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The sperm cells of the honey bee, like the sperm of most invertebrates, belong to the modified type of spermatozoa. In our own research, differences have been observed in the activity of sperm cells isolated from drones at the beginning and end of the season. On the basis of these observations, research was undertaken to determine whether the changes in drone activity are associated with morphological changes. The sperm cells collected from drones at the beginning of the mating season are longer than the sperm cells from the end of the season. Moreover, sperm cells from the beginning of the season exhibited more intensive rotational motion than those collected at the end of the season. Experimental AgNO3 staining differentiated the sperm head into the acrosomal part (darkly stained) and the distal part (lightly stained). Staining in this manner clearly identifies the sperm nucleus and structurally differentiates the tail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work aimed at the analysis of the influence of colour type on chinchilla utilitarian traits. Research concerns animal size and fur quality traits. The data for the analysis was collected from the breeding farm „ Raba‟ in Myś lenice (southern Poland). The data concerns standard and Polish beige chinchillas and covers 3 years. The analysis included the following factors: year of evaluation, animal sex, colour type and interactions of these factors. The analysis of variance proved statistically significant influence of the year of evaluation, colour type and animal sex on evaluated traits. The year of observation influenced significantly animal weight, fur colour purity, colour type, fur's paunch part and total number of scores. Colour type influenced significantly animal weight and fur colour purity. Animal sex influenced significantly animal weight, animal size, animal build, fur quality, fur colour purity and total number of scores. Arithmetic means of studied traits during 3 years reached various levels, depending on colour type and animal sex; e.g. animal weight (in grams) in chinchilla ranged from about 560 g to 620 g. In what concerns total number of scores (in points), e.g. males of standard colour types were evaluated higher than females of beige colour type, while females of beige colour type obtained higher notes when compared with females of standard colour type. Variability coefficients, depending on traits, varied from 7.15% to 26.17%. It can prove that chinchillas which obtained very high notes in some traits had lower notes in other traits and consequently total number of scores was equalized. Phenotypic correlations were also estimated and ranged from -0.089 to 0.721. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work aimed at the analysis of the factors that influence conformation traits, included animal size and fur quality traits in four colour types of mink: standard, pastel, platinum and white Hedlunda. The data concerns the evaluation of animal conformation traits in the period of three years. The analysis of variance of particular traits indicates statistically significant effect of the year of birth, colour type and animal sex on the majority of analysed traits. Higher means of license evaluation were obtained by males in majority of the traits. Statistic analysis of body weight showed that the highest body weight characterized males of platinum and white Hedlunda colour types. Minks of standard and pastel colour types were characterised by lower body weight. The mean body weight of males was 2581.17g and of females 1401.42g (there is a clear sexual dimorphism in minks). Minks of white Hedlunda colour type were characterised by the highest means of colour purity, both males and females. Other colour types obtained lower means. The best fur quality characterised platinum minks. Variability of traits, measured by variability coefficient, had the highest values in animal weight (in grams) and ranged from 6.0 to 32.0%. Variability of total number of scores ranged from 2.00 to 8.20%. Positive phenotypic correlations were the highest between body size (in points) and total number of scores (0.676), while the lowest were obtained between body size (in points) and fur quality (-0.178). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]