There is increasing recognition of the occurrence of non-native species that are invasive and potentially contribute to biodiversity loss. A two-year camera trap survey was undertaken on Mountain Mosor, Croatia to determine the daily and seasonal activity patterns of recently introduced non-native aoudad (Ammotragus lervia). Aoudad were most active in open rocky habitats and least active in forest habitats. The effect of habitat on the recorded number of aoudad was significant, while the effects of month and the interaction month × habitat were not. The results showed a typical bimodal activity pattern of aoudad, with a modest peak in activity between 5:00 and 9:00 a.m., and a second, more pronounced activity peak between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Since the native habitat of aoudad is similar to that in the Mediterranean region, the inferred range of daily and seasonal activities show that the species is well adapted to the new habitat.
1_Certain monoterpenes produced by aromatic plants are known to have lethal and sublethal effects on insects. As there is a need to replace conventional pesticides (organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids) with biorational pesticides, we evaluated the behavioural and toxicological responses of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, exposed to the following monoterpenes, namely (+)-a-pinene, (–)-a-pinene, limonene, menthone, linalool, menthyl acetate and geraniol. Locomotor activity and repellency were quantified using a video tracking system. To study the effect on locomotor activity, larvae were exposed to filter papers treated with concentrations of monoterpenes ranging between 1.4 and 1,400 µg/cm2. Only menthyl acetate applied at a concentration of 14 µg/cm2 or higher increased the locomotor activity of the larvae. Repellency was evaluated by exposing larvae to circles of filter paper divided in two equal zones: one zone was treated with a solution of a monoterpene in acetone (14 or 140 µg/cm2) and the other with only acetone. Larvae were repelled by all the monoterpenes tested. The two concentrations of geraniol and the highest concentration of menthyl acetate and linalool were as repellent as DEET (positive control). The fumigant effect was evaluated by exposing larvae to vapour from 100 µl of pure monoterpene in a sealed container., 2_The values of the 50% Knock-down Times (KT50), expressed in minutes, were: (+)-a-pinene: 11.8, (–)-a-pinene: 14.6, limonene: 81.0, menthone: 141.0, and linalool: 238.6. (+)-a-Pinene was as good a fumigant as dichlorvos (positive control, KT50 = 9.7 min). The least effective compounds were menthyl acetate and geraniol (both affected less than 50% of larvae after 490 min of exposure). In conclusion, (+)-a-pinene (for its fumigant effect), menthyl acetate (for its hyperactivant effect) and menthone and geraniol (for their repellent properties) could potentially be used for controlling B. germanica., Raúl A. Alzogaray ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Our previous experiments revealed that water intoxication and osmotic BBB disruption in the rat allow penetration of high- molecular substances into the brain and that resulting changes in the internal environment of th e CNS lead to pathological development, such as the loss of integrity of myelin. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the previously described phenomena are associated with increased water content in the brain. To answer the question following methods were used: a) water intoxication : intraperitoneal administration of distilled water, b) osmotic BBB disruption: application of mannitol (20 %) selectively into the internal carotid artery, c) brain wet weight was measured after decapitation, and subsequently (after six days in thermostat set at 86 °C) the dry weight were estimated d) in animals with 20 % and 30 % hyperhydration the degree of myelin deterioration was estimated e) animal locomotor activity was tested by continuous behavior tracking and analysis. Brai n water content after water intoxication and following the administration of mannitol was higher than in the control group. Different degrees of hyperhydration led to different levels of brain water content and to different degrees of myelin impairment. Hyperhydration corresponding to 20 % of the body weight brought about lower locomotor activity. Increased water content in the brain after the BBB osmotic disruption is surprising because this method is frequently used in the clinical practice., P. Kozler, V. Riljak, J. Pokorný., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Circadian rhythms play an essential role in the adaptation of organisms to the