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In animals, migration is an evolutionary adaptation to manage seasonally varying habitats. Often driven by climatic changes or resource availability, amphibians then migrate from their hibernation sites to their breeding grounds. This research focused on the migratory habits of the Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus). The study explored factors like gender, body size, and environmental determinants, noting that immigration and emigration events proved distinct during the year. Results unveiled that males typically reached ponds first, with temperature being pivotal: males preferred up to 5 °C, females around 10 °C, while juveniles moved as temperatures increase. Wind velocity affected larger newts, around 120 mm, prompting them to migrate with stronger winds. Notably, heavy rainfall favored migration of newts of roughly 60 mm size. Humidity displayed gender-based trends: males associated positively with average levels, females showed aversion above 50%, and juveniles leaned towards drier conditions. Emigration patterns mirrored these findings, emphasizing roles of temperature, wind, and humidity. The effect of moonlight is not statistically significant. These findings provide valuable insights into the environmental factors influencing the migration of T. cristatus, which may guide future conservation efforts.

Small waterbodies like floodplain ponds are considered to be an important component of the global carbon budget. Although they are found in large numbers worldwide and their numbers are increasing every year due to the creation of new ponds, we do not have sufficient data on direct estimates of emission fluxes from these waterbodies yet. Herein, we present results from a set of 24 ponds located in the Morava River floodplain, Czech Republic. The ponds varied in their origin (man-made vs. natural), size, depth, sediment organic matter content, and macrophyte growth. Water chemistry parameters, concentrations, and exchange of CO2 and CH4 with the atmosphere were directly measured during the day and night from spring to summer 2020. The ponds emitted more CO2 and CH4 during nighttime, and both CO2 and, in particular, CH4 emissions tend to increase with the duration of pond inundation. Total diffusive fluxes of CO2 and CH4 into the atmosphere ranged from −37072.9 to 432683.3 μmol m−2 d−1, and −11485.3 to 95,889.6 μmol m−2 day−1, respectively. Generally, all ponds were found to be a net source of CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere. In average, ponds emitted 7.64 g CO2-equivalent m−2 d−1. Thus, our results indicate that floodplain ponds are an important source of both CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere and they should not be omitted in a regional carbon budget.

A crucial aspect of conservation management for endangered newt species is the establishment of a monitoring methodology and the evaluation of trap efficacy to ensure the accuracy of data collection. In this study, we assessed three funnel trap types (prism shape, umbrella shape, and Ortmann's trap) to capture great crested newts (Triturus cristatus). We also tested three baits (chicken liver, chemical lights in glow sticks, and control traps without bait) and determined the optimal trap control time within a 12 h period. Our findings showed that the umbrella shape trap was most effective, catching five times more newts than the Ortmann's and prism shape traps. Surprisingly, the commonly used prism shape trap performed poorly. Bait type did not significantly impact newt captures compared to control traps. During the 12 h experiment, newts spent the longest time in the chicken liver-baited Ortmann's trap (averaging 4.5 h), while the umbrella shape trap with chicken liver bait had the highest turnover of individuals. We observed no behavioural response from “trap-shy” individuals. This study emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate traps, considering bait choice, and trap control time for effective monitoring of endangered newt populations.

Abstract Reproductive isolation barriers maintain the integrity of species by preventing interspecific gene flow. They involve temporal, habitat or behavioral isolation acting before fertilization, and postzygotic isolation manifested as hybrid mortality or sterility. One of the approaches of how to study reproductive isolation barriers is through the analysis of hybrid zones. In this paper, we describe the structure of a hybrid zone between two crested newt species (Triturus cristatus and T. carnifex) in the southern part of the Czech Republic using morphological, microsatellite, and mitochondrial (mtDNA) markers. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that the structure of the hybrid zone is maintained by species‐specific habitat preferences. Comparing the genetic structure of populations with geographical and ecological parameters, we found that the hybrid zone was structured primarily geographically, with T. cristatus‐like populations occurring in the northeast and T. carnifex‐like populations in the southwest. Despite T. cristatus tending to occur in deeper ponds and T. carnifex on localities with more shading, the effect of both ecological parameters on the structure of the zone was minimal. Next, we corroborated that T. carnifex individuals and some hybrids possess mtDNA of T. dobrogicus, whose nuclear background was not detected in the studied hybrid zone. Hybridization between T. carnifex and T. dobrogicus (resulting in unidirectional mtDNA introgression) had to predate subsequent formation of the hybrid zone between T. cristatus and T. carnifex. Populations of crested newts in the southern part of the Czech Republic thus represent a genetic mosaic of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of three species.

