Laukio sankaupų gausa, pasiskirstymas ir formavimosi fenologija tirta naudojantis duomenimis surinktais 2009-2010 m. dvidešimt viename Lietuvos žuvininkystės ūkyje. Bendras ūkių plotas sudarė apie 10000 ha. Per sezoną (balandy - gegužę) kiekviename ūkyje buvo atliekama 13 apskaitų. Sprendžiant pagal maksimalias sankaupų reikšmes atskiruose ūkiuose, bendras maksimalus laukių skaičius Lietuvos žuvininkystės tvenkiniuose 2009 ir 2010 m sudarė atitinkamai 17793 (vidut. 855,86±SD710,94 ir 18107 (862,24 ±SD612,78). Tačiau kai kuriuose tvenkiniuose susitelkdavo net iki 1000-3000 laukių. Statistiškai patikimo skirtumo tarp laukių bendros gausos 2009 ir 2010 metais neaptikta. Tačiau nuo 2009 -2010 iki 1996-2001 sankaupų gausa patikimai išaugo. Toks teigiamas trendas aiškintinas gausiau beriamais žuvų pašarais paskutiniais tyrimų metais. Kol žuvų tvenkiniuose yra vanduo laukių koncentracija čia 0,3-2 karto didesnė nei ežeruose. Tačiau ankstyvas vandens nuleidimas žuvininkystės ūkių tvenkiniuose neleidžia laukių sankaupoms padidėti iki maksimalių reikšmių. Vidutiniškai, sankaupas formuojantys laukiai išnaudoja 34,08 % (2009 m.) - 41,18 % ūkių tvenkinių teritorijos. Pagal šį rodiklį žuvų auginimo tvenkiniai užima tarpinę poziciją tarp eutrofinių ir mezotrofinių taip vadinamų “laukių ežerų”. Papildomo maisto (žuvų pašarų) faktorius dominuoja tarp kitų – laukių gausos skirtumus tarp ūkių apsprendžiančių – faktorių. Iš pastarųjų antras pagal svarba yra žuvininkystės ūkio plotas. / Research of abundance, distribution and phenology of Coot staging concentrations were performed using data-basis, from 21 fish farms in Lithuania. In total, 10000 ha pond area was covered with 13 counts carried out on each fish farm since April to October, in 2009-2010. According to peak values from each fish farm total amounts of Coots in all fish farms were 17793 (average 855,86±SD710,94, and 18107 (862,24 ±SD612,78). In particular ponds, size of Coot concentrations reached from 1000 to 3000 individuals. Difference in total abundance of staging concentrations of Coot in fish farms between 2009 and 2010 years was not significant while between 2009 -2010 and 1996-2001 size of concentrations has increased significantly. The later phenomenon related to improvement of food availability due to increase in amounts of fish foods. When with water, fish ponds supports 0.3-2 times higher concentrations of coots than natural lakes do. However, early amelioration of ponds do not allow Coot concentrations to grow up to its peak. In average, in 2009-2010 staging coots exploited 4,08 % (2009 m.) - 41,18 % of total area of Lithuanian fish ponds. According to these values, fish ponds could be placed between eutrophic and mezotrophic “Coot lakes”. Factor of artificial (fish) food dominates among other factors responsible for differences in numbers of staging coots in fish farms. Area of fish farm ranks as second important factor in this respect.

Numerous trichomonad flagelletes from the intestines or various birds have been described; but as fas as the writer has been able to discover, none from the intestine of the coot, Fulica americana. Martin and Robertson (1911) described Trichomones eberthi and T. gallinerum from the caecum of fowls; Kotlan (1923) described Tetratrichomonas avatis from the caecum of ducks; Tyzzer (1930) described flagellates from the ruffed grouse. However, the species described by the above authors are quite different from Trichomonas to be described in this paper. This organism is definitely a member of the genus Trichomonas since it possesses the distinguishing characteristics of the group: four free anterior flagella, an undulating membrane, a chromatic basal rod, an axostyle, a trailing or posterior flagellum, and an anteriorly located nucleus. This flagellate, however, is unusual in possessing a long narrow rod-shaped parabasal body or rod which is a constant character.

