Area Of Slovakia Research Articles

Driving forces behind vineyard abandonment in Slovakia following the move to a market-oriented economy

The abandonment of farmland has become a widespread phenomenon in post-socialist countries that have seen revolutionary changes in their economic systems. The phenomenon is notable in vineyard areas, where abandonment leads to the loss of the unique character of vineyard landscapes. This paper assesses the extent of vineyard abandonment in Slovakia and analyses the driving forces behind it. We used statistical and Corine Land Cover data to map the change in vineyard areas in Slovakia and analyse the pressure of underlying driving forces. Special attention was paid to small-scale, traditionally managed vineyards that were not changed by agricultural collectivisation and are now considered to be traditional agricultural landscape structures. These areas were mapped using Google Earth aerial photography combined with field research. A case study of the Svätý Jur area provided a detailed analysis of the changes, driving forces and perceptions of local residents. This area is representative of a historical vineyard area that has been deeply affected by the country's political and economic transformations. We found that over the past 20 years almost half the vineyard area in Slovakia has been abandoned or converted to arable land. The import of cheap grape must and wines, increased production costs and insufficient agricultural subsidies have made viticulture unprofitable. Local farmers perceive financial instruments and an inadequate market as limiting factors for farming, together with weak support from local government and the expansion of unsuitable housing. While 65% of local people said they would engage in viticulture if it was more profitable, 31% showed no interest in farming at all. Abandonment of the vineyards is continuous process resulted from the economical and cultural changes after the transition to market-oriented economy. Government support should be directly aimed to protection and management of traditional small scale vineyards and their historical, cultural, biodiversity, and aesthetical values.

PCDDs, PCDFs, dioxin-like PCBs and indicator PCBs in soil from five selected areas in Slovakia

There is a lack of information regarding persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in soil from Slovakia. This paper reports the concentrations of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and 6 indicator PCBs associated with 32 soil samples collected in 2007 from areas in the vicinity up to several kilometres from four selected industrial PCDD/F sources in Slovakia and one background area.The results show that the total WHO1998-PCDD/F/dl-PCB-TEQ concentrations varied from 0.34 to 18.05pgg−1 dry weight (dw) and the average total TEQ concentrations in samples collected at the Šala, Košice, Krompachy and Dubová areas were 3.18, 2.64, 7.80, and 3.19pgg−1dw respectively. The average of the total WHO1998-TEQ values in three soil samples representing the background Starina area was 0.66pgg−1 dw. The predominant contaminants among 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs, dl-PCB, and indicator PCBs was OCDD, PCB 118, and PCB 153 respectively. The major contributors to the TEQ were 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, PCB 126, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, PCB 156 and 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF+1,2,3,4,7,9-HxCDF in descending order.

Transformation of tourist landscapes in mountain areas: Case studies from Slovakia

After two decades of deregulated free market economy the post-socialist rural mountain areas are being unprecedently commodified. Landscapes of tourist consumption with specific behaviour patterns are produced and reproduced. The paper explores how landscapes are transformed due to massive investments into tourist infrastructure with questionable impacts on quality of life and environmental sustainability. Power relations and related production of space are analysed in three case studies in the selected mountain areas in Slovakia. First, the Oscadnica case study reflects on rural landscape rapidly transformed by massive ski resort development and deforestation. Second, the Tale golf course development case study describes commodification and gentrification processes in Central Slovakia. Third, the High Tatras case study explores how power structures push on the transformation of the oldest and most visited National Park in Slovakia.

Very low seismicity areas in Slovakia and comparison of seismic risk in Central European Countries

Very low seismicity areas in Slovakia and comparison of seismic risk in Central European CountriesA parametric study concerning the importance of very low seismicity for Slovakia is introduced. Analyses were performed for ordinary buildings such as family houses, residential brick buildings, residential panel buildings and high-rise buildings. Both horizontal wind and seismic actions were analysed and compared in detail for all the regions and conditions in Slovakia.

