Dynamics of Numbers and Occurrence of Colonial Species of Birds in the Area of Ukrainian Antarctic Station Akademik Vernadsky

The research covers water area, island archipelagos and coastal line of the Antarctic Peninsula from 65°31ʹ S, 64°25ʹ W in the South to 65°03ʹ S, 63°53ʹ W in the North. There was time gap of 7 years between the researches (2011 and 2018), which allows to define tendencies in development of individual colonies and to make conclusion about success of existence of a given species. The work itself was carried out during the first half of January, that is in the time when the stage of brooding ends and the period of hatching starts. As of 2011, 12 nesting points of gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) with total number of 8,342 pairs were found in the region under investigation. Till 2018, quantity of the colony grew to 14, with total number of 14,105 pairs. For seven years, quantity of nesting points of aelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) almost did not change (4 colonies). Instead, total number of the species decreased somewhat: from 3559 pairsin 2011 to 3295 onesin 2018. Number of chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) in united stable locality for nesting also decreased from 26 pairsin 2011 to19 onesin 2018. Booth Island (65°04ʹ S, 64°02ʹ W) for chinstrap penguins and Green Island (65°19ʹ S, 64°09ʹ W) for gentoo penguins are the southern most points of nesting range of the species. Also, 7 colonies of antarctic shag (Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis) were revealed in the region under investigation. For seven years from 2011 to 2018 total number of the species in the region under investigation grew from 190 pairs to 299, and in most cases the antarctics shag forms settlements jointly with penguins.

Sharp Differences in the Timing of Male and Female Spring Arrival in the European Stonechat, Saxicola Rubicola, and the Whinchat, S. Rubetra (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae), in North-Eastern Ukraine

Protandry, or the arrival of males prior to females to the breeding grounds is a widespread phenomenon in migratory birds though rarely examined in related species in which its manifestation can vary. European Stonechat and Whinchat are such a pair studied with use of individual marking in North-Eastern Ukraine in 1993–2008. An apparent protandry was found in Whinchat but not in European Stonechat. The difference between the arrival dates of male and female Whinchats (6 days) was significant. The mean time span between territory establishment by a male and subsequent pair formation was 10.6 days. By contrast, 38% of the first records of European Stonechats in spring were those of already paired birds and the difference between arrival dates of both sexes was non-significant. The proximate cause of protandry in Whinchat and its’ absence in European Stonechat seems to be the differences (or the lack thereof) in the onset of spring migration. The time lapse between the start of migration of male and female Whinchats originates at African wintering grounds and is maintained en route. The absence of the protandry in European Stonechat is probably a relict behaviour from the residency. The protandry in migratory populations of this species is yet to be developed.

Artificial Light at Night as a New Threat for Nature Conservation in Ukraine

Human society benefits a lot from artificial light at night (ALAN), but in the same time it has led to a significant increase in light pollution of the night sky during the past decades. It has serious consequences on reproduction, navigation, foraging, habitat selection, communication, trophic and social interactions of the biota. Also widespread incursion of ALAN within protected areas has been evidenced for some countries, including the National Nature Parks (NNPs), Biosphere and Nature Reserves in the Steppe Zone and Crimea Mountains of Ukraine. However, the common situation with ALAN impact on protected areas within Ukraine is unclear yet. This research attempted to estimate the level of light pollution on the NNPs, Biosphere and Nature Reserves in the Forest, Forest-Steppe zones and Carpathian Mountains within Ukraine. Kmz layers of these protected areas and the New World Atlas of Artificial Sky Brightness, through Google Earth Pro, were used to calculate the level of artificial sky brightness for 33 NNPs, 2 Biosphere Reserves and 9 Nature Reserves. The results show that majority of studied protected areas are impacted by ALAN, but some of them stay almost under the dark sky still. The situation is unique for Europe, therefore these areas have the special value for biodiversity conservation and can be recognized as refugia where natural habitats are not influenced by ALAN. Based on obtained results, recommendations for improving of nature conservation management are given in the context of ALAN problem.

