Chironomids of the genus Diamesa (Meigen, 1835, Diptera: Chironomidae) inhabit cold, oxygen-rich running waters. We have investigated the presence of Diamesa and other freshwater macroinvertebrates at 22 stream sampling sites in 3 European high mountain regions (the Central Pyrenees, the Ötztal Alps, and the Tatra Mountains) to establish suitable temperature conditions for Diamesa dominance. It has been generally accepted that their high abundance was linked to the presence of glaciers; however, we have shown that in the Tatra Mountains, where there are no glaciers, the conditions for the dominance of Diamesa species are created due to permanent snowfields, the geographical orientation of the valley and shading by the surrounding high peaks. The historical connection of Diamesa to glaciers was investigated from the paleolimnological records of subfossil chironomid assemblages from the Bohemian Forest, where glaciers disappeared before or during the Late Glacial period. As expected, water temperature seems to be the main driver of Diamesa distribution, and we determined that the relative abundance of Diamesa species was significantly higher at the sites with a mean July water temperature below 6.5 °C. The Diamesa-dominated stream communities seems to be endangered due to ongoing climate warming and this assumption is supported by our paleolimnological results from the Bohemian Forest lakes, where Diamesa has disappeared due to warming of lake inflows at the beginning of the Holocene. These findings strengthen the former suggestions that some Diamesa species could be used as an indicator for tracking recent environmental changes in vulnerable ecosystems of cold mountain streams.
- Klíčová slova
- Alps, Bohemian Forest, Pyrenees, Tatra Mountains, glacier retreat, snowfield/glacieret,
- MeSH
- Chironomidae * fyziologie MeSH
- klimatické změny * MeSH
- nízká teplota MeSH
- řeky * MeSH
- rozšíření zvířat MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Diamesa species (Diptera, Chironomidae) are widely distributed in freshwater ecosystems, and their life cycles are closely linked to environmental variables such as temperature, water quality, and sediment composition. Their sensitivity to environmental changes, particularly in response to pollution and habitat alterations, makes them valuable indicators of ecosystem health. The challenges associated with the morphological identification of larvae invoke the use of DNA barcoding for species determination. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene is regularly used for species identification but faces limitations, such as similar sequences in closely related species. To overcome this, we explored the use of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) region in addition to COI for Diamesa larvae identification. Therefore, this study employs a combination of molecular markers alongside traditional morphological identification to enhance species discrimination. In total, 129 specimens were analysed, of which 101 were sampled from a glacier-fed stream in Rotmoostal, and the remaining 28 from spring-fed streams in the neighbouring valleys of Königstal and Timmelstal. This study reveals the inadequacy of utilizing single COI or ITS genes for comprehensive species differentiation within the genus Diamesa. However, the combined application of COI and ITS markers significantly enhances species identification resolution, surpassing the limitations faced by traditional taxonomists. Notably, this is evident in cases involving morphologically indistinguishable species, such as Diamesa latitarsis and Diamesa modesta. It highlights the potential of employing a multi-marker approach for more accurate and reliable Diamesa species identification. This method can be a powerful tool for identifying Diamesa species, shedding light on their remarkable adaptations to extreme environments and the impacts of environmental changes on their populations.
Chironomids (non-biting midges) inhabit almost every wet or semi-wet continental environment on Earth with probably 10,000 different species. Species occurrence and composition are undoubtedly limited by environmental harshness and food availability being reflected in their energy stores. Most animals store energy as glycogen and lipid. They enable the animals to survive adverse situations and to continue growth, development, and reproduction. This general statement is also true for insects and also particularly true for chironomid larvae. The rationale behind this research was, that probably any stress, any environmental burden, and any harmful influence increases the energy requirement of individual larvae depleting energy stores. We developed new methods to measure the glycogen and lipid content in small tissue samples. Here we show how to apply these methods to single chironomid larvae to demonstrate their energy stores. We compared different locations of the high Alpine rivers along harshness gradient densely populated and dominated by chironomid larvae. All samples show very low energy stores without any major differences. We found glycogen concentrations below 0.01% of dry weight (DW) and lipid concentrations below 5% of DW irrespective of the specific sampling point. These values are among the lowest ever observed in chironomid larvae. We demonstrate that individuals living in extreme environment are stressed leading to reduced energy stores in their bodies. This appears to be a general feature of high altitude regions. Our results provide new insights and a better understanding of population and ecological dynamics in harsh mountainous areas, also in view of a changing climate.