Mycobiota and mycotoxins in bee pollen collected from different areas of Slovakia

Contamination by microscopic fungi and mycotoxins in different bee pollen samples, which were stored under three different ways of storing as freezing, drying and UV radiation, was investigated. During spring 2009, 45 samples of bee-collected pollen were gathered from beekeepers who placed their bee colonies on monocultures of sunflower, rape and poppy fields within their flying distance. Bee pollen was collected from bees’ legs by special devices placed at the entrance to hives. Samples were examined for the concentration and identification of microscopic fungi able to grow on Malt and Czapek-Dox agar and mycotoxins content [deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin (T-2), zearalenone (ZON) and total aflatoxins (AFL), fumonisins (FUM), ochratoxins (OTA)] by direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The total number of microscopic fungi in this study ranged from 2.98 ± 0.02 in frozen sunflower bee pollen to 4.06 ± 0.10 log cfu.g−1 in sunflower bee pollen after UV radiation. In this study, 449 isolates belonging to 21 fungal species representing 9 genera were found in 45 samples of bee pollen. The total isolates were detected in frozen poppy pollen 29, rape pollen 40, sunflower pollen 80, in dried poppy pollen 12, rape pollen 36, sunflower 78, in poppy pollen after UV radiation treatment 54, rape 59 and sunflower 58. The most frequent isolates of microscopic fungi found in bee pollen samples of all prevalent species were Mucor mucedo (49 isolates), Alternaria alternata (40 isolates), Mucor hiemalis (40 isolates), Aspergillus fumigatus (33 isolates) and Cladosporium cladosporioides (31 isolates). The most frequently found isolates were detected in sunflower bee pollen frozen (80 isolates) and the lowest number of isolates was observed in poppy bee pollen dried (12 isolates). The most prevalent mycotoxin of poppy bee pollen was ZON (361.55 ± 0.26 μg.kg−1), in rape bee pollen T-2 toxin (265.40 ± 0.18 μg.kg−1) and in sunflower bee pollen T-2 toxin (364.72 ± 0.13 μg.kg−1) in all cases in frozen samples.

Sensitivy to antibiotics in strains of S. aureus isolated from cow´s milk

Strains of S. aureus were isolated from individual milk samples of 500 lacting cows from different areas in Slovakia (PH 1 - Košice region, 300 samples; PH 2 - Žilina region, 200 samples). The statistical significance between both dairy farms included in the experiment in the presence of genus Staphylococcus isolated on Baird-Parker agar from milk samples was p < 0,0001(***) . Totally, 122 milk samples were positive for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus (83 Košice regions, 52 Žilina regions). All 122 isolates of S. aureus were sensitive for the methicilin as detected by interpretative criteria developed by NCCLS (2002). For 122 S. aureus isolates, we compared antibiotic susceptibility results determined by the standardized agar diffusion assay with the PCR assay for the detection of antibiotic resistance mecA gene. For all isolates, we found a correlation between the results of the PCR and those of classical resistance testing. The obtained results were confirmed by PCR analysis, according to which, any of our tested isolate of S. aureus from all 122 individual milk samples from both experimental dairy farms were not positive for the presence of mecA gene coding the methicilin resistance.

Concentration of lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic in leg skeletal muscles of three species of wild birds

The aim of this study was to monitor accumulation of lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic in leg skeletal muscle of some wild birds from selected areas of Slovakia and the correlations among the heavy metals. A total of 160 wild birds representing 3 species—Eurasian coot (Fulica atra) (n = 24), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) (n = 68) and pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) (n = 68) were involved for analyses. Concentrations of heavy metals from samples were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Metal concentrations are expressed as mg/kg wet weight. The order of lead and arsenic concentrations in muscles of wild birds were as follows: mallard > pheasant > Eurasian coot; in the case of arsenic the differences were significant (P < 0.05). Muscle of Eurasian coot accumulated the highest concentration of cadmium and mercury followed by pheasant and the lowest in mallard, but differences were not significant (P > 0.05). Moderately negative correlations were noted in pheasant between cadmium and mercury (r = −0.39), and between mercury and arsenic (r = −0.45). Moderately negative correlation between cadmium and arsenic (r = −0.31) was found for Eurasian coot.

