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Air pollution detection in Dimitrovgrad has not been done yet. In this work different lichen have been used as a bioindication to establish different air pollution levels. At 18 investigated points 22 lichen taxa have been found. Using the Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP) it has been found that there are 3 different air pollution zones in Dimitrovgrad: 'lichen desert', 'transitional' and 'normal zone'. The most sensitive lichen taxa in Dimitrovgrad are Evernia prunastra, Ochrolechia pallescens, Parmelia sulcata, and Physcia tenella and the most tolerant are Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Physcia adscendens, Physconia distorta, Physconia grisea, and Xanthoria parietina. .

Epiphytic lichens were used dor bioindication of air pollution in the city of Vranje for the first time. In 43 investigated places, the authors established the presence of 38 lichen taxa from 20 genera. By calculating the index of atmospheric purity (IAP), they established three zones with different air pollution levels (a "lichen desert zone", a "transitional zone", and a "normal zone") and two subzones (a "narrow transitional zone", and a "wider transitional zone"). The species Melanelia exasperatula, M. glabra, Lecanora allophana, Lecidella elaechroma, Ochrolechia sp, Ramalina sp., and Parmelina quercina were established as the most sensitive. On the other hand, Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Xanthoria parietina, and Parmelia sulcata were the most tolerant.

Bioindication of air pollution in the city of Niš, by using epiphytic lichens, was performed for the first time in 1992. In this paper the authors present the results of repeated investigations in 2002, by using new, modern method, and their comparison with the former investigations. In repeated investigations, on 59 investigated spots, the authors established the presence of 42 lichen taxa, 3 zones with different air pollution level ("lichens desert", "transitional zone" and "normal zone") and two subzones ("narrow transitional zone" and "wider transitional zone"), as well. As the most sensitive, some Melanelia-species (M. elegantula, M. exasperata, M. glabra), Evernia prunastr and Flavoparmelia caperata, were established while on the other hand, Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Physcia adscendens, Ph. stellaris and Lecanora argentata were the most tolerant.

The use of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) as a measure of developmental instability and its relationship to stress and fitness is highly controversial. We examined whether the selection of different FA indices and traits influences the results of FA analysis. We chose four meristic traits and three FA indices (two single-trait and two multiple-trait indices) to assess FA levels in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) from three different habitat types (urban, suburban and natural). Urbanization has already been linked to developmental instability in P. muralis. We therefore expected to detect different FA levels among the habitats. However, we also wanted to see whether we obtained the same patterns using different indices and traits. Our results showed that different traits can yield different FA patterns between habitats. The only statistically significant difference between habitats was detected for the FA2 index in femoral pores. The highest level of FA was detected in the urban population, while the lowest level was in the natural population. It is clear that caution must be exerted when deciding on which traits and indices are to be used for FA analysis. [Projects of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. OI173043, Grant no. III43001]

A second member of the genus Belbogosoma Ćurčić & Makarov, 2008, the troglobitic B. stribogi n. sp., is described, illustrated and diagnosed. A brief discussion of anthroleucosomatids from Serbia and a distribution map of the genus are provided. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038]

Air quality investigations have not been undertaken in Blace until now. Identifying the presence of different types of epiphytic lichens was performed in the summer 2012 in Blace (southeastern Serbia), and selected rural settlements around Blace, in order to establish the air quality of the area. The analysis of samples from described localities indicated the presence of 25 lichen taxa from 19 genera. Using the Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP), it was found that there are 2 different air pollution zones in Blace: “lichen desert” and “transitional” or “struggle zone”, which includes the periphery of the city. In these zones the air is moderately polluted. In the urban area of Blace there is no “normal” zone, but one was detected in the surrounding rural areas. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI 171025 i br. III 41018]

The performance of two epiphytic lichen species (Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. and Parmelia sulcata Taylor) as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution in natural areas around the city of Niš (southeastern Serbia) were evaluated. The concentration of 19 heavy metals in lichen samples was measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. For the majority of the elements the concentrations found in Parmelia sulcata Taylor were higher than in Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. In addition, interspecific differences in heavy metal accumulation between Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. and Parmelia sulcata Taylor are observed. Parmelia sulcata Taylor showed a tendency to accumulate Fe, Mn, Ni and Ti while Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. preferentially concentrated Cu on both locations. A clear distinction between lithogenic (Mn-Cu-Ti) and atmospheric elements (Ni-Co-Cr-Ag-Pb-Hg) was achieved by cluster analysis. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III41018, br. OI 171025, br. 172017 and br. III41017]

