Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Rimvydas Juskaitis
Summary: This study analysed a total of 535 sources to evaluate the significance of dormice in the diets of predators in Europe and expand our knowledge about dormouse ecology. It was found that dormice were recorded in the diets of 54 predator species, with owls hunting in forests being the main dormouse predators. The abundance of dormice in the diets of predators depended on their availability, and the Mediterranean region had the highest proportion due to the abundance of edible dormice. Dormice were rarely recorded in the winter diets of predators, but were found in the diets of diurnal birds, suggesting their potential daytime activity.
Review
Education & Educational Research
Milda Zarnauskaite
Summary: The importance of creativity in addressing various issues and the urgency of fostering it through lifelong learning perspective have been recognized. Lithuania has room for further growth in fostering creativity among its citizens. It is important to examine available evidence in a context-specific setting and inform future research directions and comparisons across contexts.
THINKING SKILLS AND CREATIVITY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Mohammad Asmat-Ullah, Khor Waiho, Mohamad N. Azra, Mohd Husin Norainy, Muhammad Nur Syafaat, Sk Ahmad Al Nahid, Hanafiah Fazhan, Mhd Ikhwanuddin
Summary: The development of induced mating technique for orange mud crabs in captivity achieved a mating success rate of 83.33 +/- 5.77%, which can support the increase in hatchery-produced mud crab seeds and be applied in future breeding and hybridization trials.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Toby Travers, Mary-Anne Lea, Rachael Alderman, Aleks Terauds, Justine Shaw
Summary: Research on Macquarie Island shows that eradication of invasive prey species led to a decline in Brown Skua nest density and breeding success, indicating that the impact on native predators can be significant and long-lasting. Monitoring programs and supplementary feeding could help mitigate these effects and support ecosystem restoration.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hayley Park, Lucas Nebert, Ryan King, Posy Busby, James Myers
Summary: It is now recognized that plant genotype affects the assembly of its microbiome, which in turn affects essential plant functions. The production system for crop plants and breeding history can influence the microbiome composition of plants.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Lukasz Kajtoch, Bartlomiej Kusal
Summary: This study reveals the important role of long-lasting territories of apex predators, such as raptors, in maintaining bird diversity. These territories not only support a higher richness and abundance of bird species, but also provide favorable habitat conditions for rare bird species. Protecting these territories is crucial for biodiversity conservation.
Article
Family Studies
Rita Zukauskiene, Aiste Bakaityte, Goda Kaniusonyte, Aleksandr Segal, Laura Ustinaviciute-Klenauske, Pekka Santtila
Summary: This study examined the prevalence of different types of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in Lithuania and found that 15.9% of participants experienced CSA before the age of 18, with higher rates among women. Being spoken to in a sexual way or having sexual things written about the person was the most common form of CSA. Peers were found to be an important perpetrator group in CSA cases, while intrafamilial CSA was rare with higher risk in step-relationships.
CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qing Chen, Zhenru Guo, Xiaoli Shi, Meiqiao Wei, Yazhen Fan, Jing Zhu, Ting Zheng, Yan Wang, Li Kong, Mei Deng, Xinyou Cao, Jirui Wang, Yuming Wei, Qiantao Jiang, Yunfeng Jiang, Guoyue Chen, Youliang Zheng, Pengfei Qi
Summary: In this study, two new Q alleles (Q(s1) and Q(c1)-N8) were obtained through ethyl methanesulfonate-induced mutagenesis. The Q(s1) allele did not significantly affect grain protein content (GPC) or other processing quality parameters, but it adversely affected grain yield (GY). In contrast, the Q(c1)-N8 allele positively affected GPC and GY. This research provides novel germplasm for wheat breeding and useful information for enhancing cereal crops.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jakub Gryz, Dagny Krauze-Gryz
Summary: The research showed that the food niches of coexisting bird predators in the same area were significantly separate, as they preyed on different prey species or searched for them in different habitats.
