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Climate change has a great impact on wildlife, which needs to be considered when designing conservation and management practices in habitats rich in biodiversity, such as wetlands and forests. Varied responses to climate change of species with different environmental preferences can be used to monitor different aspects of the environment. Since 2000, we have observed contrasting changes in the numbers of two related forest bird species, Goldcrest and Firecrest, monitored during autumn migration (14 August–1 November) over 1976–2024 by mist netting at 2 bird ringing stations on the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea. At both stations of the Operation Baltic project (Bukowo-Kopań and Mierzeja Wiślana), located ca 200 km apart, we observed a long-term decline in the number of Goldcrest since the 1980s but an increase in the number of Firecrest since the year 2000. These two species with ranges overlapping in Europe slightly differ in their preferences for breeding habitat and migration strategies. We found that in both species, the changes in migrating bird abundance in autumn at both stations were correlated with the Pan-European breeding population trends from the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (PECBMS) over 1982–2022. These correlations suggest that some Europe-wide factors underly these changes. Thus, we analyzed the effects of seven climate factors: the European Temperature Anomaly and the North Atlantic Oscillation Index in spring (March–April), summer (May–July) and autumn (October), and the Eurasian Snow Cover in October, on bird abundance indexes during breeding and autumn migration, using multiple regression models. Both species were more abundant during breeding and migration after warm springs, which conduce their early breeding and two broods per season, thus improving their breeding success. But with warm summers, Goldcrest were less abundant during breeding in Europe and on migration at Bukowo-Kopań. We attribute that pattern to Goldcrest's tendency to overwinter in Scandinavia after warm summers. We suggest that this strategy became an ecological trap, as the climate change in Europe involves the increase of summer temperatures by 2 °C over the last 42 years but also earlier snow in October, which impedes Goldcrest's feeding. These factors, combined with the decreasing proportion of coniferous forests in Scandinavia, which are Goldcrest's main breeding habitat, assumably caused the species' decline, which we expect to continue. Firecrest showed a weaker response to snow in October, but their autumn migration at both stations shifted earlier since the late 1980s, alleviating any effect of early winters. Warm spring and summers favor Firecrest abundance during breeding and migration. Firecrest also benefit from more broadleaf trees in Fennoscandia, thus we expect this species to expand its breeding range farther northeast and to continue the population increase. The change in forest management policy in Scandinavia by planting more broadleaf trees aims at increasing biodiversity and might considerably influence the forest environment. Thus, it is imperative to identify the methods suited for early detection of such changes. We showed that monitoring the numbers of migrating birds provides good indicators of the effects of short- and long-term environmental changes on bird populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honeybees host a specialised gut microbiota composed of five ever-present bacteria, which undergo seasonal variation in their proportions. The objective of this study was to investigate how host genetics can affect the microbial composition of the honeybee gut over a 5-month sampling period. Seventy-seven colonies from eight maternal genetic lines were sampled from a breeding population located in Lombardy, Italy. The colonies have been selected since 2015 for three different traits, using isolated mating stations for reproduction. Worker bees were sampled three times: June, July and October 2021. From each colony, gut from ten worker bees were pooled, and the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced. Statistical analyses were conducted in the R environment to assess the impact of genetic lines, timepoints, and their interaction on α-diversity and β-diversity. Results for α-diversity showed a significant effect of genetic line on the Simpson index, as well as a consistent effect of the timepoint. Specifically, genetic line H showed a lower Simpson index, and this line also produced less honey in the same years, suggesting a genetic influence on both microbiota richness and honey yield. For β-diversity, results revealed that the month of sampling had the strongest effect, while no significant differences were identified for the genetic line or their interaction.

