Kopački rit Nature Park is a large fluvial-marshy floodplain, situated in the northeastern Croatia, between courses of the Danube and the Drava Rivers. Due to exceptional biological and ecological ...values of this floodplain area in the middle course of the Danube River, it had been protected since 1967; proclaimed as Nature Park in 1999 and from 2012 is a part of the UNESCO Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube. This paper lists a total of 522 vascular plant taxa, classified in 295 genera and 96 families, recorded for Kopački rit Nature Park. The list is completed according to checked literature records and data for 114 new taxa, found during the floristic investigation carried outfrom 2010 to 2018. Taxonomic, ecological and phytogeographical analyses are presented. Hemicryptophytes dominate (39.3%) in the biological spectrum, followed by therophytes (23.8%), geophytes (12.6%) and hydrophytes (12.5%). In the chorological spectrum, the most numerous are plants of Eurasian floral elenent (32.8%), followed by Cosmopolites (27.4%), and European floral element (10.7%). Out of 53 recorded allochthonous plants, 26 are invasive alien plant species. According to protection and conservation status at the national level, 55 taxa are listed in the RedBook of Vascular Plants of Croatia and 53 taxa are strictly protected. One species, Marsilea quadrifolia, is listen in Annex II of the Habitat Directive.
This paper lists a total of 264 taxa of lichenized and non-lichenized fungi recorded for Gorski kotar and Kvarner littoral; specifically, 184 for Gorski kotar and 170 for Kvarner littoral. Nine taxa ...are new to Croatia. The list is based on literature records and field work carried out in periods 2000–2002, and 2009–2010. Taxonomic analyses as well as ecological and phytogeographical analyses are presented. The ecological characterization of the lichen flora was determined by assessing the indicato values, and comparing them to values determined for adjacent areas in Slovenia and Italy. Due to particularities in relief and climate, percentage of lichens of oceanic/ suboceanic distribution is higher along the eastern Adriatic coast, in relation to the west Adriatic coast.
A total of 131 blood samples and 175 spleen samples were collected from three cervid species: roe deer (
), red deer (
) and fallow deer (
) inhabiting the continental part of Croatia. Serum samples ...were tested for antibodies against bovine herpesvirus 1, parainfluenza-3 virus, bluetongue virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis E virus, bovine viral diarrhoea virus and enzootic bovine leukosis virus. The tested sera were negative for bovine viral diarrhoea virus, enzootic bovine leukosis virus, bluetongue virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus and hepatitis E virus antybodies. The antibody prevalence in roe deer and red deer samples was 21.11% for bovine herpesvirus 1 and 75.55% for parainfluenza-3 virus. Sera from bovine herpesvirus 1 positive animals were subsequenty tested with comparative virus neutralization test and bovine herpesvirus 1 neutralising antibodies were found in 18 (out of 19) sera. In fallow deer, no antibodies against any of the viral pathogens were detected. All spleen samples tested for bovine viral diarrhoea virus and enzootic bovine leukosis virus came back negative, except for one red deer spleen sample found to be weakly diarrhoea virus-positive. Our findings provide the first information on the exposure of Croatia-inhabiting cervid species to viral pathogens, and could serve as valuable baseline data for future investigations regarding deer exposure to various pathogens and the distribution of diseases shared between wildlife and livestock. As of now, the epidemiology of these viruses in the Croatian cervid population has been only poorly understood, so that further research is recommended.
Distribution of the European mudminnow, Umbra krameri, Walbaum 1792, in Croatia is scarce with only few confirmed localities. In order to confirm presence of the European mudminnow in amelioration ...canal network along the Drava River an electrofishing was conducted in the small Mlinski canal. Ten specimen of European mudminnow were caught During sampling. Using ImageJ software a truss network was constructed between landmark points on photographs of caught specimens. Total body lengths of caught European mudminnow ranged from 61 to 100 mm (72.00±11.52 mm) whereas standard one ranged from 52 to 85 mm (60.30±10.08 mm). Body weight were relatively small ranging from 1.81 to 7.59 g (3.80±1.89 g), while the Fulton condition factor ranged from 0.76 to 1.23 (0.96±0.15). This new locality of the European mudminnow is situated about 50 km downstream from the last confirmed site in Croatia.
Informacije o distribuciji crnke, Umbra krameri Walbaum 1792, u Hrvatskoj su oskudne, uključujući svega nekoliko potvrđenih lokaliteta. U svrhu potvrđivanja prisutnosti crnke u mreži melioracijskih kanala u blizini rijeke Drave, obavljeno je uzorkovanje ribe elektroagregatom na Mlinskome kanalu. Tijekom uzorkovanja ulovljeno je 10 primjeraka crnke. Korištenjem računalnoga programa ImageJ razvijena je metoda razgranate mreže na fotografijama ulovljenih crnki. Ukupna dužina ulovljenih crnki bila je od 61,00 do 100,00 mm (72,00±11,52 mm), a standardna dužina iznosila je od 52,00 do 85,00 mm (60,30±10,08 mm). Ukupna tjelesna masa bila je relativno mala, u rasponu od 1,81 do 7,59 g (3,80±1,89 g), dok je Fultonov kondicijski indeks iznosio od 0,76 do 1,23 (0,96±0,15). Ova nalazište crnke u Hrvatskoj smješteno je oko 50 km nizvodno od zadnjega potvrđenog lokaliteta uz tok rijeke Drave.
