Sub-mountain Area Research Articles

Seasonal activity and tick-borne pathogen infection rates of Ixodes ricinus ticks in Hungary

Ixodes ricinus is the most important tick species in Europe as it is most widely distributed and transmits the majority of tick-borne zoonotic pathogens. As limited data are available for Hungary, the aim of the present study was to investigate the seasonal timing of questing by I. ricinus and the infection rate of this tick species with all major tick-borne zoonotic pathogens. Monthly collections of I. ricinus were carried out over 3 consecutive years by dragging a blanket in 6 biotopes representing different areas of Hungary. Altogether, 1800 nymphs (300 per collection point) were screened as pooled samples (each of 5 specimens) by PCR-based methods for tick-borne pathogens. I. ricinus larvae, nymphs, and adults had bimodal activity patterns with a major peak in the spring. As newly moulted ticks of all stages are thought to emerge in the autumn of each year, it appears that most newly emerged ticks delayed their questing until the following spring. The minimum prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was 2.5%. Borr. afzelii, Borr. burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borr. garinii, Borr. lusitaniae, and Borr. valaisiana were identified by hybridization. The minimum infection rate with spotted fever group rickettsiae was 1.9%. Rickettsia helvetica was identified in all biotopes. The minimum prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia divergens and Bab. microti was low (0.3–0.5%). Bartonella spp.-, Francisella tularensis-, and TBE virus-specific amplification products were not detected. Relative to the results of comparable studies carried out in the Carpathian Basin, the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens was low in Hungary. This might be attributed to the climatic difference between the lowland areas of Hungary and submountain areas of the surrounding countries involved in the studies.

Data on the winter population of birds of Intramountain Dagestan

The species composition of winter avifauna in an arid province of Intramountain Dagestan, which integrates a transitive complex of birds inhabiting submountain and high-mountain areas of the republic, is studied. The dynamics of population density is determined, and peculiarities of spatial distribution of birds in five dominating types of landscapes (territorial units) are revealed.

The distribution of stone crayfish Austropotamobius torrentium (Schrank, 1803) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Astacidae) in the south-west Romanian mountain and sub-mountain area

The distribution of stone crayfish Austropotamobius torrentium (Schrank, 1803) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Astacidae) in the south-west Romanian mountain and sub-mountain area Data is presented in relation to the geographical distribution of the endangered crayfish species Austropotamobius torrentium. One hundred and seventy-four sampling stations situated along the streams of 15 geographical units from the South-West of Romania (Anina Mountains, Almăj, Dognecea, Godeanu, Locva, Ţarcu, Retezat, Semenic, Mehedinţi, Vâlcan, Parâng, Şureanu, Poiana Ruscă, Lipova Hills and Mehedinţi Plateau) have been investigated. A distribution map was compiled. The data from older publications were collated. The actual habitat of this species occupies a large area of South-West Romania in the mountain and sub-mountain area, being absent in the Poiana Ruscă Mts, Lipova and Dognecea Hills.

Geostatistical and visualization analysis of crop suitability for diversification in sub-mountain area of Punjab, North-West India

This study presents a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based geostatistical and visualization analysis of crop suitability in two blocks of sub-mountain area of Punjab under diversification programme. It combines the limitation approach of land capability classification, productivity potential evaluation procedure and crop suitability evaluation framework of FAO. Two blocks from the sub mountain Siwalik region of Punjab viz., Mahalpur and Garhshankar were selected. This study evaluates the capabilities of the study area for traditional crops like wheat, paddy and maize, and recently introduced crops like sugarcane, sunflower, pea, rapeseed-mustard, potatoes and kinnow for agricultural diversification. The suitability of the crops has been worked out at the village level. About 35–40 per cent of total area mostly in Siwallik hills is not fit for growing any type of crop. Sandy texture, uneven topography, moderately steep slopes and excessive drainage are responsible for unsuitability of this area. The GIS based suitability analysis for traditional crops as well as for new crops, under diversification of agriculture has been undertaken. The geostatistical analysis points towards suitability of relatively large areas for new crops like sunflower, potato, pea (green) and sugarcane. Forty three and 14 per cent of total area has been found highly suitable and suitable respectively for growing green pea - a cash crop. Thirty three per cent of total area is suitable for growing kinnow fruit. The success of diversification programme is subject to logical government policy in terms of providing cold storage, food processing facility and marketing infrastructure.

Climate Warming and Tick-borne Encephalitis, Slovakia

Increased tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases have been reported in central Europe. To investigate temporal trends in the altitude at which TBE cases occur in Slovakia, we analyzed the number of TBE cases during 1961–2004. Since 1980, TBE cases moved from lowlands to submountainous areas, most likely because of rising temperature.

