Southwestern Slovakia Research Articles

The impact of the striped field mouse’s range expansion on communities of native small mammals

Understanding species expansion as an element of the dispersal process is crucial to gaining a better comprehension of the functioning of the populations and the communities. Populations of the same species that are native in one area could be considered nonindigenous, naturalised or invasive somewhere else. The striped field mouse has been expanding its range in south-western Slovakia since 2010, although the origin of the spread has still not been clarified. In light of the striped field mouse’s life history, the recent range expansion is considered to be the expansion of a native species. This study analyses the impact of the striped field mouse's expansion on the native population and small mammal communities and confronts the documented stages of striped field mouse expansion with the stages of invasion biology. Our research replicates the design and compares results from past research of small mammals prior to this expansion at the same three study areas with the same 20 study sites and control sites. Several years after expansion, the striped field mouse has a 100% frequency of occurrence in all study sites and has become the dominant species in two of the study areas. The native community is significantly affected by the striped field mouse’s increasing dominance, specifically: (i) we found a re-ordering of the species rank, mainly in areas with higher dominance, and (ii) an initial positive impact on diversity and evenness during low dominance of the striped field mouse turned markedly negative after crossing the 25% dominance threshold. Results suggested that the variation in the striped field mouse’s dominance is affected by the northern direction of its spread. Our findings show that establishment in a new area, spread and impact on the native community are stages possibly shared by both invasive and native species during their range expansion.

Two types of slovakization of Czech texts in the Middle Ages and Modern Age

The purpose of the article is to examine the nature of the Slovakization of Czech texts that were created in Slovakia in the Middle Ages and in modern times. A comparison of texts created by authors belonging to different confessions made it possible to single out the main, most common type, typical of texts, primarily among Catholics, and another type, represented in the texts of Lutheran authors. The first, Catholic, type of Slovakization originates in the texts of the XVI century and is evolving. Its final stage is the codification of the Slovak literary language by the Catholic priest A. Bernolk (17871790). It originates initially in southwestern Slovakia, and then spreads throughout the entire territory of Slovakia. In this regard, the Slovak elements presented in it are of Western Slovak and common Slovak origin. The second type, emerging in the XVII century, had a rather limited functioning and did not become the leading one even among the Lutherans. It should be noted that in Slovak literature the prevailing point of view is that Slovak Lutherans used the Czech language in spiritual literature without any changes, but this is not entirely true, which is proved by the reviewed work of D. Pribi. At the same time, the Lutheran type of Slovakization had differences from the Catholic one, including of a genetic nature, since the Slovakisms represented in it characterized primarily the northern dialects of the Middle Slovak dialect. At the same time, the common Slovak elements presented in it did not coincide in everything with the common Slovak elements that characterized the language of Catholics. Moreover, the use of this type of Slovakization in spiritual literature at the beginning of the XVIII century was officially banned by the Lutheran superintendent D. Krman. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that it was the Middle Slovak dialect that was chosen as the basis of the new literary language proposed in 1844 by the Lutheran Ľ. tr.

Two new species of Lasioseius (Acari: Mesostigmata: Blattisociidae) with reduced sclerotization of the sternal shield

ABSTRACT Two new species of Blattisociidae mites, Lasioseius triplax sp. nov. and Lasioseius verruciger sp. nov., are described from females found in phoretic association with the mycophagous erotylid beetle Triplax russica (Linnaeus) and under the bark of dying conifers, respectively, both from southwestern Slovakia. The new species are unusual in having reduced sclerotization of the posterior part of the sternal shield. Only a few species of Lasioseius Berlese have this character state, the purpose and possible function of which are unknown. An identification key for species with reduced sclerotization of the sternal shield is presented. Lasioseius allii Chant is firstly reported from Slovakia, and some notes on the morphology of this and related species are given. for publication: http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:61410D92-6C52-47AD-B395-8F14D88EAA52 for Lasioseius triplax: http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:91EB66A2-DF6F-4134-8489-F7AAE4019FC1 for Lasioseius verruciger: http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:758ECDE2-C0B7-481C-8A40-427149722455

Možnosti hodnotenia úrodovej odozvy odrôd sladovníckeho jačmeňa na podmienky prostredia Slovenskej republiky

