Publikācijas

Development under predation risk increases serotonin-signaling, variability of turning behavior and survival in adult fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster

The development of high-throughput behavioral assays, where numerous individual animals can be analyzed in various experimental …

Selective selfishness in alarm calling behaviour by some members of wintering mixed-species groups of crested tits and willow tits

Animals adjust their use of alarm calls depending on social environments. We tested whether dominant (adult) and subordinate (juvenile …

Sustaining Carbon Storage: Lessons from Hemiboreal Old-Growth Coniferous and Deciduous Forest Stands

For the last three decades, the area of old-growth forest stands in Europe has continued to increase as has their importance in …

Tree biomass – a fragile carbon storage in old-growth birch and aspen stands in hemiboreal Latvia

Physiological stress and higher reproductive success in bumblebees are both associated with intensive agriculture

Free-living organisms face multiple stressors in their habitats, and habitat quality often affects development and life history traits. …

Temperature has a major effect on the cuticular wax composition of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruit

Cuticle is the first layer protecting plants against external biotic and abiotic factors and is responsive to climatic factors as well …

Soil Type Rather Than Freezing Determines the Size of Soil-Root Plate of Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth.) in the Eastern Baltic Region

In the Eastern Baltic region, severe windstorms increase both in frequency and magnitude, particularly during the dormancy period, …

Social Perception of Riparian Forests

Riparian forests are ecotones that differ from the surrounding landscapes, delineating the transition from terrestrial ecosystems into …

Silver birch shows nonlinear responses to moisture availability and temperature in the eastern Baltic Sea region

Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) is a widespread species with a high potential for aiding sustainability and multifunctionality of …

Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth.) on Dry Mineral Rather than on Deep Peat Soils Is More Dependent on Frozen Conditions in Terms of Wind Damage in the Eastern Baltic Region

In Northern Europe, the ongoing winter warming along with increasing precipitation shortens the periods for which soil is frozen, which …

Reply to Jan T. Lifjeld et al.: Female agency and fitness benefits of mixed-paternity broods remain

Regularly Planted Rather Than Natural Understory of Norway Spruce (Picea abies H. Karst.) Contributes to the Individual Stability of Canopy Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth.)

Forest plantations, particularly high-density planted stands, are considered to be more prone to wind damage compared to naturally …

Provision of Ecosystem Services in Riparian Hemiboreal Forest Fixed-Width Buffers

The importance of riparian forest protection is widely acknowledged. However, scientific discussions are still ongoing as to the most …

High Blood Parasite Infection Rate and Low Fitness Suggest That Forest Water Bodies Comprise Ecological Traps for Pied Flycatchers

Blood parasites are considered to have strong negative effects on host fitness. Negative fitness consequences may be associated with …

Extra-pair paternity explains cooperation in a bird species

In many social animals, females mate with multiple males, but the adaptive value of female extra-pair mating is not fully understood. …

Biodiversity conservation in private forests: Factors driving landowner's attitude

In many countries, biodiversity conservation strategies are aimed not only for state land, but also private land. Participation of …

A Static Pulling Test Is a Suitable Method for Comparison of the Loading Resistance of Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth.) between Urban and Peri-Urban Forests

In urbanized areas, wind disturbances can be intensified by anthropogenic stresses under which trees may become hazardous, creating …

Post fore ground vegetation development over 25 years

Fire has been a part of natural disturbance regime in boreal and to some extent also hemiboreal forests, affecting soil and light …

Modification of Growth and Physiological Response of Coastal Dune Species Anthyllis maritima to Sand Burial by Rhizobial Symbiosis and Salinity

The aim of the present study was to establish an experimental system in controlled conditions to study the physiological effect of …

Growth and Physiological Performance of a Coastal Species Trifolium fragiferum as Affected by a Coexistence with Trifolium repens, NaCl Treatment and Inoculation with Rhizobia

The aim of the present study was to analyze the growth and physiological performance of two coexisting species, Trifolium fragiferum, …

Prevalence, Genetic Diversity and Factors Associated with Distribution of Listeria monocytogenes and Other Listeria spp. in Cattle Farms in Latvia

Listeria spp. is a diverse genus of Gram-positive bacteria commonly present in the environment while L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii …

Ecological traps: evidence of a fitness cost in a cavity-nesting bird

Habitat quality has direct effects on the evolutionary fitness of breeding organisms, which is why it is believed that animals tend to …