Honeybees host a specialised gut microbiota composed of five ever-present bacteria, which undergo seasonal variation in their proportions. The objective of this study was to investigate how host genetics can affect the microbial composition of the honeybee gut over a 5-month sampling period. Seventy-seven colonies from eight maternal genetic lines were sampled from a breeding population located in Lombardy, Italy. The colonies have been selected since 2015 for three different traits, using isolated mating stations for reproduction. Worker bees were sampled three times: June, July and October 2021. From each colony, gut from ten worker bees were pooled, and the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced. Statistical analyses were conducted in the R environment to assess the impact of genetic lines, timepoints, and their interaction on α-diversity and β-diversity. Results for α-diversity showed a significant effect of genetic line on the Simpson index, as well as a consistent effect of the timepoint. Specifically, genetic line H showed a lower Simpson index, and this line also produced less honey in the same years, suggesting a genetic influence on both microbiota richness and honey yield. For β-diversity, results revealed that the month of sampling had the strongest effect, while no significant differences were identified for the genetic line or their interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piping plovers (Charadrius melodus sp.) rank among North America's most endangered shorebird species, facing compounding environmental challenges that reduce habitat availability and suppress recruitment and survival rates. Despite these challenges, research on the direct effects of climate variability and extremes on their breeding ecology remains limited. Here, we employ a spatiotemporal modelling approach to investigate how location, nest timing and weather conditions influence reproductive success rates in a small breeding population of C. m. melodus in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada from 2011 to 2023. Analysis of 40 years of monitoring records from a subset of nesting sites revealed that flooding and predation have been persistent sources of reproductive failures in this population, with unexplained losses increasing in recent years. Contrary to our hypotheses, our modelled results did not support a negative impact of extreme high temperatures and strong precipitation events on reproductive outcomes. Instead, we identified a positive effect of TMAX and no effect of strong precipitation, perhaps due to limited exposure to extreme high temperatures (>32°C) and context‐specific risks associated with precipitation‐induced flooding. However, trends in regional climate change are likely to increase exposure to—and the influence of—such factors in the near future. Our models also identified spatiotemporal variability in apparent hatch success over the study period, as well as worse hatch outcomes across popular beachgoing regions and for delayed nesting attempts. While our results offer preliminary insights into factors affecting breeding success in this population, further research will be imperative to enhance understanding of constraints on recruitment. To this end, we encourage the collection and analysis of additional time‐series data of prey populations, human activities, fine‐scale weather data and predator/flood risks associated with each nest on PEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Apis mellifera, csd is the primary gene involved in sex determination: haploid hemizygous eggs develop as drones, while females develop from eggs heterozygous for the csd gene. If diploid eggs are homozygous for the csd gene, diploid drones will develop, but will be eaten by worker bees before they are born. Therefore, high csd allelic diversity is a priority for colony survival and breeding. This study aims to investigate the variability of the hypervariable region (HVR) of the csd gene in bees sampled in an apiary under a selection scheme. To this end, an existing dataset of 100 whole-genome sequences was analyzed with a validated pipeline based on de novo assembly of sequences within the HVR region. In total, 102 allelic sequences were reconstructed and translated into amino acid sequences. Among these, 47 different alleles were identified, 44 of which had previously been observed, while 3 are novel alleles. The results show a high variability in the csd region in this breeding population of honeybees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Cantaloupes, are a group of Cucumis melo cultivars, that have round, fragrant fruits with netted skin. Our country, is one of the top five producers of cantaloupe, and melon in the world. Its original origin, is still debated, but one of the important centers of its diversity, is Iran. Although, native cultivars, such as, Saveh cantaloupe, Samsoori, Rish Baba, and various types of Tiles, are often of good quality, and taste, but they are sensitive to a variety of fungal and viral diseases and as a result, their yield is low. On the other hand, every year new cultivars and hybrids, are introduced by seed companies, which are welcomed by farmers, due to, their better agronomic characteristics, and resistance to a wider range of diseases. Continuation of this process, in addition to severe genetic erosion of native cultivars, and populations, and even the complete elimination of some of them, will have consequences such as, dependence of production on foreign companies, annual departure of currency from the country, and non-exploitation of the country's genetic resources. Therefore, it seemed that by creating a diverse population resulting from the crossing of superior native cultivars with cultivars of commercially resistant hybrid to diseases, and then, successive selections, new cultivars, with desirable traits of both parents, could be achieved. Thus, in this study, heritability, minimum and maximum mean values of parents, and F1 and F2 generations, aggressive segregation, and relative frequency of qualitative traits, in F2 generation, and selection of the best genotypes, in two dispersing NGF2 populations, were investigated. Materials and Methods Parental cross, was performed in the spring of 2017, between Samsoori cantaloupe cultivar (round, striped fruit, cream skin color, completely reticulate, green flesh, very early ripening fruit, poor transportability and durability, free pollinator and high homogeneity) as the selected native paternal parent, and commercial cultivar from Gallia group, that called Cory and as maternal parent (round fruit, completely reticulate, no striped skin, yellow to cream skin color, high transportability and durability, green and very sweet flesh, high resistance to various plant diseases and viral diseases) and produced by Seminis Company. The first-generation seeds, obtained from parental crosses, were planted in the greenhouse in the fall of 2017, and were self-sown. In the spring of 1397, 1000 seeds of F2 generation, along with parent seeds, and their first generation, were planted in a seedling tray, in the greenhouses of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology (Aborihan) of Tehran University, and transplanted to the ground, in the rental research production farm, located, in Filistan village-Golzar sector-Pakdasht. Controlled pollination, (isolation of male flowers, and manual inoculation) was performed, for all second-generation plants. Selection for subsequent generations, was done by pedigree method, all plants in F2 generation, were evaluated, and selected. Morphological traits, such as, plant form and phenological traits, such as, day to fruit harvest, were evaluated, and recorded. Plant health, was assessed against common and important fungal, viral and mites, under normal field conditions by scoring the severity of infections in four categories. Fruit quality traits were measured based on nominal, sequential and interval scales and quantitative fruit traits were also measured. Tables of minimum and maximum values, variances, general heritability, transgressive segregation, etc for quantitative traits, also relative frequency percentages and observed genetic ratios for quantitative traits, were calculated. Results and Discussion The results showed that all quantitative traits in the F2 population had a general heritability above 90%. The mean of all quantitative traits except soluble solids and fruit flesh thickness in F1 population was lower than the parental average. In F2 population, for all quantitative traits, positive transgressive segregation was observed, compared to, the superior parent, and negative transgressive segregation was observed, compared to, the less valuable parent. In the F2 population, nearly 80% of the genotypes, were completely reticulate, and 20% had less or no netting, on the fruit skin. These results were almost consistent with genetic ratios of 3.1. Also, 35% of F2 population genotypes, were striped and more than 80% of them had yellowish skin color and green flesh color. Due to, the fact that, selection based on traits with high heritability, will be more reliable, and successful in early generations, so, it is better, to select the best genotypes, in this population, based on fruit weight, soluble solids, and early maturity, respectively. ConclusionIn the F2 population, positive transgressive segregation was evident for all quantitative traits, favoring the superior parent, while negative segregation was observed for the less valuable parent. Traits exhibiting high heritability showcased a pronounced influence of genetic variance over environmental variance. Consequently, selecting cultivars based on these traits in early generations is expected to yield more reliable and successful outcomes. Therefore, it is better, to selection, the best genotypes in the early generations, in the F2 population, based on fruit weight, (with high genetic efficiency), soluble solids, day to fruit ripening, and with the pedigree management, of the populations, it is finally, possible to achieve lines, that have the desirable traits, of both parental cultivars. The resulting lines, can be used to produce, new hybrids, or provided, to the farmer, as a single cultivar.

