A replacement name for the trigonotarbid arachnid Eotarbus Dunlop

Land reforms reflected in the farming landscape in East Bohemia and in Southern Sweden – Two faces of modernisation

The centipede collection in the National Museum in Prague contains type material of 16 taxa (14 species and two subspecies), of which 15 were described by Luděk J. Dobroruka and one by Karl W. Verhoeff: Allothereuawilsonae Dobroruka, 1979; Chinobiusalenae Dobroruka, 1980; Lithobiuscorrigendus Dobroruka, 1988; Lithobiuscreticus Dobroruka, 1977; Lithobiuserythrocephalusmohelensis Dobroruka, 1959; Lithobiusevae Dobroruka, 1958; Lithobiusmagurensis Dobroruka, 1971; Lithobiuspurkynei Dobroruka, 1957; Lithobiustatricus Dobroruka, 1958; Lithobiustatricusmonounguis Dobroruka, 1958; Monotarsobiushomolaci Dobroruka, 1971; Monotarsobiuskrali Dobroruka, 1979; Pachymeriumdilottiae Dobroruka, 1976; Pachymeriumhanzaki Dobroruka, 1976; Scolopendraaztecorum Verhoeff, 1934 and Strigamiaolympica Dobroruka, 1977. Of these 16 taxa, five were described from the Czech Republic, three from Slovakia and eight from other countries (Greece, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Nepal, Russia and Uzbekistan). The eight taxa described from the Czech and Slovak Republics are now considered as junior synonyms but the eight taxa described from the other countries are still valid.

The freshwater genus Trichodrilus Claparde is a common member of the invertebrate stygofauna (obligate groundwater fauna) of central and southern Europe. This study focuses on some of the smallest representatives of Trichodrilus worms from groundwaters (caves, wells and springs) in Spain. Several populations were still impossible to ascribe to a species, due either to scarcity of individuals or to the lack of clear characters. However, two populations from Itxina karst (Basque Country) are well separated and described as T. benati sp. nov. based on distinct characteristics of the male duct. Another population, from the Ereozar karst (Bizkaia), is described as T. stygodytes sp. nov. Two of the most widely reported species, T. tenuis Hrab, 1960 and T. moravicus Hrab, 1937 are difficult to separate morphologically based on the original descriptions, therefore, we have re-examined and measured the type material. Our study reveals a wide distribution of T. tenuis in the Iberian Peninsula, and the absence of T. moravicus. However, study of the type material of the latter showed two different morphospecies, hence, a lectotype from the ka R. (Czech Republic) is proposed for T. moravicus, while the population from Cave B Skla (Czech Republic) is here ascribed to T. stygodytes sp. nov.

Craniid brachiopods are generally rare in Silurian and Devonian rocks. Correspondingly, only few taxonomic works focused on this group, with a rare exception of Holmer et al. (2018) review from the Silurian of Gotland. Recently, several shells of a so far unknown craniid brachiopod have been observed in the Požáry stratotype section, Czech Republic. The shells represent the first observed craniids of Silurian age in the Prague Basin. All specimens come from the Požáry stratotype locality in Prague Řeporyje (Kříž 1999). In the section above the tunnel portal, layers of weathered sparitic limestone (the so called “white beds”) of the Kopanina Formation (Ludfordian) crop out near the base of the rock wall. This part of the exposure corresponds to the upper part of the Ananaspis fecunda horizon (Kříž 1999). In the lowest weathered layer about 20 cm thick (Fig. 1) a rich brachiopod and crinoid fauna was found. The fossil assemblage is dominated by small to mediumsized brachiopods Lissatrypa fumida, Gracianella plicumbra, Cyrtia postera, Jarovathyris canaliculata, Cadudium sphaerulites, Metaplasia sp., Dayia sp. and Salopina sp. In addition to brachiopods, trilobites Otarion diffractum, Ananaspis fecunda, calyces and pluricolumnals of microcrinoids, isolated plates of machaeridians, gastropod shells, and other small fossils are abundant. Craniid brachiopods are generally rare, representing less than 1% of the total brachiopod fauna. The described specimens are characterized by a small dorsal valve, having a broadly trapezoid to pyriform outline, wellmarked anterocentral apex, and prominent concentric growth bands. By contrast to muscle scars that are not preserved, the porosity of the shell wall is well marked. Although valves are rather poorly preserved, in their outline and the macroornament are similar to shells of Urbicrania limbata (nomen nudum). Havlíček and Vaněk (1998) figured this and other similar species from the DvorceProkop and Řeporyje limestones (Lower Devoinian, Pragian) in the Prague Basin, but without the formal description.

