Search

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, can cause serious infection of the central nervous system in humans, resulting in potential neurological complications and fatal outcomes. TBEV is primarily transmitted to humans through infected tick bites, and the viral agent circulates between ticks and animals, such as deer and small mammals. The occurrence of the infection aligns with the seasonal activity of ticks. As no specific antiviral therapy exists for TBEV infection, treatment approaches primarily focus on symptomatic relief and support. Active immunization is highly effective, especially for individuals in endemic areas. The burden of TBEV infections is increasing, posing a growing health concern. Reported incidence rates rose from 0.4 to 0.9 cases per 100, 000 people between 2015 and 2020. The Baltic and Central European countries have the highest incidence, but TBE is endemic across a wide geographic area. Various factors, including social and environmental aspects, improved medical awareness, and advanced diagnostics, have contributed to the observed increase. Diagnosing TBEV infection can be challenging due to the non-specific nature of the initial symptoms and potential co-infections. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management, prevention of complications, and effective control measures. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the molecular structure of TBEV, its transmission and circulation in natural environments, the pathogenesis of TBEV infection, the epidemiology and global distribution of the virus, associated risk factors, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic approaches. By improving understanding of these aspects, we aim to enhance knowledge and promote strategies for timely and accurate diagnosis, appropriate management, and the implementation of effective control measures against TBEV infections.

Research on invertebrates within the Corallina officinalis settlements has indicated a high biodiversity of this community due to the characteristic morphological structure and complexity of the habitat itself. As part of this study, the aim was to investigate the seasonal changes in the invertebrate composition, taking into account the maximum and minimum growth of the algae. This research was conducted in southern Istria, where 9 locations with algal coverage range above 90% were selected at four sampling areas. At each locality, sampling was performed quantitatively by scraping off within 3 replicates of 5x5 cm quadrats. Seasonal variability in invertebrate abundance was recorded, and a total of 29, 711 invertebrates were isolated in samples collected during the maximum growth (winter) of algae, while a total of 22, 292 individuals were isolated in samples collected during the minimum growth (summer). The average number of specimen per square meter was 220, 000 for winter and 165, 200 for summer, with a recorded maximum of 586, 000 specimen during winter in Premantura sampling area. Amphipods, polychaetes, bivalves and gastropods, as the dominant groups, accounted for more than 80% of all invertebrates. The data confirm that this settlement is extremely rich in invertebrates, and the recorded maximum density of individuals is the highest compared to similar studies around the world.

The presence of microplastics (MPs) in marine environment has become a global problem in today’s world. Understanding of the sources and fate of microplastics under 5mm remains limited, particularly in marine mussel tissues. Thus, the abundance and distribution of microplastics in the Mediterranean mussel Myituls galloprovincialis sampled from native sites were investigated. Mussel samples were collected from the Norhern Adriatic in 2014 from pristine site, maricultured areas and ports. Dissected mussel digestive glands were cryopreserved, cutted with a cryostat and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Light and scanning electron microscopy with energy- dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) was evaluated for detection and characterisation of MPs sized 3 – 116 μm in parallel on slides with and without coverslip. SEM-EDS was used to screen plastic vs non-plastic pellets and confirmed identification of smaller MPs. Total MPs abundances were 8–35 per mussel, with lowest number in St. Chaterine island and highest in Rovinj port. Film was the dominant type at all sampling stations, folowed by sphere, pellet, line and fiber. This study is the first to report on MPs in mussel cryosections in Northern Adriatic and suggests that diffuse sources of pollution may be delivering with waste waters in ports. MPs presence in all organisms, particular in farmed mussels and fish will need further attention.