No description available.

No description available.

I studied carotenoids in the eggs of American coots (<i>Fulica americana</i>) from 3 study sites in Saskatchewan, Canada. I supplemented two diet types designed to reduce carotenoids in the diet of laying coots to investigate the relationship of carotenoids and the size of eggs and to examine the allocation of carotenoids into eggs.</p><p>In chapter 2, I examined influences of local environment, food quantity and food quality on egg size. Carotenoid content and stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes in yolk were measured and used to elucidate whether variation in type of food eaten contributes to egg size. By analyzing isotopes in coot tissues, I confirmed that coots use endogenous lipid reserves for egg formation but not endogenous protein reserves, and the size of eggs is more dependent on exogenous sources of nutrients. My data demonstrate that carotenoids are not causal in egg size, but are components of natural, high quality diets.</p> <p>Carotenoids are obtained through the diet and deposited into egg yolk. It has been hypothesized that concentrations and percentages of individual carotenoids can be labile and dependent on diets or maintained in an optimal balance to meet requirements of embryos. In chapter 3, I investigate deposition of carotenoids in egg yolk among nesting locales, among hens within a site and among treatments in a diet manipulation experiment. My data show maintenance in the percent composition of a suite of 3 important carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin and âcarotene, independent of scale of investigation and in contrast to other individual carotenoids that appear to vary in proportions based on diet. These results suggest that birds can maintain nutritional balances in their eggs despite variation in diets.</p><p>In chapter 4, I tested 3 hypotheses regarding the apportionment of carotenoids into egg yolk over the laying sequence. Without exception, concentrations of these nutrients have previously been shown to decline with egg sequence. In contrast to these findings, coots actually increased the carotenoid concentration in yolks over the laying sequence. My experimental evidence supports the explanation that this pattern of deposition depends on carotenoid availability to the laying female.

I studied carotenoids in the eggs of American coots (<i>Fulica americana</i>) from 3 study sites in Saskatchewan, Canada. I supplemented two diet types designed to reduce carotenoids in the diet of laying coots to investigate the relationship of carotenoids and the size of eggs and to examine the allocation of carotenoids into eggs.</p><p>In chapter 2, I examined influences of local environment, food quantity and food quality on egg size. Carotenoid content and stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes in yolk were measured and used to elucidate whether variation in type of food eaten contributes to egg size. By analyzing isotopes in coot tissues, I confirmed that coots use endogenous lipid reserves for egg formation but not endogenous protein reserves, and the size of eggs is more dependent on exogenous sources of nutrients. My data demonstrate that carotenoids are not causal in egg size, but are components of natural, high quality diets.</p> <p>Carotenoids are obtained through the diet and deposited into egg yolk. It has been hypothesized that concentrations and percentages of individual carotenoids can be labile and dependent on diets or maintained in an optimal balance to meet requirements of embryos. In chapter 3, I investigate deposition of carotenoids in egg yolk among nesting locales, among hens within a site and among treatments in a diet manipulation experiment. My data show maintenance in the percent composition of a suite of 3 important carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin and âcarotene, independent of scale of investigation and in contrast to other individual carotenoids that appear to vary in proportions based on diet. These results suggest that birds can maintain nutritional balances in their eggs despite variation in diets.</p><p>In chapter 4, I tested 3 hypotheses regarding the apportionment of carotenoids into egg yolk over the laying sequence. Without exception, concentrations of these nutrients have previously been shown to decline with egg sequence. In contrast to these findings, coots actually increased the carotenoid concentration in yolks over the laying sequence. My experimental evidence supports the explanation that this pattern of deposition depends on carotenoid availability to the laying female.