Selection of males is based on two main parameters, degree of physical development (body weight) and the stage of secondary sexual characteristic development - antlers. Antlers can be characterized ...as a weapon which reflects the age, body weight and physiological condition. In particular, antler development is an indicator for selection of yearlings and young males too. Selection in age class „young males“ (age 3-5 years) is crucial for managing male side of red deer population. In this age class young males require a lot of energy because they experience, both skeletal and physical development. In this age class it is important to mention that important elements of antlers appear - tines and possible royal. The research was conducted in the Baranja Danube area from the fenced unit of the hunting area in the same nutritional and habitat conditions. Cast antlers of 13 males were measured during their life (individual approach). After the data processing special attention was given to the „young males“ age class. Trend of growth for all the observed parameters appeared. What occurred is the so-called first significant „jump - milestone“ of antler development. Significant development of antlers in young males appear in the fifth year of their life when the young males reach the required physical and skeletal development. Thus, development of antlers can’t jeopardize parallel operations of other body processes.
Interspecific hybridization is relatively frequent in nature and numerous cases of hybridization between wild canids and domestic dogs have been recorded. However, hybrids between golden jackals ...(Canis aureus) and other canids have not been described before. In this study, we combined the use of biparental (15 autosomal microsatellites and three major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci) and uniparental (mtDNA control region and a Y-linked Zfy intron) genetic markers to assess the admixed origin of three wild-living canids showing anomalous phenotypic traits. Results indicated that these canids were hybrids between golden jackals and domestic dogs. One of them was a backcross to jackal and another one was a backcross to dog, confirming that golden jackal–domestic dog hybrids are fertile. The uniparental markers showed that the direction of hybridization, namely females of the wild species hybridizing with male domestic dogs, was common to most cases of canid hybridization. A melanistic 3bp-deletion at the K locus (β-defensin CDB103 gene), that was absent in reference golden jackal samples, but was found in a backcross to jackal with anomalous black coat, suggested its introgression from dogs via hybridization. Moreover, we demonstrated that MHC sequences, although rarely used as markers of hybridization, can be also suitable for the identification of hybrids, as long as haplotypes are exclusive for the parental species.
•Concentrations of macro-, micro- and toxic elements were measured in 10 honey types.•Honeys were collected in four regions of Croatia in three beekeeping seasons.•Significant differences were found ...in the element levels between different honeys.•Element content differences in honeys were measured between seasons.•Regional element content differences of the same honey types were established.
Concentrations of 20 elements were measured in ten honey types collected from four main geographical regions of Croatia during three beekeeping seasons. The four regions differ by their geography, ecology and climate. Significant differences in the element concentrations between honeys of different botanical origin were found for Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Pb and Zn (p<0.05). The highest mean concentrations of elements were found in honeys: floral Cd, Cr; acacia Mo; honeydew Al, Cu, K, Ni; chestnut Ba, Ca, Mn, Na; forest Fe, Mg; sunflower Cu; linden Pb, Co; sage Se; lacy phacelia Zn. Differences in the element content of honeys originating from the same region collected in different seasons was found for the honeys: floral Al, Ca, K, Zn; acacia Ba, Ca, Cu, Mg, Mn, Na, Zn; honeydew Cu, K, Mn, Pb; chestnut Al, Ba, Cu, K, Mn, Na, Pb; sunflower Cu; linden Ba, Ca, Mn. Also, regional differences in the element content of honeys collected within the same season was found for: floral Al, Ca, K, Mg; acacia Ca, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Zn; honeydew Cu, K, Mn, Pb; sage Ba, Ca, K, Mg, Mn; chestnut Ba.
Three FA indices showed correlations with age and magnitude of traits, but not in general. Significant correlations between magnitude of traits and their FA were more pronounced in AFA (12 traits) ...than in RFA (10 traits) in all age classes except yearlings. For the tray tine form (curvature), FA significantly correlated with its magnitude in young, middle-aged and ripe stags, which indicates that the trait is a reliable indicator of asymmetry. Significant differences in AFA among age classes were found in four traits (weight of dry antlers, volume of antlers, distal circumference of beams and total length of crown tines). By RFA, a significant difference among age classes was only found for the distal circumference of beams. Thus, AFA is a more vulnerable condition index. Contrary to other research findings, developmental instability was more pronounced in older age classes. In yearlings, no significant FA dependence on the trait of antler size was detected, but in certain traits, an asymmetry detected at an early age remains visible later as well, although in stags grown under relatively optimal (especially trophic) environment conditions, developmental instability was present anyway. This proposes two hypotheses for further research: Competition may be manifested even under controlled conditions, which might jeopardize the developmental stability of certain individuals, or some traits will show developmental instability regardless of relatively good environmental conditions.
