1 In a single stand, the colonization of 128 girdled Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) by bark-and wood-boring beetles was examined during two vegetation periods after treatment. The trees were girdled on four different dates in April, July, October and January. 2 The time elapsed from girdling to the first attack of bark-and wood-boring beetles was 1-19 months (mean = 10.7) and differed significantly among trees girdled on different dates. 3 The part of the tree and the date and wave (rank) of colonization were the most significant factors that explained a considerable portion of the variability in the occurrence of bark-and wood-boring beetles. 4 The species composition changed dramatically from the tree base to its top and branches. The colonization of trees was initiated most frequently in the upper thinbarked part of the trunk and in thick branches. 5 In total, 32 species of bark-and wood-boring beetles colonized the studied trees. Particular species were significantly associated with certain periods of tree dieback and colonization (colonization waves). Phaenops cyanea (F.) and Pissodes piniphilus (Hbst.) were by far the most aggressive first-colonizing species.Pityogenes chalcographus (L.), Ips acuminatus (Gyll.) and Tomicus minor (Htg.) were shown to be moderate-aggressive species, followed by Tomicus piniperda (L.), Monochamus galloprovincialis (Germ.) and Pissodes pini (L.). The remaining species were designated as not harmful and saprophagous.

The main goal of the inclusion of molecular genetic information (MG) in the evaluation of breeding animals is to evaluate young animals without performance records.The inclusion of MG was first carried out based on the relationship between several genetic markers with QTLs (Přibyl, 1995). This information was combined with the polygenic breeding value (EBV) determined by a BLUP Animal Model. A large number of genetic markers can be determined due to the development of laboratory techniques that influence the methods of EBV prediction. A large number of partial regressions are estimated for a given trait based on many SNP genetic markers. These partial regressions are summed into one total criterion used for the animal's selection for breeding. This criterion predicts the direct genetic value (DGV) and in combination with the Single-step prediction of genomic breeding value in a small dairy cattle population with strong import of foreign genes The older data set included 526 genotyped bulls, in which the daughters' milk performance was known for 210 individuals. All of the genotyped animals were included in the newer data set. Of the young genotyped bulls from the older set, 279 had more than 50 daughters with performance records in the newer set. Genomic relationship matrices (G) were constructed from the allele frequencies of the current genotyped population or by assuming a constant value of 0.5 for all loci. Using current allele frequencies, the correlation of G with the pedigree relationship (A) was 0.74, while it was 0.77 when the constant value was used. G was blended with A with weights of 80 or 99%. The average EBV of the genotyped bulls exceeded the mean EBV of the entire population by 3 SD. Although the number of reference bulls was small, genotyping resulted in an increase of approximately 0.05 in the correlation of the GEBV of young bulls with their results after progeny testing. Only small differences in correlations were found in dependency on the methods used for the determination of G and in dependency on the weight used in blending G with A. Both EBV and GEBV in the older set showed higher correlations with the GEBV of the newer set than the EBV of the newer set.

Nepenthes pudica, a new species from North Kalimantan, Indonesia, is described and illustrated. The species belongs to the N. hirsuta group (sensu Cheek and Jebb 1999) but exhibits some characters that are unique within the group or even within the genus. Above all, it produces underground, achlorophyllous shoots with well-developed, ventricose lower pitchers that form in soil cavities or directly in the soil. No lower pitchers are formed above ground. The main part of its prey are ants, besides other litter- and soil-inhabiting species of invertebrates. A number of infaunal species were found in both aerial and underground pitchers, mainly Diptera and nematodes. Nepenthes pudica is known only from a few neighbouring localities in the Mentarang Hulu district of North Kalimantan, where it grows on ridgetops at an elevation of 1100–1300 m. Its discovery underlines the natural richness of Borneo’s rainforest and the necessity to preserve this important ecosystem with its enormous and still undiscovered biodiversity.

Complex selection indexes are proposed for bulls of Holstein ca�le in the Czech Republic. Partial breeding values for milk performance, fertility and body conformation are combined in the index. Conformation is expressed either by linear classification or by general characteristics and body measurements. Variants according to the traits included in breeding objective and in performance recording were tested -breeding objective comprised milk, meat, milkability, health, reproduction, longevity; production traits and linear classification of body conformation or production traits and general characteristics of body conformation and/or production traits, and general characteristics of body conformation and body measurements were used as source of information (in performance recording). For practical use is recommended the variant of reduced selection index where milkability, health and meat performance were le� out from breeding objective, and production traits and linear classification of body conformation were employed as a source of information. The index guarantees 69.30% reliability of breeding value estimate and the ratio of selection effects for milk, meat and secondary traits 78 : 8 : 14. The respective importance of milk performance in total (breeding values for milk and components) of reproduction and linear body classification as sources of information in the index are 79.61%, 15.52% and 4.86%.

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