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the third most important grain crop after wheat and maize in Europe, but the average annual increase in barley yield was 37 kg/ha during period of 1970-2020. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of yield potential of eight malt barley genotypes under agro-climatic conditions of the Danubian Hills region in southwestern Slovakia. The effect of season had a decisive share (62.7%) in the total variability of yields. The contrasting nature of the evaluated years is documented by the differences in yields of the set of evaluated varieties in an ascending order: 4.23 t/ha, 6.10 t/ha up to 8.17 t/ha during 2012-2013-2014.The effects of site and genotypes were evident, but with a relatively low contribution of 14.13% and 1.03% of site and genotypes, respectively, to the total variability in grain yield of barley, which indicate the relative consistency of the set of genotypes evaluated. The environmental index (EI) of yields confirmed the different environmental conditions manifested by the expression of yield potential ranging from 5.17 t/ha to 7.31 t/ha. The EI expression of yields for individual years and locations can be considered as an important indicator, indicating a better interpretation of the suitability of the locality for the cultivation of a given crop. The above conclusions reached from the experimental results support the need for more detailed data analysis of varieties to given agro-climatic conditions in order to select suitable genotypes for sustainable farming systems.

Chewing lice of passerine birds in reed beds in Slovakia, with a special focus on Panurus biarmicus.

A total of 1185 passerine birds representing five species were examined for chewing lice in reed beds in southwestern Slovakia in spring (April) 2008, 2009 and 2016. Additional collecting focused only on chewing lice from Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Panuridae) was carried out in spring (April), summer (July) and autumn (October) 2019. A total of 283 (24%) birds were parasitized by 10 species of chewing lice of four genera: Penenirmus, Menacanthus, Philopterus, and Brueelia. Most birds showed only very light (1-10 lice/host; 74%) to light infestations (11-20 lice/host; 16%). The authors found significantly higher prevalences and mean abundances of chewing lice on residents/short-distance migrants, that is, P. biarmicus, Acrocephalus melanopogon (Temminck, 1823) (Passeriformes: Acrocephalidae), than on long-distance migratory birds, that is, Acrocephalus scirpaceus (Hermann, 1804), Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Acrocephalidae), Locustella luscinioides (Savi, 1824) (Passeriformes: Locustellidae). No significant difference was found in the total mean intensity of chewing lice between these two groups of birds. Ischnoceran lice were more prevalent and abundant than amblyceran lice on residents and short-distance migrants, whereas the opposite was found on bird species that migrate long distances. A total of 146 (58%, n=251) P. biarmicus were parasitized by 1490 chewing lice. Males of P. biarmicus showed higher prevalence and mean abundance than females with gradually descending values of prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity from spring to autumn. The knowledge of the occurrence and population dynamics of lice on wild passerine birds can be useful in endangered species conservation programs and can also be applied to captive passerine birds, which may be analogous to resident birds in this sense.

A new digamasellid mite of the subgenus Longoseiulus Lindquist (Acari, Mesostigmata) from Slovakia.

A new digamasellid mite, Longoseius (Longoseiulus) disparisetussp. nov., was described from females found in the wood detritus of tree cavity of freshly felled elm (Fraxinus sp.) in a park in southwestern Slovakia. The new species differs from known congeners by the number of setae on some leg segments (genu II with eight setae, tibiae II and III with seven and six setae, respectively) and by the unusual presence of three pairs of conspicuously shortened setae (J3, J4, and Z3) on the posterior dorsal shield. In other known Longoseiulus species, the genu II has 11 setae, the tibiae II and III have 10 and seven setae, respectively, and almost all dorsal setae are of similar length (except for the elongated Z4 and S4), none of which is formed as a microseta. A dichotomous key for females is provided to identify species classified worldwide in Longoseiulus.

Bartonella, Rickettsia, Babesia, and Hepatozoon Species in Fleas (Siphonaptera) Infesting Small Mammals of Slovakia (Central Europe).