The correlation between trophic utilization and morphology was studied for two lizard species (Podarcis melisellensis and P. siculus) from two mainland localities in the eastern Adriatic area; this is the first report of trophic and morphometric data for P. melisellensis from mainland populations. Variance partitioning showed that most of the variation in morphological traits for the analyzed lizards was the result of differences between species, and to a lesser extent between sexes. Locality did not have a strong effect on the variation of morphological traits. Prey weight is the only characteristic of prey that generally exhibits correlations with morphological characteristics rather than prey size. The pattern of correlations is generally weaker for P. melisellensis than for P. siculus. Optimal foraging theory predictions were generally confirmed: P. siculus is more constrained by trophic resource availability, with a premium on larger and heavier prey consumed in the less productive locality (SM), which can be relaxed in more productive regions (KL). P. melisellensis shows such constraints only for males in the less productive region (SM). Females of both species consume heavier prey. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III43001 i br. 173011]

In this study the content of chloroplast pigments (chlorophyll a, b, a+b, and carotenoids) in the leaves of Geranium macrorrhizum L., Doronicum columnae Ten., Aegopodium podagraria L. and Tussilago farfara L. from a beech forest that had undergone fire on Vidlič Mountain was determined. The same species of plants from a place that had not been exposed to fire were taken as controls. Chloroplast pigments were determined from acetone extracts of these plants spectrophotometrically. In the first year after the fire the content of chlorophyll a, b and a+b in Geranium macrorrhizum L. and Doronicum columnae Ten. was greater than in the plants not exposed to fire. The results were the opposite for Aegopodium podagraria L. and Tussilago farfara L. These differences can be attributed to the different physiology of the plants and consequently their different adaptation patterns. The carotenoid content was higher in the plant species at the fire site than in the area not exposed to fire.

The results of a study using epiphytic lichens as bioindicators, on teritory of three different urban areas in the Southern Serbia (Leskovac, Vlasotince, Lebane) are reported. The analysis of samples from 142 investigated points indicates presence of 53 lichens taxa. The aim of the study is to present the difference in air quality over a certain time interval. Using the Index of Atmospheric Purity- IAP values, it has been found that there are different air pollution zones: „normal“ zone, „struggle“ zone and „lichen desert“ zone. The comparison of the results obtained in 2002 and 2013 in Vlasotince indicates the presence of „normal“ zone in 2002 but, in 2013, the „normal zone“ area was completely replaced with the „struggle“ zone. In Leskovac, unlike the previous studies, a slightly narrowing “lichen desert" zone is noticed. In Lebane, there is a presence of all lichen zones.

The content and distribution of 21 metals in the central and peripheral parts of the foliose epiphytic lichen Flavoparmelia caperata (L.) Hale, collected in the area of Southeastern Serbia, were analysed in terms of biological monitoring. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry revealed higher concentrations of As, B, Ba, Cd, Ga, Pb, Se, Cr, Cu, Fe, In, Li and/or Ni in peripheral, younger, parts and Ba, K, Tl, Mg, Na and/or Zn in central, older parts of lichens. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to identify the relationship among metals in samples and their possible sources. Significant correlations were found among Ni-Cr, Cd-Ga-In-As-Se, Zn-Ba, Cu-Pb-B, suggesting a common source of pollution. Given the location of sampling, these findings probably reflect airborne metal pollution in relation to the main wind directions and vicinity of the roads and industrial complexes. The importance of this study is the evidence that the Special Nature Reserve Jelašnička Gorge is influenced by pollution sources in the area. Flavoparmelia caperata could be effective as an early indicator of environmental changes of the studied area.

Lichens represent unique symbiosis of fungi (mycobionts) and algae (photobionts). Living in extreme conditions they developed various compounds to survive. Many of these original compounds have proven biological activities (antibiotic, antimycotic, antiviral, antitumor, antioxidant, etc) . This paper is synthesis of currently known data about lichens extracts and their potential use in pharmaceutics and medicine.