Antibiotic resistance has become a global threat in which the anthropogenically influenced aquatic environment represents not only a reservoir for the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) among humans and animals but also an environment where resistance genes are introduced into natural microbial ecosystems. Wastewater is one of the sources of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this research was the evaluation of wastewater impact on the spread of antibiotic resistance in the water environment. In this study, qPCR was used to detect antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs)—blaCTX-M-15, blaCTX-M-32, ampC, blaTEM, sul1, tetM and mcr-1 and an integron detection primer (intl1). Detection of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli was used as a complement to the observed qPCR results. Our results show that the process of wastewater treatment significantly reduces the abundances of ARGs and ARB. Nevertheless, treated wastewater affects the ARGs and ARB number in the receiving river.

Tracking individual animals with small-sized passive integrated transponder tags (PIT tags) has become a popular and widespread method, one which can be used for investigating life history traits, including dispersal patterns of small protected animals such as newts. In this study, we tested the applicability of PIT tag usage for individual marking with the Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) as a model amphibian species, and to test the detection of the newts in nature using a passive telemetry system. Clove oil was used as an anaesthetic before surgery. We implanted PIT tags under the skin of 140 newts. The survival rate of newts was 98.57%. X-ray images were taken to check the exact positions of the PIT tags. Since approximately 15.71% of the newts were capable of expelling the tag from their bodies, tag loss has to be accounted for in future behavioural studies dealing with newts and other amphibians potentially capable of frequent tag expulsion. Lastly, we detected by passive telemetry 97 individuals out of 100 released into a natural breeding pond. Males had higher activity (13 detected males vs 7 females per hour) than females, thus males could be detected if present with more certainty. The result of the movement behaviour showed that e.g. the male of T. cristatus in a breeding pond can travel up to 20 m in 78 seconds. In summary, this promising method could allow the automatic data collection of marked newts in aquatic as well as in terrestrial biotopes, providing data on their dispersal, diurnal activity and movement behaviour.

Morphological abnormalities occur frequently in wild amphibian populations. We analysed malformation and injuries in the hybrid zone of three crested newt species, in the Czech Republic. In total, 274 individuals from 35 localities in South Moravia (Czech Republic) were examined during the period 2010-2014. Malformations were found in eight newts (2.9%) from seven localities. Injuries were recorded on 59 newts (21.5%). Proportions of tail crest injuries was significantly higher (P ˂ 0.1) in males than in females and the probability of being injured was significantly higher (P ˂ 0.01) for adult individuals. We discuss gene mutation, parasitism and predation as possible explanations for our observations.

Methanogenic archaea produce methane as a metabolic product under anoxic conditions and they play a crucial role in the global methane cycle. In this study molecular diversity of methanogenic archaea in the hyporheic sediment of the lowland stream Sitka (Olomouc, Czech Republic) was analyzed by PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing analysis of the methyl coenzyme M reductase alpha subunit (mcrA) gene. Sequencing analysis of 60 clones revealed 24 different mcrA phylotypes from hyporheic sedimentary layers to a depth of 50 cm. Phylotypes were affiliated with Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinales and Methanobacteriales orders. Only one phylotype remains unclassified. The majority of the phylotypes showed higher affiliation with uncultured methanogens than with known methanogenic species. The presence of relatively rich assemblage of methanogenic archaea confirmed that methanogens may be an important component of hyporheic microbial communities and may affect CH4 cycling in rivers.