Carotenes Content in Carrot Roots (Daucus carota L.) as affected by Cultivation and Storage

Carotenes Content in Carrot Roots (Daucus carota L.) as affected by Cultivation and Storage The influence of area, variety, year and storage on β-carotene content and dry matter content of selected carrot varieties were tested. Carrot roots of four varieties were examined during two years period (2002-2003), cultivated under different climatic and soil conditions in three areas of Slovakia - Nitra, Komárno and Prusy. Carrot varieties (Nevis F1, Idaho F1, Florida F1, Kathmandu F1) showed the greatest mean content of β-carotene (23.25 mg·100 g-1) in Nitra area, year 2003. Irrigation showed negative influence on β-carotene content. The highest content of β-carotene showed variety Florida F1 (26.3 mg·100 g-1). Mean higher contents of dry matter were determined in the year 2003 compared to the year 2002. Loss of β-carotene during carrot storage was observed higher in the cellar than in the cold storage. Mean loss of β-carotene in dry matter for cold storage was 13.57-14.28%, compared to cellar 20-27.3%.

Rickettsial Agents in Slovakian Ticks (Acarina, Ixodidae) and Their Ability to Grow in Vero and L929 Cell Lines

A total of 80 adult ticks (55 Haemaphysalis inermis, 12 Dermacentor reticulatus, 11 D. marginatus, 2 Ixodes ricinus) were collected from vegetation in three areas of Slovakia (forest and pasture habitat) in central Europe. Forty-six (46 ticks) (57.5%) of all species tested were positive by the hemocyte test, PCR assays based on the gltA and ompA genes showed a Rickettsiaceae infection in 77.5% of the ticks, whereas only one H. inermis tick was positive for Anaplasmataceae on a 16S rRNA-based PCR. Isolation of rickettsiae was attempted on all collected ticks by means of the shell vial technique, 52 isolates of which were inoculated into Vero cells and 28 into L929 cells. Rickettsiae were detected in 50% (40/80) of the cell lines using the Gimenez staining method, whereas 33.8% (27/80) of the cell lines were PCR-positive for Rickettsia species. The presence of rickettsiae was shown by PCR to be around 30.8% (16/52) in Vero and 39.3% (11/28) in L929 cell lines. Sequencing results showed that detected infections were Rickettsia sp., R. raoultii, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in ticks, and R. slovaca in cell lines. This is the first report of R. raoultii in Slovakia. Observations by electron microscopy of the R. slovaca isolate from Vero cell lines showed a microcapsular layer, typical Gram-negative cell wall, and a cytoplasmic membrane.

Határon átnyúló ingázás a szlovák–magyar határtérségben

Tanulmányunk a határon átnyúló ingázást vizsgálja. Egyrészt el kívánja különíteni az államon belüli ingázástól, valamint a nemzetközi munkaügyi migrációtól egyaránt. Kitérünk az ingázás helyi munkaerőpiacra gyakorolt hatására, majd empirikus adatok alapján bemutatjuk a szlovák–magyar határtérségben zajló folyamatokat.

Mercury as an important contaminant of environment and its occurrence in the blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) in Sovakia

Aim of the study: Some studies show that concentrated blackcurrant is an effective monoamine oxidase inhibitor, as well as that it contains high level of vitamin C. The main aim of this study was to monitor the mercury concentration in particular parts of the blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) in some areas of Slovakia.

Deoxynivalenol in wheat from the growing areas of Slovakia

The contamination level of grain samples by Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol in the grains of wheat grown in different growing areas of Slovakia between 2004 and 2006 was investigated. DON content was analysed in 139 wheat samples from the maize, sugar beet and potato growing areas. The highest mean DON content was found in the potato growing area and lowest in the maize growing area. There was a positive correlation between DON content and rainfall in the growing areas. A negative correlation was found between the content of DON and temperature. The limit specified by the EU 1.25 mg kg −1 DON content exceeded 9.3% of the samples from the maize growing area, 5% from the sugar beet growing area and 14.3% from the potato growing area. The results show the tendency of increasing toxin contamination of wheat grown from the maize and potato growing areas and also the need for more information on the problem about the distribution of Fusarium mycotoxins in wheat grown in Slovakia.