- Klíčová slova
- Alpine streams, Chironomidae - Diamesa larvae, Energy storage, Glycogen, Lipids, Physiological indicator,
- MeSH
- Chironomidae * MeSH
- larva MeSH
- lipidy MeSH
- řeky MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Rakousko MeSH
- Názvy látek
- lipidy MeSH
Peak shapes in electrophoresis are often distorted from the ideal Gaussian shape due to disturbing phenomena, of which the most important is electromigration dispersion. For fully dissociated analytes, there is a tight analogy between nonlinear models describing a separation process in chromatography and electrophoresis. When the velocity of the separated analyte depends on the concentration of the co-analyte, the consequence is a mutual influence of the analytes couples, which distorts both analyte zones. In this paper, we introduce a nonlinear model of electromigration for the analysis of two co-migrating fully dissociated analytes. In the initial stages of separation, they influence each other, which causes much more complicated peak shapes. The analysis has revealed that the two most important phenomena-the displacement and the tag-along effects-are common both for nonlinear chromatography and electrophoresis, though their description is partly based on rather different phenomena. The comparison between the nonlinear model of electromigration we describe and the numerical computer solution of the original continuity equations has proven an almost perfect agreement. The predicted features in peak shapes in initial stages of separation have been fully confirmed by the experiments.
The continuity equations that describe the movement of ions in liquid solutions under the influence of an external stationary electric field, as it is utilized in electrophoresis, were introduced a long time ago starting with Kohlrausch in 1897. From that time on, there have been many attempts to solve the equations and to discuss the results. In electrophoresis, special attention has always been devoted to the peak shapes obtained by the detector since the shapes have a tight connection with the phenomena taking place during electromigration and influence the efficiency and selectivity of the separation. Among these phenomena, the most important is electromigration dispersion. In this commented review paper, we compare various models of electromigration, try to find points that connect them, and discuss the range of their validity in light of the linear and nonlinear theory of electromigration.
- Klíčová slova
- Capillary zone electrophoresis, Electromigration dispersion, Linear theory of electromigration,
- MeSH
- chemické modely * MeSH
- elektroforéza kapilární * MeSH
- ionty analýza chemie izolace a purifikace MeSH
- statistické modely MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
- Názvy látek
- ionty MeSH
The linear theory of electromigration, including the first-order nonlinear approximation, is generalized to systems with any equilibria fast enough to be considered instantaneous in comparison with the timescale of peak movement. For example, this theory is practically applied in the electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) mode of the CZE. The model enables the calculation of positions and shapes of analyte and system peaks without restricting the number of selectors, the complexation stoichiometry, or simultaneous acid-base equilibria. The latest version of our PeakMaster software, PeakMaster 6-Next Generation, implements the theory in a user-friendly way. It is a free and open-source software that performs all calculations and shows the properties of the background electrolyte and the expected electropherogram within a few seconds. In this paper, we mathematically derive the model, discuss its applicability to EKC systems, and introduce the PeakMaster 6 software.
- Klíčová slova
- Capillary zone electrophoresis, Electrokinetic chromatography, Linear theory of electromigration, PeakMaster,
- MeSH
- chemické modely MeSH
- elektroforéza kapilární metody MeSH
- elektrolyty chemie MeSH
- ionty chemie MeSH
- kapilární elektrochromatografie metody MeSH
- lineární modely MeSH
- software * MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Názvy látek
- elektrolyty MeSH
- ionty MeSH
The aim of the study was to determine the reliability of parkour skills assessment in field conditions. Twenty young men completed three trials of a parkour obstacle course on two separate days. The tested group consisted of 10 beginners (age 16 ± 1 years, body mass = 65 ± 12 kg, height = 177 ± 7 cm) and 10 advanced traceurs (age 18 ± 2 years, body mass = 68 ± 14 kg, height = 178 ± 6 cm). The performance was video-recorded and subsequently analyzed by three raters (total score 0⁻45). Median and percentiles were used to characterize results from all sessions by all raters. Inter-rater, intra-session and inter-session reliability were assessed using Krippendorff's α for ordinal data. The Mann-Whitney test was used to assess the differences between beginners and advanced traceurs. Advanced traceurs obtained a total score from 41 to 44 whilst beginners achieved 27 to 33 points. Krippendorff's α for total score ranged from 0.910 to 0.916 between raters, 0.828 to 0.874 between trials, and from 0.839 to 0.924 between days. The proposed parkour course differentiated two different ability levels and the skills assessment demonstrated excellent reliability between raters, trials, and days.