Marginalised groups of rural population

The paper deals with the analysis of the typology of unemployed people in agriculture. Approximately 35–40% of people from this unemployment group have already no more chance to be reintegrated into the labour market. The analysis points to out the regional occurrence of this type of unemployment (less urbanised sub-mountain areas, stagnating and backward regions facing various processes of de-industrialisation, etc) and evaluates its wider socio-economic impacts. After 2000, the fragmentation of employment contracts in the corporative types of farms (agricultural co-operatives and companies) begins to appear in the agricultural sector. The category of seasonal agricultural workers with decreased labour and social protection begins to emerge as well. As a result of the strategy to cope with the situation, a certain self-supplying (subsistence farming) subculture was established in the Slovak rural areas to mitigate the difficult economic conditions of the rural households endangered by income deprivation, including the decreased purchasing power of rural population.

Gis aided demographic analysis of sub-mountain area of indian punjab-A case study

The present study is an attempt to understand the huge demographic data using GIS at village level. Two blocks from the sub-mountain Siwalik region of Punjabviz. Mahalpur and Garhshankar were selected. Various thematic maps were prepared using this technique. The inequality of distribution between various parameters has been studied using Lorenz curve and Ginni coefficient. Both Mahalpur and Garhshankar blocks are moderately populated blocks with highest population in south western parts. Population density is highest in the areas adjacent to the Garhshankar and Mahalpur towns. Schedule caste population is well distributed in both the blocks. The average sex ratio of the study area is 910 females per thousand males which shows that it is not a female deficit area. There are various villages in these blocks which have sex ratio more than 1000 females per thousand males, which is quite a good sign for these blocks. The literacy rate of the study area is nearly 57 per cent, which is quite low as compared to district Hoshiarpur having 81.4 per cent. Comparatively, Mahalpur block has more literate persons as compared to Garhshankar block. Lorenz curve shows that literate persons are quite evenly distributed. NRI families were around 10 per cent of the total number of families out of which 8 per cent are in Mahalpur block while remaining 2 per cent are in Garhshankar block. The study brings out important inferences at the village level by way of pinpointing the exact location of hot spots where action is needed by the planners and the administration.

Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System for Monitoring Nutrient Status of Mango Trees in Submountainous Area of Punjab, India

The Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) was used to identify nutrient status of mango fruit trees in Punjab, India. Standard norms established from the nutrient survey of mango fruit trees were 1.144, 0.126, 0.327, 2.587, 0.263, 0.141% for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S), and 15, 3.5, 145, 155, and 30 mg kg−1, respectively, for zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and boron (B) in dry matter. On the basis of DRIS indices, 16, 15, 12, 17, and 16% of total samples collected during nutrients survey of mango trees were low in N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, respectively. For micronutrients, 19, 18, 12, 20, and 6% samples were inadequate in Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, and B, respectively. DRIS‐derived sufficiency ranges from nutrient indexing survey were 0.92–1.37, 0.08–0.16, 0.21–0.44, 1.71–3.47, 0.15–0.37, and 0.09–0.19% for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S and 11–19, 1–6, 63–227, 87–223, and 16–44 mg kg−1 for Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, and B, respectively.

Water quality in rural areas of the Czech Republic: Key study Slapanka River catchment

The article evaluates the water quality in rural areas in the Czech part of Labe River catchment using the example of Slapanka River catchment. This river drains a typical landscape of Ceskomoravska Highland. Water quality in rural areas is still very low and the attention is paid to organic substances and nutrients. Increased amount of them in streams is caused mainly by agriculture and production of municipal wastewater resulting in increased eutrophication. A significant part of the article consists in the evaluation of point and non-point sources of water pollution. Identifying the type of the pollution source is helped by regression analysis using data from the public monitoring network. Eleven sampling sites were selected for evaluating the water quality. Physical and chemical analyses were made 12 times during the field monitoring in the years 2001–2003. In long-term development water quality has improved in all monitored parameters during the last 15 years. Least significant improvement has been found with the concentration of nitrate nitrogen. The water quality within the whole catchment area still remains low. To reduce the influence of pollution sources, we recommend the sanitation of diffuse sources of pollution from small settlements with less than 2000 inhabitants, and a successive change from agricultural management and intensive mass production to extensive ways, especially in mountain and sub-mountain areas.

Determinants of economic results of the selected agricultural enterprises in mountain and sub-mountain areas in South Bohemia

The evaluation of conditions for farming of agricultural enterprises in sub-mountain and mountain areas of South Bohemia results from the analyses of material and physical indicators and characteristics. The analyses of farmland fund and its exploitation, plant and animal structure and physical results converted into money enable to identify and assess the state and development of relations which affect the economic results of these agricultural enterprises.