Three FA indices showed correlations with age and magnitude of traits, but not in general. Significant correlations between magnitude of traits and their FA were more pronounced in AFA (12 traits) ...than in RFA (10 traits) in all age classes except yearlings. For the tray tine form (curvature), FA significantly correlated with its magnitude in young, middle-aged and ripe stags, which indicates that the trait is a reliable indicator of asymmetry. Significant differences in AFA among age classes were found in four traits (weight of dry antlers, volume of antlers, distal circumference of beams and total length of crown tines). By RFA, a significant difference among age classes was only found for the distal circumference of beams. Thus, AFA is a more vulnerable condition index. Contrary to other research findings, developmental instability was more pronounced in older age classes. In yearlings, no significant FA dependence on the trait of antler size was detected, but in certain traits, an asymmetry detected at an early age remains visible later as well, although in stags grown under relatively optimal (especially trophic) environment conditions, developmental instability was present anyway. This proposes two hypotheses for further research: Competition may be manifested even under controlled conditions, which might jeopardize the developmental stability of certain individuals, or some traits will show developmental instability regardless of relatively good environmental conditions.
The Danube is the second-longest river in Europe that is subjected to various man-made alterations, including those related to hydro-power plants. We surveyed and analyzed the presence and abundance ...of macrophytes in the main channel from 2582 river kilometers (rkm) to 171 rkm. We also assessed selected habitat parameters in the sampled river stretches. Sixty-eight different plant species were recorded along the entire course. Among neophytes, we found Elodea nuttallii, E. canadensis, Vallisneriaspiralis and Azolla filiculoides. Based on similarity analysis, we distinguished 15 plant communities, most of which were defined as associations, which were classified into 5 alliances and represented three vegetation classes, namely vegetation of rooted hydrophytes Potamogetonetea, the vegetation of pleustophytes Lemnetea and vegetation of marshes Phragmitetea. The number and abundance of plant species, as well as plant communities recorded in single stretches, varied along the course. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that environmental parameters explained 21% of plant species composition. CCA runs with neophytes explained 41% of the variance, and current velocity, water transparency, species number and bank structure were significant variables. The present study revealed that the free-running sections of the river are poor in number and abundance of plant species, whereas impounded reaches mainly show an opposite result.
The most frequently utilized population quality indices in cervids were a fluctuating asymmetry or a branch length in yearlings. Nevertheless, unlike bovids, there has not been a reliable quality ...index so far that could also be applied at a later age. Therefore, an application reliability testing pertaining to certain elements of trophy measurement for the sake of difference detection between the cohorts was performed on a sample numbering 225 trophies of red deer stags from 11 cohorts. Although each of the nine trophy variables tested has succeeded in finding certain differences, the most reliable are the overall trophy value and circumferences (circumference of coronets, lower beam circumference and upper beam circumference). Since various trophy evaluation systems have been applied in the world, the implementation of the overall trophy value is limited only to the trophies evaluated pursuant to the CIC system. Hence, the most reliable indices are those based upon circumferences.
Kod cervida je izbor praktičnog populacijskog indeksa složeniji nego u bovida. Rogovlje nose uglavnom mužjaci (postoje i vrste kod kojih su oba
spola šuta) i ono uglavnom predstavlja lovački trofej te je težište lovnog gospodarenja u većini zemalja usmjereno proizvodnji tog derivata.
Stoga je i za očekivati da su se populacijski indeksi u cervida trebali
razvijati upravo na bazi pojedinih elemenata izmjere trofeja (rogovlja). Za očekivati je kako u uvjetima prihrane cervida ne bi smjelo biti velikih razlika u kohortama neke populacije. No, postavlja se pitanje koji je od populacijskih indeksa dovoljno “osjetljiv” u prepoznavanju razlika.
Budući da ocjenjivanje rogovlja ima relativno
dugu tradiciju u srednjoj Europi, u posljednje vrijeme postavlja se pitanje da li je podloga ocjenjivanja isključivo predmet lovačkih nadmetanja ili izmjerene vrijednosti elemenata ocjene trofeja mogu poslužiti za procjenu kvalitete populacije. Stoga je svrha ovoga rada ispitati može li se trofejna snaga upotrijebiti kao populacijski indeks.
