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Phytochemical profiling of six natural populations of Gentianella austriaca was performed by HPLC identification and quantification of a number of secondary metabolites, and evaluation of time series of peak areas by chemometric analysis. Phytochemical analysis of G. austriaca revealed the presence of iridoids, flavone-C-glucosides and xanthones. Twelve secondary metabolites were identified in the aerial parts, roots and seeds, including swertiamarin (SWM), gentiopicrin (GP), sweroside (SWZ), isoorientin (ISOOR), swertisin (SWE), demethylbellidifolin-8-O-glucoside (DMB-8-O-glc), bellidifolin-8-O-glucoside (BDF-8-O-glc), mangiferin (MGF), corymbiferin (CBF), corymbiferin-1-O-glucoside (CBF-1-O-glc), bellidifolin (BDF) and campestroside. Multivariate statistical analyses showed relatively low variability among populations according to secondary metabolite content. However, some pharmacologically important compounds were found in higher amounts in a few populations, which could be useful for conservation and future biotechnological procedures.

[EN] Floods are a consequence of extreme rainfall events. Although surface runoff generation is the origin of discharge, flood research usually focuses on lowlands where the impact is higher. Runoff and sediment delivery at slope and pedon scale receiving much less attention in the effort to understand flood behaviour in time and space. This is especially relevant in areas where, due to climatic and hydrogeological conditions, streams are ephemeral, so-called dry rivers (¿wadis¿, "ramblas" or ¿barrancos¿) that are widespread throughout the Mediterranean. This paper researches the relationship between water delivery at pedon and slope scale with dry river floods in Macizo del Caroig, Eastern Iberian Peninsula. Plots of 1x1, 1x2, 1x4, and 2x8 m located in the ¿El Teularet¿ Soil Erosion and Degradation Research Station were monitored from 2004 to 2014 to measure soil and water delivery. Rainfall and flow at the dry river Barranco de Benacancil were also monitored. Results show that runoff and sediment discharge were concentrated in few events during the 11 years of research. A single flood event was registered in the channel on September 28, 2009, however, the runoff was registered 160 times at the plots. Runoff discharge was dependent on the size of the plots, with larger plots yielding lower runoff discharge per unit area, suggesting short runoff-travel distance and duration. Three rainfall events contributed with 26% of the whole runoff discharge, and five achieved 56% of the runoff. We conclude that the runoff generated at the plot scale is disconnected from the main channel. From a spatial point of view, there is a decrease in runoff coefficient along the slope. From a temporal point of view, the runoff is concentrated in a few rainfall events. These results show that the runoff generated at plot and slope scale does not contribute to the floods except for rainfall events with more than 100 mm day-1. The disconnection of the runoff and sediment delivery is confirmed by the reduction in the runoff delivery at plot scale due to the control of the length of the plot (slope) on the runoff and sediment delivery., [ES] . Lasinundacionesson consecuencia de lluvias extremas. Aunque la generación de escorrentía superficial es el origen de la descarga, la investigación de inundaciones generalmente se enfoca en las tierras bajas donde el impacto es mayor. La escorrentía y la distribución de sedimentos a escala de pendiente y pedón reciben mucha menos atención en la comprensión del comportamiento de las inundaciones en el tiempo y el espacio. Esto es especialmente relevante en zonas donde, debido a las condiciones climáticas e hidrogeológicas, los cauces son efímeros. Son los llamados ríos secos (¿wadis¿, ¿ramblas¿ o ¿barrancos¿) muy extendidos por todo el Mediterráneo. Este artículo investiga la relación entre el suministro de agua a escala de pedón y ladera con las crecidas de ríos secos en Macizo del Caroig, este de la Península Ibérica. Las parcelas de 1x1, 1x2, 1x4 y 2x8 m localizadas en la Estación de Investigación de Erosión y Degradación de Suelos ¿El Teularet¿ fueron monitoreadas de 2004 a 2014 para medir la producción de suelo y agua. También se monitorearon las precipitaciones y el caudal en el río seco Barranco de Benacancil. Los resultados muestran que la escorrentía y la descarga de sedimentos se concentraron en pocos eventos durante los 11 años de investigación. Se registró un solo evento de inundación en el canal el 28 de septiembre de 2009, sin embargo, la escorrentía se registró 160 veces en las parcelas. La descarga de escorrentía dependió del tamaño de las parcelas. Las parcelas más grandes produjeron una menor descarga de escorrentía por unidad de área, lo que sugiere una corta distancia y duración del recorrido de escorrentía. Tres eventos de lluvia contribuyeron con el 26% de la descarga total de la escorrentía y cinco lograron el 56% de la escorrentía. Se concluye que la escorrentía generada a escala de la parcela está desconectada del canal principal. Desde un punto de vista espacial, hay una disminución en el coeficiente de escorrentía a lo largo de la pendiente. Desde un punto de vista temporal, la escorrentía se concentra en unos pocos eventos de lluvia. Estos resultados muestran que la escorrentía generada a escala de parcela y pendiente no contribuyen a las inundaciones excepto para eventos de lluvia con más de 100 mm día-1 . La desconexión de la escorrentía y la entrega de sedimentos se confirma por la reducción de la escorrentía a escala de parcela debido al control de la longitud (pendiente) sobre la escorrentía y la entrega de sedimentos., Artemi Cerda thanks the Co-operative Research program from the OECD (Biological Resource Management for Sustainable Agricultural Systems) for its support with the 2016 CRP fellowship (OCDE TAD/CRP JA00088807), POSTFIRE Project (CGL2013-47862-C2-1 and 2-R), and POSTFIRE_CARE Project (CGL2016-75178-C2-2-R) sponsored by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and AEI/FEDER, UE. This paper was written as a result of the collaboration that was initiated due to the COST ActionES1306: Connecting European Connectivity research and COST CA18135 FIRElinks: Fire in the Earth System. Science and Society. We wish to thank the Department of Geography secretariat team (Nieves Gomez, Nieves Dominguez, and Susana Tomas) for their support for three decades to our research at the Soil Erosion and Degradation Research team (SEDER), with special thanks to the scientific researchers that as visitors from other research teams contributed to the SEDER research. And we also thank the Laboratory for Geomorphology technicians (Leon Navarro) for the key contribution to our research. The collaboration of the Geography and Environmental Sciences students was fruitful and enjoyable.