Communities of Ditylenchus Destructor Satellite Species of Nematodes in Infected Potato Tubers: Species Composition of Phytonematode Complex and the Structure of their Infracommunities

Within September–April 2016–2017 potato tubers affected by the potato rot nematode Ditylenchus destructor were selected in the potato storage facilities of the Institute of Potato Production of NAAS. 18 species of phytonematodes were identified, including an edificator species of microparasitocenosis and 17 satellite species of this pathogenic phytohelminth, mycohelminths (6 species) and saprobiotic nematodes (11 species). These phytonematodes are representatives of two orders, Rhabditida (11 species from 4 families) and Tylenchida (7 species from 4 families). Nematodes that are part of the group formed by D. destructor and its satellite species are divided into five groups according to quantitative indicators (the prevalence of invasion P and intensity of invasion I). The dominant is one species — D. destructor. Satellite species of D. destructor are divided into four groups, these are subdominants (4 species) and common species (3 species), which together with the dominant species form the core of the group, as well as rare (6) and accidental (4). It was shown that in the course of the disease a regular succession occurs, the species composition of phytonematodes, the grouping structure, the relationship between the number of species of various trophic groups, and the number of certain species change. There are five stages in the course of the disease, from D. destructor colonisation of the tuber, the penetration of the mycohelminths and saprobionts into the focus of the disease, and the disappearance of D. destructor. The maximum number of D. destructor occurs at stage III, mycohelminths — at stage IV, and saprobiotic nematodes — at stage V. Infracommunities consist of from two to seven species. The distribution of all the studied tubers by the number of species in the infracommunity is close to normal, most often 3–4 species of nematodes were found, several species of nematodes of the same genus are extremely rare in a particular infracommunity.

Modelling the Bioclimatic Niche and Distribution of the Steppe Mouse, Mus Spicilegus (Rodentia, Muridae), in Ukraine

The Steppe mouse, Mus spicilegus, is endemic to Europe and found to be expanding its home range in recent years. In Ukraine there are indications a north- and eastwards expansion and/or reestablishment of M. spicilegus. We suggest that climatic conditions may be the primary factors that foster or limit the range expansion of M. spicilegus in Eastern Europe. Our objective was to complement the knowledge about the distribution of the species with an estimation of the potential distribution of the species in Ukraine using known occurrence sites (in Ukraine and neighbouring areas) and environmental variables in an ecological niche modelling algorithm. After accounting for sampling bias and spatial autocorrelation, we retained 73 occurrence records. The algorithm used in this paper, Maxent (Phillips et al., 2006), is a machine learning algorithm and only needs presence data, besides the environmental layers. Using this approach, we have highlighted the importance and significance of a number of bioclimatic variables, particularly those characterizing wintering conditions, under which higher mean temperatures enhance habitat suitability, whereas increased precipitation leads to an opposite effect. The broadly northwards shift of the home range of the species in Ukraine could generally be due to the increasing (since the 1980s) mean temperature of the winter season. We expect this expansion process will continue together with the changing climate and new records of locations of the species may be used for monitoring such change.

Functional Significance of Anatomical Accommodation in the Skull of Common Hoopoe, Upupa Epops (Bucerotiformes, Upupidae)

The present study aims to supplement anatomical data about the cranial skeleton and describe some cranial modifications of the common hoopoe, Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758, by using several techniques. The common hoopoe has small skull and characterized by presence of air space (pneumatization) within their bones. The degree of pneumatization increased especially within the temporal region. The skull of the common hoopoe possesses different types of kinetic hinges; one hinge locates between frontal and nasal region (frontonasal hinge) allows depression/elevation of upper beak relative to brain case. The other one exhibits between the upper beak and jugal bar (maxilla-jugal hinge). The skull of the common hoopoe characterizes by presence of powerful jaw ligamentous system. One of these ligaments exhibits ossification (Lig. Jugomandibularis medialis). In addition, a long mandibular symphysis observes between the two rami of the anterior third of the lower beak. This mandibular symphysis seems longer in the dorsal surface than the ventral one form ventral gap between the two rami of mandible. These modifications of the cranial skeleton of common hoopoe and jaw ligaments consider features of adaptation for probe mechanism, as well as exhibit its phylogenetic relationship with other avian species.

