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This study is focused on substitute European larch stands in the Krušné hory Mts. (northern part of the Czech Republic). Research was conducted within larch thinning experiment Kalek (780 m a.s.l. in the category Piceeto-Fagetum oligo-mesotrophicum - Calamagrostis villosa). Results showed that the aboveground biomass of the investigated substitute unthinned larch stand represented approximately 102 thousand kg of dry matter per ha at the age of 20 years. Stemwood (ca 59%) is the most important part of the aboveground biomass. Needles, live and dead branches accounted approximately for 6%, 17% and 11%, respectively, and stem bark only for 7%. At the age of20 years, the investigated substitute unthinned larch stand accumulated: nitrogen - 307 kg, phosphorus - 21 kg, potassium - 136 kg, calcium - 122 kg, magnesium - 53 kg per hectare. Thinning with consequent removal of aboveground biomass may result in nutrient losses. Especially, the removal of whole tree biomass by thinning for chipping in areas previously degraded by acid deposition may result in calcium and magnesium deficiency because of their low content in forest soil. On the other hand, thinning supported faster growth of trees left after thinning and consequently faster biomass and nutrient accumulation. Our results supported the recommendation that the use of biomass from thinning for chipping should be limited to stemwood only and the remaining aboveground biomass (mainly needles and branches) should be left in the forest ecosystem for decomposition in conditions of the historically disturbed area of the Krušné hory Mts.

In this experiment we proved an effect of dolomite limestone on chemical immobilization in soil contaminated by trace metals, namely Cd, Pb, and Zn. Primary, we set up lysimeter pot experiment to measure soil leaching without vegetation. Willow clone (S. × smithiana Willd) was cultivated in the second lysimeter pot as a new approach to monitor Pb, Cd and Zn leaching, which was affected by soil liming (used in 1% rate). At the time of both harvests, aboveground biomass increased significantly at the amended variant. After the second harvest aboveground biomass production increased by 80% in comparison with the first one, Cd and Zn concentration in biomass decreased 2-fold and 3-fold, respectively. Dolomite limestone as a process of liming: (i) restricted metals leaching from the soil substrate; (ii) reduced metal uptake by willow; and (iii) increased biomass production of willow. Liming also alleviated the plant stress imposed by risk elements resulting in better plant growth and lower levels of stress markers (total nitrogen content and the main amino acid metabolism parameters in the willow leaves) yet through different mechanisms.

Lung lobe torsion (LLT) is an uncommon pathology in small animal practice. In large breed dogs LLT effects are localized mainly to the middle lobe of the right lung. This report describes a case of left cranial lung torsion in a Bernese Mountain dog: the patient was referred with a two-day history of asthenia, anorexia, dyspnea and haemoptysis. No trauma was reported. Physical examination showed the presence of bilateral pleural effusion confirmed by radiography and ultrasonography. Broncoscopy revealed that the left cranial lobe appeared to be compressed laterally with complete occlusion of the lumen. Thoracoscopy was performed to exclude other pathologies of the pleural space. The pathological lobe was removed. Histological examination revealed aspects consistent with lung lobe torsion. Clinical follow up carried out after three months showed a normal clinical course.

Rhinanthus minor (yellow-rattle) can be used for restoration of species-rich grasslands but is vulnerable to competitive exclusion from high total aboveground biomass production of vascular plants. We asked (1) whether there is a threshold limit for total annual aboveground biomass production of vascular plants above which R. minor cannot establish viable population in grasslands and (2) how is cover of R. minor in grassland related to standing biomass of bryophytes. Data were collected in the Rengen Grassland Experiment (RGE) established in Germany in 1941 with following fertilizer treatments: unfertilized control, application of Ca, CaN, CaNP, CaNPKCl and CaNPK₂SO₄. Cover of R. minor and total annual aboveground biomass production of vascular plants were determined from 2005 to 2009. Further relationship between standing biomass of bryophytes and cover of R. minor was analyzed in 2006. Mean cover of R. minor over five years ranged from 0.7% to 12.3% in CaNPK₂SO₄ and control treatments, respectively. Cover of R. minor was significantly negatively related to total annual aboveground biomass production of vascular plants and cover of R. minor was below 3% in all plots with total annual aboveground dry matter biomass production of vascular plants higher than 5 t/ha. Although cover of R. minor was markedly reduced in highly productive plots in the RGE, high standing biomass of bryophytes (1.8 t/ha) in low productive control was not an obstacle for establishment of its viable population. We concluded, that viable population of R. minor can be established in grasslands only if total annual aboveground dry matter biomass production of vascular plants is below 5 t/ha regardless on standing biomass of bryophytes.