Nonlinear Weather–Growth Relationships Suggest Disproportional Growth Changes of Norway Spruce in the Eastern Baltic Region

Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) is predicted to decrease its abundance in the Eastern Baltic region as a result of climatic …

Tree- and stand-scale factors shape the probability of wind damage to birch in hemiboreal forests

Strong wind is the major natural disturbance in European forests, that periodically causes tremendous damages to forestry. Yet, factors …

Serotoninergic Modulation of Phototactic Variability Underpins a Bet-Hedging Strategy in Drosophila melanogaster

When organisms’ environmental conditions vary unpredictably in time, it can be advantageous for individuals to hedge their phenotypic …

Socioeconomic position, immune function, and its physiological markers

The development of costly traits such as immune function and secondary sexual traits is constrained by resource availability. The …

Storm legacies shaping post-windthrow forest regeneration: learnings from spatial indices in unmanaged {Norway} spruce stands

The anticipated increase in extreme disturbance events due to climate change is likely to expose Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) …

Long-Term Influence of Stump-Removal on Components of Hemiboreal Pine Forest Ecosystem

Use of whole tree biomass becomes increasingly more important due to rising demand for renewable energy and materials to replace fossil …

Norway spruce seedlings from an eastern Baltic provenance show tolerance to simulated drought

In Northern Europe, an increase in heterogeneity of summer precipitation regime will subject forests to water deficit and drought. This …

Wind Resistance of Eastern Baltic Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth.) Suggests Its Suitability for Periodically Waterlogged Sites

Storms and wind damage are the main cause of biomass loss in forests of Northern Europe, as well as they are synergic with the …

Non-linear regional weather-growth relationships indicate limited adaptability of the eastern Baltic Scots pine

Under changing climate, temporal and spatial stability (stationarity) of growth responses of trees to weather and climate, which has …

Effect of Stem Snapping on Aspen Timber Assortment Recovery in Hemiboreal Forests

Post-disturbance salvage logging mitigates economic loss after windthrow, and the value of salvaged timber is strongly linked to its …

Species composition modulates seedling competitiveness of temperate tree species under hemiboreal conditions

Mixed stands are advised for reduction of impacts of natural hazards, and species composition can largely affect sustainability and …

Egalitarian mixed-species bird groups enhance winter survival of subordinate group members but only in high-quality forests

Estimates of Tree Canopy Closure and Basal Area as Proxies for Tree Crown Volume at a Stand Scale

Research Highlights: Studies on tree canopy dwelling species often require simple proxies of tree canopy volume estimated at a stand …

Effect of salvage-logging on post-fire tree establishment and ground cover vegetation in semi-natural hemiboreal forests

Fire is a common disturbance in boreal forests causing changes in biological diversity at various spatial scales. In the past 100 …

Relationship Between Functional Traits, Functional Types, and Habitat in Boreonemoral Bryophytes

The aim of the present study was to determine a relationship between physiological traits and functional types of bryophytes from five …

Salt accumulation and effects within foliage of Tilia × vulgaris trees from the street greenery of Riga, Latvia

Green infrastructures within sprawling cities provide essential ecosystem services, increasingly undermined by environmental stress. …

Women's socioeconomic position in ontogeny is associated with improved immune function and lower stress, but not with height

Immune function, height and resource accumulation comprise important life history traits in humans. Resource availability models …

Norway Spruce Survival Rate in Two Forested Landscapes, 1975–2016

The increasing frequency and severity of natural disturbances (e.g., storms and insect outbreaks) due to climate change are expected to …

Stem Damage Modifies the Impact of Wind on Norway Spruces

Bark stripping caused by cervids can have a long-lasting negative effect on tree vitality. Such trees of low vitality might be more …

Effect of Bark-Stripping on Mechanical Stability of Norway Spruce

The increasing effects of storms are considered the main abiotic disturbance affecting forest ecosystems. Bark-stripping damage from …

Occurrence of ‘blue' and ‘frost' rings reveal frost sensitivity of eastern Baltic provenances of Scots pine

Assisted gene flow is advised as one of the most effective means to sustain the productivity of forests under warming climate via …

Advance Regeneration of Norway Spruce and Scots Pine in Hemiboreal Forests in Latvia

Continuous cover forestry (CCF) aims to emulate small natural disturbances and take advantage of natural regeneration. To implement …

