Search

Species range expansions and (re)colonization of landscapes variously dominated by humans occur on a global scale. Understanding such range enlargements and subsequent changes in the composition of ecological communities is important for conservation management, and the golden jackal (Canis aureus) can be considered a model species for regional and continental range expansion. Although this mesopredator has been known from the Adriatic Coast of southeastern Europe for over 500 years, the species is a recent arrival further north, including in Slovenia where jackals were first confirmed in the 1950s. Research from eastern Italy found jackals with ancestry from the Dalmatian region on the Adriatic Coast and the Pannonian region further east. We predicted similar ancestry for Slovenian jackals, and examined samples from Croatia, including Dalmatia and interior regions, Serbia, Hungary, and Slovenia with 25 microsatellite markers to determine population genetic structure. We detected two distinct genetic clusters, representing the Dalmatian and Balkan-Pannonian (Pannonian) jackal populations (F$_{ST}$ = 0.157, 95% CI: 0.112–0.209). Contrary to expectations, only few individuals in Slovenia exhibited signs of Dalmatian ancestry, and none appeared to be direct immigrants. Some results suggested a third cluster centered in northern Hungary. These divergent profiles might indicate immigration from outside the study area, and samples from regions further east are required for additional resolution. Based on our results, we hypothesize that Dalmatia has not been a substantial source for recent range expansion of the species, which has likely occurred from the east. Further investigation can help resolve the ancestry and current distribution of the Dalmatian and Pannonian populations, and the ecological relationships resulting from progressively overlapping distributions of canid species. Finally, genomic research could illuminate whether genetic variants from eastern areas might have facilitated jackal expansion into regions characterized by a colder climate, the presence of snow, and extensive forest cover habitats seemingly avoided by the jackals occupying the Adriatic Coast and surrounding areas in southeastern Europe.

The rural area of Croatia is a biodiverse area with great potential for the development of various forms of tourism. Many forms of tourism have a great and diverse impact on society in the modern world as the human need for leisure and recreation grows with the development of the economy. Croatia is suitable for development of hunting tourism because it is extremely rich in agricultural areas, forests (43.5% of the total land area), rich stock of wild animals and it has geographic biodiversity. Hunters were mostly people of higher purchasing power, who wanted to enjoy the intact nature, watch and hunt animals, enjoy the gastronomic specialties prepared of the same game, and experience an until then undiscovered special tourist offer which differed from the usual ones. The aim of this paper was to identify the habits and preferences of hunters in eastern Croatia and to suggest better conditions and guidelines for the development of hunting tourism. Although respondents are satisfied with the supply of catches (M = 4.03) in eastern Croatia, the disadvantages are reflected in the organization of the hunt, high prices, insufficient promotional activities and inappropriate legislation. This paper gives suggestion and opportunities for hunting tourism development in order to achieve multifunctional rural development.

Meso divljači predstavlja nutritivno vrijednu namirnicu, obzirom na nizak sadržaj masti, kolesterola i kalorija, ali značajan izvor bjelančevina, kalija, fosfora, željeza, cinka, vitamina B12 i polinezasićenih masnih kiselina, uz poželjan aminokiselinski sastav. Sadržaj masti kreće se od

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in meat quality parameters of animals hunted by two conventionally used methods: dog- driven hunting and selective/individual hunting. For this purpose meat samples from 21 animals were collected and technological meat quality traits (pH, CIE L*, a*, b*, drip loss, cooking loss, defrosting loss, Warner-Bratzler Shear Force) were determined in the laboratory. The results of the study showed that the hunting method influences drip loss, cooking loss and instrumental tenderness, indicating that dog- driven hunting is more stressful for the animal and can cause serious deterioration of different meat quality traits

In this study, a total of 48 Istrian Shorthaired Hound dogs were genotyped using the Illumina CanineHD 220k BeadChip in order to detect runs of homozygosity (ROHs) and calculate the genomic inbreeding coefficient (FROH) for this autochthonous Croatian dog breed. The obtained data were compared with publicly available genomic data of other dog breeds and Gray Wolf. The obtained results revealed that the Istrian Shorthaired Hound exhibited the shortest ROHs and the lowest FROH (0.123) among the investigated populations ; the highest value of the inbreeding coefficient was calculated for Boxer (0.437) and Lupo Italiano (0.451) breeds, while Dalmatian dog exhibited moderate FROH values. The results of the present study confirmed that inbreeding coefficients derived from ROHs are a useful tool for the assessment of levels of inbreeding in old dog breeds and can be implemented into the conservation programme of the Istrian Shorthaired Hound.

Metali su prirodno prisutni u okolišu, ne razgrađuju se, već kruže u prirodi u različitim oksidacijskim i kemijskim oblicima. Antropogeni procesi (urbanizacija, industrijalizacija, promet, poljoprivreda) dovode do povećanja koncentracija teških metala u okolišu. Zbog štetnog utjecaja na zdravlje ljudi, životinja i biljaka, sve više raste zabrinutost zbog povećanja njihovih prisutnosti u okolišu. Posebno su opasni toksični teški metali (As, Cd, Hg i Pb) koji negativno utječu na organizme i izazivaju pojavu bolesti. Kroz hranidbene lance teški metali se prenose s niže na višu hranidbenu razinu i bioakumuliraju se u određenim tkivima. Za provođenje biomonitoringa posebno su korisne divlje životinje koje se hrane prirodnom hranom i zato pružaju najbolje informacije o zagađenosti staništa. Vrste koje su široko rasprostranjene, visokih brojnosti populacija, vjerne staništu te koriste mali životni prostor, poput zeca, pokazale su se najbolje za biomonitoring. U radu se pregledom dostupne literature stavlja naglasak na zeca kao bioindikatora onečišćenja okoliša teškim metalima. Za provođenje biomonitoringa te kao organi za analizu te procjenu zagađenosti najčešće se koriste jetra i bubreg zeca. Literaturni podaci upućuju da zečevi koji obitavaju na zagađenom staništu imaju više koncentracije teških metala u tkivima nego oni s referentnog staništa. Arsen se akumulira najviše u noktima i kosi čovjeka, Cd u bubregu, Hg u mozgu i bubrezima, Pb u mozgu i dijafragmi. Starenjem jedinke povećavaju se koncentracije Cd i Hg u jetri i bubregu zeca, ali ne i Pb. Meso zeca je u većini zemalja sigurno za ljudsku prehranu, dok se korištenje iznutrica ne preporuča.