Istraživanje je provedeno u fazaneriji Božur u mjestu Satnica Đakovačka. Fazani su držani u zatvorenom objektu uz mogućnost ispusta. Za potrebe istraživanja uzorkovano je 120 jaja običnog fazana, ...smeđe i zelene boje ljuske. Ženke su pronijele početkom ožujka, a krajem ožujka i početkom svibnja obavljena su uzorkovanja jaja za analize. Prilikom prvog uzorkovanja jaja u ožujku fazanke su bile u 5. tjednu nesivosti, a prilikom uzorkovanja jaja u svibnju bile su u 10. tjednu nesivosti. Cilj rada bio je procijeniti utjecaj perioda nesenja na kvalitetu rasplodnih jaja običnog fazana (Phasianus colchicus) iz kontroliranog uzgoja, kao i utvrditi sadržaj masnih kiselina i kolesterola u žumanjcima jaja. Fazani su hranjeni krmnom smjesom izbalansiranom na 17,30 % proteina. Hranjenje i napajanje bilo je ad libitum. U svrhu istraživanja korištene su različite priznate znanstvene metode za određivanje kvalitete jaja, sadržaja masnih kiselina i kolesterola u žumanjcima jaja. Istraživanjem je utvrđeno da period nesenja utječe na masu jaja, površinu jaja, masu ljuske, masu bjelanjka, masu, visinu i pH žumanjka (P<0,05). Sadržaj masnih kiselina bio je ujednačen u oba termina analize (ožujak-svibanj), s tim da su vrijednosti miristinske, palmitinske i ΣSFA bile značajno veće kod jaja uzorkovanih u svibnju u odnosu na ožujak, a sadržaj linolne i ukupne n-6 PUFA u tom periodu bile su značajno niže (P<0,05). Na ostale analizirane pokazatelje period nesenja jaja nije imao utjecaja (P>0,05). Prema rezultatima istraživanja može se zaključiti kako se kvaliteta rasplodnih jaja običnog fazana iz kontroliranog uzgoja mijenja s obzirom na period nesenja (ožujak 5. tjedan nesivosti odnosno svibanj 10. tjedan nesivosti).
The research was conducted at the pheasant farm Božur in Satnica Đakovačka. Pheasants were kept in a closed building with the possibility of an outlet. For the purposes of the research, 120 common pheasant eggs, with brown and green shells, were sampled. Females laid eggs in early March, and egg sampling for analysis was carried out at the end of March and the beginning of May. During the first egg sampling in March, the pheasants were in the 5th week of laying, and when the eggs were sampled in May, they were in the 10th week of laying. The aim of the work was to assess the influence of the laying period on the quality of common pheasants’ (Phasianus colchicus) breeding eggs from controlled breeding, as well as to determine the acids content fatty and cholesterol in egg yolks. Pheasants were fed a feed mixture balanced to 17.30% protein. Feeding and watering was ad libitum. For the purpose of research, various recognized scientific methods were used to determine the quality of eggs, the fatty acids content and cholesterol in egg yolks. The research found that the laying period affects egg weight, egg surface, shell mass, albumen weight, and weight, height and pH of yolk (P<0.05). The fatty acids content was uniform in both periods of analysis (March – May), with the fact that the values of myristic, palmitic and ΣSFA were significantly higher in eggs sampled in May compared to March, while the content of linoleic and total n-6 PUFA in that period was significantly lower (P<0.05). The laying period had no effect on other analyzed indicators (P>0.05). According to the research results, it can be concluded that the quality of breeding eggs of common pheasants from controlled breeding changes with regard to the laying period (March 5th week of laying and May 10th week of laying).
Element concentrations were measured in multifloral honeys sampled from Central and Eastern Croatia. The mean levels of elements ranged from (µg/kg): Al 323–7228, Cu 103–1033, Cr 14.4–139, Fe ...295–2336, Ni 122–523, Pb 9.65–154, Zn 442–2025. In all samples, As and Cd content were below the LOD values. Significant differences in the concentrations of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn (
p
< 0.01) were found in honeys from different locations within regions and within locations of each region. Also, significant differences in total element contents between the two regions were determined for Cr and Cu (
p
< 0.01). No significant differences were observed in total Al, Fe, Pb and Zn levels between regions. The highest Al, Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn concentrations were measured in Central Croatia, while Ni and Pb in Eastern Croatia. The results confirm the decisive influence of collection location on the composition of toxic and trace elements in honey.