Presence of Root Rot Reduces Stability of Norway Spruce (Picea abies): Results of Static Pulling Tests in Latvia

Storms are the main abiotic disturbance in European forests, effects of which are expected to intensify in the future, hence the …

Effect of salvage logging and forest type on the post-fire regeneration of Scots pine in hemiboreal forests

In post-disturbance areas, salvage logging is a common management practice that can negatively affect ecosystem services and alter …

Ecological Stoichiometry: A Link Between Developmental Speed and Physiological Stress in an Omnivorous Insect

Plasticity of response of tree-ring width of Scots pine provenances to weather extremes in Latvia

Climatic changes and weather extremes are causing shifts in distribution of tree species, affecting productivity of forests. With the …

Geographic determinants of spatial patterns of Quercus robur forest stands in Latvia: biophysical conditions and past management

Most of the forest area dominated by pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) in Latvia was lost to arable land several centuries ago and the …

Effects of stand-level and landscape factors on understorey plant community traits in broad-leaved forest of the boreo-nemoral zone in Latvia

Knowledge of the limiting processes shaping the composition of plant communities of woodland is important in conservation of biological …

A mixture of human and climatic effects shapes the 250-year long fire history of a semi-natural pine dominated landscape of Northern Latvia

Fire has been shown to shape successional pathways and dynamics of forest vegetation. However, its role in European hemiboreal forests …

A head start for life history development? Family income mediates associations between height and immune response in men

Objectives: Male height and health affect a diverse range of social and economic outcomes such as competition for resources and mates. …

Landscape Diversity for Reduced Risk of Insect Damage: A Case Study of Spruce Bud Scale in Latvia

Spruce bud scale (Physokermes piceae (Schrnk.)) has gained attention due to recent outbreaks in the eastern Baltic Sea region—Poland, …

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp. and the Major Foodborne Pathogens in Calves in Latvia

The aim of the present study was to detect the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of fecal indicators and major foodborne …

Population Genetics of Latvians in the Context of Admixture between North-Eastern European Ethnic Groups

textlessptextgreater This article presents a review on population genetics of Latvians, which alongside Lithuanians are the two extant …

Macrophyte assessment in European lakes: Diverse approaches but convergent views of ‘good' ecological status

The European Water Framework Directive has been adopted by Member States to assess and manage the ecological integrity of surface …

Linking organismal growth, coping styles, stress reactivity, and metabolism via responses against a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in an insect

Evidence suggests that brain serotonin (5-HT) is one of the central mediators of different types of animal personality. We tested this …

Carbon pools in a hemiboreal over-mature Norway spruce stands

Old unmanaged forests are commonly assumed to be carbon neutral; however, there is still a lack of reference studies available to …

Bilberry ramet dimensions in relation to stand age in oligotrophic conditions in Latvia

Dwarf shrub layer is an important component of boreal and hemiboreal forest ecosystems that has received little attention, particularly …

Assessment of site-specific drivers of farmland abandonment in mosaic-type landscapes: A case study in Vidzeme, Latvia

Farmland abandonment, which causes changes in rural life and farming practices, can be observed throughout Europe. Over the last …

Sex‐specific compensatory growth in the larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella

Deficiency of food resources in ontogeny is known to prolong an organism’s developmental time and affect body size in adulthood. …

Tree regeneration in noble broadleaved tree stands at their northern limit: implications for conservation management

Reproduction compromises adaptive immunity in a cyprinid fish

© 2017, The Ecological Society of Japan. Vertebrates differ in their ability to mount an adaptive immune response to novel antigens. …

Microbiome symbionts and diet diversity incur costs on the immune system of insect larvae

© 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd |. Communities of symbiotic microorganisms that colonize the gastrointestinal tract …

Impact of climate variability, drainage and land-cover changes on hemiboreal streamflow

AbstractThe aim of the study was to determine the effects of climate variability, agricultural land drainage and afforestation of …

Habitat quality affects stress responses and survival in a bird wintering under extremely low ambient temperatures

Animals normally respond to stressful environmental stimuli by releasing glucocorticoid hormones. We investigated whether baseline …

Food quality affects the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes upon simulated parasite attack in the larvae of greater wax moth

© 2017 The Netherlands Entomological Society Predator-prey interactions are an important evolutionary force affecting the immunity of …

