Space use of wild boar (Sus Scrofa) in Budapest: are they resident or transient city dwellers?

In our study, we examined the movement of two wild boars marked with GPS/GSM transmitters in city of Budapest. We hypothesised that: the wild boars do not leave the urban area (H1); the wild boars prefer places that are less disturbed by people, and which are rich in potential hiding places (H2); and their home ranges would be smaller than that of wild boars living in non-urban environment (H3). Based on our results, we accepted our first hypothesis, as the wild boars had not left the area of Budapest. However, we partly rejected our second hypothesis: the wild boars preferred urban areas that were forested and richly covered with vegetation; however, human presence therefore disturbance was also high in those areas. The home range sizes of both marked wild boar sows were remarkably smaller than those of the wild boars living in natural environment (H3). City habitat modification, e.g. clearing undergrowth vegetation, could result that wild boars cannot find any hiding places. The significant part of food sources will disappear with the elimination of these places. By eliminating the two main factors together could prevent wild boars finding their living conditions within the city.

Rat splenic D-T diaphorase and NAD(P)H-nitroblue tetrazolium reductase. Their use to assess the action of polycyclic hydrocarbons in the lymphatic system.

The biochemical response of rat splenic D-T diaphorase and the histochemical distribution of the enzyme NAD(P)H-NBT reductase to the action of the polycyclic hydrocarbons benz(a)pyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and benz(a)anthracene have been studied. The four polycyclic hydrocarbons tested in this work induced the activity of both enzymes. The stimulation of the D-T diaphorase by benz(a)pyrene is dose dependent and it is partially inhibited by dicumarol. Microsomal and mitochondrial NAD(P)H dehydrogenases are not induced by any of these compounds. The study of the histochemical distribution of the NAD(P)H-NBT reductase shows also a marked increase in the staining of the enzyme which follow a specific pattern, the cells showing the highest activity are the lymphocytes located around the marginal sinus of the white pulp and around follicular arterioles, plus red pulp lymphocytes and myeloblastic cells. The cells in the germinal center show from null to very weak activity. A correlation between the biochemical induction of the soluble D-T diaphorase of the histochemical increase of the NAD(P)H-NBT reductase is attempted.