The golden jackal, widely distributed in Europe, Asia and Africa, is one of the less studied carnivores in the world and the genetic structure of the European populations is unknown. In the last ...century jackals strongly declined mainly due to human persecution, but recently they expanded again in eastern Europe. With the aim to determine the genetic structure and the origin of expanding jackals, we analyzed population samples obtained from Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia (Dalmatia and Slavonia) and individuals sampled in north-eastern Italy. Samples were typed at the hypervariable part of the mitochondrial DNA control-region (mtDNA CR1) and at 15 canine autosomal microsatellite loci (STR), and analyzed using multivariate, Bayesian and landscape genetic methods. The mtDNA CR1 was monomorphic, showing a single haplotype shared among all the populations. The STR loci were variable, with 2–14 alleles and intermediate values of heterozygosity (Ho = 0.47; He = 0.51). Genetic diversity was significantly partitioned (θST = 0.07; P < 0.001) and the populations were partially distinct, perhaps in consequence of recent fragmentations. Jackals from Dalmatia were the most genetically differentiated. Assignment testing and gene flow analyses suggested that jackals colonizing Italy have admixed origins from Dalmatian and Slavonian populations. They are not first generation migrants, suggesting that dispersal towards north-eastern Italy is a stepping-stone process. Golden jackal and wolf colonization patterns might be different, with prevalent short-distance dispersal in jackals versus prevalent long distance dispersal in wolves. The admixed origin of jackals in the Alps ensures abundant genetic variability, which may enhance adaptive fitness and expectancy of population growth. The intersections between Dinaric–Balkan and Eastern Alps are areas of population expansion and admixture, highlighting their conservation, ecological and evolutionary values.
The most frequently utilized population quality indices in cervids were a fluctuating asymmetry or a branch length in yearlings. Nevertheless, unlike bovids, there has not been a reliable quality ...index so far that could also be applied at a later age. Therefore, an application reliability testing pertaining to certain elements of trophy measurement for the sake of difference detection between the cohorts was performed on a sample numbering 225 trophies of red deer stags from 11 cohorts. Although each of the nine trophy variables tested has succeeded in finding certain differences, the most reliable are the overall trophy value and circumferences (circumference of coronets, lower beam circumference and upper beam circumference). Since various trophy evaluation systems have been applied in the world, the implementation of the overall trophy value is limited only to the trophies evaluated pursuant to the CIC system. Hence, the most reliable indices are those based upon circumferences.
Kod cervida je izbor praktičnog populacijskog indeksa složeniji nego u bovida. Rogovlje nose uglavnom mužjaci (postoje i vrste kod kojih su oba
spola šuta) i ono uglavnom predstavlja lovački trofej te je težište lovnog gospodarenja u većini zemalja usmjereno proizvodnji tog derivata.
Stoga je i za očekivati da su se populacijski indeksi u cervida trebali
razvijati upravo na bazi pojedinih elemenata izmjere trofeja (rogovlja). Za očekivati je kako u uvjetima prihrane cervida ne bi smjelo biti velikih razlika u kohortama neke populacije. No, postavlja se pitanje koji je od populacijskih indeksa dovoljno “osjetljiv” u prepoznavanju razlika.
Budući da ocjenjivanje rogovlja ima relativno
dugu tradiciju u srednjoj Europi, u posljednje vrijeme postavlja se pitanje da li je podloga ocjenjivanja isključivo predmet lovačkih nadmetanja ili izmjerene vrijednosti elemenata ocjene trofeja mogu poslužiti za procjenu kvalitete populacije. Stoga je svrha ovoga rada ispitati može li se trofejna snaga upotrijebiti kao populacijski indeks.
Istraživanje
je provedeno na trofejima jelena običnog iz državnog lovišta “Garjevica”, koje se nalazi u središnjem dijelu panonskog područja Hrvatske u istočnom dijelu Moslavačke gore (Fig. 1)
Za analizu su uzimani podaci iz trofejnih listova rogovlja jelena običnog ocijenjeni prema pravilima CIC-a: duljina grana, duljina nadočnjaka, duljina srednjaka, opseg vijenca, opseg grane između nadočnjaka i srednjaka (donji opseg) opseg grane između srednjaka i krune (gornji opseg) masa rogovlja, broj parožaka i trofejna vrijednost. Dob jelena određivana je brojanjem naslaga zubnog cementa na prvom donjem kutnjaku (M1). Na temelju godine odstrela (ili uginuća) jelena i procijenjene dobi, određivana je godina u kojoj je grlo oteljeno (kohorta). Nakon toga je načinjena usporedba kohorti za svaku vrijednost spomenutih elemenata ocjene trofeja, kao i za ukupnu trofejnu vrijednost.