The root system of six-year-old winter jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill. cv. Zhanhua) trees were manually pruned at 3, 5 or 7 times trunk diameter distance along both inter-row sides, to study the effects of root pruning on physico-chemical characteristics and biological properties of winter jujube rhizosphere soil. The results showed that the root pruning of 3 and 5 times trunk diameter distance increased the available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium^[concentrations and pH values in the rhizosphere soil and decreased organic matter concentrations, the contents of amino acids, organic acids and total sugars in the root exudates, the populations of bacteria, actinomyces and fungi, and inhibited the activities of catalase, invertase and urease enzymes in contrast to the control in early stage when root pruning was applied. The determined indexes presented a reverse trend as those in early stage after new roots appeared. Compared to the control, the trees by root pruning had higher pesticides residues of the rhizosphere soil in the whole experiment. No differences were noticed between 7 times trunk diameter distance and the control. It is proposed that root pruning had greater impacts on physico-chemical characteristics and biological properties of the rhizosphere soil depending on root pruning intensity.

A common myna (Acridotheres tristis) was presented to Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran University after swallowing a needle. Radiography and physical examination revealed a metal foreign body within the body with its distal end in the ventriculus. Surgical removal by ventriculotomy under general anesthesia was attempted. Six months of follow up study revealed no complications.

In arid and semiarid regions of northern China, there is an increasing interest in using water-saving superabsorbent polymer (SAP) for field crop production. Experiments were conducted during 2009 and 2010 to study the growth and yield characteristics of summer corn (Zea mays L.) under different (control, 0; low, 10; medium, 20; high, 30 and very high, 40 kg/ha) rates of SAP in a drought-affected field of northern China. Corn yield increased slightly following SAP application at low and medium rate, but significantly at high and very high rates by 22.4 and 27.8%. At the same time, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, biomass accumulation, harvest index and relative water content as well as protein, sugar and starch contents in the grain increased significantly following SAP treatments. The optimum application of superabsorbent polymer for corn cultivation in the study area would be 30 kg/ha as it best increased the grain yield and quality and maintained higher levels of soil nutrients. Lower rates (10 and20 kg/ha) or higher (≥ 40 kg/ha) rates would neither be sufficient nor economical. We suggest that the application of SAP at 30 kg/ha could be an efficient and economic soil management practice for summer corn production in the drought affected regions of northern China or other areas with similar ecologies.

The effects of three tillage systems: no-tillage (NT), reduced tillage (RT) and conventional tillage (CT), and three levels of fertilization (0, 258 and 516 kg/ha NPK (58:18:24)), on the maize yield during ten years (1999-2008) were analyzed on the chernozem soil type in Zemun Polje, Serbia. Statistical analyses showed significant effects of all three factors i.e., year, soil tillage and amount of fertilizers, and their interactions on the maize yield. The ten-year averages showed that the highest yields were observed with CT (10.61 t/ha), while the averages with RT and NT were lower (8.99 t/ha and 6.85 t/ha, respectively). The results of the influence of the amount of the applied fertilizers on maize yield showed that the lowest yield was in the zero level of fertilization 7.71 t/ha, while the yield was raised when the 258 kg/ha and 516 kg/ha NPK were applied (9.18 t/ha and 9.56 t/ha, respectively). Analyzing the influence of the soil tillage systems on maize production with respect to the amounts of applied fertilizers, this research revealed the benefits of CT under the presented agroecological conditions, irrespective of the level of applied fertilizer.