Genetic improvement of popular elite single cross hybrids (SCHs) is considered as the most economical and fast-track approach to enhance the productivity of hybrids in crops including maize. This approach requires improvement of parents (I1 and I2) of elite SCHs. This in turn requires apriori identification of donor inbred lines (Id) containing favorable dominant alleles not present in I1 and I2 of elite SCHs. Under these premises, we evaluated test cross (TC) hybrids derived from crossing 11 putative inbred lines with parents of three elite SCHs for grain yield across five temporal and spatial environments. Based on the four predictor statistics namely relative number of favourable alleles present only in Id (μG'), minimum upper bound on μG (UBND), Net improvement (NI) and Probability of net gain of favourable allele (PNGg) estimated based on the grain yield of TC hybrids, we identified three best Id for improvement of 'Hema', 'Nithyashree' and 'MAH 4–5' hybrids. Using the relationship estimators, we identified that seed parent of 'Hema', and pollen parents of 'Nithyashree' and 'MAH 14–5' are to be improved. Further, we could also find that the number of favourable dominant alleles in Id were far more than those in any parent of 'Hema' and 'Nithyashree'. On the contrary, three tested Id were comparable to parents of 'MAH 14–5'. Based on these results we predicted that it is desirable to develop improved versions of parents of 'Hema' and 'Nithyashree' and those of 'MAH 14–5' from backcross and F2 populations, respectively. We have also proposed breeding pipeline for improvement of parents of the three elite SCHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite all efforts, long-term changes in the adult sex ratios of breeding duck populations are still unclear; this uncertainty is especially true for male-bias populations, which are often under the scrutiny of researchers lacking convenient results for the active protection of endangered species. Species with male-bias populations are usually strongly affected by a decline in population size that leads to a higher extinction risk. In this study, we examined our long-term data of the abundance of breeding populations in six duck species (Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Gadwall Mareca strepera, Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina, Common Pochard Aythya ferina, Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, and Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula) from fishponds in South Bohemia, Czechia, between 2004 and 2022. This evidence was used to assess long-term changes in the adult sex ratio in these breeding populations and investigate the possible effects of the NAO index (North Atlantic Oscillation index) on them, indicating climate conditions in winter. We determined a long-term decrease of the proportion of females in the breeding season in two of the six examined species: Common Pochard and Red-crested Pochard, which is driven by the long-term increase in the number of males in contrast to the decreasing or stable number of females likely caused by different migration behaviours between females and males. In the case of Common Pochard, in breeding populations, we estimated 60-65% of males in the early 2000s rising to 75-80% in the early 2020s. However, we establish no significant effects linked to climate conditions of the previous winter in these species as a crucial cause of the changes of the proportion of females in the breeding population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the effects of genetic improvement on leaf and seed traits of major afforestation timber species, and to clarify the variation trend of traits, selected trees (improved population) of the fourth cycle of Chinese fir breeding and phenotypic superior trees and ancient trees (unimproved population) in four provinces and five regions were selected as the research objects. The needle and cone traits of 218 clones were investigated, and the study used variance analysis and multiple comparison methods to study the phenotypic differences of genetic improvement on Chinese fir and different types of Chinese fir. The correlation analysis was used to explored the effect of genetic improvement on the phenotypic traits of Chinese fir needles and cones; the principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used for classification. The results were as follows: (1) The needle length, needle width and seeding rate of the unimproved population were 13.28%, 10.81% and 33.90% lower than those of the improved population, respectively. Other traits showed that the unimproved population was higher than the improved population, with differences ranging from 10.90% to 27.03%. The coefficients of variation of cone length, cone width and seeding rate of the unimproved population were 9.14%, 12.73% and 15.38% higher than those of the improved population, respectively. (2) Among the four traits of cone length, cone width, bract scale length and bract scale width, only cone length and cone width (0.931), bract scale length and bract scale width (0.622) were extremely significant positive correlation between them in the unimproved population. After genetic improvement, the four traits showed a significant or extremely significant positive correlation in pairs. (3) Cone length and cone width in Sichuan Ya’an (SCYA) were 48.83% and 53.26% higher than those in the improved population, and the hundred-grain weight in Anhui Huangshan (AHHS) was 16.92% higher than those in the improved population. (4) Genetic improvement led to a decrease in the proportion of Chinese fir with loose-stretched cones, and an increase in the proportion of Chinese fir with tightly packed and inverted cones. In summany, this study believes that the genetic improvement of Chinese fir leads to the reduction of cone size, changes the proportion of different needles and cone types, and changes the correlation between needle traits and cone traits, which will be helpful for providing the basis to the evaluation of Chinese fir germplasm resources and future multi-targets breeding.

Audouin’s Gull colonized Apulia region, SE Italy, around 1990. Regular surveys were performed since 2016, revealing an increase in the number of breeding sites and population size. The top value was reached in 2020, when a new colony, representing the most important settlement in the Adriatic Sea as well as in the entire eastern basin of the Mediterranean has been discovered near Brindisi. This settlement hosted a maximum of 222 breeding pairs. In 2020-2022, when the coverage was complete, the Apulian population of Audouin’s Gull fluctuated between 339 and 617 breeding pairs and occupied a total of five islands, with an overall production of 703 fledglings. Details are provided in order to enhance the designation of new or enlarged Natura2000 sites.