Possible Effects of Environmental Nitrates and Toxic Organochlorines on Human Thyroid in Highly Polluted Areas in Slovakia

Heavy environmental pollution resulting from uncontrolled industrial and agricultural activities has occurred in several areas of Slovakia. So far, field surveys focused mainly on the thyroid have been conducted in one area polluted by nitrates and in a large area polluted mainly by organochlorinated toxicants. In children from the high nitrate area (HNA, n = 324) significantly higher thyroid volume (ThV) by ultrasound was found compared with age-matched children from surrounding areas with low nitrate (LNA, n = 764). In blood samples of 324 children from the HNA and of 100 children from the LNA no difference between areas was found in the level of total thyroxine (T4) and free triiodothyronine (T3). However, positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) were found in 7/324 (2.2%) and thyrotropin (TSH) levels > 4.0 mIU/L in 13/324 (4.0%) of children from the HNA area, while no positive values were obtained in the LNA. In the area heavily polluted by an organochlorine (OC) cocktail consisting of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 2,2'-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and dioxins and furans (polluted area) and in the background pollution area (background area) a total of 2046 adults were examined. In polluted area very high blood levels of OCs were found as well as increased ThV and prevalence of thyroid hypoechogenicity by ultrasound. For the evaluation of data the level of PCBs was used as a marker of all OCs. Increasing PCB levels were significantly associated with the increase of free T4 (p < 0.001) and total T3 (p < 0.05) in blood, while slight but not significant negative association of PCBs was observed with the level of TSH. In both women and men the prevalence of TPOAb was significantly higher in polluted area. Although the absolute TPOAb prevalence in both areas was higher in women than that in men, the increase in polluted vs. background area was more striking in men. From these data it appears that the effects of environmental pollution on the thyroid cannot be neglected.

Nachweis und Identifizierung von Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato-Genospezies in Zecken aus drei verschiedenen Regionen der Slowakei

Lyme borreliosis is one of the most common tick-borne diseases that occur in Slovakia. In this study, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was detected and cultivated from questing ticks collected in three areas of Slovakia. Two methods, restriction fragment length polymorphism and reverse line blot, were used for identification of isolates and determination of the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in the ticks. The prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in I. ricinus detected by reverse line blot was 31.9%. Four genospecies, namely B. garinii, B. valaisiana, B. afzelii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto were found. B. garinii was the most prevalent genospecies.

Divergence of some socio-economic indicators between rural and urban areas in Slovakia

The article is dealing with the evaluation of socio-economic development in Slovakia from the point of view of urban and the rural regions in 1999&amp;minus;2005, based on analysis of regional socio-economic indicators. This development is characterised by deepening differentiation between the urban and rural districts in the demographic structure of population, employment, unemployment, level of wages and salaries and private enterprising activities. Demographic structure in the rural regions, compared to the urban regions, is characterised by the increase of the share of population in post-productive age, ageing index and the unfavourable index of economic burden. Employment in the rural regions decreased at a more rapid rate than in the urban regions. From the unemployment point of view, there are significant regional differences in the SR. The worst affected are the regions of Eastern and south of Central Slovakia which suffer from the underdeveloped economic infrastructure, lower level of education, bankruptcy of the dominant industrial employers and a large share of agrarian population, where impact of transformation measures was the most severe. Unemployment rate in the rural regions was 2.2 times higher than in the urban regions in 2005. Growth rate of average wages and salaries is slower in the rural regions compared to the urban ones and the average of the SR. In the period of 1999–2005, the level of average wages and salaries in the rural regions accounted for 62.4% of average wages and salaries in the urban regions, during which the time trend of increasing wage disparity was continuing all the time. The trend of utilisation of cheap labour force for short part-time jobs is evident, particularly in the rural regions, which is in contrast to the growth of the standard of living and sustainable development of underdeveloped regions. The differentiation of economic level between urban and the rural regions is expressed also in the share of entrepreneurial entities in economically active population which tells against the rural regions in spite of the diminished differentiation in this indicator in 1999–2005. The declining rate of growth in number of entrepreneurs in the urban regions is a consequence of the saturation of spatial and employment opportunities, while there is a substantially larger potential of acceleration of private enterprising in the rural regions. Continuation of this development leads to the socially unacceptable differentiation and undesirable development of dual economies in the country and that is why it is necessary to solve this issue as a priority within the framework of the strategy of economic development of the SR.