The influence of various forms of farming on unmanaged grasslands was monitored with regard to the accumulation of the above-ground biomass (litter + mulching) and its influence on the leakage of rainfall and the amount of elements in lysimetric waters. In 2001-2005, the highest accumulation was observed in variants 1× mulched in the later term and on green fallow (on average 2.11-1.13 t of dry matter/ha). In comparison with the control site, a conclusive increase always occurred. An interannual increase of dry matter amounted to 0.4-5.2% of the total above-ground biomass. A negative correlative dependency on rainfall leakage on this material was discovered; at a depth of 0.4 m 4-10% of the rainfall leaked, but it had a significant influence on the wash out of Ca, Mg and S. The leakage of water affected a wash out of N_min, P, K, Ca, Mg and S more than the weight of dry matter of the above-ground biomass. With the exception of P, the elements showed a downward tendency over five years. The above-mentioned forms of farming annually increased the accumulation of the above-ground biomass by 0.05-0.16 t of dry matter/ha; however, they do not endanger underground waters by washing out minerals. After a five-year period, a disturbance of the ecological stability of grassland did not occur.

The aim of this study was to determine whether expression of CD14 on macrophages is regulated differently during initiation and resolution of the inflammatory response caused by CD14-dependent (lipopolysaccharide) and CD14-independent (muramyldipeptide) bacterial signals. In cell suspensions from the site of inflammation we observed two types of macrophages: non-vacuolized (_NMAC) and vacuolized (_VMAC) cells. _NMAC (monocyte-like cells) were dominant during the early stage of the inflammatory response, whilst _VMAC contained phagocytosed apoptotic neutrophils in various stages of digestion. These latter cells were dominant during resolution (particularly at the last time point of 168 h). Intramammary instillation of muramyldipeptide (MDP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in a significant increase in the total count of CD14+ _NMAC after 24 h (muramyldipeptide P < 0.01 and lipopolysaccharide P < 0.05) compared to phosphate buffered saline (PBS). During resolution of the inflammatory response, a gradual decrease in the total count of CD14+ _NMAC was observed. The difference compared with PBS was significant at 48 h and 72 h after instillation of both bacterial agents (muramyldipeptide: P < 0.05; lipopolysaccharide: P < 0.05). A lower total count of CD14+ _VMAC was observed as an effect of MDP and LPS at 24 h after induction (P < 0.05), when compared to PBS. During resolution, the total count of CD14+ _VMAC increased. Differences (P < 0.01) were observed at 72 h and 168 h after LPS compared to PBS. We therefore assume that the expression of CD14 on macrophages is not regulated differently during the inflammatory responses caused by CD14-dependent and CD14-independent bacterial signals. On the other hand, the stage of the inflammatory response to MDP and LPS played an important role in the regulation of CD14 expression on macrophages.

A 12-day incubation experiment with the addition of glucose to soils contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was carried out in order to estimate the potential microbial activities and the potential of the soil microbial biomass C to degrade 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The microbial activities were affected in different ways depending on the type of pollutant. The soil organic matter also played an important role. The microbial activities were affected particularly by high concentrations of PAHs in the soils. Soil microorganisms in the PAHs contaminated soil used the added glucose to a lesser extent than in the non-contaminated soil, which in the contaminated soil resulted in a higher microbial biomass content during the first day of incubation. DDT, DDD and DDE, and PCB affected the soil microbial activities differently and, in comparison with control soils, decreased the microbial biomass C during the incubation. The increased microbial activities led to a significant decrease of PAH up to 44.6% in the soil long-term contaminated with PAHs, and up to 14% in the control soil after 12 days of incubation. No decrease of PAHs concentrations was observed in the soil which was previously amended with sewage sludges containing PAHs and had more organic matter from the sewage sludges. DDT and its derivates DDD and DDE decreased by about 10%, whereas the PCB contents were not affected at all by microbial activities. Studies on the microbial degradation of POPs could be useful for the development of methods focused on the remediation of the contaminated sites. An increase of soil microbial activities caused by addition of organic substrates can contribute to the degradation of pollutants in some soils. However, in situ biodegradation may be limited because of a complex set of environmental conditions, particularly of the soil organic matter. The degradability and availability of POPs for the soil microorganisms has to be estimated individually for each contaminated site.