Fleas (Siphonaptera) as obligate, blood-feeding ectoparasites are, together with ticks, hosted by small mammals and can transmit causative agents of serious infections. This study aimed to determine and characterize the presence and genetic diversity of Bartonella, Rickettsia, and apicomplexan parasites (Babesia, Hepatozoon) in fleas feeding on small mammals from three different habitat types (suburban, natural, and rural) in Slovakia. The most common pathogen in the examined fleas was Bartonella spp. (33.98%; 95% CI: 30.38–37.58), followed by Rickettsia spp. (19.1%; 95% CI: 16.25–22.24) and apicomplexan parasites (4.36%; 95% CI: 2.81–5.91). Bartonella strains belonging to B. taylorii, B. grahamii, B. elizabethae, Bartonella sp. wbs11, and B. rochalimae clades were identified in Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, C. congener, C. assimilis, C. sciurorum, C. solutus, C. bisoctodentatus, Palaeopsylla similis, Megabothris turbidus, and Nosopsyllus fasciatus within all habitats. The presence of Rickettsia helvetica, R. monacensis, and rickettsiae, belonging to the R. akari and R. felis clusters, and endosymbionts with a 96–100% identity with the Rickettsia endosymbiont of Nosopsyllus laeviceps laeviceps were also revealed in C. agyrtes, C. solutus, C. assimilis, C. congener, M. turbidus, and N. fasciatus. Babesia and Hepatozoon DNA was detected in the fleas from all habitat types. Hepatozoon sp. was detected in C. agyrtes, C. assimilis, and M. turbidus, while Babesia microti was identified from C. agyrtes, C. congener, and P. similis. The present study demonstrated the presence of zoonotic pathogens in fleas, parasitizing the wild-living small mammals of southwestern and central Slovakia and widens our knowledge of the ecology and genomic diversity of Bartonella, Rickettsia, Babesia, and Hepatozoon.

A lifelong floater: the Red Kite female that never met a mate

ABSTRACT The Red Kite Milvus milvus is endemic to the western Palearctic. While the largest breeding population is in Germany, the population density decreases substantially from central to eastern Europe. In 2015, we tagged two young Red Kite females with telemetry loggers in an area with very low kite density in the northeastern part of Slovakia. One of these females failed to breed over her seven-year lifespan. After leaving her post-fledging area she never returned. During her first two years, she undertook two exploratory flights to Croatia and Romania, but remained exclusively in southwestern Slovakia and northeastern Hungary over the rest of her life. Throughout this period, she always wintered alone and no other Red Kites were ever observed in her wintering grounds. During the pre-breeding period (March–April), she remained outside the area that held breeding kite pairs, and there were no signs of breeding based on her positions during the breeding season. This seven-year-old is the oldest Red Kite floater recorded to date. Owing to the low density of Red Kite breeding pairs in Slovakia and Hungary, it is likely that she was unable to find a suitable mate prior to the beginning of the breeding season. In such areas, the role of floaters may prove critical for the persistence of low-density Red Kite populations.

Entomopathogenic fungi associated with Stomoxys calcitrans in Slovakia and efficacy of local fungal strains against the stable fly

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, is the most important ectoparasite of livestock throughout the world. Entomopathogenic fungi are natural antagonists of stable flies with the potential to be used as biocontrol agents in integrated management programmes of this pest. The prevalence and species diversity of entomopathogenic fungi in populations of the stable fly were documented on a dairy cattle farm in south-western Slovakia. The prevalence of fungal infection was low and the maximum percentage of infected flies reached 2.72% during the season. Three Beauveria species were identified from infected flies, B. bassiana, B. pseudobassiana and B. brongniartii. Beauveria pseudobassiana and B. brongniartii are reported from S. calcitrans for the first time. In laboratory tests, the pathogenicity of four entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana, B. pseudobassiana, M. anisopliae and Isaria fumosorosea against adult stable flies was compared. The flies were susceptible to infection by the fungi and the most virulent isolate of B. bassiana (IKEP10) was selected for spore formulation testing and field trials. We tested three types of spore formulations and the aqueous spore suspension was more effective against stable flies than spores formulated in the powder or oil suspension. Repeated treatments of the interior of the stable with B. bassiana spores at fortnightly intervals during June–August resulted in a 10 times higher prevalence of fungal infection in the stable fly population compared with the untreated stable, but the treatments did not effectively reduce the fly population. The selected B. bassiana isolate may represent an interesting tool in the biocontrol of stable fly populations, but further experiments are needed to design an appropriate formulation and enhance its efficacy.

The Dawn of the Early Bronze Age in South-Western Slovakia. A Re-Evaluation of the Social Structure and Chronology of Výčapy-Opatovce

The Dawn of the Early Bronze Age in South-Western Slovakia. A Re-Evaluation of the Social Structure and Chronology of Výčapy-Opatovce

The significance of Roman provincial storage vessels (Krausengefäße type) from the 2nd century in Jevíčko in the context of the North Danubian Barbaricum

The paper examines the identification, distribution, chronology and interpretation of Roman-Provincial rimmed storage vessels, which were among the Roman imports to the area north of the Danube in the 2nd century and the first half of the 3rd century. The spread of Roman coarse ware storage vessels occurred in the second half of the 2nd century. These are mainly found in Elbe-Germanic settlements (usually in sunken huts) in southern Moravia and south-western Slovakia. Some were quite voluminous (e.g. the storage vessels from Jevíčko and Křepice were up to 50 litres) and probably contained a variety of plant or animal foodstuff (e.g. seafood, exotic fruits, and various fermented or chilled foodstuffs).