A total of 131 blood samples and 175 spleen samples were collected from three cervid species: roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) inhabiting the continental part of Croatia. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against bovine herpesvirus 1, parainfluenza-3 virus, bluetongue virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis E virus, bovine viral diarrhoea virus and enzootic bovine leukosis virus. The tested sera were negative for bovine viral diarrhoea virus, enzootic bovine leukosis virus, bluetongue virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus and hepatitis E virus antybodies. The antibody prevalence in roe deer and red deer samples was 21.11% for bovine herpesvirus 1 and 75.55% for parainfluenza-3 virus. Sera from bovine herpesvirus 1 positive animals were subsequenty tested with comparative virus neutralization test and bovine herpesvirus 1 neutralising antibodies were found in 18 (out of 19) sera. In fallow deer, no antibodies against any of the viral pathogens were detected. All spleen samples tested for bovine viral diarrhoea virus and enzootic bovine leukosis virus came back negative, except for one red deer spleen sample found to be weakly diarrhoea virus-positive. Our findings provide the first information on the exposure of Croatia-inhabiting cervid species to viral pathogens, and could serve as valuable baseline data for future investigations regarding deer exposure to various pathogens and the distribution of diseases shared between wildlife and livestock. As of now, the epidemiology of these viruses in the Croatian cervid population has been only poorly understood, so that further research is recommended.

Golden jackal is a canid species currently distributed throughout the Southeastern, Central and Northern Europe. Serbian population has been growing rapidly since the early 1980s. Previous research was done solely on neutral markers and the results indicated lower genetic variability of the Serbian population. Given the jackals recent expansion, it is important to investigate variability of the adaptive loci in order to explore population’s potential for adaptation. Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are one of the most polymorphic coding regions of the vertebrate genome. The role of MHC genes is to encode receptors responsible for presentation of antigens to T lymphocytes, which is crucial for specific immune response. DNA was extracted from 36 individuals that were legally shot in northwestern, eastern and southeastern Serbia. MHC class II loci DLA- DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 were amplified and sequenced. Newly found allele was confirmed by molecular cloning and three-locus haplotypes were assigned to each individual. Analysis revealed four DQA, three DQB and four DRB alleles. Allele DQA1*00101 was found for the first time in golden jackal species, exclusively in one individual and surprisingly, in homozygotic form. Found alleles formed six different three-locus haplotypes. Our results suggest that Serbian jackal population might have a higher MHC diversity than the Croatian population as two additional alleles were detected on DQA locus despite the significantly smaller sample size.

Pas (Canis familiaris) smatra se prvom od svih životinjskih vrsta i jedinom u porodici Canidae koje je udomaćio čovjek. Danas je na svijetu priznato više od 400 pasmina koje se fenotipski izuzetno jasno i dobro razlikuju. Unatoč ovako velikom broju pasmina, većina njih nastala je relativno nedavno izuzetno jakom umjetnom selekcijom na određeni fenotip ili oblik ponašanja, što je rezultiralo većim ili manjim gubitkom genetske varijabilnosti unutar pasmine. Upravo zbog toga od izuzetne je važnosti u smislu očuvanja pojedine pasmine i njezine genetske različitosti karakterizacija iste na molekularnoj razini. Ovo se postiže bilo uporabom mikrosatelitskih biljega, bilo polimorfizama jednog nukleotida (SNP ; Single Nucleotide Polymorphism). Usprkos visokoj polimorfnosti i relativnoj niskoj cijeni koštanja, mikrosatelitski biljezi se sve više napuštaju te ustupaju mjesto SNP-ovima, koji su se zbog svog bialelnog karaktera i vrlo visoke informativnosti pokazali prikladnijima za genetsko opisivanje pasmina, ali i otkrivanje gena odgovornih za određeni fenotip, zdravstveno stanje ili oblik ponašanja.

Field rodents, when too abundant, can cause considerable economic losses in perennial crops, especially lucerne. Predatory birds can provide a natural control of field rodent populations since the field rodents are their natural pray. However, the modern agricultural landscapes of forage enterprises usually provide few or no natural standpoints for predatory birds for ravening the pray on the ground. According to the old farmers of east Croatia, T-standpoints” installed into lucerne were traditional implements easing the bird predation over field rodents. Aim of this study was to check whether the T-standpoints really are an appropriate installations for predatory birds ravening the pray on the ground or not. Research comprised the installation of two T- standpoints at approximately 1 ha of lucerne crop in the village Ernestinovo in Croatia and monitoring of predatory birds landing to the installations, ravening the pray and landing to the ground during 10 months of observation. The research has confirmed that predatory birds (Buteo buteo and Falco tinnunculus) used the installed T-standpoints for ravening and occasional landing to the ground, probably for catching a pray. Approximately 13% of the lendings to the T-standpoints ended with a landing to the ground and some prey attack. During 2018, the highest attendance at the T- standpoints and the highest number of landings were during September and October, when there were expected the highest field rodents population densities within low plant cover on alfalfa. During 2019, an even higher attendance of T-standpoints was observed during March, April and June, but with a smaller average number of landings per observation day, probably due to a decrease in the rodent population following the loss of individuals during the winter. During May, there was a very low attendance and number of attacks per day of observation, probably due to very rainy weather.

