Abstract We compared the impact of contamination by military activities (over 50 years) on the diversity of filamentous fungi at the Zemianske Kostoľany site (soil samples 1–6) and the Trenčín site (soil samples 7–13) in central Slovakia. In several samples, limit values for As, non-polar hydrocarbons, the sum of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Zn were found to be exceeded. In all samples, a total of 21 genera and 58 species of filamentous fungi were identified. The most abundant species include Cunninghamella elegans , Mortierella alpina and Mucor hiemalis (phylum Mucoromycota). The phylum Ascomycota was dominated by species of the genera Fusarium , Penicillium and especially Trichoderma with many species in all soil samples. The species Cephalotrichum microsporum , Cephalotrichum gorgonifer , Fusarium armeniacum , Marquandomyces marquandii , Penicillium paraherquei , Purpureocillium lavendulum , Sporomia subticinensis , Talaromyces calidicanius , Trichoderma gamsii , Trichoderma paraviridescens , Trichoderma sulphureum (phylum Ascomycota) and the species Earliella scabrosa (phylum Basidiomacota) were recorded for the first time in Slovakia. The number of genera and species of filamentous fungi in samples at the Zemianske Kostoľany site was comparable with only minimal differences, which also characterizes their low diversity with the highest Sørensen’s similarity index value of 57.1% between samples 4 and 6. In soil samples at the Trenčín site, there was a slightly higher number of genera and species of filamentous fungi. This also implies a higher diversity with a maximum similarity of 62.8% between samples 12 and 13. Among the analysed contaminants, the contents of As and non-polar hydrocarbons had the most significant impact on the Sørensen’s similarity index.

Abstract The subfamily Cryptocephalinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is characterized by the behavior of constructing fecal shelters. Despite such a peculiar biology, there are few studies on their natural history. In view of this need, we present here for the first time the natural history of a species of Pseudochlamys Lacordaire, 1848. Adults were collected and reared in the laboratory at a temperature of around 25 °C. Eggs produced were individualized, and hatched larvae were fed and monitored daily until adult emergence. Emerged adults were monitored in couples for the reproductive performance of the females. Parasitoidism was also observed on eggs collected in the field. Pseudochlamys megalostomoides Lacordaire, 1848 has four larval instars. The preimaginal period lasted 89.95 days: 15.27 in the fecal egg capsule; 46.83 as a larva; and 28 days in the pupal chamber. The active period of the immature was about 39.61% of its development. Females lived for 71.25 days, ovipositing for 41 days. Of the eggs collected in the field, 49.31% were parasitized and only 23.43% were viable. Unlike most Cryptocephalinae taxa, P . megalostomoides is a monophagous species that feeds on Waltheria indica Linnaeus and Waltheria rotundifolia Schrank. This beetle is parasitized by Entedoninae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera). This species of Pseudochlamys probably has more than one generation per year.

Abstract In this study, we examined the impact of the regularity of low-intensity grazing on vegetation dynamics of dry grasslands through 24 years monitoring of 127 permanent plots. The regularity of grazing in each permanent plot was defined as the ratio of the number of years in which grazing occurred to the number of years in which the plot was studied. From a nature conservation perspective, it was positive that regular grazing led to a reduction in woody plant cover. However, the cover of Red List (threatened) species significantly decreased with increasing grazing regularity. A negative correlation was found between monocotyledonous plant cover, especially grasses, and both the cover and number of Red List species. Although grazing regularity had no statistically significant influence on monocotyledonous plant cover, it was linked to reduced cover of dicotyledonous species. Additionally, no relationship was detected between the grazing regularity and cover of the target dry grassland Festuco-Brometea species or ruderal species. No direct relationships were identified between grazing regularity and overall vegetation conditions, as summarized by correlation coefficients for diversity, stability, and synchrony, but dry grassland community stability decreased with increasing synchrony, and synchrony was positively influenced by community diversity or species richness. At some sites, there was a very close positive correlation between community stability and total community cover and between diversity and M-Godron instability. Our findings show that while grazing regularity does not consistently dictate vegetation conditions, it significantly influences specific plant groups and interacts with community stability in complex ways. Low-intensity grazing appears to be an effective management strategy for dry grasslands, especially when combined with multi-year rest periods or occasional mowing, while continuous grazing generally suppresses dicotyledonous plants, including a number of threatened species.

Abstract Fungi of the phylum Ascomycota , recognized for their extraordinary adaptability to extreme environments, play crucial ecological roles, particularly in sea turtle nests, where they are responsible for 61% of fungal occurrences. In this comprehensive review, we aim to synthesize current knowledge on the diversity, ecology, and pathogenicity of fungi associated with sea turtles and their nesting environments, with special attention to the genus Fusarium and its global distribution. We also seek to identify the main knowledge gaps and methodological challenges that hinder accurate species identification and comparative analyses across studies. This review analyzes the occurrence and interactions of fungi in different species of sea turtles, highlighting the prevalence of genera such as Fusarium , which have been associated with severe embryo mortality, significantly reducing hatching success. Despite the identification of 39 genera and approximately 70 species of fungi, underreporting and methodological variability between studies limit a comprehensive understanding of fungal interactions. Additionally, we emphasize the disharmonious interactions between fungi and turtles, particularly infections that compromise the health of these animals, often in association with bacterial coinfections. By establishing an overview of existing research and proposing standardized methodological approaches, this study provides a starting point for more systematic and long-term investigations that integrate environmental and climatic variables. Such efforts are essential to inform effective conservation strategies and to mitigate the growing threat that fungal infections pose to sea turtle populations worldwide.