Variability in the contents of representative secondary metabolites in Gentiana pneumonanthe individuals was investigated in relation to population origin, plant parts and developmental stage. Chem...

Understanding the relationship between land use and land cover and thermal environment has recently become an emerging issue for urban planners and policy makers. We chose Belgrade, as a case study, to present a cost- and time-effective framework for monitoring spatiotemporal changes of green spaces in relation to the land surface temperature (LST). Time series analysis was performed using Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS imagery from 1991 to 2019 with an approximate 5-year interval (18 images in total). Spectral vegetation indices and supervised land cover classifications were used to examine changes of green spaces. The results showed a fluctuating trend of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the normalized difference water index (NDWI). The highest values were recorded in 2019, indicating vegetation recovery in the last decade. A significant positive correlation was determined between the spectral vegetation indices and the amount of precipitation during growing season. The land cover classification showed that the share of vegetated and bare land decreased by 11.74% during the study period. The most intensive conversion of green and bare land into built-up land cover occurred in the first decade (1991–2000). To assess spatiotemporal changes in the LST, Landsat Collection 2 Surface Temperature products were used. We found a negative correlation between change in the spectral vegetation indices and change in the LST. This indicates that the reduction in vegetation was associated with an increase in the LST. The municipalities that were the most affected in each decade were also identified with our framework. The findings of this study are of great relevance for actions targeting an improvement in urban thermal comfort and climate resilience.

The occurrence of large and recurring forest fires has long been associated with fire-prone environments, but this perception has been shifted rapidly in recent decades as Earths' landscapes have become increasingly threatened by severe and unpredictable fires as a result of climate changes. In this regard, the flammability of trees is a topic of great interest for ecology, management, and the development of sustainable restoration and rehabilitation plans. Tree species differ in regard to flammability, and many plant functional traits contribute to flammability at species, community and vegetation level. The relationship between plant traits and flammability at species level is important for a broader understanding of the vegetation-fire dynamic at the local and landscape scales. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of individual plant traits of tree species on flammability components. By keywords-based searching of academic databases, 85 research papers were collected and analyzed. The literature synthesis shows: i) main issues addressed in studies on plant trait-based tree flammability, ii) general research output and biogeographic regions studied, iii) inventory of tree taxa investigated, iv) relationships between plant traits and flammability components, v) the most relevant plant traits that determine the flammability-related differences between species.

Summary Introduction The most frequent oral disease in children is tooth decay. The aim of this study was to determine the health status of primary teeth in 6 year-old children. Material and method The study included 203 children of both genders living in the territory of Podgorica municipality. Only children whose parents gave consent were included. The parameters used for assessing oral health condition were: number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth due to caries (dmft) and Significant Caries Index (SiC). One dentist clinically examined all respondents in accordance with methodology and criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO). Results The average value of dmft in 6-year-olds in Podgorica was 4.9. On average, 80.3% of examined children had dental decay. The SiC Index was 8.3. Among examined children, 12.3% had at least one tooth with fissure sealant. In dmft structure dominated untreated decay (92.6%). Conclusion Results showed high prevalence of primary teeth decay in 6 years old children, indicating the absence of preventive measures and programs in Montenegro.

Utilizing a microscopic Bogoliubov-de Gennes approach we study Josephson effect in arbitrarily oriented d-wave superconductors connected through two ferromagnets with noncollinear magnetizations, by solving scattering problem. The critical Josephson current is calculated for various parameters of the junction. Mutual influence of d-wave superconducting electrodes orientation and angle α between magnetization in ferromagnetic bilayer of thickness d is analyzed. For various orientation of superconducting electrodes, we calculate (d,α) phase diagram, and discuss the possibility to achieve except coexistence of two stable states 0 and π, also coexistence of three stable states 0, π and π∕2, by varying the angle between magnetizations. We observe also areas of coexistence of stable and metastable states.