environment and may show species-specific or sex-specific differences even within a closely related taxonomic group. Although spiders (Araneae) are sexually dimorphic in several morphological and behavioural features, there are very few studies on the sex-specific differences in their biological rhythms. This study evaluated the circadian rhythm in the locomotor activity of two agrobiont hunting species of spider, Carrhotus xanthogramma (Latreille, 1819) (Salticidae) and Philodromus cespitum (Walckenaer, 1802) (Philodromidae), under natural photoperiod conditions. Particular attention was paid to possible differences between the sexes in both species. We found that C. xanthogramma is a strictly diurnal species with a mean activity peak in the morning in both sexes and the females are more active than males. The locomotor activity rhythm of males was richer in ultradian (shorter than a day but longer than an hour) components, although the relative power of these components was negligible compared to the main, 24-h period component. In accordance with these results, the diel pattern of locomotor activity of C. xanthogramma can be described by a unimodal cosine curve. In contrast to C. xanthogramma, both sexes of Ph. cespitum showed cathemeral activity (i.e., activity occur within both the light and dark portions of the daily cycle) and females and males follow quite different activity schedules: females were most active at night, shortly before nautical dawn, whereas males were most active early in the morning. Unlike C. xanthogramma, Ph. cespitum has more ultradian components, with higher relative power especially in females, where besides the 24-h circadian component there is a particularly strong 12-h ultradian period. Based on these factors, females of Ph. cespitum show a bimodal and males a unimodal pattern.
The use of the herbicide paraquat (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridylium dichloride; PQ) which is widely used in agriculture is known to cause dopaminergic neurotoxicity. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect are not fully understood. This present study investigated the behavioral manifestations, motor coordination, and dopaminergic neurodegeneration following exposure to PQ. Male rats were injected with PQ (10 mg/kg i.p.) daily for three weeks. Rotarod systems were used for measuring locomotor activity and motor coordination. The effects of PQ on dorsiflexor, electrophysiologically-induced muscle contraction were studied. Dopamine concentrations in the ventral mesencephalon were measured by high performance liquid chromatography and the number of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta was estimated by tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. PQ induced difficulty in movement and significant reduction in motor activity and twitch tension at the dorsiflexor skeletal muscle. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons was significantly less in the substantia nigra pars compacta and nigral dopamine level was significantly reduced in PQ treated animals (20.4±3.4 pg/mg) when compared with control animals (55.0±2.4 pg/mg wet tissue). Daily treatment of PQ for three weeks induces selective dopaminergic neuronal loss in the substantia nigra and significant behavioral and peripheral motor deficit effects., M. A. Fahim, ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Methamphetamine (MA) is one of the most abused psychostimulants in the Czech Republic and worldwide. Previous studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of maternal drug abuse. However, the father's contribution as a parent and donor of the half genetic information is unclear. The present study aimed to examine the effect of paternal MA exposure on behavioral development and locomotor activity in rat offspring. MA was administrated subcutaneously for 30 days at a dose of 5 mg/kg to adult male rats. The impact of paternal MA exposure on rat pups was investigated using behavioral tests during development and locomotor activity tests in adulthood. Prior to testing, adult offspring were exposed to an acute challenge dose of MA (1 mg/kg) to examine the possible sensitizing effect of the paternal treatment. Our results found no significant differences in behavioral development or locomotor activity in adulthood of offspring linked to paternal MA application. These results differ from the effects induced by maternal MA application. Further, our results demonstrated a significant increase in locomotor activity on the Laboras test after acute MA application. When comparing sex differences, females showed more activity than males in adulthood, whereas males were more active during development.