Article
Biology
Sahas Barve, Christina Riehl, Eric L. Walters, Joseph Haydock, Hannah L. Dugdale, Walter D. Koenig
Summary: Cooperative breeding strategies can result in short-term direct fitness losses, but can lead to long-term benefits. In acorn woodpeckers, male duos and trios had greater reproductive success and longer reproductive lifespans compared to those breeding alone, while female duos had comparable lifetime reproductive success to solitary females and higher success than trios. These results suggest that cooperative polygamy may offer significant fitness benefits, especially for males, and the benefits of cobreeding are greater than previously thought for females.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Julie Moyse, Sylvain Lecomte, Shirley Marcou, Gaelle Mongelard, Laurent Gutierrez, Monica Hoefte
Summary: Flax is an important crop cultivated for its seeds and fibers. It has seen an increase in cultivation areas for seed production in the past 50 years and for fiber production in the last decade. Fiber flax is the most valuable species among fiber-producing crops.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Thomas Kolbe, Caroline Lassnig, Andrea Poelzl, Rupert Palme, Kerstin E. Auer, Thomas Ruelicke
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different cage temperatures on reproduction and stress hormone metabolite excretion in two commonly used mouse strains. The results showed that higher temperatures led to increased pup loss, reduced weights of mothers and pups, and longer tails in offspring. However, there was no difference in stress hormone metabolite excretion between temperature groups. Despite the temperature effects on reproductive parameters, adrenocortical activity was not affected. Overall, the study suggests that a cage temperature of 30 degrees C during lactation can negatively impact the reproductive performance and body mass of lactating females and their offspring.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tamra C. Mendelson, Gail L. Patricelli, Eileen A. Hebets
Summary: A new evolutionary model proposes that juvenile females mistakenly imprint on male phenotypes that were not preferred by the female they copied, aiming to reconcile mismatches between theory and data.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shinji Ozaki, Paola Movalli, Alessandra Cincinelli, Nikiforos Alygizakis, Alexander Badry, Jacqueline S. Chaplow, Daniela Classen, Rene W. R. J. Dekker, Beverley Dodd, Guy Duke, Jan Koschorreck, M. Gloria Pereira, Elaine Potter, Jaroslav Slobodnik, Sarah Thacker, Nikolaos S. Thomaidis, Gabriele Treu, Lee Walker
Summary: This study measured the concentrations of 14 trace elements in the livers of common buzzards collected in the UK from 2001 to 2019 and examined whether concentrations changed over time. The study found that most buzzards had lower hepatic concentrations of harmful elements compared to the biological significance level. Certain elements showed marked seasonal variation within years, and lead consistently increased over time while strontium showed a decreasing trend. The concentrations of cadmium, mercury, and chromium increased with age, and selenium and chromium were influenced by sex. Arsenic and chromium concentrations also varied between regions. Overall, there was a low risk of harmful effects of most elements in the buzzards.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ester Murube, Romina Beleggia, Deborah Pacetti, Ancuta Nartea, Giulia Frascarelli, Giovanna Lanzavecchia, Elisa Bellucci, Laura Nanni, Tania Gioia, Ugo Marciello, Stefania Esposito, Giacomo Foresi, Giuseppina Logozzo, Giuseppe Natale Frega, Elena Bitocchi, Roberto Papa
Summary: Food legumes play a crucial role in agriculture, contributing to nutrition and soil fertility. Characterizing morphological and compositional traits of seeds can help identify nutritional properties, but heritability estimates suggest considering environmental effects on genetic traits is also important.