Čagalj (Canis aureus L.) se ubraja u granu Boreoeutheria, nadred Laurasiatheria, red Carnivora i porodicu Canidae. U Hrvatskoj naseljava i mediteranski i kontinentalni dio, uz stalni porast brojnosti. U ovom pregledu prikazat će se rezultati istraživanja izmeta čagljeva s odlagališta otpada na rubnom dijelu grada Trpnja na Pelješcu, gdje se čagljevi uobičajeno hrane hranom antropogenog podrijetla, i istraživanja provedenog na čagljevima iz kontinentalnog dijela Hrvatske. Parazitološkim pretragama izmeta čagljeva s poluotoka Pelješca utvrdili smo invadiranost u 75% istraživanih uzoraka, uz najveću učestalost jajašca strongilidnog tipa (60, 71%). Jajašca oblića Toxocara canis i Trichuris vulpis utvrdili smo u 14, 29% i 10, 71% uzoraka. Jajašca Capillaria aerophila i Strongyloides spp. smo ustvrdili u 3, 57% uzoraka. Kod uzoraka izmeta čagljeva iz kontinentalnog dijela Hrvatske pronađeni su metilji A. alata (P=52, 17%) i Opistorchiida (P=17, 39%), oblići U. stenocephala (P=30, 43%), Capillaria aerophila (P=13, 04%), Trichuris vulpis (P=8, 69%), A. caninum (P=4, 34%) i Crenosoma vulpis (P=4, 34%), trakavice Toxocara canis (P=17, 39%), Taenia sp. (P=17, 39%), Mesocestoides sp. (P=8, 69%), E. multilocularis (P=4, 34%) i Toxascaris leonina (P=4, 34%). Pored toga utvrđene su Sarcocystis sp. (P=13, 04%) i oociste kokcidija (P=8, 69%), Dobiveni rezultati s poluotoka Pelješca, a posebice izostanak trakavica kod tih uzoraka kao inače redovitog nalaza u čagljeva, upućuju na promjenu u prehrambenim navikama i hranjenje hranom antropogenog podrijetla, što pogoduje invadiranosti parazitima s izravnim ciklusom razvoja. Za potvrđivanje ove pretpostavke neophodno je proširiti istraživanje na druge dijelove poluotoka (naglasak na prirodnoj ishrani čagljeva) i na druga godišnja doba. U tri istraživane županije kontinentalnog dijela Hrvatske najviša prevalencija je u Zagrebačkoj županiji od 100%, zatim u Osječko-baranjskoj županiji 81, 81% i u Sisačko-moslavačkoj 75%. U sva tri područja najveću prevalenciju ima metilj Alaria alata te ona iznosi 100% za područje Zagrebačke županije, 72, 72% za Osječko-baranjsku županiju i 33, 33% za Sisačko- moslavačku županiju.

Analizirana je struktura trofeja odstrijeljene srneće divljači u razdoblju od 5 godina (2011. do 2015.) u državnom otvorenom lovištu broj XVI/14 „Trizlovi - Rastovo“ koje se nalazi u jugoistočnom dijelu Vukovarsko-srijemske županije. Ukupna površina lovišta iznosi 3102 ha, dok lovno produktivna površina iznosi 1400 ha za srneću divljač. Prema podacima iz lovno gospodarske osnove orografske, hidrografske i klimatske prilike, te količina dostupne hrane i mir u staništu su povoljni za uzgoj srneće divljači (III bonitetni razred, 6 grla/100 ha LPP, a godišnji prirast iznosi 26 grla). Podaci u istraživanju prikupljeni su iz trofejnih listova srnjaka ocjenjenih u tom razdoblju. Ukupno je odstrijeljeno 125 grla, od toga 63muška grla, a ocjenjeno je 28 trofeja srnjaka dok ostala odstrijeljena grla nisu imala elemente za ocjenu te nisu uvrštena u analizu. Od mjerljivih elemenata u izračun su uzeta kvantitativna obilježja, a to su prosječna masa i volumen trofeja, prosječna duljina grana i ukupan broj CIC točaka. Prosječna masa trofeja kretala se od 268 do 312 grama, prosječan volumen od 104, 83 do 116, 71 cm³, prosječna duljina grana rogova od 21, 13 do 23, 20 cm, dok je prosječna vrijednost trofeja iznosila od 80, 56 do 88, 29 CIC točaka. Trofejna vrijednost kretala se od minimalnih 71, 3 do maksimalnih 110, 53 CIC točke, a pri tome su odstrjeljena 2 grla kapitalne vrijednosti u brončanoj medalji. Prosječna vrijednost svih mjerljivih elemenata kretala se uzlaznom putanjom četiri godine osim zadnje lovne 2014/2015. godine kada je značajno opalo brojno stanje divljači, narušena je spolna i dobna struktura te trofejna vrijednost divljači zbog pucanja nasipa na rijeci Savi i poplava u jednom dijelu lovišta. Poplava je značajno utjecala na brojno stanje divljači, rezultate gospodarenja i trofejnu vrijednost divljači.

Čagalj je oportunistički mesojed iz porodice pasa. U Republici Hrvatskoj nalazi se na popisu divlja-či bez lovostaja. Stalno zubalo čaglja sadržava 42 zuba te je po svome izgledu karakteristično za pripadnike ove porodice. U ovom je istraživanju pregledano 96 lubanja čaglja s područja Slavonije i Baranje. Patološke promjene na zubima utvrđene su na 15 lubanja (15, 63 %), i to na ukupno 24 zuba. Najčešće utvrđena promjena bio je prijelom zuba, zatim parodontitis te nedostatak zuba i nepravilan zagriz. Statistički gledano, broj prijeloma značajno je veći od nedostatka zuba i nepravilnog zagriza (χ2 = 5, 6889 ; p = 0, 017073) te apscesa, karijesa, prekobrojnog zuba i horizontalnog gubitka kosti (χ2 = 7, 8112 ; p = 0, 005192). Promjene nisu utvrđene na P1-3, I2-3 i M2-3. Veći broj promjena utvrđen je na donjoj čeljusti. Ukupno je utvrđeno 12 promijenjenih zuba na lijevoj strani usne šupljine te 8 na desnoj strani.