Land evaluation data bank of Slovakia

Precise categorisation and permanent and completed evidence of agricultural land are necessary for rational utilisation of land fund in Slovakia. Current complex evaluation information system is the only system of this category in our country and consists of the following parts: (1) land-cartographic information system, (2) evaluation data bank. Evaluation data bank includes data about all evaluated soil-ecological units in basic classification, according to users, cadastral areas and higher units of administrative state division. Evaluation data bank is open system updated, improved and widened constantly. It is important source of information used for calculation of land fund evaluation, calculation of financial damage, calculation of land tax, setting of land rent level, estimate of orientation prices for purchase or sales of agricultural land. Recently the data from evaluation data bank have been used for setting and specification of criteria for classification of agricultural land and subjects into the less-favoured areas in Slovakia.

The support of farming and revenues of enterprises located in less- favoured areas in Slovakia

The complex solution of farming in worse natural conditions and exploitation of land fund result from the successive transformation of agricultural policy and the preparation of agrarian sector for the accession of Slovakia into the European Union. The character of this policy will have the immediate impact on economy mainly of enterprises farming in less-favoured areas (LFA). In the study, we present the actual data about the allocation of agricultural land and agricultural farms into the LFA using the database of information system on land and the soil quality database which is managed by the Research Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics.

Serological evidence for Borrelia burgdorferi infection associated with clinical signs in dairy cattle in Slovakia.

In the course of epizootological research on Lyme borreliosis in domestic and farm animals, the serological evidence for the occurrence of this zoonosis in cattle was screened. An ELISA showed that 25.2% of cattle from seven geographical areas in Slovakia were positive for anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies. In particular localities, the seroprevalence ranged from 0.6% to 34.3%. Of 33 cases with clinical signs, 20 ELISA-positive samples were also confirmed in Western blots. The most frequent clinical signs were lameness and swollen joints, but most of the cases were asymptomatic. The occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies and suspected clinical signs in cattle of Slovak regions indicates that veterinarians should pay attention to this disease in their clinical practice and include it within the differential diagnosis.

The occurrence of semivolatile persistent organic pollutants in ambient air in selected areas of slovakia

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachloro‐benzene (HCB) and p,p'‐DDE were analysed in ambient air collected in 1995—96 at 17 sampling sites situated in industrial, agricultural and forest areas. The concentrations of total PAHs (16 USEPA congeners) and seven carcinogenic congeners varied from 36 (a forest background location) to 689 ng m‐3 (in the vicinity of an iron and steel mill) and from 3.9 to 84 n gm‐3 , respectively. The highest total PCB concentrations were found in a town where PCBs were produced (11.3 ng m‐3), and at localities with heavy traffic (4.4 ng m‐3) and aluminium production (4.2 ngm‐3) while in agricultural areas they reached only 0.24 ngm‐3. In contrast, ambient air samples taken in agricultural areas contained the highest HCB levels (up to 4.7 ngm‐3). DDE concentrations were about 10‐times lower and ranged from 0.032 to 0.87 ngm‐3.

Free ‐ living animals as indicators of environmental pollution by chlorinated hydrocarbons

Abstract As some species of game and free‐living animals promptly respond to ecosystem damage by a reaction that is easy to interpret, they are important ecological indicators in assessing the total contamination of the environment. Consumers of the highest order like predators, predatory and fish‐eating birds are among the most important bioindicators of environmental contamination by chlorinated hydrocarbons and PCB. Data on chlorinated hydrocarbons and PCB levels were collected throughout 1988–1992 and obtained from 16 species of free‐living animals from 9 protected areas of Slovakia. Muscle tissue, liver, kidney and egg samples were examined for HCB, HCH isomers, DDT and its analogues, and PCB. Levels of organic chlorinated contaminants reveal a decreasing tendency and thus cease to be a toxicologically important risk factor in game, with the exception of predatory birds, as significant values have been recorded in their eggs and reproductive organs.