Article
Biology
Linas Balciauskas, Laima Balciauskiene, Rimvydas Juskaitis
Article
Zoology
Rimvydas Juskaitis
Article
Ecology
Anders Pape Moller, Javier Balbontin, Andre A. Dhondt, Vladimir Remes, Frank Adriaensen, Clotilde Biard, Jordi Camprodon, Mariusz Cichon, Blandine Doligez, Anna Dubiec, Marcel Eens, Tapio Eeva, Anne E. Goodenough, Andrew G. Gosler, Lars Gustafsson, Philipp Heeb, Shelley A. Hinsley, Staffan Jacob, Rimvydas Juskaitis, Toni Laaksonen, Bernard Leclercq, Bruno Massa, Tomasz D. Mazgajski, Ruedi G. Nager, Jan-Ake Nilsson, Sven G. Nilsson, Ana C. Norte, Rianne Pinxten, Hugo Robles, Tapio Solonen, Alberto Sorace, Arie J. van Noordwijk, Marcel M. Lambrechts
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Zoology
Rimvydas Juskaitis, Karolis Keturka, Linas Balciauskas
Article
Biology
Rimvydas Juskaitis
Article
Ecology
Rimvydas Juskaitis
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Anders Pape Moller, Javier Balbontin, Andre A. Dhondt, Frank Adriaensen, Alexandr Artemyev, Jerzy Banbura, Emilio Barba, Clotilde Biard, Jacques Blondel, Jean-Charles Bouvier, Jordi Camprodon, Francesco Cecere, Motti Charter, Mariusz Cichon, Camillo Cusimano, Anna Dubiec, Marcel Eens, Tapio Eeva, Peter N. Ferns, Jukka T. Forsman, Aya Goldshtein, Anne E. Goodenough, Andrew G. Gosler, Lars Gustafsson, Iga Harnist, Ian R. Hartley, Philipp Heeb, Shelley A. Hinsley, Staffan Jacob, Antero Jarvinen, Rimvydas Juskaitis, Erkki Korpimaki, Indrikis Krams, Toni Laaksonen, Bernard Leclercq, Esa Lehikoinen, Olli Loukola, Mark C. Mainwaring, Raivo Mand, Bruno Massa, Erik Matthysen, Tomasz D. Mazgajski, Santiago Merino, Cezary Mitrus, Mikko Monkkonen, Ruedi G. Nager, Jan-ake Nilsson, Sven G. Nilsson, Ana C. Norte, Mikael von Numers, Markku Orell, Carla S. Pimentel, Rianne Pinxten, Ilze Priedniece, Vladimir Remes, Heinz Richner, Hugo Robles, Seppo Rytkonen, Juan Carlos Senar, Janne T. Seppanen, Luis P. da Silva, Tore Slagsvold, Tapio Solonen, Alberto Sorace, Martyn J. Stenning, Janos Torok, Piotr Tryjanowski, Arie J. van Noordwijk, Wieslaw Walankiewicz, Marcel M. Lambrechts
Article
Ornithology
Rimvydas Juskaitis
Summary: The European Robin shows a preference for nesting in old large-sized nestboxes with wide entrance holes, such as those used by tit and starlings. In Lithuania, nesting success in nestboxes is comparable to nesting on the ground, and tree climbing mammals are the main predators of robin nests in nestboxes. Geographic variation was found in the occurrence of robins nesting in nestboxes, with more cases recorded in central and southern areas of their range.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Johanna Leyhausen, Berardino Cocchiararo, Carsten Nowak, Hermann Ansorge, Sandro Bertolino, Sven Buchner, Joanna Fietz, Ruud Foppen, Rimvydas Juskaitis, Maurice La Haye, Johannes Lang, Johan Michaux, Goedele Verbeylen, Alina von Thaden, Sarah A. Mueller
Summary: This study conducted nGBS analysis on hazel dormouse samples and found high divergence between the Eastern and Western lineages, as well as high rates of SNP allele fixation. The results emphasize the importance of investigating both inter-lineage and within-lineage genetic composition for future conservation strategies.