Shrubland is a Mediterranean biome characterized by densely growing evergreen shrubs adapted to fire events. To date, scientific research has focused on the impact of vegetation on soil erosion mainly through the control that plant biomass or plant cover exerts on sediment delivery and runoff discharge, being the individual plant species influence on hydrological and erosional processes not achieved in detail. The objective of this research is to determine: i) runoff and soil losses in a shrubland-covered rangeland at Sierra de Enguera, Spain; and ii) how four plant species affect soil and water losses. We measured soil cover, soil properties, runoff discharge and sediment yield under natural rainfall for five years (2010-2014) in a typical shrubland burnt in 1999. Four plant species were selected with 4 plots each: Ulex parviflorus Pourr., Pistacia lentiscus L., Quercus coccifera L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. Despite that the soil properties and plant cover did not exhibit statistically significant differences among plant species, the runoff discharge was lower on Q. coccifera (4.87%, SE 0.24) and P. lentiscus (6.24%, SE 0.51) than on U. parviflorus (13.41%, SE 0.58) and R. officinalis (13.84%, SE 1.23). Sediment concentrations were, respectively, 3.91, 4.33, 4.31 and 4.88 g l-1, and the differences between R. officinalis and the other species were statistically significant. The runoff discharge determined differences in soil erosion rates among the plant species with lower rates on P. lentiscus (1.36 Mg ha-1 y-1) and Q. coccifera (1.53 Mg ha-1 y-1), than on U. parviflorus (3.17 Mg ha-1 y-1) and R. officinalis (3.85 Mg ha-1 y-1). This long term in situ study indicated that Q. coccifera and P. lentiscus are more efficient in controlling runoff discharge and soil losses than U. parviflorus and R. officinalis one decade after a fire. We discuss these results in light of the recent findings by the scientific community of the role of the canopy cover (rainfall interception), soil macropore and root system, and the water repellency that control the hydrological response of the soil (e.g. runoff generation, infiltration). The information supplied by 5 years of research is relevant for restoration and rehabilitation programs and advise that Q. coccifera and P. lentiscus are the most efficient plant species to control soil and water losses within the Mediterranean shrubland. This is an applied science approach for a better management of rangelands.

Natural populations of Gentiana asclepiadea L., located at two mountainous sites, were HPLC-analyzed regarding the contents of six representative secondary metabolites. The contents of swertiamarin (SWM), gentiopicrin (GP), sweroside (SWZ), mangiferin (MGF), isoorientin (ISOOR), and isovitexin (ISOV) were determined in six populations (three per study site), and separately for aboveground and belowground plant parts. PCA showed a clear separation of four groups according to the contents of the analyzed secondary metabolites. Out of six analyzed compounds, five were present in all samples and only one (SWZ) was found in Golija populations (belowground parts) but not in Vlasina populations, and its presence can be indicative of the geolocation of populations. Clear separation of groups was mostly affected by the different contents of chemical compounds in plant parts (aboveground versus belowground) and by the differences related to population origin (higher content of SWM and GP in belowground parts of individuals from Vlasina populations and higher content of MGF and ISOOR of individuals from Golija populations). The results of this study contribute to the spatiochemical profiling of G. asclepiadea populations and a better understanding of inter- and intrapopulation variability of pharmacologically important compounds.

Natural populations of Rubus hirtus Waldst. & Kit. were studied at three locations along the Gabrovnica river on Stara Planina mountain, to assess the inter-population differences in ecophysiological and ecomorphological parameters. The content of total chlorophyll in leaves, estimated by the SPAD method, as well as leaf width and leaf width/length ratio had the highest values in population A, which inhabits a forest community dominated by hornbeam and sessile oak and grows in vegetative shade. Populations B (which is also located within the forest complex) and C (which is located in a relatively open habitat) had lower values for the examined parameters. Inter-population differences in the examined parameters can be partially interpreted as an adaptation to habitat light conditions (significant differences between individuals from populations A and C). However, the values of parameters in population B cannot be explained by light conditions, indicating the need to consider complex environmental conditions at that site, primarily heavy metal contamination of soil and groundwater.

Changes in climate, land use, and land management impact the occurrence and severity of wildland fires in many parts of the world. This is particularly evident in Europe, where ongoing changes in land use have strongly modified fire patterns over the last decades. Although satellite data by the European Forest Fire Information System provide large-scale wildland fire statistics across European countries, there is still a crucial need to collect and summarize in-depth local analysis and understanding of the wildland fire condition and associated challenges across Europe. This article aims to provide a general overview of the current wildland fire patterns and challenges as perceived by national representatives, supplemented by national fire statistics (2009–2018) across Europe. For each of the 31 countries included, we pres ent a perspective authored by scientists or practitioners from each respective country, representing a wide range of disciplines and cultural backgrounds. The authors were selected from members of the COST Action “Fire and the Earth System: Science & Society” funded by the European Commission with the aim to share knowledge and improve communication about wildland fire. Where relevant, a brief overview of key studies, particular wildland fire challenges a country is facing, and an overview of notable recent fire events are also presented. Key perceived challenges included (1) the lack of consistent and detailed records for wildland fire events, within and across countries, (2) an increase in wild land fires that pose a risk to properties and human life due to high population densities and sprawl into forested regions, and (3) the view that, irrespective of changes in management, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and impact of wildland fires in the coming decades. Addressing challenge (1) will not only be valuable in advancing national and pan-European wildland fire management strategies, but also in evaluating perceptions (2) and (3) against more robust quantitative evidence.

Wild edible fruits are highly valued in human nutrition and traditional medicine due to their high content of dietary fibers, vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants. Physiologically active components that can potentially reduce risks for chronic diseases leads to these plants being classified as “functional food.” The different classes of phytochemicals can be synthetized based on plants’ genetic potential and environmental conditions. Although these phytochemicals have a lower bioactive potential than pharmaceuticals, their daily intake in small amounts can have noticeable long-term physiological effects. The area of the Balkan Peninsula is characterized by a unique biodiversity and represents one of the centers of plant diversity. Serbia is distinguished by its exceptional floral diversity of vascular plants, which is the result of specific climatic, orographic, edaphic, and historical conditions. Wild fruits mostly inhabit mesophilous deciduous forests in hilly–mountainous regions. In the territory of Serbia, over 90 species of wild fruits have been described, belonging to 15 families and 26 genera.

Many biological and related disciplines recognize population as a carrier of species-specific characteristics adapted to habitat requirements. Within a species’ area of distribution, a wide range of biotic and abiotic factors synergistically shape different habitats, and plant populations develop a set of specific features to respond to given environmental conditions. Distinct populations with phenotypic differences determine the ecotypes within the taxon. Similarly, the chemotype is defined as a chemically distinct plant population, according to the composition of secondary metabolites. Many secondary metabolites have pronounced biological activities and implications for human health. With respect to searching for new sources of secondary metabolites with potential health effects, natural populations of plant species attract the substantial attention of researchers because their habitats are highly diverse and unpolluted. Many studies on this subject have confirmed the biological and chemical diversity of natural populations and emphasized the need for the conservation of natural resources.

The reliability of diarylheptanoids as chemotaxonomic markers at inter- and intraspecific levels has been investigated. Six diarylheptanoids were quantified in bark ethanol extracts of four Alnus spp. populations by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The populations described here as locus classicus Alnus glutinosa (I) and locus classicus Alnus incana (III) are clearly differentiated. Compared to population I, individuals in population III have higher extract yields and hirsutanonol-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside content and lower contents of hirsutanonol, rubranoside A and oregonin. Individuals from neighboring populations of A. glutinosa (II) and A. incana (IV) share similar contents of hirsutanonol. All the studied populations exhibit a high intrapopulation variability of the selected diarylheptanoids; they have a heterogeneous chemotype and they partially overlap. The geographical proximity of populations II and IV increases their chemical similarity. Principal component analysis (PCA) clearly shows that the biggest dispersion of individuals lies within population IV. The reason for its heterogeneity might be its physical proximity to population II, i.e. the appearance of hybrids. Also, geometric morphometrics of leaves was performed as a screening criterion for spontaneous hybrids.

Introduction Separation of instruments in the root canal is one of the challenges in endodontic treatment. More specifically, nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments usually separate without previous deformation. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the effect of torsional stress on endodontic NiTi rotary instruments separation in simulated clinical conditions. Materials and methods Research was conducted on a sample of 20 human teeth in laboratory conditions. Experimental procedure consisted of determining canal curvatures for each root on digital radiographs and root canal treatment using endodontic NiTi rotary instruments. Out of 20 teeth (60 canals), two groups were formed with similar root canal curvatures (10 pairs of teeth) and instrumented using NiTi rotary instrument with or without torque control. Results Wilcoxon matched pair test showed no statistically significant difference in average number of instruments use with or without torque control (p>0.05). Conclusion Even though there is no statistical significance in instrument separation when instruments were used with or without torque, there is tendency to experience sudden fracture of instruments after work without torsional control even after only few uses in clinical work., Uvod Dijabetes melitus (DM) u dečjem uzrastu može negativno da utiče na oralno zdravlje. Cilj ovog istraživanja je bio utvrđivanje stanja zdravlja parodoncijuma kod dece obolele od dijabetesa melitusa tipa I u odnosu na zdravu decu. Metode U studiju je bilo uključeno 177 dece uzrasta 10-15 godina. Ispitanici su podeljeni u dve grupe. Osamdeset sedmoro dece obolelo od dijabetesa melitusa tipa 1 (DMT1) bilo je uključeno u prvu grupu. Drugu, kontrolnu grupu, njih 90, predstavljala su zdrava deca. Samo ona deca čiji su roditelji svojim potpisom dali saglasnost bila su uključena u studiju. Za utvrđivanje oralne higijene primenjivan je plak indeks (PI) po Green-Vermillionu. Stanje zdravlja gingive procenjeno je pomoću gingivalnog indeksa (GI), opisanog po Löe-Silnessu. Procena stanja parodoncijuma registrovana je primenom CPI indeksa (Community Periodontal Index) i merenjem nivoa pripojnog epitela (NPE). Rezultati Prosečna vrednost PI za obolelu decu iznosila je 1,31 ± 0,55, a za zdravu populaciju 1,03 ± 0,51, što je bilo statistički visoko značajno (p = 0,001). Ispitanici iz grupe dijabetičara imaju procentualno najviše zastupljenu umerenu i tešku inflamaciju gingive, dok ispitanici iz kontrolne grupe imaju najviše zastupljenu zdravu gingivu i blagu inflamaciju (p lt 0,05). Prosečna vrednost CPI indeksa u grupi dece sa DM bila je 1,36 ± 1,12, a u kontrolnoj grupi dece 0,59 ± 0,84, što je bilo statistički značajno (p = 0,000). Prosečna vrednost nivoa pripojnog epitela za decu obolelu od dijabetesa melitusa iznosila je 1,33 ± 0,60 i bila je znatno viša (p = 0,000) u odnosu na pripadnike kontrolne grupe 0,66 ± 0,53. Zaključak Deca obolela od dijabetesa melitusa tipa 1 imaju više dentalnog plaka, lošije zdravlje gingive i više promena na parodoncijumu u odnosu na decu iz kontrolne grupe .

The contents of quercetin glycosides and neochlorogenic acid in fresh berries of Cornelian cherry and Common dogwood were assessed through LC-MS/MS analysis to determine chemical differentiation between two distant populations of each species. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical variability of Cornus mas and Cornus sanguinea on the basis of the content of six selected phenolic compounds in fruit extracts. Fruits were sampled at the time of full ripening, mid-September, from two localities that differed in terms of orographic and environmental conditions. Fresh fruit extracts were analyzed by LC-MS/MS to determine the presence and contents of neochlorogenic acid, quercitrin, isoquercetin, hyperoside, rutoside and querciturone. While all of the tested compounds were detected in both species, their content was several times higher in C. sanguinea. Locality-dependent differences were tested by appropriate statistical tests, which confirmed that the contents of all compounds significantly differed in C. mas, whereas the content of only one compound differed in C. sanguinea. Differences between populations were also revealed by PCA analyses. Both species showed clear separation of populations based on the analyzed phenolic compounds. The results showed that a specific environment can significantly affect the contents of certain secondary metabolites, as in the case of C. mas, and/or that the synthesis of these compounds can be to a lesser extent influenced by external factors, as in the case of C. sanguinea.

