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The study of aquatic Oligochaeta in freshwaters in Serbia contributes to the oligochaete fauna inventory of the Balkans. Based on our results and literature review, 97 species (45 genera from 8 families) are listed in the running waters of Serbia. From the list of 61 species recorded during our investigation, 12 were noted for the first time. The ecological analysis of Oligochaeta communities showed the largest participation of potamal and rhithral species. As regards current preferences, rheolimnophilous species predominated, and with respect to feeding type, collectors prevailed. Most of the species are tolerant to moderate and high organic load. According to microhabitat preferences, three types of rivers stood out, as follows: (1) pelophilous (dominance of L. hoffmeisteri); (2) psammophilous (dominance of S. heringianus); (3) phytophilous (dominance of N. bretscheri). Analyses of the relation to different types of waterbodies showed regularity in the distribution of oligochaetes, with a higher species richness in main watercourses (types 1 and 2), and a lower species richness in tributaries (types 3, 4 and 6). According to the dominant taxa, the running waters of Serbia can be classified into four groups which are characterized by the prevalence of naidids (naidins and tubificins), enchytraeids and lumbriculids. Our results show that community composition is a good indicator of the horizontal distribution of Oligochaeta.

Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834), Chinese pond mussel (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Unionidae) is one of the most invasive aquatic macroinvertebrate species found in Europe. We report the Chinese pond mussel for the first time in Montenegro, in August 2012, in Lake Šasko (Adriatic part of the Central Mediterranean subarea). One specimen of the Chinese pond mussel was observed in a habitat with a predominantly silt-clay substrate. The main pathway of species introduction was evaluated to be via fish stocking. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III 43002 i br. ON 173025]

We report the discovery of Bothrioneurum vejdovskyanum Štolc, 1886 (Annelida: Oligochaeta: Tubificidae: Rhyacodrilinae) in Serbian freshwaters. Fifteen specimens were found in the middle course of the River Ibar (southern Serbia), at a locality where the macrolithal type of substrate and strong currents prevail. These organisms were found together with Stylodrilus heringianus (Claparede, 1862). They were among the most abundant Oligochaeta species. The species are described and its biology and distribution are discussed. The present record contributes to the knowledge on the general distribution of this rare species, particularly in the Balkans (southeastern Europe). [Acknowledgments. This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia, Projects No. ON 173025 and III 43002]

The aim of this work was to examine the impact of urban wastewaters on the water quality of the Danube River in Serbia. Samples of water and sediments for microbiological analysis and genotoxicity monitoring were collected from 6 sites during spring and/or autumn 2010. Sanitary analysis, i.e. enumeration of total and fecal coliforms and intestinal enterococci, indicated moderate to critical fecal contamination, while organic load assessment (oligotroph to heterotroph ratio, index of phosphatase activity) revealed the category of moderately polluted water. Mercury-resistant bacteria were detected in all water samples, with high numbers at locations positioned downstream of Belgrade. There was no correlation of the microbiological parameters of the sediment and water samples. Genotoxicity monitoring, performed by the comet assay on hemocytes of mussels Sinanodonta woodiana, indicated a significant increase of DNA damage in mussels collected from the studied sites compared with the control group.

Research on the community of aquatic macroinvertebrates was carried out during 2005 and 2006 at four sampling sites along the Jablanica River, a right-hand tributary of the Kolubara River. Fifty-seven taxa were recorded in the course of the investigation. The most diverse group was Ephemeroptera, followed by Trichoptera and Plecoptera. Members of the Rhitrogena semicolorata group were the most abundant. Our results could be the basis for evaluation of the influence of damming of the Jablanica River on the status of its water and can serve as a model for studying the influ­ence of hydromorphological degradation of aquatic ecosystems.