The aim of the present study wa s to compare the immediate and delayed locomotor response to high-dose nicotine (NIC) administration in rats. The vertic al and horizontal activity of behavior in adult male rats exposed to 1 mg/kg NIC or saline (SAL) were tested in a Laboras apparatus for one hour after drug application. Animals were then returned to their cages and housed for another seven days. After this period all animals were placed in Laboras again and their behavioral pattern was retested for another period of one hour (delayed response). Horizontal activity: immediately af ter nicotine administ ration animal were less mobile (first 2-minutes interval), when compared with controls. The immobilization effect of nicotine disappeared within 4 minutes and during whole first 10-minutes interval time spent by locomotion did not differ from controls. Locomotion activity of animals treated with nicotine increased robustly in following 10 minutes and remained significan tly higher in 2nd, 3rd and 5th 10-minutes interval. Vertical activity: Rearing frequency was significantly lowered by NIC administration in first two minutes of the experiment and the same was found when the duration of rearing was analyzed. Lower rearing intensity of NIC treated animals disappeared in 4 minutes and was finally higher during whole test session as compared with controls. When duration of rearing was analyzed it was significantly longer in NIC treated animals. In majority of observed behavioral aspects there were no differences between NIC treated rats and controls seven days after NIC or SAL treatment. Our results reflect effect of NIC and we conclude that NIC significantly influences behavior of experimental animals., K. Jandová, D. Marešová, J. Pokorný., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Consumption of seafood containing toxin domoic acid (DA) causes an alteration of glutamatergic signaling pathways and could lead to various signs of neurotoxicity in animals and humans. Neonatal treatment with domoic acid was suggested as valuable model of schizophrenia and epilepsy. We tested how repeated early postnatal DA administration influences the spontaneous behavior of rats in adulthood. Rats were injected with 30 μg DA/kg from postnatal day (PND) 10 until PND 14. Their behavior was observed in the open field test for one hour (Laboras, Metris) at PND 35, PND 42 and PND 112. We did not find any difference between DA treated rats and animals injected with equivalent volume of saline in both test sessions at PND 35 and PND 42. DA rats at PND 112 exhibited significantly higher vertical and horizontal exploratory activity (tested parameters: locomotion, distance travelled, average speed reached during test, grooming and rearing) between the 30th-40th min of the test session and habituated over 10 min later. We conclude that at least in the given experimental design, neonatal DA treatment results in alteration of the spontaneous behavior of rats in adulthood., K. Jandová, P. Kozler, M. Langmeier, D. Marešová, J. Pokorný, V. Riljak., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We investigated, in a laboratory experiment, how natural food available in autumn influences the body mass, locomotor activity, and level of detoxification enzymes in the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber, 1780). In September and October 2001, two groups of bank voles were fed with herbs and acorns. A well-balanced mixed diet was a control. The animals fed with herbs showed high locomotor activity, compared to those fed control diet, a distinct increase of food consumption but loss of body mass. These voles also showed remarkably increased levels of detoxification enzymes (cytochrome P-450 and glutathione transferases) in their livers. Bank voles fed with acorns also lost weight and were more active, compared to the control (but less than the herb-fed group), and had higher levels of detoxification enzymes. Bank voles fed with the control diet showed the lowest level of locomotor activity and did not lose weight. We explain the increased activity of bank voles with stress response to low-quality food, especially as this effect ceased after changing the diet to the control one. Our results suggest that poor nutritional quality of herbs, the bank voles’ main food under natural conditions, may be the main cause of seasonal decline in vole density in autumn-winter.
Under continuous light (LL) of low intensity (up to 2.0 lux), the free-running period of the blow fly activity rhythm lengthened for flies whose initial τDD was less than about 25 h, but shortened for longer-period flies. Light intensity above about 2.0 lux led to an overt behavioural arrhythmicity. A comparison of phases of the oscillation after LL as a function of phases before LL, however, indicated that the oscillation continued its motion even though overt behaviour was arrhythmic. As the intensity during LL increased to 48 lux, phases after LL became centred on a narrow range close to CT 12. Extended periods of brighter light are considered to have two effects: (a) an exogenous "masking" effect occurring at intensities greater than about 2.0 lux, and (b) at intensities between about 2.0 and 48 lux, a gradual resetting of the covert oscillator to CT 12. Between 2.0 and 48 lux, therefore, the circadian oscillation governing locomotor activity in C. vicina continues its motion despite the superficial arrhythmicity in behaviour.