We investigated whether tetraploidy in Iksookimia yongdokensis adds more species specific variation in its early life history characteristics. To this end, morphological and temporal characteristics were analysed using artificial fertilisation and laboratory culture, and the results were compared to seventeen other species of the family Cobitidae. Extensive comparison of these characteristics among the cobitid species showed that tetraploid I. yongdokensis was apparently longer in egg diameter (1.54 ± 0.08 mm), hatching size (5.8 ± 0.15 mm in total length), and time to hatching (65 hours after fertilisation) than the other diploid cobitid species. With respect to these characteristics, I. yongdokensis was most similar to the congeneric species of Iksookimia (except I. pacifica). Next closest in similarity, were the other two species of different genera, Kichulchoia brevifasciata and Cobitis takatsuensis. Notably, all of the species with similar characteristics to I. yongdokensis were coincident in that they prefer a similar habitat, that being a bottom of pebbles and cobbles in middle to upper streams. In conclusion, the present study indicates that characteristics of the early life history of cobitid species are associated with both taxonomic closeness and habitat type.

In the Czech Republic, the Balkan spiny loach Sabanejewia balcanica was historically only known from the River Bečva, a left tributary of the River Morava, itself a main tributary of the River Danube. Following its assumed extinction in the Czech Republic, a small population was found in a 1 km stretch of the River Vlára at the Slovak border, with individuals presumably having migrated from Slovakia. In 2016, we recorded six individuals in the downstream stretch of the River Jihlava. Based on present knowledge, this appears to be a population situated wholly outside of its previously known area of distribution, and the only population presently found in the 26000 km² River Morava drainage basin. The distance of this population from the species' present distribution area and historic findings in the River Bečva clearly indicate a much wider historical distribution of this species in the past.

This study aimed to describe the effect of cormorant predation on newly established Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, population in three nursery streams in the upper Elbe River basin (Czech Republic). Salmon have been annually stocked into the nursery streams since 1998 as part of a salmon reintroduction programme. Salmon parr density in nursery streams was 3–81 fish per 100 m². Only thirteen adult salmon were observed in the study area during two years of research. Altogether 912 cormorant pellets were collected, 5482 diagnostic bones were analysed, and 3915 fish were identified in the diet. Cormorant diet was composed of 24 fish species from six families but no salmon were consumed. The salmon stocking programme produces a reasonable amount of smolts but return rates of adults are very low. The cause of low return rates is not cormorant predation on nursery streams but, most likely, a low survival rate on the passage downstream. We suggest that more studies should focus on monitoring of survival and return rates of salmon in the upper River Elbe to ensure that, in the future, the salmon reintroduction programme will be really successful.

Magnetoreception has been widely studied in birds mainly through the paradigm of homing or seasonally appropriate migratory direction. It was found that in total darkness or under selected light regimes (differing in colour and/or intensities), migratory birds display orientation towards certain “fixed” directions which do not correspond to the migratory or homing direction. This “fixed orientation” might correspond to the so-called magnetic alignment recorded in animals of different non-avian taxa. Here we demonstrate that also “common”, non-migratory birds, pheasants, adopt a preferred position and body orientation when drinking at a circular dish. We recorded these parameters by means of camera traps in a pheasantry under control conditions and under experimental exposure to bright blue light. We identified three types of orientation at the edge of drinking dish: standing radially or tangentially with left or right eye to the dish. The position of tangentially drinking chicks was significantly non-random. While the position of radially drinking chicks was random under control conditions, it became significantly non-random, concentrated at about the north and south pole of the dish, under bright blue light. Our results show that this alignment has some similarities with the “fixed orientation”. We suggest that the preference towards a “fixed” direction serves to calibration, organization and reading of the mental (cognitive) map of the space and as a direction indicator. We discuss heuristic potential of the presented research (experimental and evaluation) design for further study on magnetoreception.

The common gull is a widespread species, occurring in almost the whole of Europe that shows no sexual dimorphism in plumage and some dimorphism in size. To propose a method for sexing birds from this species by linear measurements, a discriminant function analysis was applied to a set of morphometric traits in birds captured in northern Poland during the non-breeding season. In total, 138 males and 76 females were measured and sexed molecularly. The averages of measurements of males were larger than the average measurements of females. All individuals with a total head length shorter than 90.6 mm were females. However, the occurrence of larger individuals of the subspecies heinei among common gulls of the nominate subspecies canus wintering in Europe makes separating males according to a single border value of this measurement less efficient. The proposed discriminant function containing the total head length allowed for correct sexing of 95.7 % of males and 90.9 % of females. This discriminant equation may be used for sexing common gulls when DNA sampling is not possible, and could be applied to data collected in the past, providing the opportunity to re-examine the results of previous analyses. However the higher misclassification rate than in other gull species should be taken into account.

To explore the relationship between the development of feeding behaviour and energy intake for captive giant pandas, food intake, feeding rate, and discrimination time were analysed for 26 pandas grouped by sex and age (cub, sub-adult, adult, and elderly). Feeding rates were significantly different between all age groups, except between elderly and adults. In addition, significant differences were found in discrimination time among the female age groups, and all male age groups except between the adults and sub-adults. Among adults in the same age groups, significant differences between the sexes existed in their feeding rate and discrimination time. Differences in discrimination time existed among elderly, adult and sub-adult females. This study of the dynamic characteristics of the feeding behaviour of captive pandas could provide a theoretical basis for feeding recommendations to improve the success of giant panda breeding programmes.

This study explores the spatial distribution of bats around lakes in valleys around 62° N in western Norway. Stationary ultrasound detectors were used to record ultrasound at various distances from the shores of lakes during the bats late pregnancy and lactation period. In this landscape, northern bat was the most commonly recorded species, followed by Myotis bats (pooled) and the soprano pipistrelle. None of the other European bat genera were present. There was a clear non-linear distribution pattern, with a steep increase in bat activity close to the shores. This is similar to what is found in fiords and thus could be a general pattern in landscapes with complex topography. Both climate and topography are factors likely to contribute to this pattern.

The greater Japanese shrew-mole, Urotrichus talpoides, has a wide and thick tail like a baseball bat with bristles like bottle brushes. It is known that not only length variations but also the width variations are observed in the tails of U. talpoides. To understand such width variations of the tail, we examined morphological and histological characteristics. The width variation was not related to the season when captured or aging, as indicated by the skull sizes. In addition, tail vertebra width was not correlated with tail width. On the other hand, according to histological observation of tail skin, the ratio of subcutaneous tissue/corium indicating the thickness of the subcutaneous tissue layer was positively correlated with the tail width (p < 0.05). The thickness of the subcutaneous tissue layer means that the rich adipose tissue and cells observed were unilocular, then identified as white adipose cells. It is well known that one of the functions of white adipose cells is to store excess energy as neutral fat. Thus, it is suggested that U. talpoides stores an energy source as adipose cells in the skin of the tail, demonstrating that tail width variations are caused by the thickness of the subcutaneous tissue layer.