Doklady bojovej činnosti z obdobia 2. svetovej vojny v priestore medzi Trnavou a Trstínom (juhozápadné Slovensko). Možnosti aplikácie metódy KOCOA

At the recent time, the battlefield archaeology belongs to the slowly developing and establishing branches of Slovak archaeology. Thank to only few zealous researches gains this field of interest consistently more attractiveness among researchers. The main efforts are concentrated on describing and documentation of military activities or preservation and protection of battlefield relics. Nevertheless, researchers abroad focus on different issues and use spatial analyses to reconstruct or understand strategies of combatants. In the following text we try to demonstrate one of these analyses known as KOCOA. An area between Trnava and Trstín (South-western Slovakia) where on April 1945 German military troops tried to stop advancing Soviet units was chosen as a model area. By means of KOCOA analysis we will try to predict locations which were considered appropriate for defence. These locations, confronted with LiDAR-derived images, can provide evidence of field fortifications which can be subjected to subsequent scientific research, preservation and protection.

Surface runoff response to long-term land use changes: Spatial rearrangement of runoff-generating areas reveals a shift in flash flood drivers

Nowadays, rapid growths of urban areas and associated land use/land cover (LULC) changes notably affect the surface runoff response to rainfall in urbanised catchments. This effect of urbanisation on surface runoff is frequently addressed since it relates to the increasing incidence of pluvial floods worldwide. Studies on this issue commonly assess runoff changes over several most recent decades. However, human-induced factors likely resulted in increased surface runoff and associated flash floods in rural catchments even in the past centuries. Such long-term changes have been rarely studied and thus are not well documented. This paper aims to fill this gap and assess the surface runoff response to LULC changes in a small catchment in southwestern Slovakia over more than two centuries. To meet this goal, we applied the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) method. We mapped past (1784) and present (2018) LULC classes based on historical maps and modern remote sensing data. Then, we estimated surface runoff depths for specific design rainstorms for both periods by executing CN method equations in the ArcGIS environment. Results revealed significant changes in surface runoff conditions between evaluated periods. In total, surface runoff magnitudes increased by ~230 and ~ 130% for 40- and 65-mm design rainstorms, respectively, compared to 1784. Moreover, surface runoff values show different spatial patterns on historical and present-day output raster images revealing spatial redistribution of runoff-enhancing and runoff-preventing areas during the evaluated period. Although both infiltration-enhancing and runoff-enhancing effects of LULC changes were identified, the latter effect associated with urbanised lowland areas was recognised as prevailing at present. In contrast, runoff-promoting conditions were associated with hilly vineyard areas in the past. These findings likely have important implications for understanding the past and present LULC-based controls of surface runoff generation and flash floods initiation.

Improving the soil physical properties and relationships between soil properties in arable soils of contrasting texture enhancement using biochar substrates: Case study in Slovakia

In the agricultural sector, the soil's physical and hydrological properties become a limiting factor in achieving sufficient crop yields. Biochar has emerged as a significant source of organic carbon and a tool for its sequestration and there are identified significant relationships between soil agricultural properties induced by biochar application with that of soil physical and hydrological properties. However, underlying mechanisms for changes in some physical and hydrological properties of the soil are not fully understood due to insufficient data resulting in a poor understanding of the interconnection among properties in biochar substrates amended soils. Therefore, we studied the impact of two different biochar substrates (BS: BS1 – biochar blended with farmyard manure, and BS2 – biochar blended with farmyard manure and digestate) at two rates (10 and 20 t ha−1) combined alone and with additional fertilization (F) on two contrasting soils. The two contrasting soils included a sandy Arenosol, and a loamy Chernozem in south-western Slovakia. The changes in soil physical properties and interrelationships between soil pH, sorption capacity, soil organic matter (SOM), humic substances (HS), and physical properties was regularly monitored in the field for a three-year period (2018–2020). The results showed that biochar substrates had different effects with dependence on soil textures. In sandy soil, BS improved soil properties such as pore size distribution, soil-air content, and water regimes, including water retention capacity (WRC), and soil structure. The most significant effects were determined in the case of BS compared to BS + F, and in the case of 20 than 10 t ha−1 as well as in BS1 than BS2 in sandy soil. In loamy soil, compared to the control, the volume of non-capillary pores (Pnc) values decreased significantly (by 29%) in the BS1 10 t ha−1 treatment, while in the case of BS + F a significant decrease in Pnc was observed after application of both rates of BS1 compared to the fertilized control. For the BS1 + F, compared to the fertilized control, the soil water storage (SWS) increased significantly by 15 and 14% at 10 t ha−1 and 20 t ha−1, respectively. Overall, the soil structure was better in loamy than sandy soil and therefore the effect of BS was not as pronounced in loamy soil as it was in sandy soil. The number of correlations between soil pH, sorption capacity, SOM, HS, and soil physical properties decreased in the following order: loamy soil > sandy soil; BS + F > BS treatments; BS1 > BS2, and at a rate of 20 t ha−1 > at a rate of 10 t ha−1.

