Sławomir Mitrus

• University of Opole

Nest sites are important for social insects, as the nests provide refuge against enemies and ensure optimal conditions for brood development. It was previously shown that ant colonies can consistently vary in terms of the structure of specific parts of the nest, such as the nest walls. In this study, we ask whether colonies differ in using material...

Nest sites are important for ants, as the nests provide refuge against enemies and ensure optimal conditions for the brood development. As the construction of a nest is a time and energy consuming activity, many ant species dwell in ready-for-use cavities. For them, choosing a good nest site is important, as the quality of nest site could affect fa...

Simple Summary Ants are a widespread and highly abundant group of animals in almost all terrestrial ecosystems. Nesting sites are important for ants, as the nest protects them against predators and can ensure optimal conditions for the brood development. We studied the nest site selection by Temnothorax crassispinus ant colonies, which typically in...

Nest sites are important for social insects, as they provide refuge against enemies and ensure optimal conditions for the brood development. In large nests, the different chambers can be used for different reasons; for example, for food storage or as a brood chamber. Acorn ants from the genus Temnothorax dwell in small cavities in acorns and wood;...

Simple Summary Large nests of ants, or ant hills, which are inhabited by numerous workers, are universally known. However, many ant species live in small colonies and do not construct nests, but instead dwell in ready-for-use cavities. In Central Europe, acorn ants are among the most widely distributed and common species but are also frequently ove...

Temperature is an important factor for invertebrates. Social insects build nests, which along with their ability to thermoregulate, provide shelter from extreme temperatures. However, for many species of ants the most common method of controlling the temperature inside a nest is to choose a suitable nest site. During a field experiment, the choice...

Acorn ants mostly inhabit cavities in fallen twigs and hollow acorns. Such places, e.g., dead wood, provide an attractive living resource for many groups of microorganisms, like fungi and bacteria, which can be important for ants. However, during experiments in laboratories, acorn ant colonies are typically kept without dead wood. During laboratory...

https://myrmecologicalnews.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=1516&Itemid=421 ABSTRACT: Non-native plant species can modify their environment, and their influence on food chains is well recognized. However, the phenomenon of non-nutrient dependent interaction between non-native plants and native animals has received little atte...

Headstarting is a popular conservation technique in which animals are raised under artificial conditions, and then released into natural habitat. The objective of this procedure is to grow animals to a size at which they are less vulnerable to predators. However, there is still little empirical evidence for the long-term effectiveness of the techni...

Numerous bird species depend on the availability of tree cavities, and most non-excavators fill their cavities with considerable amounts of nest material. If not removed, this material can accumulate and render cavities unusable, as recorded in some nest-box studies. Data from earlier studies of tree cavities, however, showed that nest material can...

1. Plant communities influence the availability of important resources for ants, such as nest sites and food, as well as environmental conditions. Thus, plants affect the abundance and distribution of ants. 2. In a field experiment, the influence of plant cover on the settlement of nest sites and per‐capita productivity of sexual individuals by the...

The ongoing process of climate change will result in higher temperatures during winter and therefore might increase the survival of overwintering invertebrates. However, the process may also lead to a reduction in snow cover and expose overwintering invertebrates to lower temperatures, which could result in higher mortality. During a field experime...

The mortality rate of many invertebrates is high during winter. The survival rate of the ant Temnothorax crassispinus, which overwinters aboveground, was investigated Unlike previous studies, this one showed a high survival rate during winter. In the field experiment, the number of workers at the end of the experiment amounted to 86-120% of the ini...

The location of overwintering sites of six male and six female European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) were studied using radiotelemetry in Western Poland, over a period of four consecutive seasons. Most of the studied individuals overwintered in the same area during the research; most distances between two consecutive overwintering sites were 0–2...

A nest relocation is costly for social insects, and involves hazards. Emigrations were studied in Temnothorax crassispinus ant colonies, which inhabit ephemeral nest sites, and which frequently change their nests. In a laboratory experiment, ant colonies from one group were forced to change their nest sites 10 times over a ca. 3-month period, whils...

A previously unknown association of ants with birds breeding in tree holes is described. Ants Lasius brunneus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were found in c. 15% of nests of Parus major L. and Poecile palustris L. (Paridae) breeding in tree holes in the primeval deciduous forest located in the Białowieża National Park (Poland). The ants prefer...

Colonies of the ant Temnothorax crassispinus inhabit mostly cavities in wood and hollow acorns. Typically in the field, nest sites that can be used by the ant are a limited resource. In a field experiment, it was investigated whether the ants prefer a specific size of nest, when different ones are available. In July 2011, a total of 160 artificial...

We investigated the genetic diversity of Polish populations of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) using complete sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and allelic variation at thirteen microsatellite loci. We collected data from 146 turtles from 28 locations covering most of the species’ range in Poland. Our results showed a low...

Numerous forest organisms critically depend on availability of tree cavities. Some birds and rodents fill their cavities with bulky nests, which – if not removed – could accumulate and render cavities unusable, as recorded in nest-box studies. Data from earlier studies indicate that old nests can disappear from tree cavities so fast that practicall...

Most species of ants inhabiting the temperate zone overwinter underground, whereas those of the genus Temnothorax remain in nests aboveground. I studied the cost of aboveground overwintering. Workers of Temnothorax crassispinus survived in higher numbers (median = 88%) in artificial nests experimentally buried at a depth of 5cm than those in nests...

Distances between nest sites of Emys orbicularis and the nearest water bodies can be long. We studied whether a longer distance could affect the probability of hatchling survival, migration time, and body mass loss. In our research area (Lubuskie district, western Poland), nest sites were situated on a slope; the closest water body was in a distanc...

