Background: The size of sex differences in dermatoglyphic features and their inter-population differences remains a subject of debate. Combining fingers in traditional dermatoglyphic methodology and omitting finger-specific variations might be a cause for uncertainty.Aim: To compare sex differences in whorl frequencies between fingers.Subjects and methods: Using meta-analytical methods, the authors studied sex differences in frequencies of whorls (log Odd Ratios) for each finger separately, including their heterogeneities (between-samples variance). The dataset of 204 population samples was extracted from published dermatoglyphic studies.Results: Aggregated effects of sex differences were significant in all fingers, except for the left 1st finger. Sex differences were higher in the right hand and increased from radial to ulnar fingers. Apart from the right 1st and 3rd fingers, heterogeneities were small and literally zero in the right 4th finger.Conclusion: Higher sex differences in ulnar fingers and the lack of interpopulation differences all over the world in the 4th finger might be caused by a stronger influence of genetic and/or hormonal factors on dermatoglyphic development of the ulnar side of the hand. It is suggested that future studies, when applying dermatoglyphic traits as markers of prenatal environment, use traits by individual fingers or their relationships within the hand.

• MeSH
• dermatoglyfika * MeSH
• fenotyp * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pohlavní dimorfismus MeSH
• prsty ruky anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• metaanalýza MeSH
• systematický přehled MeSH

We propose the first comprehensive in-depth study monitoring horses in the Czech Republic. We scanned 9,289 animals from 44 populations for 17 equine STRs. Other equids analysed involved Equus przewalskii and Equus asinus. The total of 228 different alleles were detected, with the mean number of 13.4 per locus. The highest allelic richness (AR) was found in the Welsh Part Bred (6.01), followed by the Camargue (5.93) and Czech Sport Pony (5.91), whereas the Friesian exhibited the lowest AR (3.06). Interpopulation differences explained approximately nine per cent of the total genetic diversity. Reynold's genetic distance ranged from 0.003 between the Czech Warmblood and the Slovak Warmblood to 0.404 between the Friesian and donkeys. Close genetic proximity between the Silesian Noriker and Noriker was revealed. The Moravian Warmblood was better differentiated and more distant from the Czech Warmblood than the Kinsky Horse and retained the original genes of the old Austro-Hungarian tribes. A high gene flow level and a lack of genetic structure were found in the seven studied populations. Despite the historical bottlenecks and previous inbreeding, the Czech-Moravian Belgian Horse, Hucul, Old Kladruber Horse and Silesian Noriker did not suffer a serious loss of genetic diversity due to genetic drift/low effective population size. A NeighborNet dendrogram revealed breeds not classified in their groups according to the nomenclature (the Friesian, Hafling and Merens).

• MeSH
• chov MeSH
• genetická variace MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• koně genetika   MeSH
• shluková analýza MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

The age structures of populations of African annual Nothobranchius spp. were examined for the first time. Daily increments in sagittal otoliths of Nothobranchius furzeri, Nothobranchius kadleci, Nothobranchius orthonotus and Nothobranchius rachovii from southern and central Mozambique were used for age determination. Four hypotheses were tested: (1) timing of hatching is consistent with the calendar onset of the rainy season, (2) hatching is synchronized within a population in a pool, (3) there is a difference in hatching date between geographical regions differing in mean total annual precipitation and (4) sympatric Nothobranchius spp. hatch at the same time. The results show that daily increment analysis represents an applicable method for age determination in Nothobranchius spp. Despite a significant positive relationship between age and size of fishes, a pronounced variation in fish size at an age precluded the use of fish size as a valid age marker. Timing of hatching was not consistent with the calendar onset of the rainy season. Interpopulation variability was observed in the degree of hatching date synchronization within a population. Hatching dates were relatively uniform in some populations, while there was considerable variability in others. Differences in timing of hatching date were found in only 1 of 2 years within the three regions investigated (Chefu, lower Limpopo and Sofala regions), each of which differed in mean total annual rainfall. The hatching dates of sympatric Nothobranchius spp. were marginally different, but further testing on a larger sample is needed for conclusive results.

• MeSH
• Cyprinodontidae fyziologie   MeSH
• otolitová membrána anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• rozmnožování fyziologie   MeSH
• velikost těla fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Mosambik MeSH

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Invasiveness of some alien plants is associated with their traits, plastic responses to environmental conditions and interpopulation differentiation. To obtain insights into the role of these processes in contributing to variation in performance, we compared congeneric species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) with different origin and invasion status that occur in central Europe. METHODS: Native I. noli-tangere and three alien species (highly invasive I. glandulifera, less invasive I. parviflora and potentially invasive I. capensis) were studied and their responses to simulated canopy shading and different nutrient and moisture levels were determined in terms of survival and seedling traits. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Impatiens glandulifera produced high biomass in all the treatments and the control, exhibiting the 'Jack-and-master' strategy that makes it a strong competitor from germination onwards. The results suggest that plasticity and differentiation occurred in all the species tested and that along the continuum from plasticity to differentiation, the species at the plasticity end is the better invader. The most invasive species I. glandulifera appears to be highly plastic, whereas the other two less invasive species, I. parviflora and I. capensis, exhibited lower plasticity but rather strong population differentiation. The invasive Impatiens species were taller and exhibited higher plasticity and differentiation than native I. noli-tangere. This suggests that even within one genus, the relative importance of the phenomena contributing to invasiveness appears to be species' specific.

• MeSH
• biomasa MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• fyziologická adaptace * MeSH
• Impatiens genetika   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• kořeny rostlin genetika   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• období sucha MeSH
• semenáček genetika   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• stonky rostlin genetika   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• výhonky rostlin genetika   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• záplavy MeSH
• zavlečené druhy * MeSH
• životní prostředí MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

Karyotypes of eight populations of Sphaerium corneum and two populations of S. nucleus (Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae) from central Europe were compared. The basic set of these hermaphroditic molluscs is formed by 30 biarmed autosomes and exhibits only slight interpopulational variation in morphology. These differences are not species-specific. One pair of nucleolar organiser regions was detected by silver staining. The prophase and metaphase of the first meiotic division is highly modified in both species. Pachytene is followed by a diffuse stage, characterized by decondensation of chromosomes and by enhanced metabolic activity. The diffuse stage has not been reported in bivalves so far. Bivalents of the following stages are achiasmatic both in the testicular and ovarian part of the gonad. The two species are further peculiar for occurrence of B chromosomes, which is a rare phenomenon in organisms with achiasmatic meiotic systems. The small metacentric B chromosomes exhibit intra- and interindividual variability in number, they show irregular meiotic pairing and segregation (formation of bivalents or univalents), and possess larger proportional amount of constitutive heterochromatin than the A chromosomes. Interestingly, the B chromosomes also undergo decondensation during the diffuse stage like A chromosomes which may indicate their transcriptional activity.

• MeSH
• barvení stříbrem metody   MeSH
• buněčné jádro genetika   MeSH
• chromozomy fyziologie   MeSH
• heterochromatin MeSH
• karyotypizace MeSH
• meióza fyziologie   MeSH
• mlži genetika   MeSH
• organizátor jadérka metabolismus   MeSH
• ovarium cytologie   MeSH
• profáze meiózy I fyziologie   MeSH
• testis cytologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH