Marian Janiga

University of Žilina · Institute of High Mountain Biology

The Dzungarian Alatau in Central Asia and the Western Carpathians in Central Europe are exposed to anthropogenic sources of pollution that are impacting high-altitude mountain systems through long-range transport of emissions. Based on analyses of the autumn faeces of two species of marmots (Marmota baibacina from the alpine habitats of Zhongar Ala...

Plants, as a basic component of the trophic pyramid, are a source of nutrients and health-promoting substances, but also of dangerous or toxic substances such as heavy metals. Chemical elements were studied in the plant Gentiana asclepiadea in the Javorová Valley, in the High Tatras. Plant samples were regularly collected at sampling sites varying...

The separate scheduling of moult and breeding and of migration in birds that fly long distances between their breeding grounds and wintering areas has been recognized as an ecological adaptation permitting these events to coexist in the annual cycle. The Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris, mountain bird species, lives in harsh and cold alpine condit...

Anthropogenic activities have contributed to the increase of heavy metals and to the alteration of their natural cycles in the environment. Mercury (Hg) is now considered to be one of the most toxic elements whose levels need to be monitored in abiogenic and biogenic environmental compartments. It can enter the body of animal in several ways, mainl...

Biology of Alpine accentor (Prunella collaris) X. Chronological records of daily activities while breeding Abstract. Chronological notes on the daily life of Prunella collaris appear only fragmentary in the literature. During many years of work with this species in the Western Carpathians, some important fragments of the daily chronology of the spe...

This study deals with the investigation of concentrations of biogenic and potentially toxic chemical elements in a Western Carpathian, alpine endemic species-the Carpathian snowbell (Soldanella carpatica)-which was collected for two years in the Javorová Valley in the High Ta-tras. High mountain plants can be an indicator of environmental pollution...

This study summarises the occurrence of Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris) in the West ern Carpathians during breeding seasons between 1980 and 2023. At the beginning of breeding sea son, there are about 390 adult individuals in the Belianske and Central Tatras, about 80 individuals in the Western Tatras, 60 individuals in the Low Tatras and...

In this study, mercury (Hg) concentrations were detected in feathers of golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), a bird that typically inhabits alpine and forest areas. The mercury rates in feathers were compared in two groups of eagles: first, estimated home range (breeding, hunting, etc.) was located only in forest and lowland meadow habitats; second, t...

62 measurements of 91 nestlings and juveniles of Prunella collaris were taken in the High and Low Tatras (Western Carpathians). Growth curves of head, bill, hind limbs, forelimbs, primaries, rectrices, as well as total wing and body weight were described. The strong isometry between the tarsometatarsal and antebrachial skeletons and the rapid growt...

The spatiotemporal distribution and transport of mercury, zinc, molybdenum, rubidium, and strontium from alpine terrestrial ecosystems to alpine lake and mountain stream populations of Cottus poecilopus were investigated. Metals were measured for 66 wild fish collected from different lakes and Javorinka stream across. Mercury was measured in the pe...

The determination of potentially toxic element concentrations in fish is an important topic from the point of view of both nature conservation and human consumption. The aim of this study was to assess the concentrations of S, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, Rb, Sr, Mo, and P in benthic and pelagic fish species in the Karatal river, which is fed by melting...

The microbial communities of Kyrgyz streams and rivers were examined using two techniques: T-RFLP analysis and clone libraries. Bacterial communities were evaluated over four collection periods – Spring 2012, Autumn 2012, Spring 2013, and Autumn 2013 in the Talas, Jalal Abad, Chüy, Ysyk Köl, Naryn, Batken and Osh regions. A total of 146 water sampl...

To characterize the distribution of heavy metals in benthic macroinvertebrates and to evaluate the relationship between metal pollution and the physicochemical properties of the water, we collected samples of typical inflow stream and river macrozoobenthos from 99 sites in Kyrgyzstan. The elevation of the study collection ranged from 903 to 4060 m....

The aim of this study is to provide a general overview of hydrochemical properties of streams and rivers in Kyrgyzstan that influence water quality by defining their individual sectors. Field samples collected between 2012 and 2013 were partially collected from outflows of various glaciers in the Tian Shan mountains in order to identify the influen...

