samples from different habitats. It can be supposed that chromosome and allozyme polymorphisms in the common shrew are related to environmental heterogeneity. It is also suggested that random factors may influence changes in frequencies of acrocentric chromosomes and alleles in the population studied.

Inbreeding is an increasing problem in farmed mink, because of limited exchange of individuals between farms. In this study, genetic relatedness within seven American mink (Neovison vison) colour strains originating from 13 different mink farms in Denmark was analysed using 21 polymorphic microsatellite loci. We detected large differences in the level of relatedness (range 0.017-0.520) within colour strains. Moreover, a very strong and highly significant negative correlation between the level of relatedness and fecundity was observed (r = 0.536, P < 0.001) [Correction added after online publication on 9 March 2011: r(2) has been changed to r]. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such a correlation has been demonstrated for commercially farmed mink.

Wojcik J. M., Bogdanowicz W., Pucek Z., Wojcik A. M. and Zalewska H. 2000. Morphometric variation of the common shrew Sorex araneus in Poland, in relation to karyotype. [In: Evolution in the Sorex araneus group: Cytogenetic and molecular aspects. J. B. Searle and J. M. Wojcik, eds]. Acta Theriologica 45, Suppl. 1: 161-172. Morphometric differentiation among six chromosome races of the common shrew Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758 in Poland was examined by the use of 26 orthogonal mandibular measurements in 388 specimens. The discriminant function analysis (DFA) performed on 21 morphological variables led to a correct classification in 59.3% of cases. Comparison of morphological and chromosomal distances showed that there is no significant agreement; the two matrices were apparently discordant (cophenetic correlation coefficient, rcoph = 0.216, p > 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that 9.9% of the total morphological variance could be explained by eight geoclimatic variables. The DFA of residuals, remaining after regression of the morphological variables by the geoclimatic ones, let to correct assignment of only 26.3% specimens. Our research revealed that karyotypic divergence plays no important part in differentiating mandibular morphology in chromosome races of S. araneus, and morphological differences cannot be treated as a by-product of chromosomal speciation.

Four species of shrews from the Bialowieza Primeval Forest, eastern Poland, were analyzed electrophoretically: Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758, Sorex minutus Linnaeus, 1766, Neomys anomalus Cabrera, 1907, and Neomys fodiens (Pennant, 1771). Two of the 25 loci studied were monomorphic for the same allele in all species, nine loci were monomorphic for the same allele in both Sorex species and an alternate allele was fixed in the two species of Neomys . Only one locus ( Pgm-3 ) was diagnostic with a different allele in all species. The mean heterozygosity values in S. araneus and N. fodiens (0.069 and 0.061) were significantly higher than those in S. minutus and N. anomalus (0.021 and 0.029). The Nei's genetic distances were small between the two Neomys species (0.123) and between the two Sorex species (0.330). The highest Nei's distance was found between S. minutus and N. anomalus (2.487).

Cum fabulae satyricae nomen suum a choro satyrorum, quorum natura ad sexum conciliata semper hominibus in mentem veniebat, accepissent, materia sexualis in dramatibus invenienda erat. Notandum est choreutis unicum vestimentum peridzoma cum magno pene a fronte fuisse. Qua de causa iam imago speciesque participum chori obscoena fuisse videbatur. At in hac disputatione de lascivia et iocis sexualibus textis fabularum insertis narratur. Exempla a fragmentibus Dictyulcorum et Amymonae Aeschyli, Achillis amatores Sophoclis atque Sylei et Cyclopis Euripidis deducta quo modo tres tragici materia sexuali uti sint ad lusum hilarem construendum demonstrant.

To be effective, management programmes geared towards halting or reversing the spread of invasive species must focus on defined and defensible areas. This requires knowledge of the dispersal of non-native species targeted for control to better understand invasion and recolonisation scenarios. We investigated the genetic structure of invasive American mink (Neovison vison) in Scotland, and incorporated landscape genetic approaches to examine resultant patterns in relation to geographical features that may influence dispersal. Populations of mink sampled from 10 sites in two regions (Argyll and Northeast Scotland) show a distinct genetic structure. First, the majority of pairwise population comparisons yielded F(ST) values that were significantly greater than zero. Second, AMOVA revealed that most of the genetic variance was attributable to differences among regions. Assignment tests placed 89 or more of individuals into their sampled region. Bayesian clustering methods grouped samples into two clusters according to their region of origin. Wombling approach identified the Cairngorms Mountains as a major impediment to gene flow between the regions. Mantel pairwise correlations between genetic and geographical distances estimated as least-cost distance assuming a linear increase in the cost of movement with increasing elevation were higher than Euclidean distances or distance along waterways. Spatial autocorrelation analyses revealed stronger spatial structuring for females than for males. These results suggest that gene flow by American mink is restricted by landscape features (mountain ranges) and that eradication attempt should in the first instance break down the connectivity between management units separated by mountains.

After observing the nonspecific expression of the alpha S1 casein gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of goats, we continued to trace illegitimate gene-expression patterns in mammals. Six mammalian species (Bos taurus, Capra hircus, Ovis aries, Equus caballus, Sus scrofa, and Bison bonasus) were analyzed for the presence of kappa casein in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and Ficoll-isolated lymphocytes. To detect potential relationships between the expression pattern and reproductive status of the individual, the animals within species represented different sex, age, and physiological status (immature and reproducing males; immature, pregnant, lactating, and sterile females). Species-specific primers were designed for the two-step post reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction. The products were sequenced and a Blast search performed. Transcripts of kappa casein were successfully detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and lymphocytes of three of the species (goat, cow, and European bison). The presence of the transcripts was unrelated to sex, physiological status, or age of the animals.

Non est dubium,quin IV hymnum Homericus in Mercurium atque Indagatores Sophoclis veterrima servata exemplaria fabularum de pueritia Mercurii sint.In disputatione igitur de similitudinibus et diferentiis inter utrumque opus atque inter alia litterarum testimonia tractatur, ut eo modo demonstrari possit Sophoclen Hymnum Homericum non solum nosse sed etiam imitatum esse.

In disputatione opinio ad origines fabularum satyricarum pertinens, quae contra sententias doctissimorum virum resistit, continetur.

The genetic diversity of feral and ranch American mink was studied in order to detect gene flux among rivers, investigate the processes of invasion, and determine the possible effects of river barriers. Tissue samples of 78 feral American mink from 5 different river catchments and 18 ranch mink, collected between 2007 and 2011 in Biscay, northern Spain, were genotyped at 21 microsatellite loci. Lack of genetic differentiation of feral mink among the sites and high differentiation between feral and ranch mink was suggested. These results confirm that the mink population established on Butron River at the beginning of the 1990s may be the origin of almost all the feral mink population within the study area. Additionally, the occurrence of American and European mink was used to analyse the effect of fragmentation on the population viability. The size and composition of the home range of male European mink was considered to model minimum viable units for presence/absence. Forty-two minimum viable units were randomly distributed among rivers in order to analyse the effect of fragmentation on mink occurrence. Barriers were mapped and classified as slight, moderate or absolute, depending on the effect on mink movement, and were introduced into the models. The presence of European and American mink depended on the non-fragmented main river stretches and the number of tributaries free from barriers. Results showed that fragmented rivers can be temporarily occupied but the likelihood of death means that these areas are only sink patches for mink.