Istraživanje
je provedeno na trofejima jelena običnog iz državnog lovišta “Garjevica”, koje se nalazi u središnjem dijelu panonskog područja Hrvatske u istočnom dijelu Moslavačke gore (Fig. 1)
Za analizu su uzimani podaci iz trofejnih listova rogovlja jelena običnog ocijenjeni prema pravilima CIC-a: duljina grana, duljina nadočnjaka, duljina srednjaka, opseg vijenca, opseg grane između nadočnjaka i srednjaka (donji opseg) opseg grane između srednjaka i krune (gornji opseg) masa rogovlja, broj parožaka i trofejna vrijednost. Dob jelena određivana je brojanjem naslaga zubnog cementa na prvom donjem kutnjaku (M1). Na temelju godine odstrela (ili uginuća) jelena i procijenjene dobi, određivana je godina u kojoj je grlo oteljeno (kohorta). Nakon toga je načinjena usporedba kohorti za svaku vrijednost spomenutih elemenata ocjene trofeja, kao i za ukupnu trofejnu vrijednost.
Rezultati analize kovarijance pokazali su kako s obzirom na parametar (indikator),
broj otkrivenih razlika među kohortama varira (Tablica 1 do 9). Najviše
signifikantnih razlika u kohortama moguće je otkriti trofejnom vrijednošću (35 od 55, 64 %), gornjim opsegom (35 razlika, 64 %), opsegom vijenaca (34 razlika, 62 %), masom rogovlja (31 od 55, 56 %) i donjim opsegom (30 od 55, 55 %). Parametrima duljina moguće je otkriti nešto manje razlike. Najmanje razlika otkriveno je duljinom srednjaka (15 od 55, 27 %), a nešto više duljinom grane i duljinom nadočnjaka (29 od 55, 53 %), dok je s pomoću broja parožaka broj otkrivenih razlika bio
najmanji – svega 16 (29 %).
Broj kvalitativnih skupina koje je svaki pojedini parametar uspio prepoznati varira od 4 do 8.
Kako
se broj skupina bazira na broju ustanovljenih signifikantnih razlika, što je više pronađenih razlika uporabljivost nekog parametra trebala bi biti viša. Međutim, pomoću mase rogovlja dobiveno je 8 skupina koje se uglavnom međusobno signifikantno ne razlikuju. Mali broj skupina dobiven
primjenom duljine srednjaka i broja parožaka nije uspio jasno izdvojiti
najbolje kohorte, tako da je u kategoriju “najboljih” stavio i neke osrednje (1992 i 1993). Stoga bi se kao indikator procjene kvalitete populacije u budućnosti mogla koristiti ukupna trofejna vrijednost, ali i
opsezi (opseg vijenaca, donji i gornji opseg) budući da su kao kvalitetnije kohorte uspjeli izdvojiti iste kohorte – 1994, 1995, 1996 i
1997.
Rezimirajući rezultate naših istraživanja, može se reći kako su uglavnom potvrđene razlike u razini gospodarenja jelenom običnim u istraživanom lovištu. Kohorte s početka intenzivnog gospodarenja (druga polovica 1980-ih i početak 1990-ih godina) imaju niže vrijednosti parametara od kohorti koje su došle na svijet tijekom intenzivnog gospodarenja (sredina 1990-ih godina 20. stoljeća.).
The risk of wild ducks exposure to heavy metals in the environment was assessed by analyzing 20 wild ducks shot in the hunting area at the fish farm in Donji Miholjac, Eastern Croatia. Liver samples ...obtained from 10 Mallards and 10 Common Pochards were examined for heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As, Hg) by using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Significant difference in heavy metal content between analyzed species was confirmed only for Cd (P≤0.01), and no differences were found between genders within species. The results obtained suggest the importance of wild ducks as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution, especially Common Pochard for Cd, and Mallard for Pb accumulation.
The record is confirmed of a “Clariobranchus” hybrid Clarias gariepinus × Heterobranchus sp. specimen in the River Danube in Croatia. Clarias gariepinus was introduced to Europe for farming and ...research purposes. Because of their faster growth and short time to achieve market size, “Clariobranchus” hybrids have gained attention in European aquaculture. To date, no record has been found in the literature of “Clariobranchus” hybrid escapees in inland waters of Europe. The present finding suggests that the “Clariobranchus” hybrid escaped from an unprotected aquaculture system or open pond farm. The threat of establishment of a population of this hybrid in suitable environments, such as thermal ponds, cannot be ruled out.
Concerns have been escalating over the increase in heavy metal levels in the envi- ronment due to anthropogenic impacts. Toxic heavy metals (As, Cd, Hg and Pb) are especially dangerous, as they ...negatively affect organisms and cause outbreaks of diseases. The hare has been proven to be a good indicator of environmental heavy metal contamination. The liver and kidney are the tissues most commonly used in biomonitoring. Hares inhabiting a contaminated habitat have higher concentrations of heavy metals in these tissues than those from a referential habitat. As is mostly accumulated in the nails and hair, Cd in the kidney, Hg in the brain and kidney, and Pb in the brain and diaphragm. Cd and Hg concentrations in hare liver and kidney increased with animal age. In most countries, hare meat is safe for human consumption, while the consumption of entrails is not recommended.
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