The main objective of this study was to assess the concentration of various minerals (Ca, P, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe) in the blood of sheep, followed by biochemical analysis in order to reveal possible associations of season and breed. The study was conducted by sampling four herds: Suffolk (n=20), Merino (n=20), Lithuanian blackhead (n=20) and Charolaise (n=7). The first blood collection was conducted in April and the last one was performed in February. The highest level of Ca was estimated in Suffolk ewes, lowest (12.61%) in Merino breed; the highest Mg content was found in Lithuanian blackhead breed, lowest (5.26%) in Charolaise; highest P content was determined in Merino, lowest (24.18%) in Suffolk breed (p<0.05). Evalua- tion of the biochemical parameters during different seasons showed a possible environmental effect on the health of the animals. The difference among minerals content showed the highest level in Ca, Mg, Fe in the autumn, P - in the summer, Cu and Zn - in the winter. The lowest differences between seasons were observed in content of Mg (1.24-4.03% from total average of all seasons) and Ca (0.59-8.18%), the highest – in Cu (2.52-18.36 %) and Zn (4.33-24.33%) (p<0.05). The significance of this work is the possible use of the data in the prevention of metabolic and production diseases.

The aim of this paper is to examine the problem of existing seasonal volatility in total and disaggregated HICP for Baltic Region countries (Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden). Using nonparametric tests, we found that in the case of m-o-m prices, including fruit, vegetables, and total HICP, the homogeneity of variance during seasons is rejected. Based on these findings, we propose an exponential smoothing model with periodic variance of error terms that capture the repetitive seasonal variation (in conditional or unconditional second moments). In a pseudo-real data experiment, the short-term forecasts (nowcasting) for the considered components of inflation were determined using different specifications of considered models. The forecasting performance of the models was measured using one of the scoring rules for probabilistic forecasts called logarithmic score. We found instead that while the periodic phenomenon in variance was statistically significant, the models with a periodic phenomenon in variance of error terms do not significantly improve forecasting performance in disaggregated cases and in the case of total HICP. The simpler models with constant variance of error term have comparative forecasting (nowcasting) performance over the alternative model.

In the present paper we show results of our research on the contents of selected heavy metals in the surface and subsurface water layers of the estuarine lake Gardno. Obtained results show that there are substantial differences between concentrations of lead, copper and zinc in surface microlayer and subsurface waters. We observed that the surface microlayer is capable of accumulating much higher amounts of these metals than the subsurface waters. Analysis of seasonal changes in heavy metal concentrations in surface microlayers and subsurface waters shows some periodicity of these changes.

The population of spider feeding on insect pests of cotton was observed throughout the growth period of the crop, being maximum in the month of July. Chrysoperla was observed from second fortnight of June to harvesting of the crop being maximum in November. The incidence of coccinellids was recorded from the middle of August to middle of September and remained till harvesting of the crop being maximum in the first fortnight of November. A positive significant effect of maximum and minimum temperature on spider and negative significant effect on population of chrysoperla and coccinellids was recorded. Evening RH exerted positive significant effect on spider and negative significant effect on coccinellids.

Since previous health monitoring systems have shown themselves to be unsuccessful in predicting health disorders in dairy cows managed on pasture, the aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of automated health monitoring integrated in an accelerometer-based oestrus detection system (ODS) for dairy cows on pasture. Mixed-breed lactating dairy cows (n=109) in a seasonal-calving herd managed at pasture were fitted with an ODS that provided automated health monitoring. The ODS performed multimetric analysis of behavioural patterns to generate health alerts. Data were collected during the artificial insemination period of 66 days. Clinical examinations and farmer’s observations were used to evaluate the performance of automated health monitoring. During the insemination period, the farmer generated two health alerts, which were classified false positives (2/2; 100%). The ODS generated 31 automated health alerts. Of all automated health alerts, 3/31 (9.7%) were confirmed as true health disorders and 28/31 (90.3%) alerts were classified as false positives. The positive predictive value (PPV) of automated health monitoring was 9.7 (95% CI=2-25.8) %. The ODS was able to alert lactating dairy cows on pasture suffering from health disorders. True health disorders were alerted by the ODS before the farmer noticed them, which could provide early and successful treatment when using the system on-farm for automated health monitoring. The evaluated accuracy of automated health monitoring is opposed to a targeted use of the system for on-farm health monitoring. For further validation, testing on other farms and during the transition period would be of interest.

Notothenia coriiceps, N.rossii and Lepidonotothen nudifrons were sampled from Admiralty Bay from March to November 1997 and from January to February 1999. The ratio of N.coriiceps to N.rossii individuals in catches regularly increased during 22 years from 0.4 in 1977 to 9.5 in 1999. Oving to its reproductive strategy and avoidance of shallow waters N.rossii may be more vulnerable to overfishing. The condition factor was the most stable (CV 6 -10%), variations in the of hepatosomatic index and index of stomach fullness were intermediate (21 -38%and 40 -43%,respectively), and the gonadosomatic index was the most variable (65 -100%). Lack of seasonality in two somatic indices (condition factor and index of stomach fullness) in N.coriiceps adults is a direct effect of high food availability and unlimited food detection all year round. In contrast, the seasonality of a reproductive index (gonadosomatic index) of these fish is a response to the highly seasonal trophic conditions for pelagic larvae.