Estimation of stand growth is crucial for forest planning. Estimations were usually done using fixed values, and recently growth equations have been used. An alternative is through stand growth models. The objective was to develop a simple model for Nothofagus pumilio stands with full density along site quality and age gradients. The sample was obtained from 125 stands. Data on forest structure and samples for tree-ring measurement were taken in all trees to estimate growths using biometric models previously developed. The growth values of each plot during the last twenty years were calculated to fit the model, using the ratio of total volume increment/basal area as an independent variable. The developed model gives a ratio between stand volume increment and basal area (m/year) in relation to the site quality and stand age. The statistics (r² = 0.819, mean error = 0.019, absolute mean error = 0.033), residual analysis and biological performance were satisfactory. The obtained stand growths varied between 1 and 20 m³/ha/year. This simple model allowed to estimate growth values at a stand level from easy field measurements from forest inventories.

The study was an attempt to determine the dynamics of heartwood formation and the radial and axial distribution of sapwood and heartwood in stems of European larch (Larix deciduas Mill.) representing the dominant stand according to Kraft. Correlations were found between the rate of heartwood formation and the social class of tree position in the stand, the age of trees, forest site type and height of trees. Moreover, radial and axial variation was observed in the distribution of analyzed wood zones depending on the height of measurement, the age of cambium and the dimensions of the analyzed tree. Results were analyzed statistically, which facilitated an assessment of the relation between the dynamics of heartwood formation and age, the social class of tree position in the community as well as dimensions, i.e. the thickness of the sapwood ring and the radius of heartwood cylinder. The greatest strength of the relation was determined between the ray of the heartwood and the stem radius (R² = 0.98), with cambium age and number of heartwood rings (R² = 0.93). A much smaller relation was determined between the width of the sapwood ring and the stem radius (R² = 0.13).

In our work, we focus on the evolutionary studies of sex chromosomes. As model organisms we use several species of the plant genus Silene. An important part of our research is represented by genetic mapping based on the assays of DNA length or sequence polymorphisms. Apart from the other methods we also use the dCAPS method, which is very useful for detection of the sequence polymorphisms (SNPs). This method is unique as it is able to detect SNPs that are not situated in any restriction site; a fundamental principle of this method is usage of primer designed with one or two mismatches that bring into the target sequence the mutation in vicinity of SNP. Using this method, we found out some improvements that can make analyses more cost-effective.