Jelen obični (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758) autohtona je divljač u Hrvatskoj, iznimno cijenjena zbog kvalitetnog mesa i atraktivnosti trofeja. Svrha prirodnog uzgoja jelenske divljači je održavanje zdrave i stabilne populacije sukladno kapacitetu i uvjetima staništa, kao i postizanje vrlo kvalitetne i visoke trofejne vrijednosti. Istraživani su odabrani pokazatelji reprodukcije jelena običnog koji su značajni za unaprjeđenje uzgoja kvalitetne jelenske divljači u lovištima u hrvatskom Podunavlju. Istraživanja su provedena u jedinici za kontrolirani uzgoj jelena, u državnom lovištu XIV/9 „Podunavlje-Podravlje“, u razdoblju od 2012. do 2016. godine. Lovište je nizinskoga tipa, a prevladavaju vodena, vlažna i šumska staništa u poplavnim dolinama rijeka Dunava i Drave. Istraživani su sljedeći pokazatelji: broj košuta u parenju, broj teladi, tjelesna masa teladi od okota do 9. mjeseca života. Rezultati su pokazali kako smanjenjem broja košuta u parenju, pri jednakim uvjetima dolazi do povećanja tjelesne mase teladi pri okotu.Tijekom razdoblja istraživanja, 2012. zabilježeno je 45 okoćene teladi, srednje tjelesne mase pri okotu 10, 61 kg ; dok je 2016. bilo 27 teladi, srednje tjelesne mase 12, 40 kg. Utvrđeno je da postoji određeni vremenski interval kada košute okote telad s najvećom tjelesnom masom.

Iz triju lovišta u Istarskoj županiji: XVIII/101 „Buje“, XVIII/118 „Pazin“ i XVIII/117 „Motovun, prikupljene su 43 donje čeljusti srne obične. Na uzorcima je izmjerena visina krune prvog donjeg kutnjaka (M1), a potom je dob svake jedinke određena prema broju godišnjih naslaga zubnog cementa. Rezultati su uspoređeni, uz osvrt na stanišnu strukturu, vegetacijske značajke te dob jedinki, između istraživanih lovišta u Istarskoj županiji s rezultatima prethodnih istraživanja u lovištima Bjelovarsko - bilogorske, Karlovačke i Zagrebačke županije. Vrijednosti visine zubnih kruna u srne obične, dobi od dvije, tri i šest godina, iz istraživanih lovišta u Istarskoj županiji u manjoj mjeri variraju u usporedbi s vrijednostima utvrđenim u lovištima triju županija kontinentalne Hrvatske.

Lovstvo u Crnoj Gori i Hrvatskoj ima dugu tradiciju. Iako su to susjedne države koje su u prošlosti koristile slične propise u lovstvu, postoje određene specifičnosti. Važeći zakoni o lovstvu u obje države različito određuju koje se životinjske vrste smatraju divljači. Omjer broja lovaca i ukupnog stanovništva u Crnoj Gori iznosi 1:179, a u Hrvatskoj 1:70. Različiti pristupi u organizaciji lovstva očituju se u broju lovišta, proceduri utemeljenja lovišta i stjecanju prava za gospodarenje i lov divljači. Lovački savez Crne Gore i Hrvatski lovački savez djeluju kao nacionalne udruge koje predstavljaju lovce i promiču lovstvo u zemlji i inozemstvu.

The floodplains and wetlands of the Danube River basin are valuable ecosystems, providing various habitats for representatives of wild flora and fauna. Floodplains can also have the positive effect on water quality and nutrient levels, while wetlands serve as retention areas and help to even out flood peaks and reduce flood damage by storing surplus water. The Danube River corridor in the south-eastern part of the Pannonian plane flows throughout the Republic of Croatia in length of 137.5 km (between 1433 and 1295.5 river km). Tradition of hunting game animals, such as red deer, roe deer, wild Boar, European hare and waterfowl in this part of Croatia dates back more than 300 years, since 1781. Nowadays, wildlife management with a purpose of breeding, protection and hunting the game animals is implemented according to Croatian hunting and nature protection legislation. Each wild animal species has its own particular habitat preferences for food, shelter, nesting or breeding site. Diversity and spatial distribution of land, aquatic and marsh vegetation in the Danube River floodplain in Croatia permanently depends on frequency, intensity and duration of floods, as well as drought periods. Among the forest habitat types, the most represented are floodplain forests of white willow (Salix alba) ; black and white poplar (Populus nigra, P. alba), and forest of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). When the most of the flooded area is full of water during the warm summer period, abundant growth of the aquatic vegetation from the orders Lemnetalia and Potamogetonetalia was observed on surface of permanent and temporary still water bodies. Prolonged drought period and very low water level stimulate growth and dispersion of amphibious communities from the alliance Nanocyperion on muddy or sandy bottoms of dried swamps, channels and fishponds. Vegetation of tall-sedge marshes, from the class Phragmito- Magnocaricetea is widely distributed, covering large areas inside the floodplain. Main threats to wildlife management are anthropogenic impact, habitat loss or degradation, more frequent occurrence of extreme weather and hydrological events, and water-borne diseases