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) is an important timber species native to southern China. While the single, unstructured breeding strategy was employed in the past three cycles of breeding, it is no longer adequate for managing a more advanced breeding population. In this study, we utilized restriction-site-associated DNA-sequencing (RAD-seq) to estimate the genetic diversity of breeding populations and phenotypic values or breeding values to estimate the genetic gain of hundred-grain weight, diameter at breast height, and wood basic density. To achieve a balance between genetic gain and genetic diversity, we combined the multiple populations and core-main populations methods to construct the fourth cycle breeding population. Finally, the fourth cycle breeding population was made up of a core population of 50 individuals with an inbreeding coefficient of ~0, and an additional main population of 183 individuals, with an effective population size of 108. Crossings made within and/or between different trait-targeted subpopulations could facilitate bidirectional gene flow between the core and main populations, depending on the breeding objectives. This structured breeding population of Chinese fir could aim for both short- and long-term genetic gains and has the potential to support the preservation of germplasm resources for future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Guihaia is the property of Guihaia Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to validate the use of two SNP markers associated to a sdw1 allele identified previously in a short barley genotype (ND23049) with an adequate peduncle extrusion which reduces predisposition to fungal disease development. First, the GBS SNP were converted in a KASP marker but only one of them, named TP4712, correctly amplified all allelic variations and had a Mendelian segregation in a F2 population. To corroborate the association between TP4712 allele with plant height and peduncle extrusion, a total of 1221 genotypes were genotyped and evaluated for both traits. Out of the 1221 genotypes, 199 were F4 lines, 79 were a diverse panel, and 943 were two complete breeding cohorts of stage 1 yield trials. To corroborate the association between the sdw1 allele and the short plant height with adequate peduncle extrusion, contingency tables were created, grouping the 2427 data points into categories. Based on the contingency analysis, it was demonstrated that the higher proportion of short plants with adequate peduncle extrusion were present in genotypes carrying the SNP allele of ND23049 regardless the population and the sowing date. This study develops a marker-assisted selection tool to accelerate the introgression of favourable alleles for plant height and peduncle extrusion in adapted germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying population genetic structure and diversity is crucial for the marker assisted selection and breeding of coniferous tree species. In this study, using RAD-seq technology, we developed 343,644 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers to resolve the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of 233 Chinese fir selected individuals from the 4th cycle breeding program, representing different breeding generations and provenances. The genetic diversity of the 4th cycle breeding population was high with nucleotide diversity (Pi ) of 0.003, and Ho and He of 0.215 and 0.233, respectively, indicating that the breeding population has a broad genetic base. The genetic differentiation level between the different breeding generations and different provenances was low (Fst < 0.05), with population structure analysis results dividing the 233 individuals into four subgroups. Each subgroup has a mixed branch with interpenetration and weak population structure, which might be related to breeding rather than provenance, with aggregation from the same source only being in the local branches. Our results provide a reference for further research on the marker-assisted selective breeding of Chinese fir and other coniferous trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sacrum, which is the only element of the spine formed by the fusion of vertebrae, exhibits considerable variability among taxa in terms of the number of vertebrae, their shape, and size. Along with the lumbar vertebrae, it contributes to the variation in the number of vertebrae of the spine within a species. The literature suggests that the shape and size of the sacrum are influenced by both the animal's lifestyle and sex. The aim of this study was to compare the morphometric parameters of the sacrum in farmed and feral American mink in Poland. Analysis of dissected sacra revealed the presence of bones composed of two and three vertebrae in both populations, with statistically significant differences observed in most analyzed measurements. Examination of seven measurements for each bone showed statistically significant differences between farm and feral mink in all measurements, except for the width of the last vertebra measured at the transverse processes (BT). Significant differences were also found between the sexes and populations, with feral females exhibiting the lowest values and farmed males showing the highest values in the analyzed measurements. Additionally, females from both populations displayed lower variability in sacrum measurements compared to males. Correlation analysis revealed statistically significant high positive correlations between all analyzed sacrum parameters, ranging from 0.53 to 0.88. The observed differences in sacrum structure between farmed and feral American mink are likely attributed to the domestication process. Varied living conditions such as space limitation, lack of access to water, nutrition, and controlled breeding can significantly impact the biology of animals. Further research is needed, including continued analysis in the field of geometric morphometry, to precisely identify differences and explore their relationship with factors such as movement and lifestyle., (© 2025 Anatomical Society.)

In Hungary, changes in the White Stork population are monitored using two methods that involve a large number of volunteers: nest surveys since 1941, and since 1999 within the framework of the Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (MMM) programme. In our article, we briefly present the results of the nest survey data between 1999 and 2021, the population trend calculated on the basis of them, and the comparison of the latter with the trends shown by the MMM programme, which – among other species – counts all stork individuals on 2.5×2.5 km sample areas. Both sets of data show a decreasing trend, but there is a significant difference between them, which may be partly due to the inaccuracies of the nest database, considering the fact that the MMM also counts non-breeding adult and immature individuals. However, both methods have the characteristics that make them suitable for monitoring population trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to estimate the population size, herd structure, and breeding objectives of Fogera cattle in Ethiopia. It was carried out in 23 purposively selected kebeles in five districts of three zones bordering Lake Tana. Interviewed farmers were selected based on their livestock ownership. Primary information on the general production system and trends of Fogera cattle was collected from 527 farmers, and a population count included 479 respondents. To differentiate the pure Fogera cattle from the mixed and highland zebu breeds, color photographs of the three breeds were used by each enumerator. Kebele administrators and elders as well as district and zone officials assisted in the operation to identify the true type of Fogera cattle. MS-Excel (2010) and SPSS (version 20) were used to analyze population size and production systems, respectively. The average cattle holding per household was 7.03 ± 0.2 heads. Analysis of multiple responses revealed that the dominant reasons for keeping cattle in the herd were traction power (96.67%), milk (92.76%), and manure (83.95%). More than half of the respondents (64.65%) practiced culling both male and female animals from their herds. Interviewed farmers selected bulls for mating by coat color (56.84%), body conformation (55.08%), and body size (47.46%). They also indicated that they selected the Fogera breed (48.63%), highland zebu (18.16%), and mixed (17.38%) as bulls for mating with their cattle. Based on the respondents’ information, the population trend of the Fogera breed decreases (40%), increases (13%), is stable (6%), and is not known (41%). From the total population estimated, households own the relatively pure Fogera (41%), Fogera–zebu mix (35%), and highland zebu (24%). In this study, the total estimated number of breeding Fogera cattle was 55,646 ± 16,579 heads. It was concluded that the breed has declined and is dealing with genetic deterioration as the population size decreases due to the shift of grazing lands to crop production. As population estimation was performed by morphological features, further research supported by molecular study should be conducted.

The genome-wide DNA methylation assay was used to analyze the difference in methylation between the breeding and conservation populations of Shaoxing ducks. The methylation level of the breeding population was higher than that of the two conservation populations, and the proportion of CG methylation sites was the largest in the three populations, most of the methylation sites were located in the exon region. There were 1247 different methylation regions in the two populations (group A and B), and 927 different methylation regions in the two groups (group A and group C). The differential methylation regions of the three groups were evenly distributed in the gene and intergene regions. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes in the A and B groups were mainly involved in synaptic and cell connections and the signaling pathways were significantly enriched in cAMP and oxytocin signaling pathways. The results showed that the group C was significantly enriched in eight signaling pathways, including the cAMP signaling pathway and long-term enhancement, compared to the group A. There were thirty-five differentially methylated genes, including CACNA1C, GRIA1, GRIA2, GABBR2, PDE10A, BRAF, GRM5, CPEB3, FMn2, GABRB2, PTK2, and CNTN1. These genes were involved in the development and ovulation of ovaries and follicles and were closely related to the excellent production performance of the breeding population. In addition, ATP2B1, ATP2B2, and other genes related to eggshell quality were identified, which can be used as molecular markers to improve eggshell quality in the future.