This report provides a summary of our previous research on ungulate contamination in the Tian-Shan mountains. The Kyrgyz species of wild ungulates sampled are Asiatic ibex (Capra sibirica), Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon), and Golden Marmot (Marmota caudata). Domestic animal groups studied included sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and yaks. To compare m...

Streams in the Tian Shan mountains fed by glaciers face serious consequences of climate change that could result in changes to physio-chemical parameters of stream-water and a higher risk of harmful elements leaching from glaciers. We investigated water samples from ten glaciers and their associated streams during spring and fall in 2012 and 2013....

Skulls of alpine bullhead sampled from the Javorinka stream in the Tatra Mountains, West Carpathians, were analyzed to determine concentrations of S, Cl, K, Ca, P, Rb, Zn, Mn, Mb, Fe, Ti, Sn, Co, Ni, Cu, As, Se, Pb, Sb, Ba, Hg, Cr, Ag, and Cd. The stage of development is the most influential factor determining element concentrations in the sampled...

This study briefly describes the history of synanthropy in a high-altitude bird species , Prunella collaris. A list of food items that synanthropic individuals seek in garbage in the mountains is presented. Possible influences on behavioural changes and physiology of this protected species are discussed. The large number of synanthropic individuals...

The accumulation of chemical elements in the bones of Tatra chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica) in Tatranská Javorina in the area of the Belianske Tatras were studied. Over a two year period, bones taken from the same site were sampled four times. During each sampling, chemical elements were measured, and then the bones were put back in their ori...

The work is focused on the study of ventral spotting of the yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) depending on different localities. The individuals analysed in this study come from four localities (Rosina, Žilina, Spišská Magu-ra and Bukovské vrchy), which are quite spatially separated. The research was based on photographs of the abdominal side...

Biomonitoring of synanthropic species provides evidence about effects of the pollution in human environment. In the present study, tibia and tarsometatarsal bones were extracted from feral pigeons (Columba livia), found either deceased, or experimentally captured in the lofts of houses in Bratislava, Slovakia. Concentrations of mercury (tarsometata...

Text - book for guides, rangers, and environmentalists

Reproduction is an important life history trait, affecting both parental fitness and population persistence. To contribute to knowledge of breeding ecology of birds living in high mountain ecosystems we monitored reproductive periods of ring ouzel (Tur-dus torquatus) in northern Slovakia. Between May 1985 and July 1989 essential characteristics of...

Biology of alpine accentor (Prunella collaris) VI. In-terspecific relationships among alpine accentors and other species of birds during winter Abstract. Observations were carried out on winter aggregations of alpine accentors. This species of bird was more likely to feed at dawn and dusk. During winter, regular feeding groups of different species...

Flash floods represent a serious threat to wildlife, water biota, and human life in pre-alpine regions, particularly in recent historical memory. The alpine bullhead is an established bioindicator of water quality in mountain streams, which can be adversely affected by an increased propensity for flash flooding. The aim of this study was to examine...

The main aim of this study was to determine the concentration of total mercury (T-Hg) in different tissues, hair, and faeces from a long-lived animal that actively lives in the subalpine and alpine zone within temperate climate zone throughout the year. Levels of T-Hg in samples from naturally deceased Tatra chamois (n = 72) from the Tatra Mountain...

The main objective of our research was to identify the impact of external factors (spa-tial and time) on the amount of lead in the tissue great tit nestlings (Parus major) during ontogenesis in the submontane region of the High Tatra mountains. The research was carried out in the vicinity of several roads in the municipalities of Štrbské Pleso, Tat...

Local pigeon populations surveyed in Slovak towns are intricately linked to the an-thropogenic environment of their particular habitat. In the past, this has generally been more limited to historical, commercial areas, and agricultural areas, but more recently, pigeons are also expanding into newly built neighbourhoods and housing estates. The grou...