Soil's part in bioclimatology is not defined and formulated yet. We interpret soil together with its plant cover as primary climate modifier for organisms living on, and within it. At the same time evaporating soil together with its transpiring vegetation is affecting the climate, and functioning as secondary climate modifier in context of bioclimatology. Selected Hungarian studies are used to highlight four primary and three secondary soil modifier actions connected to bioclimatology. Both primary and secondary soil modifier roles coupled mainly to soil hydro-physical properties. The first primary soil climate modifier action is the dew formation in the surface of sandy soils. As dew 80 mm of water can annually be transported from the subsoil to soil surface. Positive water resource value of dew is still not completely accepted. The second primary soil climate modifier example presents different amounts of usable soil moisture resource in two oak forest habitats with different species composition of herbs. In the third primary soil example the microclimate of the wetter habitat with deeper soil and denser herb vegetation of the oak forest - estimated by inverse modelling - showed higher shading, air moisture content and lower soil coverage than that of dry one. In the fourth primary soil modifier example forest hydrology is quantified for a Scots pine forest. Amount of transpiration, evaporation, interception, and change in the soil water storage were quantified and modelled. As secondary soil climate modifier role CO_{2 emitting of different plant production forms and land-uses is shown. Estimated CO2 production burning fuels for soil and plant cultivation is one to threefold of the organic extensive and intensive plant production farm consecutively in 2001. For the estimative calculations cost data of the farms are used. Amount of CO2 fixed in the crop biomass is also one to threefold as estimated with the regional scale formula of CEEMA (Canadian Economic and Emission Model for Agriculture). Two secondary soil modifier examples of soil texture and land use pattern's influence on local weather phenomena and near surface atmospheric processes as storm move and development are presented yet. Both studies demonstrate the significance of site-specific soil hydraulic parameters - as field capacity, usable and actual water storage - in formation of the local weather through the soil evaporation and plant transpiration in modelling studies. Of course variety of soil's role is much wider as the examples show and even it is not known completely at present. Soil's role in bioclimatology as new discipline will expectably be formulated in the future.}

This article deals with the possibilities of making usage of ICT (Information and communication technology) to support cooperation among teams. There are two main approaches: systems based on the www technologies (intranets), and specialised systems, which are dedicated to cooperation (these systems are designated as groupware). Web technologies are the main element of the Internet. They are becoming the most important technology in the presentation layer of current business information systems. The web environment penetrates into all currently used applications. Its integration with all existing systems makes the users locally independent and enables them to use a variety of hardware and software platforms, as well as the advantages of mobile communications. The results of the issues discussed in the article are outlined in specific examples.

This study describes the parameterization of biomass functions applicable to oak (Quercus robur, Quercus petraea) trees grown in the conditions of Central-European forestry. It is based on destructive measurements of 51 grown trees sampled from 6 sites in different regions of the Czech Republic important for oak forest management. The samples covered trees of breast height diameter (D) ranging from 6 to 59 cm, tree height (H) from 6 to 32 m and age between 12 and 152 years. The parameterization was performed for total aboveground biomass and its individual components. The two basic levels of biomass functions utilized D either as a single independent variable or in combination with H. The functions of the third level represented the best function for each biomass component with the optimal combination of available independent variables, which included D, H, crown length (CL), crown width (CW), crown ratio (CR = CL/H), tree age and site altitude. D was found to be a particularly strong predictor for total tree aboveground biomass. H was found to always improve the fit, particularly for the individual components of aboveground biomass. The contribution of CW was minor, but significant for all biomass components, whereas CL and CR were found useful for the components of stem and living branches, respectively. Finally, the remaining variables tree age and altitude were each justified only for one component function, namely living branch biomass and stem bark, respectively. The study also compares the fitted functions with other available references applicable to oak trees.

During the past few years, there has been an increasing interest in rapid visual tests that could be performed outside the laboratory, for example on farms, in store houses or in food production plants. Hence, cost effective and simple screening methods are required for residual analysis of environmental and food samples on-site. Here, a simple and instrumental independent dipstick immunoassay for sulfamethazine detection is described. The polyclonal antibody was optimised in terms of coating dilution on a nitrocellulose membrane, dilution of peroxidase tracer conjugate, blocking agents and incubation times. Test results assessed by visual measurement can be available within 20 minutes. In buffer, water, skimmed milk and pig manure extract, sulfamethazine fortified at 50 and 100 µg/l has exhibited clear visual differentiation in colour development (lower intensity) in comparison to the control spot intensity (high intensity) of the dipstick.