We report the observation of two juvenile specimens of Sashed Catfish, Galeichthys peruvianus Lütken, 1874, south of Arica, Chile, which expands the current known distributional range of the species, by adding a previously unrecorded locality. The importance of the presence of breeding populations in the northern coast of Chile is discussed.

Keywords: relict gull; breeding population; breeding islets; water level; Hongjian Nur EN relict gull breeding population breeding islets water level Hongjian Nur N.PAG N.PAG 8 04/26/22 20220415 NES 220415 1. Breeding Population Dynamics The annual mean breeding size was 3409 ± 447 pairs (range 87-7708 nests, I n i = 20 years), but we found that the breeding population exhibited unstable fluctuations during the past two decades (Table 1). However, the breeding population slowly increased again through a restoration of the breeding habitat, to a breeding population size of 3581 pairs (Table 1). 3.2. Due to a continuous decline of the water level, many suitable breeding islets are rapidly disappearing, leading to a severe degradation of the breeding habitat, which is unable to support a capacity of a vast breeding population. [Extracted from the article]

In sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], hybrid cultivars for the biofuel industry are desired. Along with selection based on testcross performance, evaluation of the breeding population per se is also important for the success of hybrid breeding. In addition to additive genetic effects, non-additive (i.e., dominance and epistatic) effects are expected to contribute to the performance of early generations. Unfortunately, studies on early generations in sorghum breeding programs are limited. In this study, we analyzed a breeding population for bioenergy sorghum, which was previously developed based on testcross performance, to compare genomic selection models both trained on and evaluated for the per se performance of the 3rd generation S0 individuals. Of over 200 ancestral inbred accessions in the base population, only 13 founders contributed to the 3rd generation as progenitors. Compared to the founders, the performances of the population per se were improved for target traits. The total genetic variance within the S0 generation progenies themselves for all traits was mainly additive, although non-additive variances contributed to each trait to some extent. For genomic selection, linear regression models explicitly considering all genetic components showed a higher predictive ability than other linear and non-linear models. Although the number and effect distribution of underlying loci was different among the traits, the influence of priors for marker effects was relatively small. These results indicate the importance of considering non-additive effects for dissecting the genetic architecture of early breeding generations and predicting the performance per se.

Copyright of Ardeola is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Ornitologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

For the past 500 years, to varying degrees, the processes of religious secularization have been occurring in what today are the wealthy, highly educated, industrialized nations of the world. They are causing organized religion, as a social institution, to go from being a very important influence on the lives of people and the nations in which they live to being a smaller influence, or almost no influence at all. Various disciplines from theology to psychology to sociology have tried to explain secularization, each discipline contributing something unique. One discipline that has not contributed has been biology. From a biological perspective, based on observation and reasoning, at least one of the ultimate functions of the physical forms associated with religion appear to be that of in-group marker for a breeding population, which, as will be shown, is how all religions start. Religions structure larger human populations into smaller “clusters” that are separate in-group breeding populations. The clustering into smaller in-group breeding populations prevents the spread of contagious diseases and creates inter-group competition and intra-group cooperation, both of which have contributed to human eusociality, a very rare type of social organization that will be explained. As the physical forms of religion are losing this in-group-marker function of clustering populations with modernity, a general biological principle comes into play, which is “form follows function, and as function wanes, so does form.” When applied to religion, “form” means the physical components by which all religions are built. The specific meaning of “physical,” as used here, will be explained in the article. This biological perspective, which is counter-intuitive and can generate testable hypotheses, should complement, not compete, with perspectives from other disciplines. Physical forms in biology can and often do have more than one function, so the same form with a biological function can also have psychological and theological functions. The physical forms of religion are its objects of natural (genetic and cultural) selection. As socio-economic modernity spreads through the world, the evolutionary biological trajectory suggests that religion, as a social institution, will eventually become extinct.

Basal stem rot caused by Ganoderma boninense is the major threat to oil palm cultivation in Southeast Asia, which accounts for 80% of palm oil production worldwide, and this disease is increasing in Africa. The use of resistant planting material as part of an integrated pest management of this disease is one sustainable solution. However, breeding for Ganoderma resistance requires long-term and costly research, which could greatly benefit from marker-assisted selection (MAS). In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of an in silico genetic mapping approach that took advantage of extensive data recorded in an ongoing breeding program. A pedigree-based QTL mapping approach applied to more than 10 years' worth of data collected during pre-nursery tests revealed the quantitative nature of Ganoderma resistance and identified underlying loci segregating in genetic diversity that is directly relevant for the breeding program supporting the study. To assess the consistency of QTL effects between pre-nursery and field environments, information was collected on the disease status of the genitors planted in genealogical gardens and modeled with pre-nursery-based QTL genotypes. In the field, individuals were less likely to be infected with Ganoderma when they carried more favorable alleles at the pre-nursery QTL. Our results pave the way for a MAS of Ganoderma resistant and high yielding planting material, and the provided proof-of-concept of this efficient and cost-effective approach could motivate similar studies based on diverse breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a shortage of information about the ryegrass crop (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), especially regarding the suitable sowing rate. Thus, the present work aimed to determine the most adequate sowing rate for tetraploid ryegrass cultivars. A tetraploid ryegrass population was sown at different densities: 150, 300, 600, 900, 1200, 1500, 1800 seeds/m². The number of plants per m², percentage of soil cover, leaf yield and green and dry forage yield were evaluated. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. To observe the behavior of the pasture at different densities for each cut, regression analysis was performed, through which it was possible to verify that the sowing rate has greater influence on the initial cut of the crop. In all the variables analyzed by regression, only the second cut presented a linear trend favorable to the increase in density. In the other cuts, an increase was observed, both in the height of plants and in the yield variables, up to the density of 1500 seeds/m², with a subsequent fall to the highest density, indicating that higher densities may be detrimental to pasture yield. Therefore the density of 1500 seeds/m² is the most suitable for tetraploid ryegrass cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important worldwide legume crop with low to moderate levels of resistance to common bacterial blight (CBB) caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. A total of 852 genotypes (cultivars, preliminary and advanced breeding lines) from the North Dakota State University dry bean breeding program were tested for their effectiveness as populations for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify genomic regions associated with resistance to CBB, to exploit the associated markers for marker-assisted breeding (MAB), and to identify candidate genes. The genotypes were evaluated in a growth chamber for disease resistance at both the unifoliate and trifoliate stages. At the unifoliate stage, 35% of genotypes were resistant, while 25% of genotypes were resistant at the trifoliate stage. Libraries generated from each genotype were sequenced using the Illumina platform. After filtering for sequence quality, read depth, and minor allele frequency, 41,998 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 30,285 SNPs were used in GWAS for the Middle American and Andean gene pools, respectively. One region near the distal end of Pv10 near the SAP6 molecular marker from the Andean gene pool explained 26.7–36.4% of the resistance variation. Three to seven regions from the Middle American gene pool contributed to 25.8–27.7% of the resistance, with the most significant peak also near the SAP6 marker. Six of the eight total regions associated with CBB resistance are likely the physical locations of quantitative trait loci identified from previous genetic studies. The two new locations associated with CBB resistance are located at Pv10:22.91–23.36 and Pv11:52.4. A lipoxgenase-1 ortholog on Pv10 emerged as a candidate gene for CBB resistance. The state of one SNP on Pv07 was associated with susceptibility. Its subsequent use in MAB would reduce the current number of lines in preliminary and advanced field yield trial by up to 14% and eliminate only susceptible genotypes. These results provide a foundational SNP data set, improve our understanding of CBB resistance in dry bean, and impact resource allocation within breeding programs as breeding populations may be used for dual purposes: cultivar development as well as genetic studies.