Alariosis is a newly diagnosed, emerging parasitic disease caused by a digenean trematode Alaria alata (Goeze, 1782). Developmental stages of a trematode, known as mesocercaria, can parasitize all the abdominal organs, lung, eye, somatic muscle and subcutaneous tissue causing severe and sometimes fatal illness in human. Alaria alata requires two intermediate hosts: a freshwater snail and an amphibian. Carnivorous mammals are definitive hosts, while humans and omnivorous wild animals can be paratenic hosts. The presence of mesocercaria in wild boar meat represents the possible human health risk, but little is known about the circulation of mesocercaria in wild boar populations in eastern Croatia. Parasitological monitoring was carried out in the period 2016-2011, with an aim to investigate occurrence of mesocercaria and invasion intensity in free-living wild boar (Sus scrofa) and water frog (Pelophilax kl. esculentus). The sampling comprised three hunting grounds in eastern Croatia: Spačva, Podunavlje-Podravlje and Breznica, characterized with different orographic, hydrological and habitat conditions. In total, muscle tissue samples of 761 wild boars and 43 water frog were examined. Percentage of Alaria alata mesocercaria detected in wild boar was 42% in Spačva ; 7% in Podunavlje-Podravlje, and 1% in Breznica hunting ground. The average number of mesocercaria ranged from 2.4 to 6.5 per 30 g of infected wild boar muscle tissue. Percentage of mesocercaria in water frogs was 11% in Spačva, 56% in Podunavlje-Podravlje, and 0% in Breznica. The more frequent occurrence of mesocercaria was found in the animals living in the lowland, periodically flooded areas with abundance of forest and wetland habitats. This coincided with the fact that life-cycle of Alaria alata depends on presence of freshwater snail and frog, as an intermediate hosts. From the viewpoint of food safety and consumer exposure to this potential food-borne hazard, further monitoring is required to assess the occurrence, infestation rate and propose measures for the parasite reduction and removal from the food chain.

Wild free-ranging mammals are important sentinels of environmental heavy metal pollution due to their permanent exposure in various habitats. The concentrations of total mercury (Hg) was determined in samples of liver, kidney and muscle of European badger, Meles meles L. (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from eastern Slavonia region, north-eastern Croatia. Total of 29 badgers were collected at 20 localities by regular hunt or found killed in road traffic accidents, in the period 2009- 2011. Determination of mercury concentration was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Mean Hg concentration was higher in kidney (0.1833 mg kg-1) compared to liver (0.1401 mg kg-1) and muscle (0.0381 mg kg-1). The highest concentrations were measured in adult, seven year old female (2.002 mg kg-1 in liver ; 1.813 mg kg-1 in kidney ; 0.255 mg kg-1 in muscle). Higher mercury accumulation in kidney than liver, suggests an inorganic form of mercury which is excreted mainly by kidney. Assumed sources of heavy metals are geological ground, sediments and water in the floodplain, dust emissions from the road traffic, improper waste disposal and use of agricultural chemicals.

Porodica zečeva (Leporidae) rod kunića (Oryctolagus) sklona je promjeni pojedinih morfoloških svojstava pod utjecajem okoliša i načina prehrane. Cilj ovog istraž ivanja je kraniometrijska analiza populacije divljeg kunića (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) na otoku Pagu kako bi se odredile kraniometrijske značajke populacije te utvrdile razlike između spolova. Istra živanjem su obuhvaćene 24 lubanje kunića od čega 12 (50%) jedinki muškog spola i 12 (50%) jedinki ž enskog spola. Na svakoj lubanji je izmjereno 20, a na svakoj mandibuli 7 kraniometrijskih mjera. Osim ukupne mase jedinki, 11 kraniometrijskih mjera lubanje i 3 mjere mandibule svih muž jaka i ž enki pokazuju statistički značajnu razliku. Usporedbom srednjih vrijednosti odabranih kraniometrijskih elemenata istra živane populacije kunića uočljivo je da paška populacija kunića morfološki sličnija populaciji kunića koja obitava na Britanskom otočju, odnosno na području sjeverne Europe, od onih koji obitavaju na području juž ne Europe i sjeverne Afrike.

The city of Osijek is the administrative, educational and cultural centre of the Eastern Croatia. University of Osijek was founded in 1975, and the academic community consists of 17 337 students and 1134 teaching staff in 2015. University obliged to promote and implement principles and practice of environmental protection and sustainable development at all levels. University campus covers area of 23.2 ha, where construction of new buildings and urban planning started in 2002. In the green space of campus an inventory of trees was carried out in 2012, combined with survey of epiphytic lichen flora. A total of 365 trees classified into 21species were recorded. Planting of landscape trees and other woody plants is considered as an effective measure for increasing annual rate of carbon storage and sequestering in the campus. Epiphytic lichen flora recorded on trees consists of eight species. Foliose lichens dominates (75%), followed by crustose and fruticose lichen with equal shares of 12.5%. By applying the lichens as bio-indicators of air quality, the air in the university campus in the City of Osijek has been assessed as moderately polluted. Due to intake of dust and increased on-road emissions of nitrogen compounds, the trees are covered by nitrophilous lichens, resistant to higher eutrophication and tolerant to air pollution.

Prikazano je trenutno stanje lovnog turizma na području Baranje te mogućnosti njegove integracije s ostalim vidovima ruralnoga turizma, vodeći računa o specifičnostima Parka prirode „Kopački rit“. Tradicija lovstva vrlo je duga u hrvatskom dijelu Baranje koja, uz očuvane prirodne resurse, posjeduje potencijal privlačne lovačke destinacije. Na području Baranje nalazi se 5 državnih i 21 zajedničko lovište, koji su ustanovljeni za provođenje mjera uzgoja, zaštite, lova i korištenja populacija divljači, sukladno smjernicama u 10- godišnjim planskim dokumentima. Lovozakupnici državnih lovišta preferiraju komercijalni pristup upravljanju, dok kod zajedničkih lovišta preferiraju potrebe članova lovačkih udruga.Prepoznati su problemi u lovnom gospodarenju, koji posredno utječu i na napredak lovnog turizma. To su: neusklađenost zakonskog okvira, ponajprije u sektorima lovstva i zaštite prirode, administrativne prepreke, minska onečišćenost u nekim područjima, nedovoljna stručnost osoblja, slab marketing te nedostatak specijaliziranih turističkih agencija i prikladnih programa boravka gostiju. Istovremeno je u području Baranje posljednjih 20-ak godina zabilježeno jačanje drugih oblika ruralnoga turizma, primjerice seoski i rekreacijski, kao i snažnije institucionalno upravljanje na području Kopačkoga rita. Međutim, ove aktivnosti nisu dovoljno dobro koordinirane i usklađene s ostalim oblicima turizma. Integrirani razvoj svih oblika ruralnog turizma, uključujući i lovni, uz očuvano prirodno okruženje i prepoznate tradicijske vrijednosti, pridonosi uspješnoj promociji kontinentalnog turizma i gospodarskom razvoju Baranje.