Rezultati analize kovarijance pokazali su kako s obzirom na parametar (indikator),
broj otkrivenih razlika među kohortama varira (Tablica 1 do 9). Najviše
signifikantnih razlika u kohortama moguće je otkriti trofejnom vrijednošću (35 od 55, 64 %), gornjim opsegom (35 razlika, 64 %), opsegom vijenaca (34 razlika, 62 %), masom rogovlja (31 od 55, 56 %) i donjim opsegom (30 od 55, 55 %). Parametrima duljina moguće je otkriti nešto manje razlike. Najmanje razlika otkriveno je duljinom srednjaka (15 od 55, 27 %), a nešto više duljinom grane i duljinom nadočnjaka (29 od 55, 53 %), dok je s pomoću broja parožaka broj otkrivenih razlika bio
najmanji – svega 16 (29 %).
Broj kvalitativnih skupina koje je svaki pojedini parametar uspio prepoznati varira od 4 do 8.
Kako
se broj skupina bazira na broju ustanovljenih signifikantnih razlika, što je više pronađenih razlika uporabljivost nekog parametra trebala bi biti viša. Međutim, pomoću mase rogovlja dobiveno je 8 skupina koje se uglavnom međusobno signifikantno ne razlikuju. Mali broj skupina dobiven
primjenom duljine srednjaka i broja parožaka nije uspio jasno izdvojiti
najbolje kohorte, tako da je u kategoriju “najboljih” stavio i neke osrednje (1992 i 1993). Stoga bi se kao indikator procjene kvalitete populacije u budućnosti mogla koristiti ukupna trofejna vrijednost, ali i
opsezi (opseg vijenaca, donji i gornji opseg) budući da su kao kvalitetnije kohorte uspjeli izdvojiti iste kohorte – 1994, 1995, 1996 i
1997.
Rezimirajući rezultate naših istraživanja, može se reći kako su uglavnom potvrđene razlike u razini gospodarenja jelenom običnim u istraživanom lovištu. Kohorte s početka intenzivnog gospodarenja (druga polovica 1980-ih i početak 1990-ih godina) imaju niže vrijednosti parametara od kohorti koje su došle na svijet tijekom intenzivnog gospodarenja (sredina 1990-ih godina 20. stoljeća.).
A total of 131 blood samples and 175 spleen samples were collected from three cervid species: roe deer (
), red deer (
) and fallow deer (
) inhabiting the continental part of Croatia. Serum samples ...were tested for antibodies against bovine herpesvirus 1, parainfluenza-3 virus, bluetongue virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis E virus, bovine viral diarrhoea virus and enzootic bovine leukosis virus. The tested sera were negative for bovine viral diarrhoea virus, enzootic bovine leukosis virus, bluetongue virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus and hepatitis E virus antybodies. The antibody prevalence in roe deer and red deer samples was 21.11% for bovine herpesvirus 1 and 75.55% for parainfluenza-3 virus. Sera from bovine herpesvirus 1 positive animals were subsequenty tested with comparative virus neutralization test and bovine herpesvirus 1 neutralising antibodies were found in 18 (out of 19) sera. In fallow deer, no antibodies against any of the viral pathogens were detected. All spleen samples tested for bovine viral diarrhoea virus and enzootic bovine leukosis virus came back negative, except for one red deer spleen sample found to be weakly diarrhoea virus-positive. Our findings provide the first information on the exposure of Croatia-inhabiting cervid species to viral pathogens, and could serve as valuable baseline data for future investigations regarding deer exposure to various pathogens and the distribution of diseases shared between wildlife and livestock. As of now, the epidemiology of these viruses in the Croatian cervid population has been only poorly understood, so that further research is recommended.
Wild boar is the most important large game species in Croatia, with populations subjected to hunting/management programs. There are indications from previous analyses of morphological variation and ...reproductive performance that population structure of wild boar in Croatia is strongly influenced by the Dinaric mountain range that separates Croatia in two biogeographic regions: Continental and Mediterranean. Of the two main wild boar haplogroups found in Europe, the most widespread is the E1 clade (present from Portugal to Russia), while the E2 clade is found within the Italian peninsula and on Sardinia. Outside Italy, the E2 clade has to date been found only in archaeological samples from the Mediterranean region of Croatia. The aims of this study were to investigate the hypotheses that (i) the Dinaric Mountains act as a natural boundary separating the Continental and Mediterranean wild boar subpopulations in Croatia; and (ii) the mtDNA E2 clade is present in Croatian wild boar. A total of 14 unlinked microsatellite loci were examined in 264 geo-referenced individuals, and the 486-bp fragment of the mtDNA control region sequence was examined in 69 individuals. The results suggest that the region of the Dinaric Mountains. represents a weak boundary between the Continental and Mediterranean subpopulations, and that the predominant factor causing the observed genetic structuring is isolation by distance. Based on these results, it can be proposed that the Croatian wild boar population in the mainland should be managed as a whole. Three variable sites and four haplotypes were obtained from the mtDNA sequences, all of which belonged to the major European clade (E1).
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