Seasonal changes in the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) autoproteolytic activity were followed throughout the year. Using the kinetic formula for the first order reaction, the initial reaction rate (y0), the rate after 5 minutes (y5) and the average reaction rate (yx) after 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 min of incubation of mixed homogenate at 40° + 0.2°C were determined in each sample. Changes in the krill autoproteolytic activity over the year were found to follow a sinusoid with a maximum during the austral summer (January) and a minimum during the austral winter (July-August). The maximum initial reaction rate was about ten times the minimum initial rate, which is an evidence of a considerable seasonal variation in the krill autoproteolytic activity associated presumably with the krill feeding intensity.

Antarctic krill carbohydrate content was followed during 1983—84 Eighth Polish Antarctic Expedition. The Admiralty Bay (King George Island) was th area of study. The following average values of three estimated fractions were obtained: 3.77 +- 1.51%, 0.47 +- 0.34% and 3.30 +- 1.33% for total, TCA-soluble and TCA-insoluble carbohydrates, respectively. Percentage contribution of the estimated fractions to dry weight varied seasonally (1.48—7.41%, 0.15—1.83%, and 1.28—6.28%, respectively). The carbohydrate content showed a clearcut cycle of changes over the calender year, with a minimum in autumn-winter and a maximum in spring-summer.

Conventional methods for determining the reproductive performance of sheep bred either after estrus synchronization during the breeding season or after induction of estrus/ovulation during the non-breeding season take a long time and may give misleading results due to the effect of environmental factors. Laparoscopic observations allow real-time monitoring of ovarian activity around estrus or ovulation. This study was aimed at assessing the superovulatory effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) treatments by laparoscopy during breeding (September-November, n=12) and non-breeding (April-June, n=12) seasons in Akkaraman sheep. In both seasons, after CIDR withdrawal, the ewes were injected either with 600 IU eCG or 300 μl (20 mg/ml) FSH twice at 12 hour intervals. Plasma P4, E2 and LH concentrations were determined at the time of intra-vaginal CIDR insertion (day 0) and then at its withdrawal (day 12), followed by 3 and 6 days of eCG or FSH injections. After 3 (first observation) and 6 (second observation) days of hormone injections, laparoscopy was performed to record ovarian activity in both seasons. The eCG increased (p<0.05) the numbers of large follicles (first observation) and CL (first and second observations) in the breeding season compared to FSH treatment. CL, small-moderate and large follicle numbers of eCG treated ewes were higher (p<0.05) than those of FSH at both observations in the non-breeding season. In the breeding season, eCG treated ewes had higher (p<0.05) plasma P4 (3 and 6 days after hormones injections) and E2 (3 days after hormones injections) concentrations than those of FSH. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that treatment with eCG during the non-breeding season can support ovarian activity, and thus increase ovulation rate and plasma hormone concentrations around induced estrus/ovulation in Akkaraman ewes.

Measurements were made of organic fluxes at a coastal sediment at Signy Island , South Orkney Islands, Antarctica , between December 1990 and March 1992. The deposition rate of organic matter to the sediment was measured at the same time with a maximum sedimentation rate of 306 mg C m–2 d–1. The rates of sedimentary organic input were small during winter ice cover, and the organic content of the sediment declined during this period as available organic matter was depleted. Fresh organic input occurred as soon as the sea-ice melted and ice algal biomass was deposited to the sediment; and was sustained during the spring after ice break-up by continued primary production in the water column. The proportion of available carbon in surface sediments was measured during a seasonal cycle using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an indicator organism over the 0–1 cm depth horizon. Variations in the amount of organic matter deposited to the sediments and the proportion of available carbon were observed during the seasonal cycle. Seasonal variations of benthic activity in this coastal sediment was regulated by the input and availability of organic matter, and not by seasonal water temperature, which was relatively constant between –1.8 and 0.5°C .

Ground temperature variations have been analysed to the depth of 160 cm, with respect to meteorological elements and short-wave radiation balance. The database of the ground temperature covers a thirteen month-long period (May 1992 – June 1993), which included both the seasons of complete freezing of the ground and thaw. Special attention has been given to the development of perennial permafrost and its spatial distribution. In summer, the depth of thawing ground varied in different types of ground — at the Polish Polar Station, this was ca. 130 cm. The ground froze completely in the first week of October. Its thawing started in June. The snow cover restrained heat penetration in the ground, which hindered the ground thawing process. Cross-correlation shows a significant influence of the radiation balance (K*) on the values of near-surface ground temperatures (r2 = 0.62 for summer).