The digenean trematode Alaria alata (Goeze, 1782) is considered an emerging zoonotic parasite in Europe. The presence of its mesocercarial stage in wild boar meat represents the possible human health risk as posed by this trematode. Parasitological monitoring was carried out in the period 2016- 2011, with an aim to examine occurrence of mesocercariae and invasion intensity in free- living wild boar (Sus scrofa) and water frog (Pelophilax kl. esculentus) as the paratenic host in the life cycle of the parasite. The sampling comprised three hunting grounds in eastern Croatia: Spačva, Podunavlje-Podravlje and Breznica, characterized with different orographic, hydrological and habitat conditions. In total, 761 muscle tissue samples of wild boar and 43 samples of water frog were examined. Percentage of A. alata mesocercariae detected in wild boar was 42% in Spačva ; 7% in Podunavlje-Podravlje, and 1% in Breznica hunting ground. The average number of mesocercariae ranged 2.4 – 6.5 per 30 g of infected wild boar muscle tissue. Percentage of mesocercariae in water frogs was 11% in Spačva, 56% in Podunavlje-Podravlje, and 0% in Breznica.The more frequent occurrence of A. alata mesocercariae was found in wild animals living in the lowland, periodically flooded areas with abundance of hygrophylous forests and wetland habitats. This coincided with the fact that life-cycle of Alaria alata depends on water-associated intermediate hosts. Considering the food safety and consumer exposure to this potential food-borne hazard, further monitoring is required to assess the occurrence, infestation rate and propose measures for the parasite reduction and removal from the food chain.

Kao posljedica biološke ekspanzije iz jugoistočne prema srednjoj Europi, čagalj će uskoro postati stalna divljač u većini lovišta kontinentalne Hrvatske. Kapacitet širenja potvrđuje podatak da je u lovištu „Tomin hrast“ prvi primjerak odstrijeljen lovne 2003. godine, da bi 2007. bilo odstrijeljeno 50 primjeraka. U planskim dokumentima lovnog gospodarenja čagalj je uvršten među sporedne vrste, dok su statistički podaci o odstrjelu često nepotpuni ili nepouzdani. Koeficijent prirasta od 1 mladunčeta po broju jedinki utvrđenih u proljetnom matičnom fondu je nizak i nije realan jer je u Bugarskoj utvrđen prirast 5, 9 (3-12) grla po paru ili 4 grla po paru u Grčkoj. Radi prilagodbe stvarnim uvjetima, prirast čaglja u lovištima kontinentalne Hrvatske potrebno je obračunavati s 4 grla po paru u lovištima gdje je divlja svinja glavna vrsta, odnosno 3 grla po paru gdje nema divljih svinja. Za izračun matičnog fonda čaglja u lovištu treba razmotriti: 2 grla/1000 ha u lovištu s divljim svinjama i 1 grlo /1000 ha gdje nema divljih svinja. Nedostatak srneće divljači u lovištima često je pripisivan predaciji čaglja, no analizom sadržaja želuca utvrđeno je da se prvenstveno hrani lešinama i odbačenim mesnim otpadom, glodavcima, voćem i ratarskim kulturama. Nije primijećeno da čagalj pravi štetu na domaćim životinjama. Slučajevi parenja i postojanja križanaca između psa i čaglja po prvi su puta zabilježeni upravo u Hrvatskoj. U pravilu su očevi domaći psi, a majke ženke čaglja što omogućuje unos genoma pasa u populaciju čaglja. Cilj gospodarenja populacijom čaglja treba biti stalna kontrola brojnosti te praćenje ponašanja i prilagodbe križanaca uvjetima suživota s čovjekom.

A habitat is the natural environment in which plant, animal or other organism lives. Characteristics and quality of habitat are important in the sustainable management of game animals in the hunting grounds, and maintaining the ecological balance of the natural habitats and wild fauna and flora. The Dinaric Mountain chain stretches in NW-SE direction in length of 650 km. It consists of more than 200 mountains shared among seven countries, among which are Croatia and Montenegro. The main parts of the mountains are formed of Mesozoic and Tertiary rocks, mostly limestone and dolomite. Due to dissolution of these rocks a typical karst landscape with numerous surface and underground features appear. Three hunting grounds were chosen for analyses and comparison of habitat structure and suitability for management of main game animal species. From Croatia: VIII/2 “Bjelolasica”, located in the Gorski kotar region and XVII/6 “Maglaj-Cista” in the middle Dalmatia ; and hunting ground “Dragišnica” from Montenegro, located in northern part of the country, bordering to the National Park “Durmitor”. Altitudinal range is 350-1, 534 m in “Bjelolasica”, 397-928 m in “Maglaj-Cista”, and 651-1, 998 m in “Dragišnica”. In “Bjelolasica” forest habitats prevail with 80% of total surface area, the most widespread are Dinaric beech and fir forests, subalpine beech forest and Mugho pine forest which forms the upper boundary of forest vegetation. Mountain grasslands and pastures make 15.5 %. The least presence is of the agricultural land and freshwater habitats. In “Maglaj-Cista” dominate (78%) sub-Mediterranean coppiced woodland and scrubs consisting of pubescent oak and oriental hornbeam, or hop hornbeam, and scrubs of Jerusalem thorn. Dry xerophilous rocky grasslands make 15%, while agricultural land make 6%. In “Dragišnica” forest habitats make 31%, composed of beech and fir forests, subalpine beech forest and bushy Mugho pine, which is similar to “Bjelolasica”. Among studied hunting grounds, the highest presence of grasslands (meadows and pastures) is in “Dragišnica” with share of 30%. Diversity of habitats is most suitable for the roe deer and wild boar in all three studied hunting grounds. Good habitat conditions for red deer and particularly brown bear are present in “Bjelolasica” ; for the European hare and Rock Partridge in “Maglaj-Cista”, and for the chamois, brown bear and European hare in the hunting ground “Dragišnica”.