Crvena inkrustrirajuća alga Corallina officinalis pruža zaklon mnogim beskralježnjacima u području mediolitorala od djelovanja valova, predacije i isušivanja. Karakteristična morfološka struktura i složenost naselja ove alge imaju veliki utjecaj na bioraznolikost ove zajednice. Cilj ovog rada bio je utvrditi naselja alge C. officinalis na području južne Istre te ispitati razlike u sastavu beskralježnjaka unutar naselja alge na područjima pod antropogenim utjecajem i područjima izvan antropogenog utjecaja. Drugi cilj bio je istražiti sezonske promjene u sastavu beskralježnjaka s posebnim osvrtom na mekušce uzimajući u obzir vegetacijski maksimum i minimum alge. Treći cilj bio je koristiti metodu DNA barkodiranja u svrhu detaljnijeg određivanja beskralježnjaka. Na četiri područja uzorkovanja odabrano je 9 lokacija i 18 lokaliteta gdje je pokrivenost algom bila veća od 90%. Na svakom lokalitetu uzorkovanje je provedeno kvantitativno u 3 replikata, struganjem unutar kvadrata veličine 5x5 cm. U uzorcima uzetim u maksimumu vegetacijske sezone (zima) alge ukupno je izolirano 29.711 jedinki beskralježnjaka, a u minimumu vegetacijske sezone (ljeto) 22.292 jedinki. Prosječan broj jedinki po kvadratnom metru iznosio je 220.000 za zimu i 165.200 za ljeto, sa zabilježenim maksimumom od 586.000 jedinki tijekom zime na lokaciji Stupice. Dominantne skupine bile su amfipodni rakovi, mnogočetinaši, školjkaši i puževi, koji su činili više od 80% svih beskralježnjaka pronađenih unutar naselja alge. Sezonska dinamika uzorkovanja pokazala je da su uzorci uzeti u maksimumu vegetacijske sezone alge imali veću gustoću beskralježnjaka, naspram uzoraka uzetih u minimumu vegetacijske sezone. Antropogeni utjecaj odrazio se na brojnost najabundantnijih vrsta puževa i školjkaša te se može uočiti smanjenje prosječne brojnosti jedinki na lokacijama pod antropogenim utjecajem. DNA barkodiranje pokazalo se kao koristan alat te je molekularno determinirano 17 vrsta puževa i 14 vrsta školjkaša. BOLD baza podataka nadopunjena je s 45 DNA barkoda od kojih su za bazu bile nove 2 vrste školjkaša i 7 vrsta puževa. Sveobuhvatan sastav beskralježnjaka ukazuje na visoku bioraznolikost unutar naselja alge C. officinalis s najvišom zabilježenom maksimalnom gustoćom jedinki beskralježnjaka u usporedbi sa sličnim istraživanjima diljem svijeta.

Konstantni porast svjetske populacije pridonosi rastućem iskorištavanju prirodnih resursa, što uključuje i riblji fond, te se postavlja pitanje hoće li doći do „Šestog izumiranja” ili smo sposobni odgovornom upotrebom biotehnoloških postignuća osigurati održivu budućnost. Posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća započinje „Blue revolution”, nagli razvitak akvakulture, grane koja postaje najbrže rastući sektor proizvodnje hrane. Uz nagli porast potrebe za hranom i očuvanjem okoliša, raste i potreba za mijenjanjem dizajna uzgojnih sustava. Cilj je primjenom inovativnih sustava minimizirati utjecaj na okoliš, povećati učinkovitost proizvodnje uzgajanih organizama uz što učinkovitiju uporabu vodenih resursa te pri tome zadovoljiti potrebe za hranom i trend zdrave prehrane. Nažalost, brojne države još uvijek koriste ili uvoze zastarjele tehnologije koje onečišćuju okoliš. Osviještenje o primjeni održivih sustava može osigurati ekološki zbrinutu i profitabilnu budućnost. Primjere održivih akvakulturnih sustava predstavljaju integrirana multitrofička akvakultura (IMTA), suvremeni zatvoreni recirkulacijski sustav (RAS) te akvaponija – povezivanje RAS-a s uzgojem biljaka u jedan održivi sustav. Zbrinjavanje ribljeg otpada je veliki problem i loše upravljanje istim može dovesti do znatnih ekoloških problema. Uz inovativne tehnologije, od otpada možemo proizvoditi bioplin, biodizel, aktivne tvari za farmaceutsku i kozmetičku industriju ili kompost. U radu su opisani osnovni dizajni nekoliko sustava koji jamče ekonomsku, okolišnu, socijalnu i energetsku održivost.