Extraction of inbred lines is a very important step in maize breeding since these lines will be used to obtain hybrids intended for the market. However, this expensive process, hinders genotype evaluation in contrasting environments, especially regarding nitrogen (N) content. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of maize populations for line extraction and select partially inbred lines under different soil nitrogen (N) availability. Five populations were evaluated regarding their potential for line extraction. Fifty-five S1 partially inbred lines were extracted from these populations. The top-cross method was used to evaluate lines by crossing them with two testers. Hybrids evaluation used 110 top-cross hybrids, five base populations, and six checks. Two trials were carried out in Dourados and Caarapó. One trial had adequate fertilization (high N) while the other was under stress condition (low N). Hybrid DKB 789 showed potential for extraction of partially inbred lines, aiming at selecting N use efficiency. Base population BP (07) was the most suitable for the extraction of partially inbred lines aiming at N use efficiency. Partially inbred lines BP (07) 13, BP (07) 14, and BP (07) 17 are the most suitable for the extraction of top-cross hybrids with high grain yield, efficiency, and responsiveness to N. Highlights Extraction of inbred lines is a very important step in maize breeding. Hybrid DKB 789 showed potential for extraction of partially inbred lines. BP (07) 13, BP (07) 14, and BP (07) 17 are the most suitable for the extraction of top-cross hybrids.

This study was performed to assess superior potato clones for agronomic traits and water deficit stress tolerance in laboratory and greenhouse settings over 3 years (2016–2018). Four cultivars, ‘Satina,’ ‘Caesar,’ Savalan,’ and ‘Agria’ were used as parents and crossed by mutual hybridization based on a diallel cross using the Griffing III method. Of 279 successful crosses, 7,980 true potato seeds from 12 breeding populations were obtained, from which 2,313 seeds germinated and 244 hybrids were selected. The selected hybrids were cultured in triplicate in a splitplot based on a randomized complete block design. The main factor consisted of three levels of irrigation (100%, 80%, and 60% of available water) and a subfactor of 12 populations (♀‘Agria’ × ‘Satina’♂, ♀‘Agria’ × ‘Caesar’♂, ♀‘Agria’ × ‘Savalan’♂, ♀‘Satina’ × ‘Agria’♂, ♀‘Satina’ × ‘Caesar’♂, ♀‘Satina’ × ‘Savalan’♂, ♀‘Caesar’ × ‘Satina’♂, ♀‘Caesar’ × ‘Agria’♂, ♀‘Caesar’ × ‘Savalan’♂, ♀‘Savalan’ × ‘Satina’♂, ♀‘Savalan’ × ‘Agria’♂, and ♀‘Savalan’ × ‘Caesar’♂). In all three environmental conditions, the highest tuber yield and tuber weight per plant were related to ♀‘Agria’ × ‘Caesar’♂. The most general combining ability that produced positive and significant tuber yield in mild and severe stress conditions was in ‘Agria’ and ‘Caesar’ cultivars. Therefore, these cultivars can easily transfer these traits to offspring and increase the expression of these traits. The specific combining ability between potato cultivars had positive and significant effects on tuber yield under the growth conditions tested. These crosses can be used for the production of drought resistant potato clones.

Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important worldwide legume crop with low to moderate levels of resistance to common bacterial blight (CBB) caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. A total of 852 genotypes (cultivars, preliminary and advanced breeding lines) from the North Dakota State University dry bean breeding program were tested for their effectiveness as populations for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify genomic regions associated with resistance to CBB, to exploit the associated markers for marker-assisted breeding (MAB), and to identify candidate genes. The genotypes were evaluated in a growth chamber for disease resistance at both the unifoliate and trifoliate stages. At the unifoliate stage, 35% of genotypes were resistant, while 25% of genotypes were resistant at the trifoliate stage. Libraries generated from each genotype were sequenced using the Illumina platform. After filtering for sequence quality, read depth, and minor allele frequency, 41,998 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 30,285 SNPs were used in GWAS for the Middle American and Andean gene pools, respectively. One region near the distal end of Pv10 near the SAP6 molecular marker from the Andean gene pool explained 26.7–36.4% of the resistance variation. Three to seven regions from the Middle American gene pool contributed to 25.8–27.7% of the resistance, with the most significant peak also near the SAP6 marker. Six of the eight total regions associated with CBB resistance are likely the physical locations of quantitative trait loci identified from previous genetic studies. The two new locations associated with CBB resistance are located at Pv10:22.91–23.36 and Pv11:52.4. A lipoxgenase-1 ortholog on Pv10 emerged as a candidate gene for CBB resistance. The state of one SNP on Pv07 was associated with susceptibility. Its subsequent use in MAB would reduce the current number of lines in preliminary and advanced field yield trial by up to 14% and eliminate only susceptible genotypes. These results provide a foundational SNP data set, improve our understanding of CBB resistance in dry bean, and impact resource allocation within breeding programs as breeding populations may be used for dual purposes: cultivar development as well as genetic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraction of inbred lines is a very important step in maize breeding since these lines will be used to obtain hybrids intended for the market. However, this expensive process, hinders genotype evaluation in contrasting environments, especially regarding nitrogen (N) content. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of maize populations for line extraction and select partially inbred lines under different soil nitrogen (N) availability. Five populations were evaluated regarding their potential for line extraction. Fifty-five S1 partially inbred lines were extracted from these populations. The top-cross method was used to evaluate lines by crossing them with two testers. Hybrids evaluation used 110 top-cross hybrids, five base populations, and six checks. Two trials were carried out in Dourados and Caarapó. One trial had adequate fertilization (high N) while the other was under stress condition (low N). Hybrid DKB 789 showed potential for extraction of partially inbred lines, aiming at selecting N use efficiency. Base population BP (07) was the most suitable for the extraction of partially inbred lines aiming at N use efficiency. Partially inbred lines BP (07) 13, BP (07) 14, and BP (07) 17 are the most suitable for the extraction of top-cross hybrids with high grain yield, efficiency, and responsiveness to N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ardeola is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Ornitologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A national White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) census was organised in Hungary in 2019. The 14th country-wide nest count was coordinated by MME/BirdLife Hungary, also involving local branches and volunteers of the society and national park directorates. Altogether 5,018 nests and 2,358 White Stork nest holders without nest material were reported. 89.2% of occupied nests were built on electric poles. Although 80 years ago every third nests were found on trees, in 2019, only 6 were reported at that location. Successful pairs raised 2.62 nestlings on average, breeding success for all breeding pairs was 2.19, which is lower than typical, probably due to chilly and rainy weather during the breeding season. Based on 3,540 reported breeding pairs and former census data, the White Stork population of Hungary is estimated to be 3,860–4,020 pairs in 2019. The size of the population was ca. 15–16 thousand pairs in 1941, which halved by 1958 and decreased to 5 thousand pairs by the late 1960s. For four decades, the population fluctuated between 4,800 and 5,500 pairs but in the last twenty years, the number of breeding pairs slightly decreased in the country. The population decline is stronger in hilly areas of W Hungary, i.e. in Somogy, Vas and Zala counties is about 60%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence about the historical breeding distribution of Dalmatian Pelicans Pelecanus crispus and Great White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus in Greece and an adjacent zone was sought in all historical scientific literature containing references to pelicans, starting from the antiquit}'. Pelicans were familial· to ancient Greeks, although the two species were not distinguished. Aristotle was the first to observe and describe their migration movements in the Balkans. Subsequently, nothing was mentioned for pelicans until the 16th century obseivations and writings of Pierre Belon du Mans. In mid-19th century the first scientific data for both species appeared and nesting of the Dalmatian Pelicans was noted for the period 1830-1900 in seven wetlands at Peloponnese and south mainland Greece and six at northern Greece and adjacent areas along latitude 41"N. It is impossible to evaluate the actual status of pelicans in the region during 1900-1950 as none of the few contemporary ornithological publications mentioned anything about nesting of pelicans in Greece. The breeding range of Dalmatian Pelicans had probably shrunk dramatically, although it is unlikely that all the old colonies were exterminated. Until the end of 1970s, many of the wetlands where Dalmatian pelicans bred were drained or heavily altered and the number of known colonies was reduced from seven to three, with two of them in Greece, at Amvrakikos and Lake Mikri Prespa and one at Karavasta in Albania. Scientific and conservation work initiated in 1983 mainly by the "International Pelican Research and Conservation Project'1 and conservation organisations, led at the turn of the century to a manyfold increase of the Anwrakikos and the Lake Mikri Prespa Dalmatian pelican colonies, which subsequently gave rise to four new colonies in the period 2003-2015: Lake Kerkini, Messolonghi lagoons, Karla Reservoir and Lake Chimaditis. The overall breeding population rose from 100-120 pairs and two colonies in the late '60s to over 2100 pairs and six colonies in the end of the 2010s. Simultaneously, the Great White Pelican breeding population rose from less than 100 pairs and one colony to over 700 pairs and three colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Southern Agriculture is the property of Journal of Southern Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An overview of the long-term (1980–2019) population development of colonial Laridae species in continental part of Slovenia, their nest sites at anthropogenic water bodies, and various conservation measures with special focus on Common Tern Sterna hirundo along the Slovenian/border part of the Drava River is given. Breeding of these species occurs only on the westernmost fringes of the Pannonian plain, on lowland floodplains of the main rivers of the Danube Basin. Altogether, breeding of Common Tern and Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus was recorded at 11 and 10 sites, respectively. Lake Ptuj is the single site with mixed-species colony residing there in all years of the study period, while at Ormož (two sites) it was established during the early 1990s in the Slovenian territory but moved completely to the Croatian side by the second half of the 2010s. At all other sites, a suitable breeding habitat became available or was provided by management in just a few years, or created only recently. The percentage of Common Tern national population breeding in continental Slovenia was usually well above 50% throughout the 1980s and 1990s (52–136 pairs), while in the last 16 years (77–258 pairs) it ranged between 40.8% and 69.0%. Breeding of Black-headed Gull remains largely limited to continental Slovenia. Overall, continental populations of both species in the last few years have been substantially higher compared to the most of the study period. Long-term trends were estimated as a moderate increase for Common Tern and a strong increase for Black-headed Gull. Since 2006, the Mediterranean Gull L. melanocephalus has been a regular breeder at Lake Ptuj (up to 28 pairs), the only such site in Slovenia. Three general types of conservation measures implemented at different nesting locations are described in detail: (1) measures to create/increase the total surface of breeding habitat – the construction of new breeding structures, such as artificial islands and nesting rafts, (2) measures to maintain and enhance breeding habitat through recurring management activities, and (3) measures aimed to increase chick/nest survival and improve breeding success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex ratio variation has important consequences for population dynamics and viability. Adult sex ratio is male biased in many duck species, and data from wintering areas suggest male bias has been increasing in some European duck species. However, the reasons for changes in sex ratios remain poorly understood, and information on sex ratio variation among breeding ducks is limited. We studied long-term changes in breeding sex ratios and breeding numbers in Common Pochard Aythya ferina and Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula in southern Finland, the former species being currently assessed as critically endangered and the latter as endangered in Finland. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that between-year variation in breeding sex ratios is affected by the severity of weather conditions in the wintering areas. The proportion of females among breeding Tufted Ducks decreased from 42.9% in 1951–1970 to 36.9% in 1996–2015, while no statistically significant change was observed in Common Pochard (41.8% and 39.5%, respectively). Both species showed a decline in breeding numbers over the same period. Severity of the preceding winter did not affect the proportion of females in the breeding area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Morphological and molecular variation was quantified in a P. flexuosa progeny-trial. • Morphological differentiation is at least partially associated to local adaptation. • Low but significant molecular genetic differentiation was detected among provenances. • Genetic implications for restoration practices in the Monte desert are discussed. Ecosystem restoration has gained increasing interest to mitigate the effects of climate change, loss of biodiversity and desertification. Since the genetic composition of the reproductive material to revegetate degraded areas affects the success of restoration throughout time, information on the genetic properties of possible seed sources is essential to evaluate the risks associated to management practices. Prosopis flexuosa (Leguminosae) is an important native species in Argentina valuable from an economic and ecological point of view. Aiming to give restoration recommendations for the use of this species for rapid recuperation of the plant cover in arid regions of Monte desert, our goals were to quantify the genetic basis of phenotypic differences in height and basal diameter and the genetic differentiation of neutral markers among several provenances installed in a provenance and progeny test. Ours results suggest that the morphological variation have a significant genetic basis and differences among provenances may be explained by local adaptation. Low but significant genetic differentiation was detected by microsatellites among provenances. From our results the recommendation to provide a broad genetic basis in a restoration programme is obtaining seeds representing all genetic clusters identified, rather than all provenances. This implies avoiding sampling of more than one provenance embracing the same genetic clusters. If the priority of the programme is reaching ground cover rapidly the representation of different clusters in the source sample may be adjusted according to a tradeoff between expected gain in growth rate while keeping a broad genetic basis that insures evolutionary resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the breeding and non-breeding populations of the White-headed Duck, Oxyura leucocephala, in Turkey was analysed based on all available records from the period 1966-2016 from 99 different areas. Breeding is confined to Inner Anatolia and the eastern parts of the country. The breeding population had been estimated as 200-250 pairs in the period 1996-2001 but recent observations show that it does now not exceed 80-125 pairs which is a decline of about 50% within two decades. The non-breeding winter population comprises approximately 8,500-10,000 individuals. Burdur Lake has traditionally housed more than 90% of the population but is no longer a significant resting place. The numbers started to decrease from more than 10,000 birds at the beginning of the 1990s to a few hundred in the early 2000s. Now only very small numbers overwinter there. The reason seems to be a combination of water pollution and decreasing water level. After a period of more than 10 years, the numbers in Turkey started to increase again, and most birds are now concentrated at Manyas Lake in Western Anatolia. In 2016, the population reached a winter maximum of approximately 6,000. In the post-breeding season, up to 4,000 individuals were recorded in Eastern Anatolia in October 2014 which is far more than has ever been recorded in this season before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the long-term trend in breeding abundance of Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) at the Chomoutov lake, Czech Republic. In the period 1978-2014 (always between April 22 and May 10), we conducted 14 nest counts in the bird colony using the direct nest search method. In total, we counted 57,860 nests, from which 2,174 nests were found in the initial year 1978, the maximum number of nests (8,371) in 1993 and 3,304 nests in the last counting year 2014. The nests were located on the ground on an island elevated 2-3 m above the water level. In 1997, we found an unusually located nest on a nesting pad in a poplar tree (Populus sp.), 821 cm above the water level. In this paper, we point out the long-term decline in breeding abundance of Black-headed Gull in major breeding colonies in the Czech Republic, where the abundance declined by up to 95%, while numerous colonies have vanished completely. We discuss factors influencing the negative population trend of Black-headed Gull on the monitored site and in the entire Czech Republic.