Compared to chewing lice, symbiotic and studies on their biology, ecology and survival strategies are still rare. To describe the ecology and morphology of the mite species Proctophyllodes megaphyllus, a symbiont of the alpine accentor Prunella collaris, 150 accentors were captured in the West Carpathian Mountains of Slovakia. The mites extracted f...

This study deals with the issue of contaminant transfer from a tailings pond (Rosina-Žilina, Slovakia) to the surrounding environment. More than one hundred samples of soil and plant tissues were taken. Analysis focused to two species of the Poaceae family (Phragmites australis and Calamagrostis sp.) as well as common crops (corn, apple, cherry) in...

The aim of this study was to examine the contents of calcium, chlorine, chromium, iron, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, rubidium, strontium, sulfur, tin, and zinc in the bones of the alpine bullhead (Cottus poecilopus) related to its vertical distribution in the mountain river Javorinka. This river is located on the northern side of the High Tatr...

The birds inhabiting the high-altitude mountains have several physiological adaptations to environmental conditions. In this study, we try to investigate if are the morphological changes in erythrocytes caused by adaptation to a different condition in Eurasian mountain ranges and molt period. In a comparison of morphology of erythrocytes in alpine...

This study is a part of the physical and chemical limnology multiannual research of lake Kolové pleso to understand the response of the high mountain lake ecosystem to seasonal, climatic and anthropogenic impacts. Due to the extensive rainfall in July 2018, during the experiment , we had the opportunity to observe the effect of flooding on the lake...

The maintenance activities and seasonal rhythms in behaviour and behavioural clusters of Alpine accentor (Prunella collaris) were studied between 1984 to 2003 at Malinô Brdo, Great Fatra NP, a ski resort in the West Carpathians, Slovakia. The following episodes of behaviour were recorded: feeding, standing (sitting alert), sitting (drowsily), preen...

The book is a review of the history of the Institute of High Mountain Biology, Žilina University, Slovakia.

The fragmentation analysis was chosen to examine the genetic diversity of golden eagles from the West Carpathians. Different types of tissues were sampled - blood, egg contents, eggshell and feathers - between May 1984 and July 2009. In total, 66 samples were compared. All loci in the tested samples showed FIS values significantly greater than zero...

Between 1984 and 1991, the limestone hilly range of Brankov - Červená Magura contained a mosaic of habitats that maintained a rich bird fauna. The European silver fir and beech mixed forest harboured a high number of forest bird species. Above 1000 m, meadows and pastures contained fewer species with lower diversity. Forest edges yielded a higher d...

The subject of this research is mercury pollution in the alpine zone of the High Tatra Mountains (the West Carpathians). The snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) was chosen as a bioindicator. Mercury concentrations in the tail tips from captured individuals were examined. The samples were collected over the span of 2 years, from May 2016 to November 2017....

The chemistry of the water in the river Váh in the town of Ružomberok was examined. The waste water treatment plant (WWTP) in Ružomberok was built between 1977 and 1982. It was constructed as a joint WWTP for the town sewage as well as for the treatment of industrial waste water. Industrial waste water in the area is primarly a byproduct of the pul...

We compared the content of lead (Pb) and other trace metals in various bone and tooth tissues of two alpine rodent species with different behaviours. Hibernating marmots accumulated less Pb than the non-hibernating and shorter-lived snow voles. It was confirmed that calcium (Ca) is substituted by Pb in Tatra marmot teeth and skull bones. Ca concent...

This study focused on analysis of spa-tio-temporal distribution of endangered European bison in Poloniny National Park (PNP). The main aim of the study was to analyse bison territory during both winter and the vegetation season for the whole period of reintroduction to show differences in occurrence at different altitudes, slopes and aspects as wel...

Through analyzing the concentrations of selected heavy metals (Ba, Mn, Pb, Sr, Zn) in the bones and teeth of wild living and ecologically equivalent ruminants from the Tian-Shan (Capra sibirica and Ovis ammon polii) and the West Carpathians (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica) we compared the environmental pollution levels of these two mountain ranges. Th...

Mercury and lead are deposited in the West Carpathians as long-range transported air pollution. The Alpine accentor (Prunella collaris) was recognized as a cost-effective biomonitor, and used to investigate the bioavailability of contaminants in large alpine areas. The outer tail feathers and blood of the alpine accentors were used for assessment o...