Water and contaminants moving through the vadose zone are often subject to a large number of simultaneous physical and chemical nonequilibrium processes. Traditional modeling tools for describing flow and transport in soils either do not consider nonequilibrium processes at all, or consider them only separately. By contrast, a wide range of nonequilibrium flow and transport modeling approaches are currently available in the latest versions of the HYDRUS software packages. The formulations range from classical models simulating uniform flow and transport, to relatively traditional mobile-immobile water physical and two-site chemical nonequilibrium models, to more complex dual-permeability models that consider both physical and chemical nonequilibrium. In this paper we briefly review recent applications of the HYDRUS models that used these nonequilibrium features to simulate nonequilibrium water flow (water storage in immobile domains and/or preferential water flow in structured soils with macropores and other preferential flow pathways), and transport of solutes (pesticides and other organic compounds) and particles (colloids, bacteria and viruses) in the vadose zone.

The changes in water quality caused by grassing of arable land followed by the reduction in the use of fertilisers after 1989 are demonstrated on an example of two tile-drained subcatchments in spring areas in the Šumava Mountains. The original water quality monitoring was performed in the mid-1980s, at the time when the area was used as tile-drained arable land. The monitoring was renewed in 2004 under different, i.e. extensive, land use conditions. The principal reason for the new monitoring at the site was to see what sort of changes, if any, in water quality had occurred in the location, particularly in terms of nitrate nitrogen leaching. The concentrations and ranges of the values of all water quality indices monitored decreased after grassing. The average nitrate concentration of 39.5 mg/l (min. 9.2 mg/l, max. 104.8 mg/l) in 1983-1985 dropped to 17.5 mg/l (min. 3.5 mg/l, max. 33.3 mg/l) in 2005-2007. The greatest decrease (by 85%) was found in average ammonium concentrations. A positive effect of current agricultural management in foothill areas on the reduction of all water quality parameters monitored was confirmed.

We examined the impacts of variation in overstory structure and burning regime on understory vegetation in the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forest of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Georgia, U.S.A. On sandy upland sites surrounding the Okefenokee Swamp and on islands, we established five randomly-located 0.04-ha plots within each of six study areas. The plots varied in overstory density, past management and fire regime. We measured overstory tree size of longleaf pines in the 0.04-ha plots and percent cover of ground cover species in five 1-m2 subplots nested within each 0.04-ha plot. We also calculated diversity indices for the ground cover species. There was no significant relationship between overstory basal area and any diversity measure. Even at the subplot level, there was no significant relationship observed between the diversity measures and distance to the nearest tree, presumably a surrogate for overstory density. The diameter (DBH) of the nearest tree exhibited a slight influence over the Shannon Index, and the nearest tree's height was significantly related to evenness in each subplot. There were varied relationships between individual species and fire regime or nearest tree measurements. There was a definite, but statistically insignificant, trend of decreasing diversity with increasing years since the last burn. Height of the nearest tree positively influen­ced evenness, probably reflecting the influence of stochasticity and amount of needle deposition (influencing fire behavior) over a wide area. Within the generally equal fire-return interval across sites, individual fire-events and site-specific behavior apparently influence understory diversity. It is not surprising that the last burn would affect species richness, even more so than the number of growing-season burns, other studies support this observation. The presence of obligate seeding and (clonal) sprouting as dominants in the ground cover suggests that the fire-return interval is not regular. The cycling of fire-return intervals, even within the manage­ment-prescribed 2- to 4-year range, and the variation by microsite appear to provide sufficient variability of disturbance to create diversity in the ground-level cohort. Site-specific relationships between particular species and the nearest tree suggest that even a narrowly-prescribed fire management regime can provide sufficient diversity.

