81. A first survey on hair cortisol of an Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) population.Tanja Peric, Alberto Prandi, Mirco Corazzin, Antonella Comin, Monica Colitti, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Biometric measurements of horn, body and physiological variables of 35 Alpine ibex, Capra ibex ibex, (14 females and 21 males, age range: 2-15 years) were analysed in relation to gender and area of origin. Moreover, for the first time hair cortisol concentration was evaluated in this species. The ibexes were live-captured in spring in the Maritime Alps Natural Park. All the horn and body morphometric measurements were significantly different between genders and a statistical difference was found between horn and body data considering the area of origin of ibexes, with the exception of horn circumference and height as well of body and hock length. Among the physiological variables, female ibex showed higher heart rate and glycemia, but tended to have lower respiratory rate than male. The mean hair cortisol concentration was 22.40±1.44 pg/mg (±SE). A different distribution was described for the male hair cortisol concentrations compared to that in females. Obtained data indicate that the geographical area where Alpine ibex lives could affect the endurance of an ibex population but further investigations are needed to understand if intra- and inter-specific competition and different environment could be the basis of the HPA axis activation. Hair cortisol evaluation together with biometric values could be an interesting way to obtain information on the adaptation that the animal attempts to reach in relation to environmental factors and pursuing organism homeostasis. This feature could be important in attempting to preserve wildlife biodiversity that also depends from the state of animal welfare.
Keywords: allostatic load, Alps, ibex, biometry, hair cortisol
Published in RUNG: 06.03.2018; Views: 4491; Downloads: 0
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82. Ecological evaluation of aquatic and terrestrial subterranean fauna in a karst cavePeter Kozel, 2018, doctoral dissertation Abstract: Studies on environmental parameters−subterranean fauna relationship and spatial and temporal patterns of subterranean fauna have dealt with either aquatic or terrestrial faunas. So far, no simultaneous ecological evaluation of aquatic and terrestrial faunas has been performed. To address this issue, we conducted a pilot study dealing in parallel with these two faunas in the cave Zguba jama near Postojna, Slovenia, applying monthly sampling over one year. Aquatic fauna was sampled from permanent water drips, and terrestrial fauna by visual inspection and advanced baited pitfall trapping, along with recording the main abiotic parameters. In percolating water, we recorded aquatic fauna, Copepoda being the dominant taxon, and species-rich troglobiotic fauna, which most probably coexist with aquatic species in a semi-aquatic epikarst environment. Analyses revealed that temperature, distance from the entrance and ceiling thickness are the most important parameters that influence the presence of stygobionts; higher values of these parameters result in a higher probability of the presence of stygobionts in percolation water. The recorded spatial distribution of stygobionts varied distinctly among the sampling sites. This indicates that fauna in sampled drips originated from aquatic or semiaquatic epikarst microhabitats, being completely or nearly completely separated from each other, and probably varied according to environmental characteristics. The temporal pattern of the stygobiotic fauna dynamics presumably occurred because of variable water flow rates and the specific physical and chemical characteristics of the water. The abundance of troglobionts showed distinctive spatial distribution pattern over the seasons. In spring and summer, the highest abundances and the highest probability of presence were found near the entrance. In autumn and winter, unfavorable conditions in the entrance zone most likely triggered the migration of troglobionts towards the climatically more stable deep cave zone, and from the cave into the adjacent fissure network. The highest abundance of troglobionts was found at 7–9°C and relatively high ground substrate moisture. Additionally, we found a higher probability of the presence of troglobionts in cave sections with a larger passage cross-section size, which is probably due to the greater variability of microhabitat types in spacious cave sections. In addition, the higher probability of presence relates to higher substrate pH. One potential explanation for this could be that the specific microorganism communities present in such conditions support the nutritional needs of troglobionts. Most troglobiotic species preferred the deep cave zone where the highest species richness and diversity were also observed. Species richness, abundance and diversity of troglophiles and trogloxenes were highest in the entrance zone and showed relatively similar patterns within the cave. However, troglophiles were more abundant in the transition zone and the initial part of the inner zone. The temporal pattern of trogloxenes and presumably of most troglophiles occurred because of migration between the surface and the cave. The probability of the presence of trogloxenes was highest in the entrance zone and in winter, owing to massive overwintering in the cave. A modified technique of pitfall trapping by placing traps in two parallel sets, a ground and an upper one along the cave, resulted in recording greater species diversity in comparison with the traditional method, i.e., ground pitfall trapping alone. It turned out that such sampling contributes at the same time to both more effective and less invasive inventory of subterranean fauna. The dynamics of relative abundance and species richness of stygobionts and troglobionts within the cave showed partly comparable annual patterns. Nevertheless, our findings point toward the need for a long-term and more detailed study in future to address this question properly.