Public Institution Brijuni National Park recognized the importance of educational activities as an effective tool for raising public awareness about the importance of nature protection. Development of educational activities is a project that includes development of educational programs for elementary schools and kindergartens, educational programs for hotel guests, volunteering programs, expert guidance, development of educational exhibitions and various celebrations of important dates in nature protection. This project has been going on for several years, but since 2013 the structure and number of participants are systematically recorded. The aim of the project is to involve local community, local and regional schools, kindergartens and universities in national park’s activities and to raise awareness about the importance and benefits of protected areas, the richness of natural and cultural values, and bringing the school curriculum closer to students through interaction, play and field learning. Educational programs cover a wide range of topics from biology, ecology, paleontology all the way to archeology and history. Educational activities are very well accepted by teachers, professors, educators, children and other participants, that is also recorded with a percentage of participants returning for the second time. Local and regional schools spend their “school in nature” outside the Istrian County, so this type of education is definitely needed in the region, and beyond.

Red coralligenous algae Corallina officinalis provides shelter to many macrofaunal species from wave actions, predation and desiccation stress in the intertidal area. Physical structure and complexity of the habitat as well as anthropogenic influence have a major influence on biodiversity of this community. The aim of the study was to examine the diversity of macrofaunal assemblages inside the red algae C. officinalis turf. Prior to choosing sampling locations, mapping of C. officinalis along the southern Istrian coast was done. Mapping was performed during low tides by visual observation of the intertidal area where the presence and abundance of the algae were marked. Three sampling locations were chosen in the areas with algal cover range above 75%. On each location sampling was done quantitatively by scraping off within 3 replicate quadrats 20 x 20 cm in size. A total of 30.786 specimens were isolated from all sampling locations. The prevalent groups were amphipod crustaceans, polychaetes, bivalves and gastropods that made a total of 86% of all macrofaunal groups associated with algal turfs. The most abundant group were amphipods that made 41% of the total separated individual invertebrates. Future studies will examine how the anthropogenic influence is affecting macrobenthic communities associated with C. officinalis as it is a very important habitat with high abundance and diversity of macrofaunal assemblages.

U sklopu pripreme Stručne podloge zaštite prirode za prostorni plan područja posebnih obilježja NP Brijuni napravljena je karta staništa i definirani su ekološki zahtjevi i zone očuvanja prirodnih vrijednosti. Analizirani su postojeći literaturni podaci, prostorni planovi i znanstvena istraživanja (GAP Analiza) i na temelju njih predložena su buduća istraživanja te je u sklopu projekta proveden dio istraživanja. Na temelju podataka iz istraživanja i analize povoljnosti staništa utvrđeni su ekološki zahtjevi vrste i određene zone vjerojatnosti pojave određenih vrsta obradom u GIS-u, procijenjeno je njihovo stanje u NP kao i postojeći utjecaji. Stanišni tipovi su vrednovani prema postojećem stanju, pritiscima i važnosti za bioraznolikost te su identificirana mjesta bitna za očuvanje bioraznolikosti. Na temelju nalaza zaštićenih vrsta i vrednovanja morskih staništa napravljena je procjena važnosti morskih područja. Analizirano je stanje i rasprostranjenost ciljnih vrsta i stanišnih tipova ekološke mreže Natura 2000. Također je, provedena inventarizacija i vrednovanje geološke baštine (paleontološki nalazi, speleoobjekti i geološke strukture) u sklopu koje su zasebno analizirani geomorfološki elementi starih kamenoloma i njihove vrijednosti kao dijela geološke baštine, ali i krajobrazne raznolikosti. Završna analiza uključila je vrednovanje biološke, krajobrazne i geološke raznolikosti na temelju kojeg su predložene zone očuvanja prirodnih vrijednosti NP Brijuni.

