This study investigates the impacts of three different heavy metals at different concentrations on some life-history traits of Lucilia sericata (Meigen 1826) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). First-instar larvae of L. sericata were reared on a diet containing four concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 1, and 2 µg/g) of the heavy metals (cadmium, zinc copper). The parameters measured were larval and pupal mortality, larval length, adult, pupal, and larval weight, and development time. Larval and pupal survival decreased as heavy metal concentrations increased. Pupal weight was significantly different among heavy metals andc oncentrations, but the adult weight was not significantly different among heavy metals and concentrations. The larval length was significantly different among concentrations and heavy metals. This study reveals that the presence of heavy metal in carrion or the carrion environment should be inconsidered when estimating the time of colonization in forensic investigations.

Detrimental effects of in ovo administrated of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on the embryonic development of skeletal muscle were determined using histological methods. A total of 420 eggs of a Ross broiler parent stock were incubated and divided into 4 groups: (1) control, (2) 5 ng AFB1/egg group, (3) 15 ng AFB1/egg group, (4) 40 ng AFB1/egg group. Test solutions were injected via the air-sac, just prior to setting the eggs in the incubator. Five eggs from each group were opened on different days of incubation (11d, 13d, 17d and 21d). Developmental stages of embryos were determined according to the Hamburger-Hamilton scale and embryos were weighed. Skeletal muscle tissue samples were dissected and fixed, sectioned and stained with Crossman's trichrome and AgNOR. The mean relative embryo, leg muscle and breast muscle weights of AFB1-treated groups were lower than the control group and decreased with increasing AFB1. The nucleus area and AgNOR area of the AFB1-treated groups were also lower than the control group whereas there were no significant differences in AgNOR numbers and AgNOR area/nucleus area among the treatment groups. It was concluded that in ovo administrated of AFB1 adversely affected the embryonic development of skeletal muscle and that affected animals might therefore be more susceptible to skeletal and muscle disorders during the growing period.

Effects of larval crowding on some biological characteristics of the blowfly, Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Larva yoğunluğunun leş sineği, Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae)'nın bazı biyolojik özelliklerine etkileri

No abstract

Mus macedonicus Petrov & Ružic, 1983, also known as the Macedonian mouse or Balkan short-tailed mouse, lives in the southern Balkans and the Middle East. While this species is common in Mediterranean ecosystems and is listed as “least concern” by the IUCN, little is known about how its distribution may shift with climate change. This study explores the ‘species’ potential distribution in three different periods: during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and under current and future climate scenarios, using Maximum Entropy modelling. Modelling was based on 137 georeferenced occurrence records from Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Georgia, and Russia and ten bioclimatic variables from the WorldClim database. We show that a combination of precipitation and temperature variables appear to shape the geographical range of the Macedonian mouse and that its predicted distribution during the LGM is consistent with its survival in multiple refugia, as suggested by previous genetic studies. Modelled future distributions are subtly but significantly different from the current, with population losses and gains in different regions. Our results provide a sound framework for future studies on this model species’ range dynamics, suggesting that the overall geographical range of M. macedonicus is relatively stable in the long term.