This study was carried out at the Danube River and its tributaries during the Joint Danube Survey 4 (JDS4) expedition. Three freshwater benthic species were used to estimate the quantity of microplastics (MPs): Corbicula spp., Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri (Claparede, 1862), and Polypedilum nubeculosum (Meigen, 1804). Following the kick and sweep technique, individuals were sampled using a hand net or dredge. In order to estimate the number of MP particles/individual particles/g wet body mass, the body mass and total length of all specimens were measured. Alkaline (Corbicula spp. and L. hoffmaisteri) and enzymatic (P. nubeculosum) protocols were performed for tissue degradation. All samples were filtered through glass microfiber filters (mesh size 0.5 µm). The particles were photographed, measured, and counted. A total of 1904, 169, and 204 MPs were isolated from Corbicula spp., L. hoffmaisteri, and P. nubeculosum, respectively. To confirm the chemical composition of isolated MPs, a subsample of 46 particles of the fragmented particles from 14 sampling sites was analysed via µ-ATR-FTIR spectroscopy analysis. The particles were characterised as polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene–polyethylene copolymer (PP-PE), nylon (polyamide-PA) and cellophane, with the domination of PET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thick-shelled river mussel, Unio crassus Philipson, 1788, is considered to be one of the species with the highest conservation priority in Serbia. The study represents the first comprehensive research of the distribution of U. crassus in Serbian waters. The research covered a variety of waterbody types throughout Serbia, and distribution data were considered over three time periods from 1953 to 2019. The paper summarizes all the available literature data, field research and information obtained during the review of the collection of malacological material of the Natural History Museum in Belgrade. The results show a positive population trend, which is reflected in an extension of the distribution area and an increase in population density. After reviewing the museum collection, 13 synonyms for U. crassus were identified. The study also revealed a better insight into the habitat requirements and the limiting factors of the species. Substrate characteristics, waterbody types, altitude, and nitrate content of the water seem to be of great importance for the occurrence of the species. The results presented here can improve further measures for the conservation of U. crassus, not only in Serbia, but also in the Western Balkans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our study was to detect the actual distribution of oligochaete species and to identify their ecological differentiation with respect to environmental factors: altitude, temperature, oxygen concentration, conductivity, total organic carbon, and waterbody type. Although widespread, differentiation of oligochaete communities in four waterbody types and altitudinal groups can be observed through alpha and beta diversity. Their differences were analyzed using MANOVA, while the ecological preferences of species were presented with logistic Gaussian regression analyses. The highest number of the species of Oligochaeta was recorded in oligochaete communities in medium and large rivers. Total beta diversity decreased with the decreasing of waterbody size, the increasing of size of the substrate particles, river flow velocity, as well as altitude. Communities from small mountain rivers and streams and large and medium rivers with coarser substrate differed from other oligochaete communities. When coarser substrate was prevalent in smaller and medium rivers, a domination of a certain family was observed: Lumbriculidae (>800 m a.s.l.), Propappidae and Enchytraeidae (500–800 m), and Naididae (<500 m a.s.l.). Common species of Oligochaeta, with significantly overlapping ranges in running waters in Serbia, still show a clear grouping with respect to preference for certain types of waterbodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted on the Danube River, within the project Joint Danube Survey 3 (JDS3). The main aim was to estimate the quantity of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems through passive biological monitoring. Three freshwater species were used for microplastic (MP) isolation from different taxonomic groups of organisms: Mollusca, Oligochaeta, and Chironomidae (Diptera), with the following species: Lithoglyphus naticoides (C. Pfeiffer, 1828), Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri (Claparede, 1862), and Chironomus acutiventris (Wülker, Ryser & Scholl, 1983), respectively. The samples were collected from 6 sites along the Danube River where 540 specimens were examined. The samples were digested by alkaline method (incubation in 10% KOH solution at 60 ⁰C for 24 h) and filtered through a mill silk, 10 μm mesh size. Collected particles were categorized as: fibre, hard plastic, nylon, rubber, or miscellaneous. Categories were divided into subcategories based on the coloration of the particles. Particles ingested by organisms were represented mostly by fibres and fragmented hard plastics, within the size range were from 0.03 to 4.87 mm. A total of 678 MP particles were collected with an average of 4.64 ± 1.59; 1.64 ± 0.46 and 1.24 ± 0.34 items/organism isolated from L. hoffmeisteri, L. naticoides