The trichostrongylid roundworms of the genus Cooperia, which are important in veterinary medicine, currently comprise 19 valid species that parasitize the small intestine of both free-living and domestic ruminants. Only four Cooperia spp. have been reported in Europe, namely C. oncophora, C. punctata, C. curticei and C. pectinata. In 2018–2022, 25 red deer (Cervus elaphus) and 30 sika deer (Cervus nippon) of both sexes and various ages from several remote locations in the Czech Republic were parasitologically examined. Intestinal nematodes of the genus Cooperia were found only in two northern regions. Using the globally recognized key book on trichostrongylid nematodes, they were preliminarily identified as C. pectinata. However, a molecular analysis of cox2 and ITS rDNA gene sequences revealed that Cooperia sp. parasitizing Czech deer is a separate taxon that is more closely related to C. oncophora than to C. pectinata. A subsequent morphological analysis and literature survey confirmed the independence of deer Cooperia sp., which is similar but not identical to bovid C. pectinata. Previous long-term correct identifications of bovid C. pectinata and misidentifications of deer Cooperia species were caused by a fundamental error in the key book mentioned above. Interestingly, the ancient trichostrongylid nematode Strongylus ventricosus from the type host red deer (Cervus elaphus) shot near Greifswald (Germany) was described by Rudolphi in 1809. Rudolphi's type material (one male and four females) was deposited in the Museum für Naturkunde (Berlin). Later, the ancient species S. ventricosus was taken as a synonym for various Cooperia spp. Our current re-examination of the type male indicated that there is a relatively good agreement with our new material from Czech deer regarding the most important characteristics of S. ventricosus (i.e., the shape and size of the male spicules); however, Rudolphi's type material is in rather poor condition. The suggested resurrection of the deer Cooperia sp. in this study as Cooperia ventricosa (Rudolphi, 1809) requires verification by collecting and analyzing new nematode material from the type locality near Greifswald.

Se describen dos nuevas notoespecies y una nueva variedad resultantes de la hibridación entre especies de Pedicularis sect. Rostratae en la cordillera pirenaica: P. ×pallidiflora (P. pyrenaica × P. tuberosa), P. ×aranensis (P. mixta × P. praetermissa) y P. ×pallidiflora var. palearensis. Además de las descripciones formales, se aportan datos sobre la distribución, ecología y abundancia respectivas. Otro híbrido pirenaico de la misma sección, P. ×monnieri (P. kerneri × P. pyrenaica), fue descrito hace algo más de un siglo, pero actualmente solo se conoce el material tipo, recolectado a principios del siglo XIX. Estos son los únicos nototaxones de Pedicularis indicados hasta el momento en los Pirineos.

ABSTRACTRecent collections of Tuber malacodermum from Spain, Corsica, and Mexico were compared in an integrative morphological and molecular phylogenetic framework, including study of type material. Phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and nuc 28S rDNA (28S) regions showed that specimens from Spain and Corsica form a monophyletic group closely related to T. melosporum and T. rufum, whereas Mexican specimens form a clade within the T. lyonii species complex. Peridium and ascospore morphology contribute clear morphological distinctions among specimens from Spain and Corsica, Mexico, and the type specimen of T. malacodermum. Based on results of the morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses, we assigned the specimens from Spain and Corsica to Tuber pustulatum, sp. nov., and the Mexican specimens to Tuber theleascum, sp. nov. We restrict T. malacodermum to the sole type material. Formal descriptions and illustrations of these taxa are provided.

The pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, is an iconic insect in the Mediterranean culture because of its economic and medical importance and the unique traits of the life history, namely the winter feeding and the construction of conspicuous silk tents by the larvae. Its taxonomic status, however, is unclear because the type material is not available and there is confusion among the several species and subspecies described in the last centuries. In the present study, a metadata analysis of morphological and molecular data of the species in the T. pityocampa complex were considered for species delimitation, using more than 400 individuals from more than 120 geographic locations. A reconstruction of the origin of the material used for the first formal description has allowed to identify the type locality and to design a neotype. In addition, as Denis and Schiffermüller were referring to the work of Réaumur for details about the species, the description provided by Réaumur was reviewed. The results indicate that the barcode region of mitochondrial DNA is a reliable trait to separate species in most cases whereas morphological traits are not. Hybridization among taxa makes it difficult to delimit species in contact zones when mating barriers are not present. In other cases, such as the populations of Crete Island, the lack of gene flow with the mainland population may support species delimitation even when morphological traits are not conclusive. Thus, the new species Thaumetopoea cretensis is described here based on the evidence obtained from a previous study. Species delimitation based on both mitochondrial and nuclear markers allowed maintenance of three species of the complex (T. cretensis, T. pityocampa, and T. wilkinsoni) while more data are needed to determine the status of two recently described species: T. hellenica and T. mediterranea.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF AMINO ACIDS AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF PRUNUS PERSICA LEAVES, HARVESTED IN TAJIKISTAN AND UKRAINE

The research paper deals with an evaluation of the effect of three types of organic mulch materials - cereal straw, wood chips and compost on soil moisture maintenance in vineyard in the Czech Republic in years 2017–2019. For comparison, the variant without mulch coverage “black fallow” was also monitored (control variant). The experiment was based on an experimental site in the village of Rakvice in the South Moravia Region. The three year results of the experiment demonstrate that the use of these three organic materials has a positive effect on the increase of soil moisture compared to the control variant. The best results are achieved by the variant with cereal straw, where the highest values of soil moisture were measured. At the same time, the yield of grapes and their qualitative parameters from individual variants were evaluated. Used organic mulching materials showed a significant statistical difference in the quality of the grapes compared to the control variant. These differences were demonstrated in the YAN content and in the variant with cereal straw also in the titratable acidity. The results of the experiment demonstrate that what might otherwise be agricultural waste, can be used to improve soil moisture and it represents an important agro-technical treatment in vineyards contributing to the protection of soils and the environment in viticulture in Czech Republic and central Europe.