CONSERVATION GENETICS RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Charles J. Marsh, Yanina V. Sica, Connor J. Burgin, Wendy A. Dorman, Robert C. Anderson, Isabel del Toro Mijares, Jessica G. Vigneron, Vijay Barve, Victoria L. Dombrowik, Michelle Duong, Robert Guralnick, Julie A. Hart, J. Krish Maypole, Kira McCall, Ajay Ranipeta, Anna Schuerkmann, Michael A. Torselli, Thomas Lacher, Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands, Wes Sechrest, Don E. Wilson, Agustin M. Abba, Luis F. Aguirre, Joaquin Arroyo-Cabrales, Diego Astua, Andrew M. Baker, Gill Braulik, Janet K. Braun, Jorge Brito, Peter E. Busher, Santiago F. Burneo, M. Alejandra Camacho, Paolo Cavallini, Elisandra de Almeida Chiquito, Joseph A. Cook, Tamas Cserkesz, Gabor Csorba, Erika Cuellar Soto, Valeria da Cunha Tavares, Tim R. B. Davenport, Thomas Demere, Christiane Denys, Christopher R. Dickman, Mark D. B. Eldridge, Eduardo Fernandez-Duque, Charles M. Francis, Greta Frankham, William L. Franklin, Thales Freitas, J. Anthony Friend, Elizabeth L. Gadsby, Guilherme S. T. Garbino, Philippe Gaubert, Norberto Giannini, Thomas Giarla, Jason S. Gilchrist, Jaime Gongora, Steven M. Goodman, Sharon Gursky-Doyen, Klaus Hacklander, Mark S. Hafner, Melissa Hawkins, Kristofer M. Helgen, Steven Heritage, Arlo Hinckley, Stefan Hintsche, Mary Holden, Kay E. Holekamp, Rodney L. Honeycutt, Brent A. Huffman, Tatyana Humle, Rainer Hutterer, Carlos Ibanez Ulargui, Stephen M. Jackson, Jan Janecka, Mary Janecka, Paula Jenkins, Rimvydas Juskaitis, Javier Juste, Roland Kays, C. William Kilpatrick, Tigga Kingston, John L. Koprowski, Boris Krystufek, Tyrone Lavery, Thomas E. Lee, Yuri L. R. Leite, Roberto Leonan M. Novaes, Burton K. Lim, Andrey Lissovsky, Raquel Lopez-Antonanzas, Adria Lopez-Baucells, Colin D. MacLeod, Fiona G. Maisels, Michael A. Mares, Helene Marsh, Stefano Mattioli, Erik Meijaard, Ara Monadjem, F. Blake Morton, Grace Musser, Tilo Nadler, Ryan W. Norris, Agustina Ojeda, Nicte Ordonez-Garza, Ulyses F. J. Pardinas, Bruce D. Patterson, Ana Pavan, Michael Pennay, Calebe Pereira, Joyce Prado, Helder L. Queiroz, Matthew Richardson, Erin P. Riley, Stephen J. Rossiter, Daniel I. Rubenstein, Dennisse Ruelas, Jorge Salazar-Bravo, Stephanie Schai-Braun, Cody J. Schank, Christoph Schwitzer, Lori K. Sheeran, Myron Shekelle, Georgy Shenbrot, Pipat Soisook, Sergio Solari, Richard Southgate, Mariella Superina, Andrew B. Taber, Mauricio Talebi, Peter Taylor, Thong Vu Dinh, Nelson Ting, Diego G. Tirira, Susan Tsang, Samuel T. Turvey, Raul Valdez, Victor Van Cakenberghe, Geraldine Veron, Janette Wallis, Rod Wells, Danielle Whittaker, Elizabeth A. Williamson, George Wittemyer, John Woinarski, Dietmar Zinner, Nathan S. Upham, Walter Jetz
Summary: This article introduces a database of global mammal species' native range maps, including various tools for integration with other data. These expert maps provide basic information for broad-scale research and conservation.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Liam D. Bailey, Martijn van de Pol, Frank Adriaensen, Aneta Arct, Emilio Barba, Paul E. Bellamy, Suzanne Bonamour, Jean-Charles Bouvier, Malcolm D. Burgess, Anne Charmantier, Camillo Cusimano, Blandine Doligez, Szymon M. Drobniak, Anna Dubiec, Marcel Eens, Tapio Eeva, Peter N. Ferns, Anne E. Goodenough, Ian R. Hartley, Shelley A. Hinsley, Elena Ivankina, Rimvydas Juskaitis, Bart Kempenaers, Anvar B. Kerimov, Claire Lavigne, Agu Leivits, Mark C. Mainwaring, Erik Matthysen, Jan-Ake Nilsson, Markku Orell, Seppo Rytkonen, Juan Carlos Senar, Ben C. Sheldon, Alberto Sorace, Martyn J. Stenning, Janos Torok, Kees van Oers, Emma Vatka, Stefan J. G. Vriend, Marcel E. Visser