Firm condition of chosen agricultural enterprises in mountain and sub-mountain areas in South Bohemia

The economic evaluation of agricultural enterprises in mountain and sub-mountain areas in South Bohemia results from a financial analysis. Financial ratios enable to identify and measure the state and development of individual economic aspects of these enterprises and their synthesis through solvency model makes financial health possible to be elicited.

MSV003 Diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. species and OspA-types in Ixodes ricinus ticks from Germany

Ixodes ricinus is the most important tick species in Europe as it is most widely distributed and transmits the majority of tick-borne zoonotic pathogens. As limited data are available for Hungary, the aim of the present study was to investigate the seasonal timing of questing by I. ricinus and the infection rate of this tick species with all major tick-borne zoonotic pathogens. Monthly collections of I. ricinus were carried out over 3 consecutive years by dragging a blanket in 6 biotopes representing different areas of Hungary. Altogether, 1800 nymphs (300 per collection point) were screened as pooled samples (each of 5 specimens) by PCR-based methods for tick-borne pathogens. I. ricinus larvae, nymphs, and adults had bimodal activity patterns with a major peak in the spring. As newly moulted ticks of all stages are thought to emerge in the autumn of each year, it appears that most newly emerged ticks delayed their questing until the following spring. The minimum prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was 2.5%. Borr. afzelii, Borr. burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borr. garinii, Borr. lusitaniae, and Borr. valaisiana were identified by hybridization. The minimum infection rate with spotted fever group rickettsiae was 1.9%. Rickettsia helvetica was identified in all biotopes. The minimum prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia divergens and Bab. microti was low (0.3–0.5%). Bartonella spp.-, Francisella tularensis-, and TBE virus-specific amplification products were not detected. Relative to the results of comparable studies carried out in the Carpathian Basin, the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens was low in Hungary. This might be attributed to the climatic difference between the lowland areas of Hungary and submountain areas of the surrounding countries involved in the studies.

Some risk factors in pathologic aging.

A clinico-epidemiologic prevalence survey was conducted in the sub-mountainous area of Northern Bohemia, which is distinguished by the highest proportion of aged people in Bohemian countries. It involved 6057 persons of the 70-79 age group, 1718 persons of the 80-89 age group and 139 persons of the 90+ group, plus control subjects in various other groups. In this study an attempt was made to find an effective measure of the presumed risk factors of pathologic aging in persons of the 70-105 age group. The data were analyzed by the method of coincidence of two parameters of binomial decomposition on the computer Odra. The quantity dependence of the signs was determined, and an index of the compound-risk factor of pathologic aging was calculated. When the numerical value of the index is lower than 56.9 +/- 4.36 for a group of males or 50.3 +/- 3.55 for a group of females, the probability is that a given person in those groups will survive to an advanced age. The total risk is higher for the male sex. Of considerable importance are the genetic burden, external environmental causes, harmful habits, certain "civilization" diseases, and other factors such as disturbed social contacts and defective nutrition.

Researches Concerning the Weed Control in Potato Crop Culture

Potato has a very significant place in the agriculture of sub-mountainous area of Bistrita Nasaud County. Thus, in the locality of Tîrlişua, the majority of the arable fields are cultivated with potato crop, usually in crop rotations with barley, corn or autumn wheat. To achieve a weed control in potato crops cultivated in this area, mostly traditional agro-technical methods are applied, due to the features of the area, which is a mountainous area, having small plots and predominantly on slopes. The paper presents the results of the studies carried out in 2008 to test different technological variants for potato crop, in order to observe their direct or indirect effects on control of weeds from Tîrlişua area, Bistrita-Năsăud County. Also, there are presented: the weed species determined in the research field with a specific frequency; the general weeding degree (no. of weeds/sq. meter); the results obtained for 5 potato crop technological variants, were non-chemical methods are applied for weed control; the potato crop yields and ANOVA interpretations of weed control results and yields obtained, all these in order to select the most efficient variant for this specific area.

Sur la position sytématique des genres Xenomela Weise et Oreomela Jacobson (Col. Chrysomelidae)

The exact systematic position of the oriental genera Xenomela and Oreomela of which distribution is mainly located to the mountainous or submountainous areas of central Asia, between Kashmir, Tibet and Turkestan, is difficult to find out when looking only at the external morphology. The genitalia give almost full evidence to the separation between two distinct genera, and also to their separation from the genus Timarcha. Anyhow, some other anatomical and morphological criteria put the two genera in close relationship with Entomoscelis (winged) Cyrtonastes (apterous) and not too far from the subalpine group Metallotimarcha, itself subgenus of Timarcha. The dilatation of the abdomen of the females of the Oreomela species locate them, at least biologically speaking, in close relationship with Gastrophysa. Unfortunately, nothing is known about the larval morphology and the host-plants. Oreomela is strictly an alpine genus, but Xenomela is only subalpine and inhabits foothills and lowlands.