This study focused on analysis of spatio-temporal distribution of endangered European bison in Poloniny National Park (PNP). The main aim of the study was to analyse bison territory during both winter and the vegetation season for the whole period of reintroduction to show differences in occurrence at different altitudes, slopes and aspects as well...

Two new species of the genus Analges (Astigmata: Analgoidea) are described from two species of accentors (Passeriformes: Prunellidae): Analges himalayanus sp. nov. from the Altai Accentor P. himalayana (Blyth), and A. slovakiensis sp. nov. from the Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris (Scopoli). Both species are closely related to A. bidentatus Giebel...

One hundred and five alpine accentors Prunella collaris (Scopoli, 1786) and ninety four dunnocks Prunella modularis (Linnaeus, 1758) were captured in the West Carpathian Mountains of Slovakia in order to compare the morphology of their Ischnoceran parasites Philopterus emiliae Balát 1985 and Philopterus modularis (Denny, 1842), respectively. In the...

This work focuses on detection of toxic elements in Juncus trifidus. The research took place in the Dolina Bielej vody Valley, in the eastern part of the High Tatras. Sampling was carried out in July, August and September. During collection the plant was divided into four parts, each to be analysed separately: the upper green part (leaves, blade, f...

This study focused on counting Howell-Jolly bodies in peripheral blood of Chionomys nivalis and Myodes glareolus within the study area (High Tatras-Biele plesá). The number of Howell-Jolly bodies was similar in both species and did not differ between males and females or adults and non-adults. Only five samples contained relatively more Howell-Joll...

Alpine accentors (Prunella collaris) and dunnocks (P. modularis) are closely related species of Prunellidae, which often breed in polygynandrous groups and have specific types of mating behaviour. The alpine accentor lives at high altitudes, in an extreme alpine environment; the dunnock is widely dispersed from lowland to tree line in the mountains...

High mountain areas are an appropriate indicator of anthropogenic lead (Pb), which can reach remote mountain ranges through long distance atmospheric transport. We compared the content of Pb in ecologically equivalent rodent species from Tian-Shan with European mountain ranges including the Tatra, Vitosha and Rila mountains. We used bone tissues fr...

High mountain areas are an appropriate indicator of anthropogenic lead (Pb), which can reach the remote mountain ranges through long distance atmospheric transport. We compared the content of Pb in ecologically equivalent rodent species from Tian-Shan with European mountain ranges Tatra, Vitosha and Rila mountains. We used bone tissues from termina...

Multifactorial study on hematology of the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) and platelets as top markers of pollution-field experiments in a chlorinated environment near paper mill industry Abstract. Hematological parameters of Apodemus flavicollis were analyzed in three field experiments using multivariate statistics. Sample collection wa...

The aim of our study was to analyse red blood cells from the high-altitude avian species alpine accentor (Prunella collaris). We caught 79 alpine accentors in the High Tatra Mountains (the West Carpathians, Slovakia) from 2001 to 2008. Blood samples were collected from the vena ulnaris cutanea. The cells and nuclei of juveniles tend to be wider and...

The research was carried out in the territory of the Bukovské vrchy hills, where natural beech forest stands contain an invaluable genetic reservoir of European beech and other species associated and dependent on these forest habitats. Present study is focused on the creation of local biodiversity hotspots. The structure of local biodiversity valua...

In this study we examined element composition and accumulation in the teeth and skull bones of the tatra marmot. In total, 88 bones of the tatra marmot were examined. We found differences in the levels of Pb, K, Ca. Zn, Sr, Cl and S between teeth and skull bones of marmots. The accumulation of some elements depended on the age of the animals. Eleme...

Many studies have addressed the question of dispersal potential of Ips typographus, however the approach of molecular ecology have been used only in a few of them. Moreover, none of them has done it on fine scale of just one mountain range. Molecular analysis using a set of six polymorphic microsatellite markers was applied in this study. Adult bee...