Summary: The study reveals significant intra-specific variation in phenological sensitivity to temperature among populations of two songbird species. Populations inhabiting deciduous habitats demonstrate greater phenological sensitivity compared to those in evergreen and mixed habitats. However, populations with higher sensitivity have experienced slower climate change over the past decades.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Stefan J. G. Vriend, Vidar Grotan, Marlene Gamelon, Frank Adriaensen, Markus P. Ahola, Elena Alvarez, Liam D. Bailey, Emilio Barba, Jean-Charles Bouvier, Malcolm D. Burgess, Andrey Bushuev, Carlos Camacho, David Canal, Anne Charmantier, Ella F. Cole, Camillo Cusimano, Blandine F. Doligez, Szymon M. Drobniak, Anna Dubiec, Marcel Eens, Tapio Eeva, Kjell Einar Erikstad, Peter N. Ferns, Anne E. Goodenough, Ian R. Hartley, Shelley A. Hinsley, Elena Ivankina, Rimvydas Juskaitis, Bart Kempenaers, Anvar B. Kerimov, John Atle Kalas, Claire Lavigne, Agu Leivits, Mark C. Mainwaring, Jesus Martinez-Padilla, Erik Matthysen, Kees van Oers, Markku Orell, Rianne Pinxten, Tone Kristin Reiertsen, Seppo Rytkonen, Juan Carlos Senar, Ben C. Sheldon, Alberto Sorace, Janos Torok, Emma Vatka, Marcel E. Visser, Bernt-Erik Saether
Summary: Identifying the environmental drivers of variation in fitness-related traits is important in ecology and evolution. This study examined the influence of local climatic variables on spatial synchrony in fitness-related traits among bird populations in Europe. The researchers found that temperature strongly affected spatial synchrony in laying date for blue tits and great tits but not for pied flycatchers. Understanding how environmental conditions influence trait values improves our understanding of environmental impacts on populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
F. J. Combe, R. Juskaitis, R. C. Trout, S. Bird, J. S. Ellis, J. Norrey, N. Al-Fulaij, I. White, W. E. Harris
Summary: The study found that factors such as population density, food availability, and weather have a significant impact on population change in a wide range of species. Understanding the interplay between these drivers is essential for effective conservation and management strategies. Using long-term data from five hazel dormouse populations in Europe, the researchers examined the relationship between population density, weather, and demographic rates. They found that higher population density, precipitation, and winter temperature had negative effects on population growth rates, indicating that warmer and wetter weather negatively impacts dormouse survival. The researchers also observed an interaction between weather measures and population density on age-specific survival, possibly due to weather impacts during hibernation.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Rimvydas Juskaitis
Summary: This study analysed a total of 535 sources to evaluate the significance of dormice in the diets of predators in Europe and expand our knowledge about dormouse ecology. It was found that dormice were recorded in the diets of 54 predator species, with owls hunting in forests being the main dormouse predators. The abundance of dormice in the diets of predators depended on their availability, and the Mediterranean region had the highest proportion due to the abundance of edible dormice. Dormice were rarely recorded in the winter diets of predators, but were found in the diets of diurnal birds, suggesting their potential daytime activity.
Review
Zoology
Rimvydas Juskaitis
Summary: A melanistic forest dormouse was found in central Lithuania, a rare occurrence among European dormice. Similar color anomalies have been recorded in hazel dormice in Germany, Czech Republic, and the UK, albino and flavistic specimens in Germany, and aberrant-colored edible dormice in Slovenia and Czech Republic. Melanistic individuals are most commonly documented among the aberrant-colored European dormice.
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY
(2023)