The Viability of Haemonchus Contortus (Nematoda, Strongylida) and Strongyloides Papillosus (Nematoda, Rhabditida) Larvae Exposed to Various Flavourings and Source Materials Used in Food Production

The objective of this study is to evaluate the viability of larval nematodes of ungulates under the infl uence of 14 fl avourings and source materials approved for use in and on foods. Minimum LD50 for L3 Strongyloides papillosus (Wedl, 1856) were observed when using Cinnamaldehyde, α-Terpineol and Benzyl alcohol, for L1–2 S. papillosus under the infl uence of Benzyl alcohol, Cinnamaldehyde, L-Linalool and Benzyl acetate, for L3 Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi, 1803) under the influence γ-Undecalactone and Cinnamaldehyde. Ethyl acetate, β-Ionone и D-Limonene had the lowest effect on all the studied stages of development of the nematodes: larvae did not die during 24 hours even at 1 % concentration of these substances. Further experiments with usage of mixtures of the substances studied in this article will contribute to the development of preparations with a stronger effect on larvae of nematode parasites of the digestive system of vertebrate animals.

Histological Changes in Common Toad, Bufo Bufo (Anura, Bufonidae), Liver Tissue Under Conditions of Anthropogenically Transformed Ecosystems

In the article the histological changes in the liver of the common toad, Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758), under conditions of moderate anthropogenic pollution (a vast park surrounded by urban areas) are examined. In the liver parenchyma, numerous changes characteristic of toxic damage were found: hepatocyte necrosis, fatty dystrophy, protein (and hydropic) dystrophy, signs of infl ammation. An analysis of the number of pigment inclusions in the liver shows hyperpigmentation in some specimens and hypopigmentation in others. The presence of hyperpigmentation indicates a moderate degree of damage and activation of compensation processes in animals. This is confirmed by a large population of common toads in this biotope. It is concluded that in anthropogenically modified biotopes some deterioration of animal health can be compensated by the absence of predators and the reduction of food competition.

Niche Sharing in Intertidal Mollusks and Decapods in Rocky Shore of Easter Island

The coastal marine ecosystems in Easter Island have been poorly studied, and the main studies were isolated species records based on scientific expeditions. The aim of the present study is to apply a spatial distribution analysis and niche sharing null model in published data on intertidal marine gastropods and decapods in rocky shore in Easter Island based in field works in 2010, and published information from CIMAR cruiser in 2004. The field data revealed the presence of decapods Planes minutus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Leptograpsus variegatus (Fabricius, 1793), whereas it was observed the gastropods Nodilittorina pyramidalis pascua Rosewater, 1970 and Nerita morio (G. B. Sowerby I., 1833). The available information revealed the presence of more species in data collected in 2004 in comparison to data collected in 2010, with one species markedly dominant in comparison to the other species. The spatial distribution of species reported in field works revealed that P. minutus and N. morio have aggregated pattern and negative binomial distribution, L. variegatus had uniform pattern with binomial distribution, and finally N. pyramidalis pascua, in spite of aggregated distribution pattern, had not negative binomial distribution. Finally, the results of null model revealed that the species reported did not share ecological niche due to competition absence. The results would agree with other similar information about littoral and sub-littoral fauna for Easter Island.

Modelling the Bioclimatic Niche of a Cohort of Selected Mite Species (Acari, Acariformes) Associated with the Infestation of Stored Products

In this study an attempt is made to highlight important variables shaping the current bioclimatic niche of a number of mite species associated with the infestation of stored products by employing a species distribution modeling (SDM) approach. Using the ENVIREM dataset of bioclimatic variables, performance of the most robust models was mostly influenced by: 1) indices based on potential evapotranspiration, which characterize ambient energy and are mostly correlated with temperature variables, moisture regimes, and 2) strong fluctuations in temperature reflecting the severity of climate and/or extreme weather events. Although the considered mite species occupy man-made ecosystems, they remain more or less affected by the surrounding bioclimatic environment and therefore could be subjected to contemporary climate change. In this respect investigations are needed to see how this will affect future management targets concerning the safety of food storages.