Abstract. The objective of this study was to explore a new method of using thermography to analyze the local climate of industrialized areas by observing the main source of pollution and finding correlations between pictures from a thermographic camera and selected climatic conditions and pollution data. We converted pictures into numerical data ex...

Abstract. In our work we studied samples of Abies alba Mill., - specifically the needles – as a bio indicator of pollution in Ružomberok (not far from the paper mill) and Liptovský Hrádok, Slovakia - the West Carpathians. Samples were collected from two locations, Choč (experimental area) and Čierny Váh (control area). At each locality we selected...

Abstract. This study compared the content of heavy metals and other elements in faeces of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from Mních Hill (closely located to paper mill factory), Ružomberok, and in Jastrabá, mid Slovakia (control locality). Together 130 samples were collected, dried, milled and analysed by XRF spectrosc...

Abstract. The results of this study show a deterioration in water quality downstream of the Váh River, under WWTP Hrboltová, sampling sites RK5 and RK6. Indicators such as COD, TDS, COND, S, SO4 2- Cl, NaCl and PO4 3- visibly growing under WWTP (RK5, RK6). This deterioration is mainly correlated with wastewater from the paper industry, which WWTP p...

Abstract Feather mites are chelicerate arthropods of the class Arachnida, subclass Acari and live as obligatory permanent symbionts of birds. Two feather mite species - Analges sp. and Proctophyllodes megaphyllus, their population characteristics, structure and patterns were studied and compared to the yearly cycle of the host – alpine accentor, Pr...

The rich cultural heritage of its Ruthenian and Ukrainian minorities and preserved natural ecosystems represent potential for the development of sustainable forms of tourism in the region of Poloniny National Park in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains. Social and political changes in the region during the 20th century led to land abandonment, emigrat...

Snow voles (Chionomys nivalis) were bait-trapped in the Tatra Mountains, Western Carpathians, Slovakia, and Vitosha and Rila Mountains, Bulgaria. Lead (Pb) content in the tail vertebrae was determined. Adult voles were bait-trapped and sampled in September - October (Slovakia 2009-2010, Bulgaria 2009). The sampling yielded a total of 33 animals fro...

The aim of this study was to collect different precipitation types including air water (air humidity), rain water and solid water samples (snow and frost deposit) in the close surroundings of Mondi SCP, Inc., which is the most significant source of pollutants in the Ružomberok area, and one of the highest polluters in Slovakia. Subsequently, the sa...

From the acquired results of environmental monitoring and analyses of 117 samples of air water, 50 samples of rain water and 29 samples of solid water sampled from the sample plot Lisková, situated almost 2 km from the company Mondi SCP, a.s. (Ružomberok), we may assume the following concluding points:From the chosen elements of S, P, Cl, Ca, K, Ti...

In this paper we focused on the usage of Lepidoptera species, namely Pieris rapae and Maniola jurtina as bioindicators of pollution in the town of Ružomberok. We chose three sample plots in the Lisková village, near the pulp factory, and four plots in the control localities Hrboltová and Vlkolínec. The samples of butterfly imagos were collected in...

In our work we examined the use of needles Pinus sylvestris as the bioindicator of pollution in Ružomberok. One-year, two-year and three-year needles were collected during the years 2011 and 2012 during autumn, spring and summer months in two sampling locations (Mních and Hrboltová). The samples were dried, ground and X-rated in the XRF spectromete...

Thermography is a method with a wide range of applications in many fields. The objective of this preliminary study was to explore its potential in analysis of local climate in an industrialized area. We did this by thermal imagining the main source of pollution and examining the relationship between thermal layers of emitted gasses, selected climat...

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the paper mill factory MONDI SCP Inc. on the yellow - necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis. The level of impact was defined by the levels and temporal changes of the pollutants and their distribution in the bodies of mice. The relation to the sex and locality was also investigated. Samples were coll...

The present study was focused on counting of Howell-Jolly bodies in peripheral blood of Yellow- necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), in localities Mních and Hrboltová. The aim of the study was counting Howell-Jolly bodies per 1000 erythrocytes in peripheral blood for all 164 captured animals. Increase of Howell-Jolly bodies was recorded for 47% of...