A faunistic study of the family Elateridae was carried out in Backa, the north-western district of Vojvodina Province in Serbia, focusing on their preferred habitats and soil types. The survey included four locations with a total of 1059 ha, in which 35 species, belonging to 15 genera of Elateridae, were observed. The frequency of larval and adult forms was 58.94% and 67.40%, respectively, proving that wireworms are regular residents of the area. Regarding habitat preferences, it was shown that a majority of Elateridae species prefer open biotopes and wheat crop, while marsh soil, chernozem and alluvium were the preferred soil types of wireworms.

Inter- and intrapopulation variability in six natural populations of the rare species Gentiana pneumonanthe was examined based on morphological and chemical data. Population size and linear morphometric parameters differed significantly among populations, but without a clear connection to habitat conditions, i. e. water supply and light availability. Leaf shape varied from ovate to lanceolate in all populations, and one population was distinctive in having the largest number of leaves of transitional shape. HPLC analyses of six secondary metabolites were performed separately for belowground parts, and aboveground vegetative and reproductive parts of individual plants (6 populations ×7 individuals ×3 plant parts, n=126) in order to examine differences at the population and individual levels. Three secoiridoids (swertiamarin (SWM), sweroside (SWZ), and gentiopicrin (GP)), one xanthone (mangiferin (MGF)), and two flavones (isoorientin (IO) and isovitexin (IV)) were detected and quantified in the analyzed samples: sweroside dominated in the aboveground reproductive part, mangiferin in the aboveground vegetative part, and gentiopicrin in the belowground part. At the population level, differences in contents of the analyzed chemicals among populations were significant only for a few metabolites. At the individual level, a pronounced organ-dependent distribution of secondary metabolites was revealed. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of natural variability within populations of the rare and threatened G. pneumonanthe, and provide data on the contents and within-plant distribution of secondary metabolites, which are important as pharmacologically active compounds and may be useful for further biotechnological procedures regarding this species.

Forests influence humans’ life and health in many ways, by regulating specific climatic conditions, oxygen production, global carbon cycle, and by influencing the conditions for social human activities. Forest biodiversity is crucial for maintaining ecological and societal functions. Disturbances in forest vitality and biodiversity cause complex chain of reactions regarding biotic interactions which involve some animal vectors of zoonotic diseases and lead to increased incidences of zoonoses in human population. The disturbance of native forest ecosystems usually occurs through deforestation and landscape modification for other purposes, especially agricultural. Fragmentation of forests and emergence of transitional zones reduce the capacity of ecosystems to self-regulate functions, for example, when food chains between predators and disease vectors are disturbed, leading to emergence of new pathogens. The integration of multiple datasets including land use change by usage of satellite imagery and field data, forest vitality, and biodiversity may contribute to better understanding the dynamics of incidence of some zoonotic diseases. This article aimed to compare ecological datasets with the incidence of Lyme disease and trichinellosis in Serbia for the period 1990–2012.

The composition and variability of the terpenes and their derivatives isolated from the needles of a representative pool of 114 adult trees originating from four natural populations of dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugoTurra) from the Julian Alps were investigated by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses. In total, 54 of the 57 detected essential-oil components were identified. Among the different compound classes present in the essential oils, the chief constituents belonged to the monoterpenes, comprising an average content of 79.67\% of the total oil composition (74.80\% of monoterpene hydrocarbons and 4.87\% of oxygenated monoterpenes). Sesquiterpenes were present in smaller amounts (average content of 19.02\%), out of which 16.39\% were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and 2.62\% oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The most abundant components in the needle essential oils were the monoterpenes -car-3-ene, -phellandrene, -pinene, -myrcene, and -pinene and the sesquiterpene -caryophyllene. From the total data set of 57 detected compounds, 40 were selected for principal-component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis (DA), and cluster analysis (CA). The overlap tendency of the four populations suggested by PCA, was as well observed by DA. CA also demonstrated similarity among the populations, which was the highest between Populations I and II. Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Serbia {[}173011, 173021]; Slovenian Research Agency {[}P4-0107, P4-0059]

On a global scale, it has been found that in the last decades the surface of the vulnerable land and land affected by degradation is increasing and that unsustainable land management is one of the key drivers of land degradation. In order to assess the effect that these changes have on biodiversity and ecosystem services, and to carry out the appropriate planning and management actions for conserving the environment it is essential to identify and quantify changes caused by land degradation. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of geological setting i.e. type of bedrock, and land use on soil physico-chemical properties in vulnerable mountainous areas of Fruškagora. For the purpose of this study the total of 30 soil samples at 0-20 cm depth were collected at four locations on the Fruškagora Mt. Geological setting was serpentinite and marl and land cover was forest and meadow. Following soil properties were determined: pH, redox potential (Eh), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), concentrations of available cations Ca, Mg, K, Na, contents of organic carbon (Corg) and nitrogen (N). The correlation between the obtained parameters was tested with two-way ANOVA and Principal Component Analyses (PCA). All of the obtained results indicate that the soil physico-chemical properties depend on geological setting and that rock composition has to be taken into consideration during land management. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 176006 i br. 173011]