We have analyzed long-term (1987–2011) data on the reproduction of the turtle Emys orbicularis in western and central Poland. In contrast to earlier evidence, which suggested that E. orbicularis rarely reproduces successfully in the northern part of its distribution area, we document successful reproduction in at least 16 out of the last 20 seasons...

This article presents the results of a study investigating the biological activity of triphenyltin chloride (TPhT) and two metalloorganic compounds, triphenyllead chloride (TPhL) and triphenylmethane chloride (TPhC), in their interaction with model membranes and the living organisms of fruit flies Drosophila hydei. The study of model membranes (son...

The European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis, inhabits a wide distribution area in the western Palaearctic. Polish populations of pond turtle represent the nominotypical subspecies Emys orbicularis orbicularis. The mitochondrial DNA haplotype (cytb gene) variation among 131 turtles from 26 locations in five regions of Poland was investigated. Five ha...

We experimentally tested whether old nest material could decompose fast enough to clear tree holes between the consecutive seasons. To mimic the nest material we filled litter-bags with either 1 g of cellulose, or with 0.5 g of dog moulted hair. In August 2009 we placed pairs of these bags in 23 tree holes used by breeding birds in a deciduous fore...

Conclusion: The European pond turtle Emys orbicularis is a freshwater animal. It is a threatened species in many areas of its distribution. Preservation of water bodies is considered the most important for the species conservation. Little is known about influence of such flows on the turtle population. However, especially for small population exist...

Based on ecological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, it is possible to try to reconstruct the evolution of ecological traits in turtles. However, the European pond turtle is treated by different scientists as aquatic or as semi-aquatic species. The importance of terrestrial behaviour for this species is discussed.

In 2006, 11 wild and 16 headstarted European pond turtles Emys orbicularis, that hatched in the years 1997-2001 and were marked during previous studies, were recaptured in central Poland. Wild turtles produced one growth ring per year, although variations were observed in headstarted individuals. Some headstarted turtles presented a pattern in whic...

The European pond turtle ( Emys orbicularis) is endangered in many areas within its distribution range. Thus, protection programmes for the turtle populations are in place. However, the efficiency of some techniques (including a highly manipulative one - headstarting) is questionable. Elasticity analysis was conducted using the life history data ga...

Six clutches of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis deposited on hazardous areas in central Poland were relocated in 1999 and 2000, to the nearest egg laying areas (used by other females in the same season). The eggs were moved up to 12h after laying, and were not rotated. There were no statistical significant differences in the proportion of...

Data on the straight carapace length (SCL) and plastron length (PL) of eight European pond turtle ( Emys orbicularis ) females were collected in central Poland in 1999 or 2000, and again in 2006 or 2007. All of the individuals were mature each of them was observed during egg laying in 1993 or earlier, and in the following seasons. Differences in le...

The European pond turtle ( Emys orbicularis ) is endangered in many parts of its distribution area. Reintroduction programs are one of possibilities to protect of the species. However, survivorship of adult turtles is very high. Thus populations of such species are very sensitive on increase in mortality of adults (transferring adult individuals to...

During a 16-year study (1987-2002) in the Borowiec Nature Reserve (central Poland), 118 nest sites of the turtle Emys orbicularis were marked : 115 nest sites of 23 different known females and 3 nest sites of unknown females. For seven females, 8 to 12 nest sites per individual are known from the studied period. For ten other females, 3 to 6 nest s...

The European pond turtle ( Emys orbicularis ) is an endangered species because of habitat changes. It usually lives in small pools of water with muddy bottoms, old riverbeds and marshy regions. Presently, the turtle is also observed in artificial reservoirs. Analysis of the map from the late 1800s and aerial photos from 1953-1997, showed significan...

Nest sites of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis were marked in the Borowiec Nature Reserve (central Poland) from 1987 to 2002. In this area the turtle could lay eggs once a year. For 13 females, four to 12 nest sites per individual are known from the period studied. Spatial distribution of the sites is presented on maps. Only a small propor...

The European pond turtle Emys orbicularis is an endangered species in Poland. From 1998 to 2000, to increase the population size as part of an active protection program for the species, in the Borowiec Nature Reserve (central Poland), 123 one-year-old headstarted individuals were released. Survival rate of headstarted individuals in breeding was 0....

The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is an endangered species in Poland. From 1998 to 2000, as part of an active protection program for the species in central Poland, 123 one-year-old headstarted individuals were released into their original population. Survival rate in artificial rearing was 0.85. Annual recapture rate of the released turtl...

We used mark-recapture techniques to study survival rates of Emys orbicularis in the Borowiec Nature Reserve (Central Poland, Radom district). About 40 adult and 20 young (3-9 years old) turtles live there. Mean straight carapace length (SCL) and body mass (BM) of adult individuals were respectively: SCL = 163.5 mm, BM = 0.67 kg for males (n = 14)...

The calcareous layer of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) eggshell was examined by scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersion spectrometer and by diffractometry. The layer is composed of well‐distinguished shell units consisting of needle‐like crystallites radiating outwards from a core. Pores in the eggshell are rare, althoug...

[list-polemika na artykuł Emys-pl_063]

The chapter contains a catalogue of subfossil archaeological finds of pond turtle remains discovered at Holocene sites in Poland. The authors also present reflections on the cultural importance of the animal among prehistoric peoples, the Middle Ages and modern times.

The calcareous layer of Emys orbicularis eggshell was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The layer is composed of well distinguished shell units which consist of needle-like crystallites radiating outwards from the cores. The linear structures of the cores on the inner surface appear to be similar to those in the eggshell of Mauremys caspica...

Due to the loss of suitable habitats, the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis (L.) in Poland is regarded as endangered. Most of its populations are small and reproduction may be successful only in warmer years. In the Radom district (cen-tral Poland), where such small populations live, an active protection program of the species has been initiate...