The Adriatic Sea is a semi-enclosed sea forming a distinct sub-region within the Mediterranean Sea region. The Northern Adriatic basin is relatively shallow, considering that its depth does not exceed 50 m. It is earmarked by the stratification of its water column, great fluvial input, and high biological productivity. Restrained water exchange with the remaining Mediterranean sea led to the development of a very sensitive ecosystem. The geomorphology of its western part with its flat and uniform coast is distinctively different to its eastern part, which is rocky, steep and highly diversified with numerous islands, promontories and bays. The Brijuni islands, located along the southwestern coast of Istria close to the city of Pula, were proclaimed a national park in 1983. They cover a total area of 3, 635 ha with a marine area of 2, 651 ha. In total fourteen larger and small islands belong to the national park, of which the largest are Veliki and Mali Brijun. The aim of this study was to provide a first overview of the typical habitats focusing on sponges and other abundant invertebrates. Therefore, standard scientific diving methods including transects, photo documentation as well as the Stuttgart protocol for collecting sponges where used. Determination of the genera and species was done utilizing an integrative taxonomic approach consisting of morphological as well as molecular characters. The examination of shallow areas was carried out by experienced apnea divers. Underwater scooters helped cover long distances. This enabled efficient acquisition of the spread of two sea grass species, the abundance of the fan mussel Pinna nobilis and the spread of the green algae Caulerpa racemosa. Within five days of exploration, about 175 species could be observed covering mainly sponges, ascidians and molluscs.

The northern Adriatic Sea is one of the most important foraging habitats for loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean. Its shallow continental shelf, favorable sea temperatures and rich benthic communities constitute feeding areas for loggerheads in neritic stage. While searching for prey, loggerheads actively dig and mine through the seafloor, ingest seafloor sediments and mix substrate. The sea floor of the Adriatic shelf is covered by muddy and sandy sediments of terrigenous origin and inorganic remains of benthic organisms, like shells of bivalves and gastropods. In order to examine ecological role of loggerheads in nutrient mixing and cycling in marine ecosystem, we qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed mollusk component in the diet of 50 loggerhead turtles (mean CCLn-t: 42.5 cm, SD: 11.7) found dead in the northern Adriatic Sea (Slovenia and Croatia) in 2001-2004. We preformed detailed identification and quantification of bivalve and gastropod fragments and sub-fossil shells. In total, we recorded 99 mollusc taxa. Most taxa belonged to gastropods (55) and bivalves (41), which were found in 88% of analyzed turtles. Majority of identified gastropod and bivalve species were small (shell length < 2 cm) and of sub-fossil origin. Due to the small size and low energetic value, shells of these species (e.g. Bittium reticulatum, Turritela communis, Corbula gibba) most likely do not present selected prey of loggerheads, and were probably eaten incidentally while digging through benthic sediments. By such feeding strategy, loggerheads actively mix sediments, enable aeration and contribute in nutrient cycling. Large proportion of sub-fossil shells found in our samples emphasizes the role of loggerheads as bioturbators in marine ecosystems.

Analiziran je sadržaj probave 54 glavate želve koje su pronađene uginule ili slučajno ulovljenih u ribarske mreže istočnog Jadrana (Hrvatska i Slovenija) u razdoblju od 2001. do 2004. godine. Zakrivljena dužina karapaksa istraživanih životinja bila je od 25.0 do 79.2 cm (prosječna veličina = 42.7, SD = 11.5). Iz sadržaja probavila izolirani su nametnici, konzervirani u 70%-tnom alkoholu te bojani kiselim karminom po Semichronu. Od 54 analiziranih kornjača nametnicima su bile invadirane 43 jedinke (79.6%). Nađeno je šest vrsta nametnika, četiri vrste su pripadale skupini metilja (Pachypsolus irroratus, Orichidasma amphiorchis, Enodiotrema carettae, Rhytidodes gelatinosus), a dvije skupini oblića (Anisakis sp., Sulcascaris sulcata). Najveću učestalost imale su vrste P. irroratus i Anisakis sp. (38.9%). Vrsta R. gelatinosus bila je prisutna u 19 od 43 invadirane želve (35.2%), O. amphiorchis u 18 od 43 (33.3%), S. sulcata u šest od 43 (11.1%) te E. carettae u tri od 43 invadirane kornjče (5.6%). Nisu utvrđene razlike u broju nametnika s obzirom na veličinu (starost) kornjače što ukazuje na ishranu kornjača s oklopom od 25 do 30 cm zakrivljene dužine karapaksa pridnenim plijenom (mekušcima kao međudomadarima). Veliki postotak invadiranosti glavatih želvi u Jadranu probavnim nametnicima (79.6%) ukazuje na potrebu medicinskih tretmana kornjača antihelminticima u centrima za oporavak.

We performed a general necropsy on 54 loggerhead turtles with CCLn-t = 25.0 – 70.0 cm (mean: 40.9 cm, SD: 9.1) found dead-stranded or incidentally captured dead by fisheries in the eastern Adriatic Sea (Croatia and Slovenia), and isolated digestive tract content by rinsing through a fine-mesh sieve. Food item samples were later identified and wet weighed for each identified taxon. Total wet weight (w.w.) of individual samples ranged from 0.29 to 959.46 g (mean: 198.6, SD: 202.2). The following taxa were recorded: Porifera, Anthozoa, Scyphozoa, Sipuncula, Gastropoda and Bivalvia, Cephalopoda, Polychaeta, Crustacea, Insecta, Bryozoa, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea, Tunicata, Pisces, Algae and Spermatophyta. Three highly ranked prey groups included Crustacea (26.6%), Anthozoa (25.7% w.w.) and Mollusca (Gastropoda and Bivalvia, 22.3%) whilst all other taxa accounted for 25.4% w.w. These three taxa also had the highest occurrence (92.6, 61.1 and 94.4%, respectively), and present the most important prey in diet of loggerheads in the Adriatic Sea.