Diarylheptanoids are a group of secondary metabolites widely distributed in the Betulaceae family and characteristic for Alnus species. In this study, the chemotaxonomic power of diarylheptanoids, such as hirsutanonol-5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, rubranoside A, oregonin, platyphylloside, alnuside A and hirsutanonol, has been investigated in combination with principal component analysis (PCA) for differentiation of Alnus species. Concentrations of six diarylheptanoids in the bark extracts of two natural populations of Alnus glutinosa (black alder) and Alnus incana (gray alder) were determined by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). PCA clearly shows the separation of three groups. Populations I (A. glutinosa) and II (A. incana) both consisted of individuals of the corresponding species. Four individuals from both sampled populations formed a separate group (population III), which possibly represents a hybrid group. Accordingly, diarylheptanoids may serve in combination with PCA as chemotaxonomic markers at the species level, which may also reveal hybrid species.

The aim of the present study was to determine the content of six phenolic compounds, natural anti-oxidants, in fruits of wild growing Cornus mas L. Fruits were sampled from two different locations. The extracts were obtained from fresh fruits and subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis to identify and quantify the content of neochlorogenic acid and five derivatives of quercetin. All of the analyzed phenolic compounds were detected in total sample of C. mas fruits, and their occurrence and content were clearly locality-dependent. Out of analyzed compounds, the prevailing was neochlorogenic acid (5-O-CQ) in samples from Avala, whereas glucuronide (Q-3-O-GlcA) dominated in samples from Zlatar lake. These results showed that wild growing populations are rich source of natural antioxidants, especially those with proved pharmacological activity in humans, such as glucuronide. As indicated by data on traditional usages and ethnopharmacological knowledge, C. mas fruits collected in wild are valuable source of natural antioxidants and deserve attention in preservation of genetic and biological diversity.

Aim:L. is a widespread European shrubby species. It is a potential source of biologically active compounds, especially antioxidants, as indicated by the dogberries’ black color. The aim of the present study was to determine the content of several quercetin derivatives in the dogberries and to evaluate phytogeographical variability of these compounds.Materials and methods:The dogberries were collected in the middle of September at two natural habitats of this species: Mt. Avala and Lake Zlatar, Serbia. The extract obtained from fresh fruits was subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis to identify and quantify the content of five quercetin derivatives: quercetin-3-Results:All of examined quercetin derivatives were detected in extract of fresh dogberries and their contents were in the following order: Q-3-O-GlcA>Q-3-O-Gal>Q-3-O-Rut>Q-3-O-Glc>Q-3-O-Rha. The average amount of Q-3-O- Rut varied significantly and depended on the geographic origin of the fruit sample.Conclusions:These results indicate that dogberries could be a potential source of natural antioxidants, and encourage further investigation of this species considering that it has not yet been exploited in either nutrition or as a source of important pharmacological compounds.

The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), causes enormous damage to broadleaved forests in the northern hemisphere where it frequently defoliates large areas of forest. Since outbreaks begin in oak forests, its most suitable habitat, we determined the preference and performance of gypsy moth larvae when reared on three species of native oaks: sessile oak, Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.; Turkey oak, Q. cerris L.; and Hungarian oak, Q. frainetto (Ten.). Leaf expansion and selected physical and chemical characteristics of the oak leaves were also measured. The shortest development time and highest relative consumption (RCR), growth rate (RGR), assimilation efficiency (AD), efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and digested food into larval biomass (ECD) values were recorded when larvae were fed on Turkey oak. Two-choice tests revealed that Turkey oak is the preferred host plant. It had the highest total soluble protein and leaf nitrogen content, lowest C/N ratio and its phenology was well synchronized with the hatching of the larvae. The worst performance and lowest preference index were recorded when fed on Hungarian oak, the leaves of which had the lowest protein and nitrogen content, while in terms of the values for preference and performance the larvae fed on sessile oak were intermediate. Our results indicate that forests with Turkey oak are highly likely to be defoliated by gypsy moth larvae and therefore should be regularly monitored.

Ethanol solutions of essential oils obtained from Athmanta haynaldii and Myristica fragrans were tested for their toxicity and antifeedant activity against the second instar gypsy moth larvae in the laboratory bioassay. Both isolated oils were subjected to gas chromatography analysis in order to determine their chemical constitutions. Tested oils showed low to moderate larvicidal effect in both residual toxicity test and in chronic larval mortality bioassay. However, antifeedant index achieved by application of tested solutions in feeding choice assay was significantly higher in comparison to control, and almost same as one provided with botanical standard. Low toxic and high antifeedant properties (AF index 85–90%) make these essential oils suitable for integrated pest management programs. Special attention should be paid to further investigation of endemic and rare A. haynalidii in the terms its cultivation and usage of its unique set of biologically active compounds.