and C. acutiventris, respectively. According to results, L. hoffmeisteri, L. naticoides and C. acutiventris could be used as proper bioaccumulators of MP pollution in the Danube River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater polychaetes are the most diverse in the Palaearctic, including the Ponto-Caspian region as an important area of diversity. One of several polychaete species that are spreading from this area is Manayunkia caspica. For a certain period of time, the range of this species in the Danube River has been limited, probably because of the Iron Gate dam. This Ponto-Caspian species, which is established along the Romanian stretch of the Danube River, was recorded for the first time in the Serbian part of the river in November 2005, and subsequently, it has been repeatedly found in the Iron Gate II Reservoir at 934 rkm (the town of Kladovo). During the Joint Danube Survey 3 (JDS 3) in September 2013, it was observed that M. caspica has extended its distribution from the Ponto-Caspian region to Central and Western Europe, with Klizska Nema (Slovakia/Hungary) as the most upstream locality. The findings presented herein show that the distribution of M. caspica has for the first time expanded upstream of the Iron Gate, where it appeared to have established population, making this species a regular component of the macroinvertebrate fauna along the entire stretch of the Danube River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is often considered that successful use of a dictionary does not require any special knowledge or skills, research has shown that most users do not consult dictionaries efficiently or frequently enough. Users often avoid consulting dictionaries as much as they can, because they consider it to be a tedious and uninteresting task. Even when they consult a dictionary, most of them are not familiar with types of dictionaries, what type of dictionary would be the most useful one or how to assess the quality of a dictionary. A lot of information in a dictionary remains unnoticed and/or users fail to interpret it. These statements hold true for most users and for students of humanities or linguistics. Just like other users, students of linguistics fail to notice their own lack of user competence and are often unwilling to invest some time and effort to improve it. They may be willing to change this attitude only after being persuaded through a series of obvious examples that they fail to notice a lot of useful information that would allow them to avoid certain mistakes or to solve a problem. In this paper the authors will analyze responses to a questionnaire completed by students of English, Scandinavian languages and German at the Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade, which show their attitude to using dictionaries, their habits and what they know about the dictionaries that are crucial for their studies and future careers. The authors will use this analysis to point to the necessary improvements in user competence these students are supposed to achieve and possible ways of achieving it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Communication & Culture Online / Komunikacija i Kultura Online is the property of FOKUS: Forum za Interkulturnu Komunikaciju and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents the results of a faunistic study of the macrozoobenthos of the Velika Morava River. The investigation was conducted during the summer and autumn months in 2010. A total of 84 macroinvertebrate taxa have been identified, with Insecta (Ephemeroptera) as the most diverse and Oligochaeta as the most abundant groups. A tubificid worm, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, was the most important species with regard to relative abundance and frequency of occurrence. Two rare and endangered species, Theodoxus transversalis and Unio crassus, were recorded, as well as 5 alien species. Locality VM4 (Markovac Bridge) is of particular interest as the northernmost locality, as well as having the most abundant population of T. transversalis found. Despite being in the lower stretch of the river, this site is particularly taxa-rich, presumably due to conspicuous microhabitat diversity. Water temperature and pH value were determined to be the most important factors of the 32 environmental variables tested. Multivariate analyses revealed separation of summer samples compared to autumn. The Mann--Whitney test showed significant differences in fauna only in the case of ecoregions, confirming their current delineation and the transitional character of this river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides the first comprehensive list of alien macroinvertebrate species registered and/or established in aquatic ecosystems in Serbia as a potential threat to native biodiversity. The list comprised field investigations, articles, grey literature, and unpublished data. Twenty-nine species of macroinvertebrates have been recorded since 1942, with a domination of the Ponto-Caspian faunistic elements. The majority of recorded species have broad distribution and are naturalized in the waters of Serbia, while occasional or single findings of seven taxa indicate that these species have failed to form populations. Presented results clearly show that the Danube is the main corridor for the introduction and spread of non-native species into Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]