Po was determined in 24-h urine of seven healthy males from Prague, Czech Republic, for ten consecutive days. The results show that for each volunteer, the urinary excretion of Po changed only little from day to day in the studied time period. For two volunteers, the difference in the daily excreted Po activity for two consecutive days was not significant, given the 95 % confidence interval (two sigma) of the activity measurements. The same is valid for the excretion data of the other volunteers, except for some days where the differences were slightly higher. The range of daily urinary excretion of Po of each volunteer in the studied time period was quite narrow. Among the volunteers, the maximum daily urinary excretion value of Po was at most about a factor of 2.5 higher than the lowest excretion value. An attempt to explain the observed small inter-individual variability of Po excretion in daily urine is made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activity concentrations of 137Cs were detected in more than 400 outer spruce bark samples collected at sites variably affected by Chernobyl fallout across the Czech Republic in 1995 and 2010. The temporal changes in the 137Cs activities were found. The mean effective half-life (T EF) for 137Cs in spruce bark was 9.6 years, and the mean environmental half-life (T E) was 14 years. The effective half-lives were significantly higher in areas with higher long-term annual precipitation sums. Coefficient a in linear regression y = ax + b of half-lives on precipitation sums was 0.015 y mm−1 for T EF and 0.036 y mm−1 for T E. The aggregated transfer factor of 137Cs from soil to bark was determined and the pre-Chernobyl bark contamination related to year 2010 was estimated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reports on results of activity mass concentration analyses performed in various forest mushrooms in the Czech Republic within 1986 and 2011. The estimated effective half-life of 137Cs and its environmental half-life (i.e. the effective half-life minus the effect of physical decay) were found to be 5.6±0.6 and 6.9±0.7 y, respectively. Non-homogeneity in 137Cs surface contamination over the country's territory and fungus species-based 137Cs accumulation capacity then account for a span of up to 4 orders of magnitude in activity mass concentrations measured each year after the Chernobyl accident. The highest geometric activity mass concentration (Bq kg−1 of dry weight) means of 137Cs (obtained from samples between years 2004 and 2011) were measured in Suillaceae (1050 Bq kg−1) and Boletus badius (930 Bq kg−1), the lowest in Agaricus (1 Bq kg−1). The geometric mean of all mushrooms amounted to 230 Bq kg−1, being 440 Bq kg−1 in Boletales, 150 Bq kg−1 in Russulales and 21 Bq kg−1 in Agaricales. Geometric standard deviation levels were generally high. The highest Cs accumulation capacity was observed in Boletales (namely in Suillaceae), while the lowest in Agaricales, being over 3 orders of magnitude lower than in Suillaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The 137Cs specific activities (mean 32Bqkg−1) were determined in spruce bark samples that had been collected at 192 sampling plots throughout the Czech Republic in 1995, and were related to the sampling year. The 137Cs specific activities in spruce bark correlated significantly with the 137Cs depositions in areas affected by different precipitation sums operating at the time of the Chernobyl fallout in 1986. The ratio of the 137Cs specific activities in bark and of the 137Cs deposition levels yielded bark aggregated transfer factor Tag about 10.5×10−3 m−2 kg−1. Taking into account the residual specific activities of 137Cs in bark 20Bqkg−1 and the available pre-Chernobyl data on the 137Cs deposition loads on the soil surface in the Czech Republic, the real aggregated transfer factor after and before the Chernobyl fallout proved to be T*ag =3.3×10−3 m−2 kg−1 and T**ag =4.0×10−3 m−2 kg−1, respectively. The aggregated transfer factors T*ag for 137Cs and spruce bark did not differ significantly in areas unequally affected by the 137Cs fallout in the Czech Republic in 1986, and the figures for these aggregated transfer factors were very similar to the mean bark Tag values published from the extensively affected areas near Chernobyl. The magnitude of the 137Cs aggregated transfer factors for spruce bark for the pre-Chernobyl and post-Chernobyl period in the Czech Republic was also very similar. The variability in spruce bark acidity caused by the operation of local anthropogenic air pollution sources did not significantly influence the accumulation and retention of 137Cs in spruce bark. Increasing elevation of the bark sampling plots had a significant effect on raising the remaining 137Cs specific activities in bark in areas affected by precipitation at the time when the plumes crossed, because the sums of this precipitation increased with elevation (covariable). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Carbon-14 is a radionuclide with global occurrence and partly natural origin. The main anthropogenic sources of the 14C were the nuclear weapon tests, namely at the beginning of the 1960s, nowadays the nuclear energy facilities are the main sources. Maximum in the atmospheric 14C activity was observed in 1963. In the following years the considerable 14C activity decrease was due to intensive carbon deposition into oceanic water and sediments particularly. At present the 14C activity approximates the level before nuclear age, corresponding to ∼0 ‰ Δ14C. Another actual type of anthropogenic influence is the Suess effect, i.e., the dilution of 14C by fossil carbon (fuel combustion). This effect causes a decrease of the 14C activity on a global, regional and local scale. Thus, monitoring of actual reference level of 14C activity gives a possibility to indicate local or global anthropogenic influences. This paper reporting data from the atmospheric 14CO2 monitoring in the Czech Republic and Hungary compares the actual results with other European countries. The observed effects connected with local and regional CO2 releases from fossil fuel combustion are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane (CH 4) is an important atmospheric trace gas mostly released from wet anoxic soils and sediments. While many studies have focused on relatively homogenous environments like rice fields and lake sediments, the changing contribution of heterogeneous sediments e.g. along the longitudinal profile of a rivers has not been covered very frequently. Here we investigated sediment samples from 11 locations of the Elbe River. Sediments were incubated to measure methanogenic/methanotrophic potentials and contribution of individual methanogenic pathways using isotope analysis of δ13C. Additionally, we determined the diversity of the methanogenic communities (analysis of T-RFLP targeting the mcr-A gene in the sediment samples), while abundances of archaea, methanogens and methanotrophs were determined by qPCR. The CH 4 production was detected in six samples (out of 11 examined) and ranged from 0.12 to 644.72 nmol gDW−1 d−1. Methanotrophy was found in all examined sediment samples and ranged from 654 to 10,875 nmol gDW−1 d−1. Abundance of methanogens and methanotrophs (Mcr-A and pmo-A gene copy numbers) was not significantly different and quite stable around 106 to 107 copies gDW−1. The group specific qPCR showed high fluctuations, while the highest counts were reported for Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinales (105 to 108 copies per gram dry sediment), followed by Methanobacteriales (103 to 105 copies per gram dry sediment). A significant proportion of unidentified methanogens was found in almost every locality. Isotope analysis of δ13C showed that (CH 4) is produced mainly by hydrogenotrophic methanogens. We see no trend in the studied parameters along the Elbe River. The molecular data showed no spatial characteristics, while we found hotspots of the measured CH 4 processes (CH 4 production and oxidation) due to other local driving factors (e.g. carbon content). Thus, out results indicate that the observed variability of the CH 4 production and oxidation rates is only indirectly linked to the presence or quantities of different microbial guilds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work presents the results of 137Cs content long-term monitoring (1986–2007) in selected groups of foodstuffs. The data in the period of 1992–2007 were roughly log-normally distributed (beef, pork, milk). The more detailed statistical evaluation in this period of time was performed. Maximum likelihood method was used for estimation of the mean values. Several methods for decreasing the detection limits of 137Cs (detector efficiency, sample preparation, counting containers) are listed and compared. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Agricultural lands with farm animals (e.g. cattle) can be significantly affected by radioactive contamination following nuclear or radiation accidents. In order to optimise the techniques for measuring 137Cs in contaminated cattle, selected radiation detectors have been tested and calibrated using volumetric radiation sources. In addition, a mathematical phantom of a cow was created within Monte Carlo simulations. The main aim of the research was to propose a method for making rapid measurements of 137Cs in cattle in vivo/in situ and to select the most suitable measurement set-up. Measurements of contaminated cattle in vivo were carried out in Belarus with one selected detector, and were then compared with measurements of meat in a laboratory and with measurements of a control group of cows. The proposed measurement method was also tested on measurements of 137Cs in wild boars in Czechia with higher levels of the 137Cs activity., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Aggregated transfer factors (T ag ) were identified for three common vegetables grown in six common European soils freshly contaminated by 134 Cs and 85 Sr. The experiment was carried out as a mesocosm experiment in pots with an average soil weight of 15.8 kg per pot. The vegetables were grown one after the other during one vegetation season, in the order lettuce, onion, and radish (the order usually applied in private gardens and small farms). Despite the fact that lettuce was grown in the most contaminated soil, it had the lowest T ag (in m 2 /kg) of both radionuclides (3.6E-4 for Cs, 2.0E-2 for Sr), while onion had 6.4E-3 for Cs and 3.2E-2 for Sr and radish had 1.9E-3 for Cs and 8.1E-2 for Sr. Potassium supply did not show any statistically significant effect on Cs T ag ; there was a significant impact of K on the decrease in Sr T ag . The experiments indicated that T ag is more affected by plant species than by soil type; therefore, selection of plants with a lower capacity to uptake radionuclides may be an important measure to reduce food contamination and thus minimize the committed effective dose., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)