PCR-RAPD markers revealed individual variation in F. ornus. A total of 122 fragments were amplified using 7 primers and of these 97 fragments were polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphic loci was between 53.3% and 74.6% with an average of 63.1%. The mean gene diversity for all populations was 0.30 and the mean Shannon’s index was 0.44. Of the total genetic variation 87% was intra-population whilst 13% was inter-population. The Mantel test revealed significant correlation between genetic and geographical distance matrice. Results herein represent the first use of molecular genetic (DNA) markers to characterize genetic variation in F. ornus populations. The partition of total genetic variance indicates a relatively restricted population differentiation as expected in outcrossing species. Present and future information on genetic structure and variability in F. ornus needs to be incorporated into strategies for the preservation of genetic resources of tree species. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173011]

The composition of the essential oil of the twigs and needles of Taxus baccata L. from three natural populations in Serbia has been determined by GC/MS analysis. Of the 91 detected compounds, 87 were identified. The most abundant compound classes were aliphatic alcohols, terpenes, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and aliphatic aldehydes, which together comprised ca. 86.92% of the total oil composition. The dominant constituents were oct-1-en-3-ol (23.48%), (3Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol (11.46%; aliphatic alcohols), and myrtenol (11.38%; oxygenated monoterpene). The PCA of 22 selected compounds revealed differentiations of populations based on geographic distribution. The CA showed that Populations I and II from the Dinaric Alps were similar, and that Population III from the Balkan mountain system was distinct. This was the first investigation of interpopulation variability of T. baccata populations based on essential oil composition. The results of this study were compared with those of previous studies concerning volatile compounds produced by Taxus species. The results indicate that the essential oil content of T. baccata populations from this study is unique, mostly resembling the population from southeast Serbia.

Totally, 26 xerohalophytic species belonging to the associations Cakilo-Xanthietum italici and Echinophoro-Elymetum farcti were registered at the Velika plaža beach (Montenegro); they were distributed following the spatial succession common in this type of habitat. Three transects of different terrain morphology (positioned perpendicularly to the shoreline) were surveyed to establish if there were any differences in the floristic composition and species distribution due to the configuration discrepancy. Moreover, each transect was divided into zones: The first zone from 0 to 30 m inland, the second zone from 30 m to 60 m inland, and the third zone from 60 m to the end of beach (75–115 m, depending on transect length). The floristic composition was relatively uniform in the different transects. However, the number of individuals per species differed significantly among these transects. An analysis of the qualitative composition of transects/zones showed high differences between zones within transe...

Out of a total number of tree species in Serbian flora, 28% are hermaphrodites, 43% are monoecious and 29% are dioecious. The dendroflora appears to have a larger proportion of unisexual than hermaphrodite species. The monoecious system is the dominant unisexual system within the tree species in Serbia. The possible sex differentiation by RAPD markers and Correspondence Analysis was examined in a population of Fraxinus ornus var. angustifolia. On the basis of 6 selected RAPD bands which contribute to the differentiation in frequency between male and hermaphrodite individuals, Correspondence Analysis visualized the following tendency: 20 trees of each variety were separated into two groups that mainly correspond to sexual types. Our results showed that RAPD markers assisted by Correspondence Analysis could be used in identifying male and hermaphrodite individuals in F. ornus varieties.

Photosynthetic performance of seedlings of Quercus robur exposed to short-term water stress in the laboratory conditions was assessed through the method of induced fluorometry. The substrate for seedlings was clayey loam, with the dominant texture fraction made of silt, followed by clay and fine sand, with total porosity 68.2%. Seedlings were separated in two groups: control (C) (soil water regime in pots was maintained at the level of field water capacity) and treated (water-stressed, WS) (soil water regime was maintained in the range of wilting point and lentocapillary capacity). The photosynthetic efficiency was 0.642?0.25 and 0.522?0.024 (WS and C, respectively), which was mostly due to transplantation disturbances and sporadic leaf chlorosis. During the experiment Fv/Fm decreased in both groups (0.551?0.0100 and 0.427?0.018 in C and WS, respectively). Our results showed significant differences between stressed and control group, in regard to both observed parameters (Fv/Fm and T?). Photosynthetic efficiency of pedunculate oak seedlings was significantly affected by short-term water stress, but to a lesser extent than by sufficient watering.

The ecophysiological model INTERCOM was evaluated for its suitability in predicting the growth of perennial forest herbs. A field experiment was conducted to obtain data on photosynthesis and growth parameters of two spring flowering understorey geophytes. Results were used to parameterize the model and its performance was evaluated using the average normalized difference (AE) between predicted and observed biomass and the leaf area index. The model was assumed to provide accurate simulations if the AE was smaller than 0.4. Adjusting the photosynthetic intensity parameters in the model to reflect observed changes in photosynthesis throughout the growing period resulted in the accurate prediction of Scilla bifolia and Arum maculatum biomass (AE=0.13 and AE=0.021, respectively) and LAI (AE=-0.16 and AE=-0.08, respectively). Ecophysiological models may be useful tools for predicting the biomass accumulation of forest understorey species in response to varying environmental conditions, which could be useful for monitoring forest ecosystem health.

We study transport properties of clean FISIF double-barrier junctions consisting of metallic or semiconducting ferromagnets (F), a superconductor (S), and insulating interfaces (I). We solve the scattering problem based on the Bogoliubov–de Gennes equation and calculate differential conductance for arbitrary interface transparency, different effective band masses and Fermi wave vectors in the conductors. We analyze size and coherence effects that characterize ballistic transport: subgap transmission and geometrical oscillations of the conductance. We find that different band masses, as well as different Fermi wave vectors, affect the transport properties in a way similar to interfaces of a finite transparency. In all these cases, charge transport is reduced to resonant tunneling through the quasi-bound states in the superconducting film.

A 5-year field survey examined western corn rootworm (WCR) (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) beetle density in Serbia from 2002 to 2006. First-, second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-year maize fields were sampled; they represented 64.61%, 21.66%, 9.45%, 3.53% and 0.75% of all sampled fields respectively. Results showed that the mean WCR beetle population density from 794 maize fields differed depending on cropping history. Minimum mean WCR/trap/day was 0.0 in the first-year maize fields in 2002 and 2006. Maximum mean WCR/trap/day was registered in the fourth-year and the fifth-year maize fields (27.8 and 21.2 respectively). Mean population density of WCR adults increased with the number of years of continuous maize from 1.17, 4.61, 6.41, 10.30 up to 13.53 WCR/trap/day for first-fifth-year maize fields respectively. Mean WCR/trap/day ± SE exceeded the economic population threshold of >6 WCR/trap/day in third-year continuous maize fields. Out of 794 maize fields, 697 (87.78%) registered a mean population density below the 6 beetles/trap/day, a finding that predicts a risk of economic damage to a subsequent maize planting. These data are representative of the Serbian situation from 2002 to 2006; they indicate that WCR are well dispersed across commercial maize fields in Serbia. These results provide new insight into the current low WCR population densities in maize fields managed by crop rotation, a finding that can help in creating long-term management strategy.

Population dynamics of the species Plantago major L. and Poa annua L., typical representatives of ruderal vegetation, was analyzed in a replacement series experiment. The analyzed species were sown in an area with meadow vegetation, where the vegetation present had been previously removed by a total herbicide and additionally by hoeing. The objective of the experiment was to monitor growth dynamics and the effect of intra- and inter-specific interaction of the species Plantago major and Poa annua in conditions of different sowing densities and proportions. The effects of intra- and inter-specific interference and the density-dependent responses were assessed on the basis of several parameters (natality, mortality, age structure, and measures of ontogenetic changes). Based on the study results, it can be concluded that the responses of the species in the experiment were different, which is explained by different adaptive mechanisms, i.e., strategies, in the specific environmental conditions. An effect of the density dependent response was present in both species in the replacement series experiment. The response was amplified by water deficit caused by intensive evapora?tion of the bare soil. No effect of inter-specific interference was observed at the given densities of the study species on the sample plots. An effect of intra-specific interference of the species Plantago major and Poa annua was observed in the guise of a density-negative response of the rate of ontogenetic changes and fecundity.

We investigated differences of salinity tolerance between 'salt-tolerant' (ST) and 'salt-sensitive' (SS) genotypes of yellow centaury [Centaurium maritimum (L.) Fritsch] selected during the germination phase. The ability of in vitro cultured C. maritimum to complete the whole ontogenetic cycle in less than 6 months enabled us to deterine salinity tolerance during different growth phases. Based on the physiological attributes measured in this study (growth, morphogenesis, photosynthesis, flowering, seed germination), it can be concluded that C. maritimum genotypes differing in salinity tolerance showed a variable response to elevated salt concentrations during both the vegetative and the generative growth phase.

In this article, the dynamics of phenolics in the soil originated from dominant trees and the photosynthetic performance and growth of the forest floor species Arum maculatum is firstly reported. Assimilation of CO2, Chlorophyll fluorescence and chlorophyll concentration in the leaf tissue of A. maculatum as well as natural concentrations of total bioavailable phenolics and phenolic acids in the rhizosphere of this herb were estimated simultaneously during the growing season. Additionally, growth dynamics of A. maculatum were assessed by determination of instantaneous growth rate and leaf area index. The dominant species Fagus moesiaca and Tilia tomentosa were the main sources Of the total phenolics and phenolic acids in plant fitter and soil. The amounts of bioavailable phenolics and phenolic acids in rhizosphere soil were several times lower than in the litter or in freshly fallen leaves of lime and beech. In the rhizosphere soil of A. maculatum, the amount of total phenolics decreased rapidly from March to May. All of five phenolic acids present in leaves of dominant trees were identified in the A. maculatum rhizosphere soil, with characteristic turnover dynamics shown by ferulic and vanillic acid. Dynamics of the photosynthetic performance of A. maculatum was assessed as net photosynthetic rates and chlorophyll fluorescence, which had opposite courses. P-N decreased continuously during the growing season (from 9.91 +/- 1.41 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) at the beginning of March to 4.36 +/- 0.86 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) at the end of May). Photosynthetic rate, growth rate and chlorophyll a:b ratio were positively correlated with total soil phenolics, and also with the available derivatives of cinnamic and benzoic acids (p < 0.05). Photosynthetic efficiency, total chlorophyll content and leaf area index were negatively correlated with total soil phenolics and derivatives of benzoic acid, and positively correlated with the derivatives of cinammic acid (p < 0.05). These results indicate that there was a high correlation between total bioavailable rhizosphere soil phenolics and phenolic acids originated from dominant trees on one side, and the photosynthetic performance and growth parameters of A. maculatum on the other side. (c) 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. Ministry or Science of Serbia [143025]

The results of 20-year monitoring of the population of Mergus merganser in the East Dinaric Mountains are presented in this article. Colonization of the Sjenicko, Zlatarsko, and Radojina Lakes in Serbia by this species and its dispersion on the Zvornicko, Perucac, and Visegradsko Lakes in the Republic of Srpska occurred in this period. The population of goosander is progressive and we sug gest that it will expand to other lakes in the region, ones in Montenegro and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Study Area The East Dinaric Mountains are situated in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, with the highest peaks up to 2500 m a.s.l. The whole Dinaric region belongs to the Black Sea basin, and the Drina River catchment area includes rapid highland rivers with a great amount of water. The climate is highland continental in the area of the upper lakes, whereas sub-Mediterranean climatic elements appear in the lower canyons. Coniferous and deciduous forests with refugial habitats in the canyons make up the vegetation cover of the mountain region. The energy potential of Drina River has been greatly exploited in the past 50 years by the building of nine hydro-electric power plants with artificial lakes. The first of them, Zlatarsko Lake, was formed