- Klíčová slova
- Krippendorff’s α, Mann-Whitney test, objectivity, obstacle course,
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
We study the impact of quantum phase transitions (QPTs) on the distribution of exceptional points (EPs) of the Hamiltonian in the complex-extended parameter domain. Analyzing first- and second-order QPTs in the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model we find an exponentially and polynomially close approach of EPs to the respective critical point with increasing size of the system. If the critical Hamiltonian is subject to random perturbations of various kinds, the averaged distribution of EPs close to the critical point still carries decisive information on the QPT type. We therefore claim that properties of the EP distribution represent a parametrization-independent signature of criticality in quantum systems.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
We focus on the state-of-the-art theory of electromigration under single and multiple complexation equilibrium. Only 1:1 complexation stoichiometry is discussed because of its unique status in the field of affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE). First, we summarize the formulas for the effective mobility in various ACE systems as they appeared since the pioneering days in 1992 up to the most recent theories till 2015. Disturbing phenomena that do not alter the mobility of the analyte directly but cause an unexpected peak broadening have been studied only recently and are also discussed in this paper. Second, we turn our attention to the viscosity effects in ACE. Change in the background electrolyte viscosity is unavoidable in ACE but numerous observations scattered throughout the literature have not been reviewed previously. This leads to an uncritical employment of correction factors that may or may not be appropriate in practice. Finally, we consider the ionic strength effects in ACE, too. Limitations of the current theories are also discussed and the tasks identified where open problems still prevail. Graphical Abstract A weak base (A) undergoes an acidic-basic equilibria (in blue) and migrates with an electrophoretic mobility of [Formula: see text]. Simultaneously, it interacts with a selector (sel) while the analyte-selector complex migrates with an electrophoretic mobility of [Formula: see text]. The strength of the interaction (in orange) is governed by the binding constant, K A , and the concentration of the selector, c sel . This all gives the analyte an effective mobility of [Formula: see text] and moves it out of the zero position (EOF; right top insert). The interaction of the positively charged analyte with the neutral selector slows down the analyte with increasing selector concentration (right bottom insert).
The model of electromigration of a multivalent weak acidic/basic/amphoteric analyte that undergoes complexation with a mixture of selectors is introduced. The model provides an extension of the series of models starting with the single-selector model without dissociation by Wren and Rowe in 1992, continuing with the monovalent weak analyte/single-selector model by Rawjee, Williams and Vigh in 1993 and that by Lelièvre in 1994, and ending with the multi-selector overall model without dissociation developed by our group in 2008. The new multivalent analyte multi-selector model shows that the effective mobility of the analyte obeys the original Wren and Row's formula. The overall complexation constant, mobility of the free analyte and mobility of complex can be measured and used in a standard way. The mathematical expressions for the overall parameters are provided. We further demonstrate mathematically that the pH dependent parameters for weak analytes can be simply used as an input into the multi-selector overall model and, in reverse, the multi-selector overall parameters can serve as an input into the pH-dependent models for the weak analytes. These findings can greatly simplify the rationale method development in analytical electrophoresis, specifically enantioseparations.
- Klíčová slova
- Cyclodextrins, Dissociation, Dual selector system, Enantioseparation, Mixture of selectors, Model of electromigration,
- MeSH
- elektroforéza kapilární * MeSH
- koncentrace vodíkových iontů MeSH
- stereoizomerie MeSH
- teoretické modely * MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