O prilagodljivosti vrste i brzini širenja populacije čaglja najbolje govori podatak iz lovišta «Tomin hrast» koje se nalazi u istočnoj Hrvatskoj iz lovne 2002./03. godine kada je odstrijeljen prvi primjerak čaglja, da bi nakon 4 godine bilo odstrijeljeno oko 50 jedinki. Budući da čagalj vrlo brzo osvaja nove prostore, za pretpostaviti je da će u najskorije vrijeme postati stalna divljač u većini lovišta kontinentalne Hrvatske i srednje Europe. Na područjima gdje se čagalj kao „nova vrsta“ pojavio u zadnjih dvadesetak godina često puta je nedostatak srneće divljači uzrokovan krivolovom, bolešću li nečim trećim pripisivan čaglju. No analizom sadržaja želuca utvrđeno je da se čagalj prije svega hrani lešinama i mesnim otpadom odbačenim nakon guljenja i evisceracije divljači odnosno mesnim otpadom odbačenim u sezoni svinjokolja, glodavcima, divljim i kultiviranim voćem i ratarskim plodovima. Svakako treba utjecati na lovce i nadležne inspekcije kako bi se umanjilo odlaganje animalnog otpada u lovištima koje bitno utječe na prirast i preživljavanje čaglja. U planskim aktima se navodi kao sporedna vrsta divljači i brojno stanje te odstrel planiraju se s vrlo niskim udjelom pa čagljevi uglavnom bivaju odstrijeljeni, ali se ne evidentiraju u propisanim obrascima, stoga dostavljeni podaci u središnjoj lovnoj evidenciji često nisu točni. Izrađivači planskih akata koriste koeficijent prirasta od 1 mladunčeta po boju jedinki u proljetnom matičnom fondu što je vrlo nisko i nerealno. Prema studijama o koeficijentu prirasta kod čaglja u Bugarskoj iznosio je 5, 9 odnosno 4 grla po paru u Grčkoj. U uvjetima kontinentalne Hrvatske realno je prirast obračunavati s 4 grla po paru u lovištima gdje je divlja svinja glavna vrsta divljači, odnosno 3 grla po paru gdje nema divljih svinja, uz uvjet da se matični fond održava u biološkom minimumu odnosno 2/1000 ha u lovištima s divljim svinjama i 1/1000 ha u lovištima gdje nema divljih svinja. Obzirom da je čagalj izrazito prilagodljiva divljač s obzirom na kvalitetu staništa i količinu dostupne hrane te da je brzina izrada planskih akata (svakih 10 godina) vrlo spora sav fond preko biološkog minimuma treba odstrjeljivati. Suživot čagljeva i domaćih pasa je zabilježen u više slučajeva. Posebice se psi lutalice koji žive na odlagalištima otpada dobro slažu s čagljevima i zabilježeni su slučajevi međusobnog parenja i postojanja križanaca između pasa i čaglja. Ovakvi slučajevi su prvi puta uočeni i zabilježeni upravo u Hrvatskoj. U pravilu su očevi domaći psi, a majke ženke čaglja te će se ovakvim parenjima genom pasa vrlo brzo unijeti u populaciju čaglja. Ženke domaćih pasa gone se dva puta godišnje, a broj okoćene mladunčadi kreće se od 4-12 po leglu. Obzirom da je količina dostupne hrane vrlo velika moguće je da ovakva ženka odgoji i desetak mladunaca godišnje što je izrazito visok broj. Za pretpostaviti je da će se ovakvi križanci lakše prilagoditi suživotu s čovjekom i moguće je da postanu značajna karika u prenošenju silvatične bjesnoće, trihineloze, alarioze i sličnih bolesti iz lovišta u urbane sredine.

Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia. It is administrative, economic and cultural centre of the Eastern Croatia. University of Osijek was founded in 1975, and comprises 11 faculties, 5 departments and an Art Academy. The academic community consists of 17337 students and 1134 teaching staff in 2014. University obliged to promote and implement principles and practice of environmental protection and sustainable development at all levels. University campus covers area of 23.2 ha, where construction of new buildings and infrastructure for education and daily life of students, as well as urban planning started in 2002. In the green space of campus an inventory of trees was carried out in 2012, combined with lichenological survey of epiphytic lichen flora. The lichen samples were collected from trees at height up to 2 m. A total of 365 trees and 21 different species were recorded. Planting of landscape trees and other woody plants is considered as an effective measure for increasing annual rate of carbon storage and sequestering in the campus. Epiphytic lichen flora recorded on various trees consists of eight species. Foliose lichens dominates (75%), followed by crustose and fruticose lichen with equal shares of 12.5%. By applying the lichens as bio-indicators of air quality, the air in the university campus in the City of Osijek has been assessed as moderately polluted. Due to intake of dust and increased on-road emissions of nitrogen compounds, the trees are covered by nitrophilous lichens, resistant to higher eutrophication and tolerant to air pollution.