Bryophyte and polypore richness and indicators in relation to type, age and decay stage of coarse woody debris of Picea abies

Vegetation changes in boreo–nemoral forest stands depending on soil factors and past land use during an 80 year period of no human impact

Information on the long-term changes in plant communities that occur without human interference is limited, due to insufficient studies …

Long-term changes of the ice regime of rivers in Latvia

© IWA Publishing 2016 Hy. The ice regime of rivers is considered a sensitive indicator of climate change. This paper summarises the …

Long-term changes of daugava river ice phenology under the impact of the cascade of hydro power plants

This paper presents the results of the study of long-term changes of Daugava River ice phenology, i.e. the freeze-up date, the break-up …

Genotype and allele frequencies of isoniazid-metabolizing enzymes NAT2 and GSTM1 in Latvian tuberculosis patients

Pharmacogenomic testing of tuberculosis drug-metabolizing enzyme genes was proposed as a strategy to identify patients at risk for …

Diet overlap between juvenile flatfish and the invasive round goby in the central Baltic Sea

The present study offers a comprehensive analysis of changes in the abundance and diet composition of juvenile flounder (Platichthys …

Baltic herring prey selectively on older copepodites of Eurytemora affinis and Limnocalanus macrurus in the Gulf of Riga

Zooplankton availability is a major factor affecting herring body condition that in turn describes its well-being. As herring feeding …

Assessment of Factors of Landscape Change in Mosaic Type Landscape: a Case Study of Vidzeme, Latvia

Tidal, diel and lunar patterns in intertidal and subtidal mangrove creek fish assemblages from southwest Thailand

Knowledge about short-term assembly patterns and connectivity in estuarine mangrove ichthyofauna from the Indo-West Pacific region is …

Reproduction of Baltic cod, Gadus morhua (Actinopterygii: Gadiformes: Gadidae), in the Gotland Basin: Causes of annual variability

Background. The Gotland Basin spawning ground is one of three main$backslash$nspawning areas of Baltic cod, Gadus morhua Linnaeus, …

Comparison of telomere length between population-specific mitochondrial haplogroups among different age groups in a Latvian population

Population studies have demonstrated that telomere length (TL) displays great diversity among different populations. Previously …

Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in roots of sand dune plants in relation to soil factors

Seacoast plant communities represent primary successions characterized by a harsh environment in which mycorrhizal symbioses are known …

Long-term changes in hydrological regime of the lakes in Lavia

Changes in the hydrological regime of the lakes of Latvia depend on natural and anthropogenic causes. This publication summarises the …

Influence of the initial acidification step on biogas production and composition

Laboratory-scale experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of initial acidification of feedstock consisting of different …

Possible signs of growth decline of pedunculate oak in Latvia during 1980-2009 in tree-ring width and vessel size

The present study reports on action research conducted using a resource wiki. Participants included 48 certified teachers and …

Changes in Latvian river discharge regime at the turn of the century

The study deals with turn-of-the-century changes in the total annual river runoff distribution and high and low flows in Latvia, …

Natural structures and disturbances in an old growth wet Norway spruce forest in the nature reserve

Forecasted changes in the climate and the river runoff regime in Latvian river basins

Inkjet printing is considered to be a key technology in the field of defined polymer deposition. This article provides an introduction …

Changes in climatic signals of English oak tree-ring width and cross-section area of earlywood vessels in Latvia during the period 1900-2009

We investigated changes in response of wood formation in English oak (Quercus robur L.) to climatic factors since 1900. It was …

Changes in climate and discharge regime in Latvia at the End of the 21st century

The link between mitochondrial DNA hypervariable segment I heteroplasmy and ageing among genetically unrelated Latvians

Various studies have demonstrated that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) heteroplasmy tends to increase with age and that the observed …

Preliminary Characteristics of Ecological and Socioeconomic Components and their Interaction within the Long Term Socioecological Research Platform of Latvia

Review of previous ecological and socioeconomic studies performed in the drainage basin of Lake Engure - the long-term socioecological …

Effect of water level and climatic factors on the radial growth of black alder

Effect of climate on extreme radial growth of Scots pine growing on bogs in Latvia

Climate change impacts on river runoff in Latvia

In order to assess climate change impacts on river runoff patterns at the end of this century, the hydrological model METQ2007BDOPT was …

Age and spatial structure of natural Pinus sylvestris stands in Latvia