This study was performed to assess potato hybrids for their promising agronomic, and marketability traits and their adaptability to climatic conditions of potato production areas in country. Some 104 potato hybrids selected during five years (2010-2014) along with Savalan, Ceaser, Agria and Khavaran cultivars, as controls, were compared in an augment design (preliminary experiment) without replications both at the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Station of Ardabil and Seed and Plant Institute Improvement of Karaj. These hybrids (104), tested in this experiment, were from 8 breeding populations. One half of the hybrids (52) in Ardabil and the other half (52) in Karaj (a total of 104 hybrids) each were planted in the 4 blocks and each block consisted of 13 hybrids with four control (Agria, Khavaran, Ceaser and Savalan cultivars). During growing period and after harvest the traits like: plant height, main stem number per plant, main stem diameter, tuber number and weight per plant, marketable tuber yield and tuber dry matter percent were measured. Then 81 hybrids were selected as superior hybrids as to their marketable tuber yield and tuber dry matter content. Hybrids selected consisted of 17 hybrids from ♂ Satina × ♀ Luca population, 36 hybrids from ♂ Ceaser × ♀ Luca population, 14 hybrids from ♂ Savalan × ♀ Luca population, 7 hybrids from ♂ Savalan × ♀ Ceaser population, 4 hybrids from ♂ Ceaser × ♀ Savalan population, 1 hybrids from ♂ Satina × ♀ Savalan population and 2 hybrids from ♂ Satina × ♀ Savalan population. Cluster analysis divided 104 hybrids and cultivars into three groups. The first group with 49 hybrids had higher average tuber number per plant, marketable tuber yield and tuber dry matter percent than the remaining hybrids. In factor analysis, three independent factor total explained 73.90% of the variations. These were named as, 1- tuber yield and its components factor (marketable tuber yield, tuber number and weight per plant), 2- the plant structures factor (plant height, number of main stems per plant and main stem diameter) and 3- quality factor (tuber dry matter percent).