U ovom završnom radu su analizirani podaci dobiveni monitoringom rađenom u rujnu 2019.godine na šest postaja u usporedbi s podacima dobivenih s ortofoto snimki tih postaja iz 2011., 2014., te 2018. godine. Postaje na kojima se vršilo uzorkovanje i ronilački monitoring su uvala Cisterne (Rovinj), uvala Veštar (Rovinj), uvala Saline (Rovinj), uvala Faborso (Rovinj), Vrsarska luka te uvala Funtana. Na terenu se radilo uzorkovanje metodom probnih kvadrata. Na svakoj postaji su uzeta tri uzorka. Nakon uzorkovanja uzorci su obrađeni u laboratoriju, te su dobiveni biometrijski podaci o morskim cvjetnicama sa svih postaja. Biometrijski podaci podrazumijevaju prosječan broj listova po jedinici površine, prosječnu dužinu listova po jedinici površine, te prosječnu mokru i suhu masu listova po jedinici površine, kao i prosječnu mokru i suhu masu korijenja i rizoma po jedinici površine. Pomoću ortofoto snimka s Geoportala Državne geodetske uprave Republike Hrvatske je izračunata površina rasprostranjenosti livada u 2011., 2014., te 2018. godini. Ronilačkim monitoringom je određena površina rasprostranjenosti morskih cvjetnica u 2019. na svim postajama. Na svim postajama je pronađena cvjetnica vrste Cymodocea nodosa, a na postajama Veštar i Funtana i vrsta Zostera noltii. Na postaji Funtana je pronađena i invazivna alga vrste Caulerpa cylindracea. Stanje rasprostranjenosti i biometrije cvjetnica je bilo zabrinjavajuće na postajama Funtana, Vrsar, slijede postaje Veštar, Saline, te Faborso, a na postaji Cisterne stanje rasprostranjenosti i biometrije je bilo najbolje. In this bachelor thesis it has been made an analysis between the data obtained with ortophotography pictures from the years of 2011., 2014., and 2018. and with diving monitoring in September of 2019 on six sampling stations. The sampling stations include the following places in Rovinj: Cisterne bay, Veštar bay, Saline bay, faborso bay, then the port of Vrsar and Funtana bay. The sampling was done with the quadrat method. Three samples were taken at each station. After sampling, the samples were processed in the laboratory, and after that the biometric data were obtained. Biometric data include the average number of leaves per unit area, the average leaf length per unit area, the average wet and dry leaf mass per unit area, as well the average wet and dry roots and rhizome mass per unit area. Then by using the state Geodetic Administration Geoportal of Republic Croatia the area of meadow distribution is calculated for the years of 2011, 2014 and 2018. The area of meadow distribution in the year of 2019 is calculated by direct diving monitoring of the stations. The species Cymodocea nodosa was found on all the stations, and the species Zostera noltii was found in Veštar and Funtana bay. In the Funtana bay an invasive algae species, Caulerpa cylindracea was found. The condition of the distribution area and as well the biometric data was the worst in the stations of Funtana and Vrsar bay, the stations of Veštar, Saline and Faborso showed intermediate concern, and then the station of Cisterne bay was the least concerning in the term of biometric and distribution area stability.

Dobri dupin (Tursiops truncatus) je jedna od najbolje istraženih vrsta kitova u Jadranskom moru. Za istraživanje dobrih dupina koriste se mnogobrojne metode. Neke od metoda su metoda fotoidentifikacije, istraživanje iz zraka, genetska istraživanja, metoda bio-akustike i metoda satelitskog praćenja. Navedena istraživanja se koriste u svrhu sakupljanja podataka o njihovoj rasprostranjenosti, brojnosti, ugroženosti i zaštiti. Najveći utjecaj na ugroženost kitova u Jadranskom moru ima ljudska aktivnost, dakle antropogeni čimbenici. Ljudi utječu na populacije dupina na način da fragmentiraju staništa ili direktno djeluju na njihov životne navike. Osim otpada (plastika, itd.), zvučno onečišćenje i slučajni ulov (by-catch) su antropogeni utjecaji na populacije i stanište. Utjecaj čovjeka se pokušava smanjiti zakonima i regulativama. Planovi akcija o zaštiti kitova se provode kroz mnogobrojne konvencije, sporazume i edukacijske programe. Cilj akcijskih planova je obnoviti populacije kitova i uspostavljanje kvalitetnijih temelja za daljnja istraživanja. The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is one of the most researched species of cetaceans in the Adriatic Sea. Numerous methods are used in bottlenose dolphin research. Some of those are the photo-identification method, aerial survey, genetic survey, bio-acoustics and satellite monitoring. The listed methods are used in the data collection of distribution, abundance, threats and conservation of bottlenose dolphin populations. The biggest threat to cetaceans in the Adriatic Sea are human activities (anthropogenic factors). The human activity considering bottlenose dolphins can be observed in a manner of habitat fragmentation or direct impact on the dolphin lifestyle. Other than organic and inorganic threats (plastic, xenobiotics, etc.), big threats to populations are noise pollution and by-catch. The human impact on cetaceans is regulated through laws and legislations. The course of action of marine life conservation are conducted through many conventions, agreements and education programs. The main goal of those action programs is to renew the populations of cetaceans and establish foundations for future exploration of higher quality.