Tijekom proteklih dvadesetak godina prisutan je trend porasta brojnosti divljih svinja (Sus scrofa) u lovištima Republike Hrvatske. Tako je odstrjel u 1993. godini iznosio 3.607 grla, u 2003. 8.452 grla (porast za 234 %), dok je u 2011. godini odstrijeljeno 21.871 grlo, što je 600 % više u odnosu na 1993. godinu. Stanišni uvjeti i način gospodarenja na području Hrvatske omogućuju gospodarenje matičnim fondom od 19.000 grla i godišnji odstrjel od 17.500 grla. Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi intenzitet i dinamiku nastanka štete koju divlja svinja čini na poljoprivrednim površinama. Istraživanje je provedeno u Karlovačkoj županiji u lovištu brdskog tipa „Petrova Gora“ i lovištu nizinskog tipa „Pokupski Bazen“. Tijekom 2013. godine postavljene su pokusne plohe koje su u propisanim agrotehničkim rokovima zasijane različitim hibridima kukuruza. Utvrđeno je da divlje svinje tek zasijano sjeme vade redom na cijeloj pokusnoj plohi neovisno o hibridu kukuruza. Statistički značajne razlike u nastanku štete te izboru i preferanciji određenih hibrida utvrđene su polovinom kolovoza u fenofazi mliječno voštane zriobe. Kod hibrida koji su zasijani na istoj parceli šteta je bila različita i dok je na hibridu Simao iznosila 95 % na hibridu KWS 2376 iznosila je manje od 10 %. U lovištu brdskog tipa značajnija šteta na pojedinim hibridima nastala je desetak dana kasnije nego u ravničarskim lovištu. Utvrđeno je da divlje svinje na istoj pokusnoj plohi najprije unište usjev jednog hibrida i zatim prelaze na drugi hibrid kukuruza ovisno o fazi mliječno voštane zriobe i udjelu pojedinih hranjivih sastojaka. Početkom rujna, prije faze sazrijevanja kukuruza divlje svinje su uništile i pojele sav zasijani kukuruz na obje pokusne plohe. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju na izraženu sklonost i preferanciju divljih svinja ka određenom hibridu kukuruza. Kao moguću mjeru smanjenja šteta na poljoprivrednim površinama predlaže se zasijavanje određenih hibrida kukuruza u remize daleko od poljoprivrednih površina kako bi se životinje privukle i zadržavale na poželjnom području, a daleko od komercijalnih nasada merkantilnog kukuruza. Poljoprivrednicima se preporučuje da siju one hibride koje svinje najmanje diraju odnosno uopće ne diraju dokle god u lovištu ima preferiranih hibrida kukuruza

Elaborat predstavlja Stručnu podlogu za utvrđivanje osnovnih odrednica obitavanja, statusa i smjernica gospodarenja čagljem (Canis aureus L.) u Republici Hrvatskoj

Soil erosion is one of the physical indicators of land degradation occurrence and is a growing problem to environment. We studied erosion processes in the Tronosa watershed. The most common soil types in the watershed are: Dystric Cambisols, Kalkomelanosol, Eutric Cambisols, Fluvisols and Colluvial Fluvisols. According to our analyses Qmax was 216 m3s-1 and there is possibility for large flood waves to appear in the basin. Net soil losses were calculated on 8465 m3year-1, specific 286 m3km.2year-1. This study shows that IntErO model is a useful tool for calculation of sediment yield in this Region.

Heavy metal accumulation was studied in free- living populations of the European badger, Meles meles L. (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from the Croatian Danube Region. Total of 29 badgers has been collected in the period 2009-2011, by regular hunt or found killed in road traffic accidents at 20 localities in the surveyed area. Concentrations of cadmium and lead were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the muscle, kidney and liver. Mean Cd concentration was higher in the kidney (3.046 mg kg-1) compared to muscle (0.074 mg kg-1) and liver (0.395 mg kg-1), thus confirming kidney as a target organ for the heavy metal accumulation in the badger. Mean Pb concentrations was higher in the liver (0.197 mg kg-1), followed by kidney (0.190 mg kg-1) and muscle (0.131 mg kg-1). Mean Cd concentrations in the muscle and kidney and Pb in the muscle, exceeded the maximum allowable values prescribed by the EU and Croatian food safety standards. Assumed sources of heavy metals are geological ground, sediments and water in the floodplain, emissions from the road traffic, improper waste disposal and use of agricultural chemicals. Further research is needed to identify the source of contamination in order to preserve the health of animals and humans.

Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix L.) is a farmland bird which has been declining across Europe due to intensification of agriculture, use of herbicides, habitat destruction and predation pressure. It has been managed for hunting in most countries where it occurs. Grey partridge releasing experiment was carried out during the hunting year 2014/2015 in the selected hunting ground near the village of Cerić, eastern Croatia. 60 birds were released from three portable release pens. Loss of three birds was recorded inside the release pen, caused by disturbance of vagrant dogs. Three to four broods with about 30-40 birds, which formed pairs successfully, survived a winter period. Monitoring during the next summer confirmed presence of 14 breeding pairs with chicks in the hunting ground. In July 2015, we started with a large experimental release of grey partridges into 12 interconnected hunting grounds. Total of 1, 100 birds were released from 55 portable released pens, each contained 20 birds. Adaptation to habitat conditions and low-protein grain food had lasted for six weeks, after which the birds were released in the area of the hunting grounds. Mortality in the release pens amounted to 87 individuals, and additional 68 birds died after relasing. According to results of permanent observations in the period of two months after the relase along the feeding-sites and in the field, breeding abundance was 53 coveys with 11-18 individuals each. Reintroduction success will be known in summer 2016, i.e. after surviving the winter, by performing spring count of formed breeding pairs and assessing success of natural reproduction. Evaluation of obtained results will help in selection of the most convenient releasing and rearing techniques for reintroduction of this important native game species.