Nowadays there is a growing interest and demand in the development of new types of scintillation materials for experimental high energy physics. Future detector developments will focus on cheap, fast, and radiation hard materials, especially for application in collider experiments. The most recent results obtained by the Giessen group in close cooperation with colleagues from different institutes will be presented. The new start of the mass production of high quality lead tungstate crystals (PbWO4, PWO) for electromagnetic calorimetry was started by the company CRYTUR (Turnov, Czech Republic). We will present a detailed progress report on the research program of lead tungstate performed in the last two years. The latest results in the development of LuAG:Ce, YAG:Ce and LYSO:Ce inorganic fibers, grown by the micro pulling down method and cut with the heated wire technique as well as new glass ceramics material BaO*2SiO2 (DSB) doped by Ce and Gd will be presented. In addition, different samples of the organic plastic scintillator EJ-260 produced by the company Eljen Technology (Sweetwater, USA) have been characterized. The study has focused on the change of performance after irradiation with 150 MeV protons up to an integral fluence of 5-1013 protons/cm2 as well as with a strong 60Co gamma-source accumulating an integral dose of 100 Gy.

Ultra-High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) is fine-grained cement-based material characterized by high compressive strength (exceeding 150 MPa) and high modulus of rupture (over 15 MPa). The results of strengths depend on the size of the tested element, the loading rate and the boundary conditions during a testing. This type of material is used in a lot of countries (e.g. Germany, France, the USA, Japan, Austria, and the Netherlands) but it is not commonly used in the Czech Republic. The bridge over R10 road from Prague to Mlada Boleslav near Benatky nad Jizerou was the first structure where UHPFRC materials were used for lost shuttering slabs. Due to inhomogeneity of the steel fiber distribution the maximum attained force ranged between 9.6 kN and 25.7 kN for different lost shuttering slabs. The amount of steel fibers was very low at a tension zone at slabs with the lower load-bearing capacity. Steel fibers in these slabs were at the bottom of the formwork. The inhomogeneity of the steel fiber distribution was the foundation for producing of functionally layered beams with controlled inhomogeneity due to the mixtures with different fibers volumes. The results and behaviors of the layered beams and the homogeneous beams are presented in this paper.

Annual dynamics of the content of non-structural saccharides in the context of structural development of vegetative buds of Norway spruce

The occurrence and geographic distribution of powdery mildew on cucurbits was studied in the Czech Republic, Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, as well as in Turkey and Israel, during the period 1995–2000. In total, 599 leaf samples with powdery mildew symptoms were collected from cucurbits from 166 locations within the Czech Republic; an additional 69 samples were collected from 42 locations elsewhere. Two powdery mildews (Golovinomyces cichoracearum and Podosphaera xanthii) were identified. The host range included the cultivated cucurbits (Cucumis melo, C. sativus, Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, and Citrullus lanatus) and several other species. P. xanthii was the only powdery mildew pathogen found in Spain, Israel, and Turkey. P. xanthii and G. cichoracearum were detected in the other surveyed countries, occurring in both mixed infections and separately. In the more northerly latitudes and higher elevations, G. cichoracearum is more often the single species. G. cichoracearum was the dominant powdery mildew species in the Czech Republic (detected in 98.8% of the locations there); P. xanthii was found as the lone species in 1.2% of locations. At 28.4% of locations, G. cichoracearum was found with P. xanthii as mixed infections. The hyperparasitic fungus Ampelomyces quisqualis was found in 30% of the samples from the Czech Republic and was also recorded in Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Great Britain.

The paper describes qualitative methods of modern library collections (produced after the year 1800) survey in The National Library of the Czech Republic in Prague. Each book is primarily composed of paper sheets and bookbinding. In modern library collections bookbinding usually contains parts composed of synthetic materials. Different types of materials have different mechanisms of degradation. Therefore, the main objectives of this work are nondestructive identification of synthetic materials in bookbinding, their degradation processes, and methods of conservation, conditions of storage, and preventive care as well. Based on the preliminary results of the collection survey in the National Library of the Czech Republic, the most usual types of synthetic materials in bookbinding are cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene, polyurethane, polymethylmethacrylate, and polyvinyl chloride, both of solid and plasticized type. For faster survey of the collections and deeper information is used new instruments for modern library collection survey and preservation – SurveNIR measuring system. SurveNIR measuring system is used for determination of paper properties and identification of plastic materials using chemometric and comparison with material standards. It can identify more than 45 different types of plastics. It is a nondestructive method, very fast, and it is possible to obtain results in a few seconds of measuring. The SurveNIR system was developed in the European project.