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Deliblato Sands is the single largest expanse of sand in Europe. It is the most fire-prone area of Serbia due to the absence of surface water, sandy soils, specific microclimate conditions, and vegetation composition. Post-fire regeneration is a long-term process that includes many aspects of vegetation regrowth and habitat recovery. In the third year following one of the disastrous fires, the growth dynamics of two geophyte species in unburned and burned sites were studied. During the growing season, burned and unburned populations of Crocus reticulatus Steven ex Adam and Iris pumila L. were assessed for growth parameters (biomass production, specific leaf area, leaf area index) and leaf-level ecophysiological traits (photosystem II efficiency, chlorophyll amount, relative water content). Species acclimated differently to changed abiotic and biotic site conditions after the fire event. C. reticulatus burned and unburned populations differed significantly in terms of flowering phenology and ecophysiological traits, whereas I. pumila burned and unburned populations differed significantly in terms of growth parameters. The findings support the assertion that geophytes are generally well adapted to environmental disturbances. Species, however, responded differently to fire-induced changes in the physicochemical and biotic environment, depending on their ecological requirements and adaptive capacity.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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...

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

The Resava Gorge is situated in Eastern Serbia in the region of the Gornja Resava River, extending westward from Mt. Globski Krs to the town of Lisine. In floral research conducted during 1997 and 1998, 297 taxa of vascular flora belonging to 68 families were discovered. The families Poaceae (28), Asteraceae (21), Fabaceae (20) and Lamiaceae (19) were best represented. The presence of 49 floral elements was also noted. The greatest number of plants are sub-Central European (18,86 %), Eurasian (14,14 %), sub-Mediterranean (8,75 %), Central European (6,40 %) and sub- Eurasian (6,40 %). As for life forms, hemi-cryptophytes (49,50 %), phanerophytes (19,53 %) and geophytes (11,11 %) were noted as dominant.

The objective of this research was to analyze the distribution of two typical widespread xerohalophytic associations in sandy and sandy-shingle beaches of Montenegrin foreland: Cakilo-Xanthietum italici (Beg. 1941) Pign. 1953 and Echinophoro-Elymetum farcti GEHU 1988. Intense human activity generally affects the processes of vegetation degradation in this habitat type. The Velika plaža beach near Ulcinj is one of the few relatively undamaged sand beaches, in floristic and vegetational sense. Major environmental gradient in this habitat is the decrease in moisture and salinity from seaward to landward zone. This site's conditions model the prominent zonation of coastal plant species and distribution patterns of plants and plant communities.

In studies of population variability, particular attention has to be paid to the selection of a representative sample. The aim of this study was to assess the size of the new representative sample on the basis of the variability of chemical content of the initial sample on the example of a whitebark pine population. Statistical analysis included the content of 19 characteristics (terpene hydrocarbons and their derivates) of the initial sample of 10 elements (trees). It was determined that the new sample should contain 20 trees so that the mean value calculated from it represents a basic set with a probability higher than 95 %. Determination of the lower limit of the representative sample size that guarantees a satisfactory reliability of generalization proved to be very important in order to achieve cost efficiency of the research. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI-173011, br. TR-37002 i br. III-43007]