Keywords: biological inventories, epikarst fauna, faunal dynamics, microhabitats, stygobionts, troglobionts, troglophiles, trogloxenes, Zguba jama
Published in RUNG: 16.02.2018; Views: 4644; Downloads: 316
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84. Hair cortisol concentrations in New Zealand white rabbits subjected to surgeryTanja Peric, Antonella Comin, Mirco Corazzin, Marta Montillo, Federico Canavese, Marco Stebel, Alberto Prandi, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess hair cortisol concentrations in New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) that were
subjected to relocation and surgery to evaluate HPA-axis activity; in addition, we used this marker of cortisol secretion to evaluate the allostatic load of animals undergoing surgery. After a period of acclimatisation, which lasted 40 days from their arrival at the enclosure, 19 rabbits were subjected to T1–T12 dorsal arthrodesis (RS), 19 were sham-operated (SS), and 19 were non-operated (CON). Hair samples were collected at the time of arrival (ST1) at the animal facility, and seven other sets of hair samples were collected at 40-day intervals from the same area of skin for a period of 240 days as re-shaved hair (anagen phase): immediately before surgery (ST2) and after the surgery (ST3, ST4, ST5, ST6, ST7, and ST8). The transition from the rabbitry to the animal breeding facility led to a significant increase in cortisol concentration (ST2) in all of the groups. At ST3, the RS group presented higher cortisol concentrations
than those of the SS group and the CON group. At ST4, the experimental groups showed similar values that remained constant
until ST8. The results show that the management of rabbits undergoing surgery should be evaluated very carefully, and hair cortisol concentrations may provide a means of avoiding the dangerous cumulative effects of additional stressors close to surgery.
Keywords: animal welfare, cortisol, hair, HPA axis, rabbit, surgery
Published in RUNG: 09.02.2018; Views: 4142; Downloads: 0
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85. PASSERBY BECOME SUPERNOVA HUNTERS IN KUNGSTRÄDGÅRDENTanja Petrushevska, S. Papadogiannakis, Emir Karamehmetoglu, 2015, other performed works Abstract: Fysik i Kungsträdgården is one of the major outreach events in Stockholm where scientists have the chance to show their research. This year the supernova group at the OKC invited the public to look for supernovae with us using the intermediate Palomar (Transient) Factory (iPTF) collaboration telescope in Palomar, California, U.S.A. Due to the time difference between Stockholm and California, we were able to look at live images as they were taken from the telescope, to search for new transient objects such as supernovae. The event was successful, bringing a lot of people from the park in central Stockholm to come and search with us.
Keywords: science outreach, supernova hunting for the public
Published in RUNG: 09.02.2018; Views: 3793; Downloads: 0
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86. Supernovae seen through gravitational telescopesTanja Petrushevska, 2017, other performed works Abstract: Galaxies, and clusters of galaxies, can act as gravitational lenses and magnify the light of objects behind them. The effect enables observations of very distant supernovae, that otherwise would be too faint to be detected by existing telescopes, and allows studies of the frequency and properties of these rare phenomena when the universe was young. Under the right circumstances, multiple images of the lensed supernovae can be observed, and due to the variable nature of the objects, the difference between the arrival times of the images can be measured. Since the images have taken different paths through space before reaching us, the time-differences are sensitive to the expansion rate of the universe. One class of supernovae, Type Ia, are of particular interest to detect. Their well known brightness can be used to determine the magnification, which can be used to understand the lensing systems. I will also report our discovery of the first resolved multiply-imaged gravitationally lensed supernova Type Ia.
Keywords: lensed supernovae
Published in RUNG: 06.02.2018; Views: 3012; Downloads: 0
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88. SUMMER SCHOOL AT FYSIKUMTanja Petrushevska, other performed works Abstract: This summer, for two weeks, 120 high school students (out of 750 applicants) had the opportunity to taste how research is done at Stockholm University. The students worked in small groups under the supervision of doctoral students in chemistry, physics, biology and geology. At the Physics department, the two PhD students Tanja Petrushevska and Seméli Papadogiannakis offered a project that involved supernovae and their host galaxies.
Keywords: summer school for high school students in astrophysics
Published in RUNG: 06.02.2018; Views: 3183; Downloads: 0
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89. PM SPECIAL – ALLDELES NY UPPTÄCKT INOM SUPERNOVOR OCH GRAVITATIONSLINSNINGTanja Petrushevska, Katarina Bendtz, other performed works Abstract: I dagarna offentliggjordes att astrofysikerna på (iPTF) Intermediate Palomar Transient Factory detekterat en supernova typ 1a som vars ljus just nu böjs av en galax. Fenomenet kallas ”gravitational lensing” och är en effekt av att rumtiden kröks av massiva objekt, som vi diskuterade i Professor Magenta avsnitt om maskhål. Tanja Petrushevska är doktorand på Stockholms universitet och medlem av iPTF. Hon och de andra i iPTF skriver just nu på artikeln om upptäckten som hon berättar mer om i detta PM special!
Keywords: interview, astrophysics outreach
Published in RUNG: 06.02.2018; Views: 3372; Downloads: 0
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