Winter diet of Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) in the southern Pannonian Plain (Serbia, Vojvodina)

Owl diets undergo qualitative changes across the different regions of their area of distribution. During the four winters (from 2014–15 to 2017–18), Long-eared Owls’ pellets were collected at three winterroosts located at the southern part of Pannonian Plain, in the Serbian province of Vojvodina. In 8070 prey items from pellets, we identified 16 mammal and 32 bird species. The Common Vole was the dominant prey species with a proportion in a range from 27.4% to 71.6%. The Muridae family formed a supplementary part of the diet: Mus sp., wood mouse and harvest mouse, during all winters. Birds were also a major supplementary prey during winter 2014–15, comprising 10.6%. A comparison of our results with the diet of Long-eared Owls wintering at the northern Pannonian plain (southwestern Slovakia) indicated an increase the proportion of some species in the southern part. How different land uses in agriculture and environmental conditions may be reflected in the food supply are discussed in relation to the diet composition of Long-eared Owls and an environment whose is richer provides both growing diversity in the diet of these owls and an expansion of their food niche. Our study described the Long-eared Owl as opportunistic predators expanding their food niche in the presence of diversified prey.

Evaluation of soil properties in variously aged Scots pine plantations established on sandy soil

Abstract Pines are widely planted for sand dune stabilization and their cultivation results in the changes in physical, chemical, hydro-physical and water repellency properties. Soil properties were evaluated at three Scots pine plantations (PF1, PF2 and PF3) close to Studienka village, Borská nížina lowland (southwestern Slovakia) during hot and dry summer period. The PF1 site is a newly established plantation, the PF2 site is about 30 years old plantation, and the PF3 site is about 100 years old plantation. Here, we estimated the differences in pH, soil organic carbon content, Cox, particle size distribution, PSD, saturated, ks, and unsaturated, k(–2 cm), hydraulic conductivity, water, Sw , and ethanol, Se , sorptivity, water drop penetration time, WDPT, and repellency index, RI. It was found that Cox varies most significantly with plantation age, and relative differences in PSD and pH were lower than the relative difference in Cox. The PF3 site differs the most from the other two, especially in Cox and in the content of sand fraction. It can be attributed to the older age of the plantation, which represents a more advanced stage of succession accompanied by an accumulation of soil organic matter. Relationships between Cox, k(–2 cm), RI, and WDPT and pine forest age were described by appropriate mathematical models. We found a similarity between k(–2 cm) and RI relationships vs. pine forest age (exponential models), and between Cox and WDPT relationships vs. pine forest age (first and second-order polynomial models). The latter similarity can be supported by the fact that soil water repellency is induced by the hydrophobic and amphiphilic components of soil organic matter.

Offspring sex ratio and partially asynchronous hatching in the Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) population in south-western Slovakia

Birds are one of the best-studied animal groups in Europe. Despite this, there are several bird species, including the Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), of which the breeding biology is still little known. Here, I examine the sex of offspring in relation to hatching order, the degree of hatching asynchrony and some other aspects of nesting biology (such as breeding phenology, clutch size, egg and nestling survival) of the Little Bittern in the south-western Slovakian population. Egg-laying occurred from 5 May to 10 July, but the majority of clutches were initiated in May. Mean clutch size was 5.2 ± 0.92 (SD) eggs. Parents initiated full incubation predominantly after laying the third egg (86.4% of cases) of the clutch, which led to only partially asynchronous hatching of eggs. However, no evidence was found for offspring sex ratio adjustment according to hatching order. Nevertheless, survival rates of eggs and nestlings were relatively high (80.9% and 94.3 %, respectively). The possible causes of observed patterns are discussed.

