Volume 62 (2013): Issue 1 (March 2013)

In contrast to higher plants, diversity and distribution of microalgae is not very well understood and floristic data is incomplete for many regions. This study focuses on filling this gap in case of desmids in the region, Moravia (Czech Republic). During the years 2008-2012, desmid flora of nine Moravian (Czech Republic) peat bogs and wetlands were studied. One hundred and nine taxa belonging to 14 genera have been found, 42 of them are new records for Moravia, and five of them are new for the Czech Republic (Closterium cf. costatum var. westii, Cosmarium asphaerosporum var. strigosum, C. exiguum var. pressum, C. incertum, C. transitorium). Species which have been found are briefly discussed with regard to their previous records for Moravia or for the whole Czech Republic. Line drawings of 66 taxa are included. Character and origin of the unique locality Slavkov mire is discussed.

New data about the biology and distribution of the 22 West Palaearctic species of Anthomyzidae (Diptera) are given. Based on rearing and collecting records, new host plant species were recognized for Amygdalops thomasseti Lamb, 1914, Anagnota bicolor (Meigen, 1838), Anthomyza anderssoni Roháček, 1984, A. collini Andersson, 1976, A. dissors Collin, 1944, A. gracilis Fallén, 1823, A. neglecta Collin, 1944, A. pallida (Zetterstedt, 1838), A. paraneglecta Elberg, 1968, Stiphrosoma cingulatum (Haliday, 1855), S. laetum (Meigen, 1830) and S. sabulosum (Haliday, 1837). The first potential host plant of Anagnota major Roháček & Freidberg, 1993, viz. Scirpus sylvaticus L., also is noted. A total of 29 host plant species (each being a new host plant of at least one of the above anthomyzid species) belonging to Equisetaceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, Poaceae and Typhaceae are presented. The development of S. laetum in Juncaceae and of S. sabulosum in Cyperaceae and Juncaceae is demonstrated, thus widening the polyphagy of these species. In several species of Anthomyzidae the preferred habitats are also discussed. The distributions of all presented species are reviewed, with the first records of Amygdalops thomasseti from La Palma (Canary Islands, new northwesternmost distributional limit), Anthomyza anderssoni from The Netherlands, Carexomyza caricis (Roháček, 1999) and Fungomyza albimana (Meigen, 1830) from Finland, Santhomyza inermis Roháček, 1984 from Cyprus and Stiphrosoma cingulatum from Sweden. The second records are given of A. pallida and S. sabulosum from Italy and of the very rare C. caricis from Sweden.

The occurrence of Sympecma paedisca in a small water body in the Limestone Quarry “Górażdże” was recorded in 2010. This site is interesting because of the anthropogenic nature of ecosystem and its location 50 km west of the known range of the species.

An increasing number of new and more sophisticated quantitative analyses forces biologists to find an adequate statistical software. In our opinion free software R is the best solution for many types of ecological and other biological analyses. R software provides tools for effective data handling, modern statistical methods and excellent graphic facilities. In our paper we introduce R, discuss benefits of the program and briefly comment several R packages appropriate for biologist. In the next articles of the series about R we will try to illustrate the usage of particular R packages or statistical methods on real data examples

The paper presents the preliminary results of using the herbarium specimens of selected mosses (Brachythecium rutabulum (Hedw.) Schimp., B. salebrosum (F.Weber & D.Mohr) Schimp. and Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw, for assessment of changes in the heavy metals pollution in Katowice town. For the initial studies lead and cadmium have been chosen, which are among the most toxic heavy metals. Specimens originate from two periods: the nineties of 20^th century and from 2012. To verify the correctness of assumption the control samples were selected from the collection of mosses from the Białowieża Primeval Forest considered as a “clean” part of Poland, in the nineties of 20^th century, stored in the same conditions. The results obtained in these investigations confirm the possibility of application of herbarium specimens of mosses in the biological assessment of changes in lead and cadmium contamination.

Similar in effect to predators, egg parasitoids could have a significant effect on the distribution of host and its’ population dynamics. However, knowledge about the biology and ecology of aquatic parasitoids and their effects on the host are very limited. The aim of this study was to determine whether the density of parasitoids is affected by several environmental determinants and if there is a temporal change of density during the season, particularly in relation to the host population dynamics (from order Odonata in this study). In total, 266 individuals of parasitoid wasps (from four families utilizing damselflies as hosts) were identified. The density of parasitoids did not change significantly during the season regardless of the population dynamics of model host L. sponsa and other odonates, while there was a significant effect of habitat type on the density of parasitoids. This indicates that eggs of Odonata represent only one of several host taxa. This indicates that egg parasitoids of aquatic invertebrates are host generalists preferring open over afforested habitats.

Orthotrichum pulchellum was found as a new species of the Czech Republic in the year 2006. Now it is known from the 21 localities. All of them are situated along north-west and west border of the Czech Republic. Distribution and basic information of its ecology are presented.

Aeshna caerulea (Azure Hawker) is present as a post-glacial relict in central European mountains. This species is listed as critically endangered in the Czech Republic (very restricted distribution occurring in two isolated populations) and the European population trend of this species is decreasing. The main objective of the study was to estimate the population size of A. caerulea in the Úpa bog National Nature Reserve (Czech Republic) using capture-mark-recapture data. Population estimates of adults using the Schnabel method was 425 (the 95% confidence limits: 248.1 / 992.3), and using the Schumacher-Eschmeyer method was 416 (the 95% confidence limits: 326.8 / 570.4). Imago activity became apparent at the beginning of July. This study has suggested that the possible future threats for the A. caerulea in the Czech Republic are drying up, air nitrogen depositions, eutrophication, pollution of water by external sources, and terrestrification, mainly as a result of global warming.

The paper presents the contribution to the bryoflora of the Vistula Spit, a bryologically poorly known region located in northern Poland. As a result, localities of 59 species and 2 varieties of bryophytes were found, including regionally rare, interesting and protected in Poland bryophytes, such as Aulacomnium androgynum (Hedw.) Schwägr., Orthodontium lineare Schwägr., Orthodicranum tauricum (Sapjegin) Smirnova, Rhodobryum roseum (Hedw.) Limpr. and Ulota crispa (Hedw.) Brid.