Oecologia Montana

Concentration of chemical elements in Carpathian snowbell (Soldanella carpatica), Javorová Valley, the Tatra Mountains

G. Zatkalíková — 2024-06-30

This study deals with the investigation of concentrations of biogenic and potentially toxic chemical elements in a Western Carpathian, alpine endemic species - the Carpathian snowbell (Soldanella carpatica) - which was collected for two years in the Javorová Valley in the High Tatras. High mountain plants can be an indicator of environmental pollution and the distribution of pollutants in the atmosphere, as high mountain ranges are often a conﬂuence for pollutants accumulated and transported in the atmosphere. To understand the functioning of pollutant uptake and distribution in the selected species, S. carpatica, an understanding of nutrient uptake and accumulation is also necessary, as both types of chemical elements usually interact with each other, either in their distribution in the environment or directly in their uptake by plants. We found that biogenic elements in S. carpatica are distributed and accumulated fairly evenly in all plant organs, whereas potential pollutants are accumulated mainly in the root and sometimes to a lesser extent in the stem. Changes in the concentrations of chemical elements in S. carpatica were heavily inﬂuenced by changes in location and altitude as well as by seasonal changes, contrarily to biogenic elements and potential pollutants.

Comparison of ventral spotting in Bombina variegata between northern Slovakian localities

A. Zakharova — 2024-06-30

A comparison of ventral spotting of the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) was investigated in four localities (Kysucká vrchovina, Spišská Magura, Spišsko-šarišské medzihorie and Bukovské vrchy). The research complements previous results from 2014 and 2022 with the addition of new samples from 2022 and 2023. The resulting patterns were evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) and differences between territories were examined. The most signifcant factors were related to spotting or morphology of individuals. The frst component (PC1) is related to melanism, to which the variables characterising spotting contribute signifcantly. Individuals from the Spišsko-Sarišské medzihorie region had the darkest overall colour (most patches, high proportion of B/Y, etc.). The second signifcant component (PC2) is related to the size of individuals. Size differentiation of B. variegata (PC2) showed signifcant differences between individuals from different areas. Individuals from Spišská Magura were larger than individuals from other regions. PC3 defnes the size of spots; our fndings revealed signifcant regional differences. The largest spots were observed in the Spiš-Šariš population. We did not evaluate PC4 further due to image processing errors which were considered to be methodological error. PC5 represents the number of dark patches. Individuals from Spišská Magura showed a higher number of dark patches than other populations. PC6 is related to variation in hind leg length. This means that it is also related to the size of individuals. Similarly, individuals from Spišská Magura were larger. As abdominal spotting is an aposematic colouration, playing a role in deterring predators but also in camouﬂage and sexual selection, these variations may represent local adaptations of the species. Individual size may correspond to differences in habitat quality, resource availability or other ecological factors affecting growth.

Diet analysis of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) in the Western Carpathians

A. Trabalíková — 2024-06-30

The research was focused on diet preferences of the grey wolf (Canis lupus). This involved analysis of scat and microscopic identification of prey based on hair patterns found in the scat. The collection of scat samples for diet was carried out in the High Tatras, but samples were also collected from the Low Tatras. Our diet analysis also confirmed trends in the wolf diet preferences. The most frequent prey species was the Cervidae group, more specifically the red deer (Cervus elaphus) and the roe deer (Caprelous caprelous), followed by wild boar (Sus scrofa).

Heavy metals in droppings of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) from mountain stream Javorinka, the Tatra Mountains

A. Furendová — 2024-06-30

The research is focuses on the analysis of the content of heavy metals and other elements in the feces of river otter in the Javorinka mountain stream in the High Tatras in Slovakia. The aim of the study is to follow the cycles of concentrations of measured elements such as Hg, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Sb, Ba and Pb in otter feces, with a special focus on heavy metals, which were analysed at two sites, during four seasons and individually in each year. Comparison of the results from the two sites showed an almost twofold increase in the concentrations of the elements Ti, Mn, Fe and Sr at the site with the lower gradient and slower water flow. At the same time, seasonal variations are observed, with some elements such as P, S, Cl and K reaching their highest concentrations in the autumn months, while other elements such as Ti, Mn, Fe and Rb reach their peaks in the summer and autumn months. The concentration of the element Hg has also been found to vary with food availability, especially in the spring season. The average Hg concentrations reached 0.1 mg/kg in otter feces. Inter-annual variations in concentrations of heavy metals such as Hg, Pb, Ba and Cr may be related to a variety of factors including changes in otter diet, fish and otter breeding cycles and geological processes affecting water and sediment in the river. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the ecological stability of upland aquatic ecosystems and to the conservation of endangered species in these environments.

Digital image processing for erythrocyte morphometry

D. Matis — 2024-06-30

This paper presents an approach to erythrocyte morphometry using digital image processing techniques. The aim of the study is to obtain accurate measurements of the dimensions of oval and nucleated avian erythrocytes, including the length, width and perimeter of the cell membrane and nucleus, by automated analysis. The method is species-independent and can be applied to any species. Digital images of blood smears are processed using Fiji software, where the membrane and nuclei are modelled using two ellipses. The ellipse measurements are then collected and further processed to filter out incorrectly detected cells.

Biology of Alpine accentor (Prunella collaris) X. Chronological records of daily activities while breeding

M. Janiga — 2024-06-30

Chronological notes on the daily life of Prunella collaris appear only fragmentary in the literature. During many years of work with this species in the Western Carpathians, some important fragments of the daily chronology of the species have been selected for this paper, which give zoologists, ethologists, parasitologists or even climatologists more detailed insight into how this bird species is adapted to conditions of the high mountains. For example, we have evidence that the transmission of mites, lice or ﬂeas from males to females can take place during nest building, with not only the alpha but also the beta males inspecting the nest for several seconds, even though they are not building the nest. Even during this time, males and females can spend several seconds in the nest cavity. This work also adds to our knowledge of when nesting males are most aggressive and when they increase their feeding intensity on the nestlings in the nest. This occurs before the nestlings emerge from the nest. The work will also provide information on the effect of daily precipitation on nesting and the limiting factor of snowfall. The movement of chicks in the nest has been recorded and the notes contribute to knowledge of how the daily life of this species really pulsates during the breeding season.

Ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus) – a pilot study on climate and habitat change in the Western Carpathians

S. Bureš — 2024-06-30

Habitats in Central European mountains change rapidly owing to warming and habitat changes (often as a result of pasture abandonment). The ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus) is very sensitive to these changes and decline in their abundance was confrmed in western European mountains. However, at this time, there is little data from the Slovak republic. Thus, the study of factors, which limit occurrence and reproduction of this iconic mountain bird species, is necessary. This study provides pilot data for the long-term monitoring of abundance and describes recent hab- itat, pedological and meteorological characteristics in the study areas of Brankov and Smrekovica in the Western Carpathians of Slovakia, which can contribute to a knowledge base for studies in the future.