Mosquito surveillance of West Nile and Usutu viruses in four territorial units of Slovakia and description of a confirmed autochthonous human case of West Nile fever, 2018 to 2019

BackgroundDespite the known circulation of West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) in Slovakia, no formal entomological surveillance programme has been established there thus far.AimTo conduct contemporaneous surveillance of WNV and USUV in different areas of Slovakia and to assess the geographical spread of these viruses through mosquito vectors. The first autochthonous human WNV infection in the country is also described.MethodsMosquitoes were trapped in four Slovak territorial units in 2018 and 2019. Species were characterised morphologically and mosquito pools screened for WNV and USUV by real-time reverse-transcription PCRs. In pools with any of the two viruses detected, presence of pipiens complex group mosquitoes was verified using molecular approaches.ResultsAltogether, 421 pools containing in total 4,508 mosquitoes were screened. Three pools tested positive for WNV and 16 for USUV. USUV was more prevalent than WNV, with a broader spectrum of vectors and was detected over a longer period (June–October vs August for WNV). The main vectors of both viruses were Culex pipiens sensu lato. Importantly, WNV and USUV were identified in a highly urbanised area of Bratislava city, Slovakias’ capital city. Moreover, in early September 2019, a patient, who had been bitten by mosquitoes in south-western Slovakia and who had not travelled abroad, was laboratory-confirmed with WNV infection.ConclusionThe entomological survey results and case report increase current understanding of the WNV and USUV situation in Slovakia. They underline the importance of vector surveillance to assess public health risks posed by these viruses.

Genetic variability and conservation of the endangered Pannonian root vole in fragmented habitats of an agricultural landscape

The distribution of the endangered glacial relict subspecies, the Pannonian root voleAlexandromys oeconomus mehelyiÉhik, 1928, is restricted to scattered localities in south-western Slovakia, which belong to the north-eastern zone of its range. Human-induced changes and fragmentation of the landscape have led to the gradual loss of suitable habitats and threaten its long-term survival. The study area in the Danubian Lowland is characterised by small habitat fragments and temporal fluctuations of the habitat area. Root voles were sampled at nine sites to study the level of genetic variability and structure of local subpopulations by scoring 13 microsatellite loci in 69 individuals. Genetic differentiation varied amongst local populations and we did not find a significant isolation-by-distance pattern. Bayesian clustering analysis suggested that dispersal effectively prevents marked genetic subdivision between studied habitat fragments. Significant pairwise differentiation between some subpopulations, however, may be the result of putatively suppressed gene flow. Low genetic diversity in the recent populations probably reflects the isolated location of the study area in the agricultural landscape, suggesting that long-term survival may not be assured. In order to maintain genetic diversity, it is essential to preserve (or even restore) habitats and ensure the possibility of gene flow; habitat protection is, therefore, recommended. Continuous assessment is necessary for effective conservation management and to predict the long-term survival chances of the Pannonian root vole in the study area.

The diversity of fungal population from grape harvest to young wine in Small Carpathian wine region

The study aimed to identify the filamentous fungi and yeast mycobiota found on the surface and in grapes, grape must, and wine obtained from four red grape varieties: Alibernet, Dornfelder, Blue Frankish, Cabernet Sauvignon, and four white grape varieties: Green Veltliner, Rheinriesling, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon. Grapes from vineyard Vrbové located in southwestern Slovakia were used for the research in 2020. The identification of filamentous fungi was performed using the macroscopic and microscopic observations and yeasts were identified by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometer. A total of 642 isolates were obtained. Grapes were rich in diversity of filamentous fungi (13 genera) and must on yeasts (8 genera). Penicillium, Botrytis, and Hanseniaspora uvarum were identified in both grapes and must. Three of the fungal genera identified by conventional or molecular techniques from the surface of red grape varieties were predominant: Alternaria (26%), Botrytis (21%), and Issatchenkia terricola (13%), two from endogenous mycobiota: Hanseniaspora uvarum (45%) and Botrytis (17%), four from the surface of white grape varieties: Penicillium (25%), Botrytis (21%), Alternaria (16%) and Hanseniaspora uvarum (15%), and three from endogenous mycobiota: Botrytis (44%), Hanseniaspora uvarum (23%) and Alternaria (20%). Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida krusei, C. utilis, and Cryptococcus neoformans were identified only in wine.