Climate, hydrology and vegetation are closely linked at local, regional and global scales. The recent land use and plant production systems are adapted to the present climatic conditions. Thus, studies on the influence of possible climate change scenarios on the water and heat regimes of the soil-plant-atmosphere system are important in order to work out plant production strategies, adjusted to changed conditions. In this study the effect of two possible climate change scenarios on the soil water regime of a Chernozem soil was estimated for a Hungarian site. Soil water content dynamics simulated for different conventional and soil conserving soil tillage systems were evaluated, using the SWAP soil water balance simulation model. The combined effect of different soil tillage systems and climate scenarios was analysed. Climate scenarios were represented through the cumulative probability function of the annual precipitation sum. The SWAP model was calibrated against the measured in the representative soil profiles soil water content data. The site- and soil-specific parameters were set and kept constant during the scenario studies. According to the simulation results, increase in the average growing season temperature showed increase in climate induced soil drought sensitivity. The evaluated soil water content dynamics indicated more variable and less predictable soil water regime compared to the present climate. It was found that appropriate soil tillage systems that are combined with mulching and ensure soil loosening could reliably decrease water losses from the soil. From this aspect cultivator treatment created the most favourable for the plants soil conditions. It was concluded that soil conserving soil management systems, adapted to local conditions could contribute to soil moisture conservation and could increase the amount of plant available water under changing climatic conditions.

The paper deals with throughfall and soil percolation in a sub-mountain beech forest situated at the Ecological Experimental Site (EES) Kremnické vrchy Mts. (the West Carpathian Mts., Slovakia). The research was conducted in 1988-2008. The throughfall was sampled at regular periods, both from the open plot (clear-cut) and from the plot with complete stocking, covered with a mature beech stand. The soil percolation was evaluated with soil lysimeters. In 1989 and 2004, the plots were treated with cutting - with the aim to reduce the current stocking. The average amount of throughfall was 772.2 mm in the open plot and 616.3 mm in the control. The amount of soil percolation decreased with increasing depth: from 398.9 mm to 103.8 mm in the control and from 488.8 mm (surface) through 169.9 mm (10 cm) to 188.8 mm (25 cm) in the open plot. The differences between the plots were statistically highly significant. No significant differences were found between the soil horizons.

: In November 2004, forest stands in the Tatra National Park (TANAP) were affected by windthrow and in July 2005, the wildfire broke out on a part of the affected area. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the windthrow and fire disturbances on soil microbial activity. Basal and potential soil respiration, N-mineralisation, catalase activity, soil microbial biomass, and cellulase activity were measured in soil samples taken from the A-horizon (depth of 0-10 cm) along 100 m transects established on 4 plots (reference site, burnt, non-extracted, and extracted sites) in October 2006. Some soil microbial characteristics exhibited a high spatial variability, especially microbial biomass and N-mineralisation. Significant differences in soil microbial characteristics (especially basal soil respiration and catalase activity) between plots were found. Generally, the highest microbial activity was revealed on the plot affected by fire. Soil microbial activity was similar on the extracted and non-extracted sites.

The aim of this study was to evaluate organic carbon content (SOC) in the surface layers of forest soils in the two Natural Forest Regions situated in Southwest Bohemia, namely Západočeská pahorkatina (NFR 6) and Český les (NFR 11). The study is based upon on two consecutive soil sampling campaigns during autumn 2003 and 2004. While the sampling of 2003 was inadequate to estimate bulk density, the consecutive campaign used a defined sample volume to permit an estimation of bulk density and quantification of soil organic carbon (SOC) for soil organic layers and the upper mineral horizon. The total sampling depth was 30 cm including both organic and mineral layer. SOC of organic horizon was on average 1.99 kg C/m². It differed by stand site type ranging from 0.70 to 3.04 kg C/m². The organic layer SOC was smallest under beech (1.03 kg C/m²), whereas it was higher under pine (2.19 kg C/m²) and spruce (2.09 kg C/m²). SOC in the mineral layer was in average 7.28 kg C/m². SOC differed significantly by the major tree species and reached 10.6; 5.67 and 7.5 kg C/m² for beech, pine and spruce sites, respectively. The average SOC for the total soil layer (0-30 cm) reached 9.33 kg C/m². The methodological aspects of regional estimation of SOC and the potential of utilization of the national forest inventory program are also discussed.

The present study was aimed at determining the origin, course and distribution of the celiac artery in eight adult red falcons, using a latex injection and dissection method. The celiac artery was ascertained to originate from the aorta at the level of the last 2-3 costae. The celiac artery was determined to split into two main branches, namely, left branch of the celiac artery and right branch of the celiac artery, in between the proventriculus and gizzard, and in the proximity of the lien. Prior to the indicated bifurcation, the celiac artery was observed to give off an esophageal artery and superior proventricular artery. In seven of the red falcons examined, splenic arteries, varying from two to four in number, were determined to spring from the celiac artery. Both the left and right hepatic arteries were ascertained to stem from the left branch of the celiac artery. The terminal branch of the left branch of the celiac artery, namely, the left gastric artery, was determined to have a fan-like distribution to the left surface of the gaster. The artery of the gall bladder was demonstrated to emanate from the left branch of the celiac artery in all of the red falcons examined, excluding one. The right branch of the celiac artery was determined to ramify into its terminal branches, namely, the right inferior gastric artery, ileocecal artery, pancreaticoduodenal artery, duodenojejunal artery and gastroduodenal artery, in the proximity of the pylorus which constitutes the gastro-duodenal passage.

Conservation of crops is based on ex situ collection into gene banks. Additionally, crop's wild relatives can be conserved in situ, and landraces and obsolete cultivars also can be conserved using the on-farm method. The definition and methodology of on-farm conservation is discussed. On-farm conservation has been set up in the Czech Republic as model examples in several institutions dealing with nature protection, education, cultural conservation, as well as by some private farmers. Problems, plus positive and negative experiences are presented. On-farm conservation in open-air-museums in the natur (skansens) as well as in the national parks, seem to be suitable ways forward for the Czech Republic.

: Nutrient digestibility and parameters of nutritive value for ruminants of two winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were evaluated by means of an in vivo balance trial performed by the regression method on two groups of heifers with an increasing proportion of grain in DM (from 6 to 46%). Sulamit and Rapsodia, chosen on the basis of the in vitro test from a set of 25 cultivars (grown in 2002-2004) reached significant differences in DM fermentability in vitro (by 43.7-78.6 ml/g DM, P < 0.05). In vivo digestibility of crude protein, nitrogen-free extract, organic matter, parameters of N retention, energy concentrations (metabolisable energy, net energy for lactation and for fattening) and parameters in the PDI system (especially PDIE) increased along with the grain proportion in the diet. At the comparable proportion of grain in the ration the positive differences were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for Sulamit than Rapsodia.

The aim of this study was to compare the degree of root rot damage in two large complexes of Norway spruce stands established on former agricultural land at fertile sites. The root rot infection was observed on the stump cutting area on both intended and salvage clear fellings. Stands in Kružberk area in the Nízký Jeseník Mts. established on arable land showed very poor stability and large root rot damage at the age of 40-50 years. In contrast, stands in Lužná area in the Javorníky Mts., founded on former sheep pastures, were markedly much less damaged at the age of 90-110 years and proved to be able to provide quality timber, although they were damaged by the root rot as well.

In the second half of 20^th century silver fir regeneration has been observed throughout all of the Europe, including the Czech Republic. The Bohemian Forest - Šumava Mts. is one of the regions where the silver fir percentage in forest stands is supposed to be increased from the present 2% to nearly 12%. During the period 2006-2007, in the Czech part of the Bohemian Forest, samples of silver fir were taken mainly in the upper altitudinal limit of silver fir occurrence. In the present paper the results of performed analyses are compared with similar surveys conducted in the other European regions. Samples from the Bohemian Forest, in contrast to other results, differ in higher phosphorus content and lower contents of calcium and manganese. Nitrogen content is slightly higher. Our values for the other elements (magnesium, potassium, zinc, sulphur) are comparable to those reported in Poland and Slovakia. In Germany, aside from the above mentioned differences, higher magnesium content was also found within the locality sampled.